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Determinants of Economic Growth for SADC Nations: A Fixed Effects Approach
Full text linkIn order to accurately forecast economic growth, it is important that growth determinants are identified. However Africa and Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in particular have not identified any determinants of economic growth that are peculiar to the SADC region. In this study determinants of economic growth are gathered and evaluated for sixteen SADC countries for twenty two years (2000 to 2021), that dictates use of panel data analysis, whereas panel data may have group effects, time effects or both. Data is taken from various sources but mainly the World Bank website for different SADC countries contributing in the world economy. In this article, the comparison of ordinary least squares (OLS) model and fixed effects models (FEM) for SADC nations’ panel data were carried out. F-test was used as a specification test to make a selection between OLS model and fixed effects model. A fixed effects model with an adjusted R2 value of 98% which is very plausible was realised to be the best model to handle the SADC community economic data
A Systematic Investigation of Microwave Heating in Oxidised Platinum Group Metal Ores
Full text linkExtraction of valuable Platinum Group Metals (PGM) in oxidised ores has been fraught with challenges due to their physio-chemical properties that hinder high/economic extraction rates. The aim of this study was to understand the potential of microwave heating to enhance mineral liberation in oxidized PGM ores (assumed to be represented by their respective metals) in microwave heating are studied using COMSOL Multiphysics computer simulations. The results showed that the ore constituents exhibited differential heating rates when mixed with a microwave absorbing additive, which is key to achieving thermal fracture within the ore to enhance mineral liberation. Also, an increase in microwave power resulted in an increase in the differential heating rate in the oxidized ores when an additive was present, suggesting that the presence of a microwave absorbing additive to the ores greatly improves the differential volumetric heating rate of oxidised ores. Of the elements tested, iron seems to have potential in increasing microwave heating in the oxidised ores when no additive is introduced. Copper was observed to be the one to first change state when heated thus giving a limit to the point at which the samples are heated. These findings suggest that microwave heating has the potential to be a viable technology for enhancing mineral liberation in oxidized PGM ores. Further research, such as A more detailed understanding of the size range of ore particles that are susceptible to differential heating at the micro-scale, is needed to optimize the microwave heating process and to develop new mineral processing techniques based on microwave heating. Overall, the study showed that microwave heating has the potential to be a versatile and effective technology for mineral liberation in oxidized PGM ores. Further research is needed to optimize the microwave heating process and to develop new mineral processing techniques based on microwave heating
Advances in Heat Storage(HS) Schemes for Concentrated Solar Power Plants(CSPPs)–A Technical Paper
Full text linkClimate change issues, depletiom of the ozone layer has prompted the development of CSP power plants which do not generate greenhouse gas emissions. The source of heat in CSPs is the infinite, abundant and sustainable renewable solar energy. CSPs replace the front end of fossil fueled power plants but retains the tried and tested backend i.e. power engine which is the same as in coal power stations. Solar energy is only available for a maximum of about 10 hours daily during which there is diurnal and seasonal variability and other factors like cloud cover, rain and humidity levels and hence the need for energy storage to enable 24 hour generation The paper intends to avail an exhaustive, comprehensive and detailed review of the technologies involved in heat energy storage schemes covered by literature comparing their advantages, disadvantages and economic viabilities. The paper goes on to dimenson and size the storage tanks for the various thermal energy storage technologies. This paper recommends tricoupled or tribridized energy storage schemes on a single CSP power plant e.g.(a) Sensible heat for night and day(diurnal storage or short term storage) (b) Latent heat for solar diurnal variability and cloud cover(medium term thermal energy storage) e.g. for weeks (c) Thermochemical for long term seasonal variability(seasonal heat storage)-long term storage e.g. months. All on a single power plant as an effective energy storage scheme! This paper recommends the use of more, stronger and more resliant materials for energy storage tanks such as insulated carbon steel or stainless steel of appropriate thickness to prevent mechanical yield failures due to volumetric expansive forces induced by heat of the storage material therein contained in storage tanks. Engineering material sciences theory and experiemental evidence will assist in the design of storage tanks that has the capacity to withstand stress and tensile forces due to volumetric thermal expansion of storage material. The technical paper identifies thermal energy storage materials for the three storage technologies
The Design of an IoT based automatic pollution monitoring system
Full text linkUrban areas are characterized by high population density and extreme air pollution due to mobile machines and industrial activities. Automobiles are one of the main sources of air pollution. The main aim of this research was to monitor the amount of vehicle emissions and ambient air pollution levels depending on vehicle density. This research also investigates cold start emissions from petrol vehicle engines. Design science research methodology was implemented in designing the monitoring system, compatible for both ambient and onboard emission monitoring. The system was designed with emission detection sensors installed on four locations of Chinhoyi urban to monitor ambient air pollution, and on vehicle exhaust tail pipes to monitor vehicle emissions. Highest average CO level (3.27ppm) was found in a location with highest vehicle density (33 vehicles at Location 2 (CHTMBusStop)). It was also observed that Location 1 (CHEMA) had higher vehicle density as compared to location in Chinhoyi urban. However, CO concentration (0.44ppm) at Location 1 (CHEMA) is lower than CO concentrations at locations in Chinhoyi town (0.56ppm and 0.98ppm at Location 3 (CCFCRobots) and Location 4 (CKERobots) respectively). This is attributed to the driving mode of vehicles in highway driving cycle and urban driving cycle. It was found that as vehicle density increased from 15 to 18, CO concentration also increased from 0.56ppm to 0.98ppm respectively. A location furthest from town (location 1) had the minimum CH4 concentration (2.57ppm), and as we move closer to town CBD CH4, concentrations increased significantly (5.94ppm, 7.52ppm and 57.34ppm at location 2, 3, and 4 (Chinhoyi town CBD) respectively). The average CO emission level from vehicle exhaust tailpipes found was 78.39ppm, which is not above the set limit of 90ppm for at most 15minutes. However, the maximum concentration of CO observed from exhaust tail pipes was 988.69ppm. Nissan Sylphy (engine capacity of 1,798cm3, engine model MRA8DE) without converter was found to emit more CO pollutants (279.97ppm) as compared to Toyota Alex2001 (engine of capacity 1496cm3) and Toyota Runx with engine capacity of 1497cm3 (58.57ppm and 20.91ppm respectively). The CO emission levels from vehicles with catalytic converter exist within Zimbabwean emission limits
Use of ethnoveterinary medicines for poultry health management in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries: A review
Full text linkPoultry emerges as the most efficient livestock sub-sector in its use of natural resources and providing protein to supply a global growing demand. Farmers have indigenous methods to treat diseases using medicinal plants through indigenous knowledge systems. The application of indigenous knowledge to treat animal diseases is known as ethnoveterinary medicine. This review aims to document medicinal plants that are used for treating poultry diseases in SADC countries and acts as a baseline for future research in chemical analysis, drug development and conservation studies. Small scale poultry farmers in SADC countries face many challenges in the improvement of the poultry sector which include health management, lack of knowledge and extension services, poor marketing strategies, expensive vaccines and conventional drugs among others. However, there are opportunities to boosting the poultry sector in the region if only some government policies can be reviewed to support the poultry industry. SADC has a vast indigenous knowledge of plants that are effective in managing poultry health. Detailed research is needed to standardize the safety, efficacy, frequency of treatment, concentrations and dosage forms of such remedies.
Natural mating versus artificial insemination on reproductive performance of cattle in Zimbabwe’s smallholder sector: A review
Full text linkEffects of the natural mating and the artificial insemination breeding methods were reviewed. Breeding methods have significant impact on cattle reproductive performance in the smallholder sector livestock production sector. In Zimbabwe, over 80% of cattle population is found in the smallholder sector. Cattle production in smallholder sector is characterised by poor reproductive performance due to several reasons, among them the breeding method. A comprehensive systematic literature review search was conducted from August 2021 to July 2022 using search engines Google Scholar and EBSCO host to explore the impacts of different breeding methods used in smallholder sector of Zimbabwe. Fifty-seven full text articles met the inclusion criteria. Forty-one of the articles were research papers and sixteen were narrative reviews. The most common breeding method, the natural mating method, is easier for farmers but badly affected by communal system of grazing and limited number and diversity of bulls available. The alternative artificial insemination method is used by limited number of farmers due to lack of knowledge, skill and resources. Both methods of mating explored have their own advantages and disadvantages. The central problem to using the natural mating method is inbreeding. Inbreeding leads to a multitude of other problems all leading to poor reproductive performance. It was concluded that systematic revealing of problems and sequential chronicling of advantages can help farmers understand each of the two methods for better implementation and decision making on each method
Editorial for the Journal of Technological Sciences Volume 2
Full text linkVolume 2 of the edition of the Journal of Technological Sciences comes at a time of renewed growth and enthusiasm within the green production systems scientific discipline area. This is steered by the developments in increased interest in climate change research, Artificial Intelligence, and the promotion of utilization of data science in decision-making. These aspects are gradually shaping the research pathways within our local, regional, and institutional institutions. Collectively, these research foci are at the forefront of generating innovations, goods, and services that improve the standards of living in many societies through positive impacts on human health, food security, and better livelihoods income.
Pit silos require hermeticity to serve as an alternative low cost storage facility for maize grain by smallholder farmers
Full text linkImproved grain storage is important in reducing postharvest losses and ensuring food security particularly among smallholder farming communities. In this study, a survey was carried out to establish grain storage practices and farmer perceptions among smallholder communities using 60 farmers in Shurugwi District, Zimbabwe. This was followed by a pilot scale study to test the effectiveness of the pit silo as a low-cost storage system for resource-constrained smallholder farmers. Four storage systems (pit silo, hermetic bag, insecticide-treated polypropylene bag and untreated polypropylene bag) were tested at Chinhoyi University farm, Zimbabwe, from December 2017 to May 2018, then for the same period in 2018 to 2019, using a completely randomised design replicated four times. Survey results showed that 96% of the farmers stored their maize grain in unimproved facilities. Most farmers (90%) stored their grain harvests for less than 12 months. Grain that was stored in pit silos contained the highest moisture (12.7-13.8%) while that stored in hermetic and untreated polypropylene bag had the lowest moisture content (8.5-9.7%). Pit silos had higher insect pest infestation than hermetic and insecticide-treated polypropylene bags but had as much as three times fewer insects than untreated polypropylene bags. The highest (30%) and lowest (16%) grain weight losses were recorded under pit silo and hermetic bag storage, respectively. Germination percentage was also least in pit silo and greatest in hermetic bag storage. Pit silo stored grain contained higher concentrations of aflatoxins AFB1 (24.8 ppb) and AFG1 (6.4 ppb) relative to hermetic and untreated bag storage (0-0.8 ppb). The results of this study suggest that whilst pit silos perform better than unimproved systems such as untreated bags, further design work is required for it to match other efficient systems like the hermetic bag
Poultry endogenous biosurfactants based feed additive, a potential counter to Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenge: a review
Full text linkBiosurfactants are amphiphilic microbial secretions containing surface-active biomolecules produced on living surfaces, such as microbial cell surfaces or extracellular surfaces. They possess a variety of characteristics that enable secreting microorganisms to withstand a variety of stressful situations, allowing them to conquer a variety of habitats. Biosurfactants also allow secreting microorganisms to destabilize other bacteria in competition for clinging surfaces, habitats, and substrates, ensuring their survival. Periods of extreme stress are unavoidable in birds, resulting in dysbacteriosis and the production of biofilms by less helpful bacteria. This stressful environment causes a broiler's feed utilization efficiency and immunity to be weakened, increasing the risk of coccidiosis. Farmers utilize a number of antimicrobial treatments to combat decreased immunity and performance, which could lead to drug residue in meat and other poultry products. Residual drugs will exacerbate antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR), which is believed to be around 60% in Zimbabwean cities. The researchers were inspired to look into endogenous biosurfactants after learning about the interesting properties of bacterial metabolites. A desk top study was carried out primarily employing sources to uncover the potential of biosurfactants in the twenty-first century. Many researchers were found to be employing exogenous microorganisms, and the majority of their studies were aimed at cleaning up polluted places. Biosurfactants have a number of features that are relevant to agriculture. Less study has been done on the advantages of endogenous biosurfactants. Biosurfactants are secreted by a variety of microorganisms, primarily bacteria. It is necessary to identify biosurfactant-secreting microbial species and describe their microbial secretions. For the poultry sector, a biosurfactant-based feed supplement can be developed to help combat antimicrobial resistance
Editorial for Journal of Technological Sciences
Full text linkIt is with great pleasure that I present this first issue of the Journal of Technological Sciences as a Chinhoyi University of Technology publication. This issue comes after a long break from publication by the Zimbabwe Journal of Technological Sciences (ZJTS) which is the predecessor of this journal. The last issue for ZJTS was in 2015. A number of changes have occurred at Chinhoyi University of Technology’s research profile as well as the overall national and international focus regarding research and development, thus necessitating the modification of title and focus areas of the journal. For example, the most significant shift in the higher education sector globally requires that education should yield innovations, goods and services that have societal impact