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Optimized multi-cloud service orchestration in cloud computing.
No full textThis paper presents an optimization model for service orchestration in multi-cloud environments. The objective is to minimize the total cost of deploying a set of services over multiple clouds while ensuring that quality of service requirements are met. The proposed model considers the heterogeneity of cloud resources and the interdependence among the services. A case study is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed model can achieve significant cost of saving while satisfying QoS requirements. The execution time of the algorithm is also analyzed, and it is found that it increases with the number of network elements. The study provides a framework for efficient service orchestration in multi-cloud environments, which can be extended to include additional constraints and objectives. The findings of this study are promising for practical applications for cloud service providers and users, who can benefit from the proposed optimization algorithm to archive cost-effective service orchestration while meeting QoS requirements
Effect of prolonged cooking on pro-vitamin A levels of biofortified East African highland bananas
No full text516-526 p.Genetically modified East African highland bananas (EAHBs) with elevated levels of pro-vitamin A (pVA) have been developed to address vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in Uganda. The green, mature fruits of EAHBs are traditionally prepared into “matooke,” a soft, savory dish made by peeling, steaming, and mashing the fruit. Biofortifying such a culturally embedded food offers an effective approach to improving nutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations. Field trials of pVA-biofortified EAHBs have been conducted at four locations across Uganda, with data collection nearing completion. However, the effect of prolonged cooking, a common traditional preparation method, on pVA carotenoid retention had not been evaluated. This study investigated the retention of β-carotene equivalents (β-CE) during extended cooking in two elite events, each of hybrid M9 and Nakitembe. After 1 h of cooking, β-CE concentrations declined significantly in both wild-type and biofortified lines. Further cooking, up to 8 h, did not result in additional significant losses. By the eighth hour, β-CE levels remained above the target threshold of 20 µg/g dry weight (DW) in one M9 event (21.7 µg/g DW) and both Nakitembe events (28.7 and 27.6 µg/g DW), compared to 12.8 and 17.6 µg/g DW in their respective wild-type controls. This confirms that the biofortified bananas can deliver meaningful nutritional benefits under customary preparation methods. These results are not only pivotal for selecting final lead and backup events but also provide compelling evidence of trait stability, further supporting the case for deployment of biofortified EAHBs to improve public health outcomes in East Africa
Fruits and vegetables used in treating respiratory and other troubles in Africa: ethnopharmacology and phytochemistry
No full textThis book provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds derived from African traditional medicinal plants, shedding light on their potential applications in modern medicine. It compiles crucial information on compounds with proven in vitro and in vivo activity against various diseases, providing a foundation for further research in drug discovery. The book also introduces the use of these bioactive secondary metabolites in cosmetics, nutrition, and pest control, with detailed description of medicinal plant species, including their botanical names, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and pharmaceutical companies.
Key concepts include the exploration of secondary metabolites from plants in Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Nigeria, and their industrial applications. The chapters cover ethnobotanical knowledge, bioactivities, and chemical profiling of these plants, including the ethnobotanical and phytochemical studies of Ethiopian flora, the role of rose-scented geranium in the perfume industry, and the use of fruits and vegetables in treating respiratory ailments. Readers will also discover insights into the use of secondary metabolites for pest control, the conservation strategies for endangered African plants, and the synthesis of bio-nanoparticles for therapeutic applications. The book presents a detailed analysis of medicinal plants with anti-malarial, antileishmanial, improve sexual desire and antimicrobial properties, highlighting their significance in traditional and modern medicine.
This volume is an essential resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals in the fields of natural products, phytochemistry, and pharmaceuticals. It provides a unique perspective on the integration of traditional African medicine with contemporary scientific research, offering valuable insights into the potential of these bioactive compounds in drug development
Liver cancer risks associated with consumption of groundnuts and maize contaminated with Aflatoxins in Eastern Uganda
No full text17-27 pagesBackground and Objectives: Regular consumption of food contaminated with aflatoxins is associated with the prevalence
of liver cancer in humans. Aflatoxin contamination of food occurs because of poor handling practices during drying, storage
and processing. The cancer risk for children and adults, who consume contaminated maize and groundnut products with
aflatoxins, was assessed.
Materials and Methods: he level of aflatoxin was assessed using enzyme Enzyme-linked Linked immunosorbent
Immunosorbent assay Assay. Cancer risk was characterized using margin of exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma risk.
Results: The level of aflatoxins ranged from 2.94– to 3.38 μg/kg in groundnuts and 2.25– to 2.38 μg/kg in maize grains.
Groundnut pastes and maize flours included aflatoxin levels of 2.12– to 2.53 μg/kg and 1.51– to 1.54 μg/kg, respectively.
The quantities of aflatoxin in groundnuts and maize grains were correspondingly higher than those in the pastes and flours.
Levels of aflatoxin were less than the maximum limit of 10 μg/kg, set by the East African Community. The margin of
exposure of 9.90–185.76 was less than the safety margin of 10000 for aflatoxin exposure in foods. The hepatocellular
carcinoma risk varied between 0.94– and 49.86 cases/100,000 individuals/y with the values for children of being 2– to 3
times higher than the World Health Organization acceptable level of one cancer case/y/100,000 individuals.
Conclusions: Consumption of groundnut and maize products in Eastern Uganda is greatly a concern and should be
prioritized as a public health problem
Atomic force microscopy in structural and functional studies of biomolecules
No full text117-138 p.Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as a cornerstone technology in molecular and cellular biophysics, offering nanometer-scale resolution under near-physiological conditions. Unlike electron microscopy (EM), AFM preserves native biomolecular states and enables simultaneous acquisition of topographical and mechanical data. This review synthesizes the principles, applications, methodological advances, and future directions of AFM in both structural and functional studies of biomolecules. Structural applications include high-resolution imaging of proteins, nucleic acids, and membrane systems, while functional investigations leverage single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS), binding interaction analysis, and mechanobiology assays. Methodological innovations such as high-speed AFM (HS-AFM), functionalized probes, and correlative multi-modal techniques have expanded AFM’s capacity to probe dynamic processes in real time. Despite challenges such as tip-induced artefacts, throughput limitations, and data interpretation complexities, emerging trends point toward AI-assisted image analysis, in-cell AFM, and integration with molecular simulations. Functionalized nanosensors and automated platforms promise to transform AFM from a specialized research instrument into a high-throughput, intelligent biophysical tool. By bridging the gap between structural detail and functional insight, AFM is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of biomolecular mechanisms, disease pathology, and therapeutic development
The microbiology of Uganda’s large freshwater lakes experiencing anthropogenic and climatic perturbations : why it matters—a review
No full text11 p. : MapsIntensification of pollution of African water resources due to human activities together with climate change has serious implications for Africa’s
blue economy, biodiversity and human health. Despite these overwhelming threats, there is limited research as evidenced by the underrepresentation Africa-based data in global ecological and biochemical models. This review, therefore, aims to highlight key challenges and existing research gaps, particularly in Ugandan freshwater ecosystems. We focus on lake microbiology as this scientific field has been greatly underrepresented.
Aquatic microorganisms are situated at the base of lake food webs and thus play crucial roles in the evolution and maintenance of water quality,
attenuation of pollutants, and control of biogeochemical cycling through the microbial loop. Until now, the microbiology of Ugandan lakes has
not been systematically studied. Thus, many open fundamental microbial ecology questions need to be urgently addressed to generate valuable
information to advance future research, education, management and policy in Uganda and beyond. These include, but are not limited to: identification
of microbial taxa and functional genes in relation to anthropogenic and climatic influence; seasonal and spatial variation in species diversity and
functions; diversity and functions of planktonic, sediment, biofilm and mat communities; antimicrobial resistance burden; plastisphere communities;
and geomicrobiology
Semi‑field experiments highlight the importance of maize and rice pollen on oviposition site choice and larval development in Anopheles arabiensis
No full text13 p. : col.Background
Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex, such as Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (An. gambiae s.s.), Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles arabiensis, are among the key malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. These species are often abundant in areas of intense rice and maize farming with temporary water pools reflecting the dependence of their larvae on the pollen shed in such pools as food. In this study we explored the oviposition preference of wild-caught gravid An. arabiensis in response to maize and rice pollen in artificial aquatic habitats in a semi-field system.
Methods
Twelve experimental breeding habitats were established in each of the two large compartments of a semi-field system. Rice or maize pollen was added into eight randomly selected habitats in eachcompartment; the remaining four habitats of each compartment were used as control habitats without pollens. In the first experiment, 40 gravid An. arabiensis were released in each compartment and left overnight to choose egg-laying habitats, following which the eggs were sampled and counted. The second experiment differed from the first experiment only in that the counted eggs were returned to the respective habitat where the development of the resultant larvae was monitored and recorded until pupation.
Results
Pollen types strongly affected the oviposition behaviour of gravid An. arabiensis. Females preferred to lay eggs in habitats with rice pollen on the water surface over those with maize pollen, and in habitats with maize pollen on the water surface over pollen-less controls. The development of larvae was significantly affected by the type of pollen in the habitats. The highest total number of An. arabiensis offspring were produced in habitats with rice pollen compared to those with maize pollen and no pollen. However, larval development success was comparatively lower in habitats containing rice pollen than those with maize pollen and no pollen, suggesting that the habitats with rice pollen were overcrowded.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that pollen types on the surface of aquatic habitats influence the oviposition site selection behaviour of gravid An. arabiensis and has carry-over effect on the developmental success of their offspring
Lay-health workers-led physical activity counseling in Ugandan people living with HIV and suicidal ideation
No full textThe aim of this one-group quasi-experimental study was to assess the efficacy of 8-week physical activity (PA) counseling program delivered by lay health workers (LHWs) in reducing suicidal ideation among people with HIV in Uganda. The counseling, based on the self-determination and motivational interviewing frameworks, consisted of 15-20 minute individual sessions for individuals from remote areas or 60-90 minute group sessions within the health center. Thirty-five (26 women, median age = 29.5years) participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), HIV/AIDS Stress Scale (HSS), World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule-2 (WHODAS-2) and Simple PA Questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Post-intervention only 2 of the 35 participants reported suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9 ≥ 1) (p < 0.001). Significant reductions in GAD-7, PHQ-9, HSS, SIMPAQ sedentary and WHODAS-2 scores and an increase in SIMPAQ PA score were observed. LHWs-led PA counselling is promising in reducing suicidal ideation in most people with HIV in low-resourced settings
The childfree phenomenon in Emile Durkheim’s sociology and Qur’anic perspective : a classical and contemporary interpretation
No full text325 - 344 p. :Objective: This study aims to analyze the childfree phenomenon from the perspective of Emile Durkheim's sociology and the view of the Qur'an, to understand the dynamics of social and religious values in Indonesian society. Theoretical framework: The theoretical framework refers to Durkheim's concepts such as social facts, organic solidarity, anomie, and collective morality, as well as classical and contemporary interpretations of the Qur'an on the value of heredity in Islam. Literature review: The literature review includes Durkheim's theory of social transformation and the mufasir's interpretation of the importance of heredity in Islam, both from classical (At-Thabari, Al-Qurtubi) and modern (Al-Misbah, Al-Azhar) interpretations. Method: This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with a literature study approach. Data were collected from literary sources such as the works of Emile Durkheim and classical and contemporary interpretations of the Qur'an. The analysis was carried out interpretively to understand the social and religious meaning of the childfree phenomenon in the context of Indonesian society. Results: The phenomenon of childfree reflects a change in values in modern society according to Durkheim, while in Islam heredity is considered a mandate and part of worship, as affirmed in various interpretations. Implications: The childfree phenomenon needs to be understood as a reflection of social and spiritual change, which demands an integrative approach between individual freedom and collective values. Novelty: This research is unique in that it combines sociological and theological analysis in examining the issue of child freedom, offering a cross-disciplinary perspective that is relevant to the context of Indonesian society
The role of innovative behavior in the relationship between human capital and knowledge worker productivity
No full textPurpose
The desire to create new knowledge for the survival of businesses has compelled organizations to shift labor demand from manual to knowledge workers. This has raised a need to scale up the productivity of knowledge workers. The study aim was to investigate the mediating role of innovative behavior in the relationship between human capital and knowledge worker productivity.
Design/methodology/approach
This study used a cross-sectional research design, using a questionnaire to collect data from a sample of ICT professionals offering services in various sectors in Uganda. The data was analyzed using the AMOS statistical package.
Findings
Results indicated that innovative behavior significantly mediates partially and positively the relationship between human capital and knowledge worker productivity.
Research limitations/implications
This study was carried out from Uganda, where the knowledge economy is emerging which may limit generalizing results to all countries.
Practical implications
Managers need to align the training they give to knowledge workers to the business context, empowering them with situated knowledge. In addition, managers need to consider the conception, exploration and exploitation of new ideas as a primary role for knowledge workers, which should be supported financially. Furthermore, managers need to foster a culture of tolerance for failure while implementing new ideas.
Originality/value
This study pioneers an examination of the mediating role that innovative behavior plays in explaining the relationship between human capital and knowledge worker productivity, addressing a gap in the existing literature