Characterization and treatment effects on Mutaka kaolin for additive in coatings: Mineral composition, thermal and structural modifications.

Previous studies in Uganda have primarily explored kaolin's applications in composites, pottery, bricks, and insulation, neglecting its potential for coatings and paints, which is crucial for industrialization and saving foreign exchange. This study investigates the transformation of kaolin through various treatments and analyzes their impacts on its physical and chemical properties for potential use in coating applications. Thermal analysis, X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were employed to assess these alterations. The results show that thermal treatment of kaolin at 45.9 °C had minimal impact on mass loss, while the crystallinity of kaolinite was found to be lost around 600 °C, resulting in structural changes. XRF result demonstrates variations in SiO2 and Al2O3 composition, with low TiO2 content desirable for paint and coating applications. XRD results showed well-defined diffractions associated with kaolinite in all treated and untreated kaolin samples. The presence of K-feldspar and quartz are also identified. However, the thermal treatment at 800 °C transforms kaolinite into metakaolin, essential for enhancing coating properties. SEM-EDS results indicate increased porosity and reduced impurities in the thermal-treated sample, which might enhance the whiteness and suitability of pigment and binder dispersion in coatings. TEM images confirmed the hexagonal nature of kaolinite platelets and demonstrated the amorphous nature of kaolin nanoparticles with ammonium molybdate treatment, which led to the delamination and exfoliation of kaolinite layers, improving dispersibility. Kaolin thermally treated exhibited good crystallinity, solid growth, cubic morphology, and uniform size distribution. These findings suggest that tailored treatments can optimize kaolin's properties, making it a promising additive for high-performance coatings.

A Critical Review on the Development and Utilization of Energy Systems in Uganda.

We live in a world that is completely dependent on energy; thus, humankind can no longer live without power. With electricity being the main form of energy today, this has increased the complexity of our life today. In Uganda, electricity generation is mainly through hydropower, which puts the country in the bottleneck of overdependence on one source of energy. There are many energy systems out there that the country can use to diversify its electricity generation. Therefore, the need to understand the level of development and utilization of various energy systems has been the underlying question for this present study. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted using electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Wiley, Sage, Scopus, Taylor & Francis, and Google Scholar. The publications in the form of reports, conference papers, working papers, discussion papers, journal articles, book sections, and textbooks were considered in this study. In total, 11 energy systems, including human and animal energy, solid biomass (firewood), hydropower, wind, geothermal, solar, nuclear, peat, coal, petroleum, and nonsolid biomass (methanol, hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas), are described. The current and future development and utilization of these energy systems have been described. The challenges for developing and utilizing these systems were elaborated on, and the solutions for their challenges were presented. Hydropower from the Nile River, being the main river for large hydropower plant construction, is the dominant energy system in Uganda. Nuclear energy will be the salvation for the country's electric energy supply in the near future. Therefore, Uganda needs to bet big on nuclear energy.

Simulation metamodeling approach to complex design of garment assembly lines.

The today's competitive advantage of ready-made garment industry depends on the ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource utilization. Ready-made garment industry has long historically adopted fewer technological and process advancement as compared to automotive, electronics and semiconductor industries. Simulation modeling of garment assembly line has attracted a number of researchers as one way for insightful analysis of the system behaviour and improving its performance. However, most of simulation studies have considered ill-defined experimental design which cannot fully explore the assembly line design alternatives and does not uncover the interaction effects of the input variables. Simulation metamodeling is an approach to assembly line design which has recently been of interest to researchers. However, its application in garment assembly line design has never been well explored. In this paper, simulation metamodeling of trouser assembly line with 72 operations was demonstrated. The linear regression metamodel technique with resolution-V design was used. The effects of five factors: bundle size, job release policy, task assignment pattern, machine number and helper number on throughput of the trouser assembly line were studied. An increase of the production throughput by 28.63% was achieved for the best factors' setting of the metamodel.

Antivenin plants used for treatment of snakebites in Uganda: ethnobotanical reports and pharmacological evidences.

Snakebite envenomation is a serious public health concern in rural areas of Uganda. Snakebites are poorly documented in Uganda because most occur in rural settings where traditional therapists end up being the first-line defense for treatment. Ethnobotanical surveys in Uganda have reported that some plants are used to antagonize the activity of various snake venoms. This review was sought to identify antivenin plants in Uganda and some pharmacological evidence supporting their use. A literature survey done in multidisciplinary databases revealed that 77 plant species belonging to 65 genera and 42 families are used for the treatment of snakebites in Uganda. The majority of these species belong to family Fabaceae (31%), Euphorbiaceae (14%), Asteraceae (12%), Amaryllidaceae (10%) and Solanaceae (10%). The main growth habit of the species is shrubs (41%), trees (33%) and herbs (18%). Antivenin extracts are usually prepared from roots (54%) and leaves (23%) through decoctions, infusions, powders, and juices, and are administered orally (67%) or applied topically (17%). The most frequently encountered species were Allium cepa, Carica papaya, Securidaca longipedunculata, Harrisonia abyssinica, and Nicotiana tabacum. Species with global reports of tested antivenom activity included Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Basella alba, Capparis tomentosa, Carica papaya, Cassia occidentalis, Jatropa carcus, Vernonia cinereal, Bidens pilosa, Hoslundia opposita, Maytensus senegalensis, Securinega virosa, and Solanum incanum. There is need to identify and evaluate the antivenom compounds in the claimed plants.