Digital diplomatics of records in a government accounting system in Botswana

Determining the authenticity of digital records to support the audit process is problematic due to a lack of criteria to declare the authenticity of records. This study is part of a larger study (Mosweu 2018) that explored the authenticity of records in a government accounting system in Botswana. The current study utilised a literature review to demonstrate the need for a framework for digital diplomatics of records to support the audit process in a government accounting system in Botswana. The study used concepts from archival diplomatics as a theoretical lens. It was established that records in a government accounting information system are presented to auditors even when their authenticity is questionable, leading to their rejection as audit evidence. A framework is suggested with the hope that, if implemented, it would transform public sector audit processes and lead to improvements in accountability for monies expended as the government delivers services to the people.Information Scienc

Turning liquid into solid: a faucet to control the flow of liquid communication generated through social media in Botswana

The Botswana government uses social media platforms to communicate with its citizens. This interaction results in liquid communication which needs to be managed. Liquid communication is the type of communication that can easily go back and forth and is therefore difficult to control. This study collected qualitative data through interviews to develop a faucet to control the flow of liquid communication with a view to ensuring the trustworthiness of the content. The study established that measures to ensure the integrity of liquid communication generated through the use of social media by the Botswana government were deficient. The study recommends a framework to control and manage liquid communications

Investigating the effects of RBBP6 gene expression on telomerase activity in cervical cancer cells

BACKGROUND: RBBP6 is one of the genes identified as a proliferative gene that plays a role in cancer development, On the other hand both RBBP6 and telomerase activity have been shown to be increase in various cancers. E6 protein of HPV and RBBP6 is known to enhance the progression of cancer cells by interacting with p53 and presenting it to be ubiquitinated by the proteasome thereby promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. Studies also show that HPV E6 protein can increase telomerase activity by activating the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), thus enabling the immortalization of the cells. With RBBP6 and hTERT showing a similar profile in cancer cells, we seek to investigate any possible effect of RBBP6 on telomerase activity. RESULTS: Using real-time qPCR and TRAPeze RT Telomerase detection kit (Merc) respectively. We used cervical cancer cell lines in which CaSki cell showed the reduction of hTERT expression and reduction in telomerase activity significantly in RBBP6-knockdown cells. While no significant changes were observed in HeLa cells. Real-time growth assay revealed a significant drop in cell growth in co-silenced RBBP6 and hTERT cells substantiating our observation that RBBP6 might be playing a role in cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Taken all together, the observed effect of RBBP6 gene silencing on telomerase activity in cervical cancer is cell line dependent.South Africa Medical Research Councilhttp://www.dovepress.com/cancer-management-and-research-journalpm2021Biochemistr

Investigating the effects of RBBP6 gene expression on telomerase activity in cervical cancer

Cancer remains a major health problem. It is ranked the second most common cause of death to cardiovascular diseases worldwide, with about 9.6 million deaths annually. This burden is greatly carried by developing countries, which are accountable for about 65% of cancer death worldwide. Retinoblastoma binding protein 6 (RBBP6) is one of the genes identified as proliferative gene that plays a role in cancer development. It has been shown together with telomerase activity to be highly increased in various cancer cells. E6 protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) and RBBP6 are known to enhance the progression of cancer cells by interacting with p53 and presenting it for ubiquitination by the proteasome, thereby promoting cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis. Studies also show that HPV E6 protein has the ability to increase telomerase activity by activating the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) thus, enabling the immortalization of the cells. With RBBP6 and hTERT sharing similar functions, here we seek to investigate possible effect of RBBP6 expression on telomerase activity. Using real time qPCR and TRAPeze RT Telomerase detection kit (Merck, United states), CaSki cells showed that the expression of hTERT and telomerase activity, respectively, were decreased significantly in RBBP6-knockdown cells. However, HeLa cells showed non-significant changes in hTERT expression or telomerase activity in response to RBBP6 silencing. Real-time cell analysis assay revealed a significant cell growth reduction in cells co-silenced for RBBP6 and hTERT, thus substantiating our speculation that RBBP6 and hTERT play an additive role in cell proliferation. Taken all together, RBBP6 expression might be altering telomerase activity in a cell line dependent manner. RBBP6 and TERT co-silencing has an effect on cell proliferation.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2020.National Research Foundation (NRF)GeneticsMscUnrestricte

Skills and competencies for authenticating digital records to support audit process in Botswana public sector

Authenticating digital records to support the audit process requires appropriate skills and competencies. The Government of Botswana implemented a government-wide enterprise resource planning (ERP) referred to as the Government Accounting and Budgeting System (GABS) in order to improve financial management in the public sector. However, records professionals and auditors are not trained on how to authenticate records stored in GABS. This qualitative study sought to establish the skills and competencies required to authenticate digital accounting records in GABS. Interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of records management professionals, information and communication technology (ICT) professionals, and auditors from the Department of Botswana National Archives and Records Services, Accountant General’s Department, Department of Internal Audit, Office of the Auditor General of Botswana, Department of Corporate Services and the Department of Information Technology (DIT). The study  established that digital forensic knowledge of the types of integrity, processes of access, reproduction, identification and extraction is needed in order to authenticate digital records. However, such skills are lacking in the public sector in Botswana among records professionals and auditors. The study recommends continuous capacity-building training for records management professionals and auditors to enable them to keep up with technological developments and to operate effectively in the face of the everchanging ICTs.Keywords: Auditing, Authentication, Botswana, Public Sector, Digital Records, Records Management, ER

Geotechnical investigation of soil properties in Hatsalatladi village, Botswana; Insights from aeromagnetic, laboratory soil tests and Rayleigh wave dispersion datasets

Soil tests and Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) data were conducted in Hatsalatladi village, Botswana, to investigate the occurrence of ground fissures within the village and to identify the likely causes of the fissures and their depth extent. The MASW data were collected to gain insights into the variation of shear wave velocity with depth. The dataset shows that the shear wave velocity ranged from 150 m/s – 500 m/s, with Poisson's ratios ranging from 0.02 to 0.25. A low-velocity zone (LVZ) was observed in the upper 5 m of the subsurface with velocities ranging from 200 m/s to 350 m/s.The soil plasticity was measured through the plastic and liquid Atterberg tests. Atterberg limits measurements obtained from the three survey sites show that the plastic index of the soil samples collected from depths of 1 m fall within the 10–20% range. Specifically, the Filled Crack survey site had a plastic index of 16%, while the Abandoned House and Bridge sites had 18.7% and 13.5%, respectively. Soil samples from Filled Crack and Abandoned House site revealed a linear shrinkage of 6.4%, while the Bridge site soil sample had a linear shrinkage of 2.9%. The sieve analysis test results are also presented