International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology

Status of livestock water quality and digestive upsets in Babati and Burunge areas, Northern Tanzania

2023-10-25T06:26:18+00:00

This study investigated the quality of water used by ruminants and pseudo-ruminants in six communities living adjacent to two inland lakes in Manyara region, northern Tanzania. Water sampling included 20 samples from each village (n=120 for 6 villages) followed by laboratory analysis using ISO 5667 standard methods. 480 livestock were examined (n=80 for each village) for digestive upsets. Results for water quality were compared to those of WHO guidelines for livestock drinking water. Physical and chemical parameters for some areas were within acceptable limits except the levels of turbidity (10.88±11.97 NTU, 8.67±11.97 NTU), calcium (550.00±22.19 mg/L, 842.00±70.15 mg/L), chloride (1940±63.90 mg/L, 3380±135.65 mg/L), ammonium (5.94±0.42 mg/L, 6.79±0.58 mg/L), nitrate (113.62±10.64 mg/L, 71.16±12.92 mg/L, and hardness (1372.00±106.96 mg/L, 1280±75.27 mg/L) for Babati and Burunge areas respectively. Total coliform (3500 CFU, 2650 CFU) and Escherichia coli (167/100 ml, 192/100 ml) were counted for Babati and Burunge area respectively. Burunge area recorded higher cases of digestive upsets (53.8%) compared to Babati area (46.2%). There were no statistical differences in digestive upsets between the two Babati and Burunge areas (p=0.8246). A correlation analysis revealed a significant linear association between water quality measures and digestive upsets for diarrhoea (p= 0.001694, r > 0.5) and other factors (p= 0.000158, r > 0.5). In order to minimize livestock digestive upsets associated with poor water quality, communities in these areas should avoid excessive use of fertilizers that would increase nitrate levels, as well as prohibit anthropogenic activities taking place close to water sources.

Assessment of growth rate of Yarrowiali polytica and Pichia guilliermondii species in an ammonium formate solution of rubber wastewater

2023-10-25T06:39:45+00:00

The growth of microorganisms is influenced by several physico-chemical parameters that need to be controlled before starting
a biological treatment plant for better process efficiency. The influence of temperature (25-40 °C), and ammonium formate
concentration (1.59-7.94 mM) on the growth of two yeast strains (Y.lipolytica and P.guilliermondii )was examined in a batch
process. Temperature has a direct impact on the kinetic growth parameters with an activation energy (Ea) of 14.3 kcal/mol and
R²0.95 for Y.lipolytica and 12.5 kcal/mol and R2 0.97 for P.guilliermondii, indicating a dominant biological regime.

Towards a low-cost sustainable broadband solution in rural areas of low and middle-income countries: Tanzania’s backhaul perspective

2023-10-25T07:00:47+00:00

Although broadband internet has proven to accelerate the fulfilment of the information and communication for development (ICT4D) agenda, connectivity issues persist in some regions of the world, particularly in rural areas of Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) which host 93% of the unconnected global population. Due to the lack of economic feasibility in these locations for service providers, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been advocating for low-cost sustainable solutions in such areas. Among the challenging broadband infrastructure segment seems to be the backhaul (middle-mile) as rural areas are remotely located from the backbone end-points. With Tanzania exemplifying LMICs, this paper presents a Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) to compare the widely utilized backhaul (Microwave) and the promising Broadband over Power Line (BPL) towards achieving low-cost broadband solutions. To demonstrate technical viability in terms of capacity, Pathloss and MATLAB were utilized from which both technologies demonstrated the broadband-suitably capacity (161Mbps for Microwave and 168.99Mbs for BPL). From economic perspective, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCOs) for both technologies were determined using a Cost Model; BPL fared better as the cost of establishing one microwave link could have established almost 6 BPL links. Apart from adding to the body of knowledge on TEAs involving backhauls, this paper informs policymakers and other related stakeholders on the potential cost-benefit of BPL towards curbing the existing broadband connectivity gap.

Multivariate control chart for controlling variability – A comparative study

2023-10-25T07:17:11+00:00

Control chart is an important technique for statistical process control. In most of the practical situations data are collected on more than one characteristic under study. Hence multivariate control chart has drawn the attention of quality control practitioners. For successful implementation of multivariate control chart, two different charts are to be constructed. One is for controlling mean and another is for controlling variance-covariance matrix or ∑ matrix. For effective implementation of control chart for mean, one need to establish that variability is under control. Hence control chart for controlling variance-covariance matrix is playing an important role in multivariate control chart. There are several control charts available in the literature which can be used for controlling ∑ matrix. In this article, we have discussed different such control charts and studied their performance with respect to their ability to detect the shift in the components of ∑ matrix. Out of control average run length (ARL) is considered as a measure for this purpose and the best method to detect the shift have been identified under different conditions.

Evaluation of some bioactive compounds of Azadirachta indica extracts and its application as safe fungicide against different plant pathogenic fungi

2023-10-25T07:20:59+00:00

Extracts of leaves, seeds and twigs of Azadirachta indica was carried out using Soxhlet extraction technique. These extracts were subjected to percent yield, in vitro phytochemical screening and antifungal activities (minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), zone of inhibition and spore germination assay) against plant pathogenic fungi Cladosporium fulvum, Colletotrichum coccodes, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. The Soxhlet extractive solvents were methanol, ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n–hexane. The maximum extractive yield were calculated in ethanol leaves (26±1.5%), methanol leaves (22±01%), n–hexane seeds (32±0.8%) and ethanol seeds (24±01%), while twigs calculated minimum extractive yield. The phytochemicals screening findings confirmed the occurrence of terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and saponins. The antifungal activities observed that leaves and seeds extracts of neem might cause the inhibition of mycelium and spore germination of tested fungi, though the antifungal activities rate of under study fungal strains diverse with dissimilar concentration and nature of extracts. However the entire concentrations of extract and crude extract especially the methanol and ethanol extracts of neem seeds and leaves reduce the plant pathogenic fungi growth at noteworthy rate. It was concluded from our results that neem leaves and seeds extracts were effectual as antifungal agents against the entire under study fungal strains however the most sensitive fungi were Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum. The findings acquired from this study revealed that chemical constituents from neem seeds and leaves may be formulated as latent agrochemical fungicides.