Non-traditional Age Black African International Students’ Experiences: Phenomenological Heuristic Inquiry

This paper summarizes the results of a qualitative study where the purpose was to explore the lived experiences of adjusting to U.S. culture among Black African international non-traditional age adult students while attending predominantly White higher academic institutions. Implications for faculty and higher education administration working with Black African adult international students on American university campuses are suggested

Effect of Single Window System Procedures on Cargo Clearance Efficiency in Kenya: A Case for Mombasa Port

A Single Window Concept is a one-stop facility that allows exchange of information between all parties involved in trade across borders. It is aimed at reducing the complexity, time and costs of clearing goods at the ports. The Concept has been successfully implemented in Kenya in areas such as the Mombasa port, Jomo Kenyatta International airport, Moi International airport and Kenyan borders. The study sought to identify the Effect of Single Window System on cargo clearance efficiency at the port of Mombasa. In particular, to determine its effect on shipping procedures, Pre-clearance permits and Customs goods declaration procedures at the port of Mombasa. The study adopted a quantitative approach targeting a population of 155 respondents. Stratified sampling technique was used to get a sample size of 112 respondents. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with Likert scale measurement. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive as well as inferential statistics. The study found that Single Window concept has positive effect on Shipping procedures (p-value 0.952), Pre-clearance permits (p-value 0.861), Customs goods declaration procedures (p-value 0.950) and hence improved cargo clearance efficiency at the port of Mombasa. The study recommends more studies to be done on variables that affect cargo clearance efficiency at the port of Mombasa which were not covered under this study. Keywords: Concept, One-stop facility, Cargo clearance, Pre-clearance permits, Customs goods declarations, Regulatory agencies, Electronic cargo authentication.DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-24-11Publication date: August 31st 2019

Customer Loyalty Initiative and Its Influence on Customer Satisfaction among Large Retail Supermarkets in Kenya

With the entry of other international retailers, Kenyan large retail supermarkets face fierce business competition in the marketplace that has been never witnessed in recent times. Therefore, to maintain a competitive edge, stay in business and retain their customers, they need to adapt a customer-oriented philosophy that creates maximum customer value. It is worth noting that customer value formulate certain attitudes, which ultimately informs purchase decision. Customer satisfaction can only be realized if customers’ expectations are met and exceeded thus exhibiting high frequency customer patronage in preferred supermarkets. Thus large retail supermarkets through their customer loyalty initiative, have established amicable customer relationships, communicated easily using available technology, amicably solved customer issues, and rewarded repeat purchase through this kind of program. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of customer loyalty initiative on customer satisfaction among large retail supermarkets in Kenya. Carried out in all large retail supermarkets in Kenya, a sample of 336 customers and 31 branch managers spread across the 8 regions were engaged using self-administered questionnaires for customers while interview schedules was undertaken for the supermarket branch managers. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for descriptive statistics; inferential statistics (Pearson moment correlation) and regression analysis was also done to establish the extent of relationship between the variables. It was established that customer loyalty initiative had a significant influence on customer satisfaction among large retail supermarkets in Kenya. The study thus recommends that the supermarkets management should scale up their promotional campaigns to ensure that all their customers be part of the program. This kind of initiative should  also include other features such as; access to all  banking services; prompt payment of goods, as well as access to credit facilities whenever they are in need among other services. Keywords: Customer Loyalty Initiative; Customer Satisfaction; Large Retail Supermarket

A Comparative Study of Levels of Self Esteem among Students of Single and Dual Parent Families. the Case of Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya

Children from single parent families tend to be viewed as having low self esteem and challenges associated with  it despite the fact that children from duo parent background are not immune to the same challenge. This study therefore aimed at establishing whether there is a comparison in  levels of self esteem among students of dual and single parent families from selected schools in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. It adopted the causal-comparative research design. A total of 4257 Form 3 and Form 4 students comprised the population of the study . The study was carried out in 18 public secondary schools within Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. A sample size of 360 students, from both single and dual parent families took part in the study. Stratified and Purposive  sampling techniques were used to obtain the sample. Data was collected by use of a questionnaire that included a self esteem test. Analysis of data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics including the independent t-test statistics. The significance was set at µ = 0.05. The analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social sciences (SPSS) version 17. Findings of the study indicated that there was no statistically significant comparison in level of self esteem among students from single parent families and those from duo parent families (p > 0.05). This suggests the level of self-esteem of a student does not depend on the type of parenthood per se but on a complex interaction of other factors such as the type of relationship between parents and children, the school environment and teaching conditions among others. The study recommended that since self esteem is a concern for children from both single parent and duo parent and teachers, counselors, parents and other educational stakeholders should address the issue from a more holistic position and seek to come up with strategies to boost self esteem that are unique to each student’s situation. Keywords:Self-esteem, single parenthood and dual parenthood

Influence of Customer Service and Firm- Level Characteristics on Customer Satisfaction Among Large Retail Supermarkets in Kenya: Theoretical Framework

Different companies adopt different mechanisms to measure customer satisfaction and gain competitive edge. Principal component analysis identified five constructs which were found to influence respondents' decision to purchase: value, physical appearance, usage, prior experience and promotion. To achieve customer satisfaction therefore, most large firms are grappling to balance both the tangible and intangible consumer previous experience in order to maintain a destination of choice for its target audience. Customer service and firm level characteristics remain crucial elements of the retail mix that are of great significance to supermarket operations. Empirical review widely links the two aspects with customer satisfaction and that they are important for organization performance, growth, and sustainability amidst competition. However, previous studies have analyzed each aspect separately or looked at the variables independently which is a fact to be established in this study. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of customer service and firm level characteristics on customer satisfaction among large retail supermarkets in Kenya. The study tested a conceptual framework of six variables which links customer service and firm level characteristics to customer satisfaction; customer loyalty card initiative; supermarket ambience; operation schedule; supermarket pricing differentiation; supermarket image; and supermarket location. Key words: Customer Service and Firm- Level Characteristics, Customer Satisfactio

Moving barriers, increasing access: an assessment of the mobility of women with disabilities and elderly women

Papers presented virtually at the 41st International Southern African Transport Conference on 10-13 July 2023.The success of Sustainable Development Goal 11, particularly target 11.2 on access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems will be measured through the proportion of people especially vulnerable groups with access to convenient public transport systems. In Kenya, this demographic group comprises 2.2% (0.9 million) of people with disabilities and 6% (2.7 million) of the elderly. Among these statistics, women form the largest proportion; 2.5% for people with disabilities and 55% for the elderly. The purpose of this assessment is hence to understand the vulnerabilities women with disabilities and elderly women face in accessing public transport through documenting their subjective experiences, with a special focus on Nairobi City County. A mixed methodology approach was adopted comprising a survey targeting women with disabilities and elderly women to collect data; Focus Group Discussions; and Key Informant Interviews with transport policymakers, public transport operators and owners, and relevant government institutions. Findings from the study indicate that women with disabilities and elderly women currently face challenges in accessing public transport services due to a lack of inclusive national and county transport policies, inaccessible design of public transport vehicles and infrastructure, unaffordable and hidden costs of transport, vulnerability to sexual harassment, limited road safety, and security; inaccessible travel information; discrimination, unresponsive reporting mechanisms, and a non-representative workforce. To enhance access to public transport for these vulnerable groups, the study recommends technical, social, and institutional interventions, including implementation of the Public Service Vehicle standard designs in Kenya to ensure inclusive accessibility, education and awareness programs to public service operators on handling and treatment of vulnerable groups, sensitization and implementation of policies governing vulnerable groups and building capacity of women belonging to these groups on self-advocacy

Voltammetric Determination of Penicillin G in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate/acetate Buffer Media on Glassy Carbon Electrode

The presence of residues of penicillin in food products like milk and meat of animal origin exerts negative impact on public health such as drug resistance diseases and severe allergic responses. This work reports development of a simple voltammetric method for detection of penicillin using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in acetate buffer solution (ABS) on glassy carbon electrode. Addition of SDS to the penicillin G containing acetate buffer solution (ABS) was found to enhance the voltammetric oxidation current signal by about 5 times with insignificant shift of the oxidation potentials. Using cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation potentials for penicillin G were found to be 1.65V vs. Ag/AgCl in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 1.60V vs. Ag/AgCl in ABS, pH 4.5. The diffusion coefficients for penicillin G were found to be 6.01x10-7 cm2/sec and 1.39x10-6 cm2/sec in ABS, pH 4.5 and SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 respectively. Linear concentration range were also investigated using square wave voltammetry and found to lie in the range of 1.25 – 15µM penicillin G in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 2.5 – 10µM penicillin G in ABS, pH 4.5.Limits of detection were also found to be 1.25µM and 2.5µM penicillin G in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and ABS, pH 4.5 respectively while limits of quantitation were 3.75µM penicillin G in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 7.5µM penicillin G in ABS, pH 4.5. Possible interferants like Na+, K+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Fe3+, Cl-, NO3-, PO43- and SO42- did not have any significant effect on the anodic currents and oxidation potentials of the penicillin G. These results show that the developed method is sensitive enough for use in the analysis of penicillin G in diverse real samples

Square Wave Voltammetric Determination of Penicillin V in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Containing Media on Glassy Carbon Electrode

The effect of adding sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a surface-active agent to acetate buffer solution containing penicillin V was investigated. The voltammetric responses of penicillin V on glassy carbon electrode was a function of the concentration of penicillin V, surfactant and pH. Addition of SDS to the penicillin V containing acetate buffer solution (ABS) was found to enhance the voltammetric oxidation current signal by about 10 times with insignificant shift of the oxidation potentials. With this electrochemical method, the optimal pH and SDS concentration were found to be pH 4.5 and 0.347M respectively. Using cyclic voltammetry, the oxidation potential for penicillin V were found to be 1.61V vs. Ag/AgCl in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 1.55V vs. Ag/AgCl in ABS, pH 4.5. Linear concentration range were also investigated using square wave voltammetry and found to lie in the range of 0.04 – 34.6µM penicillin V in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 3.5 – 14.0µM penicillin V in ABS, pH 4.5. Limits of detection were also found to be 0.04µM penicillin V in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 3.5µM penicillin V in ABS, pH 4.5 and limits of quantitation were 0.12µM penicillin V in SDS/ABS, pH 4.5 and 14µM penicillin V in ABS, pH 4.5.Foreign substances like Na+, K+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Cl-, NO3-, PO43- and SO42- did not have any significant effect on the voltammetric currents of penicillin V. These results confirm that this electrochemical method is sensitive enough to be used in the determination of penicillin V in diverse environmental and clinical samples

Securing Africa’s health sovereignty : why investing in science and innovation matters

This paper aims at provoking broad-based dialogues and debates on ways and means of securing Africa’s health sovereignty. It argues that health sovereignty is about the realization of specific national constitutional and policy objectives on citizens’ access to and enjoyment of good health, resilient to COVID-19 and related disease pandemics. The paper also emphasizes the urgency of African countries fulfilling their commitments under global and regional declarations on health research. Investing in research, knowledge and innovation is critical to fight and win the war against COVID-19 and other diseases that undermine economic productivity and competitiveness of African countries. There is also a need for venture capitalists to demonstrate bankable ideas emanating from the science academies and funded by National Science Foundations. The base teachings at school level need to significantly invest in the “African philosophy” to create a shift in mind-set from the “grab and own without use mentality that is currently predominant on the continent. The paper recommends that executive, political and science leadership are needed to strengthen national health research and innovation systems through improved evidence-based policy implementation. With these thrusts working effectively together, rather than in silos, will afford the African continent to emerge victoriously in the combat against COVID-19 and other disease burdens

tropiTree:an NGS-based EST-SSR resource for 24 tropical tree species

The development of genetic tools for non-model organisms has been hampered by cost, but advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have created new opportunities. In ecological research, this raises the prospect for developing molecular markers to simultaneously study important genetic processes such as gene flow in multiple non-model plant species within complex natural and anthropogenic landscapes. Here, we report the use of bar-coded multiplexed paired-end Illumina NGS for the de novo development of expressed sequence tag-derived simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers at low cost for a range of 24 tree species. Each chosen tree species is important in complex tropical agroforestry systems where little is currently known about many genetic processes. An average of more than 5,000 EST-SSRs was identified for each of the 24 sequenced species, whereas prior to analysis 20 of the species had fewer than 100 nucleotide sequence citations. To make results available to potential users in a suitable format, we have developed an open-access, interactive online database, tropiTree (http://bioinf.hutton.ac.uk/tropiTree), which has a range of visualisation and search facilities, and which is a model for the efficient presentation and application of NGS data