UPSpace
Institutional Repository
Faculty Research Collections
UP Research Output Collections
Featured
Recent Submissions
Management of erectile dysfunction
(Medpharm Publications, 2025-04-01) Schellack, Natalie; Schellack, G.; Nyane, N.A.; natalie.schellack@up.ac.za
Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, significantly affects men from the age of 18 years but primarily those over 40 years of age. It is defined as the persistent inability to maintain penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. EDis a multi-faceted condition that may involve any one (or more) of several different organic causes. Conversely, it may also be psychogenic in nature. This article provides an overview of the current classification, risk factors, impact of COVID-19 diagnosis and management of ED.
Multiscale decomposition of spatial lattice data for hotspot detection
(South African Statistical Association, 2024-03) Stander, René; Fabris-Rotelli, Inger Nicolette; Chen, Ding-Geng (Din
Hotspot detection in spatial analysis identifies geographic areas with elevated event rates, facilitating more effective policy interventions aimed at reducing such incidents. In the current literature, several methods have been used to detect hotspots such as measures for local spatial association and spatial scan methods. However,the performance of these methods is limited for small-scale hotspots as well as spatial domains where the number of areas is small. In this work, we propose anew approach, making use of the Discrete Pulse Transform (DPT) to decompose spatial lattice data along with the multi-scale Ht-index and the spatial scan statistic as a measure of saliency on the extracted pulses to detect significant hotspots. The proposed method outperforms the well-used local Getis-Ord statistic in a simulation study, especially on small-scale hotspots. The method is also illustrated on South African COVID-19 cases and South African crime data.
Enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation with a national tax lottery : prospects for consumer acceptance and engagement
(Unisa Press, 2024-12) Schoeman, Anculien
PURPOSE : Transitional and developing countries need to boost revenue collection by improving citizens’ tax compliance. This research explores potential consumer acceptance of and engagement with a tax lottery system designed to improve domestic revenue mobilisation by targeting non-compliant businesses. Various countries use lotteries to enhance overall tax compliance,and, in turn, increase revenue collection.
DESIGN : An online survey that delivered 2,774 valid responses from a wide range of respondents in South Africa finds that consumers would accept and engage with a tax lottery system and that they would shift their patronage to other businesses if one refused to issue them with the requested receipt.
FINDINGS : Various demographic variables, including gender, monthly spend,and household size, can act as predictors of which types of consumers would be more likely to “buy into” or accept a tax lottery system. A positive perception of fairness (attitude) towards the tax lottery system also increases the likelihood of consumers accepting such a system.
VALUE : This study adds to the limited empirical studies that have explored tax lottery systems, especially from an African perspective. Revenue authorities can replicate the survey, and potentially use the current study’s results to determine whether implementing a tax lottery system would be viable. Predictors of supporters could also assist revenue authorities with targeted advertising of the system.
Selected psychological factors predicting customer citizenship behaviours : an environmentally friendly context
(Unisa Press, 2024-06) Van Tonder, Estelle; Petzer, Daniël Johannes; Fullerton, Sam
PURPOSE : Viable business opportunities may be lost when customers revert to unsuitable brands owing to the misreading of brand label information or a lack of understanding of the quality and value of the focal business’s green product offering. Accordingly, this research seeks to advance understanding of selected psychological factors influencing customer citizenship advocacy and personal initiative behaviours in an environmentally friendly context that may aid fellow customers in making more informed and responsible purchase decisions.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A research model was examined, assessing the influence of green attitude, consumer self-confidence, and self-control against criticism on customer citizenship advocacy and personal initiative behaviours in an environmentally friendly context. Survey research was conducted among customers in South Africa who had previously advised others to avoid products that may be harmful to society. Structural equation modelling was applied in the assessment of the research data and to conclude on the hypotheses formulated.
FINDINGS : All hypothesised relationships were supported, except for the relationship between self-control against criticism and personal initiative behaviours.
ORIGINALITY : Novel insight is provided into the extent to which green attitude, as well as psychological factors relating to how customers perceive and regulate themselves during their interactions with other customers, may influence customer citizenship advocacy and personal initiative behaviours in an environmentally friendly context. Accordingly, the model offers a starting point for green manufacturing businesses and policymakers to develop programmes that may facilitate the desired customer citizenship behaviours, which could contribute to fellow customers purchasing quality green products.
Student entrepreneurship support at South African public universities : an ecosystem perspective
(Unisa Press, 2024-06) Ismail, Riyaad; Bignotti, Alex; Knockaert, Mirjam; Farrington, Shelley; Vermeire, Jacob; Crucke, Saskia
PURPOSE : It is widely agreed that student entrepreneurship can play a vital role in changing the economic landscape of developing countries. However, the effectiveness of university-based student entrepreneurship support (SES) has been questioned. Our study aimed to gain greater insights into SES in a developing country context by taking an ecosystem perspective on SES offered at South African public universities.
METHODOLOGY : A multiple case study strategy was adopted, and data was collected through online semi-structured interviews. Fourteen key informants, holding various positions at eight South African universities, were carefully selected to participate in the study.
FINDINGS : Several types of SES are commonly aimed at developing entrepreneurs, promoting entrepreneurship as a career, and establishing job-creating businesses. To increase the effectiveness of this support, creative spaces, business advice from experts, top management buy-in and funding were regarded as very essential to enhance the interaction and collaboration between different elements in the ecosystem.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : As creating a conducive environment for student entrepreneurs cannot occur in isolation, universities’ top management buy-in and financial backing are recommended to establish and offer a broad range of support internally and through external collaborations.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE : This study contributes to the limited research on SES and responds to several calls to research elements within university-based entrepreneurial ecosystems in a developing country context.