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Effectiveness of Reference Management Software in Enhancing Research Quality in Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textFulltextReference management software (RMS) application is highly emphasised in academic research
to improve research quality. However, studies raise concerns about their effectiveness since they
have errors in functionality, language limitations, and inaccuracy of the citations and references
generated. This study aimed to establish how effective RMS is in improving research quality. The
study objectives were to investigate what reference management software is in use in the
universities in Nairobi County, Kenya and to establish if reference management software
programmes are effective in enhancing the quality of research in the selected universities. The
study adopted a descriptive research design. This assisted the researchers in gathering data
through a survey where an online questionnaire was administered to 18 respondents. All the
universities within the County of Nairobi constituted the target population. The unit of analysis
was the University Librarians because of their crucial role in promoting research quality in Kenyan
Universities. In the analysis, insights were derived using a computer-based statistical package for
social science (SPSS). The study revealed high satisfaction with RMS, particularly in terms of
necessity, visual appeal, integration capabilities, and automatic formatting of references. While
University librarians reported ease of navigation, there was limited awareness of alternative
referencing approaches. Continuous institutional training programs for librarians and researchers
on RMS usage, covering basic and advanced functionalities, are recommended
Management Strategies of Prosopis juliflora in Eastern Africa: What Works Where?
Full text linkAbstract on Management Strategies of Prosopis juliflora in Eastern AfricaAbstract: Prosopis juliflora is a shrub/tree originating from the Americas. Since its introduction for fuel
wood afforestation into eastern Africa, it has been invading crop- and rangelands with negative effects
on the environment and on livelihoods. Understanding the management strategies for Prosopis and
matching them with ecological, social-cultural, and economic needs of the eastern African region is a
pressing scientific issue. We analyzed management strategies of Prosopis, focusing on determinants
and drivers of their choice of applied management strategies as well as their effectiveness. We
identified 1917 scientific contributions published between 1970 and 2022. Following a multi-step
screening, we reduced the references to 53 relevant (internationally) published papers with a focus
on the management of Prosopis in the east African region. Analysis of the literature shows that
factors driving invasion dynamics but also land users’ social-economic as well as cultural attributes
determine the type of management strategy and shape local control actions. Main strategies comprise
(1) physical containment of invasive spread, (2) chemical, mechanical and biological approaches to
reduce stand densities, (3) complete eradication, (4) restoration of invaded land, and (5) economic
use of Prosopis products. Adopted strategies are based on actual and perceived impacts of invasion,
and the adoption and success of individual strategies is highly location specific
Mainstreaming Digital Platforms in Curating Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development in Kenya
No full textAbstract on Mainstreaming Digital Platforms in Curating
Indigenous KnowledgeThe rapid evolution of digital platforms is an opportunity for custodians of indigenous knowledge (IK) to utilise digital spaces to enhance IK for promoting sustainable development in Kenya. IK refers to skills, systems, and practices developed and used by indigenous people over generations to sustain livelihoods, manage natural resources and preserve cultural heritage. Safeguarding IK in Kenya involves recognising, respecting, and protecting the IK for posterity. Unfortunately, indigenous communities in Kenya continue to be ignored and forgotten in policy. Therefore, implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should include protecting IK. The objectives of this paper are to (i) describe the digital platforms currently used in Kenya to curate IK; (ii) analyse the effectiveness of digital platforms in preserving and disseminating IK; and (iii) propose recommendations for policymakers to consider when integrating digital platforms in curating IK and implementation of SDGs in Kenya. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Quantitative data was collected through bibliometrics analysis. Qualitative data was collected using a systematic literature review. Data was collected from Google Scholar using Harzing’s “Publish or Perish” software, analysed using Microsoft Excel, Notepad, and VOSviewer, and presented using tables, graphs, and figures. The study findings would be helpful in providing recommendations to inform policymakers on the importance of using digital platforms to curate IK for the promotion of SDGs in Kenya. The study demonstrates that digital platforms can be used to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices amongst different indigenous communities in Kenya and for policymakers to enact and review policy frameworks on the use of digital platforms to prevent IK from potential loss or exploitation. The research is original in scope and coverage. Keywords: Innovation, community-led development, human rights, emerging trends
Effectiveness of Reference Management Software in Enhancing Research Quality in Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textResearch article presented during the Proceedings of the
26th Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern
African Library and Information Associations (SCECSAL XXVI)
held on 22nd — 26th April 2024 in Mombasa, KenyaReference management software (RMS) application is highly emphasised in academic research to improve research quality. However, studies raise concerns about their effectiveness since they have errors in functionality, language limitations, and inaccuracy of the citations and references generated. This study aimed to establish how effective RMS is in improving research quality. The study objectives were to investigate what reference management software is in use in the universities in Nairobi County, Kenya and to establish if reference management software programmes are effective in enhancing the quality of research in the selected universities. The study adopted a descriptive research design. This assisted the researchers in gathering data through a survey where an online questionnaire was administered to 18 respondents. All the universities within the County of Nairobi constituted the target population. The unit of analysis was the University Librarians because of their crucial role in promoting research quality in Kenyan Universities. In the analysis, insights were derived using a computer-based statistical package for social science (SPSS). The study revealed high satisfaction with RMS, particularly in terms of necessity, visual appeal, integration capabilities, and automatic formatting of references. While University librarians reported ease of navigation, there was limited awareness of alternative referencing approaches. Continuous institutional training programs for librarians and researchers on RMS usage, covering basic and advanced functionalities, are recommended
The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa
Full text linkPrefacePreface
World-historical events such as the fall of the Berlin wall, and the fall of ideologies such as apartheid, opened borders for world travel and the global movements of people, like seldom before. Often driven to move away from drought and disaster-prone geographical areas, some people also move to new countries in search for better education, working, or health opportunities. For whichever decisions people move, and especially when they move with their immediate family, such movements themselves are often perilous, in addition to which one then has to set up a home, and become a member of the population of the new country of adoption. Conceptualised by the late Katie Mutula, these two volumes of The Diasporean, are together, simultaneously, a prime sample of research excellence and, the power of inter-, and multidisciplinary research, focused on such a fluid social and historical phenomenon as human movement, migration, as well as challenges that accompany our diaspora communities of the world. The Diasporean I: The Southern African Perspectives, covers five main sections, all together presenting 11 exceptional chapters. The main topics covered are,
• financial integration, that covers issues related to financial development dynamics in both home and host countries, and access to credit;
• xenophobia and Afriphobia in the contexts of increasing forms of local nativisms and populist xenophobia on social media; and family language policies of home country languages;
• feminisation and gendered roles in migration, within transnational relations; how it impacts family life, and how diasporean experiences are also in themselves gendered, in the transnational space; and
• the significance of technology and skills transfer for developing sustainable livelihoods, and also the significance of education, in this context, especially postgraduate education.
• The final chapter in The Diasporean I, covers food security challenges that migrants experience in South Africa. The Diasporean II: Perspectives from Beyond Southern Africa, likewise cover five main thematic focuses. These are, the study of existing diaspora policy in Africa, including how these determine challenges concerning ‘capital structure’ and the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, as well as philanthropy in rural areas;
• Foreign remittances bring data and related arguments to the fore, on the impact of COVID-19 on remittances, the nature, size and scale of foreign remittances from elite migrants, and how remittances also impact rural development in home countries.
• Section three develops topics on immigration policy, analyzing how diasporeans’ human dignity is harmed in how they are portrayed and framed in the press, how it impacts family structures and careers, and how repatriation or deportation are portrayed by the online press in South Africa and in Britain.
• This is followed by a section on the notion of the ‘brain drain’ and skills transfer related to possibilities for multi-sectoral collaboration in the medical field, and challenges of skills transfer in diaspora contexts. • The final section on the digital economy, addresses the acceleration of the digital economies world-wide during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investment opportunities that accompany the diaspora movements of peoples. Each in its own way, but also as a two-volume collaborative research project, The Diasporean I and The Diasporean II, are comprehensive and are the result of incisive scholarship in a critical field of study both in South Africa and Africa more further afield. We are thankful, that Prof. Stephen Mutula and the team who was working with the late Katie Mutula, saw the project through to its conclusion. The project itself as well as the quality of the research for the two volumes, stand as a testimony to Katie’s character and a monument in her name on behalf of all those mentioned or not mentioned, who formed part of the project, and too, those who have passed on due to migratory experiences, and the nameless ones, who got lost at sea or in sandy deserts or forests or strange countries.
Prof Johannes A. Smit, Chair: College of Humanities, Institute University of KwaZulu-Nata
Causal Factors Responsible for Changes in the Attributes of Urban Green Spaces in Nairobi City County, Kenya
No full textAbstractUrban green spaces are an important part of public open spaces and a common service provided by a city, town, or municipal council. In Nairobi City County, green spaces have been increasingly threatened by overcrowding, poor planning, weak management structures, and illegal alienation thus denying city residents access to the much-needed recreation and leisure facilities. As the population increases in urban areas, their activities impact the environment and therefore the ecosystem services. This study was done with the Principle of Intelligent Urbanism in mind, as the most prolific urban development theory developed by the International Congress of Modern Architecture. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data while a cross-sectional survey designs and stratified random sampling of the green spaces was employed, based on the location within the urban core and peri-urban of Nairobi County. Four green spaces (Karura Forest, Ngong Road Forest, Nairobi Arboretum, and City Park) with diverse characteristics and attributes were selected. A sample population of 384 visitors to the green spaces was surveyed for their perceptions of the functions, uses, and benefits of the green spaces. Our findings showed that management structures and population growth are the main causal factors responsible for changes in the attributes of urban green spaces
Salinity tolerance, growth and survival of three Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) populations under laboratory conditions
Full text linkMain textIn the 1980s, Artemia franciscana from San Francisco Bay (SFB) was introduced into Kenyan saltworks, where it has colonized and established stable populations. However, little is known about its biology, particularly with respect to its parental SFB population. This study compared the salinity tolerances of Kenyan (KEN) population, their SFB pro-genitors and those of Great Salt Lake (GSL) populations. Growth and survival of these A. franciscana populations were evaluated under varying salinity levels in a laboratory set up. A. franciscana nauplii were cultured at a rate of 1 nauplii/mL in 36 Erlenmeyer flasks and fed microalgae (Chaetoceros sp.) at 1.5 × 106 cells/animal/day for 8 days. Survival was evaluated daily and survivors were fixed in individual vials with Lugol solution. The total length of each fixed A. franciscana nauplii specimen was measured under a compound microscope. All populations were susceptible to salinities greater than 100 g/L. Compared with the parental SFB population, the KEN population exhibited significantly reduced survival and growth at 140 g/L, suggesting a narrower salinity tolerance range. These findings underscore the need for further studies focusing on other physiological parameters, abiotic factors and genetic characterization to confirm whether the KEN population is experiencing ecological adaptation. This will contribute to the optimization of Artemia practices in various salinity environments as a result of climate change
Effectiveness of Reference Management Software in Enhancing Research Quality in Universities in Nairobi County, Kenya
Full text linkPowerPoint presentation; presented at the Standing Conference of Eastern, Central and Southern African Library and Information Associations.
Macroinvertebrate metrics and lipid profiles as potential indicators of land use influence in a high altitude tropical highland stream (Sagana River Basin, Kenya)
No full textResearch article on Macroinvertebrate metrics and lipid profilesLand use practices near river ecotones result in numerous inputs of terrestrial materials into the
river ecosystem. While macroinvertebrates population metrics is widely used in monitoring
water quality changes, including those induced by humans, the use of lipid profiles in these
organisms to monitor influence of land use practices is rather ignored. The aim of this study was
to determine lipid profile in macroinvertebrates as potential indicator of human influence in
Sagana River Basin, a high altitude tropical highland stream in Kenya. Sites were selected based
on differences in land use activities delineated: forest with minimal land use activities, while
cropland and saw milling areas had varying degrees of land use activities, with urban areas
designated as sites with most human impacts. The macroinvertebrate metrics such as
occurrence, abundance, diversity, percentage of oligo chaetes and chironomids (%OC), as well
as the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (%EPT) index differed relative to land use
changes. Variation in the Fatty Acids (FAs), alcohols and sterols in benthic mac roinvertebrates
was related to the land use activities along the stream. Evidently, streams traversing the urban
areas had higher concentrations of Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), while streams traversing
croplands had the highest neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA). The dominance of monounsaturated
FAs (MUFAs) in forest, shortchain FAs (SCFAs) and polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) in croplands and
longchain FAs (LCFAs) near urban areas clear indicate different sources of these materials, mainly
from terrestrial sources. Individual fatty acids, alcohols and sterols profiles discerned difference
in land use changes. The concentrations of SCFAs, MUFAs, LCFAs, TeoH, 27Δ5.22, 28Δ5,24,
28Δ5,22, 29Δ5,22 and 29Δ5,22 in the benthic macroinvertebrates samples were positively
associated with OC%, EPT, total abundance and eH’. Meanwhile the concentration of phytol,
AqOH, 27Δ5 and SCOH were associated with Simpson index. The current findings support the
combination of macroinvertebrates species composition, abundance, diversity and lipids profiles
to detect land use activities at the riverine scale. While implementing catchment-based river
management and conservation activities should incorporate lipid analysis as a management tool.
There is need for continuous monitoring of long term trends in land use activities on the changes
in lipid content of the macroinvertebrate
Salinity tolerance, growth and survival of three Artemia franciscana (Kellogg, 1906) populations under laboratory conditions
Full text linkFulltextIn the 1980s, Artemia franciscana from San Francisco Bay (SFB) was introduced into Kenyan saltworks, where it has colonized and established stable populations. However, little is known about its biology, particularly with respect to its parental SFB population. This study compared the salinity tolerances of Kenyan (KEN) population, their SFB progenitors and those of Great Salt Lake (GSL) populations. Growth and survival of these A. franciscana populations were evaluated under varying salinity levels in a laboratory set up. A. franciscana nauplii were cultured at a rate of 1 nauplii/mL in 36 Erlenmeyer flasks and fed microalgae (Chaetoceros sp.) at 1.5 × 106 cells/animal/day for 8 days. Survival was evaluated daily and survivors were fixed in individual vials with Lugol solution. The total length of each fixed A. franciscana nauplii specimen was measured under a compound microscope. All populations were susceptible to salinities greater than 100 g/L. Compared with the parental SFB population, the KEN population exhibited significantly reduced survival and growth at 140 g/L, suggesting a narrower salinity tolerance range. These findings underscore the need for further studies focusing on other physiological parameters, abiotic factors and genetic characterization to confirm whether the KEN population is experiencing ecological adaptation. This will contribute to the optimization of Artemia practices in various salinity environments as a result of climate change