Pot-in-pot reactions: a simple and green approach to efficient organic synthesis

Incompatible organic reactions impede efficient green synthesis by making multi-component or cascade reactions a big challenge. This review highlights pot-in-pot reactions (multiple reactions carried out in one pot by separating key reactions with a thin polymeric membrane) as an efficient, green synthetic alternative to conventional synthesis. We discuss the advantages of homogeneous processes to develop new cascade reaction sequences by reviewing the use of polymeric thimbles as selective semi-permeable walls. These thimbles allow small organic molecules to diffuse through while retaining polar reagents, polar solvents, and/or organometallic catalysts. The dynamic and versatile nature of this technique is demonstrated by performing 2- and 3-step cascade reactions in one glass pot. A pot-in-pot reaction approach to synthesis circumvents the need to isolate intermediates, or handling of toxic/unpleasant by-products, therefore enabling synthesis of otherwise challenging molecules, improving the efficiency, or enabling greener approaches to modular synthesis

Quota Admission Policy and Its Impact on Equitable Access to Quality Secondary School Education in Kakamega County, Kenya

Through its secondary school quota admission policy, the Ministry of Education in Kenya endeavors to ensure equitable access to quality secondary school education opportunities by placing students into various categories of secondary schools based on sub county quotas as well as public-private primary schools quotas. The quota admission policy is intended to ensure that students from lower socioeconomic status are given opportunities to attend national and extra county secondary schools. However, every year after the initial placement of students into various categories of secondary schools about 23.01% of students fail to join secondary schools of initial placement but seek transfer to join other schools through a replacement process. In this regard, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of quota admission policy on equitable access to quality secondary school education in Kakamaga County in Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were; (i) to determine the impact of students’ type of primary school attended on equitable access to quality secondary school education opportunities, (ii) to determine the impact of students’ sub county of residence on equitable access to quality secondary school education opportunities, (iii) to determine the impact of students’ socioeconomic status on equitable access to quality secondary school education opportunities. Stratified sampling, proportional sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to arrive at a sample of 280 students from 2 National schools, 480 from 6 Extra County schools, 500 from 7 County schools, and 960 from 30 Sub County secondary schools. The sample also included 45 principals. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data and descriptive statistics used to analyze the collected data. The study findings indicated a higher representation of students who attended private primary schools in the national (63.1%) and extra county (56.5%) secondary schools compared to students who attended public primary schools. The results further indicated that students from upper (57.3%) and middle (50.8%) socioeconomic status were highly represented in the national and extra county secondary schools compared to students from lower socioeconomic status. The study recommends that the government should address factors that impede students who attend public primary schools especially those from lower socioeconomic status to join national and extra county secondary schools. Keywords:quota selection admission policy, equitable access, quality secondary education, socioeconomic status, initial placement, replacement. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-32-07 Publication date: November 30th 2022

Factors Influencing Strategic Information Systems Implementation In Government Parastatals: A Case Of Kenya Forest Service, Mau Forest Conservancy

The operations of parastatals could be greatly enhanced by the wellfocused application of information systems to support improvements in productivity, management effectiveness and ultimately, the quality of services offered to citizens. Assessing the strategies of information systems (ISs) implementation has been identified as one of the most critical issues in IS field. However, studies relating to this issue within the context of kenyan parastatals are few and lack the ability to propose a major set of factors influencing the strategic IS implementation. The study sought to determine the influence of top management support, expertise, infrastructure and enduser training on strategic information systems implementation at Kenya Forest Service. The study adopted descriptive research design using a sample of 262 drawn from a population of 831 staff of the Kenya Forest Service, Head of Conservancy Mau selected using stratified and simple random sampling technique. Data was collected by questionnaires and analysed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that the relationship of top management support, expertise, end-user training and infrastructure explain a strong change in strategic information systems implementation. The study concluded that to ensure strategy is implemented as intended, senior executives must endevour to persuade the employees of their ideas and that IT professionals' technical backgrounds is critical both during the selection and acquisition of complex IT system and for the implementation of information system into adopting organizations

Classification and influence of agricultural information on striga and stemborer control in Suba and Vihiga Districts, Kenya

This paper reports on findings of a study to examine the sources used by farmers in search of agricultural information on striga and/or stemborers control technologies and factors that influence acquisition of such information in Western Kenya region. A random sample of 476 households in Suba and Vihiga districts were interviewed and 15 information pathways were identified. Using principle component analysis (PCA) to derive few latent variables that encapsulate maximum variance in the pathways, two components (latent variables) proxying for ‘agricultural knowledge’ were extracted. Type I-knowledge (first component) loaded heavily with sources that had ‘group’ information searching. Type II-knowledge (second component) loaded heavily with sources requiring individual farmer search. Both types of knowledge positively and significantly influenced the likelihood of households using improved technology to control stemborer, while only Type-II knowledge and social economic factors were important in influencing the farmers’ likelihood of using an improved technology to control striga. This study shows that information is an important factor in the households’ likelihood of using improved technologies in the control of striga and stem borer in Vihiga and Suba, Kenya. Methods of individual interaction are important to striga control.Agricultural information, improved technology, striga, stemborers, control technologies, Kenya, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Demand and Price Analysis, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Gum Arabic as an Admixture in Modified Concrete Mixed with Calcined Kaolin

The use of calcined kaolin (CK) as a cementitious material in construction has attracted the interest of various researchers due to its environmental, mechanical, and physical qualities, all of which contribute to the lowering of cement usage. Studies have reported numerous problems associated with its use in concrete, apart from the ecological benefit that CK can provide. For instance, there is an issue of increased water demand due to smaller particle size, which generates much more heat in concrete, which has a detrimental effect on the mechanical and physical properties of concrete. This paper presents the analysis of an investigation aimed at using gum Arabic (GA) as a biopolymer admixture and calcined kaolin as a partial replacement of cement to improve the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. GA proportions ranged from 0 to 1% by weight of cement. Calcined kaolin (CK) was used to replace 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30% of the cement content, respectively. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, density, strength loss, and weight loss tests were all performed to validate the structural performance of the modified concrete. The compressive tests, performed after 28 days from the time the mixture was made, demonstrated that the maximum percentage of CK that could replace cement without affecting the mechanical properties of concrete was 20%. Beyond 20%, concrete does not exhibit good compressive strength properties. The results also revealed decreased compressive strength and splitting tensile strength tests as the percentage of CK increased. After 56 days, compressive strength at 5% CK and 10% CK increased slightly by 0.743% and 1.162 %, respectively, compared to the control sample. The inclusion of 0.8%GA increased the compressive strength by 8.94% compared to the control sample (0%CK + 0%GA + 100%OPC) after 56 days. The results of durability tests showed that 0.6% GA had a higher compressive strength than other percentages containing GA. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-05-010 Full Text: PD

Farmer Perception of Technology and its Impact on Technology Uptake: The Case of Fodder Legume in Central Kenya Highlands.

Technology adoption by farmers is crucial to increasing agricultural productivity hence meeting food and nutrition challenges in Africa. Economists investigating consumer demand have accumulated considerable evidence showing that consumers generally have subjective preferences for product attributes. However, when investigating adoption of new agricultural technologies, economists have lagged behind in analysing how farmers' (the consumer of agricultural technologies) subjective perceptions of technology characteristics affect their adoption decisions. Focusing on farmer perceptions of technologies may provide a better understanding of technology adoption since they deal with the technologies and probably perceive technologies differently from researchers and extension agents. The objective of this paper is to investigate farmers' perception of technology and its impact on adoption using a case study of legume forages in central Kenya highlands. Data from a random sample of 131 farm households in four districts in central Kenya was used. Using participatory techniques, four most important fodder legume attributes to farmers in their adoption decision were identified. These were then used in conjoint analysis. An ordered probit model was estimated to assess relative importance of each attribute to the farmer. A tobit model was also estimated to show the effect of farmers' perception of calliandra and desmodium on probability and intensity of adoption. Results showed that dry season tolerance and economy on land are most important characteristics of fodder legumes to the farmers. It was also found that Calliandra and desmodium were more relevant to the farmers in the area than other fodders. Farmers' perception of the two fodders had a significant impact on their adoption. Consequently, it was recommended that before introducing a technology in an area, it is necessary that the farmers' perception of the technology be analysed Conjoint analysis, ordered probit and tobit estimates, fodder legume adoption.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Statistical Tools for Analyzing Measurements of Charge Transport

This paper applies statistical methods to analyze the large, noisy data sets produced in measurements of tunneling current density (J) through self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in large-area junctions. It describes and compares the accuracy and precision of procedures for summarizing data for individual SAMs, for comparing two or more SAMs, and for determining the parameters of the Simmons model (β and J0). For data that contain significant numbers of outliers (i.e., most measurements of charge transport), commonly used statistical techniques—e.g., summarizing data with arithmetic mean and standard deviation and fitting data using a linear, least-squares algorithm—are prone to large errors. The paper recommends statistical methods that distinguish between real data and artifacts, subject to the assumption that real data (J) are independent and log-normally distributed. Selecting a precise and accurate (conditional on these assumptions) method yields updated values of β and J0 for charge transport across both odd and even n-alkanethiols (with 99% confidence intervals) and explains that the so-called odd–even effect (for n-alkanethiols on Ag) is largely due to a difference in J0 between odd and even n-alkanethiols. This conclusion is provisional, in that it depends to some extent on the statistical model assumed, and these assumptions must be tested by future experiments.Chemistry and Chemical BiologyEngineering and Applied Science

Effect of Corporate Governance on Performance of Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kakamega County

The study on the effect of corporate governance on performance of SACCOs was based on the revelations that some cooperatives are ailing, while others are very vibrant and sustainable. Good corporate governance is now accepted as vital to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and as a pre-condition for sustainable economic growth. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of corporate governance on performance of SACCOs. Corporate governance was operationalized by transparency and accountability, shareholder involvement, policies and guidelines, and rewards and incentives while performance of SACCOs was characterized by growth in share capital/deposits, growth in membership, growth in turnover, and customer satisfaction. The significance of the study was to demonstrate the need for good corporate governance in the co-operative movement. Extensive literature was reviewed to establish the importance of the study, highlighted knowledge gaps and provided benchmark for comparison of the findings. The target population was 33 Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Kakamega County. Stratified sampling was applied to get the number of respondents in the study. The respondents were the executive board members, ordinary members, and Chief Executive Officers from the sampled SACCOs. Descriptive and correlational survey designs were both used. Data collection was conducted by use of a questionnaire and document review. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (KR 20), a test of reliability was computed to define the correlation of items contained in the instruments. Piloting of the instruments was through pre-testing of the instruments by carrying out a pilot study in two co-operatives that is Weko and Wesacco. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that corporate governance had a significant positive effect on performance of SACCOs. Recommendations from this study included the need for all SACCOs to embrace corporate governance since it enhances performance. Measures should also be put in place for SACCOs to embrace right culture, learning, and right organizational structures as they implement their plans. However, the study has recommended further researches on the effect of corporate governance in other types of co-operatives like housing, marketing, and co-operative unions and research that will cover a wider area. Key words: Corporate Governance, Performance, Savings and Credit Co-operatives, Keny

Food from faeces:Evaluating the efficacy of scat DNA metabarcoding in dietary analyses

Scat DNA metabarcoding is increasingly being used to track the feeding ecology of elusive wildlife species. This approach has greatly increased the resolution and detection success of prey items contained in scats when compared with other classical methods. However, there have been few studies that have systematically tested the applicability and reliability of this approach to study the diet of large felids species in the wild. Here we assessed the effectiveness of this approach in the cheetah Acinonyx jubatus. We tested how scat degradation, meal size, prey species consumed and feeding day (the day a particular prey was consumed) influenced prey DNA detection success in captive cheetahs. We demonstrated that it is possible to obtain diet information from 60-day old scats using genetic approaches, but the efficiency decreased over time. Probability of species-identification was highest for food items consumed one day prior to scat collection and the probability of being able to identify the species consumed increased with the proportion of the prey consumed. Detection success varied among prey species but not by individual cheetah. Identification of prey species using DNA detection methods from a single consumption event worked for samples collected between 8 and 72 hours post-feeding. Our approach confirms the utility of genetic approaches to identify prey species in scats and highlight the need to account for the systematic bias in results to control for possible scat degradation, feeding day, meal size and prey species consumed especially in the wild-collected scats

The Rate of Charge Tunneling through Self-Assembled Monolayers Is Insensitive to Many Functional Group Substitutions

Insensitivity: A series of molecules containing a common head group and body as well as structurally varied tail groups (-R) has been used in junctions with the structure Ag/S(CH2)4CONH(CH2)2R//Ga2O3/EGaIn to study the rates of charge transport by tunneling. Changing the structure of R over a range of common aliphatic, aromatic, and heteroaromatic organic groups was found to not significantly influence the rate of tunneling (see plots; the dashed lines represent calibration standards).Chemistry and Chemical Biolog