Browsing by Author "Sibanda, S."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Cyber Security Awareness and Education Framework for Zimbabwe Universities: A Case of National University of Science and Technology
    (2022-04-05) Mutunhu, B.; Dube, S.; Ncube N.; Sibanda, S.
    Internet-related attacks have become prevalent and are expected to increase as the reliance on the internet also increases. Consequently, cyber security has become an essential concept in everyday life and cyber security awareness is key in the protection of people and systems against cyber threats. The study is sought to establish the current levels of cyber security awareness among students and staff in universities and propose a framework for conducting cyber security awareness and education programs. Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and represented in descriptive and frequency ways as well as in percentage form. Based on research findings in this study, it has been established that students and staff at universities do not have the requisite knowledge and understanding of the importance of cyber security principles, their practical application in their day-to-day activities, and are not aware of how to protect their data. It is therefore recommended that universities should implement comprehensive awareness and education programs for the adoption of necessary safety measures and a framework for conducting such programs are proposed.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Design of a Control System for a Vending Machine
    (Elsevier, 2020) Murena, E.; Sibanda, V.; Sibanda, S.; Mpofu, K.
    Vending machines are available in many public places for vending of items like snacks, beverages, newspapers, tickets and smoking cigarettes Recently developed vending machine requires a control system to offer a variety of products to the general public. In this light, this paper, therefore, is aimed at developing a control system for the developed vending machine by developing various inputs required to make the machine function efficiently. The system controls and monitors the vending machine functions, namely: alarm system, product dispensing, refrigeration and payment system. The microcomputer capitalises on the evolution of high-performance processors and stable operating systems to implement control requirements. The project shall use intelligent vending machine input/output board to link other machine peripherals. The control system shall enable the machine to handle coin, mobile and point of sale terminal payment options. Implementation of the control system enhances flexibility in payment, remote machine monitoring and inventory control, and improved user experience through the integration of digital touch screen user interfaces and high-speed transaction processing
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Ethnobotanical knowledge and use-value of Harpagophytum (Devil’s claw) in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe
    (Elsevier, 2021-09-17) Ncube, S.F.; Ndagurwa, H.G.; Mundy, P.J.; Sibanda, S.; Dlodlo, M.
    Quantitative ethnobotanical knowledge is important in guiding sustainable resource use, yet for many medicinal plants such as Harpagophytum (Devil's claw), this information is scanty. Thus, we documented the ethnobotanical knowledge of Devil's claw in Hwange, Gwanda, Matobo, and Tsholotsho, western Zimbabwe, in relation to a person's age, gender, level of education, and locality. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, we interviewed 205 respondents on their knowledge of the physical features, distribution, uses and use-values, part used, and the method of preparation of Devil's claw. Physical identification was assessed based on the frequency of knowledge of plant parts. Binomial General Linear Models were used to test the effect of age, education, gender, and locality on the respondent's knowledge. Relationships of age, gender, level of education, and locality to ethnoecological perceptions were assessed using Pearson's Chi-square test. Use values were assessed based on Plant Part Value (PPV), Use Value category (UVk), and Overall Use Value (OUV). Ethnobotanical knowledge varied with locality and age, with better physical description in most adults and senior respondents in Hwange and Tsholotsho. Respondent's perceptions showed that Devil's claw was more abundant in Hwange and Tsholotsho relative to Matobo and Gwanda. Tubers (53%) were most valued in all localities followed by leaves (29%), and fruits (18%). Of the five identified categories of use, medicinal (UVk of 0.38) was the most important while ethnoveterinary, rituals, personal care, and food were least important (all UVks ≤0.02). OUVs were dependent on locality, significantly higher in Hwange and Tsholotsho (0.64 and 0.58, respectively) as compared to Gwanda (0.1) and Matobo (0.28). This study provides a wealth of knowledge that contributes to the preservation of indigenous knowledge of Devil's claw, sustainable management of the plant as well as further contribute to pharmacological interventions.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    In vitro antioxidant activity of crude extracts of Harpagophytum zeyheri and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activity compared with diclofenac
    (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2021-09-23) Ncube, S.F.; McGaw, L.J.; Njoya, E.M.; Ndagurwa, H.G.; Mundy, P.J.; Sibanda, S.
    Background This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity and comparison of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of Harpagopytum zeyheri with diclofenac. Methods In vitro assays were conducted using water, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of H.zeyheri. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) and 2,2′- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages as well as cytokine (TNF-α and IL-10) expression on LPS-induced U937 human macrophages. For cytotoxicity, cell viability was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results The ethyl acetate extract had the lowest IC50 values in the DPPH (5.91 μg/ml) and ABTS (20.5 μg/ml) assay compared to other extracts. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate extracts effectively inhibited NO and TNF-α and proved to be comparable to diclofenac at some concentrations. All extracts of H. zeyheri displayed dose-dependent activity and were associated with low levels of human-IL-10 expression compared to quercetin. Furthermore, all extracts displayed low toxicity relative to diclofenac. Conclusions These findings show that H. zeyheri has significant antioxidant activity. Additionally, similarities exist in the inflammatory activity of H. zeyheri to diclofenac at some concentrations as well as low toxicity in comparison to diclofenac.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its control measures on women and children: A Zimbabwe case study
    (medRxiv, 2024) Taruvinga, T.; Chingono, R.S; Olaru, I.D.; Masiye, K.; Madanhire, C.; Munhenzva, S.; Sibanda, S.; Mafuva, L.; O’Sullivan, N.; Osman, A.Y.; Deane, K.
    COVID-19 presented countries with unprecedented health policy challenges. For low-income countries in particular, policymakers had to contend with both the direct threats posed by COVID-19 as well as the social, educational, and economic harms associated with lockdown and other infection prevention and control measures. We present a holistic and contextualised case study of the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on women and children, with some assessment of their uneven distribution across socio-economic, age and gender groups. We used different types of primary and secondary data from multiple sources to produce a holistic descriptive analysis. Primary data included: qualitative data obtained from 28 in-depth interviews of key informants, six focus group discussions; and 40 household interviews. We also extracted data from government reports and announcements, the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2), newspaper articles and social media, as well as from published research articles. Our findings show that the direct and indirect adverse impacts of COVID-19 were compounded by many years of severe political economic challenges, and consequent deterioration of the healthcare system. The indirect effects of the pandemic had the most severe impacts on the poorest segment of society and widened age and gender inequalities. The pandemic and its accompanying infection prevention and control measures negatively affected health service delivery and uptake. The management of COVID-19 presented enormous challenges to policymakers and public health specialists. These included managing the greatest tension between direct and indirect harms; short-term and long-term effects; and the unequal distribution of harms across different segments of society.