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Short message service (sms) based system for monitoring free chlorine concentration and ph in the water reservoirs
No full textA Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile Systems of the Nelson Mandela African
Institution of Science and TechnologyChlorine is the most common and affordable chemical reagent used for killing harmful micro-
organisms in the water to eliminate the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and
diarrhoea. According to World Health Organization, a free chlorine level within 0.5~1 mg/l
and a pH level within 6.5~8.5 is recommended for human consumption. It is essential to
monitor water quality parameters such as free chlorine in the water since a lower value will not
disinfect water efficiently while extreme values of free chlorine may affect the community’s
health. Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA) employs colorimetric approach to manually
measure free chlorine in the water reservoirs and submit the results into the kobocollect mobile
application. However, this approach is prone to human errors, ineffective and time consuming.
The objective of this current project was to develop a SMS-based system for monitoring free
chlorine concentration and pH in the water reservoirs. Extreme Programming (XP) agile
development methodology accompanied with V-Model were employed for developing and
testing of the proposed system. The developed system consists of hardware device and
dashboard for remote monitoring of water quality parameters such as free chlorine
concentration and pH. The hardware device sends sensor data and notification alerts as SMS.
The device is energy efficient since it uses SMS to send sensor data. The device can be
deployed in a noisy environment since it uses RS485 communication protocol to communicate
with the free chlorine sensor. The developed dashboard is used for remote monitoring of the
sensor data. The dashboard is user friendly and practical since it was designed with the end
users. The system was tested and validated by the end users to ensure all requirements were
met. The developed system has a potential capability to improve management of water
reservoirs by enhancing transparency, cooperation, and accountability among stakeholders
Recovery of precious metals from processed wastewater: conventional techniques nexus advanced and pragmatic alternatives
No full textthis research article is published on IWA on 2023 and is available at nm-aist institutional repositortyThe loss of highly sought-after metals such as gold, silver, and platinum during extraction processes not only constitutes a significant waste of
valuable resources but also contributes to alarming environmental pollution. The ever-growing adverse impacts of these highly valued metals
significantly increase the contamination of water bodies on discharge, while reducing the reusability potential of their corresponding pro cessed wastewater. It is, therefore, of great interest to identify pragmatic solutions for the recovery of precious materials from processed
water. In this review, pollution from targeted precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, and rhodium
was reviewed and analyzed. Also, the hazardous effects are elicited, and detection techniques are enumerated. An insightful approach to
more recent treatment techniques was also discussed. The study reveals nano- and bio-sorption techniques as adoptable pragmatic alterna tives, among other techniques, especially for industrial applications with merits of cost, time, waste management, and eco-friendliness. The
results indicate that gold (46.2%), palladium (23.1%), platinum (19.2%), and silver (11.5%) are of utmost interest when considering recent
recovery techniques. High yield and cost analysis reduction are reasons for the observed preference of this recovery process when consider ing groups of precious metals. The challenges and prospects of nanomaterials are highlighted
Knowledge and Utilisation of Lodised Salt by School Children and Food Vendors in Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaKnowledge and Utilisation of Lodised Salt by School Children and Food Vendors in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by East African Health Research Journal 2023 | Volume 7Background:
Universal Salt Iodisation (USI) is globally accepted as a cost-effective strategy for controlling Iodine
Deficiency Disorders (IDD). However, there is a paucity of data on the proper use of iodised salt among food vendors.
Thus, the present study assessed the School food environments and iodised salt practices among school food vendors
in Tanzania.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 322 school children and 30 school food vendors. A stratified
multistage followed by a systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit schools and children. Salt samples
were collected from food vendors and analyzed using the iodine rapid field test kit and then analyzed quantitatively
using an iodometric titration method. The data on knowledge, attitude, and practices was collected using customized
Iodine deficiency-related questionnaires recommended by FAO to assess iodine deficiency-related factors. For school
food environments, 3 tools were designed and used to get information; the teachers, students, and school food vendors’
tools. A chi-square test was used to establish an association between variables.
Results:
About 76.7% of the salt samples from school food vendors were adequately iodised (≥15 ppm) with the mean
iodine content of 39.26
±
11.06. More than half (70%) of the food sold around school compound were junk food. Half
(63.3%) of the food vendors had poor practices of iodised salt utilisation.
Conclusion:
A substantial achievement has been made in awareness creation of the importance of using iodised salt.
Nonetheless, there is a limited knowledge on salt handling practices including discretionary salt use exacerbated by
poor school food environment. To optimally eliminate IDDs, the government should now place more emphasis on proper
salt handling practices from the production site, food handlers, and much more to consumers. School children should be
encouraged on healthy eating habits, by improving school feeding programs and change the current food environments
in school
The mtego® trap: a potential tool for monitoring and control of malaria and arbovirus vectors
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Science in Public Health Research of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of
Science and TechnologyOdour-baited traps are valuable for vector surveillance and control; however, they often exhibit
varying recapture rates among mosquito species due to the limited range of host cues they provide.
Therefore, it is crucial to develop more effective traps capable of capturing a variety of mosquito
species. One potential alternative is the MTego trap, which incorporates thermal stimuli as
additional cues. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the MTego trap for sampling different
mosquito species in a semi-field system. To conduct the experiments, fully balanced Latin square
design experiments were conducted in semi-field chambers using laboratory-reared female
Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Anopheles arabiensis, Culex quinquefasciatus, and
Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Fifty mosquitoes of each species were released in each chamber for 16
days. The evaluated traps included the MTego trap baited with PM6 (MT-PM6), the MTego trap
baited with BG-Lure (MT-BGL), and the BGP trap baited with BG-Lure (BGP-BGL). In addition,
the performance of the traps was compared to the human landing catch (HLC). The MTego traps
(MT-PM6 and MT-BGL) captured a similar proportion of Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles
funestus, and Aedes aegypti as the BGP-BGL. However, the traps did not match the performance
of HLC against all mosquito species. The study underscores the promising application of the
MTego trap as a monitoring and control tool for malaria and arbovirus vectors.
Keywords: MTego, BGP, Human landing catch, Trap, Odour-baited trap, Mosquito, Anopheles,
Culex, Aede
Techno-economic analysis of a solar-assisted heat pump dryer for drying agricultural products
Get PDFThis research article was published by Food Science & Nutrition, in 2023Postharvest losses (PHLs) of biomaterials, such as vegetables and fruits, significantly
impact food security and economic stability in developing nations. In Tanzania, PHLs
are estimated to range between 30% and 40% for cereal crops and even higher for
perishable crops such as fruits and vegetables. Open-sun drying (OSD) is the most
extensively employed method because of its affordability and simplicity. However,
OSD has several drawbacks, including difficulties in managing drying parameters,
long drying times owing to adverse weather, and product contamination. The solar-
assisted heat pump dryer (SAHPD) is a technology designed as an alternative solutio
A remote vehicle health monitoring system: a case study of the kayoola electric vehicles
Get PDFA Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Award
the Degree of Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile Systems of the Nelson
Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyDue to their complex hardware and software, vehicle systems are challenging to monitor and
maintain. As a result, the absence of proper vehicle health monitoring systems leads to several
issues, including resource waste, costly maintenance, and frequent breakdowns. Therefore,
vehicle manufacturers and owners must prioritize implementing such systems to mitigate these
negative outcomes. This project report focuses on a remote vehicle health monitoring system
explicitly developed for Kiira Motors Corporation's (KMC's) electric vehicles made in Uganda.
This research project involved interpreting real-time data transmitted through the vehicle's
Controller Area Network (CAN) into a human-readable format using the developed embedded
device and a web application to notify technical operators of the vehicle's health status
remotely. The system consists of a wireless link between the embedded device and the web
application and has been integrated into Kiira EV, one of KMC's concept vehicles. This
embedded device is attached to the vehicles’ CAN data hub through CAN-high and CAN-low
communication lines to receive live data through electric signals generated by various sensors
located throughout the vehicle. The developed system was integrated into the Kiira EV,
and five critical vehicle parameters, including pack voltage, motor temperature, motor speed,
pack current, and vehicle location, were remotely monitored using the developed web
application. The developed system enables the technical vehicle operator to remotely track,
monitor, and receive notifications on the general health status of the Kiira EV based on the
streamed live CAN data
Dissemination of Agro-based Information by Telecentres among Selected Rural Farmers in Tanzania with a focus on Moshi Rural District, Kilimanjaro Region.
Get PDFThis research article was published by Library Philosophy & Practice, 2023The article discusses Telecentres in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlighting their role in providing access to information and communication technology (ICT) in rural communities. It describes the services offered by Telecentres, such as internet access, computer services, and community radio. The article also mentions the positive impacts of Telecentres on social-economic development
Occurrence and associated risk factors of aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds and raw milk from three agroecological zones of Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Wageningen Academic Publishers in 2023Aflatoxins (AFs) are natural toxic compounds produced by a specific type of fungi, which subsequently contaminate foods and animal feeds, potentially carcinogenic to humans. This study assessed the AFs awareness, prevalence and associated risk factors through a survey of the smallholder dairy farmers (SDFs) and livestock feeds and raw cow milk samples from three agroecological zones in Tanzania. The aflatoxin awareness among SDFs (419) and agrovet dealers (26) was 23.2% and 50%, respectively. The prevalence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in livestock feeds from agrovet dealers, and SDFs was 88.5 and 86.2%, with a concentration ranging from a limit of detection (LOD) to 22.99 and 32.9 μg/kg, respectively. However, 15.38 and 22.5% of AFB1 detected samples from agrovet dealers and SDFs exceeded the European Union (EU) and Tanzanian Bureau of Standards (TBS) limits of 5 μg/kg for dairy cow feeds. The prevalence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw cow milk was 30.7%, of which 27.9% exceeded the EU and TBS limits of 0.05 μg/l for raw cow milk. The risk factors associated with AFB1 and AFM1 were cattle feeding systems: zero-grazing (odds ratio (OR) = 11.3 (1.5-22.9)) and mixed feeding (OR=16.0 (1.4-43.6)), use of concentrates feeds (OR=12.0 (0.6-55.6)), mixed feeding (OR=5.0 (0.5-11.1)); feed handling and storage practices: no moisture content measurement (OR=2.0 (0.3-15.0)) and storing feeds (OR=3.6 (1.7-8.5)); agroecological zones: central zone (OR=15.2 (5.4-50.6)) and northern zone (OR=2.1 (0.7-7.3)); aflatoxin (AF) awareness and level of education: primary (OR=16.0 (2.5-155.3)) and secondary education (OR=8.0 (2.14-43.9)) (P<0.05). This study revealed a high prevalence of aflatoxin contamination in animal feeds and raw cow milk, suggesting a potential health risk to consumers. Therefore, it is vital to increase awareness and knowledge on AFs, proper handling, storage and monitoring of feeds among the stakeholders in the dairy value chain
Does variation in plant diversity and abundance influence browsing intensity in black rhinos?
Get PDFThis research article was published by Wiley Online Library in 2023Variations in forage availability, selection and preferences can lead to intense foraging competition and depletion of food consequently lowering diet quality and population performance of black rhino species. This study investigated seasonal variations in rhino diet, foraging, preference and browsing intensity and how this is influenced by plant diversity and availability in Mkomazi National Park (MKONAPA). Fifty-eight square grids were randomly selected in each season, and plots were laid for vegetation assessment during wet and dry seasons in the sanctuary. Browsed species by rhinos were compared with rhino feeding data from fourteen rhino range areas within Africa. More than 85% of species edible in MKONAPA were similar to those in rhino range areas. Acalypha ornata, Grewia similis and Commiphora africana were highly utilised specie in both seasons. Diversity and abundance of consumed browses decreased towards the dry season while browsing intensity increased with forage preference in both seasons and was prominent when browse availability was low in dry seasons. Our study established seasonal variation in dietary composition, browsing intensity and preferences for black rhinos. We suggest establishing nutritional composition of preferred forages, assessing density of competitor browsers, translocating excess rhinos or expanding the sanctuary to meet the recommended ecological carrying capacity
Diagnostic challenges of brucellosis in humans and livestock in Tanzania: A thematic review
Get PDFThis research article was published by CABI One Health, in 2023Brucellosis is an endemic bacterial zoonosis in Tanzania, and is among the most prioritized zoonotic diseases in the country. Brucellosis affects public health and livestock production in developing countries. Most human and livestock cases are not detected by the existing surveillance systems resulting in significant underestimation of the disease burden, and poor management of human cases by using nonspecific antibiotics may potentially contribute to antimicrobial resistance. To quantify the factors related to underreporting and those associated with the challenges in the diagnosis of brucellosis in Tanzania, search terms including “Brucella” “diagnosis” and “challenges” were used to query in Google search engine and publisher databases such as MEDLINE, PUBMED, NCBI, Springer, Hindawi, and Elsevier. The search parameters were limited to publications between 1995 and 2020. The searches returned 319 publications and grey articles which were screened and 57 were eligible for inclusion in this study. Four main areas were identified that cause underreporting of brucellosis and hinder brucellosis diagnosis: (1) inadequate knowledge of brucellosis among stakeholders in the livestock value chain, (2) limited diagnostic capacity for brucellosis due to unawareness of diagnostic tests and lack of epidemiological background of brucellosis among human and livestock health service workers (3) challenges associated with diagnostic tests, which include unreliable availability of diagnostic tests and unskilled workers, and (4) the uneven distribution of brucellosis surveillance studies in the country. This study suggests that there is a need for (1) training on public health education and brucellosis awareness among stakeholders in the livestock value chain; (2) providing scheduled continuing professional education with regard to brucellosis and other zoonotic diseases to health and livestock workers; (3) future brucellosis surveillance studies must focus on unrepresented regions; and (4) lastly, we recommend that the rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) should be considered in brucellosis diagnostic schemes as a complementary tool to hasten the implementation of an ongoing national strategy for the prevention and control of brucellosis in humans and livestock in Tanzania. We suggest that these recommendations be considered for inclusion in the national strategy for brucellosis control in Tanzania.
One Health Impact Statement
Brucellosis is a disease caused by bacteria of genus Brucella and is transmitted from animals to humans. Humans get infected through ingestion of infected animal products but also through contact with bacteria via broken skin or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria particles during culture in the laboratory. Humans working with animals or animal products and laboratory personnel are at higher risk of infection. Tanzania has recently established a One-Health desk in the Prime Minister’s Office to address all matters related to One Health. However, the desk is in the infancy stage, more studies must be done to fill knowledge gaps so that working instruments became realistic. This review provides a synthesis of information that could be used by the One Health desk and other One Health stakeholders in the country on how to improve the existing brucellosis surveillance structures for improvement of One-Health service delivery in the country