Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

Rainfall homogeneity, variability, and trends across unimodal and bimodal regimes in the Wami Basin, Tanzania

ABSTRACT The graphical abstract links rainfall data, statistical tests, spatial outputs, and hydrological implications for the Wami basin. Rainfall regime coexistence influences hydrological variability in semi-arid regions, but is rarely treated explicitly in basin-scale assessm...

Spatial clustering of COVID-19 cases and mortality at the global scale

Understanding the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases and mortality is important for identifying high-risk areas and strengthening global public health preparedness. Although many COVID-19 spatial studies have been conducted at national or regional scales, fewer have applied a...

Distributed Optimization Under Uncertainty: A Cross-Paradigm Review and Future Directions

Due to its significant importance in many disciplines, distributed optimization under uncertainty has become an active research field over the past decade. This paper presents a cross-paradigm review of this development. We organize the literature around three approaches ordered...

Structural drivers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances environmental fate, bioaccumulation kinetics, and sub-cellular toxicity: A systematic review of legacy and emerging alternatives

Per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose a critical global challenge due to extreme persistence and multi-media migration. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review synthesized data from 22 core studies to evaluate environmental fate, bioaccumulation, and s...

Agricultural Reuse of Phosphogypsum in Contrasting Soils: Wheat Yield, Potentially Toxic Element Uptake, and Soil Microbial Community Responses

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a high-volume industrial by-product that is receiving increasing attention as an alternative soil amendment. This study presents a two-year pot experiment evaluating the effects of PG on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown on two contrasting soils: an...

Microstructural and physicochemical characterization, mechanical and durability performance with statistical evaluation of montmorillonite-impregnated burnt red soil bricks incorporating pyrolyzed coffee and tobacco biochars

The growing demand for sustainable construction materials has increased interest in utilizing agricultural waste as functional additives in fired clay products. However, limited information is available regarding the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the engineering performan...

Pesticide use safety practices and knowledge gaps among small-scale farmers, retailers and healthcare providers in Tanzania

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Tanzania’s economy, with most production driven by small-scale farmers. In efforts to manage pest-related crop losses, pesticide use has increased significantly, heightening concerns related to human health, environmental sustainability, and regula...

Impacts of ivermectin mass drug administration for malaria control on smallholder pig health and productivity in Mozambique

Abstract As part of a larger clinical trial testing ivermectin mass drug administration (iMDA) in humans and pigs for malaria vector control in Mozambique, this study evaluates ivermectin’s effects on gastrointestinal nematode burden, daily weight gain and economic outcomes in tr...

Theory–simulation–application framework to enhance biostatistical capacity for HIV and cancer data analysis in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons learnt from Tanzania

Enhancing biostatistical capacity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is imperative for the efficient analysis of routinely collected health data and for clinical and public health decision-making. We describe the experiences and lessons learnt from implementing advanced statistical capa...

A systematic review of mathematical models for soil-transmitted helminthiasis control strategies

Background Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) remains an important public health challenge in endemic settings, and mathematical transmission models are widely used to evaluate STH transmission and control strategies. However, no systematic review has comprehensively classified...

Modelling the impact of adopting new-generation insecticide-treated nets on malaria transmission and insecticide resistance

Abstract Background The widespread insecticide resistance increasingly threatens malaria elimination, prompting a reassessment of vector control strategies. As Tanzania transitions from standard pyrethroid-only insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to new-generation nets, evaluating th...

Aquatic predators as complementary tools for mosquito vector control: current evidence, ecological considerations, and future directions

Insecticide-based strategies for mosquito control are increasingly constrained by insecticide resistance, sparking interest in eco-friendly alternatives, one of which is the use of aquatic predators to reduce mosquito densities. Evidence from laboratory, semi-field, and localized...

Occupational radiation exposure among healthcare workers in fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures: A multi-centre longitudinal study in Tanzania

Fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures (FGIPs) are increasingly used in modern medicine because they offer minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic options, but they also expose healthcare workers to ionizing radiation. In Tanzania, occupational dose data for staff inv...

Spatiotemporal patterns of ambient NO2 and NO pollution in Kigali Rwanda

Abstract Kigali, like many cities in sub-Saharan Africa, faces rapid urban growth alongside the need to manage air pollution and protect public health. Despite its policy efforts, systematic data on nitrogen oxides (NO x : NO 2 and NO), key indicators of combustion-related pollut...

Metagenomic Profiling of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes Reveals Predominance of Diffusely Adherent and Enteroaggregative Subtypes and Mixed Signatures Among Under-Fives in Tanzania

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is a leading enteric pathogen in children under five in sub-Saharan Africa, yet conventional targeted assays fail to capture mixed virulence signatures or provide quantitative context relative to E. coli carriage. We applied a virulence-aware...