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Evaluation of external quality assurance to strengthen laboratory services in the South Valley region of Kenya
No full textLaboratory diagnosis is important in treatment, management and prevention of diseases. The
objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of selected clinical diagnostic
laboratories in the South Rift Valley region of Kenya under the President Emergency Plan
for AIDS relief. The study utilized proficiency panels provided to the Kericho Walter Reed
laboratory. Standard Operating Procedures were used to test the panels. Questionnaires and
document analysis were used to collect data, of which descriptive statistics and ANOVA
were used. Serological assays were graded against proficiency providers expected outcome.
Measurement of white blood cells (F = 0.07; p = 1.000) were not significantly different at
p≤0.05 in the laboratories. The highest measurement was recorded in Litein laboratory
(mean 10.77) and the lowest in Longisa (9.08).There was no significant difference in the
measurement of red blood cells (F = 0.57; p = 0.855) in the twelve laboratories. Highest
levels were recorded in Kapkatet (Mean 4.51) while the lowest level was recorded in
Unilever Tea Kenya (3.15). There was no significant difference in the measurement of
hemoglobin (F = 0.58; p = 0.845). Highest level of hemoglobin was recorded in Kapkatet
(Mean 13.04), whereas the lowest was recorded in Longisa (8.89). Results showed that there
was a significant difference in the measurement of Alkaline Phosphates in the four centers (F
= 4.82; P = 0.004) that performed the assay. A significantly high level was recorded in
Kapkatet (Mean 194.2).Alanine Aminotransferase values in the laboratories were (F = 3.87;
P = 0.0001).Highest level was recorded in Londiani (Mean159.9) while the lowest was in
Longisa (16.5). A significant difference in the measurement of creatinine was reported (F =
4.17; P = 0.0001). Highest level was recorded in Tenwek Mission hospital (mean 289.1)
whereas the lowest was in Longisa (0.55). A significant difference too was observed in
Aspartate Aminotransferase values, (F = 3.85; P = 0.0001). The highest level recorded in
Londiani (mean 110.8) whereas the lowest was in Longisa (15.0).Highest Creatinine was
recorded in Tenwek (mean 289.1) and the lowest recorded in Longisa (0.55). Similarly
Blood Urea Nitrogen reported, (F = 7.50; P = 0.0001). The highest levels recorded in
Londiani, (mean19.8) whereas the lowest was in Kilgoris (8.1). CD3 was recorded in 6
laboratories and showed no significant differences (F = 0.94; P = 0.457). A single
measurement by Tenwek was considered as an outlier. The highest CD3 measurement was
recorded in Longisa (mean 753.7) whereas the lowest was in Kericho County Hospital
(599).The levels of CD4 measurements in the samples were not significantly different in the
labs. (F = 1.37; P = 0.198). Litein Laboratory (mean 405.2) recorded the highest levels of
CD4 while Londiani (140.3) recorded the lowest level of CD4. The levels of CD8 were not
recorded in any of the twelve laboratories under this study. The qualitative assays done were
satisfactory except hepatitis B assay that performed below the pass mark of 80%. Syphilis
test for Longisa was at 60%, Pregnancy testing for the same site was at 78% while
Cryptococcal antigen assay scored 40%, 20% and 40% for Kericho County, Kapkatet and
Kilgoris labs respectively. Thus the performances of the laboratories are satisfactory and at
par to the central laboratory in the analyses except for chemistry and Hepatitis B assays
An investigation in to the role of Islamic fundamentalism in propagating conflict in Africa: A case of Boko Haram in Kigeria
No full textCauses of performance disparity between the public and private schools in Athi River District, Machakos county
No full textThe purpose of this study was to establish performance disparity between the public and private
schools in Athi River District. The study was done by developing a conceptual framework relating
the nature of schools to pupils' academic performance. Using a descriptive cross-sectional survey
design, data was collected from 40 teachers and 10 head teachers using questionnaires and
interview guide as the main data collection instruments. Also data on PLE results for 300 pupils in
the selected primary schools was obtained which was used in comparing pupils' performance in the
two categories of schools. Data was analyzed using frequency tables and summary statistics and
lastly using t-test in comparing pupils' performance in private and public primary schools in Athi
River District, Machakos County.
The study found out that in private primary schools resources are more available and adequate than
in public primary schools. The important effects of inadequacy or lack of educational resources are
lack of motivation, tiresome teaching and learning, inattention to individual learners, high rate of
school dropout, low quality of teaching and learning etc. which cause finally the poor academic
performance. Secondly, in testing the degree of the difference between teachers and head teachers'
views on the effects of inadequate educational resources on academic performance, the results
showed that teachers and head teachers of private primary schools of Athi River are more proud to
work in their school environment than their counterparts of public primary schools. They also
showed that they are generally satisfied with how their pupils learn and how they are evaluated.
However, in public primary schools, there is a big gap between what teachers and head teachers
wish to deliver as education to their pupils and what they actually deliver because of very limited
educational resources. The study findings established a relationship between teacher quality and
pupils' academic achievement in Athi River and this finding relate with a wide range of findings on
the relationship between teacher quality in and student outcomes. It was therefore recommended
that the resources be increased and made available to the primary schools should and be efficiently
utilized and the school environment should be made conducive for learning in order to improve
pupils' learning outcome.
The study concluded that the pupils of private primary schools of Athi River District perform better
than their counterparts of public primary schools in PLE. This doesn't come randomly, as they are
well prepared from the early first classes. Though having the teachers of almost the same
qualification, and pupils of almost the same background, private primary schools motivate more
their teachers and their pupils than public primary schools do through various ways: good pay to
teachers, small classes, good working environment, conducive environment for learning
(availability and adequacy of school resources), regular evaluations, good collaboration between
school and parents/guardians, guidance and counseling services made operational and excursions.
The study also concluded that there is good collaboration between private primary schools and
parents/guardians of pupils for their best education while in public primary schools such
collaboration is too little
Factors influencing utilization of forensic accounting services in detection of fraud in licensed commercial banks in Kenya.
No full textOxidative degradation of l-histidine by manganese dioxide (MnO2) nano-colloid in HClO4 medium with/without using TX-100 catalyst: a kinetic approach
No full textThe kinetics of the oxidative degradation of L-histidine (His) in perchloric acid medium by freshly prepared manganese dioxide (MnO2) nano-colloid have been investigated with and without using TX-100 catalyst at a constant temperature of 35 °C. The progress of the oxidation reaction was checked by monitoring the decrease in absorbance of MnO2 spectrophotometrically at 360 nm. The reaction was observed to be first order with respect to [MnO2] and fractional with respect to [His] and [HClO4] in both uncatalysed and TX-100-catalysed paths. The catalytic effect of TX-100 on the oxidation reaction has been explained by the Tuncay model. Protonated L-histidine is bound to TX-100 and forms a [TX-100–His] intermediate complex which further reacts with MnO2 and decomposes into the oxidation products: 2-imidazole acetaldehyde, Mn(II), NH4+ and CO2. On the basis of the kinetics results, a possible reaction mechanism is proposed
Effects of corporate inovations on a Firms performance: A suevey of selected textile Firms in Eldoret Town
No full text
The implications of female genital mutilation on the girl child education(case of public primary schools at Chepsigot location, Elgeyo Marakwet county, Kenya
Get PDFThe persistence of FGM and its impact on women access to education and empowerment: a case study of Mandera, North Eastern region Mandera county, Kenya
No full textAqua substitution from mononuclear Pt(II) complexes with 2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)quinoline non-leaving ligands
No full textThe rates of aqua substitution from [Pt{2-(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)quinoline}(H2O)2](ClO4)2, [Pt(H2Qn)], [Pt{2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)quinoline}(H2O)2](ClO4)2, [Pt(dCH3Qn)], [Pt{2-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl]quinoline}(H2O)2](ClO4)2, [Pt(dCF3Qn)], and [Pt{2-[(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol-1-ylmethyl]pyridine}(H2O)2](ClO4)2, [Pt(dCF3Py)], with three sulfur donor nucleophiles were studied. The reactions were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature using a stopped-flow analyzer and UV/visible spectrophotometry. The substitution reactions proceeded sequentially. The second-order rate constants for substituting the aqua ligands in the first substitution step increased in the order Pt(dCH3Qn) < Pt(dCF3Qn) < Pt(H2Qn) < Pt(dCF3Py), while that of the second substitution step was Pt(dCH3Qn) < Pt(dCF3Qn) < Pt(dCF3Py) < Pt(H2Qn). The reactivity trends confirm that the quinoline substructure in the (pyrazolylmethyl)quinoline ligands acts as an apparent donor of electron density toward the metal center rather than being a π-acceptor. Measured pKa values from spectrophotometric acid–base titrations were Pt(H2Qn) (pKa1 = 4.56; pKa2 = 6.32), Pt(dCH3Qn) (pKa1 = 4.88; pKa2 = 6.31), Pt(dCF3Qn) (pKa1 = 4.07; pKa2 = 6.35), and Pt(dCF3Py) (pKa1 = 4.76; pKa2 = 6.27). The activation parameters from the temperature dependence of the second-order rate constants support an associative mechanism of substitution