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A review of the role of tour operators towards sustaining ecotourism in Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published in the Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism Vol. 13(2), July-December 2022This review paper assesses the role of tour operators towards sustaining ecotourism in Tanzania. The
motive behind it is based on the argument that tour operators have an important role within the
ecotourism multi-stakeholder. However, little has been documented on how best to engage them for
sustainable ecotourism. Thus, this paper provides a concise overview of the relevant literature,
highlighting existing knowledge and gaps for prospective future research. In addition to the literature
review and methods, the result section of the paper is organized in such a way that it elaborates on key
concepts and provides the setup and organization of tour operators. As a core part of the review, this
study underlined four key roles of tour operators towards sustainable ecotourism: their involvement in
planning, development, promotion, and implementation of ecotourism products. The study concluded
that ecotourism supporting and regulating machinery must work closely and strategically with tour
operators at the individual level or through their existing tourism associations in order to ensure that
those four identified areas are effectively and efficiently carried out, not only to enhance their business
but also to conserve and market the destination sites and contribute to the country’s revenue
Impact of climate change and management cost of chromolaena odorata on maize production for smallholder farmers in Serengeti District, Tanzania
Get PDFA Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master's in Life Sciences at The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and TechnologyChromolaena odorata is a weed that has infested agricultural land in the Serengeti district and
adversely reduced cropland and crop yield. This study evaluated the impact of climate change
and the management cost of Chromolaena odorata on maize production in the Serengeti
District. Firstly, the available roads were used as line transects for Chromolaena odorata
observation. Global Position System coordinate collected was used to generate a distribution
map of Chromolaena odorata in the Serengeti district. Climate change impact on maize
production was assessed using maize production data from 2000-2018 from the Serengeti
District office. Climate data were from the Grummet Game reserve. Correlation analysis was
used and the results showed rainfall and maize production were positively correlated, (r = 0.08
and p = 0.73). Mean annual temperatures and maize yield were positively correlated, however,
the correlation was not significant (r = 0.47 and p = 0.12). Therefore, the climate in Serengeti
was not only the factor for the decline in maize yield. A field trial was performed in Serengeti
to investigate the management cost and frequency of weeding on the growth and yield of maize,
and to determine the best frequency of weeding to get an optimum yield. There were five
treatments replicated four times. Treatments were; No weeding, weeding once, twice, thrice,
and fourth. The highest yield was obtained in weeding four times treatment with 2403 kg/ha
with significantly different (P<0.05, P=0.014). The lowest yield was obtained in no weeding
treatment with 520 kg/ha. There was an addition of 1883 Kg. ha-1
of maize grain yield
equivalent to a 70% increase Marginal return rate in weeding four times treatment. This study
suggests that for better maize yield and profit farmers should perform weeding four times to
control Chromolaena odorata on their cropland
Evaluation of functional attributes and storage stability of novel juice blends from baobab, pineapple, and black-plum fruits
Get PDFThis research article was published by Heliyon, 2022Several under-utilized tropical fruits have exceptional micronutrients and phytochemical composition with the
potential to contribute to the nutrition of people and also enhance food security. This study was carried out to
evaluate the quality attributes and storage stability of juice blends of baobab (Adansonia digitata), pineapple
(Ananas comosus), and black-plum (Syzygium cumini) fruits for use as functional beverages. Juice blends were
analyzed for physicochemical, antioxidant, and sensory properties. Mineral compositions and storage stability of
the pasteurized juice blends at 4 C for 4 weeks were also investigated. Results showed that the vitamin C contents
of individual juices synergistically contributed to the high values observed in the blends (317.45–414.51 mg/L).
Juice blends of baobab, pineapple, and black-plum fruits are good sources of calcium (57–153 mg/L), magnesium
(71–130 mg/L) and antioxidants (ascorbic acid, total polyphenol contents (65–104 mg GAE/100 mL), scavenging
ability (105.97–359.71 μmol TE/100 mL), and reducing potential (1376–1829 μMFe2þ L) the consumption of
which will promote human health. Blending enhanced the sensory qualities of the individual juices with improved
taste and consumer acceptability. The juice blends kept well for two weeks at 4 C though the color becomes less
intense at the end of the storage period. These findings suggest that baobab-fruit pulp, pineapple, and black-plum
fruits can be major ingredients in producing a consumer acceptable anti-oxidant rich functional beverage for
optimal benefits to consumers
Effects of sample preservation methods and duration of storage on the performance of mid-infrared spectroscopy for predicting the age of malaria vectors
Get PDFThis research article was published by BMC, 2022Background
Monitoring the biological attributes of mosquitoes is critical for understanding pathogen transmission and estimating the impacts of vector control interventions on the survival of vector species. Infrared spectroscopy and machine learning techniques are increasingly being tested for this purpose and have been proven to accurately predict the age, species, blood-meal sources, and pathogen infections in Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. However, as these techniques are still in early-stage implementation, there are no standardized procedures for handling samples prior to the infrared scanning. This study investigated the effects of different preservation methods and storage duration on the performance of mid-infrared spectroscopy for age-grading females of the malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis.
Methods
Laboratory-reared An. arabiensis (N = 3681) were collected at 5 and 17 days post-emergence, killed with ethanol, and then preserved using silica desiccant at 5 °C, freezing at − 20 °C, or absolute ethanol at room temperature. For each preservation method, the mosquitoes were divided into three groups, stored for 1, 4, or 8 weeks, and then scanned using a mid-infrared spectrometer. Supervised machine learning classifiers were trained with the infrared spectra, and the support vector machine (SVM) emerged as the best model for predicting the mosquito ages.
Results
The model trained using silica-preserved mosquitoes achieved 95% accuracy when predicting the ages of other silica-preserved mosquitoes, but declined to 72% and 66% when age-classifying mosquitoes preserved using ethanol and freezing, respectively. Prediction accuracies of models trained on samples preserved in ethanol and freezing also reduced when these models were applied to samples preserved by other methods. Similarly, models trained on 1-week stored samples had declining accuracies of 97%, 83%, and 72% when predicting the ages of mosquitoes stored for 1, 4, or 8 weeks respectively.
Conclusions
When using mid-infrared spectroscopy and supervised machine learning to age-grade mosquitoes, the highest accuracies are achieved when the training and test samples are preserved in the same way and stored for similar durations. However, when the test and training samples were handled differently, the classification accuracies declined significantly. Protocols for infrared-based entomological studies should therefore emphasize standardized sample-handling procedures and possibly additional statistical procedures such as transfer learning for greater accuracy
Photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes in textile wastewater by Polyaniline composite catalyst-a review
Get PDFThis research article was published by Elsevier B.V in 2022Azo dyes in industrial textile and dye effluent (5–30%) have become irresistibly recalcitrant and toxic to both treatments and the environment respectively. Global concerns about the persistent nature of these dyes and the limitation of the conventional treatment currently in place have led to this critical analysis and evaluation of the photocatalytic approach using nano-technology. The review of literature has indicated that although this approach is effective, however, the limitation of frequent electron-hole recombination during the process coupled with challenges of agglomeration of nano particle powder, photo-corrosion and photosensitivity of the various nano-materials are still challenges associated with the development of polymeric based nano composite catalyst of polyaniline (PANI). The unique features of incredible charge transport properties, surface morphology and enhanced functional properties gave PANI the choice of use among other conductive polymers for composite fabrication with materials such. Photoactive properties, conductivity mechanical, thermal and chemical stability equally offers the polymer the propensity of bandgap tunability when in composites with other materials. Consequently, effective recovery and reuse of the composite catalyst for more than four runs with efficiency > 90% becomes obtainable. These appreciable advantages offer fabricated nano composite polymeric-based catalysts an effective outlook of use in the remediation of toxic azo dyes industrially as compared to the bio-catalyst and pure nano adsorbent materials. Therefore, the review discusses the treatment process for azo dyes, fabrication and performance evaluation of improved composite catalyst of PANI as an alternative to the conventional catalyst in wastewater and recommends for further investigation in PANI to enhance treatability of azo dyes
Potential of Canna indica in Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: A Review
Get PDFThis research article was published by Conservation /Volume 2/ 2022This article reviews investigations in which Canna indica was utilized in constructed wetlands (CW) for wastewater treatment of a variety types. It is strongly urged that ornamental flowering plants be used in CWs as monoculture or mixed species to improve the appearance of CWs whilst still treating wastewater. Plants play important roles in CWs by giving the conditions for physical filtration of wastewater, a large specific surface area for microbial growth, and a source of carbohydrates for bacteria. They absorb nutrients and integrate them into plant tissues. They release oxygen into the substrate, establishing a zone in which aerobic microorganisms can thrive and chemical oxidation can occur. They also provide wildlife habitat and make wastewater treatment system more visually attractive. The selection of plant species for CW is an important aspect during the CW design process. Canna indica’s effectiveness in CWs has shown encouraging results for eliminating contaminants from wastewater. There is still a scarcity of information on the mechanisms involved in removal of specific contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, hormones, pesticides and steroids and their potential toxicity to the plants. Therefore, this paper reviews some published information about the performance of Canna indica in wastewater treatment, as well as potential areas for future research
The pharmaceutical disposal practices and environmental contamination: A review in East African countries
Get PDFThis research article was published by Elsevier, 2022The aim of this review was to analyze the available information on methods used in disposing of unused or expired pharmaceuticals in East African countries and the possibility of environmental contamination. There are some concerns about how pharmaceutical wastes are disposed of and, because of their risks, it is a critical matter to examine. Improper pharmaceutical disposal is common in many countries, from home to hospitals. The review shows that, despite the presence of regulations and rules in developed and developing countries, this practice is still growing. Apart from the ecological effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment, antibiotic resistance is more likely where germs such as bacteria and fungi develop resistance to the drugs designed to kill them. One of significant source of pharmaceuticals into the environment is improper disposal. This review shows that improper pharmaceutical handling and disposal is a challenge in all East African countries. This poses a risk of environmental contamination, human health and developing antibiotic resistance. There is a need for more awareness enhancing, policy review and enforcement of laws to protect both human and environmental health
In situ facile green synthesis of Ag–ZnO nanocomposites using Tetradenia riperia leaf extract and its antimicrobial efficacy on water disinfection
Get PDFThis research article was published by Springer Nature Limited, 2022In this work, Ag–ZnO nanocomposites were prepared by a green synthesis route using aqueous leaf extract of Tetradenia riperia and investigated for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. To optimize the synthesis of the Ag–ZnO, the effects of precursor concentrations, pH, and temperatures were studied. The Ag–ZnO nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, ATR-FTIR, FESEM, and TEM. Results show that the concentration of 8% Ag, the temperature of 80 °C, and a pH of 7–8 were optimal for the synthesis of Ag–ZnO nanocomposites. The XRD analysis showed the decrease in particle size of Ag–ZnO from 23.6 to 14.8 nm with an increase in Ag concentrations, which was further supported by FESEM analysis. TEM image of 8% Ag provides more information on the coexistence of Ag on ZnO where an average particle size of 14.8 nm was determined. The ATR-FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, which work as reducing and stabilizing agents. The antimicrobial activity results show that Ag–ZnO nanocomposite demonstrated a higher antimicrobial potency on E. coli than on S. aureus. Therefore, Tetradenia riperia leaf extract is a viable route for the synthesis of Ag–ZnO nanocomposites to be used for various applications, including water disinfection
Inorganic Nanocarriers: Surface Functionalization, Delivery Utility for Natural Therapeutics - A Review
Get PDFThis research article was published by Scientific.Net, 2022Inorganic nanocarriers for a decade have increased interest in nanotechnology research platform as versatile drug delivery materials. The utility of the inorganic nanocarriers for delivery of therapeutic agents is attributed to their unique properties such as magnetic, photocatalytic nature and the ability to exhibit surface functionalization. Herein, we review the surface functionalization and delivery utility for natural therapeutics exhibited by inorganic nanocarriers mostly focusing on their magnetic, photocatalytic and the plasmonic properties. The review also highlights the influence of electronic property of inorganic surface on functionalization of ligand based natural therapeutic agents. Improvement of stability and therapeutic potential by formation of nanocomposites are detailed. Furthermore, we suggest improvement strategies for stability and toxicity reduction of inorganic nanoparticles that would potentially make them useful for clinical application as therapeutic delivery tools for treatment of various diseases
Characterisation of Malaria Diagnosis Data in High and Low Endemic Areas of Tanzania
Get PDFThis research article was published by East African Health Research Journal 2022, Volume 6, Number 2Background: Malaria remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in the sub-Saharan African region. Malaria is considered preventable and treatable, but in recent years, it has increased outpatient visits, hospitalisation,
and deaths worldwide, reaching a 9% prevalence in Tanzania. With the massive number of patient records in the health
facilities, this study aims to understand the key characteristics and trends of malaria diagnostic symptoms, testing and
treatment data in Tanzania’s high and low endemic regions.
Methods: This study had retrospective and cross-sectional designs. The data were collected from four facilities in two regions in Tanzania,i.e., Morogoro Region (high endemicity) and Kilimanjaro Region (low endemicity). Firstly, malaria
patient records were extracted from malaria patients’ files from 2015 to 2018. Data collected include (i) the patient’s
demographic information, (ii) the symptoms presented by the patient when consulting a doctor, (iii) the tests taken and
results, (iv) diagnosis based on the laboratory results and (v) the treatment provided. Apart from that, we surveyed
patients who visited the health facility with malaria-related symptoms to collect extra information such as travel history
and the use of malaria control initiatives such as insecticide-treated nets. A descriptive analysis was generated to identify
the frequency of responses. Correlation analysis random effects logistic regression was performed to determine the
association between malaria-related symptoms and positivity. Significant differences of p < 0.05 (i.e., a Confidence Interval of 95%) were accepted.
Results: Of the 2556 records collected, 1527(60%) were from the high endemic area, while 1029(40%) were from the low endemic area. The most observed symptoms were the following: for facilities in high endemic regions was fever
followed by headache, vomiting and body pain; for facilities in the low endemic region was high fever, sweating,
fatigue and headache. The results showed that males with malaria symptoms had a higher chance of being diagnosed
with malaria than females. Most patients with fever had a high probability of being diagnosed with malaria. From the
interview, 68% of patients with malaria-related symptoms treated themselves without proper diagnosis.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that proper malaria diagnosis is a significant concern. The majority still self-medicate with anti-malaria drugs once they experience any malaria-related symptoms. Therefore, future studies should explore this
challenge and investigate the potentiality of using malaria diagnosis records to diagnose the disease