The Role of Planning on Performance of Community Projects in Kenya

Community Bases Organizations have had a tremendous positive impact on development in many Countries around the world. In developing countries, community projects have made it possible for many local communities to see the light of day through programs such as Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable clean water provision, Construction of places of worship, schools among others. In Kenya, an estimated two million people are being positively impacted by community based projects efforts. When a community decides to come up with a development project, it is always critical to go through a project cycle and look at the key significance of their intended project, what they want to achieve, their goals, focus, the resources needed, the skills they require and the technical knowhow. It is during this stage of brainstorming that has been referred to as Initiation stage. It has been observed that in the project initiation, it is important to involve the whole community through participation in planning, providing views on what they want and how they want the project to run and how it will be executed. This is critical since it helps in bridging confidence between the community and the donor or government. It has been observed that performance and success of the projects have a high relation to how they were initiated and the community involvement. This paper seeks to study and establish the relationship that exists between the initiation of the projects and their performance in Kakamega County. Keywords: Planning, as used here, it encompasses community project initiatio

Adult neurogenesis in the four-striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio)

In this study, we investigated non-captive four-striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) for evidence that adult neurogenesis occurs in the adult brain of animal models in natural environment. Ki-67 (a marker for cell proliferation) and doublecortin (a marker for immature neurons) immunostaining confirmed that adult neurogenesis occurs in the active sites of subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle with the migratory stream to the olfactory bulb, and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. No Ki-67 proliferating cells were observed in the striatum substantia nigra, amygdala, cerebral cortex or dorsal vagal complex. Doublecortin-immunoreactive cells were observed in the striatum, third ventricle, cerebral cortex, amygdala, olfactory bulb and along the rostral migratory stream but absent in the substantia nigra and dorsal vagal complex. The potential neurogenic sites in the four-striped mouse species could invariably lead to increased neural plasticity

Global Economic Crisis: A Challenge to the Entrepreneurship Development of Technical Vocational Education and Training in Oil and Gas Sector of the Nigerian Economy

The paper attempts to evaluate the Global economic crisis and the challenges to entrepreneurship development of technical vocational education and training in oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy. Effects of the global melt down in the economics of developed countries of the world and its chain-link action has gradually enveloped the entire world economy. This development impacted negatively on the Nigerian economy coupled with the Niger Delta Crisis that has drastically affected oil and gas production and development of new fields with its attendant consequences. Accordingly, vocational and technical education institutions that undertake training of technicians in such enterprise as welders, electricians, pipe fitters including safety experts were affected as a result of global melt down, constraining the oil and gas companies from engaging the services of Technical Vocational Education and Training Professionals (TVET) in the energy sector

Reducing Early Neonatal Mortality in Nigeria—The Solution

The West African nation of Nigeria seems to have run out of ideas on how their neonatal mortality rate may be lowered. This situation has become dare as the country could not make any significant progress even with the great supports of the last 10 years of Millennium Development Goal. Presently, one in every two deceased child under 5 years of age in Nigeria is a neonate. Literature reveals that most of these deceased neonates are classified preterm or low birthweight, of which nearly four in five must die within first 7 days. This clearly identified the categories and stages of highest mortality; however, it is disappointing that the authorities of the Nigerian health care system have for too long been unable to devise a solution for the neonates. Probably, inadequacy of climatic and cultural compatibilities might partly be responsible for the failure of their current conventional ideas and technologies—these being predominantly imported. Yet, there seems to be lack of interest in some home-grown unconventional ideas that have achieved the needed reduction at few centers. In this chapter, we present the unconventional approaches and encourage across-the-nation translation of the applications to achieve accelerated end to this situation

How Government Policies and Regulation influence the growth of Boda Boda enterprise in Kenya

Boda Bodas form an emerging mode of transport for passengers and light goods all over the world and more so in Africa. Over the past few years, Kenya has experienced a significant increase in use of the Boda Bodas as a means of transport. This paper reviews factors influencing the growth of Boda Boda entrepreneurship and how Government Policies and Regulation affect the Boda Boda enterprise in Busia town. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling was used for key informants while Cluster random sampling was employed for sampling. Questionnaires, interview guides and observational checklist were used to gather primary data while reports and other publications were reviewed for secondary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and norm thematic evaluation were used to carry out the analysis of the data collected. Data was analyzed using regression, spearman rank order and chi-square test of independence. The findings of the study are useful to other scholars, the government and other stakeholders in their pursuit to reduce accidents in Kenya. Key words: Boda Bodas, Policies and Regulations

Examining the Integration of Landsat Operational Land Imager with Sentinel-1 and Vegetation Indices in Mapping Southern Yellow Pines (Loblolly, Shortleaf, and Virginia Pines)

The mapping of southern yellow pines (loblolly, shortleaf, and Virginia pines) is important to supporting forest inventory and the management of forest resources. The overall aim of this study was to examine the integration of Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI ) optical data with Sentinel-1 microwave C-band satellite data and vegetation indices in mapping the canopy cover of southern yellow pines. Specifically, this study assessed the overall mapping accuracies of the canopy cover classification of southern yellow pines derived using four data-integration scenarios: Landsat OLI alone; Landsat OLI and Sentinel-1; Landsat OLI with vegetation indices derived from satellite data—normalized difference vegetation index, soil-adjusted vegetation index, modified soil-adjusted vegetation index, transformed soil-adjusted vegetation index, and infrared percentage vegetation index; and 4) Landsat OLI with Sentinel-1 and vegetation indices. The results showed that the integration of Landsat OLI reflectance bands with Sentinel-1 backscattering coefficients and vegetation indices yielded the best overall classification accuracy, about 77%, and standalone Landsat OLI the weakest accuracy, approximately 67%. The findings in this study demonstrate that the addition of backscattering coefficients from Sentinel-1 and vegetation indices positively contributed to the mapping of southern yellow pines

The Relationship of Gamma Immunoglobin (IgG) Density and Apgar Score in Normal Term Pregnancy

The transfer of maternal IgG provides the neonate with humoral immunity during early life. The population of transferred IgG or IgG density (IgGρ) was estimated to find out if it has any relevance to the condition of an infant 1-5 minutes after birth or APGAR score which gives an insight into the state of health of the infant and thus its chances of survival and its milestone of development. Ex-vivo, term placenta of forty euthyroid mothers, the maternal serum, and cord blood were used to estimate the IgGρ in both maternal and cord blood by taking blood samples from the antecubital vein of the mother and from the umbilical cord (mixed blood) immediately after birth; having determined the APGAR score within 1-5 minutes post-partum. The findings featured the following: the mean APGAR score (10); mean IgGρ of the neonates (11.94 ± 0.12mg/100ml of blood); mean IgGρ of the maternal blood (10.9 ± 0.29/100ml). The difference however, was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The findings provide evidence suggesting that IgGρ, not only relates to, but determines APGAR score of the neonates.Keywords: APGAR score, IgG density, Term placenta, Cord bloo

The Modulatory Activity of Justicia carnea in Plasmodium Infected Mice

The study investigated the antiplasmodial potency of Justicia carnea in plasmodium infected mice. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea was subjected to phytochemical screening using GC-FID. The suppressive, prophylactic and curative activity of the studied plant was accessed after oral administration of standard drugs (5mgkg-1 choroquine and 4mgkg-1 artesunate) and 400-800mgkg-1 of the extract. The effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant was also explored in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and hematological indices of plasmodium infected mice using spectrophotomertic methods and a hematology auto analyzer (BC 5300 Mindray England) respectively. The aqueous leaf extract of Justicia carnea showed considerable dose dependent antiplasmodial activity in the suppressive, prophylactic and curative test conducted. The suppressive activity of (92%) of the aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant at 800mgkg-1 was comparable to the standard drugs used while the mean survival time of plasmodium infected mice at 800mgkg-1 was beyond the mean survival time of the infected untreated group. The aqueous leaf extract of the studied plant also exhibited significant improvements in the activities of liver enzymes, oxidative stress markers and some hematological parameters at 800mgkg-1 of the extract when compared with the infected and untreated group. The results of the study exhibited the antiplasmodial activity of the studied plant, nonetheless, the crude extracts of the studied plant can be further purified for synergistic use with other potent antimalarial drugs to combat and achieve total clearance of plasmodium resistant infections

The dynamics of adult neurogenesis in human hippocampus

The phenomenon of adult neurogenesis is now an accepted occurrence in mammals and also in humans. At least two discrete places house stem cells for generation of neurons in adult brain. These are olfactory system and the hippocampus. In animals, newly generated neurons have been directly or indirectly demonstrated to generate a significant amount of new neurons to have a functional role. However, the data in humans on the extent of this process is still scanty and such as difficult to comprehend its functional role in humans. This paper explores the available data on as extent of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in humans and makes comparison to animal data