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Recent Submissions
Enhancing the Security of Internet of Things Devices through Cybersecurity Framework
(DRPM-UBD, 2025-09-03) Macharia, Godfrey M.; Mgawe, Bonny.; Mvula, Jaha.; Sam, Anael E.
This study focused on enhancing the protection of IoT devices by assessing the
effectiveness of existing cybersecurity frameworks (CSFs), identifying gaps in
advanced technology cyber-attack tactics, and developing a comprehensive
cybersecurity framework for IoT ecosystems. Technological Acceptance and Zero
Trust Security Theories guided the study. A cross-sectional research design and
mixed-methods approach was adopted, while semi-structured interviews and Focus
Group Discussions provided in-depth qualitative insights. For quantitative data, a
questionnaire was used. A total of 93 respondents from HLIs, hospitals, and
broadcasting media were selected using purposive and random sampling techniques.
Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze quantitative data. For
qualitative data, Atlas.ti 9.0 Desktop was used. The findings revealed cyber
vulnerabilities are associated with the spread of imported unsecured IoT devices,
user unawareness, and lack of effective cybersecurity frameworks tailored to
emerging cyber threats from advanced technologies such as AI, 5G, Edge
computing, and Autonomous Systems. In conclusion, a framework was designed to
strengthen IoT device security by integrating best practices, policy implementation,
and technological safeguards. The study recommends that imported IoT devices
should be digitally coded to detect cyber risks and adopt multi-layered ECSF-IoT
framework and strengthen end-user cybersecurity education in developing countries
such as Tanzania.
Biotechnological Innovations to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance and Advance Global Health Equity
(MDPI, 2025-09-05) Rugarabamu, Sima.; Mwanyika, Gaspary.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health emergency that threatens the
effectiveness of modern medicine, exacerbating healthcare costs, morbidity, and mortal-
ity, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Traditional approaches
to antimicrobial development and stewardship have proven inadequate in curbing the
rapid emergence and spread of resistant pathogens. This review explores cutting-edge
biotechnological innovations as sustainable, precision-based solutions to combat AMR
and promote global health equity. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted
using literature published between 2018 and 2023 from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web
of Science. Peer-reviewed studies focusing on novel antimicrobial strategies were the-
matically analyzed, with attention to efficacy, feasibility, and translational readiness. Key
innovations identified include nanotechnology-enhanced antimicrobial delivery, bacterio-
phage therapy, CRISPR-Cas gene editing, immunotherapy, and personalized medicine.
These strategies demonstrated substantial in vitro and in vivo efficacy, such as >90% MRSA
biofilm reduction via silver nanoparticles and 95% carbapenem susceptibility restoration
in E. coli using CRISPR-Cas9. When integrated with machine learning and rapid diagnos-
tics, these approaches enable precision-targeted therapies and data-informed stewardship,
offering scalable solutions adaptable to diverse healthcare systems. Antimicrobial resis-
tance demands urgent, equitable innovation. Integrating biotechnologies like CRISPR,
phage therapy, and nanomedicine with data-driven tools offers promising solutions. To
ensure real-world impact, we recommend establishing regionally tailored translational
research platforms and public–private partnerships as the most effective strategy to scale
innovations and strengthen AMR response in low-resource settings.
Spatial Trends of Chlorinated Paraffins and Dechloranes in Air and Soil in A Tropical Urban, Suburban, and Rural Environment
(ELSEVIER, 2021) Nipen, Maja; Vogt, Rolf D.; Bohlin-Nizzetto, Pernilla; Borgå, Katrine; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Borgen, Anders R.; Jørgensen, Susanne J.; Ntapanta, Samwel Moses; Mmochi, Aviti J.; Schlabach, Martin; Breivik, Knut
There are large knowledge gaps concerning environmental levels and fate of many organic pollutants, particu-
larly for chemicals of emerging concern in tropical regions of the Global South. In this study, we investigated the
levels of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and dechloranes in air and soil in rural, suburban, and urban regions in and
around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Samples were also collected near the city’s main municipal waste dumpsite and
an electronic waste (e-waste) handling facility. In passive air samples, short chain CPs (SCCPs) dominated, with
an average estimated concentration of 22 ng/m3, while medium chain CPs (MCCPs) had an average estimated
concentration of 9 ng/m3. The average estimated air concentration of ∑dechloranes (Dechlorane Plus (DP) +
Dechlorane 602 + Dechlorane 603) was three to four orders of magnitudes lower, 2 pg/m3. In soil samples,
MCCPs dominated with an average concentration of 640 ng/g dw, followed by SCCPs with an average con-
centration of 330 ng/g dw, and ∑dechloranes with an average concentration of 0.9 ng/g dw. In both air and soil,
DP was the dominating dechlorane compound. Urban pulses were observed for CPs and dechloranes in air and
soil. CPs were in addition found in elevated levels at the municipal waste dumpsite and the e-waste handling
facility, while DPs were found in elevated levels at the e-waste handling facility. This suggests that waste
handling sites represent important emission sources for these pollutants. Investigations into seasonal trends and
environmental fate of CPs and dechloranes showed that monsoonal rain patterns play a major role in governing
air concentrations and mobility, particularly for the less volatile MCCPs and dechloranes. This study is the first to
report levels of CPs in air from sub-Saharan Africa, and DP, Dechlorane 602, and Dechlorane 603 in soil from
sub-Saharan Africa.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pops) And Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfass) in Liver from Wild and Farmed Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) from Lake Kariba, Zambia: Levels and Geographic Trends and Considerations in Relation to Environmental Quality Standards (Eqss)
(ELSEVIER, 2023) Simukoko, Chalumba K.; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Muzandu, Kaampwe; Mutoloki, Stephen; Evensen, Øystein; Ræder, Erik M.; Müller, Mette B.; Polder, Anuschka; Lyche, Jan L.
The current study was carried out to investigate a wide variety of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in wild and
farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Lake Kariba, Zambia, and assess levels of POPs in relation to Environ-
mental Quality Standards (EQSs). Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), polybrominated diphenyls (PBDEs), and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) were determined in liver
samples of tilapia. PFASs compounds PFOS, PFDA and PFNA were only detected in wild fish, with the highest
median PFOS levels in site 1 (0.66 ng/g ww). Concentrations of POPs were in general highest in wild tilapia. The
highest median ∑DDTs (93 and 81 ng/g lw) were found in wild tilapia from sites 1 and 2, respectively 165 km
and 100 km west of the fish farms. Lower DDE/DDT ratios in sites 1 and 3 may indicate relatively recent exposure
to DDT. The highest median of ∑17PCBs (3.2 ng/g lw) and ∑10PBDEs (8.1 ng/g lw) were found in wild tilapia
from sites 1 and 2, respectively. The dominating PCB congeners were PCB-118, -138, 153 and 180 and for
PBDEs, BDE-47, -154, and 209. In 78% of wild fish and 8% of farmed fish ∑6PBDE concentrations were above
EQSbiota limits set by the EU. This warrants further studies.
Artificial Intelligence in determining optimal questions in assessing social socio-economic status of individuals for routine immunisation services in Tanzania
(Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2025-08-05) Mzurikwao, Deogratias; Edward, Mhamilawa Lwidiko; Simba, Daudi; Balandya, Belinda; Assenga , Evelyne; Okanda, Nyatega Evelyne; Zeramula, Jonathan; Wibonela, Seif; Mzurikwao, Zacharia; Sunguya, Bruno
Accurate determination of socio-economic status (SES) is crucial for equitable access to immunization services. Existing SES assessment tools, like the DHS wealth index, are comprehensive but impractical for routine clinical settings due to their length. Objective: To identify the minimum number of questions that can validly determine SES using artificial intelligence (AI), and to assess their validity compared to the standard DHS wealth index. Methods: This study applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) using the DHS wealth index as the gold standard. Data were collected from routine RCH clinics in Tanzania. CNN was used to extract weights for each question, and ANN was trained to validate different subsets of questions.