PhD / Doctoral

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http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29121

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    The jointcare study: does owner pain education reduce pain in dogs with OA?
    (2026) Van Der Walt, Anna Margaretha; Parker, Romy
    Introduction Chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain in dogs is a major veterinary health burden, affecting both the dog and the human–dog dyad. Although caregiver pain education delivered within a biopsychosocial model has been shown to improve the physical functioning of dependent patients with chronic pain, the application of similar owner-focused education models in dog osteoarthritis management remains unexplored. This study investigates the role of dog owners in shaping the functional adaptation of dogs with chronic pain and evaluates the impact of an evidence-based pain education intervention, The JointCare Programme, on improving outcomes in the management of chronic osteoarthritis pain in dogs. Methods A scoping review examined parallels between chronic pain in dogs and humans, including contemporary pain management strategies, with particular focus on caregiver–patient dyads, such as found in paediatric pain care. Using Intervention Mapping, the JointCare Programme was developed within a biopsychosocial framework to target owner cognitive and behavioural factors influencing dog pain. A mixed-methods pilot feasibility study evaluated the programme's effectiveness, using owner-reported measures of pain severity, pain interference, fear-of-pain, and pain self-efficacy. Participant interviews provided qualitative insights to contextualise the quantitative findings. Results The scoping review confirmed the importance of addressing owner-related factors in dog chronic pain management. Intervention Mapping produced a structured, theory-driven education programme tailored to this need. Compared to usual care, the programme significantly reduced dog pain and owner fear-of-pain. Qualitative findings highlighted improved owner knowledge, skills and peer support as drivers of change. The intervention showed strong feasibility and acceptability in real-world settings. Conclusion This study highlights the potential of dog owner-focused pain education in the management of dog patients with chronic painful OA. The data show that The JointCare Programme is a feasible model for enhancing pain management in dogs. Future research should refine self-efficacy assessments, examine long-term outcomes, and explore the scalability of the intervention.
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    Open Access
    Unravelling corporate crimes within listed companies: a multi-case study of selected South African and German companies
    (2026) Yingwane, Themba Trevor; Mupangavanhu, Brighton; Thabane, Tebello; Louw, Michelle
    This study offers critical insight into the influence of director–shareholder relationships on the emergence of corporate criminogenic practices, with particular reference to the Steinhoff, Volkswagen, and Wirecard cases. It further interrogates the potential of shareholder activism as a mechanism for curtailing such practices. The study employs a doctrinal methodology, systematically analysing case law, statutory frameworks, and governance structures in relation to the selected case studies. The research also adopts a quasi-hybrid approach, integrating both meta-analysis and case-law analysis derived from doctrinal and qualitative methodologies, respectively. The study demonstrated that Steinhoff, Volkswagen, and Wirecard managers engaged in criminogenic practices autonomously, without shareholders' influence. This phenomenon was primarily influenced by micro-drivers such as avarice, pathogenic narcissistic characters, and intricate corporate structures, as well as macro-drivers such as unfavourable relationships with stakeholders, ambiguous regulations, and auditors' deficient scepticism. Accordingly, the injurious managerialism culture further enabled managers to pursue profit maximisation without regard for consequences, to appease shareholders, as highlighted by the annual report syndrome. Similarly, the involvement of the majority shareholders on the supervisory board or as CEO potentially compromised their oversight role and moral judgement, as accentuated by shareholder risk theory. Moreover, the study found that shareholder activism can contribute to curtailing corporate criminogenic practices, especially when they apply decisive shareholder activism. These results make a unique contribution to the existing knowledge within corporate law and governance (including shareholder activism), corporate crime, compliance, and ethics literature. The study further sparks a discourse on the potential of shareholder activism in curtailing corporate criminogenic practices.
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    Media consumption and media synergy by low-income consumers in the KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape townships and rural areas of South Africa
    (2026) Chaka, Tumelo McDonald; Lappeman, James; Dlamini, Siphiwe
    The African media landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, shaped by dynamic consumer growth, ongoing disruption, and shifting patterns of engagement. In this context, the concept of media synergy, the strategic alignment and integration of multiple media channels has become critical for maximising return on investment (ROI) and enhancing consumer engagement. This study investigated the impact of media synergy across several dimensions: its role in driving media consumption ROI, the alignment of channels to influence purchasing decisions, the influence of culture and religion on media engagement, the perspectives of marketing professionals on media buying, and the unique challenges of low-income segments in rural and township environments. A qualitative research design was employed, drawing on a series of in-depth interviews conducted with households and media-planning experts. Data collection involved 80 households (20 households per region) across three South African provinces (encompassing both township and rural contexts), along with three experienced media planners. The study identified significant patterns in media access and consumption, particularly the emergence of “media privilege”, whereby individuals with access to scarce resources, such as paid television or internet connectivity, served as gatekeepers for wider community media exposure. This phenomenon was conceptualised as “media capital”, a new form of symbolic power within low-income communities. The findings further revealed the profound influence of cultural, linguistic, and religious dynamics on consumer media behaviour, with radio emerging as a particularly powerful connector at the bottom of the pyramid (BoP). Despite the rise of digital platforms, radio remains a dominant medium, capable of reaching over 18.6 million listeners through South Africa's leading stations, offering both cultural resonance and mass accessibility. These insights underscore the necessity of integrating traditional and digital media in order to achieve a deeper consumer connection and optimal ROI. The study concludes with the development of a media-synergy framework that highlights critical gaps and opportunities in the African context. This framework provides valuable guidance for marketing practitioners, media planners, and scholars by offering a nuanced understanding of how communities at the BoP experience, negotiate, and capitalise on media. Ultimately, the research advances theoretical and practical knowledge of media consumption in contexts of scarcity, illuminating pathways for more inclusive and effective communication strategies across the continent
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    Investigating adverse intergenerational effects of prenatal maternal psychological distress through infant gene expression profiles
    (2026) Chalumbila, Tsaone; Koen, Nastassja; Stein, Dan; Wingo, Aliza
    Introduction: Maternal psychological distress is prevalent during pregnancy and may contribute to adverse child developmental outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these intergenerational effects have not been fully elucidated. This project aimed to investigate these intergenerational mechanisms through newborn messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA expression profiles, utilising data from the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), a South African birth cohort study. Methods: Two systematic reviews and three empirical aims (nested within the DCHS) were undertaken. The systematic reviews investigated the associations between prenatal maternal psychological distress and (a) child developmental outcomes and (b) newborn transcriptomic signatures, respectively. In the DCHS, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire 20 (SRQ-20) was used to assess prenatal maternal psychological distress, and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Third Edition) to evaluate toddler development at age 24 months. Total RNA sequencing profiles were generated from cord blood of the index newborns; and the Limma Voom R-package was used to identify differentially expressed genes and microRNAs between newborns exposed to prenatal maternal psychological distress versus unexposed newborns. A gene set enrichment analysis was undertaken to identify significantly enriched pathways. Regression analyses were then used to investigate associations between differentially expressed RNAs and child developmental outcomes. All analyses were controlled for potential confounding variables and multiple testing correction was applied. Results. Findings from the two systematic reviews suggest that prenatal maternal psychological distress may be associated with altered expression of genes associated with glucocorticoid and serotonin signalling, placental growth and immune response; and adverse motor, adaptive and social-emotional development in the index children, respectively. In the DCHS, prenatal maternal psychological distress was not significantly associated with differential gene or microRNA expression in the exposed versus unexposed newborns. However, prenatal maternal psychological distress was associated with transcriptomic differences in gene set pathways - associated with cell cycle progression, immune response and haem metabolism in the cord blood of exposed versus unexposed newborns. Conclusion. This project yielded novel, albeit preliminary findings that child transcriptomic pathways may constitute one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the adverse intergenerational effects of prenatal maternal psychological distress in a South African birth cohort.
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    Single stage boost inverter-based perturbation technique for online impedance spectroscopy measurements of solar PV panels
    (2026) Akparibo, Awingot Richard; Barendse, Paul
    Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is a technique used to characterise the internal mechanisms and dynamic processes taking place within Electrochemical Power Sources and Solid-State Devices such as solar PV cells, batteries and fuel cells. This will enable tracking of their State of Health and monitoring performance loss due to degradation or operational anomalies such as hotspot, partial shading and dust settlement on the solar PV panel. This research proposes a novel online EIS for solar PV panels based on the application of a single stage boost DC-AC inverter topology. Although the single stage boost inverter topologies have gained popularity for their compactness, high voltage gain and high efficiencies, they have not been exploited for online EIS diagnostic functionality for the solar PV device like the traditional online EIS based on the two stage DC-DC-AC topology due to several challenges. The research is set to unpack some of these challenges and propose new EIS measurement techniques based on the single stage boost DC-AC inverter topology. The traditional online EIS becomes fundamental for understanding the problems and validating the online EIS results of the newly proposed research work. The challenges confronting EIS implementations such as the frequency range, cost, and practical hardware limitations on achieving high bandwidth for effective impedance spectroscopy extraction of the solar PV panel are addressed. Simulations and experimental results verified the proposed research, and all the online EIS results of the proposed technique were validated against the traditional online EIS and the commercial offline frequency response analyzer. The study findings are particularly relevant for PV applications, where the requirement of a single stage boost inverter is crucial for optimizing PV operations and lowering costs of system design.