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Effect of Blanching Conditions and Solar Drying on Selected Nutritional, Anti-nutritional and Bioactive Components of Formulated Avocado Seed Powder
No full textThis research article was published by African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, Volume 24, 2024Avocado (Persea americana Mill) seeds are mainly considered as waste byproducts of avocado fruit processing in many countries, including Tanzania despite their potential health and economic benefits. The present work investigated the effect of hot water blanching and solar drying treatments on nutritional, bioactive, and cyanogenic glycosides of avocado seed samples in an attempt to develop quality avocado seed powders (ASPs) by using solar drying technology. Results showed that total ash, crude protein, crude fiber, total phenolic, proanthocyanidins, and cyanogenic glycosides contents showed a significant reduction in avocado seed powders with respect to increased blanching temperature and time. On the other hand, crude fat and total carotenoids contents, showed a decline with respect to increased temperature only. Blanching treatment at 85 °C for 10 minutes retained a significant amount of total ash (86.9%), crude fat (100%), crude protein (78.8%), crude fiber (91.6%), total carotenoids (43.6%) and total phenol contents (47.0%) in developed avocado seed powder. Cyanogenic glycosides were highly reduced at 95 °C for 20 minutes (81.1%) than at 85 °C for 10 minutes (58.5%). However, the level of cyanogenic glycosides in all avocado seed powders are far below the lethal dose (36 mg/100 g) of hydrocyanic acid. The significant high losses of nutrients and phytochemicals was observed at a blanching treatment of 95 °C for 20 minutes. This could be due to prolonged leaching of soluble compounds to hot water and degradation of heat-sensitive bioactive compounds. The aforementioned results revealed that, different temperatures and times during hot water blanching significantly influence the quality of formulated avocado seed powder. Therefore, hot water blanching treatment at 85 °C for 10 minutes and solar drying technology could be employed to produce a nutrient-rich and palatable avocado seed powder that can find its use in normal food consumption and food processing industries, particularly in low-income settings
Protection of Third Parties’ Interest in Real Property During the Division of Matrimonial Property in Mainland Tanzania
No full textThis journal article was published by the Law Reform Commission of Tanzania Volume. 5 | Issue No. 1 | 2024The article specifically assesses the overlooked phenomenon of protection of third-
party interest in real property during the division of matrimonial property after divorce
in polygamous marriages under the Law of Marriage Act (LMA). The article is inspired
by the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Land Act which
provides the right to property of every person and the protection of such property by
the law and that any interest in land has value which should be considered during
any disposition of property. Data for the article was obtained through doctrinal and
comparative legal methodologies. It is noted that the laws regulating the division
of matrimonial property at the time of divorce fall short in the protection of the third
party’s interest in real property at the time of the division of real matrimonial property.
It is concluded that the LMA should be amended to accord the right to third parties
to defend their interest in real property during the division of such property after
divorce by enacting relevant provisions to that effect
Review of Sources of Uncertainty and Techniques Used in Uncertainty Quantification and Sensitivity Analysis to Estimate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ruminants
No full textTHIS Article was published by MDPIAbstract: Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis are essential for improving the modeling
and estimation of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock farming to evaluate and reduce the impact
of uncertainty in input parameters to model output. The present study is a comprehensive review of
the sources of uncertainty and techniques used in uncertainty analysis, quantification, and sensitivity
analysis. The search process involved rigorous selection criteria and articles retrieved from the Science
Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases and exported to RAYYAN for further screening. This
review found that identifying the sources of uncertainty, implementing quantifying uncertainty, and
analyzing sensitivity are of utmost importance in accurately estimating greenhouse gas emissions.
This study proposes the development of an EcoPrecision framework for enhanced precision livestock
farming, and estimation of emissions, to address the uncertainties in greenhouse gas emissions and
climate change mitigation
Ecosystem metabolism in the deep and oligotrophic Lake Tanganyika
Get PDFThis research article was published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research Volume 50, Issue 3, 2024This study investigated variability in ecosystem metabolism in the meromictic, oligotrophic, and deep Lake Tanganyika. A large buoy equipped with a weather station, oxygen and temperature sensors for every 10 m down to 102 m depth and an irradiance sensor at 0 and 22 m depth, provided a three-month data with one-minute frequency. These data enabled us to derive detailed description of water column mixing and light conditions along with daily depth specific rates of gross primary production, ecosystem respiration and net production over a 3-month period. We applied a mass balance approach which included dissolved oxygen exchange between depth layers driven by mixed-layer deepening and eddy diffusivity from a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The vertical extent of the upper mixed layer varied between 21–40 m and the extent of the metalimnion varied between 48–75 m, with the euphotic zone (20–38 m) extending into the metalimnion on several days, providing enough light for primary production to occur below the upper mixed layer. Vertical profiles of metabolism showed several periods with elevated primary production in the metalimnion around the deep chlorophyll maximum. This deep productivity may compensate for the decreasing primary production in the epilimnion caused by climate change induced reductions in nutrient inputs from deeper waters
Effects of Raw and Different Calcined Bentonite on Durability and Mechanical Properties of Cement Composite Material2024
Get PDFThis research article was published by the Case Studies in Construction Materials, Volume 20, 2024.Bentonite is a natural pozzolanic material mostly composed of SiO2 and employed in cementing
materials for the reduction of cement consumption and CO2 emission besides improving perfor-
mance of cement composite material by consuming portlandite to form extra C-S-H gel. So, many
researchers studied on partial replacement of bentonite to improve concrete performance.
However, bentonite mostly exists as a consolidated form that needs treatment for activation of
pozzolanic reactivity to improve performance of cement composite materials. However, it is not
well known how different replacement of raw and calcined bentonite affects performance of
cementing materials in different hazardous environment. Hence, the present study identified the
most influential replacement of bentonite, evaluating different calcined and raw bentonite in
environments of acids, salt, and elevated temperature in addition to assessing the mechanical and
physical properties of cement composite material. So, the results indicate that the employment of
raw and calcined bentonite reduces the fresh bulk density, improves compressive strength, and
Vicker hardness at 28 days, reduces the mass loss due to 56 days immersion in 5% HCl, 10% NaCl,
and 5% HNO3 compared to the control mixture. Moreover, the employment of calcined bentonite
at 800 ◦C significantly improved the durability and mechanical properties of cement composite
materials compared to the control mixture. Specifically, replacing bentonite calcined at 800 ◦C for
3hs by 20% has the highest compressive strength than all samples after 28 and 56 days. Besides
these, the study reveals that the corrosion potential of steel bars embedded in the mortar is
reduced as the proportion of raw and different calcined bentonite increases. Generally, the
employment of calcined bentonite is very beneficial to get improved performance on mechanical
and durability properties of cement composite materials
Sustainable biofuel production in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring transesterification process, nonedible feedstocks, and policy implications
Get PDFThis research article was published by Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews,Volume13, Issue3 2024The world is currently dealing with an energy crisis, primarily due to heavy reliance on finite fossil fuels and the associated rise in energy demand. In response to this crisis, replacing heavy reliance on finite fossil fuels with biodiesel has gained attention as an alternative solution. Sub-Saharan African (SSA) biodiesel studies have traditionally focused on improving transesterification but overlook socio-economic, policy, and institutional impacts on production sustainability. To address this gap, this study comprehensively reviews the sustainability of transesterification-based biodiesel production from nonedible feedstocks in SSA. The study's incorporation of socio-economic factors, policy considerations, sustainability concerns, and institutional frameworks reveals the complex prospects and challenges facing biodiesel production in SSA. The findings reveal that sustainability challenges in SSA stem from a lack of an integrated approach, resulting in conflicting local and global policies. The study determines that neglecting socio-economic factors, policy considerations, sustainability concerns, and institutional frameworks weakens regional biodiesel production sustainability. Evidence from the study emphasizes the role of an integrated approach in promoting biofuel production, establishing markets, and improving the livelihoods of the region's population. Furthermore, the review shows that transesterification can yield biodiesel with comparable physical properties to conventional diesel, making it a wide region's favored option
Thermal Performance and Technoeconomic Analysis of Solar-Assisted Heat Pump Dryer Integrated with Energy Storage Materials for Drying Cavendish Banana (Musa acuminata)
Get PDFThis research article was published by Journal of Food Processing and PreservationThis study examines a novel solar-assisted heat pump dryer integrated with a thermal energy storage system using soapstone as
storage material. The dryer is investigated through experimental analysis across three operating modes: mode 1 with thermal
energy storage during daytime, mode 2 without thermal energy storage during nighttime, and mode 3 without thermal energy
storage during daytime. Experiments were carried out to investigate the drying of 500 g of Cavendish banana. Thermal
performance, as well as economic, and nutritional content were examined. Three replicates of the experiment yielded
consistent results, showing a significant reduction in the moisture content of the initial sample from 74.4% to 9.6% after
undergoing distinct drying durations. Mode 1 achieved this reduction in 270 minutes, mode 2 in 390 minutes, and mode 3 in
360 minutes. The average specific moisture extraction rates for modes 1, 2, and 3 were 0.13, 0.11, and 0.12 kg/kWh,
respectively. Simultaneously, the drying rate ranged from 0.16 to 0.24% per minute. The drying efficiency varied among the
tested modes, with mode 1 achieving the highest efficiency at 23.23%. In terms of coefficient of performance, mode 1, mode 2,
and mode 3 exhibited values of 3.69, 2.57, and 2.54, respectively. The economic analysis conducted specifically for mode 1
revealed a payback period of 1.5 years, indicating the time required to recover the initial investment. Additionally, the results
indicated that the dried Cavendish banana had significantly higher concentrations of proximate parameters and minerals
compared to the fresh Cavendish banana, as evidenced by a p value less than 0.05
Production of low emission briquettes from carbonized faecal sludge as an alternative source of cooking energy
Get PDFThis research article was published by energy, sustainability
and societyAbstract
Background In Tanzania, firewood, charcoal, and agricultural waste play a crucial role in daily life as sources
of cooking energy, especially in rural areas. Using these energy sources contributes to deforestation and the emis-
sion of harmful substances, leading to health problems. This study highlights the potential of faecal sludge bri-
quettes as an innovative, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources to meet
the increasing demand for cooking energy in Tanzania. The process involved sludge characterization, drying, sorting,
carbonization, milling, briquette making, and characterization.
Results A study was conducted to assess the presence of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in faecal sludge
collected from households. The results indicates that the levels of these metals were all within the acceptable limits
set by the Tanzanian Standards (TZS) for sludge disposal and use in the environment, which are 5.00 mg/L, 5.00 mg/L,
and 30.00 mg/L, respectively. Septic tanks and pit latrines sludge had a concentration of 0.5 mg/L and 0.5 mg/L
for Zn, 0.55 mg/L, and 0.6 mg/L for Cd, and 10.01 mg/L and 4.87 mg/L for Pb, respectively. Adding 75% charcoal dust
improved the gross and net heating values from 10.47 and 10.16 to 19.29 and 18.86 MJ/kg, respectively. Similarly, add-
ing 50% charcoal dust improved the gross and net heating values to 19.24 and 18.78 MJ/kg. The emission of particu-
late matter (micrograms/m3
) was reduced from 30.4 and 35 to 10.3 and 11.8 for PM2.5 and 7 and 8 for PM10, while car-
bon monoxide emission decreased from 51.2 to 19.7 ppm.
Conclusion The results strongly suggest that briquettes made of carbonized faecal sludge mixed with other biomass
materials could offer an alternative to traditional solid fuels, with the added benefits of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, deforestation, and longer burning times
Implementation of One Health Approach in Tanzania: Strengths and Challenges
Get PDFThis research article was published by Publication: One Health Cases, 2024One Health (OH) approach has recently been defined by the OH High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the OH section (OHS) is responsible for OH implementation. The OHS task is to bring together multiple sectors and disciplines to work together with clear OH approach coordination in the country. Following the recent revision of the OH strategic plan (2022–2027), the OHS is now eligible to receive funding from the government. In addition, through OHS, Tanzania has supporting documents for OH, including the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance, the prioritized list of zoonotic diseases, and strategic prevention and control plans. Despite these developments in OH in Tanzania, the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) project helped identify the challenges and gaps that Tanzania faces in OH implementation. A baseline assessment study was conducted in four settings: Desktop Review, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informants Interview (KII), and OH net mapping. Results showed that the country’s OH challenges include a lack of OH resources, OH education inclusiveness, and OH awareness at the subnational level. There are limited suitable OH monitoring mechanisms to assess the progress of the OH approach in Tanzania. Thus, COHESA supports the country in addressing these challenges to improve at all levels of OH sectoral performance in the context of OH governance, education, and implementation
Association between weight gain, dietary practices and sociodemographic attributes among post-partum women in Arusha Urban, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by International Journal of Biosciences | IJB | Vol. 25, 2024Overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age are a concern of public health significance. In Tanzania, various cultures perceive post-partum period as a delicate period where women participate in various habitual and traditional rituals as a way to protect themselves and their newborns. Currently, there is minimal information on the magnitude of post-partum overweight and obesity. A prospective health facility-based study using a multistage sampling is implemented to determine the magnitude of overweight and obesity among post-partum women six to twelve weeks after childbirth and their associating factors among Arusha Urban. The findings demonstrate an association between participants’ sociodemographic characteristics such as age, marital status, education level, number of children, physical activities, contraceptive use, occupation and post-partum dietary practices and weight gain. Less than 50% of respondents achieved minimum dietary diversity (40.9%). The consumption of dark green leafy vegetables was significant (p < 0.01) to minimum dietary diversity, likewise to other fruits and vegetables; legumes, nuts and seeds; and eggs (p < 0.01). Overweight and obese participants were 54.3% at six weeks and 59.1% at 12 weeks. During pregnancy, 25.2% had recommended weight gain while 60.9% and 13.8% had inadequate and excessive weight gain respectively. The results show that gestational weight gain, maternal age, exposure to overweight messages, and minimum dietary diversity were significant with post-partum increase in BMI. The research suggests improving nutrition education, individual counseling, screening and routine monitoring of women’s nutrition status at service delivery points and in the community