SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS: SOME LESSONS FROM THE PILOT TISSUE-CULTURE (TC) BANANA PRODUCTION PROMOTION PROJECT IN KENYA, 1997-2002

This article is based on a socio-economic impact study of the introduction and adoption of tissue-culture (tc) technology in banana production in Kenya. It attempts to demonstrate that a prudent introduction and promotion of a new biotechnological innovation in farming can make a positive contribution to the socio-economic status of resource poor farmers in a developing country, such as Kenya. Adoption of tc technology in banana production in Kenya is considered a good example of biotechnological applications in agriculture. Hence the article hopes to make a contribution to recent debates at international levels as to whether biotechnology can make a difference in uplifting the living standards of people in the third world (Qaim, 1999; Graff, et al 2002; Qaim, et al 2002) by showing that it actually does so, using experiences from Kenya. The study utilizes both primary and secondary data sources. The results show that tc-banana production is relatively more capital intensive than non-tc banana production (re: about 70% fixed costs for tc banana versus about 49% fixed costs for non-tc banana). However, tc-banana production is found to offer relatively much higher financial returns than non-tc banana production. The high profitability of tc-banana production relative to traditional (non-tc) banana production and other farm enterprises in the pilot tc-banana project area in Kenya demonstrates the importance of biotechnological applications in rural development and shows that biotechnology can make a difference in uplifting the living standards of people in the third world. Therefore, efforts to promote tc-banana production in Kenya are justifiable from both food security and economic criteria.Biotechnology and Tissue-Culture (tc) Banana, Adoption, Socio-economic Impact, Rural Development, Third World, Kenya., Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

A Test of Asset-Pricing Models at the Nairobi Securities Exchange

The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) has for a long time been used to explain the variations in expected return on stocks. However, the discoveries of market anomalies such as the Size, Book-to-Market and the Momentum effects, have greatly undermined CAPM’s ability to explain the expected returns on stocks. These anomalies prompted Fama and French (1993) and Carhart (1997) to propound asset pricing models that captured the effects of these anomalies. This study sought to test whether the CAPM, Fama and French (1993) Three-factor model and the Carhart’s (1997) Four-factor model can explain the returns of stocks traded in the NSE, from a portfolio perspective. The stock returns used in this study were those for the forty eight companies that trade under the MIMS in the NSE, during the period January 2009 to December 2013. Six portfolios that were sorted for size and Book-to-Market were created and used to test the CAPM as well as the Fama and French (1993) Three-factor model. Also, an additional six portfolios that were sorted for size and past performance were constructed to test the Carhart’s (1997) Four-factor model. The data was then analyzed using time series regression analysis and the estimated parameters were tested for significance. This study finds that even though the CAPM has been highly regarded for many years, when tested at the NSE from a portfolios perspective, the evidence in support of it is weak. This study finds that other significant factors exists that were not captured by CAPM, implying therefore that beta is not an adequate measure of risk. Also, as for the Fama and French (1993) Three-factor model, this study finds that it doesn’t quite capture all the factors influencing the returns of stocks traded at the NSE. However, this study finds that the Carhart’s (1997) Four-factor model performs better relative to the CAPM and the Fama and French (1993) Three-factor model, as it was observed to have a better explanatory power of the variation of expected returns of most of the sets of portfolios that it was tested on. The findings of this study will be of great significance to the finance academia and policy makers as it will assist in boosting their understanding of an asset-pricing model that can explain better, the variations in returns of stocks traded at the security exchange. Keywords: Asset pricing Models, NSE, Keny

Effect of nutrient solution concentrations on the growth and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) varieties grown from apical rooted cutting in a hydroponic system

This study evaluated the effects of nutrient stock solution concentrations on the growth and yield of potato varieties grown from apical rooted cuttings (ARCs). A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Climate and Water Smart Agriculture Center at Egerton University, Kenya. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot arrangement in randomized complete block design, where the main plot comprised three nutrient concentrations, i.e., 75% (N75), 100% (N100) and 125% (N125) of the ADC-Molo’ nutrient formulation. The subplots were allocated to four potato varieties (Shangi, Wanjiku, Nyota and Unica). The results showed that there were no significant (p<0.05) interaction effects of the nutrient stock solution concentrations application rates on the growth attributes of ARCs. The main effects of N125 gave the tallest plants (32.29cm) at 60 days after planting (DAP), highest normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) (0.60) at 75 DAP, plant survival rate (82.15%) at 75 DAP, and fresh weight (79.04g) and dry matter (31.26%) of aboveground biomass (AGB). Nyota variety produced taller plants (26.90cm) at 60 DAP, gave higher NDVI values (0.53) at 75 DAP, and higher fresh weight (64.87g) and dry matter (27.60%) of the AGB. Significant (p<0.05) interactions were observed in the yield parameters. The interaction between N125 and Nyota (11.33) and Wanjiku (10.67) gave the highest number of minitubers, the highest yields were obtained between the interaction of N125 and Unica (16.38t/ha). Therefore, to achieve high growth and yields of ARCs under hydroponic system, seed potato producers should use 125% of the ADC Molo nutrient formulation

Investigations of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping Instructional Approach on Secondary School Girls’ Achievement in Physics in Nyeri County, Kenya

This study investigated the effects of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping Instructional Approach (ECCA) on girls’ achievement in Physics in secondary schools. The study employed Quasi- Experimental Research Design represented by Solomon Four Non-equivalent Control Group Design. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 8 Secondary Schools from girls’ alone and co- educational schools strata drawn from Nyeri County. A total of 334 Form Two students were involved in the study.  A validated Students Physics Achievement Test (PAT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.80 was administered. The experimental group I and III were exposed to ECCA while the conventional Method was used for the control group. Two groups were pre-tested prior to the implementation of the ECCA treatment. After five weeks, all four groups were post-tested using the Physics Achievement Test (PAT). Data was analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA at a significance level of alpha (?) equal to 0.05.  The results of the study revealed significant effect on achievement of girls when ECCA was used. However there was a significant effect in achievement on school type in favour of girls’ alone class performing better than girls in co-educational class when ECCA was used. The investigations concludes that ECCA is an effective learning strategy which physics teachers should be encouraged to use in their teaching/ learning process in order to address the current low girls performance. This may create an increased pool of scientific and technical female workers in the area where Physics is a requirement. Key words- Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping (ECCA), Conventional Methods (CM), Secondary School, Girls’ Achievement, Physics, Nyeri County

Effects of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping Instructional Approach on Secondary School Students’ Motivation in Physics in Nyeri County, Kenya

This study aimed at finding out the effects of Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping ECCM on students’ motivation to learn Physics. Solomon Four Non-equivalent Control Group Design under the quasi- experimental research was used. A stratified random sample of 12 Secondary Schools was drawn from Nyeri County. Four boys’ alone, four girls’ alone and four co-educational schools were randomly assigned to four groups with a total of 513 Form Two students. Students in all the groups were taught the same Physics content of Magnetic Effect of Electric Current. The experimental groups were taught using ECCM approach while the control groups were taught through Regular Teaching Methods (RTM). Two groups were pre-tested prior to the implementation of treatment. After five weeks, all four groups were post-tested using the Student Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ). The instrument was validated and pilot tested before use. The reliability coefficient for SMQ was 0.81.  The instrument was scored and data analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA at a significance level of alpha equal to 0.05.  The results of the study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the motivation to learn of students who were taught through ECCM and those taught through RTM. The researchers recommend the used of ECCM in addressing motivation of students towards learning physics. Keywords: Experiential Cooperative Concept Mapping (ECCM), Regular Teaching Methods (RTM), Secondary School students, Physics, Motivation, Nyeri County

The Cerebro-placental Ratio as a Prognostic Factor of Foetal Outcome in Patients with Third Trimester Hypertension

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can cause complications in both the maternal and fetal circulations resulting in poor fetal outcome. These circulations can be safely and non-invasively assessed using arterial Doppler indices of the umbilical and middle cerebral arteries to obtain the cerebro-placental ratio. The study objective was to determine the role of the cerebro-placental ratio as a prognostic factor of fetal outcome in patients with hypertensive states of pregnancy delivered at least 32 weeks of gestation by dates.Methods: This was a prospective cohort study undertaken at Kenyatta National Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital in Nairobi. A total of 160 gravid patients of median age 28 years and at least 32 weeks gestations were recruited from labor ward over a 9 month study period by consecutive sampling method. Doppler ultrasound analyses of the foetal umbilical and cerebral arteries were done and the cerebro-placental ratio calculated.Results: At sonography, the average ultrasound age was 31 weeks. The median gestation at admission was 34 weeks. Twenty nine percent had an abnormal Cerebro-placental ratio (<1.0).125/160 (78%) delivered via caesarean section and 35/160(22%) delivered vaginally.51/160(32%)  severe pre-eclamptic toxaemia out of which 39% had cerebroplacental ratio<1.0 109/160(68%) had mild pre-eclamptic toxaemia out of which 24% had cerebroplacental ratio <1.0 Still births were 12.5 times more likely in mothers with cerebroplacental ratio <1.0 than those with CPR 1.0 (p value 0.05). A foetal birth score < 7 was 66 times more often in  mothers with cerebro-placental ratio< 1.0 than mothers with CPR 1.0. (P 0.05). Low birth weight was 4.7 times more likely among mothers with cerebroplacental ratio < 1.0.as compared to those with mothers with CPR1.0 (95% CI 2, 11.1; p0.001). A foetal birth score < 7 was 66 times more likely among neonates delivered vaginally as compared to those born via caesarean section(95% CI 1.3, 23; p=0.02). Still births were 14.5 times more often than among neonates born vaginally as compared to those born via caesarean section (95% CI 3, 84; p0.001). The prognostic Odds Ratio for cerebro-placental ratio was 12.5 for live births (95% CI 2, 74; p=0.005), 66 for fetal birth score <7 (95% Confidence interval 13, 340; p< 0.001) and 4.7 for low birth weight (95% CI 2, 11.1; p< 0.001) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.9, 1.4; p=0.327).Conclusion: Cerebro-placental ratio is significantly predictive of adverse perinatal outcome when used to monitor mothers with hypertensive states of pregnancy. Cerebroplacental ratio.Key words: Cerebro-placental Ratio, Prognostic Factor, Foetal Outcome, Third Trimester, Hypertensio

Utility of chest radiographs in management of patients in the intensive care unit at Kenyatta National Hospital

Background: The chest radiograph is the most commonly requested and performed radiographic examination in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It allows rapid detection of pathology that could be easily missed by clinical evaluation and thus enables earlier treatment of clinically unsuspected abnormalities, documentation of disease progression and response to therapy. Assessment of correct placement of lines, endotracheal tubes and catheters is primarily done by use of chest radiographs and if malpositioned, repositioning must be done without delay.Objective: to determine the utility of routine chest radiographs in clinical decision making in the intensive care unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).Study Design: A prospective cross-sectional studySetting: KNH ICU ward.Results: The study included 396 chest radiographs done in KNH ICU, among patients with median age 32 years (IQR 12-57) with males contributing 55.1% of films. The main presentations on admission to ICU were road traffic accident (36%, 143), severe chest infections (23%, 91) and major cardiovascular diseases (14%, 54). A total of 293 films had at least one medical device placement (CVC-208,ETT- 141, and chest tubes - 49) which was visualized on CXR and 98were incorrectly placed (CVC- 58 ,ETT-23 and chest tubes-17). There were 52 cases which developed complications post device placement with common complications associated with CVC. Aspiration pneumonia (50%) and atelectasis (15%) were among the commonest complications following device placement.Conclusion: In conclusion the findings presented in this study show that routine chest radiographs play a vital role in clinical decision making in the intensive care unit. The specific contribution included evaluation of medical device placement and development of complications