Midlands State University

About: Midlands State University is a education organization based out in Gweru, Zimbabwe. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Shona. The organization has 632 authors who have published 930 publications receiving 5903 citations.

Effects of tillage on soil microrelief, surface depression storage and soil water storage

Abstract: Conservation of soil water is an important management objective for crop production in the semi-arid tropics where droughts are persistent. Identification of the best tillage methods to achieve this objective is thus imperative. The integrated effects of conservation tillage on soil micro topography and soil moisture on a sandy loam soil were evaluated. The field experiment consisted of five tillage treatments, namely tied ridging (TR), no till (NT), disc plough (DP), strip catchment tillage (SCT) and hand hoe (HH). Data measured in the field included soil moisture content, surface roughness, infiltration and sorghum grain yield. A depth storage model was used to estimate depression storage TR treatment and the higher the surface roughness, the greater the depression storage volume. Regression analysis showed that random roughness decreased exponentially with increase in cumulative rainfall. Higher moisture contents were associated with treatments having higher depressional storage. Infiltration rate was significantly higher in the tilled soils than the untilled soils. The DP treatment had the highest cumulative infiltration while NT had the lowest. The Infiltration model which was fitted to the infiltration data gave good fit. Grain yield was highest in TR and least in NT, whereas DP and HH had similar yields.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

Abstract: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) addresses sexual rights, reproductive processes, and sexual functions at all stages of life. It is about the right to participate in sexuality, including seeking, receiving, and passing on information about sexuality. It also encompasses personal choices about sexual activity, including fertility control. Yet, SRH is a taboo subject in many tradition-led communities, and its practice is constrained by social mores and conventions that restrict access to SRH information by women and minors. This is most apparent in four key areas of SRH practice: fertility control, sexually transmitted infections, maternal health, and sex education. Keywords: health; sexuality; indigenous healing systems; sexually transmitted disease

Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting Devices: An Alternative Energy Source for Wireless Sensors

Abstract: The recent advances in ultralow power device integration, communication electronics, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology have fuelled the emerging technology of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The spatial distributed nature of WSNs often requires that batteries power the individual sensor nodes. One of the major limitations on performance and lifetime of WSNs is the limited capacity of these finite power sources, which must be manually replaced when they are depleted. Moreover, the embedded nature of some of the sensors and hazardous sensing environment make battery replacement very difficult and costly. The process of harnessing and converting ambient energy sources into usable electrical energy is called energy harvesting. Energy harvesting raises the possibility of self-powered systems which are ubiquitous and truly autonomous, and without human intervention for energy replenishment. Among the ambient energy sources such as solar energy, heat, and wind, mechanical vibrations are an attractive ambient source mainly because they are widely available and are ideal for the use of piezoelectric materials, which have the ability to convert mechanical strain energy into electrical energy. This paper presents a concise review of piezoelectric microgenerators and nanogenerators as a renewable energy resource to power wireless sensors.

Building adaptive capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability due to climatic change in Africa – A new approach

Abstract: The world community faces many risks from climate change, with most scenarios indicating higher temperatures and more erratic rainfall in Africa Predictions for southern Africa suggest a general decrease in total seasonal rainfall, accompanied by more frequent in-season dry spells that will significantly impact crop and livestock production, and hence economic growth in the region The hardest hit will be the rural poor in the drier areas, where crop failure due to drought is already common and chronic food emergencies afflict the region in most years Lessons can be learnt on how the rural poor currently cope with the vagaries of climate and these can be used to help them adapt their current production systems to the future threats of further climate change But this assumes the institutions that work towards the economic empowerment of the rural poor have the requisite skills to understand their current coping strategies and how adaptation can be facilitated A new initiative led by Midlands State University and the Zambian Meteorological Office proposes that improving the ability of institutions that train the ‘Future Change Agents’, who will subsequently support smallholder communities in adapting their agricultural practices to current climate variability, is the first step in building adaptive capacity to cope with future climate change The capacity of African scientists, regional organizations and decision-makers in dealing with the issues of climate change and adaptation will be enhanced on a continuing basis, and the impacts of their agricultural development programs improved