4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions
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Item Exploitation of Natural Resistance Genes, Mutation and Phytosanitation to Eliminate Cassava Geminiviruses(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-09) Kung’u, Mercy Wambui; Nyaboga, Evans; Rey, ChrissieNot AvailableItem Investigating the Effect of Cholesterol Depletion on IL-6 Cytokine Induced Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2022) Aronson, Ruth Shifra; Kaur, MandeepColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer globally. Poor patient prognosis is attributed to late diagnosis and high metastatic potential of the disease. The process of metastasis usually favours the conversion between epithelial and mesenchymal cellular states, termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT has been reported to contribute to drug resistance, following treatments with chemotherapy, which allows for cancer recurrence and metastasis. Additionally, increasing evidence indicates the role of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in EMT progression. The lipid composition of epithelial cells compared to mesenchymal cells is distinct and cells that undergo EMT show an elevation in cholesterol levels to facilitate increased proliferation and oncogenic signalling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cholesterol depletion in EMT induced CRC and explored how cholesterol depletion influences the susceptibility of EMT induced cells to the chemotherapy cocktail referred to as FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin). Results showed that following EMT induction by proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), in HT-29 cells, cellular cholesterol content increased by ~30%. Cholesterol depletion with compounds methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) and KS-01, in post-EMT cells, showed to reverse EMT phenotypic changes as noted by increased epithelial marker E-cadherin (by 46.9% and 55.3%, respectively), decreased mesenchymal marker vimentin (by 41.0% and 52.8%, respectively) and reduced invasive potential (by 43.0% and 47.8%, respectively). Interestingly, EMT induced cells displayed increased sensitivity to the FOLFOX chemotherapy, following cholesterol depletion, as observed by enhanced susceptibility to apoptosis (by 46.7% and 60.3%, respectively) and attenuation of multidrug resistance (by 80.6% and 71.8%, respectively). Ultimately, this study highlights cholesterol depletion to be a promising strategy for potential treatment of metastatic CRC.Item Examining oversight institutional failures in the North West Department of Health(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Seeletso, Kenaleone; Motsepe, DikgangThe Legislatures in the local, provincial and national governments are mandated and bestowed with the powers by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 to ensure accountability by holding the executive accountable and effectively ensuring that there is oversight on the work of government. In order to execute the oversight function, the Legislatures use the Auditor General’s reports, guidance from the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and departmental policies. The study seeks to identify the systemic challenges faced by the oversight institutions in the North West Department of Health (NWDoH) that lead to failures in executing the oversight function. The research methodology used in this study is the qualitative approach. The population of the study is the oversight committee members from the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), NWDoH Office Bearers, former national SCOPA Chairpersons and public finance experts, and data was collected from the participants by using semi-structured interviews and official reports. The data collected from the participants indicated that the oversight committees cannot enforce accountability because their powers are limited to only making recommendations and their decision- making depends on their political allegiance. Political influence and lack of political will is at the centre of the systemic weaknesses within the oversight processes, hence, there is no accountability and consequence management and the non-compliance with the PFMA prevails. The study recommends that the standing rules be strengthened by diluting oversight committees with independent individuals so that committees can operate independently of party-political pressure. The study also recommends that the oversight committee be granted powers to enforce accountability and not just be limited to making recommendations.Item Marketability of traditional medicine in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Thema, Kgaladi; Moloi, TseleThe research aimed to explore the marketability of traditional medicine in South Africa, adopting a qualitative research approach. The research engaged with 23 participants including consumers of traditional medicine, traditional healers, traditional medicine traders, health practitioners and regulators in South Africa. This study reveals that traditional medicine in South Africa possesses untapped market potential. The findings suggest that strategic marketing approaches addressing gaps in advertising and accessibility could enhance marketability. Diversifying techniques, leveraging digital platforms, and exploring alternative value chains could contribute to growth. The findings from this research provide valuable insights for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and traditional practitioners to foster an integrated and informed approach to healthcare delivery in a culturally diverse context. Future research should prioritize conducting studies on a larger scale to ensure broader applicability and increased accuracy in representing the diverse population.Item An assessment of the effectiveness of the Risk Management Committee at the Eastern Cape Department of Health(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Lavisa, Nosizwe Cleopatra; Godspower- Akpomiemie, EuphemiaThe Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) is an organisation that has been dealing with several challenges such as litigation, maladministration and irregular expenditure. All these challenges can be averted through effective implementation of risk management. This study assesses the issues that affect the effectiveness of the RMC at ECDoH. It assesses the functional risk management processes being monitored by the RMC, issues affecting the effectiveness of the RMC and measures that can be taken to improve the effectiveness of RMC at ECDoH. To achieve these objectives of this research investigation, the study used the qualitative research methodology to collect data with semi-structured interviews. The study selected participants for the study using purposive sampling to choose information rich participants that are part of the RMC. The study used thematic analysis to analyse the collected data. The findings of this study indicated that the functional processes of risk management are identification; analysis; evaluation and ranking; treating; monitoring and mitigation of risks. However, the study also found that not all RMC members were fully aware of the functional processes of risk management. The study also noted that the issues that affect the effectiveness of RMC include lack of knowledge on the importance of risk management, clarity on roles and responsibilities, lack of skills and competences, frequency of meetings, independence of the RMC, lack of commitment and poor adoption of technology in risk management. Based on these findings, the study recommends the use of orientation and training to help improve knowledge and skills among the RMC members. Furthermore, the study recommends the improvement of communication and increase of capacity to improve the RMC’s ability to operate effectively. The study also recommends the adoption of risk management related technology to aid RMC at ECDoH.Item The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digital transformation within South African technology start-ups(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Khumalo, Cebile Bongiwe; Patrick, ZhuwaoIn 2020 the world got faced with the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, which brought upon changes that affected many organisations. This study investigates how Covid-19 affected the digital transformation for technology start-ups within the fintech industry. In achieving the objective, the study followed a qualitative approach and interviewed 15 business owners, managers and executives from different fintech companies. The key findings of the study is that fintech companies are digitally matured organisations and had implemented digital initiatives as a result of Covid-19, and these initiatives will be sustained moving forward and set a new trend for the fintech industry. The study has concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of technology start-ups within the fintech industry through numerous digital transformation initiatives that were implemented. This study recommends that further research should be done on finding interpretative models and frameworks that could be used to evaluate digital transformation within technology start-ups.Item COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Afari-Twumasi, Kwabena Kumi; Totowa, JacquesThe purpose of this research was to examine why the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in South Africa is relatively high compared to the global average, despite more reassuring information being known about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. This study zoned in on what factors most influence the decision to not get vaccinated against COVID-19 and what may influence the unvaccinated to change their mind. The overarching research problem was to develop effective strategies to move COVID-19 vaccine hesitants across the vaccine acceptance/rejection spectrum to the end where they are willing to get vaccinated. “Vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination services.” (MacDonald, 2015) The research looked at adults whose primary residency or occupation was in the Republic of South Africa. The entire survey was done via an anonymous online, largely Likert scale type, questionnaire. Most respondents were between the ages of 25 and 44 and had at least an undergraduate degree. There was an even balance between male and female respondents in the sample. Some of the key highlights revealed in the study were: There is a fair level of distrust over government’s motives when it comes to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic About a third of respondents do not have conviction in the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines Over half of respondents believe that mainstream media is unreliable or biased Almost a quarter of all respondents have not been vaccinated Common methods of encouraging the hesitant to vaccinate (e.g., Prohibiting travel to other countries) are unlikely to work in South Africa To improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake, the following recommendations were made: Health authorities should keep educating people about why the vaccines are safe for human beings and how they can offer protection from serious illness or death Health authorities should collaborate with mainstream media to build public trust. They should pay more attention to how the media portrays the pandemic to the public – the language used in reporting, the subject matter experts invited to speak, signs of bias, etc Government should try to improve public trust in how they are handling the pandemic. One way to do this would be to make the decision making of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) more transparent to the publicItem Incorporating complex adaptive systems concepts in ontology driven Bayesian network models : towards resolving wicked problems(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024-08) Semwayo, Daniel Tembinkosi; Ajoodha, RiteshWicked problems are complex ill defined problems very difficult to solve tractably using analytical methods and interventions. They include problems like pandemics, climate change effects, traffic jams, and financial market crashes. Attempts at solving such problems using analytical methods tend to produce counter-intuitive, unpredictable pathological outcomes. Wicked problems emerge, in part from the character of complex adaptive systems, and from stakeholder disagreements on their definition and resolution. We argue that baseline Bayesian models do not have adequate constructs to provide compact, and tractable modelling support for wicked problems. Applying an iterative and rigorous abductive design science research methodology, an ontology driven Bayesian modelling framework is applied to design the Granular Niche probabilistic Bayesian model, a formal, ontologically sound, and explainable artificial intelligence model, incorporating complex adaptive systems theory concepts: context; granularity; and perspective, as constructs. Using evaluation metrics from applicable kernel theories comparative evaluation of the model is carried against baseline Bayesian models. The results indicate that the novel model out-performs baseline Bayesian models against the following evaluation criteria: i) complex adaptive systems’ representation accuracy and precision; ii) structure learning; iii) parameter estimation; iv) knowledge discovery; and v) explicitly modelling and reconciling divergent multiple stakeholder perspectives of a given wicked problem.Item A Systematised Review of Policy Responses to Supplier-Induced Demand(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mnguni, Lungelo; Booysen, FrikkieHealth systems around the world contend with cost containment. As a result, policymakers pay attention to how the use of health services drives health expenditure. The rate of use of health services can increase due to additional demand generated by healthcare providers. Currently, however, research on policy interventions used to address demand created by providers is limited. This paper therefore contributes to the literature by conducting a systematised review of common themes found in the literature on additional demand generated by healthcare providers, known as supplier-induced demand, and the associated policy interventions. Building on 33 papers identified in a 2019 scoping review by Mohammadshahi et al., a systematic search added 86 papers from PubMed and 134 from Scopus. After screening and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were reviewed. This review identified four key themes in the research on supplier-induced demand: Competition, incentives, and responses to health reform, and responses to reimbursement changes. In addition, the study finds the focus areas of policy responses to supplier-induced demand to be the following: Provider payment methods, capacity management, stricter regulation and monitoring of adherence to clinical guidelines, increased reviews by insurers, and health promotion to patients. To allocate resources efficiently and equitably, health system leaders should strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of unintended consequences which stem from expanding access to health services.Item COVID-19 health related news and sectoral stock returns sensitivity in South Africa(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Zulu, Sbongiseni Samkelo Falakhe; Alovokpinhou, SedjroThe purpose of this study is to analyse the relevance of health news related to Covid-19 on South African sectorial stock returns. This is inspired by the global Covid-19 pandemic in predicting sectorial stock returns. This study examines the estimation of dynamic panel data using a dynamic common correlated effects estimator. It employs two pairwise forecast measures, specifically the Campbell & Thompson (2008) and Clark & West (2007) tests, to address the nested predictive models. Thus, this study begins by analysing the impact of health news relating to Covid-19 when control variables are not considered. This is following by when control variables are incorporated into the model. Lastly, the forecasting power of Models 3 and 4 is evaluated by comparing the two models with historical average or constant returns model (CR), for both with and without control variables. The findings of this study reveals that the model incorporating health news indexes outperforms the constant returns model. This proves that health news is a valuable indicator for predicting stock returns, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, underscoring the importance of monitoring health-related information for investment decisions. This study further finds that considering the "asymmetry" effect and incorporating adjustments for macroeconomic factors enhances the predictive accuracy of the health news-driven model. The outcomes remain consistently strong across both the periods of in-sample and out-of-sample forecasts, demonstrating resilience to outliers and variations. These results have practical significance for a range of stakeholders, encompassing academics, practitioners like rational investors, portfolio managers and policymakers. The practical implications extend to aspects such as managing portfolio risk, realizing diversification advantages and exploring opportunities for the creation of innovative investment instruments within financial markets.