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THE MORPHOLOGY AND GENESIS OF COLD-PHASE DIAMICTS IN HIGH ALTITUDE LAKE SEDIMENTS OF MOUNT KENYA, KENYA
Get PDFLake sediment cores spanning the last interglacial-glacial-present interglacial cycle have been recovered from Sacred Lake and Lake Nkunga on the northeastern flank of Mount Kenya, Kenya. Within these cores are diamicts which occur at the last interglacial-glacial transition (ca.110,000 yr BP) and between 58,000 and 48,000 yr BP. The occurrence of the diamicts (formed by active freeze-thaw processes in the lake catchments) is associated with periglacial and concurrent relatively humid conditions at the altitudes of the lakes. In addition, their temporal occurrence is correlated with abrupt low temperature extremes and/or rapid transition rates to lower temperature regimes at high latitude regions. Close modern corollaries of such sediments have been documented at higher altitude on Mount Kenya, but there is no known documentation of such sediments in the late Quaternary records of the tropical high mountains.Keywords: Lake sediments, Diamicts, Morphology, Genesis, Mount Keny
Stakeholder Patronage as Influencers Of Micro-Enterprise Growth At Kamukunji In Nairobi, Kenya
Get PDFSeveral studies show that significant relationship exists between stakeholder patronage and micro-enterprise growth. Although the roles of factors such as family, friends, debtors, employees, and partners have been widely studied, their influences on growth of sales, employees, departments, and divisions have been generally ignored. To bridge this gap, the paper investigates how stakeholder patronage of 354 micro-enterprises sampled from Kamukunji Jua Kali Association membership register impacts positively or negatively on vertical and horizontal growth. Data were collected using in a face-toface interview using a self-administered structured questionnaire and analysed by factor and multi-level analyses. Results indicate that stakeholder patronage model (65.33 percent variance explained), Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO = .87) and Bartlett s test of sphericity (.001) remain conceptually valid. Tests of 13 hypotheses indicates that stakeholder patronage of 76.92 percent acceptance moderately influence growth.Key Words: Stakeholder Patronage, Growth, Micro-enterprises, Manufacturing, Metallic Products, Kamukunj
Foreign Direct Investment And Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis Of Kenyan Data
No full textThe paper investigates the main drivers of real Gross Domestic Product growth in Kenya as well as those that drive the foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenya. It is widely acknowledged that FDI has potential benefits that accrue to host countries. The view suggests that FDI is important for economic growth as it provides much needed capital, increases competition in host countries and helps local firms to become moreproductive by adopting more efficient technology. Kenya’s record in attracting FDI from the 1980s has been poor though it was a favoured destination in the 1970s.The study findings show that FDIs in Kenya are mainly market-seeking and these require growing GDPs, political stability and good infrastructure, market size as well as reduction in corruption levels. The prevalence of crime and insecurity would be impediments to FDI inflow. The policy implications of this study are that Kenya’s FDI’s tend to be mainly market seeking and for this reason policy makers in Kenya should focus on improving political stability, emphasize the development of good infrastructure and growing the country’s GDP. This should be coupled with a serious attempt at reducing corruption levels as well as a serious assault on the prevalence of crime and insecurity which are major impediments to this type of FDI inflows. Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment, Economic Growth, Determinants, Keny
The Mediation Effect of Customer Perception on the Relationship Between Quality Drivers and Customer Satisfaction in Large Maize Flour Mills in Nairobi, Kenya
No full textThis study sought to establish the influence of quality drivers on the satisfaction of direct business customers within large Maize Flour Mills in Nairobi and assess the mediation effect of customer perception on this relationship. The quality drivers studied were product quality, service quality, complaints handling, ease of doing business and product price. Customer perception constructs studied were customer’s desire for features critical to quality, brand imagery, firm imagery and reference to competitive substitutes. Primary data were collected in February 2013 by use of questionnaires from 81 direct Business Customer firms randomlyselected from 13 Maize Flour Mills in the study area grinding at least 15 MT of maize per day. Results showed that the influence of quality drivers on customer satisfaction is both direct and partially mediated by customer perception, both influences being positive and statistically significant (p< 0.01). Quality of service significantly influenced customer satisfaction (β= 0.441, p< 0.01) and most of the other quality drivers and intention to recommend. Brand imagery significantly influenced satisfaction (β= 0.531, p< 0.01) followed by desire for features critical to quality (β= 0.259, p< 0.01). These results have implications for marketing theory. The findingthat customer perception partially mediated the process of customer satisfaction agrees with the consumer attitude theories which postulate that attitude and subjective norms in conjunction with cognitive and emotional considerations influence intentions which in turn give impetus for action. The study contributes to the evolution and adaptation of customer satisfaction models by adding customer perception as mediator variables. Further, the results have implications useful at national policy level. Kenya’s strategy for revitalizing agriculture and vision 2030 both aspire to increase the country’s regional and global trade through improved efficiency and competitiveness at firm level, agro-processing and the marketing system including the wholesale and retail sectors. The volume of trade within the East African Community is expected toincrease as member states reduce trade barriers. This will open new trade opportunities but could increase competition. Training local firms on the issues of quality drivers and customer perception can help to improve their regional and global competitiveness. For managerialpractice, the results demonstrate that frequent feedback on customer perception is necessary and that improvements in the quality of service go a long way in improving customer perception concerning other quality drivers and satisfaction. It is concluded that customer satisfactionenhancement programs and evaluation models need to integrate primary drivers of quality with key drivers of customer perception. The study was limited in a number of ways. Due to time, cost and other constraints a cross-sectional research design was used and focused on firms inNairobi. Data were collected from respondents once to get their views and perceptions concerning a limited number of variables and constructs. However, perceptions vary over time and across markets or regions as influenced by changes in consumer preferences or economic changes that influence purchase and consumption patterns. Opportunities therefore exist for longitudinal and wider studies in the same area of research.Key Words:Quality drivers, customer perception, customer satisfaction (CS), Nairobi, Keny
Antibacterial evaluation of Cyperus rotundus Linn. root extracts against respiratory tract pathogens
No full textBackground: Cyperus rotundus has a long history of medicinal use in Indian Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese Traditional Medicine (CTM) including antipyretic, digestive system disorders, dysmenorrhoea and other maladies. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate antibacterial properties of C. rotundus root extracts against three gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria causing respiratory tract infections. Methodology: Dried plant materials were crushed and extracted in petroleum ether, acetone, methanol and aqueous by using Soxhlet apparatus. The agar well diffusion method was adopted to examine antibacterial activity of extracts against test organisms. Phytochemical analysis was also done for the plant extracts. Results: Results showed that methanol extract was most active as comparison to other extract. The maximum inhibition was found against H. influenzae (18.4±0.07 mm) followed by S. pyogenes (17.3±0.13mm), P. aeruginosa (16.2±0.07 mm) and S. pneumoniae (15.5±0.15 mm) and minimum against S. aureus (15.3±0.05 mm) respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, saponins and tannins in plant extracts. Conclusion: The results signify traditional values of C. rotundus in treatment of respiratory diseases which might be accountable for its antimicrobial potential. Key words: Antibacterial activity, agar well diffusion method, Cyperus rotundus, respiratory disease
The effects of Mundulea sericea (Fabales: Fabaceae) water extracts on Phlebotomus duboscqi (Diptera: Psychodidae) eggs and larvae
No full textBackground: The sand fly, Phlebotomus duboscqi is the vector for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major. No definite control method for P. duboscqi is known. Of the plants known for entomocidal properties, Mundulea sericea is one, with the toxic principle being rotenone. Dried crude M. sericea powder extract mixed with water is used by the Giriama people of Coastal region, Kenya, to kill cat fleas and bedbugs. A recent laboratory study using M. sericea non-polar and polar extracts displayed remarkable entomicidal potential. Against this backdrop, M. sericea was chosen for this study. Objective: To evaluate water extracts of Mundulea sericea leaves for efficacy against P. duboscqi eggs and larvae. Methodology: The plant leaves were ground into fine powder and extracted using water. 1 g leaf powder was extracted using 100 ml distilled water, and then filtered. The eggs were then exposed to 1 ml of the filtered extract. Further, 0.001 g of leaf powder was mixed with 1 g of larval food and fed to larvae. The eggs were incubated at 25 0C and 80% relative humidity and observed for eclosion, and larvae for hatching to adult stage. Results: The filtered extracts did not inhibit eggs from hatching. Additionally, all the larvae that were fed on food mixed with ground M. sericea leaves survived. Conclusion: These findings suggest that suggest that M. sericea water extracts do not penetrate the egg chorion, thus the lack of activity. Moreover, the inability of P. duboscqi to digest the chlorophyll of M. sericea so as to release rotenone could be responsible for absence of entomocidal effect. Key words: Mundulea sericea; Phlebotomus duboscqi; Leishmania major
Knowledge and Information Seeking Behaviour among Medical Trainees on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use
No full textBackground: The substantial increase in the consumption of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has spawned renewed interest in assessing determinants underlying this phenomenon. The present study aimed at describing the demographic profile, knowledge and information seeking behavior of medical trainees towards CAM. Methodology: A cross sectional study was performed among medical trainees of University of Nairobi between March 2012 and May 2012. The respondents were asked to volunteer information on bio data, knowledge of various CAM modalities and sources of information using a questionnaire based tool of data collection. Descriptive data was compounded using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 124 trainees participated in the study, representing a response rate of 83%. There were more female respondents (52%) compared with males (48%). Despite more than 75% of the respondents having heard of Pub Med and Cochrane databases, less than 47% of the respondents use them. Generally, more than 50% of the respondents were more versed with herbal, African tradition, diet, support and spirituality modalities of treatment. Conclusion: A majority of trainees have limited scope on various modalities of CAM, with scant usage of online scientific resources for increasing knowledge. The medical curriculum developers should consider these factors when instituting changes in medical education. Keywords: complementary medicine, alternative medicine, medical trainees, knowledge, behaviou
Determinants of Appropriate Antibiotic Dosing in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in a Kenyan Referral Hospital - Supporting Information
No full textBackground: Reduced renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) necessitates appropriate dose alterations to avoid drug accumulation. Objectives: The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic dosing in patients with CKD in the largest referral hospital in eastern Africa. Variables associated with inappropriate dosing were identified. Methods: The design was a retrospective review of patients’ records. The study population was adult patients, with CKD admitted between January, 2006 and December, 2010. Data was abstracted from patient files. Logistic regression was used to determine variables associated with appropriate antibiotic dosing. Results: Ceftriaxone and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics. Dose adjustment was required for 379 (59.9%) antibiotic prescriptions. Of these, 105 doses (27.7% [95% CI: 23.2 – 32.2%]) were appropriate and 274 (72.3% [95% CI 67.8 – 76.8%]) were inappropriate. The resultant dosing errors were: 271 (98.9%) and 3 (1.1%) cases of over and under dosing respectively. Key explanatory variables for appropriate dosing were: stage of renal disease (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.159 [95% CI: 0.082, 0.309]); administration; (adjusted OR 1.724 [95% CI:1.185, 2.508]); and treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (adjusted OR 0.101 [95% CI 0.024, 0.420]. Conclusion: Antibiotic doses in patients with CKD were often inappropriate. Keywords: Antibiotic, dose adjustment, chronic kidney diseas
The Future of ISO 9000 Quality Management System in a Global Economy
Get PDFThis position paper discusses ISO 9000 family of standards in terms of its capability assessment value and as a framework for management of organizations. Uses data collected from empirical sources to buttress a position for the continued usefulness of the management system standard for the foreseeable future and challenges the critics to put forward an alternative that can be effective for the complex global economy. Thepaper uses rationalization to put forward a thesis in which the misperceptions are blamed on the marketing flavor favored by the certification industry.Keywords: ISO9001; ISO9004; Quality Management standard
Outcomes of Worker Effort and Supervision in Tanzanian Labour Market
No full textThis paper examines the impact of work effort and supervision in the Tanzanian labour market. In particular it focuses on the extent to which observed earnings and productivity of a worker might be influenced by both the individual effort of a worker and intensity of supervision. To assess the earnings effect of work effort, the paper estimates the hourly earnings equation, which includes work effort and monitoring intensity among the determinants of the hourly earnings. The estimates control for unobserved firm specific effects and GMM production functions. Key findings of the paper are that a worker who exerts higher effort at work increases hourly earnings by about 27 per cent. Estimates of productivity affect via GMM shows that increase in the monitoring intensity increased the gross output per employee by about 34 per cent. The estimated coefficient is stable even after a range of factors are controlled for. The paper concludes that labour market reforms introduced in Tanzania on increased autonomy and flexibility of firm level work supervision and pay have positive outcomes for both employers and employees