G-Space Institutional Repository
Welcome to the Gwanda State University Institutional Repository, G-Space. G-Space is an open access digital archive that collects, preserves, and distributes digital scholarly output produced, owned, and maintained by the Gwanda State University community.
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Recent Submissions
The influence of organisational ambidexterity on digital efficacy: The moderating role of digital skills
(SSBFNET- Strategic Studies in Business & Finance, 2025-11-16) Mpofu, Siphephelo; Ndlovu, Njabulo; Ndofirepi, Takawira; Nemashakwe, Paul
In the face of fast technological improvements, higher education institutions must strike a balance between leveraging existing strengths and pursuing new opportunities to succeed. This study examines how organisational ambidexterity affects digital efficacy in Zimbabwean state universities, with a focus on the moderating influence that digital skills play. A cross-sectional research design was employed to collect data from 110 academic and administrative staff at three Zimbabwean state universities through digital platforms. The findings show a positive relationship between organisational ambidexterity and digital efficacy, with digital skills significantly moderating the relationship. Universities with ambidextrous staff have higher levels of academic excellence, research productivity, and stakeholder satisfaction. Due to limited time and funds, the study only focused on three state universities, but it would be interesting to explore private universities in the future. This research provides valuable insights for Zimbabwean state universities to enhance their digital capabilities. By fostering a balance between exploitation and exploration of digital innovations and investing in digital skills development, universities can improve their digital competence and competitiveness. The study contributes to enhancing digital efficacy within the higher education sector, informing strategic decisions, and providing valuable insights for university leaders, policymakers, and scholars grappling with the challenges of digital transformation. This research contributes to the existing literature on digital transformation in higher education, particularly within resource-constrained environments. The study provides novel empirical evidence based on data collected from university staff interacting through digital platforms.
The Factors That Made Barley the Most Preferred Cereal for Base Brewing Malt and the Potential of Malting and Brewing with Other Cereal Grains – A Review
(Ecoscribe Publishers Company Limited, 2025-08-10) Zanamwe, Pesanai; Madzaramba, Hardwork Tendai
Barley (Hordeum vulgure) is the main cereal grain used for producing base brewing malt. Besides, there is growing interest in brewing with other cereal crops. This stems from a desire to produce unique beer types and to ensure continuous brewing in regions unfavorable for barley production or in countries where barley grain importation is restricted. To understand the potential of brewing with other cereal crops, a review of factors that made barley the most preferred, and other cereal species less so, was undertaken. Grain structure, grain chemistry, maltability, processibility, enzyme potential and development during malting and the ability to impart desirable beer characteristics, were found to be the major factors. However, acceptable base brewing malts were produced from the grain of some of these other cereal species when the malting procedure was modified to suit their characteristics. Moreover, acceptable beer was produced from base brewing malts produced from some of these other cereal species when the general brewing method was modified. It was, therefore, concluded that brewing with other cereal species could be made possible by modifying the malting procedure to suit their characteristics and modifying the brewing procedure to suit their malt quality attributes.
Estimation of yield and yield-related genetic parameters in citron watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides)
(Taylor & Francis, 2025-08-11) Tembo, Lenon; Maphosa, Mcebisi
This study aims to improve citron watermelon, an underutilized African crop. Despite its climate resilience and economic importance, the estimation of yield-related genetic parameters remain unexplored. Ten high-yielding accessions were crossed in a bi-parental mating design to develop five hybrids that were evaluated together with their parents in a randomized complete block design, replicated thrice. Traits such as fruit yield, length and weight displayed the greatest potential to respond to selection owing to high heritability (61.64, 73.80% and 59.00%, respectively) and genetic advance (4585.09, 77.32 and 73.27%, respectively). Fruit weight, rind thickness and yield showed significant positive heterosis (p < .05) in hybrids 7 × 8 and 1 × 2, indicating their potential for heterotic improvement. Hybrids 1 × 2 and 3 × 4 were the best cross combinations for elevated Vitamin C levels and rind thickness for both forms of heterosis. Gene number estimates revealed a range from minor to oligogenic control, with fruit weight controlled by 5.81 genes using Wright’s estimator. Total soluble solutes had the lowest number of genes in all hybrid combinations coupled with a low genetic advance of 0.44, displaying a low response to selection using this population. This study highlights several traits that have the potential to improve citron watermelon productivity.
Allellopathy as trait of invasiveness of Sorghum halepense L. (Pers) on germination and establishment of weedy grass species (Rotteboellia cochinchinensis, Eleusine indica (L) and Ipomoea purpurea)
(Academic Journals, 2025-04) Polite, Masara; Zivanayi, Musabayana; Lenon, Tembo; Mathema, Ndabanye
Biology of alien plants contributes to invasiveness of both natural and agrarian ecosystems. Bio-assay experiments were set up at Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe, to evaluate allelopathy as traits of invasiveness of Sorghum halepense L. (Pers) on germination and establishment of grass species. The results indicated that germination rate, growth rate and dry matter accumulation was highly affected by S. halepense extracts. Seed germination was improved by dormancy-breaking treatments, with the highest germination rate attained using a combination of sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate. Equally, the lowest germination rate was observed in seeds treated with water and a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution. The greatest seedling growth was observed in seeds treated with sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate whereas the lowest growth rate was recorded in seeds treated using sodium hypochlorite. S. halepense extracts affected dry matter accumulation of all grass species tested. Rottboellia species had the highest seed germination rate of 90%, followed by Eleusine 88%, and Ipomoea species 66% being the least. The highest germination inhibition was observed in leaves when compared to extracts from stems, roots and flowers. In pot experiments, S. halepense leaves affected growth and dry matter accumulation. Results showed that S. halepense extracts affect germination and establishment of grass species.
A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Exoskeleton Technologies in Healthcare
(IEOM Society International, USA, 2025-04-08) Dube, Andile; Dzehonye, Fadzai; Muzenda, Hillary; Nyamupaguma, Tanyaradzwa; Dube, Sibusisiwe
Exoskeleton technologies are machines that can be worn on part or the whole body of a human being to enhance mobility. Exoskeletons are and are revolutionizing healthcare. Despite their affordances, the adoption of exoskeletons in healthcare is low and there is limited literature with conceptual frameworks for integrating exoskeletons in healthcare. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating exoskeletons technology in healthcare. A systematic literature review (SLR), guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model informed this research. Twenty-one peer reviewed articles drawn from databases such as SpringerLink, PubMed, IEEE Xplore and ScienceDirect. The findings show that the integration of exoskeleton technology in healthcare, provide innovative solutions for patients with mobility constraints. By providing consistent, repetitive, and task-specific training, exoskeletons enhance neuroplasticity and functional recovery, improving patient outcomes in rehabilitation. Furthermore, exoskeleton technology has various applications in healthcare, which include rehabilitation and elderly care, simplifies patient handling, aides’ mobility and provides surgical support. The findings of the study identified the reasons for the low uptake of exoskeleton technology which involve high costs of the exoskeleton technology, technical complexities, and safety concerns. These findings inform the health care policies makers, management, health care workers and patients with mobility constraints on how to integrate exoskeletons to improve the health care management.