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Uncovering socioeconomic insights of solar dryers for sustainable agricultural product preservation: A systematic review
Get PDFThis research article was published by Heliyon Volume 10, December 2024This review explores solar dryers' use for agricultural products, focusing on their socioeconomic benefits in the community. Despite significant technical advancements in solar dryers, there is a notable lack of documentation regarding their socioeconomic impacts on society. This gap impedes awareness of the potential benefits of solar dryers, contributing to their low adoption rates and, consequently, limiting their overall impact on society. A decade of published articles from Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Taylor and Francis were synthesized through content analysis to gather evidence on the socioeconomic benefits of this technology. The review found technical advancements from passive to hybrid systems, highlighting their potential to enhance drying efficiency, product quality, and economic, social, and environmental benefits. The evidence of the socioeconomic benefits, in particular, indicates that solar dryers can increase farmers' annual profits by 757.31, and save up to 5 days of drying time. Furthermore, the study found that solar dryers contribute to environmental conservation initiatives by mitigating the emission of up to 430,714.76 tons of CO2 in a year, minimizing overdependence on traditional energy sources, increasing energy accessibility, and optimizing drying space. However, the review identifies a need for further research to quantify solar dryers’ impact on postharvest management, waste reduction, and job creation in the agricultural drying value chain. It also recommends involving society in technology co-creation and suggests that policymakers and practitioners incentivize their adoption through financial and non-financial support
The use of data management planning among researchers in higher learning institutions: The case of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published in the Journal of eScience Librarianship, Volume 13, Issue 2, 2024This study assessed the use of data management plans among researchers at a selected higher learning institution (HLI) in Tanzania. A pretested structured questionnaire was administered to registered postgraduate students. Many of the respondents reported that a data management plan (DMP) was required before writing a research project and when a research project was submitted. The results also demonstrated that many respondents did not use any online DMP template tools to formulate their DMP although most of them were aware of available DMP template tools such as OpenDMP. Many respondents stated that the requirement of using a DMP were selection of a DMP format, updating the DMP regularly, having a short and to-the-point DMP and a well-structured DMP specifying the kinds and formats of the data to be acquired, generated, produced, and preserved. Meeting funders’ institutions, and publishers’ requirements, and ensuring that data are accurate, complete, and reliable were among the DMP benefits in HLIs identified by the respondents. Several challenges were revealed including a lack of awareness, competence, and guidelines to assist researchers using a DMP for their research projects. The conclusion is that researchers need to develop and use DMP template tools to plan, organize, and work on their research projects in addition to ensuring that they meet funders' requirements. It is recommended that HLIs should provide extensive training programs for raising awareness about DMPs among the researchers and to make DMPs a mandatory requirement for finalizing research projects among researchers, and not only for funding purposes
Characterizing Water Users through Frequent Patterns and Association Rules by Using Apriori Algorithm: A Case of Pangani Basin Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by IJST in December 2024Objectives: To identify the hidden patterns in the K-means clustered dataset
for the Pangani Basin using the Apriori algorithm through frequent patterns
and association rules to enrich cluster characteristics. Methods: Frequent
patterns and association rule mining were used to discover the hidden
attributes in the K-means clustered dataset. Measures of minimum support
ranging from 0.5% to 5% and minimum confidence ranging from 50% to
100% were used to generate a manageable number of rules which were
then filtered for redundancy. Lift value >1.0 was used to determine the rule’s
interestingness while Arules and ArulesViz in R were used to visualize generated
rules. Findings: Clusters one to four generated 25, 31, 47, and 49 rules
respectively at a minimum confidence of 50% and minimum support of 2%
in the first two clusters and 1% in other clusters. Furthermore, water users
in cluster one were observed to abstract more water than the three clusters,
while their water use fee also reflected on the amount they abstracted. In
clusters two and three, water users identified the same amount of water source
capacity but differed in the amount requested and water use fee. Water users in
cluster four were identified with less water source capacity and fewer amounts
abstracted than other clusters. However, their water use fee identified was
higher than those in cluster three, with high water source capacity and high
amount requested. Such a difference is attributed to the type of water use
for cluster three users being domestically supplied through community water
supply entities to help villagers access water. In contrast, the water use for
users in cluster four is domestic and commercial. Novelty: When aggregated
with the clustering observations, the identified association rules mining results
provide a broad understanding of water users’ characteristics for better water
allocation and rationing
Towards Personalised Learning in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research was published by International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (ijasre) Volume 10, 2024This study examines the challenges and students’ perceptions of adopting and implementing e-learning in Tanzanian
universities to facilitate the shift towards personalised learning. Although technology and online courses provide
chances to customise training for unique student requirements, challenges impede the successful incorporation of e-
learning in Tanzanian higher education, particularly regarding user training and technical support. The absence of
crucial amenities for online education, such as computer laboratories and dependable internet connectivity,
exacerbates the challenges in executing implementation endeavours. We employed a mixed-methods approach to
investigate universities’ preparedness for implementing e-learning and evaluate the impact of e-learning platforms
and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in facilitating personalised learning experiences. Our findings emphasise the
significance of tackling identified obstacles to enhance education quality and provide a basis for customised learning.
Subsequent studies should focus on filling the existing voids to improve the incorporation of artificial intelligence in e-
learning platforms, explicitly addressing the obstacles faced by universities in underdeveloped nations. The study
suggests that institutions should allocate resources towards developing e-learning infrastructure, offer extensive
training for instructors, and create customised e-learning methods
Dengue virus transmission during non-outbreak period in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania: a cross-sectional survey
Get PDFThis research article was published by BMC Infectious Diseases Volume 24, 2024Background
Tanzania has experienced multiple dengue outbreaks between 2010 and 2019, caused by various dengue virus (DENV) strains. In 2019, there were 6917 confirmed dengue cases and 13 deaths in Tanzania. Routine diagnosis of dengue fever is unfortunately excluded, particularly during non-outbreak periods, resulting in delayed outbreak detection and control. The aim of this study was to improve early detection and control measures for DENV by investigating its circulation in human and Aedes aegypti (A.aegypti) mosquitoes during the non-outbreak periods in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which is an area frequently affected by dengue outbreaks.
Methods
Four hundred and fifteen (415) blood samples were collected from patients attending randomly selected health facilities in five wards; Azimio, Keko, Mtoni, Mbagala and Chamazi within Temeke district. The samples were tested for DENV NS1 antigen and anti-dengue IgM and IgG antibodies by rapid test. Then, 150 out of 415 blood samples were tested for the DENV by conventional Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Two thousand two hundred and fifty (2,250) adult female A.aegypti mosquitoes were collected using a Prokopack aspirator and BG sentinel trap or obtained after rearing immature stages and tested, in pools of 15 for DENV by RT-PCR. Statistical Software, SPSS version 23, was used for data analysis.
Results
Of the tested blood samples, 17% (71/415) were positive by NS1 antigen, 0.5% (2/415) by IgM, 0.5% (2/415) by IgG antibodies, and 0.5% (2/415) by IgM and IgG. None of the samples tested positive by DENV RT-PCR. Moreover, 3.3% (5/150) of tested mosquito pools had DENV by RT-PCR. Individuals aged between 21 and 40 years of age had increased risk of testing positive for DENV NS1 antigen, followed by those aged 5–20 years old, particularly those residing from Azimio ward, Keko ward, Mtoni ward and Mbagala ward, p-value ≤ 0.05.
Conclusion
Findings from this study revealed evidence of DENV circulation during non-outbreak periods in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These findings underscore the importance of including testing for dengue infection in routine differential diagnoses of febrile cases, and also frequent dengue surveillance in mosquitos. This proactive approach will help early DENV outbreak detection and control in the country
Biochars derived from banana and mango peels in isolated systems revealed high removal efficiency of endocrine-disrupting compounds from water.
Get PDFThis research article was published by Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 2024This study investigated the effectiveness of biochar derived from banana and disrupting endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) from water in isolated systems. The study aimed to provide an eco-friendly solution for water purification using agricultural waste products. Banana and mango peels were dried, ground, and calcinated at 300, 550, and 700 °C temperatures. The biochar was tested through a batch adsorption experiment for the removal of progesterone, and the remaining progesterone was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results indicated that the banana peel biochar (BPB) and mango peel biochar (MPB) achieved the highest adsorption capacities of 92.8 and 87.9%, respectively, when subjected to pyrolysis at 700 °C. The effect of other factors on adsorbent efficiency and its characteristics were subsequently analyzed by biochar calcinated at 700 °C. Results indicate that as the concentration of adsorbent increases, the adsorption efficiency increases while the adsorption capacity decreases. The Langmuir model fits better in BPB, while the Freundlich model fits better in MPB. The maximum adsorption capacities of the Langmuir model were 43.42 and 37.80 mg of progesterone per g of BPB and MPB, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy image (SEM) showed that biochar from 700 °C presents higher porosities than biochar. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) showed that both biochars had high surface area and equal pore volume. Therefore, the study suggests that BPB and MPB are the best eco-friendly agricultural waste materials for development of sustainable water treatment technologies for removal of EDCs from water
Assessment of Physicochemical Profile and Heavy Metal Constituents in the Groundwaters of Rural Areas in Southwest Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Water Resources volume 51 2024This study focuses on groundwater quality in rural areas of Tanzania, addressing the literature gap
on water quality data for sustainable rural development. Most rural communities in sub-Saharan
Africa depend on groundwater for their domestic use. Despite this importance of groundwater for
rural community development, limited research has been conducted on the physicochemical and
heavy metal content, creating a significant knowledge gap. The absence of such information raises
concerns about water quality in rural areas of Africa, posing potential challenges to public health
and community well-being due to the risk of groundwater contamination. To bridge this gap, a
comprehensive study was conducted to assess groundwater quality in a selected district, focussing
on physicochemical and heavy metal content in 19 boreholes across various villages. The Water
Quality Index (WQI) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed for providing a
detailed evaluation of groundwater quality. Results revealed a widespread acidity, iron, and
manganese in most boreholes, with 6 exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) and
Tanzania Bureau standards (TBS) for Pb in rainy and dry seasons. Additionally, total dissolved
solids, chloride, and hardness surpassed WHO and TBS limits in a single borehole. One-way
ANOVA and paired t-tests confirmed significant differences (p < 0.01) among boreholes and
across seasons. Pearson’s correlation test found strongly significant dependences between pH and
iron, as well as hardness and manganese. Approximately 73.68% of water samples were classified
as poor and polluted water, rendering them unsuitable for drinking. Elevated heavy metals could
be attributed to the region’s geological features and mining activities. The study underscores the
need for pragmatic monitoring and treatment measures to address identified issues and ensure safe
drinking water for the community
Epidemiology of brucellosis in smallholder dairy cattle in Hai and Meru Districts, Northern Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Health and Biomedical Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyBrucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in most developing countries caused by a facultative
intracellular gram-negative bacterium of the genus Brucella. Brucellosis is one of the six
priority zoonotic diseases in Tanzania with high social economic effects. A recently upsurge
of brucellosis cases under the smallholder dairy cattle farming in many urban areas in Tanzania
is a public health concern. A cross sectional study was conducted between January and June
2022 to establish the seroprevalence of brucellosis and possible risk factors in smallholder dairy
cattle farming in the Hai and Meru Districts. To determine the seroprevalence, blood samples
were analyzed for Brucella circulating antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test and
Competitive Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay. A structured questionnaire was
presented to 200 smallholder dairy cattle farmers to explore the potential risk factors associated
with brucellosis among dairy cattle in the study area. A total of 400 cattle were blood sampled
from 10 villages in each district. The overall seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis was 0.50%
and 0% for the Hai and Meru districts, respectively. Analysis of knowledge and management
practices of brucellosis in the study areas showed that the majority of farmers (74.5%) knew
the disease name; though, majority of them (87.9%) were not aware of the disease clinical
signs. The indoor farming system mostly practiced in Hai and Meru District could have
contributed to the observed low seroprevalence; thus, brucellosis free certification scheme can
be implemented for continuous management of brucellosis in animals and humans as
recommended by FAO
A Framework for Enhancing Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR) Volume 6, Issue 3, 2024The overall objective of this study was to understand the institutional forces for promoting
entrepreneurial development in higher learning institutions (HLIs) in Tanzania and to provide an
institutional framework for the same. The study used the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) as a
case study to provide an account of the formal institutions, the informal institutions, and the
organizational legitimacy that influence entrepreneurial development in the Tanzanian HLIs.
Methodologically, the study used individual interviews and focus groups for primary data collection, and
documentary review for secondary data to back up the primary data. The study used thematic analysis to
derive themes from the data. Data were analyzed with the aid of Nvivo computer-assisted qualitative
data analysis software. Through data saturation, a sample size of 73 respondents was reached. The study
revealed that, properly organized formal institutions that are functional, active, and mutually reinforcing-
including the HLIs’ charter as a formal external instrument; the research and development policy,
innovation policy, entrepreneurship development investment policy, and the entrepreneurship
development course as a formal internal instrument-enhance entrepreneurship development in HLIs. The
study also revealed the need for informal institutions, such as social traditions and social norms as
informal internal instruments, to supplement formal institutions. The study also revealed that, when
formal and informal institutional forces are unquestionably functioning, active, and interplaying, and
stakeholders are required to comply with them, the organizational legitimacy of entrepreneurship
development in HLIs can be attained
Assessment of resistant Escherichia coli in groundwater sources and sanitary inspection for contamination risk in Bagamoyo, Tanzania
Get PDFThis Research Article was published by the Bulletin of the National Research Centre,2024Background
Two billion people globally are using faecal-contaminated water. E. coli poses a health risk due to its potential to cause diseases which highlights the need for understanding its antimicrobial resistance profile and associated factors for contamination.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Bagamoyo district council that involved 163 groundwater sources with sanitary inspection and isolation of E. coli was conducted using a Membrane filtration method and CHROMagar CCA. In this study, antibiotic susceptibility was carried out according to CLSI guidelines by disk diffusion methods. E. coli strain ATCC 25922 was used as the control strain in isolation and susceptibility tests.
Results
The current study found that 44.8% of groundwater samples were contaminated with E. coli, with 83.6% of isolates were resistant to antibiotics. High resistance was observed to cefazolin (56.16%), nitrofurantoin (54.79%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (45.21%), and ceftriaxone (42.47%). Also, the study reveals that 70% of E. coli isolates had multidrug resistance. On the other hand, sanitary inspection showed that 46.2% of dug wells were at a high sanitary risk level, 32.8% of tube wells with hand pumps were at High and low sanitary risk level, respectively and 73.3% of boreholes were at a low sanitary risk level. However, the study showed a high rate of E. coli contamination in boreholes at a low sanitary risk level. Also, tube wells with hand pumps and dug wells at high sanitary risk levels had a high rate of E. coli contamination. Moreover, resistant E. coli in groundwater across varying contamination risk levels revealed a significant prevalence of contamination