Efficacy of preoperative manual detorsion for intravaginal testicular torsion: a systematic review

Background: Preoperative manual detorsion for acute testicular torsion has been postulated to improve testicular salvage rates through reduction in testicular ischemia time. Manual detorsion however has several potential risks including worsening degree of torsion, incomplete detorsion and potentially missing the opportunity to perform definitive orchidopexy. Objectives: To assess the efficacy of preoperative manual detorsion compared to immediate scrotal exploration in improving testicular salvage in acute intravaginal testicular torsion. Methods: The MEDLINE, SCOPUS and AJOL databases along with the CENTRAL registry were searched for trials comparing preoperative manual detorsion to immediate scrotal exploration for acute intravaginal testicular torsion. Both randomized and non randomised trials of interventions were considered. Screening of abstracts, review of full text, extraction of data and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Results: Four retrospective cohort studies with 473 participants were included. Preoperative manual detorsion resulted in fewer orchidectomies compared to immediate scrotal exploration with a pooled risk ratio of 0.13 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.25, P \u3c 0.00001). The overall certainty of the evidence was however downgraded to very low, predominantly due to elevated risk of bias in the included studies. Failure of manual detorsion and incomplete detorsion were noted across the included studies. Conclusion: Preoperative manual detorsion may possibly increase testicular salvage rates amongst males presenting with testicular torsion. The reviewed data is however set in tertiary facilities and of very low certainty. Additionally, the risk of failure of detorsion and incomplete detorsion should always be kept in mind. Based on available data manual detorsion cannot be recommended for routine practice outside tertiary facilities. Future investigations should evaluate the utility of this intervention in varied settings, optimal endpoints and purpose to control for prognostic determinants of testicular salvage

‘Gifts of Art for Kenyan (M)Pigs’: festival of resistance against elite impunity in Kenya

Drawing from the combined theories of Interaction Rituals and Symbolic Interactionalism, this article analyses the performance of rituals and the social construction of symbols in the mechanisms of art resistance against elite impunity in Kenya. Through ethnographic research, the study explores the unique varieties of art resistance advanced by Kenyan youth, their primacy, creativity and symbolism in the struggle for social transformation and contention, and the power of those typologies to transform both participants and the general public into more tolerant, enlightened, critical and active advocates of social change

Sedimentology of Kingston Peak Formation KP1 Beds in Beck Canyon Region, Kingston Range, California

The Neoproterozoic Kingston Peak Formation (KPF) is known for its diamictites interpreted as of glacial origin. The KPF overlies the Beck Spring Dolomite (BSD) that contains microfossils and microbialites. This study aims to test correlation between outcrops and understand the abrupt change from BSD to KPF. It focuses on the basal 4 meters of the KP1 subunit of the KPF as it appears in the Beck Canyon region, Kingston Range, California. We describe and correlate sedimentary rocks at and immediately overlying the contact and analyze the sedimentary structures, textures and sequences. We have found only three sites in the northern Kingston Peak Range where the contact can be observed. At each site we measured sections about 4 meters long across the contact. The top of the BSD in all locations contains microbial laminations, oncoids, pisoids, sheets of chert and peloids. Thin sections from about 15 cm below the contact to about 50 cm above the contact show microbial laminations with some peloids or ghosts of peloids and abundant chert. The base of the KPF is composed of millimeter to centimeter-scale alternating two bed types named A-bed and B-bed. A-beds are clastic-rich and B-beds are dolomite-rich. A-beds are dolomitic silty mudstones with abundant muscovite. B-beds are recrystallized silty dolostones with peloid ghosts. A few of the beds show faint current ripple cross bedding, cross bedding and lenticular structures. A to B bed contacts are sharp. At all stratigraphic levels, clastics have immature textures and compositions. XRD and thin section analysis show a trend of decreasing dolomite up-section. Measurement and analysis of individual alternating bed thickness show cyclical patterns and a gradational increase in bed thickness to massive sandstones. Mineralogical patterns, pisoid-rich layers, and bed thickness patterns can all be correlated among the three sections. The pattern of increasing clastic content and bed thickness upsection suggests clastic influx during progradation that progressively overwhelmed carbonate production. This progradational setting could have occurred on a tide dominated delta or on a prograding tidal flat. The BSD-KPF contact at Kingston Range most likely represent a sequence boundary as evidenced by a change in lithology from dolostones to clastics

Effectiveness of Agricultural Extension Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategies among Small-Scale Maize (\u3ci\u3eZea mays\u3c/i\u3e) Farmers in Laikipia West Sub County, Kenya

Agriculture is critical in the achievement of food security, creation of employment opportunities, steering economic growth, and also a source of raw materials for agricultural industries in many Sub-Saharan countries. However, the small-scale farmers face various challenges which negatively affect farm productivity and production. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the most pressing challenges that small-scale maize farmers experience in some parts of Kenya. It arises from either people’s encroachment on wildlife habitats or the movement of wildlife from their natural habitat into the neighbouring farmland. The smallscale farmers use various agricultural extension strategies to mitigate the conflict. However, the effectiveness of the agricultural extension human wildlife conflict mitigation strategies adopted by small-scale maize farmers in Laikipia West Sub-County had not been investigated and information on the same was inadequate and poorly documented. This study therefore, sought to determine the effectiveness of the agricultural extension human wildlife conflict mitigation strategies adopted by small-scale maize farmers in Laikipia West Sub-County. Whereas a document review guide was used to collect secondary data, semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from maize farmers and extension agents. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze primary data. It was established that crop damage was very severe, of up to 70% or even more per cropping season although farmers used various mitigation strategies such growing of unpalatable crops, live fences, grow resistant crop varieties and digging of trenches. This study concluded that the Agricultural Extension Human Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Strategies used were not effective. It was recommended that concerted efforts between stakeholders be used in dealing with the conflict to realize the benefits of synergies so as to stop crop damage and give small-scale farmers a chance to be food secure

Influence of Strategic Resourcing as Strategic Position on the Performance of Manufacturing Companies in Kenya, A Case of Textile and Apparel Companies in Kenya

This study sought to explore the influence of strategic positioning on the performance of manufacturing companies in Kenya, taking a case of textile and apparel companies in Kenya. The study employed descriptive research design targeting 63 companies in textile and apparel manufacturing sub sector. Data was collected targeting the senior managers/operation managers in the selected firm using a questionnaire. Email method was used to distribute the questionnaires. The data collected was analyzed in SPSS and presented using charts and tables. Data collected was crosschecked for completeness before entering in SPSS for analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found strategic resourcing, research and development, and marketing strategies had statistically significant effect on the performance of apparel and textile firms in Kenya. The study concludes that strategic positioning is an effective approach in sustaining the performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. Keywords: Strategic positioning, Strategic resourcing, Performance DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-30-06 Publication date:October 31st 202

Education and Training: Advantaging the Level of Women’s Legislative Participation in Kenya

This study examines data on the patterns, nature and extent of women’s legislative representation in Kenya and considers the role of education in increasing their participation. The main objective is to determine the status of women within the legislative assembly since Kenya gained independence in 1963 and explore the link between legislative representation, gender, and educational level and achievement. The study attempts to answer the question: Does education and training encourage women’s legislative participation? It concludes that more gender equality in education and training increases the chances of women participation in legislative leadership positions in Kenya

First In First Out (FIFO) And Priority Packet Scheduling Based On Type Of Service (TOS)

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) require prudent resource allocations especially in scheduling mechanisms that manage buffering of packets during waiting time. Various scheduling algorithms may be implemented to govern packet transmission and control packet loss hence managing the Quality of Service (QoS). Such mechanisms include first-in-first-out (FIFO), priority queuing (PQ), and weighted-fair queuing (WFQ). In this research paper, a comparison is made between FIFO and PQ mechanisms in a mixed traffic scenario (HTTP, FTP and VoIP applications). PQ is implemented on the basis of packet Type of Service (ToS), with VoIP data packets being given the upper hand. OPNET simulator is utilized in this paper. The study has been carried out on some issues like: Traffic dropped Traffic Received and packet end to end delay and the simulation results shows that WFQ technique has a better-quality than the other techniques. Keywords: MANETS, QoS, PQ, FIFO, Queuing, ToS, OPNE

Managing stakeholder salience, influence and exposure with sustainable supply chain management practices and triple bottom line measures: The case of Safaricom, Kenya

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (School of Business and Finance)As organizations face stiff pressure from various stakeholders, management has had to move beyond the idea of shareholder wealth maximization and incorporate the environmental and social concerns from the various stakeholders. The study identifies how Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices enable the firm to manage the social, environmental and economic Triple Bottom Line (TBL) for four key stakeholder groups - customers, suppliers, regulators and the community. The study adopted a case study design, focused on Safaricom, arguably Africa's most innovative cellular firm which has championed the M-pesa money transfer platform. The objectives were, first, to establish key attributes namely; power, legitimacy and urgency of selected stakeholders of Safaricom and the key determinants of their salience, second, to determine stakeholder expectations and how they hold Safaricom accountable; third, to identify the extent of Safaricom's influence and control over the selected stakeholders; and finally, to establish how and to what extent the firm manages stakeholder exposure through their SSCM practices and TBL measures. Data from semi-structured interviews with Safaricom management and the four key selected stakeholder groups, together with company and public documents, were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Stakeholder groups were selected to represent examples of low, moderate or high levels of salience and exposure. While all are considered important, the case reveals how Safaricom management prioritizes and addresses stakeholder needs according to their attributes. As each stakeholder group is heterogeneous, the case reveals how the firm manages each distinctively and adopts diverse SSCM practices, which are aligned with the firm's TBL measures. Moreover, stakeholder exposure has a moderating effect on the relationship between the firm's SSCM practices and the TBL measures

¿Cruzar las Fronteras del Género o Masculinidades Desafiantes? Las Combatientes Femeninas en la Guerra de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Kenia (KDF) contra los Militantes de Al-Shabaab

Few institutions have historically presented more defined gender boundaries than the military. This study examines gender and war through the lens of military combat roles. Military combat roles have traditionally relied on and manipulated ideas about masculinity and femininity. Women arrive in the army with different types of capital and bring with them a shared cultural ‘tool kit’ (womanhood). Following the military’s labour allocation process, they are assigned combat roles, which is at variance to their gendered character. Assignment in non-traditional feminine roles means crossing gender boundaries. Ethnographic studies of the Kenya Defence Forces operations in Somalia reveal the different gendered characteristics of the military roles as reflected in the women’s soldiery experiences. The encounter with military power and authority challenges the women soldiers to redefine their feminine capital, to interpret the military reality via a gendered lens and, therefore, to critically (re)examine the patriarchal order. Grounded on the twin theoretical frameworks of socio-cultural capitals and cultural scripts, and structured on a gender framing of women’s military roles, the study illustrates the complex and contradictory realities of women in the army. The study unpacks the relationship between masculinity and femininity, and, war and the military. It underpins the value of the female soldier as a figurative illustration of the complex interrelations between the gendered politics of masculinity and femininity. It considers what the acts, practices and performances constitutive of female soldiering reveal about particular modes of governance, regulation and politics that arise from the sacrifices of soldiers in combatant. Pocas instituciones han presentado históricamente límites de género más definidos que la militar. Este estudio examina el género y la guerra a partir de los roles de combate militar. Las funciones de combate militares han dependido tradicionalmente de ideas sobre la masculinidad y la feminidad. Las mujeres llegan al ejército con diferentes tipos de capital y traen consigo una 'caja de herramientas' compartida culturalmente. Siguiendo el proceso de asignación de trabajo de los militares, se les asigna funciones de combate que es contraria a su carácter de género. La asignación de roles femeninos no tradicionales implican unas fronteras de género cruzadas. Los estudios etnográficos de las Fuerzas de Defensa de Kenia en Somalia revelan las diferentes características de género de los roles militares como se refleja en las experiencias de la tropa de las mujeres. El encuentro con el poder militar y autoridad desafía a las mujeres soldados para redefinir su capital femenino, para interpretar la realidad militar a través de un lente de género y, por tanto, (re) examinar el orden patriarcal. Fundamentada en los marcos teóricos del capital socio-cultural y estructurado en un encuadre de género de las funciones militares de las mujeres, el estudio pone de manifiesto las realidades complejas y contradictorias de las mujeres en el ejército. El estudio descomprime la relación entre la masculinidad y la feminidad, y, la guerra y los militares. Se basa el valor de la mujer soldado como una ilustración figurativa de las complejas interrelaciones entre la política de género de la masculinidad y la feminidad. Considera lo que los actos, prácticas y actuaciones constitutivas de soldado de sexo femenino revelan acerca de los modos particulares de gobierno y la regulación y la política que se derivan de los sacrificios de los soldados en combate

Managing Stakeholder Salience, Influence and Exposure with Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices and Triple Bottom Line Measures: The Case of Safaricom, Kenya

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Management)As organizations face stiff pressure from various stakeholders, management has had to move beyond the idea of shareholder wealth maximization and incorporate the environmental and social concerns from the various stakeholders. The study identifies how Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices enable the firm to manage the social, environmental and economic Triple Bottom Line (TBL) for four key stakeholder groups - customers, suppliers, regulators and the community. The study adopted a case study design, focused on Safaricom, arguably Africa's most innovative cellular firm which has championed the M-pesa money transfer platform. The objectives were, first, to establish key attributes namely; power, legitimacy and urgency of selected stakeholders of Safaricom and the key determinants of their salience, second, to determine stakeholder expectations and how they hold Safaricom accountable; third, to identify the extent of Safaricom's influence and control over the selected stakeholders; and finally, to establish how and to what extent the firm manages stakeholder exposure through their SSCM practices and TBL measures. Data from semi-structured interviews with Safaricom management and the four key selected stakeholder groups, together with company and public documents, were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Stakeholder groups were selected to represent examples of low, moderate or high levels of salience and exposure. While all are considered important, the case reveals how Safaricom management prioritizes and addresses stakeholder needs according to their attributes. As each stakeholder group is heterogeneous, the case reveals how the firm manages each distinctively and adopts diverse SSCM practices, which are aligned with the firm's TBL measures. Moreover, stakeholder exposure has a moderating effect on the relationship between the firm's SSCM practices and the TBL measures