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Bifunctional catechol-based coating strategy to construct highly effective antimicrobial polyethylene microfibers for personal protective equipment
(ScienceDirect: Progress in Organic Coatings, 2025-01) Mbonimpa Innocent; Gongxun Zhai; Mugaanire Tendo Innocent; Jialiang Zhou; Xin Dai; Tianqi Jiang; Jinqi Wang; Hengxue Xiang; Meifang Zhu
Polyethylene (PE) microfiber materials are of great interest in the production of personal protective equipment (PPE) due to their cost-effectiveness and excellent mechanical and barrier properties. However, they lack inherent antibacterial properties and are therefore susceptible to attack and contamination by microorganisms, leading to the spread of associated infections. Incorporating antibacterial agents onto the material's surface is an effective approach to achieve antimicrobial functionality. Nevertheless, this is limited by the chemical inertness of PE, thus requiring surface modification treatments. Here, we successfully synthesized bifunctional catechol-based antibacterial polymeric coatings and applied them to develop durable antibacterial PE fabrics through dip-coating. Cationic copolymers comprising dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and hexylated vinyl pyridine (QVP) moieties were prepared through free radical polymerization (FRP) followed by N-alkylation with hexyl bromide. The copolymers were extensively studied to investigate the effect of composition on the yield and antibacterial properties. The copolymers exhibited good antibacterial properties in an aqueous solution, and the antibacterial activity and yield were higher in copolymers with higher QVP units. In addition, the prepared antibacterial PE fabrics exhibited good antibacterial activity against gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), which remained unaffected by several laundering cycles, thus hold potential for use in antibacterial protective textiles.
Physiological sex differences in response to exercise
(Turkish Journal of Kinesiology, 2025-08-31) Nicholas, Mwebaze; Timothy Makubuya; Mark Kamwebaze; Matia Mwase; Ricky Richard Ojara; Paul Opio; Linika Lumbuye; Loyce Nahwera
Physiological sex differences influence how males and females respond to exercise due to variations in hormonal profiles, muscle mass distribution, cardiovascular capacity, and training load tolerance. Males typically have 10–15% greater hemoglobin concentrations and higher maximal oxygen uptake of (VO₂max) relative to body weight, enhancing aerobic performance, while females generally possess higher body fat percentage, lower absolute muscle mass, and greater reliance on lipid metabolism during submaximal exercise. Estrogen supports membrane stability, antioxidant defense, and fat oxidation, whereas testosterone drives hypertrophy, strength gains, and red blood cell production. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle alter performance, with the follicular phase favoring endurance and the luteal phase potentially increasing fatigue. Females often experience greater GI discomfort but lower sweat rates than males, who lose more body fluid and require more aggressive hydration strategies. Males show greater creatine kinase and myoglobin responses, reflecting more structural muscle damage and delayed on set of muscle soreness severity, while females benefit from faster recovery via estrogen-mediated protection. Training load thresholds also differ: males tolerate higher absolute external loads but risk overtraining without sufficient recovery; females may face higher relative internal loads and greater susceptibility to endocrine disruption such as relative energy deficiency in sport. Tailoring exercise programming to these sex-specific cardiovascular, metabolic, hormonal, thermoregulatory, inflammatory, and recovery profiles can optimize performance, minimize injury risk, and improve long-term adaptation.
Diabetes and exercise: unlocking the potential for effective management and prevention
(Advances in Health and Exercise, 2025-09-07) Nicholas, Mwebaze; Timothy Makubuya; Mark Kamwebaze; Richard Katungye; Victoria Nekesa; Denis Bwayo; Linika Lumbuye; Ricky Richard Ojara
Diabetes mellitus is a progressive, chronic metabolic disorder predominantly defined by glucose
dysregulation, insulin resistance, and defective insulin secretion. It affects more than 460 million individuals
globally with a heavy burden on health sector, economy, and individual's life. This narrative review paper
looks at a cost-effective intervention with a potential to contribute to prevention of the disease, regulate
condition, and prevent complications. Exercising regularly has a positive impact on glycemic control,
improved insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk factors like lipid profiles, blood pressure, and promoting
overall cardiovascular and psychological well-being. It addresses critical function of exercise in the
management of diabetes through consideration of its physiological mechanisms, exercise type, and clinical
benefits of regular exercise. It investigated safe and effective exercise prescription protocols for diabetic
patients from aerobic, resistance to flexibility and high-intensity interval training. Although the benefits have
been demonstrated, barriers such as physical impairment, comorbidities, low knowledge and motivation
prevent individuals from exercising. Addressing these barriers need a multi-sectoral solution to reconcile
behavioral support, patient education, electronic health interventions, and policy advocacy. It calls for
personalized exercise regimens, longer interventions focusing on diabetes complications, and
interprofessional collaboration between healthcare, fitness, and mental health professionals. It highlights
research gaps the impact of exercise on durable glycemic control.
Evaluating the efficiency and economic savings levels among primary healthcare units in rukungiri district, Uganda: a non-parametric model
(Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 2025-07) Kenneth, Tindimwebwa; Lillian Namubiru; Innocent Mugisha
Introduction: The scarcity and shortage of resources in health systems in developing countries
continues to draw attention, tension and debate among stakeholders, and this calls for evaluation of
efficiency in healthcare markets.
Objectives: The purpose of the study is to analyse the efficiency and level of economic savings among
public health centre II facilities in Rukungiri District, Uganda. Two specific objectives guided the study:
estimating the technical and scale efficiency scores and the economic saving levels among the primary
healthcare facilities.
Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used and secondary data containing
health inputs and outputs that was secured from the District Health Information System (DHIS-2) for
the financial year 2022/2023. A Constant Returns to Scale (CRS) output-oriented Data Envelopment
Analysis (DEA) technique was adopted to evaluate the level of technical, scale efficiency and slack
values for economic savings that are needed to make inefficient health units efficient.
Results: An average technical efficiency level of 43.7 percent was estimated implying that facilities
need to improve on resource utilization by 56.3 percent to become technically efficient. Scale
efficiency averaged 99.7 percent and this means that the facilities were scale efficient given their size.
Economic savings arising from input reductions and output augmentations were registered.
Conclusion: This study fills the research gap by estimating the technical and scale efficiency scores for
each facility as a decision making unit in the district. It provides a novel and detailed understanding of
how much economic savings would be made if technically inefficient facilities avoid wastage of input
resources to attain efficiency. It also identifies the benchmark facilities from which inefficient ones
need to emulate to become efficient.
From implementation to sustainability? A 5-year follow-up on a physical activity counseling program in Uganda for people with HIV and mental health conditions
(Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 2025-09-01) Davy, Vancampfort; James Mugisha
Physical activity (PA) interventions benefit people living with HIV and co-morbid mental health conditions, but sustaining them in low-resource settings remains difficult. This study explored the long-term sustainability of a multi-stakeholder PA counseling program in a rural Ugandan fishing community, five years post-implementation. The program integrated a PA counseling into routine HIV care, combining motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. It began with sessions led by health care providers and later transitioned to lay-led group sessions that focused on goal-setting, identifying barriers, and fostering community support. Using a context–mechanism–outcome (CMO) framework and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, a focus group (n = 10) involving patients, lay health workers, and staff identified key influencing factors. Although the program ended, PA awareness and some brief counseling persisted. Lay health workers remained partially active despite unpaid roles and limited supervision. Early success was supported by family involvement, and stakeholder enthusiasm, while long-term delivery was hindered by funding gaps and persistent stigma. Sustainability was supported by co-creation, community engagement, and task-shifting, but depended on material support and health system integration. Future efforts should prioritize early financial planning, integration into existing systems, and strengthening of lay roles through stable funding and supportive policy.