Browsing by Author "Vuai, Said Ali Hamad"

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    Antibiotic-resistant microbial populations in urban receiving waters and wastewaters from Tanzania
    (Elsevier, 2023) Ripanda, Asha Shabani; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Miraji, Hossein; Bih, Numfor Linda; Mzula, Alexanda; Mwega, Elisa; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Antimicrobial resistance against certain medications in the pathogenic microbial community is globally increasing due to the continual discharge and disposal of pharmaceuticals in the environment. The phenomenon resulted in significant antibiotic resistance among several exposed Enterobacteriaceae species, with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and rivers serving as significant reservoirs. Despite antibiotic resistance being a tragedy, particularly in treating diseases by using antibiotics, local and regional studies indicating the severity, resistant species and the molecular level insight into these pathogens are scarce, thus requiring immediate intervention. This study, therefore, investigated wastewater from wastewater treatment ponds and receiving waters for the presence of resistant pathogens through phenotypical and molecular approach screening of their genes. Among the 57 analyzed samples, 18 (67%, n = 27) isolates of Klebsiella spp.., 4 (80%, n = 5) isolates of Proteus spp., 1 (100%, n = 1) of isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 6 (18%, n = 34) of E. coli found were resistant to at least 1 among the tested antibiotics. E. coli had an 83% higher proportion of multi-drug resistance (MDR) than Klebsiella spp.., which had 68.5%, and no MDR was shown by P. aeruginosa isolates. Among the 20 bacterial isolates of antibiotic-resistant genes, showed that E. coli harboured 39%, followed by 22% of Klebsiella spp. Eleven (11) isolates of these 20 (55%) contained sulphonamides resistant genes: Sul 1 (n = 4) and Sul 2 (n = 7). Ten (10) isolates (50%) contained the tetracyclineresistant genes in which 4 isolates showed the Tet A, Tet B – 1 and 5 isolates contained Tet D. β-lactamases (bla CTX-M and bla SHV) were found in 7 isolates (35%). The existence of these antibiotic-resistant species in the urban receiving and wastewater presents a threat of transmission of diseases to humans and animals that are not cured by the existing medications, jeopardizing public health safety.
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    Chronostratigraphic studies of the Ootun area revealing the late holocene plume volcanism of the Oldoinyo Lengai, Ngorongoro, Tanzania
    (Hindawi, 2022) Makongoro, Mohamed Zengo; Vegi, Maheswara Rao; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Msabi, Michael Mwita
    Oldoinyo Lengai has been a subject of international attention for geoscientists because of its uniqueness. The mountain is the world’s only active natrocarbonatite volcano whose recent activities are well documented. However, little is known about its eruptive history during the Holocene. One way of uncovering past volcanic activities is through chronostratigraphic studies. A rare stratigraphic sequence in the Ootun area containing buried tephra beds and paleosols is presented in this article. The beds suggest that the nearby active Oldoinyo Lengai volcano experienced the main plume volcanism during the late Holocene. This work presents the lithology of the area, estimated deposition period, and elemental and mineralogical compositions of strata, and establishing similarities between ash properties and information from previously reported chemistry and eruptions of the Oldoinyo Lengai volcano. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometry, and accelerated mass spectrometry techniques were used for elemental, mineralogical, and radiocarbon dating analyses. A 1.3-m vertical soil profile revealed three major strata: topsoil, tephra bed, and paleosols. The paleosols are presumed to have been topsoil of the Ootun area during the Holocene. Subsurface tephra layers were found to contain similar properties to the volcanic material of the Oldoinyo Lengai. Based on the experimental findings and literature data, the study reports the occurrence of two major plume eruption events from the Oldoinyo Lengai, which happened around the minimum (oldest) age of and 771 AD. This work is essentially important in demonstrating the relevance of the region’s tephra chronostratigraphic studies by revealing the prospect of collecting additional scientific data on past geological processes and paleoenvironmental conditions of northern Tanzania.
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    A comparative in-vitro study on antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based hand washing sanitizers towards combating microbes and its application in combating Covid-19 global outbreak
    (Elsevier, 2022) Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Sahini, Mtabazi Geofrey; Sule, Khalfani Salim; Ripanda, Asha Shabani; Mwanga, Hossein Miraji
    The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has created endless social, economic, and political fear in the global human population. Measures employed include frequent washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and hand rubs as instant hand hygiene products. Due to the need to mitigate the pandermic, there is an increase in the local production of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, whose quality and efficacy against germs and the virus are questionable. Therefore, the current study investigated the in-vitro antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based handwashing sanitizers used to mitigate the Covid-19 global outbreak toward combating enveloped bacteria such as E. Coli, P. aeroginosa, S. aureus, and a fungus C. albicans. The antimicrobial effectiveness ofalcohol-based hand sanitizer was performed by the agar well diffusion method, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used for statistical analysis. Results indicate that alcohol hand-based sanitizers were more effective in inhibiting P. aeroginosa, with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.47 mm, followed by E. coli, a gramnegative bacterium with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.13 mm than both S. aureus and C. albicans as grampositive bacteria, and fungi respectively had the same inhibition average of 11.40 mm. The overall mean diameter of inhibition was statistically significantly different among the fifteen tested products. Only one brand of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was the most effective in inhibiting microbes. Less effective sanitizers may impair Covid 19 mitigation efforts and put the population at risk instead of protecting it. Indicating the need for all materials used to mitigate Covid 19 pandermic, including alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be evaluated and monitored to ensure public health safety
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    A comparative in-vitro study on antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based hand washing sanitizers towards combating microbes and its application in combating Covid-19 global outbreak
    (Elsevier, 2022) Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Sahini, Mtabazi Geofrey; Sule, Khalfani Salim; Ripanda, Asha Shabani; Mwanga, Hossein Miraji
    The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has created endless social, economic, and political fear in the global human population. Measures employed include frequent washing hands and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers and hand rubs as instant hand hygiene products. Due to the need to mitigate the pandermic, there is an increase in the local production of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, whose quality and efficacy against germs and the virus are questionable. Therefore, the current study investigated the in-vitro antimicrobial efficacy of on-market alcohol-based handwashing sanitizers used to mitigate the Covid-19 global outbreak toward combating enveloped bacteria such as E. Coli, P. aeroginosa, S. aureus, and a fungus C. albicans. The antimicrobial effectiveness of alcohol-based hand sanitizer was performed by the agar well diffusion method, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) model was used for statistical analysis. Results indicate that alcohol hand-based sanitizers were more effective in inhibiting P. aeroginosa, with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.47 mm, followed by E. coli, a gramnegative bacterium with a mean zone of inhibition of 12.13 mm than both S. aureus and C. albicans as grampositive bacteria, and fungi respectively had the same inhibition average of 11.40 mm. The overall mean diameter of inhibition was statistically significantly different among the fifteen tested products. Only one brand of alcohol-based hand sanitizers was the most effective in inhibiting microbes. Less effective sanitizers may impair Covid 19 mitigation efforts and put the population at risk instead of protecting it. Indicating the need for all materials used to mitigate Covid 19 pandermic, including alcohol-based hand sanitizers, to be evaluated and monitored to ensure public health safety.
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    Data from the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed ( Syzygium cumini ) biochar: Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization
    (Elsevier, 2023) Ripanda, Asha; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Bakari, Ramadhani; Miraji, Hossein; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    This dataset expresses the experimental data on the batch adsorption of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar. Independent variables including concentration of pollutants (10-500 ppm), contact time (30–300 min), adsorbent dosage (1-1000 mg), pH (1-14) and adsorbent calcination temperature (250,300, 600 and 750 °C) were studied and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Empirical models were developed to predict the maximum removal efficiency of ciprofloxacin and lamivudine, and the results were compared with the experimental data. The removal of polutants was more influenced by concentration, followed by adsorbent dosagage, pH, and contact time and the maximum removal reached 90%.
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    Defluoridation of aqueous solution using raw and surface modified biosorbents prepared from adansonia digitata fruit pericarp
    (Taylor & Francis, 2021) Mihayo, David; Vegi, Maheswara Rao; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad
    In some parts of Tanzania, there are higher fluoride concentrations in water bodies that affect public health. This work reports on water defluoridation using bio-sorbents prepared from Adansonia digitata fruit pericarp which is an agricultural waste. The raw and surface modified Adansonia digitata fruit pericarps were prepared, characterized, and used for defluoridation of the aqueous solution. The surface-modified adsorbent has better physical and chemical characteristics for bio-sorption. FT-IR spectra of adsorbents revealed that carboxyl, hydroxyls, carbonyls, and halogen groups are present on the adsorbent. The maximum removal efficiencies of raw and surface-modified bio-sorbents were 67.61 and 91.91% respectively which means surface modified bio-sorbent is effective for the removal of fluoride. Maximum adsorption efficiency was achieved with an initial concentration of 27.50 mg/L, the final concentrations of fluoride after adsorption were 8.907 and 2.225 mg/L for RADFP and SMADFP respectively. The adsorption capacity, q0 of RADFP and SMADFP are 0.2475 and 0.3173 mg/g, respectively. The values adsorption intensity, n is 1.3988 for RADFP and 1.1714 for SMADFP which lies between 1 and 10 indicating a favorable adsorption process. The adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich adsorption model and Pseudo second order kinetics. Therefore, the surface-modified Adansonia digitata fruit pericarp is a potential bio-sorbent for the removal of fluoride ions from water
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    Geochemical, mineralogical, and geomorphological characterization of ash materials as a tracer for the origin of shifting sands near Oldupai Gorge, Ngorongoro, Tanzania
    (Hindawi, 2022) Makongoro, Mohamed Zengo; Vegi, Maheswara Rao; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Msabi, Michael Mwita
    Shifting sand (SS) is a single dune-shaped mass of black ash material moving across western Ngorongoro in northern Tanzania. The moving sand has become an important tourist destination for several decades. Despite being part of the important geosites at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the nature, origin, and behaviors demonstrated by SS remain poorly understood. This work contributes toward understanding the nature and identification of the possible origin of the SS through the correlation of geochemical, mineralogical, and geomorphological data of ash material from four selected locations in the study area. To achieve this goal, elemental, mineralogical, and morphological characterization of ash samples was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, polarized petrographic microscopy, automated sieve shaker, and binocular microscopy techniques, respectively. Correlation studies were based on magnesian-ferriferous associations, similarities in mineralogy, particle size, shape, and distribution patterns of ash materials, and weather data. There are close similarities in the chemical compositions among ash samples of SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai. Augite and magnetite minerals appear only in samples of SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai, while hornblende appears only in the samples from the Ngorongoro crater. Oldoinyo Lengai rock petrography revealed significant amounts of augite minerals. Blocky and elongated-shaped ash particles dominate the samples from SS, Ootun area, and Oldoinyo Lengai. The particle size of ash materials decreases westwards across the study site. The distribution patterns of ash material align with the west-south-west wind direction. Based on these findings, the study concludes that SS and Ootun ash could be tephra depositions resulting from past volcanic eruptions of Oldoinyo Lengai.
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    Optimizing ciprofloxacin removal from water using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar: A sustainable approach for ecological protection
    (Elsevier BV, 2024) Ripanda, Asha; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Bih, Linda Numph; Hossein, Miraji; Bakari, Ramadhani; Sigh, Somit Kumar; Reddy, Giridhar; Ravikumar, C.R.; Murthy, H.C. Ananda; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Scientific interest in antimicrobial pollutants, such as ciprofloxacin, has increased. Due to spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistance genes, and their dissemination to the environment. Therefore, their remediation is necessary to ensure ecological sustainability. The current study aimed to optimise the removal of ciprofloxacin from synthetic water using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar using a response surface methodology (RSM). Result indicates ciprofloxacin elimination efficiency ranged between 32.46 and 94.95%, indicating the material can be improved and used for remediation of organics. The residual standard error of 4.4% were found for the predicted model, implying that the model is credible and can be used to predict future experimental findings. The R-squarred value for the improved Langmuir model's R2 is 0.9681 which is inclose agreement with the Freundlich isotherm, R2 0.9757. Therefore, JS biochar could be utilized for the remediation of ciprofloxacin from contaminated water and wastewater for ecological safety and sustainability.
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    Optimizing ciprofloxacin removal from water using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar: A sustainable approach for ecological protection
    (Elsevier BV, 2024) Ripanda, Asha; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Bih, Linda Numph; Hossein, Miraji; Bakari, Ramadhani; Sigh, Somit Kumar; Reddy, Giridhar; Ravikumar, C.R.; Murthy, H.C. Ananda; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Scientific interest in antimicrobial pollutants, such as ciprofloxacin, has increased. Due to spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, resistance genes, and their dissemination to the environment. Therefore, their remediation is necessary to ensure ecological sustainability. The current study aimed to optimise the removal of ciprofloxacin from synthetic water using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar using a response surface methodology (RSM). Result indicates ciprofloxacin elimination efficiency ranged between 32.46 and 94.95%, indicating the material can be improved and used for remediation of organics. The residual standard error of 4.4% were found for the predicted model, implying that the model is credible and can be used to predict future experimental findings. The R-squarred value for the improved Langmuir model's R2 is 0.9681 which is inclose agreement with the Freundlich isotherm, R2 0.9757. Therefore, JS biochar could be utilized for the remediation of ciprofloxacin from contaminated water and wastewater for ecological safety and sustainability.
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    Performance of low-cost Agar from Gracilaria salicornia on tissue culture of Pleurotus HK-37
    (Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2019) Mpatani, Farid Mzee; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad
    Currently, the demand of Pleurotus HK-37 (oyster mushroom) in Tanzania is growing rapidly due to the increasing of awareness on its nutrition, health, and economic benefits. Despite the increasing demand, the availability of strains of Pleurotus HK-37 species is still a challenge due to high cost of tissue culture technology. The high cost of importing agar seems to be among the factors for this failure. This study aimed at investigating the performance of low-cost agar from local Gracilaria salicornia on tissue culture of Pleurotus HK-37. Local extracted agars with different gel strengths ranging between 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 g/cm2 were used to make PDA media. The average mycelia growth rate (mm/day) ranged between 9.87 ± 1.44 and 14.9 ± 0.85 mm/day. Low-cost agar shows quite similar performance as that of standard agar on active growth of Pleurotus HK-37 mycelia. All PDA plates appeared white and feathery and showed to grow in a circular mode (radial extension). Mycelia growth on standard agar PDA took 5 days while on extracted local agar PDA took 5 to 7 days to fully colonize the plate at 27 ± 2°C. The present study shows that the production cost can be reduced by ∼35–78% by using local agar.
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    Removal of lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar adsorbent
    (Elsevier, 2023) Ripanda, Asha; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Bakari, Ramadhani; Miraji, Hossein; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Antiviral drugs such as lamivudine have been globally identified in the environment and marked as emerging pollutants of concern due to their bioactive extremity. Following therapeutic uses, approximately 70% of the oral dose of lamivudine is eliminated renally as the parent drug. Concerns has been raised for neighbouring aquatic bodies due to effluent produced from production plants containing high concentrations of antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs, such as lamivudine, are extremely bioactive, prompting interest in their urgent removal from the environment. The purpose of the present study was to optimize the removal of lamivudine from the synthetic solution using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar. The influence of sorption parameters such as pH, lamivudine concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and calcination temperatures on the removal of lamivudine was investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology (SRM) based on optimal design. The results indicated that, a quadratic model best fits data with a model regression coefficient R2, adjusted R2, and predicted R2 of 0.9934, 0.9761 and 0.8340, respectively. The JS biochar calcined at 750°C, at pH 8, initial lamivudine concentration of 10 ppm and contact time of 30 min indicated a maximum experimental removal efficiency of 84.9%. The residual standard error (RSE) value was 3.5% implying that the model was reliable. Isotherm data for the adsorption of lamivudine on JS biochar followed the Freundlich isotherm, with an R2 value of 0.9977 while R2 for the modified Langmuir model was 0.9852. These findings indicated that JS biochar is potentially useful for removal of lamivudine, and other organics from contaminated water and wastewater effluents. Therefore, this study presents an environmentally friendly remedy against lamivudine for a healthier ecology
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    Removal of lamivudine from synthetic solution using jamun seed (Syzygium cumini) biochar adsorbent
    (Elsevier BV, 2023) Ripanda, Asha; Rwiza, Mwemezi J.; Nyanza, Elias Charles; Bakari, Ramadhani; Miraji, Hossein; Njau, Karoli N.; Vuai, Said Ali Hamad; Machunda, Revocatus L.
    Antiviral drugs such as lamivudine have been globally identified in the environment and marked as emerging pollutants of concern due to their bioactive extremity. Following therapeutic uses, approximately 70% of the oral dose of lamivudine is eliminated renally as the parent drug. Concerns has been raised for neighbouring aquatic bodies due to effluent produced from production plants containing high concentrations of antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs, such as lamivudine, are extremely bioactive, prompting interest in their urgent removal from the environment. The purpose of the present study was to optimize the removal of lamivudine from the synthetic solution using jamun seed (JS) (Syzygium cumini) biochar. The influence of sorption parameters such as pH, lamivudine concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and calcination temperatures on the removal of lamivudine was investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology (SRM) based on optimal design. The results indicated that, a quadratic model best fits data with a model regression coefficient R2, adjusted R2, and predicted R2 of 0.9934, 0.9761 and 0.8340, respectively. The JS biochar calcined at 750 °C, at pH 8, initial lamivudine concentration of 10 ppm and contact time of 30 min indicated a maximum experimental removal efficiency of 84.9%. The residual standard error (RSE) value was 3.5% implying that the model was reliable. Isotherm data for the adsorption of lamivudine on JS biochar followed the Freundlich isotherm, with an R2 value of 0.9977 while R2 for the modified Langmuir model was 0.9852. These findings indicated that JS biochar is potentially useful for removal of lamivudine, and other organics from contaminated water and wastewater effluents. Therefore, this study presents an environmentally friendly remedy against lamivudine for a healthier ecology.