On the Place of Text Data in Lifelogs, and Text Analysis via Semantic Facets

Current research in lifelog data has not paid enough attention to analysis of cognitive activities in comparison to physical activities. We argue that as we look into the future, wearable devices are going to be cheaper and more prevalent and textual data will play a more significant role. Data captured by lifelogging devices will increasingly include speech and text, potentially useful in analysis of intellectual activities. Analyzing what a person hears, reads, and sees, we should be able to measure the extent of cognitive activity devoted to a certain topic or subject by a learner. Test-based lifelog records can benefit from semantic analysis tools developed for natural language processing. We show how semantic analysis of such text data can be achieved through the use of taxonomic subject facets and how these facets might be useful in quantifying cognitive activity devoted to various topics in a person's day. We are currently developing a method to automatically create taxonomic topic vocabularies that can be applied to this detection of intellectual activity

Determining the Characteristic Vocabulary for a Specialized Dictionary using Word2vec and a Directed Crawler

Specialized dictionaries are used to understand concepts in specific domains, especially where those concepts are not part of the general vocabulary, or having meanings that differ from ordinary languages. The first step in creating a specialized dictionary involves detecting the characteristic vocabulary of the domain in question. Classical methods for detecting this vocabulary involve gathering a domain corpus, calculating statistics on the terms found there, and then comparing these statistics to a background or general language corpus. Terms which are found significantly more often in the specialized corpus than in the background corpus are candidates for the characteristic vocabulary of the domain. Here we present two tools, a directed crawler, and a distributional semantics package, that can be used together, circumventing the need of a background corpus. Both tools are available on the web

SELF-ESTEEM LEVELS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF SCHOOLS. CASE OF PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NYANDARUA WEST SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

The major purpose of the study was to investigate whether students’ level of self-esteem can be influenced by the category of school a learner attends. To achieve this objective, schools were categorized into three categories which are day schools, day-boarding schools, and boarding schools. Students’ self-esteem was measured and the data obtained was analyzed. The aim was to find out whether there was any significant difference in students’ level of self-esteem in different school categories. The research was conducted using an ex post facto research design. Categories of schools were seen as a naturally occurring independent variable, which could have an effect on students’ level of self-esteem. The population of the study comprised students in public secondary schools in Nyandarua West Sub County. The Sub County had 8 public secondary schools when the research was conducted; with a student population of 3067. Data relevant to the study was collected using questionnaires, and a self-esteem test prepared by the researcher. The questionnaires were administered to a sample of 240 students, selected using simple random sampling from the 1320 form two students in the Sub County. Data was analysed using mean calculations, percentages, and a one-way ANOVA test. It was found out that there was a significant difference in students’ total-mean self-esteem in different categories of schools. Students in boarding schools had a higher level of self-esteem in general compared to students in day-boarding and day schools; whose self-esteem levels were average. Probably, boarding schools have a more child-friendly environment, hence, more opportunities and different facilities which help learners to achieve more and hence acquire positive growth in self-esteem. However, in day schools where opportunities could have been less adequate students recorded a low level of self-esteem. It is therefore recommended that MOEST should finance seminars to sensitize secondary school administrators on adolescents’ needs so that every Principal would endeavor to provide students with age-appropriate resources and activities. To achieve this, the government should supply adequate facilities to schools that do not have them. Further studies should be conducted to find out the environments in boarding schools that facilitated self-esteem growth among students, additionally, whether similar results would be obtained in other Sub Counties in Kenya.  Article visualizations

Gender Differences in STS Levels among Judges and Magistrates in Kenya

The Judiciary is responsible for fair and efficient administration of justice. Due to adjudication of cases involving traumatised clients, judges and magistrates may get vicariously traumatised and hence suffer secondary traumatic stress (STS) which may impact negatively on their capacity to execute duties effectively. In this regard, this study was set to find out the degree to which this psychological condition was related to gender. The study was guided by Constructive Self Development Theory. Using ex-post facto research design, data was collected from 83 judicial officers in Rift Valley Region, Kenya, through a self-administered questionnaire. Collected data was analysed through mean calculations and percentages with respect to nominal scale data while ordinal scale data was analysed by use of inferential statistics, specifically t-test, at .05 alpha levels. Analysis task was accomplished through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme, version 22.0. Globally, female respondents’ level of STS was higher than that of their male counterparts. However, this gender difference in global STS level was statistically insignificant (p > .05). Female officers also surpassed male officers in intrusion and arousal STS symptoms. The difference concerning intrusion symptoms between male and female respondents was statistically significant (t = .002, p < .05). The study is useful to The Judiciary in that it can gain understanding on how traumatizing court cases impacts on each gender. Hence, the need to sensitize officers on how to identify STS symptoms, in order to take the necessary intervention measures before such symptoms reach a critical stage. Further, the judiciary may consider according more preparation training and counselling to female officers in order to reduce the risk of developing STS. Finally, scholars may identify investigation pathways they can follow with a view unearthing other factors that can influence the level of STS among judicial officers within and outside Kenya. Keywords: Arousal, Avoidance, Gender, Intrusion, Judicial Officer, ST

SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIATION OF LAND-USE AND LAND-COVER IN THE NAIROBI RIVER WATERSHED, AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE INORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF NAIROBI RIVER

Determining the effects of LULC and development on natural resources is necessary for sustainability. This study focused on LULC changes in NRW over the past 3 decades and the effects it had on the geochemistry of NR channel’s sediment. Impervious surfaces increased from 2.5% to 11.9%. Samples from the urban class had elevated levels of contaminants than other classes. The concentrations of major inorganic elements were normal compared to the juvenile UCC except MnO and P2O5 that were heterogeneously distributed and significantly enriched. Heavy metals exhibited high DR than USEPA SSL in urban. Pb, Ce and Sb had the highest concentration of 3400, 769 and 187.5 ppm respectively in the urban class. Heterogeneously distributed and enriched elements like Pb, Y, Yb, Zr, Er,Ce, Zn, Lu, Sm, Th, Nd etc., were attributed to humans’ input. Minerals identified were smectite, kaolinite, quartz, anorthoclase and critobalite? Sediments’ alteration decreased down the river gradient

Effects of Political Process on the Economic Performance of a Country: A Case of Kenya General Elections

This research paper addresses the effects of political processes on the economic performance in Kenya. The research forms a framework for understanding the policy and individual decisions that investors and leaders have to consider when making sound investment decisions. These have been based on the identification of concrete financial and economic issues from the results of comprehensive and in depth research carried out through secondary research, and also study of related finance and banking journals. Purpose: The core intent of this research was to understand how key economic variables such as the stock market performance, foreign direct investment, interest rates and inflation rates are affected by political processes. Methodology: The paper employed a secondary research design. The sample size of this research was estimated at 12 years. The data was analyzed using standard software. The variables were measured using correlation analysis. Findings: A major finding of the research showed that election trends have a strong impact on the performance and stability of an economy. Conclusion: This study is focused on the effects of political processes on the economic performance of a country with a case of a Kenyan scenario. Taken as a whole, our findings suggest that, there are some strong impacts associated with processes on the economic variables. Keywords: Political Business cycle, Political electioneering, Economic barometer

Age Differences in Secondary Traumatic Stress Levels among Judges and Magistrates in Rift Valley Region, Kenya

The Judiciary is responsible for fair and efficient administration of justice. Due to adjudication of cases involving traumatised clients, judges and magistrates may get vicariously traumatised and hence suffer secondary traumatic stress (STS) which may impact negatively on their capacity to execute duties effectively. In this regard, this study was set to find out the degree to which this psychological condition was related to age. The study was guided by Constructive Self Development Theory. Using ex-post facto research design, data was collected from 83 judicial officers in Rift Valley Region, Kenya, through a self-administered questionnaire. Collected data was analysed through mean calculations and percentages with respect to nominal scale data while ordinal scale data was analysed by use of inferential statistics, specifically ANOVA, at .05 alpha levels. Analysis task was accomplished through the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme, version 22.0. The study established that level of STS associated with traumatising court cases increased with increase in respondents’ age. However, this tendency reversed beyond 50 years of age. Further, the effect of traumatising court cases was more pronounced in intrusive related experiences compared with avoidance and arousal linked experiences. Additionally, a statistically significant difference in regard to experiences of intrusive experiences was established between respondents in 31-35 years and 46-50 years age bracket. A similar observation was found for respondents in 41-45 years and 46-50 years age brackets. This seems to indicate that judicial officers in 46-50 years age range are more likely to suffer from dissociative reactions from thoughts or memories of traumatising court cases. The study is useful to The Judiciary in that it can gain understanding on how traumatizing court cases impacts on officers with different age categories. Hence, the need to sensitize officers on how to identify STS symptoms, in order to take the necessary intervention measures before such symptoms reach a critical stage. Further, the judiciary may consider according more preparation training and counselling to younger officers in order to reduce the risk of developing STS. Finally, scholars may identify investigation pathways they can follow with a view unearthing other factors that can influence the level of STS among judicial officers within and outside Kenya. Keywords: Arousal, Avoidance, Age, Intrusion, Judicial Officer, ST

The man in the room : an anthology of short stories

The thesis The Man in the Room is an anthology of short stories that explore themes of race, xenophobia, class and religious conflict, all within the context of immigrant life in the United States, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Kenya. The book was written as a commentary on what life is like for African migrants living in the diaspora. This is a work of fiction. The people, events, circumstances and institutions depicted are fictitious and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance of any character to any actual person, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental. Please note an excerpt of The Beauty of the Nigerians has been published in the literary journal, Type/Cast

Factors associated with low birth weight among neonates born at Olkalou District Hospital, Central Region, Kenya

Introduction: ninety-two percent of Low Birth Weight(LBW) infants are born in developing countries, 70% in Asia and 22% in Africa. WHO and UNICEF estimate LBW in Kenya as11% and 6%by 2009 Kenya Demographic Health Survey. The same survey estimated LBW to be 5.5% in Central Province, Kenya. Data in Olkalou hospital indicated that prevalence of LBW was high. However, factors giving rise to the problem remained unknown.Methods: a cross-sectional analytic study was therefore conducted to  estimate prevalence and distribution and determine the factors associated with LBW in the hospital.LBW was defined as birth of a live infant less than 2500g.We collected data using a semi-structured questionnaire and review of health records. A total 327 women were randomly selected from  500mothers.Data was managed using Epi Info 3.3.2.Results: the prevalence of LBW was 12.3% (n=40). The mean age of  mothers was 25.6±6.2 years. Mean birth weight was 2928±533 grams.There were 51.1% (n=165) male neonates and 48.9% (n=158) females. The following factors were significantly associated with LBW:LBW deliveryin a previous birth (OR=4.7, 95%C.I.=1.53-14.24), premature rapture of membranes (OR=2.95, 95%C.I.=1.14-7.62), premature births (OR=3.65,95%C.I.=1.31-10.38), and female newborn (OR=2.32,  95%C.I.=1.15-4.70). On logistic regression only delivery of LBW baby in a previous birth (OR=5.07, 95%C.I.=1.59-16.21) and female infant  (OR=3.37, 95%C.I.=1.14-10.00)were independently associated with LBW. Conclusion: prevalence of LBW in the hospital was higher than national estimates. Female infant and LBW baby in a previous birth are  independent factors. Local prevention efforts are necessary to mitigate the problem. Population-based study is necessary to provide accurate  estimates in the area

Brand Awareness Through Sports Sponsorship: Assessing Family Bank’s Eldoret Half Marathon

Sports sponsorship is increasingly becoming part of the major corporate activities. Scholars have recognized the central position taken by sports sponsorships in the corporate world. Busby and Digby (2012 ) posit that  sports sponsorship wields transformative power that is capable of driving exponential growth in brand awareness and affinity; amassing the numbers and  the connections needed for business success. Sports sponsors have a huge advantage over others in the corporate arena mainly stemming from the massive following sports games have (Gamble, 2011). Kenyans are reputed for their prowess in athletics especially long  distance races and the marathon. Hence companies have come out to leverage on this potential with the knowledge that crowds will be attracted by the presence of world athletic champions in their events. Gambel (2011) notes that with just the right personnel, a brand's sales can soar up two times than the brand in the corporate sponsorship and that sports sponsorship impacts brands positively due to the powerful social media influence resulting in sporting activities and discussions. Commercial banks have increasingly used sponsorship of sporting activities to boost their corporate image with the intention of translating this into brand awareness. The objective of this paper is to find out the effect of sports sponsorship on the brand awareness of Family Bank Kenya. The study utilized the descriptive research design with  questionnaires and interviews as the research methods. The study sample size consisted of 100 customers and 10 departmental heads from Family Bank branches in Eldoret. Systematic sampling and purposive sampling methods were used. Keywords: Corporate, sports sponsorship, brand awareness, marathon, consumers/customers DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/77-05 Publication date:March 31st 202