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Indigenous vegetables: a sustainable approach to improve micronutrient adequacy in Tanzanian women of childbearing age
Get PDFThis research article was published by Springer Nature in 2021Background/objectives
Increasing dietary diversity is a viable strategy for addressing micronutrient malnutrition in women of childbearing age (WCA) from low-income countries. Recently, it has been demonstrated that some indigenous vegetables (IV) with high nutrient density may help to ameliorate micronutrient’s intake. The Minimum Dietary Diversity index for Women (MDD-W) could be considered as a proxy to describe one important dimension of women’s diet quality. This cross-sectional study aimed at exploring aspects contributing to micronutrients adequacy in Tanzanian WCA, with a focus on IV consumption and other socio-demographic factors.
Subjects/methods
Data collection was conducted among urban and peri-urban women in Arusha city, Tanzania. Socio-demographic factors were collected using a structured interview. Information on IV consumption and MDD-W calculation were obtained using a 24-h recall.
Results
One-hundred and forty-one women aged 14–49 years were interviewed. Sixteen per cent of the sample consumed at least one portion of IV/day. The total median MDD-W was 4.0 (IQR. 3.0–5.0) and it was adequate in the 44% of the sample. Women who consumed IV had MDD-W 0.66 points (95% CI: 0.02–1.30, p = 0.046) higher than those who did not; consuming IV had an odds ratio of more than three times concerning women not consuming IV (OR: 3.30, 95% CI: 1.24–8.81, p = 0.017).
Conclusions
The IV consumption is positively associated with micronutrient adequacy and its absence from the diet can be an indicator of micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable people such as WCA. For that reason, this study suggests that IV consumption may improve micronutrient deficiency in WCA
Seasonal profitability of soil and water conservation techniques in semi-arid agro-ecological zones of Makanya catchment, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article published by Elsevier B.V., 2021Soil and water conservation techniques are known to be profitable and widely promoted in sub-Saharan Africa. However, how their profitability vary across cropping seasons has not been fully explored. Thus, farmers are often faced with the dilemma of which agricultural technique(s) and/or combination(s) thereof to implement in which cropping seasons, and for which crops to maximize profits. In this paper, we investigated the profitability of two soil and water conservation techniques (terraces and borders) and compared them against the conventional flat cultivation in Makanya catchment Tanzania. Farmers in the area grow maize, beans, lablab and cowpeas over three cropping seasons (locally called masika, vuli and chamazi/kipupwe). Based on field survey of 382 farmers in 2019, it was found that aggregate yields were generally higher on fields with intercrop than those with monocrop with more than 0.5 ton/ha of total grain yields. Borders were generally more profitable (399 USD/ha) than terraces and flat cultivation during all three cropping seasons while flat cultivation was more lucrative during the masika than vuli season. Terraces was only lucrative for rainfed beans with Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.5 (208.7 USD/ha) and 1.2 (90.5 USD/ha) in masika and vuli respectively. Beans grown on borders during chamazi season had the highest profitability with Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.9 (399 USD/ha) compared to terraces and flat cultivation in all three cropping seasons. Whereas it was more profitable to grow maize, beans and lablab on borders, farmers could still realize appreciable profits by growing these crops as purely rainfed on flat cultivation especially during the masika season. It was concluded that in semi-arid zones, soil and water conservation techniques used in combination with other auxiliary practices such as irrigation, intercropping with legumes, mulching and manure application could greatly enhance profitability, but that depends on cropping season and market factors
Assessment of integrating Environmental Factors into Healthcare Models for Enhancing Timely Epidemics Analysis: A Case study of Cholera in Dar es Salaam –Tanzania
Get PDFThis research articles was published in International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (ijasre), Vol 7 (9), 2021The objective of this study is to assess the perspectives of userson the feasibility of using integrated environmental factors-based healthcare model to enchance timely cholera epidemics analysis in Tanzania.The study used a mixed-design approach of quantitative and qualitative methods with focus group discussion and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Participants or users included;medicalandepidemiological experts, environmental experts, Information and CommunicationTechnology (ICT) experts, and cholera patients from Ilala, Ubungo, Kigamboni, Temeke, and Kinondoni disctricts in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.In the process,atotal of500interviews were conducted, consisting of 200medical experts, 50 environmental experts, 50 ICT experts, and 200 cholera patients, with an average age of 28 years old, and at 3:2 female to male ratio. Overall, our findings showed that Health and Environmental Integrated Modelled Systems (HEIMs) interventions are acceptable, feasible and capable in assisting timely analysis towards effective prediction and eradication of epidemics such as; cholera outbreaksat 79% acceptability, 90% aid-value and 69%awareness levels.Despite, the high acceptability level, participants also highlighted barriersof the model, such as;sustainabilityand operationcosts, which need to be addressed.These findings confirm that the program of HEIMS is of high potential towards enhancing timely cholera analysis, clear public health significance andrelevant to policy-makers, government, society, and related stakeholders at large. Therefore, the study, recommends that there is a need for all these organs to work together towards clearing all obstacles in order to achieve the intended goal of the HEIMs progra
Automatic Railway Road Crossing (RLC) Traffic Light System for Metric Gauge Railway Network in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by International Journal of
Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (ijasre) Volume 7, Issue 11
November - 2021The verdict has been established that Railway Level Crossings (RLCs) present a possible risk to roads users. Because of the ever-
increasing number of vehicles on the road every day, it was determined that employing automation at level crossings can be
beneficial to both road and railway users' safety. The aim is to develop an automated railway level crossing system that would
reduce the likelihood of collisions between trains and road users at intersections. From the perspective of a railway level
crossing, the conditions safeguards must meet is straightforward - Before a train passes, there must be a complete stop for all
road users. Two RFID sensors and Ultrasonic sensors are used located at strike-in and strike-out points at the level crossing.
Detection of automobiles stuck on the rail road once the train has activated the automation at the RLC is performed by the
Ultrasonic sensor. Other warning measures in the system include an automated barrier, Light Emitting Diode flashing lights, and
an audio alarm device. Arduino UNO and ESP32 were used as microcontrollers to perform all the logical operations and control
commands. Consequently, the next train station from RLC was updated of the incoming train’s Expected Time of Arrival (ETA).
The time it takes for the barriers to close will be determined by the train’s speed. In this project work, the prospective application
strategy for securing rail road crossings are described in detail. It is the best feasible control of the level crossing by using the
train detection syste
Epidemiology and Economic Importance of African Animal Trypanosomiasis
Get PDFA research article was published by IGI GlobalAfrican animal trypanosomiasis (AAT), also called Nagana, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by an extracellular protozoan belonging to the genus Trypanosoma. It has serious effects on the health status and welfare of domestic mammals which considerably results in a reduction in their productivity. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology of AAT was provided with a special focus on its general clinical aspects (the clinical signs and pathogenesis as well as its transmission cycle), the parasite (Trypanosoma spp.), the parasite life cycle and transmission, its vector (Glossina spp.), tsetse fly lifecycle and reproduction, risk factors of AAT, and economic importance of AAT in the affected countries. The present work gave a detailed account of epidemiology in the context of infestation patterns, the parasite causing it, its vector, and the economic impacts of the disease on different livestock species
Impacts of Wood Fuel Uses on Forest Cover: The Case of Semiarid Areas in Northern Tanzania
Get PDFThis research articles was published in Tanzania Journal of Science 2021 Volume 47 2021Satellite images for the years 1987, 1997, 2002 and 2017, and questionnaire surveys were used to
assess energy sources and demands as well as the impacts of wood fuel use to forest cover changes
in Meru and Mwanga Districts. The major energy sources identified include cow dung cake,
firewood, charcoal, liquefied petroleum gas and biogas. The total energy demands from these
sources were 1400 (in Meru), 6289, 724 and 21 kg per day, respectively. The amount of biogas
was not quantified since the reactors were constructed locally with no reading meter. Analysis
from Landsat images showed variations in forest cover. The areas covered with forests in Meru
were found to be 1510, 1723, 1612 and 1327 ha for 1987, 1997, 2002 and 2017, respectively. The
changes observed in Mwanga District were 31705, 31988, 17939 and 30960 ha for 1987, 1997,
2002 and 2017, respectively. From the findings it was observed that, the ongoing use of wood fuel
in semi-arid areas of Meru and Mwanga could deplete forests completely. The study concludes
that charcoal and firewood consumptions are real threats to the long-term persistence of forests in
Tanzania and proposes the use of renewable energy such as biogas for alleviating forest losse
Efficacy of Aqueous Extracts from Syzygium aromaticum, Tephrosia vogelii, and Croton dichogamus against Myzus persicae on Brassica oleracea in Northern Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Hindawi Limited in 2021The effectiveness of 1, 5, and 10% w/v of aqueous extracts of Croton dichogamus, Tephrosia vogelii, and Syzygium aromaticum and their mixture (2.5 and 5%) was evaluated against Myzus persicae on Brassica oleracea under field conditions. The synthetic chemical insecticide, chlorpyrifos, was used as positive control, and water and water plus soap were used as negative controls. Aqueous extracts significantly () lowered M. persicae population compared with negative controls. The 5% of the aqueous extract from mixed plants and 10% of each plant used in this study significantly () reduced aphid, M. persicae population comparable to chlorpyrifos in 2019 and 2020. However, the 1 and 5% concentrations of aqueous extracts of C. dichogamus, T. vogelii, and S. aromaticum and 2.5% of aqueous extracts from the mixed plants significantly lowered the population of M. persicae compared with negative controls in 2019 and 2020 wet seasons. The weekly observations revealed that, at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 after application of treatments, the population of M. persicae differed significantly (). Also, the aqueous extracts from the mixed plants at 5% concentrations significantly () reduced M. persicae population as compared with other treatments. It was as effective as synthetic chemical pesticide (chlorpyrifos). Also, 1 and 5% of C. dichogamus, T. vogelii, and S. aromaticum and the 2.5% of aqueous extracts from the mixed plants significantly reduced the population of M. persicae for all 6 weeks of study compared with negative controls. Therefore, these pesticidal plants can be recommended to smallholder farmers for the control of M. persicae in B. oleracea crops
Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis of Variable-Volume Deterministic Model for Endothermic Continuously Stirred Tank Reactor
Get PDFThis research article published by the Journal of Mathematics and Informatics, Vol. 20, 2021This paper deals with the formulation and the identifiability of the variablevolume deterministic model for the endothermic continuously stirred tank reactor
(CSTR). The identifiability of physical parameters of the formulated model is done by
using the least squares and the delayed rejection adaptive algorithm version of the
Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. The least square estimates are used as prior
information for the MCMC method. To measure the model output associated with the
perturbed model parameters, we use global sensitivity analysis implemented in Latin
Hypercube Sampling method. The obtained results from partial rank correlation
coefficients show that six parameters are very sensitive and correlated with the model
outputs. Finally, we show that the least square and the MCMC numerical results impart
the model to be realistic, reliable and worthwhile to describe the dynamics of CSTR
processes as physical parameters of the model are well identified and their uncertainties
in the model response are analysed and quantified
Risks of aflatoxin exposure among adolescents in boarding schools in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article published by Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2021School feeding in low-income countries is dominated by cereals and legumes, which are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination but are usually not assessed for aflatoxins. A cross sectional study was conducted to assess aflatoxin exposure among adolescents through consumption of school meals in Kilimanjaro region. Food frequency questionnaires and 24 h dietary recalls were used to collect information on food consumption. At least four samples of common food used in school meals were collected. A deterministic approach was used to estimate the dietary aflatoxin exposure. High Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse presence of aflatoxin contamination. Results showed that, maize based food and beans were consumed on daily basis. The intake of maize flour and dehulled maize ranged from 17.5 to 738.2 g and 28.2 to 272 g per person per day respectively. Furthermore, consumption of beans and rice were in the range of 121.1 to 595.2 g and 15.7 to 42.2 g per person per day respectively. Total aflatoxins ranged 0.20-438.53 μg/kg (median 2.30 μg/kg). The highest contamination range (0.59-438.53 μg/kg) was in maize while the lowest (0.20-3.41 μg/kg) was found in rice. Similarly, the highest aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentration (35.88 μg/kg) was in dehulled maize while the lowest (0.44 μg/kg) was in rice. The highest dietary exposure to total aflatoxins and AFB1 due to consumption of maize ranged from 0.70 to 973.45 ng/kg/bodyweight (bw)/day, and from 0.05-81.06 ng/kg/bw/day, respectively. This pronounced risk of exposure to aflatoxins might have been contributed by a monotonous maize based diet in boarding schools. These findings call for institutions immediate interventions, such as the use of appropriate storage technologies, sorting, cleaning and winnowing in order to remove damaged grains, thereby reducing the risk of dietary exposure to aflatoxins. Likewise, the relevant ministries should consider food diversification and routine risk assessments of the susceptible crops throughout the value chain as a long-term intervention plan at policy level
Measuring Serum Toxicity Markers to Evaluate the Safety of Commercially Available Spirulina Products in Mice
Get PDFThis research article published by Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 2021Spirulina a multicellular, blue-green alga has drawn attention as a viable food supplement due to its suitable nutrient composition, however, there is a dearth of information regarding its safety. This study aimed to measure the heavy metal concentrations in commercially available Spirulina products and evaluate the safety using the in vivo method. A total of 54 mice were randomly divided into three groups; Group 1 (n = 18) served as a control and received a basal diet. Group 2 (n = 20) served as a test and received Spirulina powder (15%) blended with a basal diet. Group 3 (n = 16) serves as a standard and received a basal diet supplemented with nutritional supplements. The findings showed that the concentration of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, cystatin C, and troponin I after consuming the experimental diets was not statistically different between groups (p > 0.05). The concentrations of mercury (0.000036 mg/kg), lead (0.0047 mg/kg), cadmium (0.00048 mg/kg), and arsenic (0.0046 mg/kg) was very little to cause toxic effect and the levels were below the European Communities Commission (EC) recommended maximum heavy metal levels in foodstuffs. Therefore, consumption of Spirulina at a proportion of 15% does not exert any hepatic, renal, and cardiac toxicities in the mice. However, evaluating the safety of higher doses (> 15%) is required