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- ItemAnalysis of Stakeholder’s Perspectives towards Conservation of National Park, Northern Province, Rwanda(IJIRSET, 2017-09) Nsengumuremyi, Concorde; Mbatudde, Maria; Imanishimwe, AngeThe management and sustainable use of Protected Areas Management Policy in Rwanda is of great interest to many stakeholders. This study was conducted from May to August, 2016 to find out local communities and other stakeholders perceptions towards co-management of Volcanoes National Park of Rwanda (VNP). The sample size of the study was 81 respondents including neighbouring rural community from two sectors that depend on using the VNP usually illegally and the key respondents from institutions and local leaders whose resources assist the VNP management. The findings indicated that stakeholders have different perspectives on co-management activities of VNP. Some of interviewed farmers especially those bordering VNP in Kinigi and Shingiro sectors of Musanze District showed negative attitude where they are not willing to perform agriculture on their lands because of crop destruction by wild animals from the park. Both the level of synergy and approaches used were moderate by scale used as indicated by the study findings. The study findings indicated that there is no relationship between stakeholder’s perspectives and co-management of VNP (r=0.145, P>0.05). It was noted that stakeholders express various challenges such as lack of enough alternative solutions to the problems met by rural community and low level of participation in decision making. There is a need to find ways in which local leaders could be taken on a tour of operational and Park-people policy guidelines need to be formulated that will define roles of local stakeholders in protected area activities and programs.
- ItemCan Governance in Revenue Sharing Be a Pathway for a Win-win Situation between People’s Livelihood Improvement and Conservation?(Council for Innovative Research, 2015-05) Twinamatsiko, MedardThis paper establishes the importance of good governance in improving local livelihoods and support for conservation. The study uses empirical realities from Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, an afromontane Gorilla sanctuary that was recognized by UNESCO in 2005 as a world heritage due to its rich biodiversity. Governance is an important procedural dimension of equity that entails decision making processes and how local people are involved in matters that most affect them. The paper uses a Policy Arrangements Approach to illustrate the procedural dimension of the Justice and Equity Framework. A mixed method approach was used to generate results in this paper. Household surveys, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions were employed for data collection. Linear and Multi Logistic Regressions were used to determine the level of significance and relationships that exist between governance, people‘s livelihoods and conservation support. Polychoric Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to generate indices of livelihood improvement and conservation support. Results revealed that meaningful involvement, leadership composition on committees, local capacity, information flow and awareness and accountability significantly influence people‘s livelihoods and conservation of Bwindi. Local people are not only concerned about distributive equity in benefit sharing but also the procedural dimension. This entails being part of revenue sharing projects from the design phase to the evaluation phase. The study recommends the use of equity framework in revenue sharing in order to increase greater involvement of local people in decision making processes.
- ItemEffect of storage conditions on the methanol content of burukutu produced from different sorghum varieties; a response surface methodology approach(American Association for Science and Technology(AASCIT), 2018-06-01) Somtochukwu, Igwe Victory; Chinenyenwa, Omeire Gloria; Awuchi, Chinaza Godswill; Kwari, Mercy Ibrahim; Oledimma, Ngozi Uchenna; Otuosorochi, Amagwula IkechukwuMethanol content of burukutu made from different sorghum varieties was studied using Response Surface Methodology. A three-level three-factorial Box-Behnken experimental design was adopted to study the effects of storage conditions and chemical properties on burukutu produced from different sorghum varieties. The methanol content was determined and results obtained were analyzed statistically using the response surface approach. Results showed a significant difference (p<0.05) on the effects of storage time, storage temperature and their interactions on the physicochemical parameters (methanol, pH) of burukutu. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) due to different sorghum varieties. Increase in storage time showed a significant decrease in pH (6.21-2.88). The R2 obtained from the statistical analysis of burukutu were all higher than 0.75 (75%) which depicts that the model used adequately fits the relationship between the variables under consideration. Exposure to high concentration of methanol has numerous health consequences.
- ItemEffects of repeated deep frying on refractive index and peroxide value of selected vegetable oils(IJAR, 2018-04) Godswill, Awuchi Chinaza; Amagwula, Ikechukwu O.; Igwe, Victory S.; Gonzaga, Allan IsiagaThe peroxide values and refractive indices of palm olein, sesame oil and sunflower oil were evaluated before deep frying. The vegetable oils were used to frying white Irish potato chips in three batches, with the peroxide value and the refractive indices of the oils determined after every stage of deep frying. Results of the study show that both refractive index and peroxide value of the vegetable oils largely vary with deep frying. The findings show that refractive index and peroxide value of sesame palm and sunflower do increase on frying, though not in a linear fashion. The refractive index of palm oil increased from 1.4653 to 1.4655 after frying the three consecutive batches; the RI of sunflower oil increased from 1.4722 to 1.4724 respectively. There was no significant change in the refractive index of sesame oil. The peroxide values of palm oil increased from 1.9948mEq/kg to 9.3020mEq/kg after three consecutive deep frying. The value of peroxide of sunflower oil raised from 10.6359 mEq/kg to 19.3101 mEq/kg while that of sesame increased from the initial 3.9914 mEq/kg to 11.9555 mEq/kg on frying the second batch and finally reduced to 11.3095 mEq/kg after frying the third batch of Irish potato chips. Tables 3 and 4 show the relationship between refractive index and peroxide value of the vegetable oil. These findings indicate that repeated deep frying leads to corresponding rancidity and spontaneous deterioration of the vegetable oil.
- ItemMorphological and Microstructural Characterization of Organoclays from Low Smectite Containing Clays Materials(Chemical Science International Journal, 2017-02-03) Nwankwere, Emeka ThompsonTwo low smectite-containing clay materials were modified, using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMAB) as intercalating agents, under very mild experimental conditions, to investigate their potentials as suitable organoclays for industrial and environmental applications. Changes in the general morphological and microstructural characteristics were studied by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Brauner Emmet Taylor (BET) Analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) before and after modification. The shift in XRD reflections after intercalation indicated that the HDTMA chains adopt monolayer and bilayer arrangements within the clay interlayers and were largely dependent on the reaction time and surfactant loading. This resulted in decreased specific surface area and increased pore sizes in the organoclay samples.
- ItemPublic health analysis of mental and emotional needs of adolescents in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria(FTST, 2016-09) Ezebuiro, V.O.; Opara, J.A.The study identified the mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with special reference to Rivers State. Four specific objectives with corresponding research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study utilized cross-sectional research design. The study covered a population of 1,559,615 adolescents in Rivers State. A sample of 1,632 adolescents filled the questionnaire but data from 1375 copies of completed questionnaire representing 84 per cent return rate were used for analysis. Multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to draw the sample from the population. The instruments for data collection were a questionnaire and focus group discussion guide. Means and standard deviation were utilized to answer the research questions, while t-test and ANOVA were utilized in testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data generated from the focus group discussion were used to substantiate the quantitative data. The finding of the study revealed that adolescents in Rivers State have mental and emotional health needs always; both male and female, age groups 10-15years, 16-18years and 19-24years; and urban and rural adolescents have the needs always. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that programmes should be put in place in order to meet and satisfy adolescents mental and emotional health needs.
- ItemResidual Calcium Content of Sweet Potato Slices after Osmotic Pre-treatment with Salt (NaCl) Solution(American Association for Science and Technology(AASCIT), 2018) Godswill, Awuchi Chinaza; Nwankwere, Emeka ThompsonLight yellow-flesh, matured sweet potato was used in a lab osmotic pre-treatment in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with varying salt concentrations. The samples were subsequently dried via oven-drying. Measurements of residual calcium were taken. The dried potato slices (1 kg each of the representatives) were ashed in a muffle furnace at temperature of about 570°C for 30 mins. Solutions of the ashes were made by properly stirring with little volumes of distilled water in a beaker respectively. When the suspended solids were present in sufficient amounts to clog the nebulizer, the sample was allowed to settle and the supernatant liquid analyzed directly. The results obtained after AAS determination of calcium contents by checking absorbance against the concentration in a standard curve were analyzed using three factor design statistical analysis. Results show that potato slices of about 6mm thickness should be adopted since it yields potato products with relative higher calcium content than 2 mm and 4 mm thickness. The concentration of the salt solution should be adjusted to 10% m/v strength, as results to products with relatively higher calcium content. Where SSC of 10% m/v couldn’t give product with required texture, 20% m/v could be alternative. Time of soaking should be within 20 – 40 minutes since the nutrition (Calcium) of the product is improved within this resident duration. Generally, to ensure potato products with more conserved calcium and required texture, potato slice thickness of 6 mm, salt solution concentration of about 10 to 20% m/v, and soaking time within 20 – 40 minutes should be adopted during pretreatment processing.
- ItemSugar alcohols: chemistry, production, health concerns and nutritional importance of mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol(IJAAR, 2017-02) Godswill, Awuchi ChinazaThe sugar alcohols commonly found in foods are sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, isomalt, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates. Sugar alcohols come from plant products such as fruits and berries. Sugar alcohols occur naturally and at one time, mannitol was obtained from natural sources. Today, they are often obtained by hydrogenation of sugars and other techniques. Sugar alcohols do not contribute to tooth decay. Consumption of sugar alcohols may affect blood sugar levels, although less than of sucrose. Sugar alcohols, with the exception of erythritol, may also cause bloating and diarrhea when consumed in excessive amounts. Mannitol and sorbitol are isomers, the only difference being the orientation of the hydroxyl group on carbon 2. Among production methods of mannitol are Industrial synthesis, Biosyntheses, Natural extraction, chemical process, microbial process. Most sorbitol is made from corn syrup, but it is also found in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is converted to fructose by sorbitol-6-phosphate 2-dehydrogenase. Xylitol is a "tooth-friendly", nonfermentable sugar alcohol. It appears to have more dental health benefits than other polyalcohols. The structure of xylitol contains a tridentate ligand, (H-C-OH)3 that can rearrange with polyvalent cations like Ca2+. This interaction allows Ca2+ to be transported through the gut wall barrier and through. Xylitol is produced by hydrogenation of xylose, which converts the sugar (an aldehyde) into a primary alcohol. Another method of producing xylitol is through microbial processes, including fermentative and biocatalytic processes in bacteria, fungi, and yeast cells, which take advantage of the xylose-intermediate fermentations to produce high yield of xylitol. In the body, most erythritol is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine, and then for the most part excreted unchanged in the urine. About 10% enters the colon. Because 90% of erythritol is absorbed before it enters the large intestine, it does not normally cause laxative effects. Chemical and fermentative processes have been introduced for large-scale production of erythritol. Erythritol can be synthesized from dialdehyde starch by high-temperature chemical reaction in the presence of a nickel catalyst.
- ItemToxic metal levels in food crops grown from dump-sites around Gulu Municipality, Northern Uganda(International Journal of Social Science and Technology, 2016-07) Twinamatsiko, Richard; Mbabazi, Jolocam; Twinomuhwezi, HanningtonThis study investigated heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd) contamination levels of soils and crops. Soil and plant samples were collected from farms around the dump sites in Gulu Township Pece wet land and other samples from Katikamwe wet land in Bushenyi which served as a control site. The samples from both sites were well prepared, digested and the level of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed that metal levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in Pece wet land were significantly higher than those in similar food crops from rural control sites with the exception of zinc in cocoyam. Despite the higher values of these metals than those of the control sites, its only lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) that exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible levels. It was also observed that heavy metal uptake depend on plant species and soil quality.
- ItemUntapped wealth potential in fruit wastes for Uganda community(International Journal of Advanced Academic Research | Science, Technology & Engineering, 2017-02) Oluwole, Ibrahim Raji; Onu, PeterUganda is a country rich in abundant arable lands that enhance growth of several agricultural products. About 70% of the country’s land mass is currently being cultivated with fruits and vegetables being the most predominantly. With high level of farming in the entire country, there is undoubtedly high level of waste generation from such produce. Proper disposal of the fruit wastes has subsequently been a perennial problem in Uganda due to high costs involved in contracting the effluent collectors as well as limited availability of landfills. They are often disposed unscrupulously as they carry no useful value in the minds of average local citizen. Thus, if the situation is not properly managed, fruit wastes can produce odor, soil pollution, harborage for harmful insects as well as several environmental issues asides resulting in greenhouse gas emission during decomposition; hence, huge amount of valuable untapped commodities that can result in wealth creation will be lost and subsequently causing serious ecological damages. Hence this study investigates and reviews the major composition of some fruit wastes, specifically banana, mango and pineapple, as well as the drivable biotechnological and industrial applications that could be exploited from proper waste recovery system in Uganda.The study concluded that banana, mango and pineapple wastes contain much reusable potentials to drive the idea of new and emerging technologies, such as green technology for biogas or bioethanol production to fruition in industrial, economic, social and ecological facet by providing raw materials for manufacturing, process and pharmaceutical industries; while also promoting the adoption of efficient farming system to improve overall profitability and competiveness.