Sensory characterization of the perceived quality of East African highland cooking bananas (matooke)

Open Access ArticleBACKGROUND It has recently become increasingly evident that banana projects in Uganda need to consider consumer preferences as part of the breeding process to increase the acceptability of new cultivars. A trained panel used quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) as a tool to assess the sensory characteristics of 32 cooking bananas (matooke). The aim was to investigate which sensory characteristics best describe matooke. RESULTS Fourteen descriptors were generated. The preferred attributes of matooke were high-intensity yellow color, homogeneous distribution of yellow color, good matooke aroma, highly moldable by touch, moist and smooth in the mouth. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences in the yellowness, homogeneity of color, firmness, moistness, smoothness, matooke aroma, hardness, and moldability across the genotypes (P < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed strong positive correlations between yellowness and homogeneity of the color (R = 0.92). Smoothness in the mouth and moldability by touch were strongly and positively correlated (R = 0.88). Firmness in the mouth was well predicted by hardness to touch (R2 = 0.85). The matooke samples were ranked into two sensory clusters by agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). CONCLUSION The study showed attribute terms that could be used to describe matooke and also revealed that QDA may be used as a tool during the assessment and selection of new cooking banana hybrids to identify relevant sensory attributes because of its ability to discriminate among the banana hybrids

Advancing Diagnosis and Treatment in People Living with HIV and Tuberculosis Meningitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis. Inadequate diagnostic testing and treatment regimens adapted from pulmonary tuberculosis without consideration of the unique nature of TBM are among the potential drivers. This review focuses on the progress being made in relation to both diagnosis and treatment of TBM, emphasizing promising future directions. RECENT FINDINGS: The molecular assay GeneXpert MTB/Rif Ultra has improved sensitivity but has inadequate negative predictive value to "rule-out" TBM. Evaluations of tests focused on the host response and bacterial components are ongoing. Clinical trials are in progress to explore the roles of rifampin, fluoroquinolones, linezolid, and adjunctive aspirin. Though diagnosis has improved, novel modalities are being explored to improve the rapid diagnosis of TBM. Multiple ongoing clinical trials may change current therapies for TBM in the near future

Timber management practices and timber species used by small scale furniture workshops in Uganda

A study was done in Kampala District, Central Uganda, to document the timber species and timbermanagement practices used in furniture workshops. A check list was used to document the commontimber species, their grades, moisture contents and related timber management practices in furnitureworkshops. Results showed that Albizia coriaria, Markhamia lutea and Chrysophyllum albidum werethe most common species while Khaya spp, Milicia excelsa and Olea spp were the least used speciesin the furniture workshops. Sixty nine percent of the furniture workshops lacked timber storage sheds,whereas only 3% had the recommended timber stacks. Majority (95%) of the carpenters in the furnitureworkshops did not season timber and hence the moisture content of the timber ranged from 31% to35%. Forty nine percent of the workshops exposed their finished products to environmental and weatherdeterioration. The commonest type of wood waste was planer shavings which were not utilised effectively.Since 97% of carpenters did not grade timber, the quality of their products was inherently poor. Thestudy concluded that several lesser known timber species were used for making furniture amidst verypoor timber management. The study recommends that the government of Uganda through its policyimplementingarms should create awareness programmes to carpenters on efficient timber managementpractices. Further research on physical, processing and strength properties of the documented speciesshould be undertaken so as to improve their utilisation

Local Government Revenue Mobilisation in Anglophone Africa

This paper examines opportunities and constraints facing local revenue mobilisation in anglophone Africa, with an emphasis on urban settings. It discusses specific revenue instruments and their effects on economic efficiency, income distribution and accountability. In particular, it addresses political and administrative constraints facing various revenue instruments and factors affecting citizens’ compliance. The analysis is illustrated with examples from across anglophone Africa. A general conclusion emerging from the study is that local revenues mobilised in most local government authorities in Africa are necessary but not sufficient to develop and supply adequate services for the fast-growing population. On this basis, areas for further research on local government revenue mobilisation in Africa are identifiedDfI

Ten golden rules for optimal antibiotic use in hospital settings: the WARNING call to action

Antibiotics are recognized widely for their benefits when used appropriately. However, they are often used inappropriately despite the importance of responsible use within good clinical practice. Effective antibiotic treatment is an essential component of universal healthcare, and it is a global responsibility to ensure appropriate use. Currently, pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to develop new antibiotics due to scientific, regulatory, and financial barriers, further emphasizing the importance of appropriate antibiotic use. To address this issue, the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery established an international multidisciplinary task force of 295 experts from 115 countries with different backgrounds. The task force developed a position statement called WARNING (Worldwide Antimicrobial Resistance National/International Network Group) aimed at raising awareness of antimicrobial resistance and improving antibiotic prescribing practices worldwide. The statement outlined is 10 axioms, or “golden rules,” for the appropriate use of antibiotics that all healthcare workers should consistently adhere in clinical practice

Effectiveness of Copper chrome arsenate and used engine oil in protecting fencing posts of Ugandan grown eucalypt clone GC550 and "Phoenix reclinata" against termite attack

Eucalypts and Phoenix reclinata posts are the most commonly used species for fencing posts in urban areas of Uganda. Although eucalypts are known to be susceptible to termites, fencing posts are still used untreated. In this study, the effectiveness of Copper Chrome Arsenate and used engine oil in protecting Ugandan grown Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis clone and Phoenix reclinata fencing posts against termite attack were assessed. The objectives were to determine (i) the incidence and (ii) severity of termite attack on Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Phoenix reclinata fencing posts treated with Copper Chrome Arsenate or used engine oil. Ninety 2ft long samples of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis and P. reclinata posts were treated with Copper Chrome Arsenate or used engine and others left to act as control then buried in 1ft deep pits in the ground at a spacing of 1m by 1 in Eastern Uganda. The samples were visually inspected monthly for termite damage for 9 months. More than 80% of untreated samples of both species had been attacked by termites within the first month. Copper Chrome Arsenate treated Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Phoenix reclinata samples were first attacked in the 8th and 5th months respectively. While used engine oil treated Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Phoenix reclinata samples were first attacked in the 7thand 5th months respectively. The modal severity for samples of both species treated with either Copper Chrome Arsenate or used engine oil was class 1 (less than 1% of the sample volume eaten) while for the untreated samples it was class 5 (above 60% volume eaten) for the 9 months of field exposure. It was concluded that untreated posts of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Phoenix reclinata were highly susceptible to termite attack and that the protection offered by used engine oil or Copper Chrome Arsenate managed to restrict damage by termites to only less than 1% of the sample volume , over the 9 months of exposure for most of the sample posts. It is recommended that the experiment be repeated for a much longer period in order to ascertain the exact service life of the posts under these circumstances. Penetration and retentions of the preservatives in the posts should also be studied in order to ascertain their effect on the efficacy. Keywords: Incidence, severity, treated posts, wood preservation, wood protectio

Effectiveness of selected preservatives in protecting Ugandan grown Eucalyptus grandis wood against termite attack

Termites are one of the major wood destroying agents in the tropics and with the increasing rate of deforestation, there is a need to protect wood from biodegradation in order to extend its service life. In this study the incidence and severity of termite attack on Eucalyptus grandis sapwood treated with CCA, used engine oil and neem extract were investigated. Sixty samples (20 × 20 × 300mm) were prepared from the sapwood at mid-height of the tree of E. grandis and air seasoned for two weeks then treated with the preservatives. An area of 20m by 20m in a pine plantation and 15 plots of 1m by 1m were selected at random. Four samples, one from each treatment, were placed at the corners of the selected plots. Inspection and evaluation of stakes was made by visual assessments after every 30 days for any sign of termite attack for a period of 8 months. The specimens were removed from the ground, damage assessed and returned to the ground. After 4 weeks all the untreated wood samples had been attacked, neem extract treated wood samples were attacked after 17 weeks and used engine oil treated samples after 30 weeks. None of the CCA treated wood samples were attacked by the end of study period. Chi square analysis showed a high association between treatment and incidence as well as between treatment and severity. It was recommended that further research be carried out on neem extract using different concentrations