Tense, Aspect and Case in Bantu and significance in Translation- The Case of Lulogooli Bible

Tense and Aspect are morphological features and in some languages like English, they are marked mainly by inflection on the verb. In Bantu languages, the verbal element is characteristically conflated to mark tense and aspect and more often than not, the morphemes marking tense and aspect cannot be isolated. In many instances, they are tonally marked. Thus, a lexical verb may mark three or even more distinctions whose semantic realization is only through tonal variation. Similarly, Case realization is unique compared to for example English that marks possession on the noun and gender distinction on pronouns. This study will examine these features in Lulogooli, a Bantu language spoken in Western Kenya. Lulogooli has only two gender distinctions; male and female but does not use pronouns to mark them. This study proposes to sample data from the Lulogooli bible translation to show why and how improper use of these three grammatical categories leads to mistranslation. The analysis will also contribute to the significance of understanding language typology to translators so as to aid accuracy and effectiveness in translation. The study posits the significance of aspects of linguistic analysis to translation

Social Media Analytics and Information Privacy Decisions: Impact of User Intimate Knowledge and Co-ownership Perceptions

Social media analytics has been recognized as a distinct research field in the analytics subdomain that is developed by processing social media content to generate important business knowledge. Understanding the factors that influence privacy decisions around its use is important as it is often perceived to be opaque and mismanaged. Social media users have been reported to have low intimate knowledge and co-ownership perception of social media analytics and its information privacy decisions. This deficiency leads them to perceive privacy violations if firms make privacy decisions that conflict with their expectations. Such perceived privacy violations often lead to business disruptions caused by user rebellions, regulatory interventions, firm reputation damage, and other business continuity threats. Existing research had developed theoretical frameworks for multi-level information privacy management and called for empirical testing of which constructs would increase user self-efficacy in negotiating with firms for joint social media analytics decision making. A response to this call was studied by measuring the constructs in the literature that lead to normative social media analytics and its information privacy decisions. The study model was developed by combining the relevant constructs from the theory of psychological ownership in organizations and the theory of multilevel information privacy. From psychological ownership theory, the impact that intimate knowledge had on co-ownership perception of social media analytics was added. From the theory of multi-level information privacy, the impact of co-ownership perception on the antecedents of information privacy decisions: the social identity assumed, and information privacy norms used were examined. In addition, the moderating role of the cost and benefits components of the privacy calculus on the relationship between information privacy norms and expected information privacy decisions was measured. A quantitative research approach was used to measure these factors. A web-based survey was developed using survey items obtained from prior studies that measured these constructs with only minor wording changes made. A pilot-study of 34 participants was conducted to test and finalize the instrument. The survey was distributed to adult social media users in the United States of America on a crowdsourcing marketplace using a commercial online survey service. 372 responses were accepted and analyzed. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to assess the model and analyze the data using the Smart partial least squares 3 statistical software package. An increase in intimate knowledge of social media analytics led to higher co-ownership perception among social media users. Higher levels of co-ownership perception led to higher expectation of adoption of a salient social identity and higher expected information privacy norms. In addition, higher levels of expectation of social information privacy norm use led to normative privacy decisions. Higher levels of benefit estimation in the privacy calculus negatively moderated the relationship between social norms and privacy decision making. Co-ownership perception did not have a significant effect on the cost estimation in social media analytics privacy calculus. Similarly, the cost estimation in the privacy calculus did not have a significant effect on the relationship between information privacy norm adoption and the expectation of a normative information privacy decision. The findings of the study are a notable information systems literature contribution in both theory and practice. The study is one of the few to further develop multilevel information privacy theory by adding the intimate knowledge construct. The study model is a contribution to literature since its one of first to combine and validate elements of psychological ownership in organization theory to the theory of multilevel information privacy in order to understand what social media users expect when social media analytics information privacy decisions are made. The study also contributes by suggesting approaches practitioners can use to collaboratively manage their social media analytics information privacy decisions which was previously perceived to be opaque and under examined. Practical suggestions social media firms could use to decrease negative user affectations and engender deeper information privacy collaboration with users as they seek benefit from social media analytics were offered

Factors Affecting Loan Repayment Performance of Smallholder Farmers in East Hararghe, Ethiopia

This paper examined the determinants of loan repayment performance among smallholder farmers in East Hararghe zone, Ethiopia specifically Kombolcha and Babile districts.  In the study area, the Regional Government through Oromiya Saving and Credit  Share Company, and Non-Governmental organizations have extended credit facilities to farming households to narrow the gap between the required and the owned capital to use improved agricultural technologies that would increase production and productivity. However, there is serious loan repayment delinquency in the study area, which discourages the rural finance from promoting and extending credit.  A structured questionnaire was used to gather information from 140 smallholder farmers from two districts, using the multistage sampling technique. The study revealed that of the total sample households 71.4 percent and 28.6 percent households were partial loan defaulters and complete non-defaulters, respectively. A two-limit tobit regression model was applied to identify factors that influenced loan repayment. The results indicate that agro ecological zone, off-farm activity and technical assistance from extension agents positively influenced the loan repayment performance of smallholder farmers, while production loss, informal credit, social festival and loan-to-income ratio negatively influenced the loan repayment of smallholder farmers (p<0.05).  Based on the findings policy implications were drawn for improving loan repayment performance and sustainability of credit services and institutions in the study areas. Key words: Loan repayment, smallholder farmers, and two - limit tobit mode

Collaborative monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment: Experiences assessing the impact of improved fallows and biomass transfer in western Kenya

pre-printThere is considerable literature available on assessing the impact of rural innovations from the perspective of a particular discipline, e.g., economics or sociology, and from the farmers’ own perspective, e.g., participatory monitoring and evaluation. But little has been written about collaborative monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment, that is, how a group of diverse stakeholder organizations working in a particular location promoting similar innovations can work together to monitor and evaluate their work and assess their impact. The objective of this paper is to assess the experience of 30 organizations working together over a four year period, 1999-2003, to assess their impact in helping farmers to develop, adapt and adopt two soil fertility practices aimed at improving household livelihoods in western Kenya. The two practices were biomass transfer (cutting leaves and applying them as green manure) and improved fallows (enriching or replacing natural fallows with planted, nitrogen-fixing shrubs). Researchers of ICRAF, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) in partnership with farmers developed the practices in the mid-1990s, in response to farmers’ soil fertility problems and their lack of cash for buying mineral fertilizer. The following section describes the study area, and research and dissemination activities concerning the two practices. Next the collaborative exercises on monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment are described, followed by the results of the assessments of biomass transfer and improved fallows. Finally, the impact of these exercises is discussed, highlighting the effect of the process and findings on the participating organizations

Determinants of Self-Esteem, Educational Performance and Career Prospects among Secondary School Students in Navakholo Constituency, Kakamega, Kenya

In the quest to identify challenges to students’ educational performance, cross-sectional study was carried out on 350 randomly selected students of St. Kizito and Sivilie secondary schools in Navakholo Constituency. A social survey design using closed and open-ended questionnaires was used to gather data, which was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that students’ self-esteem is mainly negatively influenced by demeaning comments from both class teachers and parents. These negative pronouncements eventually lead to poor schooling outcomes and difficulties in making career choices. In particular, students appeared to avoid pursuing competitive courses and careers like engineering, medicine and law. Further, they indicated having had little information regarding career choices during their school years. This study recommends that evaluation of teachers and parents/guardians by students should be encouraged albeit confidentially so that appropriate counselling could be extended to these inter-related tripartite stakeholders in pursuit of better learning environment, educational outcomes and ultimately career choices. Keywords: Self Esteem, Learning Outcomes, Career choices, Counselling We confirm that there is no conflict of interest. This research was self-sponsored. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-14-06 Publication date:May 31st 201

Antiulcerogenic effect of Capparis cartillaginea decne on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer in wistar rats

Background: Peptic ulcer disease is a non-malignant, mucosal lesion of the stomach or duodenum. The mucosal defect reaches the muscularis mucosa and sometimes, beyond causing life threatening complications, including haemorrhage, perforations, gastrointestinal obstruction and malignancy.Methods: The animals were pre-treated with omeprazole 20 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg of Capparis cartillaginea decne orally for 14 days. On the 15th day, ulcers were induced using indomethacin 30 mg/kg and 4 hours post ulcer induction, they were sacrificed. Ulcer index, pH, total acidity and volume were determined.Results: Extensive lesions were seen in indomethacin ulcerated rats with mean ulcer score of (1.260±0.18). In comparison, there were minimal areas of erosion on animals pre-treated with omeprazole (0.14±0.025) and plant extracts (0.280±0.097). Indomethacin-induced ulcer treated animals showed the highest volume of gastric juice output (3.14±0.21 ml), whereas the animals pre-treated with omeprazole had lower gastric juice output (2.20±0.2 9ml). This was comparable to animals pre-treated with the plant extract (1.80±0.13 ml). The pH was high in animals pre-treated with omeprazole (5.02±0.53). This was also seen in animals pre-treated with the extract (4.82±0.31). This was in comparison to the low pH seen in indomethacin ulcerated animals (2.20±0.16). Indomethacin-induced ulcer treated animals showed high levels of total acidity (88.64±1.71 mEq/L). Whereas the animals pre-treated with omeprazole had lower total acidity (55.26±3.77 mEq/L), which was also mirrored in animals pre-treated with the plant extracts (61.44±2.42 mEq/L).Conclusions: The extracts of Capparis cartillaginea decne showed anti-ulcer effect on indomethacin induced ulcers in Wistar rats

AI on the Road: A Comprehensive Analysis of Traffic Accidents and Accident Detection System in Smart Cities

Accident detection and traffic analysis is a critical component of smart city and autonomous transportation systems that can reduce accident frequency, severity and improve overall traffic management. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of traffic accidents in different regions across the United States using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). To address the challenges of accident detection and traffic analysis, this paper proposes a framework that uses traffic surveillance cameras and action recognition systems to detect and respond to traffic accidents spontaneously. Integrating the proposed framework with emergency services will harness the power of traffic cameras and machine learning algorithms to create an efficient solution for responding to traffic accidents and reducing human errors. Advanced intelligence technologies, such as the proposed accident detection systems in smart cities, will improve traffic management and traffic accident severity. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into traffic accidents in the US and presents a practical solution to enhance the safety and efficiency of transportation systems.Comment: 8,

Determinants of Access and Use of ICT Based Sources of Market Information Amongst Finger Millet Farmers in Teso South, Kenya

In the traditional field of economics of information, marketing information is an important input to reduce the uncertainties faced by participants in the agricultural markets. In most developing countries, efforts have been directed towards improving farmers’ access to ICT based market information with an intention of providing requisite and real time market information to augment farmers’ access to input and output markets. This study analyses the quality of market information provided by radio and mobile phones and assesses the determinants of access and use of ICT based sources of market information amongst finger millet farmers in Teso South district. The results show that use of both mobile phone and radios as sources of market information is still low amongst the finger millet farmers (about one in four finger millet farmers uses ICT sources), thus transforming the market information system entirely into an ICT based system may preclude most farmers who are semi illiterate hence reliant on non ICT based sources of market information. Integration of both ICT based sources of market information and non-ICT sources is inevitable to ensure all the farmers are given the opportunity to access and use market information

Socio- Economic Characteristics of Urban Extension Workers Influencing Empowerment of Farmers in Nairobi County, Kenya

The study examined the influence of socio-economic characteristics of urban extension workers’ on farmers’ empowerment.  Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select 64 extension workers by utilizing the Yamane formula. Data were collected by the use of questionnaires. Frequencies, percentiles and multiple linear regressions were utilised to analyse the data. The extension workers’ socio - economic characteristics were found to positively influence the choice of extension methods. The findings revealed that 37.2% of farmer empowerment could be explained by the choice of extension methods influenced by the characteristics of extension workers. However, 49.9% of the extension workers were not aware of the adult learning principles (ALPs) that are employed in the appropriate choice of extension methods. The study recommends that extension workers in Nairobi County be trained for transformation with competencies to consider ALPs and information communication and technology (ICT) techniques in choices of extension methods. These competencies can ultimately lead to an extension system design transformation that will assist the few extension workers to serve more farmers efficiently and effectively leading to farmer empowerment

Socio- Economic Characteristics of Urban Extension Workers Influencing Empowerment of Farmers in Nairobi County, Kenya

The study examined the influence of socio-economic characteristics of urban extension workers’ on farmers’ empowerment.  Purposive and simple random sampling methods were used to select 64 extension workers by utilizing the Yamane formula. Data were collected by the use of questionnaires. Frequencies, percentiles and multiple linear regressions were utilised to analyse the data. The extension workers’ socio - economic characteristics were found to positively influence the choice of extension methods. The findings revealed that 37.2% of farmer empowerment could be explained by the choice of extension methods influenced by the characteristics of extension workers. However, 49.9% of the extension workers were not aware of the adult learning principles (ALPs) that are employed in the appropriate choice of extension methods. The study recommends that extension workers in Nairobi County be trained for transformation with competencies to consider ALPs and information communication and technology (ICT) techniques in choices of extension methods. These competencies can ultimately lead to an extension system design transformation that will assist the few extension workers to serve more farmers efficiently and effectively leading to farmer empowerment