The perceptions of Zimbabwean Pharmacists of their overall job satisfaction and the factors associated with it

Job satisfaction plays an important role in the motivation, productivity and performance of employees including pharmacists. We investigated the perceptions of Zimbabwean pharmacists of their overall job satisfaction and the factors associated with it. A random sample of 120 licensed pharmacists working in community, and hospital pharmacies and industry in Zimbabwe participated in this cross-sectional study. Pharmacists were highly satisfied with their jobs. Older pharmacists and those with more experience were more satisfied than younger ones. Pharmacists in industry had the greatest job satisfaction while those in large chain retail pharmacies had the lowest. Owners were more satisfied with their jobs than non-supervisor pharmacists. There was no significant difference in job satisfaction by gender and marital status. We conclude that although pharmacists in Zimbabwe are satisfied with their jobs in general, this is not so for young pharmacists who mainly work in retail chain pharmacies. Key words: Job satisfaction, pharmacy manpower, pharmacy, Zimbabwe East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 12 (2009) 74-7

Design of a DC overcurrent fault detection and protection scheme for DC collectors of a photovoltaic plant

Abstract: Faults in the DC collector circuits of a photovoltaic plant are a cause for major concern due to the damage they may cause to equipment. Fault protection is required for ground faults, line-to-line faults and arc faults. Typically, the magnitude of short-circuit currents of PV modules are similar to that of load currents which makes fault detection and protection difficult to carry out on the DC system. The DC collectors of a PV plant consist of combiner boxes where PV arrays are connected and inverter DC buses where combiner boxes are connected. This paper investigates the fault contribution from the PV modules on the combiner boxes and inverter DC buses in relation to typical PV module data on an isolated section of the DC network of a plant using the ETAP simulation tool. A fault detection and protection scheme for the main faults in a DC PV system is proposed based on previous research, for complete protection of the DC collector circuits

The Influence of Firm Specific Determinants on Financial Performance in the Power Industry

This study concentrates on the impact of firm specific determinants on financial performance in the power industry. The firm specific determinants used in this study as independent variables were capital structure, firm size and liquidity whilst ROA, ROI and profitability were used as proxies of financial performance. Modigliani and Miller (1958) argue that capital structure has no impact on financial performance whilst the Trade-off theory suggests that the ideal capital structure that helps firm remain financially healthy is the trade-off between cost of leverage and the advantages of debt. Beyond that trade-off point, a firm will start making losses. The target population included 60 employees from all the 5 subsidiaries of the Holding company and researchers used 40 respondents as sample size to enhance reliability. A relationship was established between firm specific determinants and financial performance as measured by ROA, ROI and profitability. The results showed a negative but significant relationship between capital structure and financial performance and they support the pecking order theory which suggests that capital structure is a significant determinant of financial performance. Firm size and financial performance were also negatively related. However, a significant positive relationship was established between liquidity and financial performance. From the findings the researchers concluded that firm specific factors have a significant impact on financial performance. Researchers therefore recommend that ZESA holdings should use its internal funds such as retained earnings and more equity than debt when financing its activities so as to reduce leverage costs which lead to poor performance.&nbsp

Selection and coordination of surge arresters for switching transient mitigation in photovoltaic power plants

Abstract: Photovoltaic energy generation has become a popular renewable alternative to conventional energy generation that utilise fossil fuels. However, given the diversity and complexity of these PV plants, it is imperative that such plant equipment be protected against the greatest contributor to equipment failure; surges. Software simulation using EMTP-RV version 3.3, this paper implements a proposed methodology for the insulation coordination study of a PV plant. The overvoltages associated with the opening of vacuum circuit breakers, at various test points along the network are considered in order to recommend possible selection criteria of surge arresters as well as location thereof. The study finds that for a reduction of surge magnitudes from 8 p.u to within 1.2 p.u would require surge arrester energy capabilities to be greater than 2.8 kJ/kV for the medium voltage (MV) arresters , and capabilities exceeding 259kJ/kV for the low voltage (LV) arrester. For the high voltage (HV) section of the plant, no surge propagation was identified thus exempting it from the insulation coordination. The above mentioned, along with surge current and overvoltage levels comprise the findings of the study providing parameter guidelines for arrester selection

Implications of housing design and layout systems for crime prevention in housing residential neighbourhoods in the metropolitan areas of Durban.

Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, 2001.It is believed that housing designs and layout systems for crime prevention have either positive or negative implications on the actual prevention of crime. Therefore this research explores the exact implications that housing designs and layout systems have in relation to crime especially in neighborhoods of Durban. In this regard, the concepts, assumptions surrounding work on the field, including defensible space principles, crime prevention through environmental design and the housing design principles are thoroughly discussed. Various principles especially defensible space principles are emphasized in this study: Surveillance, territoriality, access control, image and milieu. Hence other supporting paradimes like housing design principles including housing structures, support activities and gated communities are highly elaborated. These analytical criteria were used to examine two neighboring residential areas characterized by different planning and design systems in the area of Woodlands in terms safety. The assessment is mainly a comparison of the gated residential neighbourhood and the non-gated residential neighbourhood. Procedurally the evaluation entails analyzing both areas in terms of layout and housing design, observing both areas in terms of behavior and reaction of residents within their areas and analyzing the views and perceptions of people living in both areas. The findings indicate that in comparing the two areas in terms of safety the gated residential neighbourhoods displays high level of safety as compared to the non-gated community. Overall housing design and layout systems for crime prevention have positive implications on crime reduction in residential areas. However different recommendations are made in an attempt to improve crime free housing designs in offering both real and perceived safety

Presentation patterns of invasive cancer of the cervix: results from Parirenyatwa Oncology and Radiotherapy Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe 1998-2010

A research paper on cancer of the cervix in Zimbabwe.Cancer of the uterine cervix is the second most common cancer among women worldwide with a high incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa.1 In developing countries such as Zimbabwe invasive cancer of the cervix (CaCx) is the most common cancer in females and also the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women.2 The American Cancer Society3 estimated that 12.710 million new cases of invasive CaCx were going to be diagnosed in 2011 and about 4.290 million women were going to die with invasive CaCx. The same author reported that there is a significant decrease in incidence and mortality rate of invasive CaCx in developed countries over the past three decades as compared to the developing countries. This was attributed to available options of disease prevention with the possibility of early diagnosis of the disease due to effective screening and accessibility to effective treatment procedures in developed countries. To this end it has been noted that women living in developed countries have a 208% greater chance of being successfully treated when compared with women in less developed countries

Secondary metabolites produced by endophytic fungi, Alternaria alternata, as potential inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus

Antiretroviral treatment has significantly reduced human immunodeficiency virus infection and mortality. However, the current treatment regimen is limited by adverse side effects, the emergence of drug resistance, and the inability to eliminate viral reservoirs. Here, fifteen endophytic fungi were isolated from Sclerocarya birrea and Hypoxis plants. Crude extracts of Alternaria alternata (strain ID PO4PR1, PO4PR2, and PO2PL1) of the fifteen isolate’s crude extracts showed anti-HIV-1 activity in TZM-bl cell line at inhibitory concentration (IC50) values ranging from 0.017 to 1.170 μg/ml. The three crude extracts also maintained the virus replication inhibition profile on PBMCs and CD4+ T cells at concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 50.2 ng/ml. Partial purification using the solid phase extraction and analysis with Gas Chromatography-Mass spectrophotometry showed a diverse profile. The bioactive compounds were identified based on peak area, retention time, similarity index. The major compounds from GC-MS analysis of A. Alternata revealed the existence of cyclotrisiloxane octamethyl (22.92%); Propaninitrile (16,67%); Pyrrolol[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methyl propyl) (10.42%); Silane, diethylethoxy(2-ethoxyethyloxy) (4.17%); Coumarin, 3,4-dihydro-4,5,7-trimethyl- 4,5,7-Trimethyl-2-chromanone (13.7%) and 1,2-Cyclobutanedicarbonitrile (2.08%) with previously reported biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, these bioactive compounds from A. alternata fungal endophytes could be repurposed as potential anti-HIV agents. This study showed the potential of endophytic fungi, Alternaria alternata from S. birrea, and Hypoxis species as producers of anti-HIV compounds

Effects of Maternal Suicidal Ideation on Child Cognitive Development: A Longitudinal Analysis.

This study aimed to assess the association between suicidal ideation among mothers living with HIV in Zimbabwe and the cognitive development of their children. Participants were mother-child dyads recruited from two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Data were collected at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Suicidal ideation was assessed using item-10 from the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Mixed-effects linear regression was used to assess the association of child cognitive outcomes at follow-up (using the Mullen scales of early learning) with maternal suicidal ideation. Mothers with suicidal ideation at baseline (n = 171) tended to be younger, unmarried, experienced moderate to severe hunger, had elevated parental stress and depression symptoms compared with non-suicidal mothers (n = 391). At follow-up, emerging maternal suicidal ideation was associated with poorer child cognitive outcomes (adjusted mean difference - 6.1; 95% CI - 10.3 to - 1.8; p = 0.03). Suicidal ideation affects child cognitive development and should be addressed, particularly in HIV positive mothers

Subsistence fishing as a response to the management of living marine resources on public spaces in Durban, South Africa

Paper presented at the 3rd edition of the African Conference on Sustainable Tourism (ACoST) and part of the conference proceedingsThis paper sought to analyze the role of subsistence fishing in effective natural resource management. Subsistence fishers are a group of people who harvest marine resources for food at their homes and also sell some of the harvest to secure food and other basic necessity. The focus was to understand the fishers’ needs, perceptions and concerns regarding fishing as a live-hood option. To achieve effective marine resource management, the KZN substance fishing forum was established by the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA). The aim was to investigate the extent to which subsistence fishermen use environmental advocacy and environmental education in realising food security. The introduction of SDCEA was motivated by the challenges faced by fishermen particularly when fishing became prohibited in the harbor. As a result, the SDCEA membership has grown from strength to strength. Since then, the forum has registered 12 000 members across the KZN province. Using in-depth key informant interviews, twenty fishermen were interviewed. The results show that since its inception, the SDCEA forum has played a pivotal role in educating its members on sustainable natural resource management by introducing a mentorship course whereby different environmental and social stakeholders hold classes with the fishermen on marine wildlife, environmental procedures in a coastal environment, littering, water safety and law enforcement. As a result, the forum has gained back three popular fishing spots that were initially taken away from them by the harbor authority. However, a number of challenges were noted, such as the failure to understand subsistence fishing as a livelihood option due to protectionist management practices; and the failure to recognize fishermen as stakeholders in marine resource use. The paper concludes that, in order to achieve future marine resources management strategies, there is need to embrace the needs, perceptions and concerns of fishermen in Durban

Productivity and efficiency analysis of maize under conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

This study assesses the productivity and efficiency of maize production under conservation agriculture (CA). The analysis is based on a three year (2008–2010) panel sample of small holder farming households across 15 rural districts in Zimbabwe. We make a comparison of CA with alternative conventional farming methods. Our empirical strategy consists of two methods. First, using a fixed effects model, we estimate maize production functions and derive technical change estimates under CA and conventional farming. Second, we estimate a joint stochastic production frontier to compare productivity and technical efficiency between CA and conventional farming. Under CA, technical progress has been land-saving but seed and fertilizer-using, while it has been land-using but seed-saving in conventional farming. Lastly, the results of the efficiency analysis show that that farmers produce 39% more in CA compared with conventional farming, but technical efficiency levels are essentially equal in both technologies. Overall, the results show significant yield gains in CA practices and significant contributions to food production. CA is land-saving, and this is an important issue for land constrained farmers because they can still have viable food production on smaller area. However, high labor and fertilizer demands in CA present some problems in adoption amongst resource-constrained farmers