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Information ethics and use of social media in higher education: faculty members' perspectives
No full textThis article is indexed in index to South African periodicals (ISAP) and abstracted in Library and Information abstracts (LISA)Issues on information ethics have assumed an important role in higher
education as different types ofinformation and communications technologies
(ICTs) permeate the learning environment. An understanding ofsuch issues by
faculty members would enhance learning strategies and processes that use
ICTs. To this effect, this study was conducted to establish factors that influence
faculty members when applying information ethics to the use ofsocial mediafor
academic work. The population was faculty members in departments that
offered information-related programmes. The study was conducted at the
National University ofScience and Technology (NUST) in two phases, based on
an exploratory-descriptive design. The preliminary phase sought to establish
howfaculty members used social media tools in academic practice and the
ethicalframeworks that influenced their use ofthe tools. Respondents were
identified through convenience sampling. The ethicalframeworks that emerged
in the preliminary phase: the rights, the common good and virtue perspectives,
were factored into a Theory ofPlanned Behaviour (TPB) in the second phase.
Every faculty member in the departments that were studied was a respondent
during the second phase. The main findings were that faculty members were
influenced mostly by control beliefs. followed by ethical predispositions and
lastly, by normative beliefs when applying information ethics in the use ofsocial
media in academic practice
A Comparative Analysis of the Corporate Governance Practices in Multinational and Domestic Banks in Zimbabwe
No full textThe Zimbabwean banking sector has been characterised by a number of corporate governance disorders. This
study aimed at analysing the corporate governance practices by multinational banks in comparison to domestic
banks in Zimbabwe. It was hoped that the research would reveal the corporate governance discrepancies
between multinational and domestic banks and hence assist the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in pursuing its
supervisory role as well as bring awareness to stakeholders in the banking industry. The research adopted a
cross-sectional survey research design. The target population consisted of all commercial and merchant banks in
Zimbabwe. Primary data was gathered through questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data was also
analysed in the research. The selection of the banks to be included in the sample employed stratified random
sampling to ensure representation from each key group of banks in the sample. The study revealed that the
awareness on the importance of sound corporate governance practices was of substandard levels for both bank
categories. Domestic banks, in particular, had more shortfalls compared to multinational banks. Results further
revealed that domestic banks did not represent shareholders? interests in their corporate governance practices
and their levels of compliance to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe?s corporate governance requirements was still
lacking. Although corporate governance strategies by multinational banks were superior to domestic banks it
was established that multinational banks needed to accept local central bank requirements on corporate
governance as an engine to enhance their corporate governance strategies
New routes to the preparation of [ru3(co)12], [h4ru4(co)12], [rucl2(pph3)3] and [rucl2(cod)]n from anglo platinum refinery
No full textJournal ArticleNew and improved routes for the preparation of ruthenium complexes are described. [Ru3(CO)12], [H4Ru4(CO)12], [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and [RuCl2(COD)]n have been prepared from [(NH4)2RuCl6] and [H2RuCl6]. Traditionally these ruthenium complexes have been prepared from commercially available RuCl3.3H2O, but here we describe their preparation from refinery materials.National Research Foundation, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Catalysis and Anglo Platinum Corporation for funding this project
Effects Of Exposure To Lead And Zinc On Antioxidant Enzyme Activity In Lymnaea Natalensis And Helisoma Duryi.
No full textPresented at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Society Conference held at the University of Zimbabwe in October 2002Metals such as Zinc (Zn) are is found in high concentrations in mine drainage, while lead, as tetra-ethyl lead in petrol, causes contamination of water, soil and air can lead to severe health consequences. Zinc has been shown to reduce the efficiency of oxygen transport across the gill membrane of fish, as well as the respiration and ammonia excretion rates of freshwater shrimp. Molluscs have been shown to accumulate a wide variety of pollutants and have, in some instances, proposed as indicators of environmental pollution by metals. The effect of lead (Pb) and Zn on the antioxidant enzymes (AOE's) of two aquatic snail species, namely Lymnaea natalensis and Helisoma duryi was studied with a view to developing a biomarker of freshwater metal pollution. Adult snails reared in the laboratory were exposed daily for three days to 0.01 ppm, 0.1 ppm and 1.0 ppm of either Pb or Zn S-9 fractions were prepared form whole snails. The S-9 fractions were used to measure the activity of AOE's such as DT-diaphorase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase as well as reduced glutathione (GSH) and the product of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA). Lead exposure tended to increase enzymatic activity several fold. Significant changes were observed after exposure to 0.01 ppm and 0.1 ppm in L. natalensis. Zinc also increased activity of the enzymes but to a lesser extent. Levels of markers of oxidative stress, MDA and glutathione GSH were also altered, with MDA generally decreased in L. natalensis. In H duryimetal exposure resulted in an increased GSH levels when exposed to 0.1 ppm and 1.0 ppm of Pb as well as by all three concentrations of Zn but not in a dose dependent manner. In H duryi, but not L. natalensis metal exposure resulted in an increased (up to 75'7'0) MDA level. Our data suggest that antioxidant status, as a result of exposure to heavy metals in aquatic snails metals is not altered in a dose dependent or manner and is also species specific. Thus, the alterations in AOE's using either L. natalensisor H duryi, are not sufficiently reliable to develop a biomarker of heavy metal pollution in aquatic systems.Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Societ
Design of A Fuzzy Controller For The Continuous Casting Process.
No full textPresented as part of the International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST)01 January 2013Two of the major problems in continuous casting are cracks and breakouts. Usually primary cracks are associated with breakouts and can also develop into more pronounced cracking in the secondary cooling zone. This paper aims at designing a fuzzy control system to control the dynamism associated with the continuous casting process in order to eliminate cracks and breakouts. The fuzzy control system, (which is a multi-input, multi-output system), obtains inputs of temperature related values from the thermocouples attached to the mould wall. The major outputs of the controller are casting speed and cooling rate and these are controlled with the aid of variable speed drives. The fuzzy controller attempts to eliminate primary and secondary cracks that could be linked to high casting temperatures by varying the secondary cooling rates. The controller is simulated using MatLab to observe its response to various inputs.International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (IJEST
Telemetric Data Logger and Monitor for Mining Vehicles.
No full textPresented at the SAIIE25 Proceedings, 9th ? 11th of July 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa ? 2013 SAIIE.Telemetry is the technology that allows data measurement at a distance. It uses data loggers which record data over time or in relation to location, either with built-in instruments or
through instruments and sensors. The system discussed in the paper is based on a Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC18F4550), a series of sensors, a Radio Frequency (RF) link and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) developed using Visual Basic (VB). The system was designed to monitor mining vehicles by measuring engine temperature, transmission temperature,hydraulic oil temperature and hydraulic pressure in pumps and hoist cylinders. The data measured by the sensors in the mining vehicles (the plant) is transmitted to the Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition System (SCADA) through the RF link. The RF link uses a transmission frequency of 433.95 Mega Hertz (MHz) to enable flawless communication
between the plant and the SCADA. The developed prototype was simulated using small
pressurized containers and heating systems and the results were displayed on the GUI. The whole system development process was a multi-discipline project and it showed that RF communications are very reliable in data transmission
Tips on Creating a Safe working environment for enhanced Productivity
No full textPublished in The Chronicle Newspaper of 2013 on the productivity columnThe author takes this time to respond to the many questions that an earlier article in this
column on occupational health and safety generated. It is in this light that a direct link is
established between occupational health and safety and productivity. You could be
forgiven for thinking that Health and Safety Management has nothing to do with
productivity at the workplace. It is reality that those that have experienced accidents
really do know what I am trying to convince you to believe. Some may not know this as a
fact maybe because in the immediate or long past, their operations have not experienced a
health and safety incident
5S Housekeeping and its impact on Productivity.
No full textPublished in The Chronicle Newspaper of 11 April 2013 on the productivity column.Most World Class Manufacturing principles have been developed in Japan and to date we
continue to try and utilize them in Zimbabwe. It thus is sad to note that most of the
implementers lift them as they are and put them to local use with little or no adjustment
to fit the local environment. It?s like they ?copy and paste?. Failure is likely to happen
since the environment in which these principles were developed is different from the in
which it is being applied. I will explain the 5S principle as it is and show how it impacts
on Productivity. Variations to this principle may be necessary on a company by company
basis
Increasing Library Usage Through Free Open Source Software (FOSS) Solutions: Two Case Studies From Zimbabwe
No full textThis article provides an overview of free and open source software (FOSS) and the variety of solutions that libraries are implementing in order to better serve their patrons and more efficiently manage their collections. In addition, two case studies from academic libraries in Zimbabwe demonstrate how librarians implemented FOSS solutions that allowed these libraries to meet patrons? needs and increased library usage
Product Scheduling in a multi-product colour processing facility.Case Study at TN Textiles (Pvt) Ltd.
No full textProceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, 3-6th July 2012, Istanbul, TurkeyAn integrated computer decision making system is developed to help in product scheduling for a multi-product colour system. It is an attractive option that will enhance flexibility of supply in fast-changing areas, fashion design, and consumer tastes. Problems in the production system will be solved by designed models. The transformation of the local manufacturing industry towards CIM systems has already begun to take root. This paper examines the
potential benefits to TN Textiles and how it can exploit CIM technology. CIM simultaneously facilitates production
of high product variety at optimum costs as TN must work with increasingly scarce resources