14 research outputs found

    Measuring Organizational Capacity: Developing Tools to Measure Civil Society Organisations Capacity to Receive Grants for HIV/AIDS Response in Kenya DARAUS BUKENYA

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    Abstract Civil Society Organization's capacity is critical for quality implementation of programs and overall sustainability of the organization. Several capacity tools have been developed by experts i

    Milk dispensing machines in Kenya’s dairy industry: trends and scenario analysis

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    This study analyses trends in the development of ATM milk retailing in Kenya,based on data collected in six counties with high ATM density. Trends include growth in the ATM businesses and related support services, consumer perceptions and demand and milk quality and safety issues in this milk market segment. Building on the trends analysis, the second part of the study explores scenarios that are likely to affect further growth of milk ATMs. The evidence is intended to inform the necessary policy and regulatory framework that can support quality-driven investments in this growing retail market segment

    Canine Respiratory Coronavirus, Bovine Coronavirus, and Human Coronavirus OC43: Receptors and Attachment Factors

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    Despite high similarity of canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV), bovine coronavirus, (BCoV) and human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), these viruses differ in species specificity. For years it was believed that they share receptor specificity, utilizing sialic acids for cell surface attachment, internalization, and entry. Interestingly, careful literature analysis shows that viruses indeed bind to the cell surface via sialic acids, but there is no solid data that these moieties mediate virus entry. In our study, using a number of techniques, we showed that all three viruses are indeed able to bind to sialic acids to a different extent, but these molecules render the cells permissive only for the clinical strain of HCoV-OC43, while for others they serve only as attachment receptors. CRCoV and BCoV appear to employ human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-1) as the entry receptor. Furthermore, we identified heparan sulfate as an alternative attachment factor, but this may be related to the cell culture adaptation, as in ex vivo conditions, it does not seem to play a significant role. Summarizing, we delineated early events during CRCoV, BCoV, and HCoV-OC43 entry and systematically studied the attachment and entry receptor utilized by these viruses

    Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa.

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    The geographic and evolutionary origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1), which was first detected mid-November 2021 in Southern Africa, remain unknown. We tested 13,097 COVID-19 patients sampled between mid-2021 to early 2022 from 22 African countries for BA.1 by real-time RT-PCR. By November-December 2021, BA.1 had replaced the Delta variant in all African sub-regions following a South-North gradient, with a peak Rt of 4.1. Polymerase chain reaction and near-full genome sequencing data revealed genetically diverse Omicron ancestors already existed across Africa by August 2021. Mutations, altering viral tropism, replication and immune escape, gradually accumulated in the spike gene. Omicron ancestors were therefore present in several African countries months before Omicron dominated transmission. These data also indicate that travel bans are ineffective in the face of undetected and widespread infection

    Retraction.

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    This is a retraction of 'Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa' 10.1126/science.add873

    The Implications of Foreign Exchange Exposure on the Oil Marketing Companies in Kenya

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    A Research Project Report by Judy Wangui Mwangi, Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA).The purpose of this research was to examine the implications of foreign exchange exposure on Oil Marketing firms in Kenya. The research was conducted to identify the types of foreign exchange exposures facing oil firms, various non-instrumental strategies used to mitigate foreign exchange exposure risk among Oil firms in Kenya and also determine the instrumental techniques used for managing foreign exchange risks. The research problem was done through descriptive survey research design that targeted 10 oil marketing firms. The target population was stratified based on their market share. The large firms were 3 which all formed part of the sample, medium firms were 17 whereby 4 OMCS’ were randomly chosen and small were 16 whereby 3 were randomly chosen. The study applied purposive sampling of selecting 3 employees in the finance department to make a sample of 3 respondents from each organization. The study used a survey method of data collection. Descriptive statistics approach was used for data analysis and the findings were presented in bar charts, graphs and pie charts. Content analysis was used to analyze data that was qualitative in nature or aspect of the data collected from the open ended questions. Statistical inferences were made by use of correlation analysis. The study found that OMCS’s were highly affected by all the three foreign exchange exposures: these are translation; transactional and economic exposure. However translational and transactional exposure did not affect the firm’s investment strategy to a high extent. Translation exposure also didn’t have a high effect on the cash flow. Cash flow was mainly impacted by transaction and economic exposure. Further, the study found that the most popular non-instrumental techniques in mitigating foreign exchange exposure risks by OMCS’ were, continuously measuring and quantifying through the foreign exchange gain or loss in the financial statements, cash flow matching , leading and lagging and changing the currency of billing. The least common is increasing prices due to competition and ERC price controls. Further the study concluded that the most popular instrumental techniques to mitigate foreign exchange exposure risks by OMCS’ were money market contracts and to a moderate extent the forward and future contracts. Swaps and options were least common. A combination of both instrumental and non-instrumental techniques is also very common. The study recommends that oil firms should closely monitor their losses or gains that arise due to foreign exchange fluctuations since it impacts firm overall performance and operations. It also recommends a deliberate effort by the firms to embrace use of derivatives through trainings and over the counter short term derivatives and use of other available consultants since proper use of derivatives offers protection to firms

    Adaptation, acceptability and feasibility of Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention to promote the mental health of young people living with HIV in Kenya: formative mixed-methods research

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    Background: Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a psychological intervention that seeks to address common mental disorders among individuals exposed to adversity. Thus far, the potential for delivering PM+ by mobile phones has not been evaluated. Aims: To adapt PM+ for telephone delivery (ten weekly sessions of about 45 min each) and preliminarily evaluate its acceptability and feasibility with young people living with HIV (YLWH) in coastal Kenya. Method: This was a mixed-method formative research. Qualitative data collection included consultations with stakeholders, conducting key informant interviews with HIV care providers and focus group discussions with potential end-users, i.e. YLWH. Moreover, brief exit interviews with recipients of the adapted PM+ were conducted. Quantitative acceptability and feasibility indicators and outcome measures were tracked/assessed during PM+ preliminary implementation involving 70 YLWH. Results: From the qualitative inquiries, the adapted PM+ emerged as contextually appropriate, acceptable and feasible for mobile phone delivery, despite some concerns around missing nonverbal cues and poor network connectivity. High recruitment (85%) and fair programme retention (69%) were observed. Intervention sessions over the telephone lasted 46 min on average (range 42–55 min). Preliminary feasibility data indicated that the adapted PM+ has the potential of reducing common mental disorders among YLWH from the Kenyan coast. Conclusions: PM+ is acceptable and can feasibly be delivered via mobile phone to YLWH in coastal Kenya. This study sets the stage for a future fully powered, randomised controlled trial assessing the efficacy of the adapted PM+ in this or a similar setting

    Psychological effects of the Nairobi US embassy bomb blast on pregnant women and their children

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    A descriptive study was carried out in pregnant women who were affected by the 1998 bomb blast in Nairobi, Kenya, and their babies who were in utero at the time of the blast. The psychological effects of the event on the exposed women were severe. After three years, the average score on the Impact of Event Scale - Revised was still higher than 29 for the three subscales combined, suggesting that most of the study group was still suffering from clinical post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The scores on all Childhood Personality Scale (CPS) subscales were significantly higher in children of the study group than in controls. The mothers' PTSD symptom levels at one month after the blast correlated with the children's CPS profiles

    Adaptation, acceptability and feasibility of Problem Management Plus (PM+) intervention to promote the mental health of young people living with HIV in Kenya: Formative mixed-methods research

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    Background Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a psychological intervention that seeks to address common mental disorders among individuals exposed to adversity. Thus far, the potential for delivering PM+ by mobile phones has not been evaluated. Aims To adapt PM+ for telephone delivery (ten weekly sessions of about 45 min each) and preliminarily evaluate its acceptability and feasibility with young people living with HIV (YLWH) in coastal Kenya. Method This was a mixed-method formative research. Qualitative data collection included consultations with stakeholders, conducting key informant interviews with HIV care providers and focus group discussions with potential end-users, i.e. YLWH. Moreover, brief exit interviews with recipients of the adapted PM+ were conducted. Quantitative acceptability and feasibility indicators and outcome measures were tracked/assessed during PM+ preliminary implementation involving 70 YLWH. Results From the qualitative inquiries, the adapted PM+ emerged as contextually appropriate, acceptable and feasible for mobile phone delivery, despite some concerns around missing nonverbal cues and poor network connectivity. High recruitment (85%) and fair programme retention (69%) were observed. Intervention sessions over the telephone lasted 46 min on average (range 42-55 min). Preliminary feasibility data indicated that the adapted PM+ has the potential of reducing common mental disorders among YLWH from the Kenyan coast. Conclusions PM+ is acceptable and can feasibly be delivered via mobile phone to YLWH in coastal Kenya. This study sets the stage for a future fully powered, randomised controlled trial assessing the efficacy of the adapted PM+ in this or a similar setting
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