Exploring the intricacies of contemporary Phd research process

The process leading to a PhD degree award has evolved over a period of many years to become what it is today. There are important considerations and emphasis continually being placed by the degree awarding authorities on the PhD research process leading to this award. The authors of this communication wish to highlight some of the basic knowledge and current ingredients needed in articulating and writing of a research proposal for a good thesis that forms a major part of this award. Specifically, the communication provides an appraisal of the existing proposal writing knowledge, available research opportunities and suggestions on the improvement and mastery of good research proposal writing that would result in a good PhD thesis

PhD thesis defense

A thesis oral defence is the culmination of research enquiryon a specific subject or project. The defence provides an opportunity for presentation and sustained argument in support of the findings. This is preceded by examination of the thesis by indipendent nominated examiners who do not communicate on the work as they grade the thesis. The examiners look for soundness of the methodology applied in research, its originality creativity, innovativeness, mpact to the fieldof the study and finally its suitability for the degree award. This presentation examines the completion process that culminates in the defence, in camera or in public, to a panel of examinerschosen by the university. The defence provides an opportunityfor final improvement of the thesiswith the candidate demonstratingthe understanding of the topic of research, the contribution of the research work to knowledge, whereas the panelof examinersenrich the final document by offering their indipendent expert opinion on the enquiry and to finally provide swift and just judgement of the work. Sectioins of methodology, findings and the critical approach used by the candidate in relating the findings to existing knowledge in the field of study, ditermine the quality of the work. Conclusions should show the significance and impact of the research product that also support applicable recommendations

Determination of carnivores prey base by scat analysis in Samburu community group ranches in Kenya

This study determined the prey base for four main carnivores found in Samburu community group ranches and grazing area, Lion (Panthera leo), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Wild dog (Lycaon pictus) and Hyaena (Crocuta crocuta, and Hyaena hyaena). A total of 96 scat samples including, 8 from Lion, 16 Leopards’, 2 Wild dogs’, and 70 Hyaenas’ were collected, identified and microscopically analyzed for prey hair characterisation. At least 50 different hairs from every scat sample were mounted on slides and microscopically characterized using details from reference hairs. Hairs from 18 depredated species both domestic and wild ungulates were recovered from the scat samples. Predated species were identified, as either domestic (Cow, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, and Camel) or wild ungulate prey (Grant’s gazelle, plain Zebra, Grevy’s Zebra, Impala, Waterbuck, Dikdik, Eland, lesser Kudu, greater Kudu, Baboon, rock Hyraxes, Elephant and Oryx). The carnivores showed a relatively high kill of wild ungulate prey compared to domestic prey. Camel was the most preferred domestic animal by both the Lion and the leopard, while wild Dog and Hyaena preferred cow and donkey respectively. Grevy’s zebra contributed highest to the lion’s diet while the Plain zebra was most preferred by the leopard. Both the hyaena and the Wild dog had a preference for the waterbuck. The Hyaena had the highest domestic depredation, while all the other big cats depredated more on wild ungulatesKey words: Scat, group ranch, domestic, wild ungulate, prey, depredation

Strategic management of technology in public health sector in Kenya and South Africa

Objective: To investigate factors contributing to health care equipment problems and associated technological investments in public hospitals. Design: The article reviews the processes of equipment planning, procurement and management. Analysis of results and observations from experts leads to recommendations and suggestions on good equipment management practices in public hospitals. It also provides recommendations for competitive utilisation of equipment in the public health sector. Settings: Health care equipment management in Kenya and South Africa in 1999/2000. Institutions: A total of 10 public equipment maintenance institutions, and 38 equipment maintenance experts participated in the survey. Majority of the participants were drawn from teaching hospitals. Results: It is evident that the way health technology is managed in health care institutions directly affects the quality of treatment patients receive. Although strategic importance of technology in health care has been documented widely in scientific literature; equipment planning, procurement and management have not received the attention they deserve in the transformation of health care services in the two countries under the survey. Conclusions: The growing demand for more and better health care greatly expands the role of health care equipment in the delivery of health services. Kenya and South Africa have tried various strategies to improve access, quality and cost-efficiency in the health care delivery systems. However it is clear that the optimal method has yet to be found. Good management of health care equipment increases efficiency in health care services and enhances health outcomes. East African Medical Journal Vol.81(6) 2004: 279-28

Pesticide Residues in Beef and Camel Meat From Slaughterhouses in 13 Districts in Kenya

One hundred and fifty one beef (n=136) and camel (n=15) meat samples comprising mainly of adipose tissue were collected from animals slaughtered in 13 districts in Kenya for analysis of organophosphate and organochlorine pesticide residues. Gas chromatographic method (GLC) and ECD and FID was used for analysis of organochlorine and organophosphate residues respectively. Eight organochlorine pesticide residues were detected in the following percentages of the samples:α-BHC-7.3%, β-BHC-5.3%, y-BHC-23.2%, o, p’-DDT- 27.8%, p, p’-DDT-15.8%, p, p’-DDD-0.7%, dieldrin- 20.5% and aldrin-13.2%. None of samples contained quantifiable levels of organophosphate compounds. Most levels of organochlorine residues were below Extraneous Residue Limits (ERL). None of the camel meat samples contained residue levels above the tolerance limits. DDT was found in levels above ERL in 4% of the samples all of which were beef. Samples with the highest levels of DDT were from Nyeri and Nanyuki districts. It was concluded that beef and camel meat analyzed were fit for human consumption

A retrospective study on the prevalence of plastic materials in the rumen of sheep and goats in Nairobi, Kenya.

A retrospective study of small ruminant necropsy cases between January 1982 and December 2012 was conducted at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of plastic materials in the rumen of sheep and goats examined at post mortem over the period. A total of 770 carcasses (367 sheep and 403 goats) presented for post mortem were studied. The overall prevalence of rumen plastic materials in the rumen was 4.2%. The prevalence was higher in goats (7.2%) than sheep (0.8%) and also was significantly (p<0.05) higher in older animals (5.5%) than in younger ones (2.4%). There were increases in the cases of plastic materials in the rumen in recent years (2002-2012) compared to the earlier years (1982-2001), though more cases were examined at post mortem in the earlier years. A significantly higher (p<0.05) prevalence rate (15.0%) of plastic materials in the rumen was observed in the period between 2003 and 2007. More cases of plastic materials in the rumen were observed in the dry seasons than the wet seasons. Observations in the current study may be a reflection of increased indiscriminate disposal of waste plastic materials in the urban and peri-urban areas of Nairobi. Good waste management and sound animal husbandry practices are required to prevent mortalities related to ingestion of plastic materials in sheep and goats in Nairobi, Kenya.Key words: Plastic materials, rumen, necropsy, sheep and goat

Landscape Suitability in Botswana for the Conservation of Its Six Large African Carnivores

<div><p>Wide-ranging large carnivores often range beyond the boundaries of protected areas into human-dominated areas. Mapping out potentially suitable habitats on a country-wide scale and identifying areas with potentially high levels of threats to large carnivore survival is necessary to develop national conservation action plans. We used a novel approach to map and identify these areas in Botswana for its large carnivore guild consisting of lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>), leopard (<i>Panthera pardus</i>), spotted hyaena (<i>Crocuta crocuta</i>), brown hyaena (<i>Hyaena brunnea</i>), cheetah (<i>Acinonyx jubatus</i>) and African wild dog (<i>Lycaon pictus</i>). The habitat suitability for large carnivores depends primarily on prey availability, interspecific competition, and conflict with humans. Prey availability is most likely the strongest natural determinant. We used the distribution of biomass of typical wild ungulate species occurring in Botswana which is preyed upon by the six large carnivores to evaluate the potential suitability of the different management zones in the country to sustain large carnivore populations. In areas where a high biomass of large prey species occurred, we assumed interspecific competition between dominant and subordinated competitors to be high. This reduced the suitability of these areas for conservation of subordinate competitors, and vice versa. We used the percentage of prey biomass of the total prey and livestock biomass to identify areas with potentially high levels of conflict in agricultural areas. High to medium biomass of large prey was mostly confined to conservation zones, while small prey biomass was more evenly spread across large parts of the country. This necessitates different conservation strategies for carnivores with a preference for large prey, and those that can persist in the agricultural areas. To ensure connectivity between populations inside Botswana and also with its neighbours, a number of critical areas for priority management actions exist in the agricultural zones.</p></div