NuSpace

NuSpace is the official repository platform of the National University of Science and Technology that enables researchers in:

  • obtaining easy access to a wide range of academic materials,
  • promoting knowledge dissemination and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 12

Recent Submissions

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Mycofltration of Aqueous Iron (III) and Imidacloprid Solutions, and the Efects of the Filtrates on Selected Biomarkers of the Freshwater Snail Helisoma duryi
(Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2024-02-08) Mnkandla, S.M.; Mosoabisane, M.F.T.; Basopo, N.; Otomo, P.V.
To alleviate the burden of water contamination, a newly developed form of bioremediation known as mycofiltration can be employed. Mycofiltration is an environment-friendly technology involving the treatment of contaminated water by passing it through a network of saprophytic fungal mycelium. A mycofilter made of Pleurotus ostreatus was used for the removal of iron (III) and imidacloprid from aqueous solutions. Batch mycofiltration, at a dosage of 1 g of mycofilter per 50 mL, was performed on iron (III) solutions of different concentrations (0.99, 10.7, 22.9, and 27.72 mg/L) and pH (3.3, 7 and 11). For column mycofiltration, the mycofilter was packed into pyrex columns (3.3 × 15 cm) to desired bed heights. Iron (III) and imidacloprid solutions of 18.99 mg/L and 234.70 ng/L, respectively, were filtered at a constant flow rate. Thereafter, Helisoma duryi snails were exposed for 96 h to the respective filtrates, and their catalase and acetylcholinesterase activities were assessed. Batch mycofiltration showed iron (III) removal rates as high as 85%. Column mycofiltration showed removal rates of 94 and 31% for iron (III) and imidacloprid, respectively. Catalase activity was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the snails exposed to iron (III) or imidacloprid filtrates, compared to the snails exposed to the non-mycofiltered media. A significantly higher acetylcholinesterase activity was induced by iron (III) filtrates in comparison with the non-mycofiltered media (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in acetylcholinesterase activity (p > 0.05) in the snails exposed to mycofiltered and non-mycofiltered imidacloprid media. Mycofilter characterisation using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry revealed significant changes in transmittance intensity in the mycofilters used for the iron (III) vs the ones used for the imidacloprid solutions. Mycofiltration was found to improve water quality although iron (III) was removed more effectively than imidacloprid.
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Reports on Collection, Identification and Estimation of Microplastic in Freshwater Bodies
(Springer Nature, 2024-04-27) Falayi, T.; Musiyarira, H.; Sithole, T.; Moyo, M.
Microplastics (MP) are plastic materials whose particle size is less than 5 μm. MP are pervasive and are an emerging threat to fauna and flora. MPs are now being found in fresh water sources and this has a threat on the wellbeing of human beings. To properly manage the pollution problem of MP, the collection, identification, and estimation of MPs in freshwater is important. The methods described should be robust with very low estimates of uncertainty. This chapter, therefore, takes a systematic review of the current and advances in the identification, collection and estimation of MPs in freshwater. The use of non-validated marine methods for freshwater analysis is problematic. The expensive nature of some of the MPs detection method render the monitoring of MPs in resource challenged countries a problem.
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PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ADOLESCENT MALE LEARNERS WITH BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS: A CASE OF THREE INSIZA DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN MATABELELAND SOUTH PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE
(International Journal of Education Humanities and Social Science, 2024) Dhlula, C.; Sibanda, L.
This study sought to examine how educators provided psychosocial support services to adolescent male learners with behavioural problems in three Insiza District Secondary Schools, Matabeleland South Province. The study was guided by interpretivist paradigm, adopted qualitative approach and employed case study design. Data were collected from a population sample comprising twelve male learners, three educators and three counsellors through focus group discussions for learners, and in-depth semi-structured interviews for educators and counsellors. The results of the study revealed that educators established the needs of the individual learners first before applying the intervention. The study found that the strategies used by educators to provide psychosocial support services to adolescent male learners involved promoting mindfulness, promoting social, emotional and behavioural learning, enhancing connectedness among learners, staff, and families, providing psychosocial skills training and cognitive behavioural interventions and guidance and counselling. The findings further indicated that adolescent male learners with behavioural problems were taught life skills such as team work, responsibility, good decision making, critical thinking, stress management, health and life skills, honesty and integrity. They are also taught tolerance, selfsufficiency, relationships, self-esteem, self-control, communication skills, conflict resolution, and, leadership skills and community involvement. The study established that educators encountered a number of challenges in provision of psychosocial support services to adolescent male learners with behaviour problems. The challenges comprised inadequate training, stress and emotional strain, lack of support, time constraints, difficulty in establishing rapport, and vicarious traumatisation. The study concluded that despite the challenges faced in providing psychosocial support services to adolescent male learners with behaviour problems, educators in selected Insiza District Secondary Schools used varied strategies to assist learners. The study recommended that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should intensify training of educators to equip them with requisite knowledge and skills on provision of psychosocial support in schools.
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Can integrated safety intervention practices improve sustainable performance? A survey of service organizations
(Heliyon, 2024-05-09) Machingura, T.; Muyavu, A. T.
Despite extensive research on occupational health and safety, the role of safety intervention on performance remains underexplored. Understanding how different integrated safety intervention practices influence sustainable performance could unlock new avenues. This study aimed to investigate the influence of integrated safety intervention practices on economic, social and environmental performance. A survey was conducted in the Zimbabwe service industry and 242 useable responses were obtained. By means of structural equation modelling, we analyzed the effect of management safety intervention, human safety intervention and technical safety intervention on the three dimensions of sustainability. Our findings suggest that safety intervention practices lead to improved sustainable performance. However, the relationship between management safety intervention and sustainable performance is indirect and mediated by human and technical safety intervention. These insights could inform organizations that adopting safety intervention practices is more than compliance with regulations and further shed light on those who are not sure what other benefits besides improving workplace safety can be attained through adopting safety intervention practices.
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Perceptions of Healthcare Workers on the Attributes of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System in Zimbabwe
(Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 2024-05-07) Mteliso, F.; Adalier, A.; Malunguza, N.J.; Chiyaka, E.T.
Objective: To investigate healthcare workers’ perceptions of the integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) strategy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers (HCWs) was conducted from December 2021 to June 2022 to assess their perceptions of the IDSR system attributes. Results: Of the 409 respondents, 12 (2.9%) reported no prior training on disease surveillance. The IDSR was deemed simple, acceptable, useful, and timely by most participants. There were sharp differences in perceptions of flexibility and simplicity between doctors and the other healthcare professionals. However, acceptability, timeliness, and usefulness were uniformly perceived. Healthcare workers with at least 11 years of experience perceived the usefulness of the IDSR system significantly higher than those with lesser years of experience. However, work experience did not have an impact on HCWs perceptions of the simplicity, timeliness, and flexibility of the IDSR system. Conclusions: Most healthcare workers have positive perceptions of the IDSR approach. However, there are reservations about how well the system can adapt to changing conditions and demands (flexibility) and how well it simplifies the implementation processes. These findings demonstrate the necessity of adopting cutting-edge strategies for capacity building as well as ongoing professional development of healthcare professionals responsible for the implementation of the IDSR strategy.