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Mobile-based Vaccine Registry to Improve Collection and Completeness of Maternal Immunization Data
Get PDFThis research article was published by International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications Vol. 13, No. 3, 2022Immunization during pregnancy and infancy
significantly reduces morbidity and mortality of mothers, unborn
fetuses, and young infants. Several studies show the merits of
getting complete, quality, and accurate data on time to enhance
policy and decision-making for society or country development.
Despite the efforts by nations to ensure the success of maternal
immunization through electronic immunization registries, limited
resources such as poor internet access, shortage of electricity, and
digital illiteracy in developing countries hinder the goal of full
immunization of mothers and infants. Since 2015, immunization
programs in Tanzania use internet-based information systems to
collect immunization data from health facilities and submit them
to the responsible authority for further decision-making such as
the allocation of vaccines to health facilities. The internet-based
media is not fully achieved in developing countries due to its cost
and resource setting, thus, the responsible authority does not
receive instant data to update its vaccine inventory and
management activities which often results in partial
immunization due to the unavailability of vaccines in some
facilities. This challenge can be solved by having an affordable
system that instantly incorporates and transmits vaccination
details such as the utilization of vaccines and demands from each
health facility to responsible authority with less resources. The
present study proposes a USSD platform to enhance the receipt
of real-time data by immunization authorities from both health
facilities with poor and good internet connectivity at a lesser cost.
A greater number of health facilities in Tanzania prefer to use
both online and offline platforms for collecting and recording
immunization data. As electronic immunization registry has been
introduced in areas with limited resources, it is recommended the
use online and offline platforms for data collection so that they
can submit immunization data in real-time without the delays
caused by poor resource setting
Retaliatory killing negatively affects African lion (Panthera leo) male coalitions in the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem, Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published in the PLOS ONE in 2023In landscapes where people and lions coexist, conflicts are common due to livestock preda-
tion and threats to human safety. Retaliatory lion killing by humans is often a consequence
and is one of the leading causes of lion population declines across Africa. We assessed the
effects of retaliatory lion killing on male lion coalitions in the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem
(TME) using a long-term dataset of lion monitoring for ten lion prides, spanning over a four-
teen year-period from 2004–2018. We also interviewed 214 respondents about their atti-
tudes and awareness of the effects of retaliatory killing on lions. We found that male lion
coalitions were larger and lasted for a longer tenure period in locations with low risk of retal-
iatory killing, as well as far away from active hunting blocks. Further, young people (18–35
years old) had a more positive attitude towards lion existence and conservation compared
to older age classes. Surprisingly, people with primary or secondary level of education were
more likely to having lions killed if they attack livestock compared to people with no formal
education, although the former supported lion presence for tourism in protected areas. We
conclude that retaliatory killing has a large effect on long-term lion coalition dynamics and,
thus, survival. Community awareness on retaliation effect varies widely, and we recommend
implementing better education and policy strategies at TME to protect the declining carni-
vore populations
A smartphone-based road signs alert system for vehicle drivers’ assistance in Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Information Systems and Network Security of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyRoad Traffic Accidents (RTA) are major problems worldwide resulting in significant morbidity
and mortality. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are one of the salient features of
intelligent systems in transportation. ADAS improves vehicle safety by providing real-time
traffic information on road signs ahead. Road signs play an important role in road safety. To be
effective, road signs must be visible at a distance that enables drivers to take the necessary
actions. Static road signs, however, are often seen too late for a driver to respond accordingly.
In this study, a system for alerting drivers about road signs has been developed and tested using
a smart mobile phone. The study was conducted in Tanzania along an 80 km stretch of Arusha
to Moshi highway. The haversine method was used precisely for the measure and estimation of
the distance between two pairs of coordinates. It uses an existing supported phone-based
navigation application, Google Map. The system provides a speech alert to a needed action which
enhances attention diversion. According to the experimental results, the proposed methodology
has the benefits of high accuracy within a user radius of 10 meters, minimum bandwidth, and
low-cost system. Furthermore, the system application package SHA-1 signing certificates
fingerprint is secured by limiting access to API key to avoid unauthorized access to sensitive
information
Smart system for controlling and monitoring water and turbidity levels in dam reservoir using arduino technology: a case study of Mudasomwa, Rwanda
Get PDFA Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Degree of Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile Systems of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyEnergy remains an essential resource for the sustainable development of any country. Although
many projects of energy production have been put in place, the hydropower type requires a
dam structure for storing water to be used in water shortage times and raise it at the level it can
produce substantial energy. In Africa and many other developing countries, several
hydropower plants operate under manual and mechanical operations which affect the quality
and speed of energy production. It becomes a problem when the water quality and quantity in
the dam are manually measured. This study aims at using an Arduino-based technology for
monitoring and controlling the turbidity and water levels in dam reservoirs by using different
sensor types. In the case of Rwanda, there is a lack of using embedded systems in monitoring,
control, and operation of hydropower plants the reason why this research is monitoring and
controlling the water reservoir of the Pico hydropower plant by using Arduino. In this
technological era, we are expected to diminish the time and fee charges spent on plant
operational processes by using a small number of laborers. It facilitates fast information
assemblage about water levels and turbidity levels which directly impact the production of
electricity at the hydropower plant. In the unsafe conditions of water and turbidity, water levels
less than 310 mm or greater than 330 mm and turbidity levels greater than 50 NTU, the system
prototype was able to detect these unusual statuses and automatically the water valve opened
or closed the incoming water according to the reservoir conditions. The developed system
prototype has four main components which include the sensing component, processing
component, displaying component, and alerting component. In the sensing component, the
ultrasonic sensor constantly monitors the variation in water levels, and the turbidity sensor
measures the turbidity of incoming water. Inside the processing component, the detected
records are collected and fed to the Arduino microcontroller for more processing. The
processed information can be viewed on displaying component which is Liquid Crystal Display
LCD, and the alerting component generates an alarm through the buzzer and an SMS
notification is sent on cellphones. The outcomes of this project research, from lab-testing,
provided a smart and automatic prototype that can quickly sense the fluctuations in both
turbidity and water levels, and uninterruptedly send updates to the dam workers within 3
seconds. This study was conducted in the upstream water reservoir of the Mudasomwa Pico hydropower plant located in South Province/ Rwanda, Nyaruguru District, Ruheru sector
between Remera and Uwumusebeya cells
Comparative assessment of soil phosphate status, water eutrophication, and potentially toxic metal accumulation in Usagu agro-ecosystem
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyThe present study assessed (i) soil fertility, phosphate status, sorption capacity and saturation, (ii)
accumulation and distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils and plants, and (iii) soil
and surface water quality as they are influenced by current farming practices in Usangu agro ecosystem (UA) following increased agricultural intensification and urbanization. Soil, sediment,
plant, and water sample were collected from ten irrigation schemes for plant nutrients, physico chemical soil properties, PTEs, water quality determination and assessment. The results indicated
that 90% of studied soils had N, P, K, Mg and most micronutrients (Cu and Zn) in deficient levels
compared to recommended levels. To ensure sustainable intensification of agricultural production,
additional fertilization is recommended. The P soil sorption capacity (PSC), P saturation status
(PSD) and its determinants (inherent P (PM3), AlM3, FeM3, and CaM3) which influence P availability,
storage, and P losses to the environment determined in UA, were in a range (mg/kg) of: PM3 (14.9-
974.7), AlM3 (234.7-3789.4), FeM3 (456.9-2980.2), and CaM3 (234.7-973.3). Where estimated
PSCM3 ranged 5.6-34.9 mmol/kg, indicating low to high status for P holding or fixation. Some
soils had very low PSCM3 indicating a risk of P loss to environment. The estimated PSDM3 ranged
from 0.01-17.6% and was less than 24%, indicating low P loss risk from farmlands to water bodies.
Some of studied soils had PSDM3 above 15%, which is equivalent to 25% based on ammonium oxalate method, which can cause higher P loss risk. The spatial PTEs distribution in soils in paddy,
maize farming, and conservation areas across contrasting land management schemes (Group I
dominated by agricultural areas versus Group II dominated by residential and agricultural areas)
varied significantly (P < 0.05) across groups and land use. Where total and bioavailable
concentrations (in µg/kg) of some PTEs determined were; Cr (Group I = 1662 and Group II = 1307
(Total), Group I = 55.1 and Group II = 19.2 (bioavailable)) and Pb (Group I = 5272 and Group II
= 6656 (Total), Group I = 1870 and Group II = 1730 (bioavailable)). Farming areas had higher
PTEs concentrations than non-farming areas. Overall, concentrations of Fe (99.5%), As (87%), Se
(66%) and Hg (12%) were above Tanzanian maximum permissible limits. Furthermore, water
quality and eutrophication characterization in UA observed water pH ranging 4.9 to 6.8, where
some were outside FAO acceptable range (6.5-8.4) for irrigation water. The NH4-N ranged 10.6-
70, NO3-N (8.4-33) and total N (19.1-104 mg/L), which increased as water moved from intakes to
drainages. Whilst total P ranged 0.01-1.65 mg/L and increased from intake to drainages and in
some sampling points exceeding 0.1 mg/L indicating water quality degradation
Impacts of irrigation water quality, associated soils characteristics and on-farm practices on paddy yields
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master’s in Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyIn this study, the impacts of irrigation water quality, soil characteristics and on-farm practices
on paddy yields were investigated. Standard spectroscopy and spectrometry methods were used
to analyze irrigation water and irrigated soil samples. The irrigation water had sodium
adsorption (SAR) values ranging from 0 to 3. The corresponding electrical conductivity (EC)
values were between 0.2 and 0.7 dS/m and accounted for 14% of all samples hence posing
slight to moderate infiltration problem. Neither sodium nor chloride levels were high enough
to cause toxicity problems in the irrigation water. For boron, 54% of the samples was found to
have moderate toxicity whereas ~14% of the samples indicated severe boron toxicity in the
irrigation water. For bicarbonate, about 86 and 14% of the irrigation water indicated slight-to moderate and severe potential detrimental effect to plant growth, respectively. The trace
elements Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, B, As, Cd, Cr2+, Pb2+, Ni2+, and Al3+ in the irrigation water
samples were too low to cause any harmful effect. Although soil EC (0.2 to 1.9dS/m), organic
carbon (OC) (0.1 to 2.4%) and pH (6.0 to 8.5) indicated favorable levels, there were significant
variations in soil Fe (2.6 to 169.5 mg/kg) and Zn (3.9 to 204.1 mg/kg). The mean value of Fe
in soils was 19.8 mg/kg. Soils indicated signs of Fe-deficiency. High variabilities were also
found in the total N (86 to 2155 mg/kg) content of the studied paddy soils. The levels of
phosphorus (Olson P, mean 224.2 ± 149.4 mg/kg) were found to be too high compared to what
is reported as normal in similar studies. There might be unsustainable and excessive application
of P-containing inputs in the studied area. Furthermore, a low soil K content was observed in
the analyzed soil samples. The present study recommends that regular control of irrigation
water HCO3
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, EC and controlling soil pH levels as well as adoption of standard on-farm
practices following of crop calendar, proper application of fertilizers. Availability of extension
officers to advice farmers is highly recommended
Development of web-based system for tracking students’ performance for early intervention: a case of darling wisdom academy
Get PDFA Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Embedded and Mobile Systems of The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyStudent Information System (SIS) is critical for the effective operation of institutions of
learning because it tracks student performance and allows for early intervention. The project's
goal was to develop a functional, flexible, and convenient web-based SIS with user-friendly
interface for enhancing students’ performance tracking for early intervention. During the
requirements elicitation process, the project included benchmarking of other schools’ SIS.
Benchmarking and user interviews were used to obtain requirements for the SIS. The system
was developed through Rapid Application Development (RAD) and tested with unit, system,
and integration testing. The survey showed that the system is 70% user-friendly, the system
will provide easy interaction between students, parents, guardian, and school by 70%, 71%
believe the technology will make student data management easier as 73% believe the system
will help keep better records. The system provides a single login interface for school general
secretary, students, and parents/guardians. The SIS allows students to monitor their academic
progress, school management and designated staff manage student results, school general
secretary deals with all aspects of system administration pertaining SIS. Secure Socket layer
(SSL) certificate installed on the institutional domain where Information System (SI) is hosted.
Object-orient Programming (OOP), prepared statements and password encryption were applied
for IS security enhancement. SIS files and database were backup using JetBackup and log files
were developed to enhance accountability. The efficiency and effectiveness of schools are
dependent on the adoption of the SIS. The SIS provides timely student information to students,
school management and parents. This system, however, will have to be integrated to other IS’s
of DWA to achieve consistent data flow within the institution
Ethical considerations in the design and conduct of a cluster-randomised mycotoxin mitigation trial in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2022Aflatoxins are fungal metabolites that commonly contaminate staple food crops in tropical regions. Acute aflatoxin consumption in very high concentration causes aflatoxicosis and acute liver failure, while chronic, moderate levels of intake cause hepatocellular carcinoma. The effects of frequent moderate- to high-level exposure during infancy, however, is less clearly understood. Half a billion people in low- and middle-income countries continue to be exposed to aflatoxins through dietary consumption, in part because of lack of enforcement of regulatory limits and few feasible long-term mitigation options in these settings. Several epidemiologic studies have shown an association between aflatoxin exposure in infants and young children and growth failure, but strong experimental evidence is lacking. The Mycotoxin Mitigation Trial conducted in Tanzania was a cluster-randomised trial to assess the effect of a reduced aflatoxin diet on linear growth. Prior to the design and implementation of this trial, a group of multi-disciplinary and multi-national scientists reviewed literature in biomedical, public health, environmental health ethics. In this paper we outline the most salient ethical questions and dilemmas in the potential conduct of such a study and describe the ethical precedents and principles that informed our decision-making processes and ultimate study protocol
In-situ synthesis of calcium/magnesium phosphate system for water de-fluoridation: Clay ceramic materials
Get PDFThis research article was published, Elsevier, Volume 278Clay ceramic water filters impregnated with silver colloids have been used to purify water in many parts of East Africa disregarding the removal of fluoride, which is a health-threatening ion in water supplies. This paper presents a synthesis of clay ceramic materials containing in-situ generated calcium/magnesium phosphate system as an adsorbent for water de-fluoridation. The materials were prepared in varied ratios of clay (K) to heat-pretreated dolostone (R) (K:R = 0:100, 90∶10, 85∶15, 75∶25 and 100:0), sintered at temperatures between 500 °C and 900 °C, and characterized using XRF, AAS, CHNS–O analyzer and X-ray PDF analysis. The materials improved in de-fluoridation performance with increase in sintering temperature at 500–700 °C, before exhibiting a sharp drop at 800 °C. The adsorption performance of K:R = 75:25 was higher than that of K:R = 0:100, signifying the effect of clay. The adsorption data obeyed Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting multi-layer adsorption. Fluoride uptake follows pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models, which suggests a chemisorption process involving rate-limiting intra-particle diffusion
A Molecular Investigation of the Solvent Influence on Inter- and Intra-Molecular Hydrogen Bond Interaction of Linamarin
Get PDFThis research article published by MDPI, 2022Linamarin has been reported to have anticancer activities; however, its extraction and
isolation using different solvents yield a low amount. Therefore, understanding the physical prop‐
erties, such as solvents’ solubility, membrane permeability and lipophilicity and how they are asso‐
ciated with different solvents, is a paramount topic for discussion, especially for its potential as a
drug. Linamarin has a sugar moiety with many polar groups responsible for its physical properties.
Following current trends, a molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate its physical
properties and how different solvents, such as water, methanol (MeOH), dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO) and dichloromethane (DCM), affect such properties. In this work, we have investigated
the influence of intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding and the influence of polar
and non‐polar solvents on the physical properties of linamarin. Furthermore, solvation free‐energy
and electronic structure analysis are performed. The structural analysis results show that the polar
groups of linamarin have strong interactions with all solvents except the etheric oxygen groups. A
detailed analysis shows intermolecular hydrogen bonding between polar solvents (water, MeOH
and DMSO) and the hydroxyl oxygens of linamarin. Water exhibits the strongest interaction with
linamarin’s functional groups among the investigated solvents. The findings show that within the
first solvation shell, the number of water molecules is greatest, while MeOH has the fewest. Cen‐
trally to the structural analysis, solvation free energy confirms DMSO to be the best solvent since it
prefers to interact with linamarin over itself, while water prefers to interact with itself. While the
solute–solvent interactions are strongest between linamarin and water, the solvent–solvent interac‐
tions are strongest in water. As a result, the solvation free‐energy calculations reveal that linamarin
solvation is most favourable in DMSO