Journals National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
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Zambezi River - sea route for the SADC Region: A study on how to extend navigation on the Zambezi River
Get PDFThe study investigated the possibility of expanding commercial navigation by fact and by statute on the Zambezi River. The Zambezi is navigable from the sea to Cabora Bassa. Continuous navigation is not possible beyond Cabora Bassa to Kariba; and beyond Kariba to Victoria Falls due to existence of geomorphic obstructions and poor accountability, regulation and control of the use of surplus basin water balance .This research defined technological means of overcoming these physical obstacles and explained how the water levels necessary for improving its navigability rating can be maintained throughout the year by implementation of a water resource management strategy which ensures effective regulation and control of the surplus basin water which is currently the cause of downstream flooding. The focus was on tracing the route followed by the river from Kazungula to the sea byway of satellite images and counting the different types of obstructive geomorphic features and manmade impoundments along it in order to establish whether methods of civil engineering and marine technology could not be used to improve the channel platform of the river. The study recognized the theoretical framework for the determination of basin water balance that is hereby stated as:- the difference between the sum of long term mean annual rainfall , local run off, ground water and inflow minus evapotranspiration, groundwater, coastal and Zambezi outflows. Satellite picture were used in presenting geomorphic features and manmade impoundments and the method of geographical interpretation of aerial photographs was used in the analysis. The major findings and recommendation of the study was a call for the development of additional hydro infrastructure to facilitate commercial navigation and development of an effective water management strategy that balances technological issues with the requirements of environmental sustainability by a process of dialogue amongst all the major parties involved i.e. the private sector, civil society, governments, affected communities, scientists and international financial institutions
IMPACT ANALYSIS OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN KENYA
Get PDFThe purpose of the study was to analyze the impact of gender mainstreaming environment in higher education institutions in Kenya. The objectives included;- to assess policy environment on gender mainstreaming in highereducation in Kenya, to establish institutional environment in relation to gender mainstreaming in higher education in Kenya and to determine critical policy indicators in gender mainstreaming in higher education in Kenya. The study utilized an eclectic approach with a focus on descriptive survey design. The sample comprised three universities in western Kenya. The study participants comprised six deans of schools, nine heads of sections and 300 students. The study findings revealed that both the policy and organizational environment with regard to gender mainstreaming in higher education institutions in Africa still require amendments and strengthening of structures. Similarly, the study has emphasized the link between economic development and women’s education. This is equally related to levels of economic productivity, gender equality and the empowerment of women which are important goals in their own right and are vital to poverty elimination, and achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) The critical policy indicators included both qualitative and quantitative indicators. The study findings are significant to educators, policy developers and policy implementers with regard to gender mainstreaming in higher education institutions in Kenya, Africa and worldwide
The Contribution of Women Academic Library Directors to Higher Education in Zimbabwe
Get PDFWomen constitute the bulk of the labour force in library and information science practice a methods approach both the global and local level. Despite this phenomenon, directorship for all types and sizes of libraries in mostparts of the world is male dominated. “The sex structuring of organizations prevails throughout library, higher education, and corporate administration” (Irvine 1985:236). The issue of under-representation of women in leadership positions is attributed to a number of factors including, gender role stereotypes, gender segregation, biased recruitment and promotion systems amongst a host of other factors. However, there is a variation to thistrend in Zimbabwe’s university libraries, where the majority of directors are women. There are 15 universities in the country and only four out of fifteen university library directors are men. This paper looks at the contribution of women academic library directors to their institutions, focusing on their achievements as women managers in Zimbabwe. A review of literature will contextualise and compare their experiences with women in similar positions in some parts of the world within the framework of the Theory of Attribution
Microbial Analysis of Woven Cotton Kitchen Towels
Get PDFKitchen towels are exposed to infestation by microbes during their use in multiple applications which include wiping dishes and utensils, drying hands and wiping spills from surfaces. These microbes can contaminate food meant for consumption. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence, degree and nature of microbes hazardous to health, that are contaminating kitchen towels. Nine cotton woven towels were distributed to nine households for use in their normal ways. Microbes were then extracted from towels daily through swabbing, before and after washing the used towels. The swabs were then analysed. Households were also given a questionnaire to indicate the daily application of the towel. A Standard Pour Plate Method with an advantage of counting colony forming units of live microbes only was adopted. Results showed that microbial levels increased with days of usage, from the order of 103cfu/ml to 105 cfu/ml between second and ninth days, before laundering. Dangerous microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Eschericha ecoli were identified. Laundering could not remove all microbes from the towel. Only the laboratory chemical disinfection removed 100% microbes. It was concluded that washing and disinfecting towels through ultraviolet light was the best possible solution as disinfection chemical could remain on towels and passed on to the food
New Routes to The Preparation of [Ru3(CO)12], [H4Ru4(CO)12], [RuCl2(PPh3)3] and [RuCl2(COD)]n From Anglo Platinum Refinery Materials
Get PDFNew 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 material
THE EFFECT OF TRAVELLER SPEED ON THE QUALITY OF RINGSPUN YARNS AT LOW SPEEDS
Get PDFRing spinning is the most common method for spinning yarn. Various parameters of the ring spinning machine affect the quality of yarn during the spinning process. The effect of ring traveller weight and spindle speed on yarn quality was investigated in this research. Yarn was prepared by using two spinning speeds, 6500 rpm and 9500 rpm. Three different travellers were then used at each of the two spinning speeds to produce 42Tex yarn. The yarn hairiness, twist levels and tensile strength were used to evaluate the quality of the produced yarn. Results showed that there was a decrease in the yarn hairiness as the spindle speed and traveller weight were increased while there was no observed trend in twist level. In relation to the tensile strength there was higher strength when yarn was spun at 6500 rpm and higher strength was observed when the F5 traveller was used at both speeds
The Contribution of Women to Food Security and Livelihoods through Urban Agriculture in the City of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
No full textThis research explores the contribution, which is made by women to food security and livelihoods of families in the city of Bulawayo through urban agriculture. Women constitute the marginalised group in human society and their contribution to the society and wellbeing is slowly being realised as evidenced by campaigns to put them in positions of power. Rapid urbanization in Zimbabwe coupled with the economic crisis, which rocked the country between 2000 and 2012 had resulted in unemployment, which in turn created poverty and food shortages. In this research, primary data was collected through observations and interviews from people who practice urban agriculture in the city of Bulawayo. Interviews of key informants were carried out with the Bulawayo City Council staff members, government officials and other stakeholders who are concerned with the practice of urban agriculture in the city. Random and purposive sampling procedures were chosen to select residents who practice urban farming and stakeholders for interviews. Secondary data sources were used to review literature on the practice of agriculture in African cities of Accra in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya. Responses were coded and analysed quantitatively, using statistical package SPSS. The research showed that women practice urban agriculture more than their male counterparts as they play a crucial role of ensuring food security at the household level. The research also found out that it is the women who make decisions on the types of crops to be grown, time ofharvesting the crops and the market to which they can sell their surplus produce. In efforts to contribute to the food security, women usually face challenges of land ownership, money to finance their agricultural pursuits and to secure markets to sell their produce. These challenges tend to negatively affect their agricultural activities. It is recommended in this paper that if women are supported by providing them with land and money, they can actually positively contribute to the livelihoods of urban families through practicing urban farming. However, while this research has focused on the contribution of women to the livelihoods of families through urban farming, further research can look into the capitalisation of sewage to promote urban agriculture in the city of Bulawayo
E-Learning Environments in Undergraduate Design and Technology Courses
Get PDFWhen e-learning and other information and communication technologies (ICT’s) became accepted in both distance and face-to-face modes of learning in tertiary education, expectations were high that they would, within a reasonable time frame, yield visible and perhaps irrefutable gains in course delivery strategies and revolutionise both learning content knowledge and access to it. In developing countries it was hoped that there would be benefits in tapping into a knowledge revolution currently dominated by industrialised countries, who are by far the greatest contributors and beneficiaries.
The University of Botswana’s (UB) efforts, initiated in 2001, at technological transformation in teaching and learning for meaningful quality processes and outcomes have been evaluated by researchers, reviewers and participants. Comments have been made such as, ‘substantial progress, but many challenges” “very useful teaching support tool for large classes, but there is need to address key background issues” , “students share learning through educational technologies, but appropriate learning environments are required” . It has been evident that although a lot has been done at institutional management level to promote adoption and implementation of e-learning as a rule at UB, the ideal situation has not materialised. Much of the problem seems to emanate from the interaction between key players, such as top management, the teaching staff and students.
This paper reports on an on-going qualitative study that was carried out in order to negotiate and establish acceptable quality and effectiveness of e-learning envisaged by both the staff and students in a course that was not online at the time, in preparation of launching the course online in the next cycle. The action learning research study aimed at constructing an environment and a disposition towards e-learning mutually negotiated between students and their lecturers. Data was collected through various student-lecturer and student-student interaction processes such as classroom lecture, internet search, group presentations, tests, assignments, classroom observations, questionnaires, and video script analyses. Preliminary findings indicate that most students are enthusiastic about adopting e-learning if they have been adequately pre-oriented into the method and are consistently guided by caring and competent staff. They also will appreciate quality and effective learning if this is negotiated with someone who can articulate standards of performance
Rare Form of Splenomegaly on a Bovine: A Case Study
Get PDFPost-mortem on a four year Nguni-Mashona female bovine that had died from trampling by other animals while in transit to the slaughter house showed a rare form of splenomegaly. The spleen weighed 11.9 kilograms and measured 81.5 cm in length 37cm in width and 9 cm thick. The spleen characteristics could be described as follows: there were no pathological lesions, profuse bleeding occurred on the surface cut with a knife, the pulp caused a bulge on the cut surface which showed a granular appearance, case spleen consistence was firmer than a normal spleen, a smear of the case spleen showed a proliferation of lymphocytes which appeared to have replaced the white pulp, there was hyperplasic growth of reticuloendothilial cells and the case spleen had a dark reddish discoloration. Spleens in cattle of the same breed, age and sex weighed 1.0 ±0.25 kg and measured 39±5 cm length, 14±3.5 cm width and 3±0.5 cm thick. This is a first documented record of this size of splenomegaly in Zimbabw
Development of a Braided Polypropylene Rope Using Polypropylene Tape Yarns
Get PDFTraditionally, braided ropes are manufactured using either staple yarns or multifilament yarns. This study therefore sought to break this traditional paradigm by uniquely and economically manufacturing braided polypropylene ropes using polypropylene tape yarns. A recipe made up of virgin polypropylene granules, calcium carbonate and black masterbatch was used to produce a polypropylene plastic sheet, which was extruded on a Barmag machine. Tape yarns with a width of 22 mm on average were produced. Count, width, thickness, elongation and tensile strength of the tape yarns used to produce the rope were tested. The elongation and tensile strength tests were done on a Micro 500 Testometric strengthtesting machine. Test results on the tape yarns revealed that they have properties that fall within the standard range of fibrillated polypropylene tape yarns. Sorptive properties of both the tape yarns used and the braided rope developed revealed a slight increase in water absorbance to approximately 0.15% compared to standard water absorbance of less than 0.1%. This increment in water absorbance, however, did not change the floating properties of both the tape yarns and the braided rope as they both remained with their positive buoyancy. Also, no signs of microbial attack were seen onthe tape yarns and the braided rope by naked eyes after exposing the samples to water. The resultant braided rope produced was made up of 12 X 4973 denier polypropylene tape yarns with a 9200-denier polypropylene bailer twine as the core. The count and diameter of the resultant rope were found to be close to those of hazard barrier and hydro-pulling ropes and were also analogous to those of 5 mm cotton braided ropes produced