THE INFLUENCE OF CASH TRANSFERS INSTIGATED ASSET ACCUMULATION AND RETENTION ON POVERTY REDUCTION IN TURKANA WEST SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Poverty remains a global challenge to the development of many countries. Despite the fact that Kenya is making considerable progress in economic development, approximately 45.9% of the Country’s population still survives on less than US$ 1.25 per day. Cash transfers have been proven albeit with mixed results to be effecting in poverty reduction efforts world over. This study looks at the influence of cash transfer on addressing poverty reduction. It accomplishes two broad objectives: (1) demonstrates the relative influence of cash transfers on household’s productive asset accumulation for poverty reduction; and (2) it contributes to a growing body of evidence on the influence of state-sponsored cash transfer programmes in Kenya on household’s poverty. It embraced a mixed methods approach embedded with an explanatory research design for concurrent triangulation. The study interviewed a total of 296 respondents through HH questionnaires, KII Tool and FGD Guide. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic framework approach while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential (correlations) statistics on SPSS. Results suggest that even with minimal investment in both productive and non-productive assets (M=2.47 and SD=0.99) from cash transfers, there is significant negative effect (r=0.146 and P=0.05) between asset accumulation and poverty reduction among targeted households. This implies that cash transfers correlate strongly with poverty reduction.  Article visualizations

Syntactic Properties of Dholuo Verbal Extensions

According to the existing literatures on verbal morphology of agglutinating languages, there are morphological behaviors characterized by creation of new verb stems from existing roots by affixation of derivative morphemes to the roots. The affixes are referred to as verbal extensions. Verbal extensions have syntactic characteristics realized in verbal matrices of verbs they get attached to. This paper discusses the syntactic properties of Dholuo verbal extensions. The verbal extensions under investigation are the applicative, the locative, the reflexive, the reciprocal and the stative. Although studies exist on syntactic properties of Dholuo applicative, reciprocal and reflexive extensions, effects of these extensions on the argument structure of Dholuo verbs still need further inquiry. This paper therefore analyses syntactic characteristics of Dholuo applicative, reflexive and reciprocal extensions in addition to locative and stative extensions that are yet to be analyzed in Dholuo. Most of the data examined in this study was generated by two of the researchers who are themselves native speakers of Dholuo. In some instances however, consultations were made with other native speakers for cross-checking purposes. Keywords: valence, in situ, local domain, argument and transitivity

Innate differences in consumption and utilization of food by the fast- and slow-growing larvae of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) (Lep., Noctuidae)

Consumption and utilization of soybean leaves by the fast versus slow-growing larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni were studied under laboratory conditions. Fast-growing larvae consumed more food/unit of body mass, and gained weight 10 times faster than the slow-growing larvae. Slow-growing larvae were less efficient in consumption and utilization of food, and the differences in indices of food utilization were greater between the fast- and slow-growing larvae on the relatively resistant soybean cultivar, “PI 227687” than on the susceptible cultivar, “Davis”. Implications of differences in growth rates and food utilization by the fast- and slow-growing larvae on resistant and susceptible cultivars are discussed in relation to evolution of new biotypes and host-plant resistance

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead.

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety 'Mode of Action' framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology

The impact of low-dose carcinogens and environmental disruptors on tissue invasion and metastasis

The purpose of this review is to stimulate new ideas regarding low-dose environmental mixtures and carcinogens and their potential to promote invasion and metastasis. Whereas a number of chapters in this review are devoted to the role of lowdose environmental mixtures and carcinogens in the promotion of invasion and metastasis in specific tumors such as breast and prostate, the overarching theme is the role of low-dose carcinogens in the progression of cancer stem cells. It is becoming clearer that cancer stem cells in a tumor are the ones that assume invasive properties and colonize distant organs. Therefore, low-dose contaminants that trigger epithelial–mesenchymal transition, for example, in these cells are of particular interest in this review. This we hope will lead to the collaboration between scientists who have dedicated their professional life to the study of carcinogens and those whose interests are exclusively in the arena of tissue invasion and metastasis.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Oxford University Press. The published article can be found at: http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/. The publisher and the author(s) have made this article open access

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety ‘Mode of Action’ framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/ mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety ‘Mode of Action’ framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology

Impact of bank mergers on shareholders’ wealth

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) perform a vital role in corporate finance in enabling firms achieve varied objectives and financial strategies. This study sought to comprehend the impacts that previous bank mergers have had on the shareholders’ wealth. The study location was in Kenya and it adopted the descriptive survey and correlation design in which the success of mergers was measured based on the objective oriented model using the annual accounts. The study computed the return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and the efficiency ratio (EFF) as indicators of shareholder value. The results of the commercial banks were analysed for a five-year period (2006-2010). The study reveals that mergers significantly influence shareholder value with banks that have undertaken mergers creating more value than those that have not. Such banks were ascertained to have posted better results than the overall sector

Trends of non-vaccination, under-vaccination and missed opportunities for vaccination (2003-2014) amongst children 0-23 months in Kenya.

Vaccines are effective and cost-effective. Non-vaccination, under-vaccination, and missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV), have contributed to incomplete vaccination coverage in Kenya. Analyzing their trends is essential for targeting interventions and improvement strategies. This study aimed to assess trends of non-vaccination, under-vaccination, and MOV among children aged 0-23 months in Kenya using data obtained from the Kenya Demographic and Health Surveys (KDHS) conducted in 2003, 2008/09, and 2014. A two-stage, multi-stage, and stratified sampling technique was used. Weighted analysis was conducted to ensure generalizability to the full population. Using the KDHS sample size estimation process, the sample size was estimated for each indicator, with varying standard error estimates, level of coverage and estimated response rates. Final sample size was 2380 (2003), 2237 (2008/09) and 7380 (2014). To determine the level of non-vaccination, under-vaccination and MOV among children aged 0-23 months, a weighted descriptive analysis was used to estimate their prevalence, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each year. MOV was defined using an algorithm as a binary variable. Data coding and recoding were done using Stata (version 14; College Station, TX: StataCorp LP). Trends in proportions of non-vaccination, under-vaccination and MOV were compared between 2003, 2008/09, and 2014 using the Cochrane-Armitage trend test. All results with P≤0.05 were considered statistically significant. Trends in proportion of non-vaccination among children aged 0-23 months in Kenya was 13.2%, 6.1% and 3.2% in 2003, 2008/09 and 2014, respectively (P = 0.0001). Trends in proportion of under-vaccination among children aged 0-23 months in Kenya was 54.3%, 50% and 51.3% in 2003, 2008/09 and 2014, respectively (P = 0.0109). The trends in proportion of children who experienced MOV was 22.7% in 2003, 31.9% in 2008/09 and 37.6% in 2014 (P = 0.0001). In the study duration, non-vaccination decreased by 10%, under-vaccination remained relatively stable, and MOV increased by ~15%. There is need for the Government and partners to implement initiatives that improve vaccine access and coverage, particularly in regions with low coverage rates, and to address missed opportunities for vaccination