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Marriage is Containment: An Image Schematic Analysis of Analogies of Marriage in Dholuo
Get PDFLanguage functions as an effective means of communication if it utilises linguistic resources within a particular context to create meaning. Some language resources and experiences are culture specific and may be difficult to comprehend if one does not have background knowledge for their interpretation. Analogy is conceptual in nature thus it utilises thoughts, principles and beliefs in specific contexts as the basis of cognition. The interpretation of analogies of marriage in Dholuo may pose challenges to non-native speakers who may lack knowledge of the contextual details used to create the expressions. This study sought to analyse the image schemas of analogies of marriage in Dholuo within the Cognitive Linguistics framework. The study was guided by two objectives: to identify analogies of marriage in Dholuo and to describe the CONTAINER image schemas of analogies of marriage in Dholuo. A descriptive research design was employed in the study. The study administered an interview schedule to 40 native speakers of the Kisumu South Nyanza (KSN) dialect of Dholuo and asked the respondents to provide analogies used to describe marriage in Dholuo. The researchers employed four annotators who verified the analogous nature of the expressions using the synectic method. A total of 66 analogies of marriage were identified. The study then selected 7 analogies which are conceptualised by the CONTAINER image schema for analysis. The study found that analogies are pervasive products of cognition used to conceptualise marriage as an abstract phenomenon in the Luo community. Additionally, the IN-OUT and EXCESS gestalts of the CONTAINER image schema provide plausible frameworks for comprehending the embodied experiences of marriage in Dholuo. The study concludes that analogy utilises culture-specific language resources thus providing insights into both Cognitive Linguistics and Cultural Linguistics
The Place of Utilitarianism in Promoting Education in Public Universities in Kenya: A Philosophical Analysis
Get PDFThis paper is a survey of the history of education in Kenya, with particular reference to public universities. An examination of the reports of various commissions of education has provided a useful background to the analysis in the paper. Information from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Commission for University Education (CUE) provides the data for the analysis. Selection of the reviewed material was based on the university curricula and their relation to Philosophy. Using both deductive and inductive logic, the paper examines both the quality and quantity of university education in Kenya and analyses the significance of the education in line with utilitarian philosophy. The specific objective herein is to study the apparent mismatch between the quality and quantity of university education in Kenya and the challenges that it faces. This is based on the belief that education ought to lead to a good life both for the individual and the society. Consequently, the paper interrogates the philosophy and historical development of education in Kenya, especially its ethical foundations. It then proposes the application of the utilitarian ethical theory as a possible panacea to the challenges facing education in Kenya with special reference to public universities. The paper concludes that university education in Kenya meets the requirements of the ultimate good, though the prevailing socio-political and economic challenges limit the achievement of this goal
Litter processing of Exotic and Indigenous leaves in Njoro River, Kenya
Get PDFThe decomposition rate of riparian leaves can measure the potential of litter quality as a food resource for aquatic organisms. The core objective of this study was to estimate breakdown rates of Kenyan riparian leaves and macroinvertebrates participation by examining four tree species common along the riparian areas of River Njoro, Kenya at Egerton University. The study assessed decay rates of the leaves of Grevillea robusta, Eucalyptus saligna, Pittosporum viridiflorum and Syzygium cordatum in water. Syzygium cordatum and Eucalyptus saligna recorded the lowest decay rates (0.03). Decay rates for P. viridiflorum and G. robusta were 0.19 and 0.05 respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the decay rates for each sampling day (p>0.05) for all tree species except S. cordatum. The biological half-life for S. cordatum was highest while P. viridiflorum had the lowest. There was also a relationship between decay rate and macroinvertebrates for P. viridiflorum. Macroinvertebrate taxa favored leaves of P. viridiflorum and G. robusta. Leaves of P. viridiflorum decayed faster, were softer and favored by aquatic macroinvertebrates. Thus Pittosporum viridiflorum leaves are of good quality and cannot be replaced by exotic species such as E. saligna and G. robusta in riparian areas of streams. For aquatic and riparian management, planting of P. viridiflorum along river banks is encouraged to improve the quality of food sources available for aquatic insects and the subsequent aquatic food web
TRANSMISSION OF A NEW COWPEA APHID BORNE MOSAIC VIRUS ISOLATE IN PASSION FRUITS
Get PDFPassion fruit woodiness is an important potyviral disease affecting passion fruits in the world. The newly identified isolate was named CABMV virus isolate1, while the commonly known one was named virus isolate 2. Currently, information on CABMV isolate 1 is scarce relative to that of CABMV isolate 2, which has been studied widely. This study was carried out to determine whether virus isolate 1 is transmitted by seed and select aphid species. For seed transmission test, mature seeds were isolated from fruits harvested from infected passion fruits plants maintained in a greenhouse. Thereafter, the seeds were planted in a nursery bed which was screened against aphids. The resultant seedlings had no symptoms associated with virus isolate 1. Furthermore, using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, seed transmission rate of 0% was observed, showing that this isolate 1 is not transmitted by seed. Aphid transmission test was carried out in passion fruit plants using aphids from farmers’ fields in Njoro. Four aphid species which are Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis fabae, Schizaphis graminum and Myzus persicae were selected for the study. The aphids were allowed 30 minutes virus acquisition period on virus isolate 1 infected passion fruits plants. Thereafter, the aphids were left to feed on healthy test plant for inoculation to take place. Symptoms development on healthy plants signified successful transmission by the aphids. Aphid transmission test results indicated that Myzus persicae, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and Aphis fabae successfully transmitted the virus
Clay-Rice Husk Ash based Geopolymers for Remediation of Pb (II) and Cd (II) from Wastewater
Get PDFIndustrialization and technological advancements have led to generation of various pollutants like heavy metals into the aquatic ecosystem. These toxic compounds are extremely dangerous to human beings and the environment due to their non-biodegradability, severe toxicity, ability to be accumulated and contaminate ground and surface waters. Subsequently, pursuance of sustainable materials and technologies for better attainment of environmental sustainability is critical. This study reports synthesis of geopolymers GP-1, GP-2 and GP-3 prepared by using different clays. Geopolymers were hydrothermally synthesized using clay and rice husks waste as an alumina and silica source respectively. The geopolymers were characterized using Fourier transform-infra red, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Batch and gravitational column experiments using Pb (II) and Cd (II) ions were carried out. Increased metal ion uptake was recorded with raised Si/Al ratio of the adsorbents. The mean percentage uptake of 90.23 ± 0.4 and 89.63 ± 0.18 of Pb (II) and Cd (II) were achieved at pH of 4.0 and 5.0 respectively using GP-3. Langmuir, Freundlich and modified Langmuir Freundlich isotherms were used in equilibrium studies. Data for adsorption of Pb (II) and Cd (II) fitted best in modified Langmuir Freundlich model. The highest adsorption capacities of Pb (II) and Cd (II) were 209.9 and 136.2 mg/g respectively, attained using GP-3. Based on the results obtained, geopolymers produced from common clay and rice husk waste displayed promising potential in the removal of heavy metal ions from the aqueous phase. Considering the availability of raw materials for geopolymerization and the high metal ions uptake capacities of geopolymers, they can also be used as adsorbents for removal of heavy metals in industrial wastewater
Antimicrobial Activity of Streptomycetes Isolated from the Mau Forest Complex in Kenya
Get PDFSearch for new principles in biocontrol of plant pathogens different from the classical fungicides is of worldwide interest. Members of the genus Streptomyces are known to produce about 80% of all known antibiotics in the world. These antibiotics have been applied in medicine, veterinary and in agriculture. Presumptive Streptomyces from the Mau Forest Complex were isolated from soils obtained from different sites within the Mau Complex. 270 isolates were screened for antimicrobial activity against selected plant pathogenic bacteria and two fungal plant pathogens i.e. Erwinia carotovora, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Pseudomonas savastonoi pv. phaseolicola, Fusarium moniliforme, Ascochyta rabie; the reference cultures were: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923; Escherichia coli ATCC 25922; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. 14 (0.05%) of the isolates showed antibacterial activity against the test bacteria while 39 (0.14%) isolates had antifungal activity. Ethyl acetate extracts of culture filtrates from the isolates produced significantly different (P<0.05) inhibitory effects to some of the tester microorganisms. Five of these isolates had both antifungal and antibacterial activity. There were further characterized using biochemical, microscopy and morphological methods. These methods showed that they were Gram positive and had similarities to members of the genus Streptomyces. The study found that soils from Mau Forest complex harbor diverse group of bacteria including Streptomyces species that could be exploited for control of plant diseases. There is need to establish their effectiveness in green house and field studies
Effects of Surface Tension over a Flow Past a Flat Plate
Get PDFWe consider a free surface flow past a flat plate. We consider relations between the results of Anderson and Vanden-Broeck (1996) and those of Osborne and Stump (2000), and present new solutions. There is need to know the number of parameters needed to fix solutions uniquely. We show here that there is a three parameter family of solutions when the fluid is of finite depth. These solutions are characterised by a train of waves in the downstream region and by a discontinuity in slope at the separation point. The family includes a two parameter sub-family for which the free surface leaves the plate tangentially. It is shown that this sub-family reduces to the linear solutions of Osborne and Stump (2000) when the depth of submergence of the plate is small. Also, the three parameter family reduces to the one parameter family of Anderson and Vanden-Broeck (1996) as the depth of the water tends to infinity. Finally, fully nonlinear solutions with large capillary waves are presented
Effect of Land Use on Leaf Litter Decomposition in Upper Mara Streams, Kenya
Get PDFModification of riparian vegetation via land use change alters leaf litter processing rates in streams. This study aimed at investigating the effect of land use change from forestry to agriculture on leaf litter decomposition in the upper Mara River catchment, Kenya. The study involved collecting, drying and weighing leaves of Eucalyptus saligna (exotic) and Macrocalyx neubotonia (native). About 6g of each leaf species was enclosed in litter bags measuring 11 x 11cm and mesh size of 10mm. The bags were exposed randomly in six streams; three draining agricultural and three draining indigenous forests. They were later retrieved at intervals of 0, 1,3,7,14,28 and 48 days, dried and weighed. The difference in processing rates of Eucalyptus leaves were statistically not significant (insert test and statistics) between streams draining indigenous forest (mean -k = 0.039±0.009, pooled data) and streams draining agricultural areas decaying Macrocalyx leaves were –k = 0.095±0.005 in streams draining agricultural areas and k=0.062±0.01 for streams draining indigenous forest. The two values differed significantly (t = 2.892, d.f=4, p= < 0.05). Significant differences in processing rates were also evident between Eucalyptus and Macrocalyx leaves in streams draining indigenous and agricultural forests respectively (ttest, p<0.05). It would take 63 and 69 days for 90% of leaves of Eucalyptus to be processed in agricultural and forested streams respectively whilst Macrocalyx leaves would take 24 and 53 days. Processing rates for the two leaves were generally higher in agricultural streams than in forested streams most probably due to higher nutrients especially Phosphate concentration arising from agricultural land. In all the study streams SRP had significant correlation with decay rates for both species. Significant differences in processing rates observed between the two leave species could be attributed to differences in leave toughness and the presence of inhibitory compounds in eucalypts. The findings of this study suggest that land use change interacts with change in the composition of riparian tree species to influence decomposition rates of leaf litter in streams. This has implications on the functional organization of shredders and nutrient cycling in streams. This study confirms that land use activity has an effect on litter decomposition rates in Upper Mara catchment streams. However Eucalyptus decomposition did not respond to change in land use activity because of its poor quality which masks the land use effect
Variation Variation of human and domestic animal’s activities with discharge in a high-altitude tropical stream, the Njoro River, Kenya
No full textFrom ancient times human settlements and cultures thrived along river valleys which provided water for domestic use as well as agriculture. As population grew, human shaped the river valleys as well as impacted on the water quality. An investigation was carried out during low (January to March 2012) and high (August to October 2012) discharge regimes in the Njoro River to establish whether the river’s discharge dictated the visit rate and activities by people and animals at three sites. The study involved counting of people and animals during the day between 1000 – 1300hrs that visited the river, and recording down the activities. The visit rate by people was statistically insignificant between low (30.75 ± 5.64 ind. hr-1) and high (20.58 ± 3.41 ind. hr-1) discharges respectively, (t = 1.544, d.f = 70, p > 0.05). A similar observation was made in mean visit rates by animals (t-value = 0.725, p > 0.05). However, significant differences in the rate of people and animals (pooled data) were evident among the sites during low and high discharge periods (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.001). More men fetched water at the most downstream site than women during both discharge regimes, and the opposite was evident at the first site. It is concluded that discharge did not influence significantly the visit rates and other factors that are site specific should be explored. Disturbances in the Njoro River are of press type and requires intervention for the management of this river
Factors influencing capacity of beach management units in implementing fisheries co-management in a tropical desert lake
No full textLake Turkana fishery consists of seven endemic and 12 commercially exploited species and is the second largest producer of freshwater fish in Kenya. It supports livelihoods of approx. 300,000 people locally. The lake is managed by beach management units (BMU) through a co-management arrangement between the government and stakeholders. Despite this, it faces management related challenges that have resulted in plummeting fish production due to uncontrolled fishing effort, increased competition among fishermen and deficient statistics to support management objectives. This study investigated institutional factors influencing BMUs’ performance by examining training and level of understanding of BMU laws and regulations, funding sources and usage and equipment ownership. A cross-sectional study was adopted and purposive sampling used to collect data from 693 respondents using questionnaires. Chi square was used to test for statistical differences at 95% significant level using MINITAB statistical software. Results showed that resource mobilization was statistically significant (x2=154.098, df=21, p=0.00) but donors (45%) contributed most funds compared to national government (21%), county government (19%) and well wishers (15%). Main revenue sources were membership registration (41%) and daily landing fees (25%). Revenue was used to purchase fishing gears (47%), supported welfare activities (18%) while significant portion (35%) was shared by members. Members’ training was statistically significant (x2=79.510, df=14, p= 0.000) but only 35% were effectively trained while 65% had contrary opinion. Members were trained on fish handling (49%), BMU laws (28%) and micro-credit (23%) but key training gaps included data collection, conflicts resolution and sea surveillance/patrols. BMUs owned equipment; however, 87% were poorly serviced while others were not available. BMU performance could be improved mainly by providing financial support (27%), capacity building (19%) and security to fishermen (17%). This study identified critical capacity factors influencing BMU operations. The factors should be enhanced by various stakeholders to support BMU performance and promote collaborative management of fisheries resources in Lake Turkana.