Moderating effect of traceability on value chain governance of credence goods: a perspective of the New Institutional Economics framework

This paper reviews the application of New Institutional Economics (NIE) theoretical assumptions and the way they relate to value chain governance and are moderated by traceability and information technology. Through literature review, NIE assumptions are examined by comparing how they are partially mitigated by traceability. The effect of these mitigations is realised in the readjustment of value chain governance typologies to suit lean and more competitive and visible value chains. The findings are based on the fact that information asymmetry, bounded rationality and behavioural uncertainty have given rise to incomplete contracts, especially in the agri-food sectors of most developing economies. Supply chain actors in this sector have the constant burden of assurance in ascertaining that credence goods remain authentically safe. The moderating effect of traceability is therefore proposed to reduce these uncertainties and is as such a form of assurance to promote both a holistic approach in compliance with standards and a seamless mechanism for product and process integration. However, this moderating effect, despite being novel in the value chain governance discourse, needs to be empirically ascertained. The novelty of this paper is based on the agricultural development agenda of developing economies in the light of the discourse on market-oriented reforms, following multilateral trade liberalisation and especially structural adjustment programmes in developing countries. The consequent increase in world market integration has led to the promotion of value chain strategies and reconsideration of how food is governed in these markets

Diversity and immune boosting claims of some African indigenous leafy vegetables in western Kenya

A survey was carried out to document the diversity and immune boosting claims of African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) in Western Kenya. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. The results showed that there is diversity of AILVs in the study area with nine popular and frequently consumed, but cassava leaves, stinging nettle and russian comfry are not popular. Seven of these are cultivated but two, stinging nettle (Urtica massaica) and vine spinach (Basella alba) grow wildly. The AILVs are cultivated at subsistence level on home gardens withminimal inputs and only excess of this is sold. The religion one belonged to was significant (p<0.05) in determining consumption or not of some of the vegetables. The vegetables are rain fed and the process of harvesting is by first uprooting during thinning followed by breaking the main stem and finally plucking off the leaves with maturity. Vegetable preparation in most households was mainly by women. The elderly women were keen in this process and spent more time in preparing the vegetables which were believed to be ‘nutritious’. There was no processing and preservation of the AILVs for use during the dry season. The communities rely on wild weeds during such seasons. The AILVs though consumed for good nutrition are also associated with various medicinal and immune boosting claims. Out of the nine, five are known for various health benefits, African  nightshade and spider plant for good nutrition by 31.8% and 25.1% of the respondents, respectively, slender leaf for healing power by 34%, cowpea leaves and slender leaf for anti-aging by 50% and 43.8%, respectively, and cowpea leaves (43.6%) and amaranthus (53%) for smooth skin and adding blood, respectively. Chi square analysis indicated that African nightshade, spider plant and amaranthus are statistically significant (p<0.05) incontributing to good nutrition, healthy functioning of the body and immune boosting. Further analysis showed that spider plant and amaranthus are significant (p<0.05) for immune boosting.Key words: indigenous vegetables, diversity, immune boostin

DETERMINANTS OF PARENTS’ PERCEPTION ON SCHOOL READINESS AMONG PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN KARASANI DIVISION, NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA

Global studies show the need for parental involvement in children’s school readiness. In Kenya, studies show that students’ poor performance in school is mainly caused by lack of school readiness. This study was guided by the Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory which regards children as the center of various layers of systems. Survey research design was used to guide the study. The location of the study was Kasarani Division. The target population was parents with children aged 5 to 6 years in pre-unit class enrolled in pre-primary schools in Kasarani Division. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used to obtain data from the respondents. Pilot study was done in two pre-schools within Kasarani Division. Content validity was used to determine the validity of the instruments, while the reliability of the instruments was determined using test re-test method. Data was collected in two stages. Descriptive and inferential methods were used to analyze the collected data. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to test the null hypotheses at a significance level of 0.05. The findings showed that various factors were influenced parents’ perception on children’s school readiness. It was recommended that managers and administrators in public preschools ought to put systems in place to ensure that parents’ perceptions on school readiness are enhanced.  Article visualizations

Instructional Constraints in Teaching of Reading in Early Childhood Classes in Nairobi County, Kenya

Reading has been identified as one of the most reliable indicators of whether a learner will attain the competence needed to achieve academic success and contribute actively to society. Research findings in Kenyan primary and secondary schools reveal inadequate reading skills among the students. The purpose of this study was to identify approaches used in teaching of reading in Early Childhood Education. The objective of the study was to establish teachers’ orientation and challenges faced by teachers in the teaching of reading. The study adopted the descriptive research design using the survey method and observation technique and was conducted in twenty schools in Nairobi County. The findings showed that lack of resources was the greatest challenge faced by early learning teachers in the teaching of reading. They also indicated that they were not well equipped with the relevant methods of teaching reading. The study recommends that teachers should be adequately equipped with teaching and learning resources, trained in different approaches and in serviced in the latest approaches. Serving teachers should get refresher courses on teaching of reading methods to improve learning in schools in the country. Keywords: teaching reading, teaching method, teacher qualification, teaching and Learning resources, early learnin

A new class of hybrid secretion system is employed in Pseudomonas amyloid biogenesis

Gram-negative bacteria possess specialised biogenesis machineries that facilitate the export of amyloid subunits for construction of a biofilm matrix. The secretion of bacterial functional amyloid requires a bespoke outer-membrane protein channel through which unfolded amyloid substrates are translocated. Here, we combine X-ray crystallography, native mass spectrometry, single-channel electrical recording, molecular simulations and circular dichroism measurements to provide high-resolution structural insight into the functional amyloid transporter from Pseudomonas, FapF. FapF forms a trimer of gated β-barrel channels in which opening is regulated by a helical plug connected to an extended coil-coiled platform spanning the bacterial periplasm. Although FapF represents a unique type of secretion system, it shares mechanistic features with a diverse range of peptide translocation systems. Our findings highlight alternative strategies for handling and export of amyloid protein sequences

Diversity And Immune Boosting Claims Of Some African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables In Western Kenya

A survey was carried out to document the diversity and immune boosting claims of African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) in Western Kenya. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used. The results showed that there is diversity of AILVs in the study area with nine popular and frequently consumed, but cassava leaves, stinging nettle and russian comfry are not popular. Seven of these are cultivated but two, stinging nettle ( Urtica massaica ) and vine spinach ( Basella alba ) grow wildly. The AILVs are cultivated at subsistence level on home gardens with minimal inputs and only excess of this is sold. The religion one belonged to was significant (p<0.05) in determining consumption or not of some of the vegetables. The vegetables are rain fed and the process of harvesting is by first uprooting during thinning followed by breaking the main stem and finally plucking off the leaves with maturity. Vegetable preparation in most households was mainly by women. The elderly women were keen in this process and spent more time in preparing the vegetables which were believed to be ‘nutritious’. There was no processing and preservation of the AILVs for use during the dry season. The communities rely on wild weeds during such seasons. The AILVs though consumed for good nutrition are also associated with various medicinal and immune boosting claims. Out of the nine, five are known for various health benefits, African nightshade and spider plant for good nutrition by 31.8% and 25.1% of the respondents, respectively, slender leaf for healing power by 34%, cowpea leaves and slender leaf for anti-aging by 50% and 43.8%, respectively, and cowpea leaves (43.6%) and amaranthus (53%) for smooth skin and adding blood, respectively. Chi square analysis indicated that African night shade, spider plant and amaranthus are statistically significant (p<0.05) in contributing to good nutrition, healthy functioning of the body and immune boosting. Further analysis showed that spider plant and amaranthus are significant (p<0.05) for immune boosting

Serodiagnosis of bovine cysticercosis by detecting live Taenia saginata cysts using a monoclonal antibody-based antigen-ELISA

An ante mortem antigen-ELISA-based diagnosis of Taenia saginata cysticercosis was studied in artificially (n = 24) and naturally (n = 25) infected cattle with the objective of further validating the assay as a field diagnostic test. Based on total dissection as the definitive method of validity, the assay minimally detected 14 live cysticerci in artificially infected calves and 2 in naturally infected steers. In natural infections, the minimum number of live cysticerci consistently detected by Ag-ELISA was 5 while in artificial infections it was above 14. However, other animals with 12 and 17 live cysticerci in artificially infected calves, and 1 and 2 live cysticerci in naturally infected steers, escaped detection for unknown reasons. Animals harbouring dead cysticerci gave negative reactions in the assay as was the case in non-infected experimental control calves. There was a statistically significant positive linear correlation between Ag-ELISA optical density values and burdens of live cysticerci as obtained by total dissection of both artificially infected calves (r = 0.798, n = 24 ; P < 0.05) and naturally infected steers (r = 0.631, n = 25 ; P < 0.05). These results clearly show the potential effectiveness of ante mortem monoclonal antibody-based antigen detection ELISA in the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis in cattle. Its value lies in the diagnosis of infection in cattle as a screening test in a herd, rather than as a diagnostic test at the individual level, due to false positive and negative reactions. In a herd of heavily infected cattle, the assay may, however, provide for individual diagnosis. Nevertheless, more work is recommended to increase its sensitivity so as to be able to diagnose light infections consistently in the field