Muni Repository (MR)
This repository contains open access publications of Muni University Library.
Objectives:
- To digitally collect, preserve and provide electronic access to scholarly works and research output of Muni University.
- Increase the visibility and impact of our research, making it easy for researchers, students, policymakers and journalists to reference, replicate, and re-use the work.
- Issue permanent, unique and trustworthy identifiers when creating URLs to access the resource without concern that the location of the resource may change.
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- Contact the library through email: libsupport@muni.ac.ug
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Recent Submissions
Comparative analysis of single-walled, double-walled, and multi-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) composites: Enhanced structural and thermal stability for radiation shielding in low Earth Orbit
(Elsevier, 2025-03-05) Square, Lynndle; Oryema, Bosco; Mafoko, Pako; Ellis, Ernst; Vorster, Henriette
Poly(2,5-benzimidazole) (ABPBI) composites reinforced with 1 wt% single-wall (SWCNT), double-wall (DWCNT), and multi-wall (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes were synthesised and evaluated for radiation shielding applications in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The structural and thermal properties of these nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). FTIR analysis confirmed the retention of ABPBI's characteristic molecular structure across all nanocomposites, with ABPBI/DWCNT exhibiting the strongest molecular bonding. Thermal analysis demonstrated exceptional stability, with ∼95% weight retention at 400 °C and ∼70% at 900 °C, suggesting suitability for high-temperature applications. To assess radiation resistance, 3 MeV He2+ ion bombardment was performed on ABPBI/DWCNT nanocomposites. Post-irradiation FTIR and XRD results indicated mild molecular degradation but preserved semi-crystalline structures, demonstrating strong radiation tolerance. AFM analysis further revealed nanoscale surface modifications, providing insights into radiation-induced morphological changes and confirming the structural resilience of ABPBI-based nanocomposites. The results suggest that ABPBI/DWCNT exhibits promising mechanical integrity, thermal stability, and radiation resistance for space applications.
Space-coded microchip for multiplexed respiratory virus detection via CRISPR-Cas12a and RPA
(Elsevier, 2025-02-26) Xiong, Mengqiu; Wang, Yao; Lu, Shuhan; Lubanga, Nasifu; Li, Tao; Li, Zhihao; He, Bangshun; Li, Ying
Multiple infections of respiratory viruses are common in patients with clinical respiratory diseases, but current detection methods still have problems such as complex equipment and long detection time. Rapid, low-cost, and on-site detection of human respiratory viruses is crucial for both clinical diagnosis and population screening. In this research, we created a space-coded microfluidic chip (SC-Chip) for the recognition of nine respiratory viruses: influenza A virus, influenza B virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, human coronavirus OC43, human coronavirus NL63, human coronavirus HKU1, human respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus, and human metapneumovirus. For the first time, a comprehensive sequence comparison among these viruses was performed to design the recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) primers and Cas12a-crRNAs. The SC-Chip partitions samples amplified by RPA into spatially coded wells preloaded with CRISPR-Cas12a detection reagents, enabling the identification of all nine viral targets in a single test using a single fluorescence probe. The chip-based assay displays 9 respiratory viruses in less than 40 min with a minimum detection limit at a concentration of 10−18 M (∼1 copy/reaction). Additionally, the efficacy of the method was assessed through its application to 35 clinical patient samples identified as being at risk for respiratory virus infection, yielding a sensitivity of 90 % and a specificity of 100 %. In summary, this space-coded microfluidic CRISPR system offers several advantages, including ease of operation, cost-effectiveness, and rapid data acquisition, thereby holding great potential for multiplexed detection of nucleic acid targets in a clinical setting.
How innovation platforms govern the experiential learning process of coffee farmers in Uganda
(African Journals Online, 2024-12-16) Ochago, Robert
While researchers, development actors, and policymakers recognize that Innovation Platforms govern farmers' development knowledge when attempting to address challenges, the question of how IPs’ governance mechanisms affect their learning process remains unaddressed. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 214 coffee IP farmers, this study employs Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the relationships between IP governance and farmers’ experiential learning. The relationship between challenges, reflection, experiential knowledge, active experimentation, and IP governance mechanisms (that is, IP members' commitment and trust, IP members' involvement, and Member access to IP resources) was specifically examined. Results show that when farmers try to address their challenges, IP governance mechanisms positively and negatively affect their acquisition of experiential knowledge through reflection and active experimentation using existing knowledge. Specifically, Innovation Platform members' commitment, trust, and involvement significantly and positively moderate the link between farmers’ challenges and their reflection, while the influence of members' access to IP resources is insignificant. Similarly, while access to IP resources has an insignificant and negative moderation effect on the link between farmers’ reflection and experiential knowledge, IP members' commitment, trust, and involvement have positive but insignificant effects on them. Farmers' commitment, trust, involvement, and access to IP resources did not affect the relationship between their experimentation and experiential knowledge. Finally, the IP members' commitment, trust, involvement, and access to IP resources have insignificant effects on the relationship between farmers’ active experimentation and their challenges. Coffee farmers should use their networks to encourage commitment and involvement in intellectual property to reflect and gain knowledge. Similarly, IP facilitators should build trust among their members. Agriculture extension policymakers can use IPs as units to identify practical interventions to local challenges and improve targeted rural agriculture value chains by connecting different stakeholders to farmers at the community level because reflection as a learning activity must be consciously elicited through learning actions.
What does the reflective learning of Ugandan coffee farmers mean for agricultural extension and advisory services?
(EScience Press, 2024-08-23) Ochago, Robert
Whereas reflection is essential for learners to make sense of their challenging experiences, little is known about how farmers reflect on their challenging experiences in agricultural practices. This study explores how farmers reflect on their challenges in coffee value chain practices. Using qualitative methods, including focus group discussions and individual interviews with 91 coffee IP farmers from diverse backgrounds, the study identified various challenges—pests and diseases, low and poor coffee quality, and untrustworthy and unreliable coffee buyers—that impact their livelihoods and production. Findings reveal that farmers' reflection varies in frequency and depth, with many engaging in informal discussions with fellow farmers in their communities and a smaller number using individual reflective methods. The research highlights that people who actively engage in reflective practices make more informed decisions, resulting in adaptive methods that improve resilience and sustainability in their farming operations. The study stresses the need to create an atmosphere that promotes structured reflection and peer-to-peer sharing, which will lead to better agricultural practices and outcomes in coffee sector.
The effect of Ugandan coffee farmers’ role identity on their experiential learning
(Sage, 2024-04-07) Ochago, Robert; Dentoni, Domenico; Mahdad, Maral
Background: Although the literature on education and learning sciences determined how student identities influence their experiential learning process, this link is less clear in the agricultural context, where farmers have faced unique value chain challenges i.e., production to marketing.
Purpose: This study contributes to examining how farmers’ role identities support or hamper farmers’ experiential learning processes.
Methodology: First, a qualitative analysis of 91 interviews with coffee farmers in Uganda was carried out to understand the nature and relevance of farmers’ role identities. Second, using partial least squares regression-based path analysis, the moderating effect of 214 coffee farmers’ production role identity on their experiential learning was assessed.
Findings: Findings reveal that farmers’ identification as coffee farmers shape what, how, and when they learn from their value chain challenges. Farmers’ role identity, in particular, supports their reflection on past challenges to increase their challenge-solving knowledge, as well as experimentation to solve their challenges.
Implications: This study integrates role identity theories in the study of learning processes in rural coffee value chains. Moreover, the findings suggest that agricultural extension workers should understand farmers’ identities and their influence on their learning to select the targets and developments of their training programs.