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Item A STUDY ON EVALUATION OF HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL OF KAPOLOGWE WATERFALLS IN RUNGWE DISTRICT FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION(Journal of Research and Development, 2025-11-30) MGINA, CHARLES JOACHIMThis study assessed the hydropower potential of the Kapologwe Waterfalls, situated on the Kala River, a tributary of the Kiwira River in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region, using an integrated methodology that combined spatial tools, field measurements, and socioeconomic surveys. Tools such as GPS, current meters, and automatic levels were used to gather geospatial and hydrological data, while structured questionnaires captured energy demand profiles from six villages within the catchment. The analysis incorporated topographic, climatic, land use, soil, and discharge data to characterise the river system. Diversity factor analysis was employed to estimate village-level energy needs, and Karl Pearson’s coefficient, along with the Weibull plotting technique, were used to validate hydrological correlations and construct a flow duration curve for the ungauged Kala River. Results indicate a hydropower potential of 7.237 MW, which falls short of the estimated 8.641 MW required to meet the aggregated four-year demand of all six villages. However, the identified potential is sufficient to meet the current demand (7.116 MW) of five villages, making the site viable for phased electrification. The study concludes that the Kapologwe Waterfalls offer a technically feasible solution for decentralised power generation in the Kala catchment. However, to meet long-term and inclusive demand, it is recommended that this resource be supplemented with additional energy sources, such as support from the Rural Energy Agency (REA). Furthermore, future research should focus on optimising turbine design for high-head, low-flow conditions to improve system efficiency, minimize maintenance needs, and extend equipment lifespan.Item Artificial Intelligence Enhanced Instruction: Reflection on Teachers and Students’ Perceptions and Practices.(International Journal of Technology in Education, 2024-12-24) Chandafa, M. J; Huang, F.Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize education as it develops, offering dynamic, individualized, and effective learning experiences that might change teaching practices. However, there is still inconsistency and limitations in the integration and use of AI in Tanzanian universities. Therefore, the study delt to investigated how Tanzanian higher learning institutions’ teachers and students perceived and used AI-enhanced instruction. The study used pragmatic paradigm, mixed methods approach and exploratory sequential design. These approaches were crucial for data triangulation and offered a deeper comprehension of AI perceptions and practices. By combining these two data sources, the researcher was able to fully capture the scope and complexity of the research topic, producing a more solid and trustworthy findings. 240 participants from four universities participated in the study, including 200 students and 40 teachers. Teachers and students were chosen for the study using both random and non-random selection procedures. Data was gathered via questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences used to analyse the quantitative data, while thematic analysis technique used to analyse the qualitative data. The results showed that perceptions on the usage of AIenhanced instruction differed between teachers and students. The study found that while AI has great potential to improve education in higher education, its integration necessitates a comprehensive strategy and the development of an ethical AI usage culture. Additionally, teachers’ and students’ AI practices concentrated on using Grammarly AI, Bing AI, ChatGPT, Quill bolt, and Bard AI. The study recommends that, the government and educational stakeholders should provide professional development programs for teachers and students in order to successfully integrate AI. They should also create explicit policies to address ethical issues and make sure that AI tools enhance rather than replace the crucial human component of teaching and learningItem Modelling campylobacteriosis dynamics: Impacts of contaminated animal products and environmental decontamination interventions(ELSEVIER, 2025-09-09) Trazias, Herman; Lusekelo, Eva; Sakran, Abass KasimCampylobacteriosis is responsible for approximately 500 million cases of illness globally each year. Globally, human campylobacteriosis infections and contaminated animal products cause an estimated loss of 8.6 and 12.6 billion US dollars annually, respectively. The disease is transmitted through consumption of contaminated foods and water, licking unsanitary hands and contact with infected hosts. As global demand for animal products like meat and milk continues to grow, the transmission of campylobacteriosis through these products has become a critical concern. This study aims at utilising mathematical modelling and analysis techniques to quantify the effects of contaminated animal products and environmental decontamination interventions on campylobacteriosis dynamics in host populations. A mathematical model as a system of ordinary differential equations is proposed with human and cattle populations and contaminated animal products. The next-generation matrix method is applied to compute the effective reproduction number that describes disease persistence and extinction. The global stability of equilibria states is examined using the Lyapunov stability theory. The uncertainty and sensitivity of model parameters are examined using the Latin Hypercube Sampling and Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient methods. Model fitting and parameter estimations are performed using the least squares method alongside the human cases from January to August for the years 2017 to 2020 in the EU. The analysis indicates that the disease-free and endemic equilibria are globally asymptotically stable whenever < 1 and > 1, respectively. The numerical results show that the ingestion rates of contaminated animal products, shedding rates and the natural replication rates of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria are directly proportional to , while the environmental cleanliness and the decay rate of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria are inversely proportional to . In order to reduce the impact of contaminated animal products, the study recommends a couple of strategies for reducing shedding rates, killing bacteria, and vaccinating infected hosts.Item Spatial assessment of water quality in a hierarchically structured river system using stream order classification and multivariate statistical techniques: A case study from Tunduma, Tanzania(ACC Science, 2025-11-17) William, Matungwa; Katambara , Zacharia; Shegwando, OmariWater quality assessment is essential for understanding pollutant dynamics, supporting evidence-based watershed management, and protecting public health. While numerous studies have utilized statistical and modeling approaches, limited attention has been paid to how stream order influences water quality variability, particularly in urban catchments of sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates spatial patterns of water quality in a hierarchically structured stream network in Tunduma, Tanzania, by integrating Strahler stream order classification with multivariate statistical techniques, based on monthly monitoring of six surface water points over 12 months (n = 72) during both wet and dry seasons to analyze physicochemical, nutrient, and microbial parameters. Hierarchical cluster analysis, combined with Pearson correlation matrices and significance testing, was employed to assess pollutant similarity and accumulation patterns across different stream orders. Results revealed that phosphate (PO4 3−) concentrations ranged from 0.42 to 1.49 mg/L and nitrate (NO3 − ) levels ranged from 4.3 to 13.2 mg/L. Strong positive correlations (r > 0.95) were observed among ion-derived parameters, such as electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and the concentrations of calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). Third-order stream segments exhibited elevated concentrations of total suspended solids (0.990), biochemical oxygen demand (0.982), and microbial indicators, with fecal coliforms of 0–5 CFU/100 mL and total coliforms of 0–18 CFU/100 mL, reflecting cumulative pollutant loading in downstream reaches. The integration of Strahler stream ordering and cluster-based analytics enabled the identification of pollution hotspots and revealed the critical role of hydrological connectivity in shaping water quality trends. This research contributes a novel spatial–statistical framework for stream-based water quality assessment in East African urban contexts, offering practical insights for catchment-scale pollution control and resource management.Item First Principles Study of the Properties of Cs2GaAgF6 Double Halide Perovskite Compound for Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Applications(Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, 2025-05-01) Mbilo,Mwende; Musembi, Robinson; Kachira, John Peter; Nyamunga, Martin; Musanyi, Ibrahim; Wafula, Samuel; Yusuf, Madallah. This study uses first-principles methods to analyze the structural, electronic, mechanical, thermophysical, optical, and thermoelectric properties of the Cs2GaAgF6 double-halide perovskite compound. The results have revealed that the Cs2GaAgF6 compound is mechanically and thermodynamically stable and can be potentially synthesized. The calculated band gap of the material was 2.27 eV, 2.41 eV, and 2.54 eV, derived from the local density approximation using Perdew–Zunger functional (LDA-PZ), the generalized gradient approximation using the Wu–Cohen (GGA-WC), and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) functionals, respectively. The band gap was improved by using metaGGA functionals, which gave 3.10 eV, 3.15 eV, 3.15 eV, and 4.62 eV for strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN), regularized strongly constrained and appropriately normed (rSCAN), restored-regularized strongly constrained and appropriately normed (r2SCAN), and Tran–Blaha-modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ), respectively. The machine learning (ML) techniques predicted a band gap of 2.68 eV. The mechanical and elastic properties showed that the investigated compound is ductile and elastically anisotropic. Additionally, the optical properties showed excellent performance in the ultraviolet spectrum. Notably, the high absorption coefficients and optical conductivity values across the ultraviolet spectrum underscore the significant potential of the Cs2GaAgF6 double-halide perovskite compound for optoelectronic applications. Finally, the Cs2GaAgF6 double-halide perovskite compound showed a considerable figure of merit (ZT) value of 0.739 at approximately 600 K, suggesting its suitability for thermoelectric applicationsItem A mathematical model of HCV transmission dynamics with sex stratification and environmental effects(PLOS one, 2025-12-01) Mlyashimbi, Helikumi; Mushanyu, Josiah; Mhlanga, AdquateThis study primarily aims to determine how sex-specific behaviors influence Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission dynamics among people who inject drugs (PWID), and to identify key parameters and interventions that most effectively reduce infection prevalence. Despite the availability of effective treatment, HCV remains a major public health challenge particularly among PWID, with sex-specific differences influencing the transmission dynamics. In this study, we developed a sex-structured deterministic mathematical model to investigate HCV transmission through contaminated needles, focusing on gender-specific patterns among PWID. Unlike previous models, our work separates transmission by sex and also captures differences between high-risk and low-risk injecting behavior through transmission and needle reuse parameters.The model classifies the population into distinct HCV related compartments for both males and females, while also incorporating an environmental pool of contaminated needles. We computed and analyzed the systems reproduction threshold and steady states, identifying conditions under which the disease persists and scenarios where backward bifurcation may occur. Sensitivity analysis identified the most influential factors on acute infection prevalence, such as rates of needle contamination, sex-specific contact behaviors, and recovery outcomes among males. Simulation results show that males experience a higher burden of acute and chronic HCV infections. Increasing the viral decay rate in needles leads to a notable decline in infections, highlighting the effectiveness of environmental interventions like needle sterilization. Additionally, reducing risky behaviors in both sexes produces the largest overall reduction in transmission, while improving needle exchange efforts by lowering the reuse of uncontaminated needles further suppresses disease spread. Our findings highlight the need for integrated harm reduction with enough, gender PLOSItem 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.Item 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.Item Modelling Campylobacteriosis Dynamics: Impacts of Contaminated Animal Products and Environmental Decontamination Interventions(ELSEVIER, 2025-09-01) Trazias, Herman; Lusekelo, Eva; Abass, Kasim SakranCampylobacteriosis is responsible for approximately 500 million cases of illness globally each year. Globally, human campylobacteriosis infections and contaminated animal products cause an estimated loss of 8.6 and 12.6 billion US dollars annually, respectively. The disease is transmitted through consumption of contaminated foods and water, licking unsanitary hands and contact with infected hosts. As global demand for animal products like meat and milk continues to grow, the transmission of campylobacteriosis through these products has become a critical concern. This study aims at utilising mathematical modelling and analysis techniques to quantify the effects of contaminated animal products and environmental decontamination interventions on campylobacteriosis dynamics in host populations. A mathematical model as a system of ordinary differential equations is proposed with human and cattle populations and contaminated animal products. The next-generation matrix method is applied to compute the effective reproduction number that describes disease persistence and extinction. The global stability of equilibria states is examined using the Lyapunov stability theory. The uncertainty and sensitivity of model parameters are examined using the Latin Hypercube Sampling and Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient methods. Model fitting and parameter estimations are performed using the least squares method alongside the human cases from January to August for the years 2017 to 2020 in the EU. The analysis indicates that the disease-free and endemic equilibria are globally asymptotically stable whenever < 1 and > 1, respectively. The numerical results show that the ingestion rates of contaminated animal products, shedding rates and the natural replication rates of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria are directly proportional to , while the environmental cleanliness and the decay rate of Campylobacter jejuni bacteria are inversely proportional to . In order to reduce the impact of contaminated animal products, the study recommends a couple of strategies for reducing shedding rates, killing bacteria, and vaccinating infected hosts.Item First Principles Study of the Properties Of Cs2GaAgF 6 Double Halide Perovskite Compound for Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Applications(Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials, 2025-05-01) Mbilo, Mwende; Musembi, Robinson; Kachira, John Peter; Nyamunga, Martin; Musanyi, Ibrahim; Wafula, Samuel; Yusuf, MadallahThis study uses first-principles methods to analyze the structural, electronic, mechanical, thermophysical, optical, and ther- moelectric properties of the Cs 2GaAgF 6 double-halide perovskite compound. The results have revealed that the Cs2GaAgF 6 compound is mechanically and thermodynamically stable and can be potentially synthesized. The calculated band gap of the material was 2.27 eV, 2.41 eV, and 2.54 eV, derived from the local density approximation using Perdew–Zunger func- tional (LDA-PZ), the generalized gradient approximation using the Wu–Cohen (GGA-WC), and Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) functionals, respectively. The band gap was improved by using metaGGA functionals, which gave 3.10 eV, 3.15 eV, 3.15 eV, and 4.62 eV for strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN), regularized strongly constrained and appropriately normed (rSCAN), restored-regularized strongly constrained and appropriately normed (r2SCAN), and Tran–Blaha-modified Becke–Johnson (TB-mBJ), respectively. The machine learning (ML) techniques predicted a band gap of 2.68 eV. The mechanical and elastic properties showed that the investigated compound is ductile and elastically anisotropic. Additionally, the optical properties showed excellent performance in the ultraviolet spectrum. Notably, the high absorption coefficients and optical conductivity values across the ultraviolet spectrum underscore the significant potential of the Cs 2GaAgF 6 double-halide perovskite compound for optoelectronic applications. Finally, the Cs 2GaAgF 6 double-halide perovskite compound showed a considerable figure of merit (ZT) value of 0.739 at approximately 600 K, suggesting its suitability for thermoelectric applications.Item Implication of Sensory Evaluation and Quality Assessment in Food Product Development: a Review(Enviro Research Publishers, 2020) MIHAFU, FABIAN D.; ISSA, JOSEPH Y.; KAMIYANGO, MOSES W.The quality of food products is determined by physical properties, chemical composition, the level of contaminants (microbiological and toxic substances) and sensory attributes. Consumers around the world demand consistent supply of quality food products that reflect the value of the price they pay for them. The nature of raw materials and ingredients reflect the quality of food products in the market. Raw materials as well as packaging materials should be purchased based on the quality specifications that suppliers should adhere to. This review aimed at highlighting the importance of using objective assessment tools and consumer/sensory evaluation in determining the quality and acceptability of new food products. Objective tests are used to measure one particular attribute of a food product rather than its overall quality. They are generally rapid, reliable and repeatable. On the other hand sensory methods measure the reaction to stimuli resulting from the consumption of a product. Sensory testing is often used to determine consumer acceptability of a food product and contributes to the design of quality systems hence considered as a technical support for quality assurance during food production. Not only that but also it helps to obtain feedback for making decisions and carrying out proper modification of a particular food product. Therefore objective methods and sensory evaluation are indispensable tools for routine quality control of new food products as well as the existing ones.Item Monthly Water Level Forecasting of the Diani River Using a Hybrid ICEEMDAN-SE-ARIMA Model in Southern Guinea(Science and Education Publishing, 2025) Médard Agbazo, Noukpo; Keit, Oumar; Camara, LonsenigbèFlood control and water resources management are two critical tasks for hydrologists, and both heavily depend on accurate river water level forecasting. However, due to the intrinsic characteristics of water level series, it is difficult to achieve good forecasting accuracy. In Guinea, the forecasting of water level by physical models, and mathematical or data-driven models remains scarce. This study aims to implement for the first time in Guinea, the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and propose the improved complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (ICEEMDAN) coupled with sample entropy (SE) and combined with ARIMA model namely as ICEEMDAN-SE-ARIMA to forecast Diani River monthly water level in southern guinea. The water level data of Diani hydrological station from 2000 to 2022 were used, in which the water data from 2000 to 2019 were used to build the models, and the data from 2020 to 2022 were used for validation. Seven statistical indices like Pearson’s coefficient, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error (sMAPE), Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NSCE), BIAS and Kolmogorov-Smirnov coefficient (DKS) are adopted to measure and compare the performance of the single ARIMA and ICEEMDAN-SE ARIMA hybrid models. The results indicate that: (1) during the study period, six pseudo-periodic functions and one nonlinear trend contribute differently to Diani water level series forecasting, indicating their complexity; (2) Compared to the single ARIMA model, the Pearson’s coefficient, DKS, BIAS, NSCE, RMSE, MAE and SMAPE of ICEEMDAN-SE-ARIMA were improved by 84.52%, 84.70%, 80%, 84.52%, 86%, 91%, 93%, and 80%, respectively; (3) ICEEMDAN-SE-ARIMA model outperformed the single ARIMA model. However, it seems that ICEEMDAN-SE-ARIMA model could be improved by combining ICEEMDAN-SE by other data-driven models. These findings are essential to enhance water resources management and flood mitigation in Guinea, mainly under climate changeItem Impacts of Emerging Infrastructure Development on Wildlife Species and Habitats in Tanzania(Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 2024) Ojija, Fredrick; Swai, Everlyn E.; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Mbije, Nsajigwa E.J.The loss of wildlife species due to habitat deterioration and pollution represents a major threat to biodiversity conservation. This is compounded by the rapid development of infrastructure i.e., expansion of roads, railways, harbours, construction of industries, human settlements and agricultural infrastructure. A few studies have explored the significant effects of emerging infrastructure development on wildlife species and habitats particularly in developing countries like Tanzania. We reviewed 58 research articles and reports, to highlight the significant impacts of emerging infrastructure on both aquatic and terrestrial species and habitats in Tanzania. We show that despite the role it plays in the development, the infrastructure contributes significantly to the loss of wildlife species. For instance, habitat loss, edge effects, population isolation, road mortality, and increased human access are among the effects of highways across the Serengeti, Mikumi, and Katavi National Parks in Tanzania. Effects on the health of aquatic species, pollution and loss of habitat have been pointed out as impacts due to the construction of hotels and industries upstream and along the coasts, expansion of harbours and agricultural activities. Environment effects i.e., reduction of forest, ecosystem services, and riverine habitat, and loss of species are anticipated due to the construction of Stiegler's Gorge Hydroelectric Dam, across the Rufiji River in eastern Tanzania. Though infrastructure development undoubtedly offers opportunities to boost economic growth and reduce poverty in developing nations, it should be planned to have the least possible negative effects on biodiversity. Well–planned infrastructure development could lessen human pressure on wildlife species and habitats. This paper would be useful to policymakers and politicians in developing nations to avoid the implementation of infrastructure development in biodiversity– rich or protected areas as their decision may jeopardize the integrity of wildlife species and future generations.Item Mercury in Air and Soil on an Urban-Rural Transect in East Africa(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2022) Nipen, Maja; Jørgensen, Susanne J.; Bohlin-Nizzetto, P.; Borg˚a, Katrine; Breivik, Knut; Mmochi, Aviti J.; Mwakalapa, Eliezer B.; Quant, M. I.; Schlabach, Martin; Vogt, Rolf D.; Wania, FrankThere are large knowledge gaps concerning concentrations, sources, emissions, and spatial trends of mercury (Hg) in the atmosphere in developing regions of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in urban areas. Filling these gaps is a prerequisite for assessing the effectiveness of international regulation and for enabling a better understanding of the global transport of Hg in the environment. Here we use a passive sampling technique to study the spatial distribution of gaseous elemental Hg (Hg(0), GEM) and assess emission sources in and around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city. Included in the study were the city's main municipal waste dumpsite and an e-waste processing facility as potential sources of GEM. To complement the GEM data and for a better overview of the Hg contamination status of Dar es Salaam, soil samples were collected from the same locations where passive air samplers were deployed and analysed for total Hg. Overall, GEM concentrations ranged between <0.86 and 5.34 ng m 3 , indicating significant local sources within the urban area. The municipal waste dumpsite and e-waste site had GEM concentrations elevated above the background, at 2.41 and 1.77 ng m 3 , respectively. Hg concentrations in soil in the region (range 0.0067 to 0.098 mg kg 1 ) were low compared to those of other urban areas and were not correlated with atmospheric GEM concentrations. This study demonstrates that GEM is a significant environmental issue in the urban region of Dar es Salaam. Further studies from urban areas in the Global South are needed to better identify sources of GEM.Item Anisotropic Core-Envelope Compact Star Model with Conformal Symmetry(IJP, 2025-07-06) Kowa, Y K; Jape, J W; Sunzu, J M; Maharaj, S DIn this paper, the combination of the conformal Killing vector and equations of state for double layered stars provides new solutions to the Einstein field equations in the core-envelope setting. The matter composition in the core layer obeys a linear equation of state, while in the envelope is described by a quadratic equation of state. The behavior of the matter variables in the stellar sphere is found to be well behaved, and the model satisfies stability conditions. The generated compact star model satisfies the energy and equilibrium conditions for the behavior of the natural forces. The mass, compactness, and surface redshift also fall within the required range for observed stars. Radii and masses of the stars PSRJ1903?0327, SAXJ1808.4-3658, VelaX-1, 4U1608-52, HerX-1, SMCX-1 and EXO1785-248 have been regained. This signifies the astrophysical importance of our generated class of exact solutionsItem Determinants of Acceptability of Schistosomiasis Mass Drug Administration Among Primary School Children In Busega District, Northwestern Tanzania.(PLOS, 2025-07-18) Edward, Irene Yunzu; Maritim, Patricia; Jacobs, Choolwe; Silumbwe, Adam; Mohamed, Hussein; Zulu, Joseph Mumba; Halwiindi, HikabasaSchistosomiasis is endemic in Tanzania, with a prevalence ranging between 12.7% to 87.6%. Mass drug administration (MDA) with praziquantel is the main recommended choice of preventive treatment for the disease. Low treatment coverage rates (46.6%) in Busega District, Northwestern Tanzania which are far less than the recommended effective coverage rates of ≥ 75% could indicate low acceptability and poor uptake of MDA. This study sought to establish factors associated with acceptability of schistosomiasis mass drug administration among primary school children in Busega DistrictItem Promoting Girls’ Participation in Science Education: A Tanzanian Secondary Schools’ Perspective.(Educational Dimension, 2025) Toto, Stella Fulgence; Mngarah, Daniel Mbonea; Bwagilo, Huruma OlofeaThis qualitative study explored teachers’ roles in promoting girls’ participation in science education in Tanzanian secondary schools. A phenomenography research design was adopted to capture the experiences of 40 participants involved in the teaching and learning processes. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six stages of thematic analysis. Findings from observations, interviews, focus group discussions and documentary review indicated that teachers’ roles for promoting girls’ motivation to learn include: providing girls opportunities to learn, commitment in teaching, providing career advice, preparing well before teaching, evaluating learning and providing feedback, promoting girls’ self-efficacy and upgrading knowledge. However, teachers faced challenges as they played their roles in making girls learn. The study recommends that the teaching and learning environment be improved. Adequate teaching facilities should be provided to teachers to ease their efforts in making girls learn Science. Studies with larger samples must be conducted across different educational levels in the country.Item Fixed Point Theorems for Rus-Hicks-Rhoades Contractive Mappings in Orthogonal Quasi-Metric Spaces With Applications to Orthogonal System Models(Taylor & Francis, 2025-09-29) Wangwe, Lucas; Lupola, Ernesto; Mwangalika, DicksonIn this study, we explore fixed point theorems for Rus-Hicks-Rhoades-Jaggi hybrid combinational type mappings within orthogonal quasi-metric spaces. To illustrate and validate these results, an example is provided. Additionally, we highlight a practical application by connecting the theoretical findings to an orthogonal model in commu nication theory. Specifically, we relate the results to space-time block coding (STBC) in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the fixed point solution repre sents the equilibrium state of iterative decoding, ensuring convergence to a stable codeword reconstruction even in the presence of channel disturbances. Moreover, we show that the Helmholtz equation with mixed boundary conditions possesses a unique f ixed point. This framework has broad applicability: in acoustics, it models vibrations in air columns of closed-open tubes; in electromagnetic, it describes field distributions in wave-guides and resonant cavities; and in mechanics, it represents vibrations of beams with one fixed and one free end. Such formulations demonstrate how Helmholtz phenomena under mixed boundary value problems provide insights into wave propa gation, resonance control, and system stability, thereby enriching both the theoretical understanding of fixed-point analysis and its engineering applications.Item Modeling the Effects of Human Awareness and Use of Insecticides on the Spread of Human African Trypanosomiasis: A Fractional-Order Model Approach(MDPI, 2025-09-22) Koga, Oscar; Mayengo, Maranya; Helikumi, Mlyashimbi; Mhlanga, AdquateIn this research work, we proposed and studied a fractional-order model for Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) disease transmission, incorporating three control strategies: health education campaigns, prevention measures, and use of insecticides. The theoretical analysis of the model was presented, including the computation of disease-free equilibrium and basic reproduction number. We performed the stability analysis of the model and the results showed that the disease-free equilibrium point was locally asymptotically stable whenever R0 < 1 and unstable when R0 > 1. Furthermore, we performed parameter estimation of the model using HAT-reported cases in Tanzania. The results showed that fractional-order model had a better fit to the real data compared to the classical integer order model. Sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number was performed using computed partial rank correlation coefficients to assess the effects of parameters on HAT transmission. Additionally, we performed numerical simulations of the model to assess the impact of memory effects on the spread of HAT. Overall, we observed that the order of derivatives significantly influences the dynamics of HAT transmission in the population. Moreover, we simulated the model to assess the effectiveness of proposed control strategies. We observed that the use of insecticides and prevention measures have the potential to significantly reduce the spread of HAT within the population.Item Insights into the Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Properties of Lead-Free Rb2NaIrF6 Double Perovskite Compound: A First-Principles Study(Elsevier B.V., 2025-07-01) Mbilo,Mwende; Musembi, Robinson; Kachira, John Peter; Onsate,Wisley Nyangau; Keheze, Fanuel Mugwanga; Mapasha, Refilwe EdwinThis study investigated the structural, electronic, elastic, mechanical, thermodynamic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of the Rb2NaIrF6 lead-free double perovskite compound using first-principles methods. The structural stability of the perovskite was confirmed by the Goldschmidt tolerance and octahedral factors. Dynamic stability was confirmed through the negative energy of formation and positive frequency modes of the phonon dispersion curve. The dynamic stability results suggest that the studied compound could be potentially synthesised experimentally. The Rb2NaIrF6 compound is a direct semiconductor with electronic band gaps within the range of 2.14-3.76 eV, computed using different approximations. The mechanical stability was confirmed by the elastic calculation results. The Rb2NaIrF6 compound was found to be ductile, ionic, and anisotropic. The optical properties showed that Rb2NaIrF6 strongly absorbs light in the ultraviolet region, which is desirable for ultraviolet-photosensitive materials in optoelectronic devices. The computed thermoelectric figure of merit of the Rb2NaIrF6 compound is 0.81 at 1000 K, suggesting high thermoelectric efficiency. These findings demonstrate the potential of Rb2NaIrF6 lead-free double perovskite compound for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications. Therefore, our investigation offers theoretical insights that can lead to the experimental synthesis and study of Rb2NaIrF6 lead-free double perovskites.