14 research outputs found
Sustainable poly(lactic acid) transformation: Leveraging agri-food waste-compatibilization strategies nexus for enhanced properties
No full textThe paper comprehensively reviews the upcycling and utilization of agri-food loss and wastes (FLWs) in poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based biocomposites from the perspective of material circularity. The massive volume of unwanted and unvalued FLWs contributed from fruit producers (durian husk, pineapple leaf, orange peel, and apple), post-consumer products (spent coffee ground, sugarcane bagasse, coconut husk, crustacean shells), and agricultural sectors (rick husk, rice straw, wheat straw, and corn stover) is generally discarded and incinerated. Notably, these FLWs can be collected and upcycled into valuable products depending on the final application, endowing them with a meaningful second life. This upcycling approach promotes environment-friendliness and reduces the product’s carbon footprint. However, gaps and challenges in creating high-performance biocomposites remain critical to a translatable product. To address that, this review comprehensively discussed the recent progress and strategies to enhance the compatibility of PLA and the various FLW biocomposites, such as improved processability, well-balanced properties, heat resistance, and increased interfacial adhesion. The overall mechanical, thermal, processability, and biodegradability performances are further examined and elaborated. Furthermore, the current and prospective applications, such as packaging, automotive, construction, and 3D printing of FLWs/PLA products, are discussed. Finally, the prospects and opportunities of these FLWs/PLA biocomposites are shared to give a view into the future. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)Author: J. C. C. Yeo, funder: Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), GAP Grant (Grant No. I22D1AG014). Author: J. K. Muiruri, no funder. Author: P. S. K. Lee, no funder. Author: R. Vijayakumar, no funder. Author: T. T. Lin, no funder. Author: X. Zhang, no funder. Author: W. Thitsartarn, no funder. Author: C. He, No funder. Author: N. Hadjichristidis, no funder. Author: Z. Li, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), RIE2025 Manufacturing, Trade and Connectivity (MTC) Programmatic Fund (M22K9b0049)
New records to the bryoflora of the E slope of Mt. Kenya
No full textThe first author studied the bryophyte communities on the East slope of
Mt. Kenya through the forest belt between 1600 and 3000 m elevations. Seven
sampling plots were selected at each 200 m altitudinal interval. At each sampling
plot microclimate data measurements were carried out for six months between
July and December 2020 using dataloggers and the composition of epiphyllous
communities was studied in details with special reference to the host plants.
Tamás Pócs and his team (Bence Együd, Judit Havasi and Mária Szegedi) joined to
this research during the August of 2021, to help in further collection and
identification work. The collected specimens are deposited in the herbaria of EA
and EGR. Majority of the collections have already been identified. The discovery of
the only mainland African occurrences of the Lemurian Microlejeunea inflata and
Leptodon fuciformis are outstanding results. Other species are new for Kenya:
Cololejeunea platyneura, Cyclodyction subbrevifolium, Diplasiolejeunea deslooveri,
Fissidens intramarginatus and Telaranea coactilis. The last author visited the same
sites 2004 with his late wife, Sarolta Czímer, guided by Min S.Chuah-Petiot from
Nairobi University and from their collection Gemmabryum subapiculatum,
Orthotrichum denticulatum, Lophocolea fragrans and Lophocolea muricata proved
to be new to Kenya
Benchmarking Jiangsu University to Improve Its Academic Ranking
No full textThis paper collates research on global ranking through U.S.News.com in relation to Jiangsu University’s non-appearance in global ranking of higher education institutions. The author critiques the Academic set up of the University in comparison with universities Ranked as World Class. The author navigates the study largely through descriptive and critical synthesis of published research and their variances. He explains how these measures improve the performance and ranking position of a Higher Education Institution (HEI). Looking at the international ranking systems in the world, and zeroing down to U.S.News.com; the author puts out the theory of all departments’ focus on generating quality research, high quality publications and internationalization to meet the demands of World University ranking by addressing the Gap in Jiangsu University (JU) and how to close it Keywords: Higher education ranking, Jiangsu University, U.S.News.com, international, indicators, weights
African Crisis: Is There Hope?
No full textBookThe goal of this book is to provide practical solutions to save Africa and its people from an "African crisis" that is threatening to destroy the nation and eliminate human survival. The author, an African himself, argues that this crisis is manifesting itself in the form of social, political, and economic upheavals. He discusses major issues such as unemployment, famine, hunger, malnutrition, overpopulation, ethnic wars, power struggles, debt, democracy, colonialism, and corruption. He argues that Africa suffers from the exploitation of outsiders. Based on this argument, Muriithi develops a strategic approach for developing Africa and bringing hope to its people. The study promotes that the three key determinants of African development are positive change in its society and culture, its demography, and its economy. The author suggests that through organization, discipline, education, and coalition, such changes can be made. African Crisis: Is There Hope? will serve as an appropriate text in African Studies courses focusing on the nation's problems, development, economy, and third world crises. This detailed and reflective work will also appeal to students and scholars alike, politicians, African development agents, donors, and world leaders
Conductive cooling and the metabolism of chicken hens in hot environments
No full textThree studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of water-cooled roosts in the alleviation of heat stress in chicken hens. In the first study, roost preferences and behavioral roosting for thermoregulation purposes were tested. Data on roost use were obtained from time-lapse videotapings. Chicken hens selected square and round-shaped roosts equally (P 0.05). Also 5.0 cm-diameter roost was preferred over smaller-sized roosts (0.01). Use of water-cooled roosts increased linearly as the ambient temperature was increased above 25\sp\circC while that of air-equilibrated roosts decreased markedly (P 0.01), indicating that chicken hens used cooled roosts for thermoregulation purposes in hot environments. In the second study, effect of roost temperature on metabolic rate of two strains of chicken hens in hot ambient environments was determined. Indirect open-circuit calorimetry was used to measure the metabolic rates. Water-cooled roosts eliminated the need for deploying energetically expensive thermoregulatory mechanisms for hens in hot environments, lowered the metabolic rates (P 0.01), and reduced mortality. In the third study, effect of roost temperature on productive and reproductive performance of chicken hens in hot environments was determined. Water-cooled roost hens had higher percent hen-day egg production (P 0.05), feed intake (P 0.05), and percent hatchability (P 0.05) than air-equilibrated roost hens indicating that water-cooled roosts improve performance of chicken hens in hot environments.Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-07T14:19:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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FACTORS AFFECTING SUCCESSION MANAGEMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF SUKARI PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY
No full textThis research study was carried out to determine factors affecting succession management in private sector in Kenya with reference to the Sukari Presbyterian Academy, the research study was intended to be of great importance to the organization i.e. Sukari Presbyterian Academy, the organization’s employees, the government of Kenya as the key policy and regulatory provider, clients and other stakeholders of Sukari Presbyterian Academy. The research project work was intended to find out how employee training affects succession management. The research study also intended to find out how Organization culture affects succession management. The research study was intended to find out how employee morale affected succession management. The research also sought to find effects of management styles on succession management in private sector in Kenya. The study relied on archived information in the organization and the university services to obtain its literature review. In order to describe the current relationship, concerning a problem the way they appear a descriptive design was used in the study with a target population of 130 employees (comprising of top, middle and support staff level of management). The stratified random sampling method was used in sampling 65 respondents 50% of the target population. The employees from teaching, accounts, transport, and kitchen departments were relied on to obtain the crucial data required. The study employed both primary and secondary data. Questionnaire was also used as an instrument to collect data. The data gathered was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The research work also found out that management style is a crucial factor in succession management. This is opined by the earlier work of Robson (1993). The author refers management style as a very important factor in succession management due to decisions and relationships on relating to subordinates. From the study findings, employee experience is an important factor in succession management. The study findings help to concluded that employees are not adequately trained to tackle succession issues in private sector. The research work also concludes that organization culture affect succession management in private sector in Kenya, the study concludes that the organization culture is not favorable enough for succession and requires certain vital arrangements and rearrangements so that succession in the organization is smooth. From the research findings, it was concluded that management style do affect succession management in private sector in Kenya. The study further concluded that the management style in the organization is favorable but requires a bit of tilting and teething to make employees more satisfied with the ability to join management to run succession tasks in a more transparent and well thought through way. The study concluded that organizational culture is a key aspect during succession management. This means that this factor needs to be given priority when succession management is being done. From the findings, it was concluded that employee experience affects succession management in private sector in Kenya. After the findings, the research study concluded that employee morale is an important factor to consider when doing succession efforts in private sector. The study finally concluded that the organization has put is more efforts to improve employees morale especially in regard to succession. The study finally recommends that more need to be done to equip employees well for better succession management. The study also recommends other factors such as communication and organizational politics are investigated to find out their relationship with succession management
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Author Correction: Molecular basis for heat desensitization of TRPV1 ion channels
No full textAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper
The Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project: inferring the environmental context of human evolution from eastern African rift lake deposits
No full textabstract: The role that climate and environmental history may have played in influencing human evolution has been the focus of considerable interest and controversy among paleoanthropologists for decades. Prior attempts to understand the environmental history side of this equation have centered around the study of outcrop sediments and fossils adjacent to where fossil hominins (ancestors or close relatives of modern humans) are found, or from the study of deep sea drill cores. However, outcrop sediments are often highly weathered and thus are unsuitable for some types of paleoclimatic records, and deep sea core records come from long distances away from the actual fossil and stone tool remains. The Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) was developed to address these issues. The project has focused its efforts on the eastern African Rift Valley, where much of the evidence for early hominins has been recovered. We have collected about 2 km of sediment drill core from six basins in Kenya and Ethiopia, in lake deposits immediately adjacent to important fossil hominin and archaeological sites. Collectively these cores cover in time many of the key transitions and critical intervals in human evolutionary history over the last 4 Ma, such as the earliest stone tools, the origin of our own genus Homo, and the earliest anatomically modern Homo sapiens. Here we document the initial field, physical property, and core description results of the 2012–2014 HSPDP coring campaign.This article and any associated published material is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. View the article as published at: http://www.sci-dril.net/21/1/2016
