Kyambogo University Institutional Repository
Not a member yet
2178 research outputs found
Sort by
Bifunctional catechol-based coating strategy to construct highly effective antimicrobial polyethylene microfibers for personal protective equipment
No full textPolyethylene (PE) microfiber materials are of great interest in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) due to their cost-effectiveness and excellent mechanical and barrier properties. However, they lack inherent antibacterial properties and are therefore susceptible to attack and contamination by microorganisms, leading to the spread of associated infections. Incorporating antibacterial agents onto the material's surface is an effective approach to achieve antimicrobial functionality. Nevertheless, this is limited by the chemical inertness of PE, thus requiring surface modification treatments. Here, we successfully synthesized bifunctional catechol-based antibacterial polymeric coatings and applied them to develop durable antibacterial PE fabrics through dip-coating. Cationic copolymers comprising dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and hexylated vinyl pyridine (QVP) moieties were prepared through free radical polymerization (FRP) followed by N-alkylation with hexyl bromide. The copolymers were extensively studied to investigate the effect of composition on the yield and antibacterial properties. The copolymers exhibited good antibacterial properties in an aqueous solution, and the antibacterial activity and yield were higher in copolymers with higher QVP units. In addition, the prepared antibacterial PE fabrics exhibited good antibacterial activity against gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), which remained unaffected by several laundering cycles, thus hold potential for use in antibacterial protective textiles
Quality evaluation and predictive analysis of drilled holes in jute/ palm/polyester hybrid bio-composites using CMM and ANN techniques
No full textP. (1-19) ;In this study, the evaluation of 75 holes drilled in a hybrid bio-composite jute/palm/polyester plate and controlled by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) is essential to ensure the quality, dimensional precision, and geometric conformity of the plate. This rigorous process is necessary to meet industrial standards for circularity and cylindricity, which are essential criteria for high-performance applications. Additionally, the integration of artificial neural network (ANN) techniques has revolutionized this approach by enabling precise predictions of key parameters such as delamination, circularity, and cylindricity. In this study, the ANN was trained with 52 samples (70%), while 8 samples (10%) were used for validation and 15 others (20%) for testing at different stages. The results show the influence of feed
rate on the delamination factor (Fd) (R2 = 0.98), circularity error (R2 = 0.99), and cylindricity error (R2 = 0.98). This predictive approach significantly improves the reliability and efficiency of the evaluation process
Temperature dependent microstructural defects and surface charge effects on antioxidant activity of green synthesized nanoceria
No full textThis study reports a novel eco-friendly route for synthesizing cerium dioxide nanoparticles
(nanoceria) that converts waste coffee husks into both reagent and process medium. Polyphenol rich
phytochemicals chelate Ce3+, guide hydrolysis, and locally modulate redox conditions, imprinting
abundant surface Ce3+ and oxygen vacancies that underpin activity. Reuse of the clarified supernatant
in successive cycles boosts yield exponentially without added metal oxide precursor, highlighting
intrinsic process efficiency. Subsequent calcination turns the bio templated precipitate into phase pure
fluorite CeO₂ whose crystallite size, strain, and defect concentration can be tuned by temperature
alone. Higher temperatures enlarge particles and improve crystallinity while removing vacancies
and strain. Radical scavenging assays show the highest activity in uncalcined material and a steady
decline with increasing temperature that parallels the loss of surface Ce3+ and vacancies. Statistical
analysis confirms that antioxidant performance depends on defect density, quantum confinement,
and surface charge, whereas external morphology and residual organics are negligible. The unique
mechanism is phytochemical-directed defect engineering, which couples the use of agricultural waste
with precise control of redox-active sites to deliver tuneable nanoceria for biomedical, agricultural, and
environmental remediation applications
Association between self-reported genderbased discrimination and maternal mortality rates: results of an ecological multi-level analysis across nine countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textBackground
Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from the highest maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the world, with 542 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017, relative to a global ratio of 211. Reducing gender-based discrimination (GBD) and increasing the empowerment of women and girls have recently been recognized as prerequisites for improving maternal health. Previous studies have shown GBD to result in low utilization of maternal health services and poorer quality of care. However, limited research is available on the relationship between GBD and maternal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess whether GBD is associated with maternal mortality in SSA.
Methods
We investigated the association between self-reported GBD and maternal mortality in an ecological study. We used data from two surveys: the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and the Afrobarometer. Data refer to 78 sub-national regions, located in nine Sub-Saharan African countries (Benin, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Data were analyzed using a two-level linear regression model with random intercept. The regression controlled for covariates at region- and country-level.
Results
The proportion of women who reported experiencing GBD varied between 0% in several regions in Benin, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, and Zimbabwe and 24·7% in Atacora, Benin. We identified a positive association between the proportion of women who reported experiencing GBD in a region in the past year and MMR (β 0.88, CI [0.65; 1.12]). A 1% increase in the proportion of women experiencing GBD resulted in an increase of the MMR by nearly two, meaning, an additional two more maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This association was even more pronounced after adjusting for region-level covariates, but did not change with the inclusion of country-level covariates (β 1.95, CI [1.71; 2.19]).
Conclusions
The study’s findings show that the rate of self-reported GBD is associated with maternal mortality in a region, even after controlling for other factors that are known to influence maternal deaths. However, our model does not rule out endogeneity. Further research is needed to unravel causal pathways between GBD and maternal mortality
Employers' desired employability skills in pre-service teacher graduates: a case study of Kyambogo University, Uganda
No full textP. (1-8) ;The study explored the key employability skills sought by employers of graduate teachers in Uganda, examining how these competencies can be integrated more effectively into pre-service teacher training programs. Guided by an interpretivist philosophical orientation, this qualitative single-case study was conducted at Kyambogo University. Purposive sampling included 2 heads of department, 8 lecturers, 22 final-year pre-service teacher trainees, and 8 head teachers from both public and private secondary schools. Data collection encompassed key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was used to derive key themes. Trustworthiness was reinforced through peer debriefing, triangulation, and member checking. Findings revealed that employers consistently emphasized a set of ten core employability skills communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, leadership, emotional intelligence, adaptability, problem-solving, time management, and self-sufficiency. These competencies were deemed vital for newly hired teachers to manage dynamic classroom environments, innovate within resource constraints, and contribute effectively to school communities. The study recommended that pre-service teacher training programmes should systematically embed these employability skills and assess them through practical experiences and mentorship. Stakeholders, including policymakers and educational leaders, must also offer institutional support such as professional development and structured collaborative opportunities to foster ongoing skill enhancement
Unemployment and the informal economy in Uganda : an empirical investigation
No full textThis paper investigates the relationship between unemployment and the informal economy in Uganda. Using annual time series data from Uganda, covering the period from 1991 to 2017, we apply the ARDL method to investigate this relationship. The results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between unemployment and the shadow economy in both the long- and short-run. This implies that an increase in unemployment increases the shadow economy in both the long- and short-run. These findings reveal that a high level of unemployment is detrimental to the formal economy since it spurs informal sector activities in both the short-and long-run. These results suggest that any attempt to regulate unemployment without tackling informal sector activities may not succeed unless they are addressed simultaneously. Furthermore, the results also imply that curbing informality requires implementing fiscal, economic and political reforms aimed at ensuring proper functioning of the business environment
Research data management at a medical facility in Uganda : practices, awareness, challenges, and recommendation
No full text26 p.The paper explored research data management practices at a medical research facility in Uganda. It focused on the researchers’ perception about research data practices, awareness, and challenges. Mixed methods were applied in which thirty (30) respondents out of a population of sixty (60) research community members. The research community was comprised of both research teams and research support members. Whereas the research team respondents were selected randomly and subjected to the questionnaire, the four key informants were purposively selected from the research support members and subjected to the interview. The findings showed variations in perception, management, and understanding of research data practices. Identified challenges were inadequate legal framework, lack of institutionalised storage facilities, and limited competencies in writing Data Management Plans. The recommendations were: the formation of a unit for the development of research data management policy, support services, and the introduction of formal research data management skills training to equip the research community at the facility
Food environment and dietary intake of female smallholder farmers in rural Uganda: the case of Mpigi district
No full text9 p.Background
Malnutrition remains persistent among female smallholder farmers who produce most of the food consumed in Uganda; yet, information on their food environment is limited. We tested the hypothesis that rural female smallholder farmers rely mostly on the food they produce for their dietary intake.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 female smallholder farmers of reproductive in Mpigi district, Central Uganda. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall, producing the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) score, and facets of the food environment were assessed using self-reported perceptions and a seven-day food frequency questionnaire. The cost, and sources of the consumed foods were also assessed. The food-environment predictors of MDD-W were analyzed using binary logistic regression in Stata 15.
Results
Results revealed that less than half of the respondents, 43.3% (n = 167) met the MDD-W, whereas 56.7% (n = 219) did not. The respondents primarily depended on a bought food environment from which they obtained an average of 6.5 (± 2.9) food items compared to their own production 4.5 (± 2.4). Every household spent an average of United States Dollars (USD) 8.5 (± 7.9) to buy food in the seven days preceding the study. The odds that a woman met the MDD-W increased by 18% (p = 0.00) if they bought food, by 13% (p = 0.01) if they obtained food through their home-stead production, and by 4% (p = 0.00) if they had any positive or negative perceptions on physical access to food.
Conclusions
Compared with their own production, female smallholder farmers in rural areas like Mpigi depend more on the bought food environment for their dietary intake. Innovations that enhance physical and economic access to diverse diets, promote both diverse production and purchase alongside social behavior change communication, are recommended to improve the dietary diversity of female smallholder farmers in Mpigi
Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for DSSC photoanode : a joint experimental and density functional theory study
No full text28 p.Green synthesis, a biological method for nanoparticle preparation, has been suggested as a possible eco-friendly alternative to chemical and physical methods. In this study, we report on first principles calculations and the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) from Erythrina abyssinica stem bark extract calcined under different temperatures (300-700 ℃) for application as a photoanode in dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Synthesized ZnO NPs were subjected to characterization using X-Ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy, Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence analysis. The analysis revealed that highly crystalline hexagonal ZnO NPs were formed at 700 ℃, with the nanospheres agglomeration into non-uniform distinct NPs with a band gap energy of 3.12 eV. The DSSC exhibited a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 56 µA cm-2, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 161 mV, a fill factor of 0.265, and a power conversion efficiency of 0.0024% using 100 mWcm-2 illumination. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed on the structural, electronic, and dielectric properties of ZnO at the atomic level. The Projected Density of States (PDOS) analysis revealed that Zn-4s and O-2p orbitals contributed significantly to the conduction band minimum (CBM) and valence band maximum (VBM), respectively, and a direct band gap at Gamma in the electronic band structure. Dielectric function analysis revealed anisotropy in the refractive index and dielectric function, with noticeable transparency in the visible spectrum and strong absorption in the ultraviolet, making them potential candidates in a set of photoelectrochemical applications
Impact of anthropogenic pollution on the plant species diversity and composition along the riparian ecotones of Goa's Sal and Zuari rivers
No full textAnthropogenic pressures are increasingly constraining the health of riparian ecosystems by exposing their remnant vegetation to edge effects. Despite being at the land–water interface, conservation efforts have often overlooked how water pollution may indirectly exacerbate the broader impacts of anthropogenic pressures on riparian vegetation along riparian ecotones. This study therefore examined the impacts of anthropogenic pollution on plant species diversity and composition in riparian ecosystems. Transect and Quadrat methods were used to collect vegetation data. We also measured the physicochemical properties of the water samples. We used partial redundancy analysis (RDA), generalized linear models (GLMs), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's HSD test for data analysis using R software version 4.3.2. The study identified 126 plant species from 45 families, with the Shannon–Wiener diversity index ranging from 2.06 to 3.10. Anthropogenic disturbances were generally at the alpha eu-hemerobic level, characterized by strong human impacts. Redundancy analysis showed that the nature of human activities, hemeroby, and turbidity were the dominant explanatory factors affecting plant species composition. GLM regression revealed that anthropogenic disturbances (hemeroby) had a significant negative impact on riparian plant species diversity mediated by water pollution. The findings indicate that anthropogenic disturbances coupled with their detrimental effects on water quality lead to a decrease in plant species richness and the dominance of a select few plant species. This will ultimately lead to a decline in the overall plant species diversity. Our findings show that anthropogenic disturbances negatively impact plant species diversity and composition through altering the water quality and habitat degradation. The findings therefore highlight the critical need for stakeholders to prioritize sustainable practices that mitigate water pollution and reduce direct human disturbances. This will safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem functionality in riparian zones, thus ensuring the long-term stability of environmental services that benefit both nature and human communities