Psychosocial factors affecting the adoption of technology in an institution of higher education

This study investigated the psychological and social factors pertinent to the adoption of information and communication technology within a tertiary education institution. A conceptual model grouped the independent variables as individual characteristics, the individual’s perception of group characteristics and the individual’s perception of organisation characteristics. The dependent variable, the adoption of new technology, was indicated by the actual usage of telematic educational technologies by postgraduate teaching staff. In this study the results showed that attitudes towards new technology and management support were among the most important determinants of technology adoption. Certain implications for tertiary institutions were pointed out

Differentiation of paediatric burn injury by household energy source in South Africa

Burn injuries remain a significant cause of death and disability in the global south, with children amongst the most vulnerable. In South Africa, burns are a critical health and economic burden in densely populated and energy-impoverished communities. This study used secondary data on burn injuries from 19 health facilities to differentiate between risk for scalds and flame burns across three household energy sources (firewood, paraffin and electricity). The sample was 2 933 cases of child burn victims, with key analytical procedures being descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. Results showed that 52% of burn injury admissions reported electricity as the household energy source used at the time of injury. Most burn injuries were scalds (85.3%), with infants and toddlers at greatest risk. The differentiation between wood and paraffin was associated with a threefold increase in scalds relative to flame burns, while that between paraffin and electricity indicated a sevenfold increase in scalds and nineteen times such an increase between wood and electricity. This was an indication of continued challenges for the country in addressing paediatric burns despite, and in the context of, the continued electrification of poor households. The study recommends improved regulation of electrical appliances used by low-income households, and targeted household safety education initiatives

The JWS online simulation database

Summary: JWS Online is a web-based platform for construction, simulation and exchange of models in standard formats. We have extended the platform with a database for curated simulation experiments that can be accessed directly via a URL, allowing one-click reproduction of published results. Users can modify the simulation experiments and export them in standard formats. The Simulation database thus lowers the bar on exploring computational models, helps users create valid simulation descriptions and improves the reproducibility of published simulation experiments. Availability and Implementation: The Simulation Database is available on line at https://jjj.bio.vu. nl/models/experiments/

Energy Transitions in the Global South and Africa: Policy Imperatives, System Dynamics and Challenges

Energy poverty is pervasive with significant health and well-being ramifications, especially for the Global South (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2021). Energy-impoverished communities are those that are dependent on traditional solid fuels and flammable hydrocarbons that are usually burnt in unsafe, inefficient and polluting stoves. The health and economic consequences are far-reaching, primarily through household air pollution, burn injuries and poisonings, with consequential health, neurological and psychological outcomes (Haagsma, et al., 2016; Wolf, Prüss Ustün & Vickers, 2016). The socio-economic ramifications of the energy burden are enormous and generate social exclusion while limiting development in the affected countries (Guzowski, Martin & Zabaloy, 2021). With the accumulation of evidence of the impact of energy impoverishment, there have been increasing calls for expedited and inclusive transitions to safe and health-promotive energy. For such transitions to be truly just, they must centre on the needs of energy-impoverished people to ensure that no one is left behind (UNEP, 2021). There is also increasing consensus that access to safe and clean domestic energy is pivotal, if not a prerequisite, for a range of other global priorities beyond health, including environmental protection and sustainability, economic development and gender equality (Wolf et al., 2016).Institute for Social and Health Studies (ISHS

Uncovering the effects of heterogeneity and parameter sensitivity on within‑host dynamics of disease : malaria as a case study

CITATION: Horn, S., Snoep, J. L. & Van Niekerk, D. D. 2021. Uncovering the effects of heterogeneity and parameter sensitivity on within‑host dynamics of disease: malaria as a case study. BMC Bioinformatics, 22:384, doi:10.1186/s12859-021-04289-z.The original publication is available at https://bmcbioinformatics.biomedcentral.comPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access FundBackground: The fidelity and reliability of disease model predictions depend on accurate and precise descriptions of processes and determination of parameters. Various models exist to describe within-host dynamics during malaria infection but there is a shortage of clinical data that can be used to quantitatively validate them and establish confidence in their predictions. In addition, model parameters often contain a degree of uncertainty and show variations between individuals, potentially undermining the reliability of model predictions. In this study models were reproduced and analysed by means of robustness, uncertainty, local sensitivity and local sensitivity robustness analysis to establish confidence in their predictions. Results: Components of the immune system are responsible for the most uncertainty in model outputs, while disease associated variables showed the greatest sensitivity for these components. All models showed a comparable degree of robustness but displayed different ranges in their predictions. In these different ranges, sensitivities were well-preserved in three of the four models. Conclusion: Analyses of the effects of parameter variations in models can provide a comparative tool for the evaluation of model predictions. In addition, it can assist in uncovering model weak points and, in the case of disease models, be used to identify possible points for therapeutic intervention.https://bmcbioinformatics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12859-021-04289-zPublisher's versio

The use and effectiveness of social grants in South Africa

This research examines the effectiveness of social grants in South Africa, and how recipients use their grants. As a form of social protection, social grants not only ameliorate poverty and provide a safety net, they also potentially promote social transformation. The main report pulls together a number of aspects. First it reviews the scholarly literature on social grants, examining both the positive and negative outcomes associated with receiving social grants, focusing on state cash transfers to the elderly, children and the disabled. It then details qualitative and quantitative research undertaken to examine the effects of social grant receipt. This empirical research is combined and used to examine how social grants are used, including the extent to which they support household investments and contribute to financial activities. The report concludes by examining the policy implications of the findings.Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI

How has the OSD affected our state hospitals?

The long-awaited occupation-specific dispensation (OSD) process for state-employed doctors has now been concluded. The final offer, signed and accepted in the bargaining chamber despite being rejected by 92% of doctors in a SAMA survey, has not received much attention or fanfare. At the conclusion of this process, which has been drawn out over several years, many points have emerged that are extremely worrying for the future of health care in this country

Molecular tools for bathing water assessment in Europe:Balancing social science research with a rapidly developing environmental science evidence-base

The use of molecular tools, principally qPCR, versus traditional culture-based methods for quantifying microbial parameters (e.g., Fecal Indicator Organisms) in bathing waters generates considerable ongoing debate at the science-policy interface. Advances in science have allowed the development and application of molecular biological methods for rapid (~2 h) quantification of microbial pollution in bathing and recreational waters. In contrast, culture-based methods can take between 18 and 96 h for sample processing. Thus, molecular tools offer an opportunity to provide a more meaningful statement of microbial risk to water-users by providing near-real-time information enabling potentially more informed decision-making with regard to water-based activities. However, complementary studies concerning the potential costs and benefits of adopting rapid methods as a regulatory tool are in short supply. We report on findings from an international Working Group that examined the breadth of social impacts, challenges, and research opportunities associated with the application of molecular tools to bathing water regulations