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Unraveling the Pyrolysis mechanisms of Syagrus palm waste fibers through Gaussian deconvolution and kinetic modeling
No full text28 p. ;The thermal decomposition kinetics and thermodynamics of Syagrus romanzoffiana waste rachis fibers (SrWRFs) were investigated through thermogravimetric analysis in a nitrogen atmosphere at heating rates (β) of 30, 40, and 50°C/min. The Coats–Redfern
method was employed to determine kinetic parameters, including activation energy (Ea), pre-exponential factor (A), and reaction mechanisms. In contrast, thermodynamic properties such as enthalpy change (ΔH), Gibbs free energy (ΔG), and entropy change (ΔS)
have been derived to evaluate the energy requirements and spontaneity of the pyrolysis process. A three-parallel Gaussian reaction model was employed to deconvolute the degradation profiles of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, revealing distinct temperature
intervals for each component: hemicellulose (200–345°C), cellulose (305–398°C), and lignin (220–650°C), with high fitting accuracy (R2 ≥ 0.99537). The kinetic analysis identified sigmoidal rate (SR) models (SR6, SR7, and SR8) as the most suitable, yielding Ea
values ranging from 97.31 to 262.11 kJ/mol, which increased with higher heating rates.
Thermodynamic results indicate that SrWRF pyrolysis is endothermic (ΔH > 0) and nonspontaneous (ΔG > 0), with negative entropy changes (ΔS) suggesting an increase in molecular order among the degradation products. The kinetic compensation effect was
confirmed, demonstrating a linear relationship between lnA and Eₐ
Resolve ties method for re-establishing fit for purpose survey boundaries
No full textGoal and Objectives:
Countries including Uganda adopted Fit-for-Purpose (FFP) Land Administration as a viable approach towards achieving full coverage of land registration aimed at empowering communities to secure land rights and enhance land management. While FFP survey approaches have successfully achieved huge coverage in a reasonable time and at an affordable cost in some districts of Uganda and many other countries including Rwanda, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Indonesia; most reported land disputes on un-titled land which is the target for FFP approach are primarily due to boundaries conflicts. However, there is limited knowledge and no standard method for re-establishing boundaries for land parcels initially surveyed using FFP methods. In this paper, we evaluated different field land surveying procedures, approaches, and methods to come up with an optimal method for re-establishing FFP land boundaries.
Methodology:
The study utilized qualitative and quantitative research methods which involved interviews with relevant stakeholders, experts, and technical persons to gather different perspectives. Primary and secondary data were collected through document analysis, key informants, and in-depth interview tools. Purposive sampling was used to get information from land professionals and university lecturers. A total of 14 in-depth interviews were conducted from land professionals and four institutions handling land administration or geomatics research. The findings from the interviews were used to identify possibles approaches for re-establishing FFP land boundaries. The identified approaches were validated through fieldwork using case studies that highlighted hurdles, positional accuracy, and demonstrated their applicability. The best practices were picked from the different approaches and were triangulated against accurate Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Real Time Kinematic (RTK) observations to develop an optimal method for re-establishing FFP land boundaries that was later validated.
Results:
The results indicated that the use of survey ties was the best method among the existing approaches as it is cost-effective, requires less skills, and provide relatively good accuracy from reference marks. However, to achieve the best results, the study found out that, ties should be integrated with procedures from methods used at initial FFP survey to come up with the optimal Resolve Ties method that incorporates self-resolving technique that reduces variations to achieve FFP accuracy for boundary re-establishment from reference features. The study also developed guidelines for implementing the proposed method with valuable insights into the re-establishment of FFP boundaries for parcels initially surveyed using FFP methods. The developed Resolve Ties method and guidelines can be used to enhance FFP land administration that may ultimately lead to a more efficient and effective land registration system
Functional and sensory properties of iron and folic acid fortifed NABE‑3 bean and silver fish composite instant four
No full textP. (1-15) ;Despite the need for Iron and Folic acid (IFA) during critical stages of child development and gestation, there is observed persistence in deficiencies despite several interventions. This situation motivated a food-based approach using IFAfortified NARO Bean-3 (NABE-3 bean) and silverfish. IFA fortified composite flours with NABE-3 (BF): silver fish flour (SFF) proportions as 100% BF, 90% BF: 10% SFF, 80% BF: 20% SFF, and 70% BF: 30% SFF were developed. Functional, pasting, and sensory properties were assessed using standard methods. Increasing silverfish proportions in the composite flours was associated with decreased water absorption properties of the composite flours indicating reduced reconstitution abilities; reduced final viscosity but increased bulk density implying a high density of nutrients at lower viscosity and volume; and increased peak time indicating increased cooking energy requirements. The compressibility and Hausner ratios of the flours were high and not significantly different, indicating low flowability of the bean flour and its composites with silver fish. Increasing silverfish proportions reduced sensory score from liked moderately to indifferent on a 9-point hedonic scale due to colour darkening, and increased intensity of fishy aroma and flavour. The 90% BF: 10% SFF and 80% BF: 20% SFF composites were more acceptable than the 70% BF: 30% SFF. However, all the composites were more acceptable than the control 100% BF: 0% SFF. Incorporation of silver fish into NABE bean flour generally leads to increased sensory acceptability and nutrient density but reduced functionality
Inclusive education policies versus implementation challenges in the Southern Africa development community countries : a scoping review
No full text83-89 p.The Salamanca framework of Action of 1994 and the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of 2006 guide SADC member states in formulating inclusive education policies in mainstream and inclusive schools. However, the literature on policies versus implementation remains unclear. This scoping review maps the literature on the common inclusive education policies versus implementation challenges in inclusive education in the SADC countries and how these challenges exclude students with special learning needs. The study employed a mixed approach and case study design to explore the inclusive education policies versus their implementation challenges in the SADC region. A search was conducted through Google Scholar, Science Direct, Research Gate, and PubMed for studies published between 1994 and 2025. The study adopted Boolean operators and proximity operators. Data extraction focuses on the author(s), year of publication, country, research approach, design, data collection methods, analysis, and the key findings. It adopted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-SCR) extension for Scoping Reviews. A total of ninety studies were identified from the search strategies and databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria screened the studies; forty-eight were irrelevant, and forty were relevant to this scoping review. A total of forty-two studies were included. Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi have published numerous studies on inclusive education compared to other countries in the SADC region. This study found that SADC countries have common inclusive education challenges, such as inadequate instructional materials, inaccessible infrastructures, rigid curricula, negative attitudes of teachers and administrators towards inclusive education and disabilities, and teachers having insufficient knowledge and skills to teach in inclusive schools. The study recommends that all SADC countries consider reviewing their inclusive education policies to address the implementation challenges
Does education spur economic growth? Fresh insights from Uganda
No full textThis paper uses autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing approach to examine whether education and economic growth are related, making use of time series data from Uganda covering the period from 1986 to 2017. The findings reveal evidence of a short- and long-run relationship between education and economic growth in Uganda, indicating that education matters for economic growth in both the short- and long-run, all else equal. In the long-run, it’s secondary school enrolment that is the most significant contributor to economic growth relative to primary and tertiary school enrolments. However, in the short-run, it’s tertiary school enrolment that is the most significant contributor to economic growth. This relationship is robust to the use of alternative specification. The implications of the above findings are far reaching. The presence of a positive relationship between education and economic growth suggests that attaining short- and long-run rates of economic growth might require making substantial investments in education to improve and encourage school enrolments. Specifically, enacting policies that provide incentives for learners to remain in school rather than drop out of school could offer a ray of hope for increasing growth, for low-income countries like Uganda
Urban child poverty in Kampala city, insights from children’s drawings
No full text18 p. : ill.In many urban areas, rapid urbanization, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, has overwhelmed technical and administrative capacity to provide adequate services. This has led to various challenges of urban sustainability, including urban child poverty, known to worsen the cognitive and emotional well-being of such children. We aimed to gain an understanding of and provide evidence on urban child poverty in Uganda through children’s diagrammatic representations of the drivers, effects, and needed interventions. We used children’s drawings, in-depth interpretations of these drawings, and observations. Using a two-stage sampling strategy, data were collected from four poor slum zones within Kampala city. Through purposive sampling, 26 deprived slum dwelling children aged between 7 and 15 years, who were willing to take part in the study, were asked to share their stories regarding their experiences of urban poverty using drawings, and generating narratives about them. Data analysis was done using a participatory design of the code-book, drawing visualization, and analysis. Some verbatim statements were also picked directly from raw data and used to strengthen this analysis and reporting. Children were well conversant with the problem of urban child poverty based on its causes, manifestations, and effects. Children expressed that urban child poverty was linked to domestic violence, lack of parental care, chronic sickness, orphanhood, and the absence of child support services in the community. Effects of urban poverty included the inability to use medical facilities, lack of access to information, ill health, coping with street life through violence, poor shelter, overcrowding, lack of social capital, and being excluded from basic decision-making processes at all levels. There is also a need to build on the available child rights initiatives in urban areas and elsewhere as a means to reduce these urban distortions. Continuous investment in research to present the different experiences of urban vulnerable groups should also be done to underpin evidence-based urban programming
Revitalizing traditional food systems in Uganda : restoring and adapting indigenous food storage and preservation methods for improved food security in Kitu Guru parish, Rampura District, south-western Uganda
No full text10 p. : col. ;Traditional food preservation and storage methods play a crucial role in enhancing food security and reducing poverty in Uganda. However, modernization and shifting dietary preferences have led to the decline of indigenous knowledge in food systems. This study explores the restoration, adaptation, and valorization of traditional food preservation and storage methods in Kitunguru Parish, Rugando Sub-County, Rwampara District, in Uganda’s Southwestern Region. Through qualitative research, the study examined how methods such as smoking, sun-drying, boiling, steaming, and frying contribute to prolonged food shelf life, ensuring year-round availability and resilience against food scarcity. The findings highlight the socio-economic and cultural significance of these techniques, emphasizing their potential to enhance food security, reduce dependency on expensive modern storage facilities, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. By integrating indigenous knowledge with modern innovations, the study advocates for policy interventions and community-driven strategies to revitalize traditional food systems. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of preserving, storing and adapting indigenous food practices and methods to foster resilience, self-reliance, and sustainable development
in rural Uganda
Balancing green and growth: do innovation and contribution drive sales and environmental performance?
No full text18 pagesThis study examines the impact of industrial innovations and contributions on the new products’ sales and environmental
performance. The Present study adds to the prior knowledge by incorporating the environmental concerns emanating
from the sales of new products. The past literature in this domain is scant, primarily concentrating on overall figures. The
impact is analysed using the two-step system Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) regression approaches to analyse
30 provinces’ worth of combined data from Chinese firms from 2009 to 2020. The results show that foreign fund flows
have a negative effect on new products’ sales and environmental performance. Besides, industrial innovation, measured
through the effective number of patents, has a positive effect on the sales of new products but a negative impact on their
environmental performance. Meanwhile, R&D expenditures positively affect sales and environmental performance of
new products. Industrial expenditures positively affect new products’ sales and environmental performance by improving
manufacturing processes and adopting eco-friendly technologies. The study proposes that policymakers implement
policies related to green innovations, sustainable practices and eco-friendly technologies in industrial zones. Adopting
efficient R&D strategies can lead to manufacturing products that meet market demands and create less harm to the
environment
Assessment of indoor radon (222Rn) levels and associated radiological risks in occupational buildings and dwellings in Kampala, Uganda
No full textRadon-222 (222Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, posing a public health concern. Assessing indoor 222Rn levels in occupational and residential environments is essential for radiological risk evaluation. In this study, indoor 222Rn concentrations were measured using a continuous radon monitor (CRM) in 20 buildings across Kampala City, Uganda. In occupational buildings, 222Rn concentrations ranged from 8.7 ± 1.5 to 95.8 ± 8.0 Bq m−3, with a mean of 30.8 ± 4.5 Bq m−3. Poorly ventilated storage rooms showed elevated levels, with a maximum of 194.8 ± 21.2 Bq m−3, exceeding the WHO reference level of 100 Bq m−3. In dwellings, concentrations ranged from 15.3 ± 2.3 to 188.2 ± 8.2 Bq m−3, averaging 71.7 ± 17.5 Bq m−3. Some dwellings recorded values above the WHO threshold. The average annual effective doses were 0.32 ± 0.05 mSv y−1 in occupational buildings and 0.75 ± 0.18 mSv y−1 in dwellings, both below the recommended public limit of 1.0 mSv y−1. Additional radiological parameters, including annual equivalent dose, excess lifetime cancer risk and potential lung cancer cases, were also evaluated. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between 222Rn concentrations and radiological hazard indices, as well as a positive correlation with indoor humidity and a weak negative correlation with temperature. These findings highlight the importance of controlling humidity and enhancing ventilation to mitigate indoor radon risks. Although indoor 222Rn levels in the surveyed buildings were generally low and unlikely to pose significant health risks, continued monitoring is recommended to capture seasonal variability and ensure long-term radiological protection for occupants
Functional and sensory properties of iron and folic acid fortified NABE-3 bean and silver fish composite instant flour
No full textDespite the need for Iron and Folic acid (IFA) during critical stages of child development and gestation, there is observed persistence in deficiencies despite several interventions. This situation motivated a food-based approach using IFA-fortified NARO Bean-3 (NABE-3 bean) and silverfish. IFA fortified composite flours with NABE-3 (BF): silver fish flour (SFF) proportions as 100% BF, 90% BF: 10% SFF, 80% BF: 20% SFF, and 70% BF: 30% SFF were developed. Functional, pasting, and sensory properties were assessed using standard methods. Increasing silverfish proportions in the composite flours was associated with decreased water absorption properties of the composite flours indicating reduced reconstitution abilities; reduced final viscosity but increased bulk density implying a high density of nutrients at lower viscosity and volume; and increased peak time indicating increased cooking energy requirements. The compressibility and Hausner ratios of the flours were high and not significantly different, indicating low flowability of the bean flour and its composites with silver fish. Increasing silverfish proportions reduced sensory score from liked moderately to indifferent on a 9-point hedonic scale due to colour darkening, and increased intensity of fishy aroma and flavour. The 90% BF: 10% SFF and 80% BF: 20% SFF composites were more acceptable than the 70% BF: 30% SFF. However, all the composites were more acceptable than the control 100% BF: 0% SFF. Incorporation of silver fish into NABE bean flour generally leads to increased sensory acceptability and nutrient density but reduced functionality