Construction of an Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) Reactor and Deposition of Polytetrafluoroethylene (Ptfe) Thin Films Using Perfluoro-1-Octanesulfonyl Fluoride as the Initiator

Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD) is a surface polymerization technique that is different from other traditional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques. iCVD is carried under a vacuum without the use of solvents, therefore eliminating contaminations. An initiator and a monomer are metered into a vacuum reactor chamber. Inside the reaction chamber is an array of resistively heated filaments and a cooled substrate stage. Monomer species adsorb on to the cooled substrate surface underneath the filament array. The thermal energy from the resistively heated filaments breaks the bonds in the initiator molecule, generating free radicals. These generated free radicals chemisorb to the monomer initiating an in situ free radical polymerization reaction which results in the formation of a polymer thin film. The overall objective of this research was to assemble a custom-built iCVD reactor and use it to grow polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thin films. Perfluoro-1-octanesulfonyl fluoride (PFOSF) was used as the initiator while hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) was used as the monomer. HPFO is well known for its good thermal decomposition. Nichrome filaments were resistively heated at temperature less than 400 ˚C and substrate surface cooled between 10 ˚C and 35 ˚C. Various characterization techniques such FTIR, XPS, SEM, and EDX were performed on as-deposited iCVD PTFE thin films. FTIR spectra of iCVD PTFE showed that the as-deposited iCVD thin films are spectroscopically identical to bulk PTFE

Potential uses, perceptions and policy issues of genetically modified crops in Africa: a case study of Kenya

Various genetic engineering techniques have been applied to develop genetically modified (GM) crops. These techniques have the greatest potential to address food insecurity and malnutrition problems in developing countries, for example, transgenic techniques have been successful in the development of bio-fortified cassava in Africa. Some techniques such as RNA interference (RNAi), virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing could also be of great use in developing disease and pest resistant or locally adapted cultivars. The GM crop adoption in Kenya has been hindered by lack of strong legislation structures, lack of knowledge about GM technology among the public and external influences. There is also lack of understanding about what GM crop development entails. There has been some progress in putting in place policies that build institutional capacity and regulate the use and handling of GM crops. These include the National Biotechnology Policy, the Biosafety Act of 2009, and the establishment of the National Biosafety Authority. Although Kenya has made some progress in putting in place legislations, the country is still far from incorporating the GM crops into the food system.Keywords: GM crops, Genetic engineering techniques, GM crop perceptions, Policy issues, Food securit

DETERMINANTS OF EFFECTIVE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING PROGRAMMES IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KERICHO SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

The Kenyan government recognizes guidance and counselling as an essential service that should be given to every student. To demonstrate its seriousness, the government, through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has officially appointed heads of departments of guidance and counselling in secondary schools to oversee the implementation and proper running of this programme. Effectiveness of this programme has however not been felt as evidenced by common unrest in many schools. Limited research has been done to examine determinants of effective provision of guidance and counselling programmes in public secondary schools in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of effective guidance and counselling programmes in public secondary schools in Kericho Sub-County, Kericho County. The objectives of the study were; to investigate the qualifications of teacher counsellors providing guidance and counselling services; establish if materials for guidance and counselling are available in Kericho Sub-County. The study was based on Carl Rogers client centered therapy. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The study was conducted in Kericho Sub-county in Kericho County, since various schools here experienced problems such as school dropouts, strikes, poor relationships among students despite the provision of guidance and counselling services in their schools. The target population was 2000 students of form three and 60 guidance and counselling teachers. A sample of 200 students and 18 guidance and counseling teachers were selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. These figures served as a true representation of the whole population of form three students. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires, interviews, observation checklists and document analysis. Frequency counts and percentages were used to analyse the data. The study concluded that most teacher counsellors lack professional training on guidance and counselling and out of those who are not trained in guidance and counselling, only a few attend refresher courses every term, this hinders effective counselling in public secondary schools in Kericho County. The study also concluded that secondary schools do not have enough facilities for guidance and counselling and the rooms for counselling are not in a strategic place, which is conducive for counselling. Based on the findings, it was recommended that Teachers Service Commission should ensure guidance and counseling departments are headed by trained and qualified counselors for effectiveness and that the County government and the Ministry of Education should enhance quality assessment of G&C in all secondary schools. The findings of this study may be beneficial to policy makers in the Ministry of Education to see the need for employment of professional counsellors.  Article visualizations

Factors Influencing Upgrading Decisions by Actors Along Selected Dairy Chains in Kenya

Dairy production is important in Kenya for human nutrition, income generation, and as a source of direct and indirect employment along its value chain. Despite these benefits, smallholder dairy groups in the country have minimal participation in high value and niche markets for dairy products. In the current study, six value addition groups from two Counties (i.e., Uasin Gishu and Meru) were purposively selected, and simple random sampling employed to pick 274 respondents within the surveyed sites. These comprised 267 smallholder dairy farmers from five self-help groups, and seven members from a self-help group operated by disabled persons who collected milk from farmers within Uasin Gishu County and processed it for resale. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Probit model. Results show that the decision by smallholder dairy farmers and dairy groups to upgrade and move to higher value dairy chains was significantly influenced by their knowledge of value addition activities and whether they participated in a value addition group. It is, therefore, recommended that for value addition to be promoted and upgraded, small-scale value addition groups need to be facilitated and upgraded in terms of education and training, standardization, registration and management. This will generate more market opportunities for milk produced, and decrease wastage from spoilage within the dairy chains. Keywords: Dairy chains, Probit model, Smallholder, Value addition, Keny

Gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics among secondary school students in Keiyo district, Kenya.

Paper presented at Strathmore International Math Research Conference on July 23 - 27, 2012The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics among secondary school students. It investigated the influence of students‟ perception of parental, teachers and peer expectations on their attitudes towards learning of mathematics. Descriptive Survey design was used. Data was collected by the use of questionnaires and interview schedules. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The accessible population were heads of mathematics department and form three students from selected secondary schools in Keiyo district, Kenya. Sample study comprised of 300 students (150 boys and 150 girls) and all heads of mathematics department from the sample schools in Keiyo district, Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to categorize schools into either boys/girls or mixed schools. Simple random sampling was used to select 15 from 32 secondary schools and 20 students from each selected class. Convenient sampling technique was used to select mathematics‟ teachers who were interviewed. The findings of this study revealed that significant gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics exist among secondary school students in Keiyo district. The findings showed that both boys and girls have positive attitudes towards learning of mathematics though boys were more positively inclined than girls. Students‟ perceptions of parental, teachers‟ and peer expectations were found to significantly influence gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics. From the findings, the study recommended appropriate approaches that teacher - trainers and learners would use when designing mathematical activities that are in the form of fun, relaxed learning and collaborative hands on work and problem solving. Such learning activities would make learning of mathematics a success.The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics among secondary school students. It investigated the influence of students‟ perception of parental, teachers and peer expectations on their attitudes towards learning of mathematics. Descriptive Survey design was used. Data was collected by the use of questionnaires and interview schedules. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The accessible population were heads of mathematics department and form three students from selected secondary schools in Keiyo district, Kenya. Sample study comprised of 300 students (150 boys and 150 girls) and all heads of mathematics department from the sample schools in Keiyo district, Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to categorize schools into either boys/girls or mixed schools. Simple random sampling was used to select 15 from 32 secondary schools and 20 students from each selected class. Convenient sampling technique was used to select mathematics‟ teachers who were interviewed. The findings of this study revealed that significant gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics exist among secondary school students in Keiyo district. The findings showed that both boys and girls have positive attitudes towards learning of mathematics though boys were more positively inclined than girls. Students‟ perceptions of parental, teachers‟ and peer expectations were found to significantly influence gender differences and attitudes towards learning of mathematics. From the findings, the study recommended appropriate approaches that teacher - trainers and learners would use when designing mathematical activities that are in the form of fun, relaxed learning and collaborative hands on work and problem solving. Such learning activities would make learning of mathematics a success.

Importance of Employee Welfare and Performance: The Case of the UASU at Egerton University, Kenya

Trade unions play a key role in enhancing employee welfare and performance in organizations. In Kenya, the Universities’ Academic Staff Union (UASU) is a trade union for academic staff in all the public universities, with a Chapter in every university and whose objects include ensuring better welfare for its members. Through a cross-sectional survey, this study examined the contribution of the UASU to employee welfare and the extent of its effects on employee performance. The study was undertaken at UASU Egerton University Chapter, Njoro, Kenya. A representative group of 82 respondents was obtained by simple random sampling from a sample frame of the 435 general members of the UASU. The respondents provided information regarding the contribution of the activities of the UASU to employee welfare and their influence on employee performance. Results indicated that the UASU had different but positive impacts on the variables affecting employee welfare and, consequently, employee performance. In descending order of importance, maternity, pension, housing and medical schemes were some of the benefits from the activities of the UASU. However, availability of recreational facilities received least attention from the UASU. The UASU should, therefore, be maintained and strengthened to further improve on quality delivery of products and services in the University by its members. Keywords: Employee welfare; Employee performance; UASU; Egerton University, Keny

Antibiotic residues in milk from three popular Kenyan milk vending machines

Milk vending machines (MVMs) are growing in popularity in Kenya and worldwide. Milk vending machines dispense varying quantities of locally sourced, pasteurized milk. The Kenya Dairy Board has a regulatory framework, but surveillance is weak because of several factors. Milk vending machines’ milk is not routinely screened for antibiotics, thereby increasing potential for antibiotic misuse. To investigate, a total of 80 milk samples from four commercial providers (N = 25), street vendors (N = 21), and three MVMs (N = 34) were collected and screened in Eldoret, Kenya. Antibiotic residue surveillance occurred during December 2016 and January 2017 using Idexx SNAP tests for tetracyclines, sulfamethazine, beta-lactams, and gentamicin. Overall, 24% of MVM samples and 24% of street vendor samples were presumably positive for at least one antibiotic. No commercial samples were positive. Research into cost-effective screening methods and increased monitoring by food safety agencies are needed to uphold HAACP for improving antibiotic stewardship throughout the Kenyan private dairy industry

Risk-rated economic values for production and functional traits of Small East African goat using profit functions

The study reports the effect of incorporating risk in the derivation of economic values for traits of the breeding goal of Small East African goats under the pastoral production system. A model previously used to derive conventional economic values was revised to incorporate variances of profit and risk attitudes of livestock keepers in estimation of risk-rated economic values. This resulted in a decrease in the estimated economic values by -14.7% (milk yield), -2.7% (12-month live weight), -23.9% (consumable meat percentage), -6.6% (mature doe live weight), -98% (mature buck live weight), -8.6% (kidding frequency), -8.2% (pre-weaning survival rate), -8.9% (post-weaning survival rate), -8.1% (doe survival rate) and 0% (residual feed intake). The decrease in the conomic values implied that livestock keepers who were risk averse were willing to accept lower expected returns to void the opportunity of unfavourable outcomes

Analysis of Demographic Factors that Influence the Purchasing Behaviour of Goat Milk and Their Implications for a Dairy Goat Breeding programme in Siaya County, Kenya

The dairy goat sector is one of the fastest growing livestock enterprises in Kenya because goat milk is becoming increasingly popular in the country. However, hardly any published studies exist that have utilized consumer purchase information to understand the factors that influence the purchase of goat milk. The current study analyzed consumer characteristics and factors that affected consumer behaviour in purchasing goat milk to serve as the basic data in formulating a marketing strategies for goat milk in Siaya County of Kenya. The research questions were approached in three phases. Firstly, the probability that a consumer purchases goat milk was estimated using a probit model framework. Secondly, a Heckman two-stage model was utilized to depict the relationship of dairy goat expenditures. Thirdly, the study examined the implications of the foregoing for a dairy goat breeding programme. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using comprehensive questionnaires. One thirty one (131) goat milk consumers were interviewed. The parameters of the present study are goat milk consumption, consumer characteristics and demographic factors that influenced the purchasing behaviour of goat milk. Family size, presence of children and elderly persons in the household, and household income influenced the purchasing of goat milk. Overall, income influenced the amount of goat milk to be purchased and, therefore, farmers should be encouraged and their capacity enhanced to target high income markets. Communication campaigns highlighting the benefits of goat milk to the children and the elderly persons could ensure enhanced success of marketing the milk. The findings imply that breeders of dairy goats should focus on improved yields, which will enhance returns from dairy goats. Demographic factors, along with agro-climatic and production constraints, are important to the overall success of dairy goat breeding programmes. Further, the breeding programme should identify the most promising breeds and eco-types under the prevailing production system for genetic selection and their multiplication under improved husbandry practices. Establishing a nucleus breeding scheme on private or government land to supply breeding stock can significantly contribute towards this goal. Generally, policy interventions are recommended to tackle demographic factors that influence the purchasing behaviour of goat milk and their implications for a dairy goat breeding programme. The findings of the present study will be useful to all actors in the dairy goat value chain. Keywords: Purchasing behaviour, Goat milk, Dairy goat breeding programme, Keny