ABSTRACT The female Anopheles gambiae, a malaria vector, detects ultrasound by its antenna, which can initiate an attractive or repulsive response. Modern electronic mosquito repellent devices exploit this concept in attempt to control malaria. However, they have shown only 20 % effectiveness in repellency. This work determines the transmission parameters of Amolops tormotus, Coleura afra sounds and their combination and hence their startling effects on female Anopheles gambiae. The sound of...
ABSTRACT Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a mosquito borne viral infection, first reported in the Rift Valley province of Kenya in 1912 and identified in 1931. Major outbreaks have been reported in Kenya in 1997/1998 and 2006/2007. Baringo, Garissa and Kilifi district of Kenya were hot spots in the last major RVF outbreak that occurred in the country in 2006/2007. Investigations were conducted during the outbreak to establish putative mosquito vectors and vertebrate host of RVF virus. Engorged fem...
ABSTRACT The Lake Victoria region of western Kenya is malaria endemic with a suitable environment throughout the year for the transmission of Plasmodium parasites by its primary mosquito vector, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.), as well as other secondary vectors. Malaria control largely depends on vector control using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) that protect humans from infectious bites while sleeping. However, the success of this strategy is greatly threatened by resistance t...
ABSTRACT Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is bulky and perishable with up to 50% of losses in 3-5 months of storage. Losses can be reduced through processing into less bulky and more stable products. The aim of this study was to investigate morphological and biochemical factors which affect potato quality, effect of potato cultivars and fermentation on quality of French fries and crisps as well as starch characteristics. Cultivars used included vartieties like Gikungu, Kigega, Kinigi, Kirundo, ...
ABSTRACT Tomato is one of the most widely cultivated horticutural crops but the production is affected by the pest problems like Fusarial wilt. Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. Lycopersicit is a destructive disease of the tomato and one of the main causes of the crop decline worldwide. The disease is currently managed using synthetic fungicides but there is a growing concern about the traces of the pesticide residues on the product and resistance to the current fungicides. Fungicides are applied at...
ABSTRACT The rapidly growing Nakuru town needs expansion to accommodate the increasing population. This vast expansion can only be done at the outskirts of the town. However, no single research has been done with the aim of checking the geological stability of the regions around Nakuru town; either by mapping new fault zones or by confirming using geophysical methods the presence of faults shown on geological maps. Kiamunyi estate being in the outskirts of the town was therefore chosen for t...
ABSTRACT Petroleum – polluted sites are disturbed ecosystem with scanty plants. Study was carried out in such sites to assess the area of its rhizobacterial status, particularly comparing that of the rhizospheres and non-rhizospheres in the site. The samples were suspended and serially diluted in physiological saline and inoculated on nutrient media by spread plates method. After incubation and isolation, the isolates were characterized by morphological examination, gram staining, biochemic...
ABSTRACT Bean Foliage beetles (Ootheca spp.) are a major constraint to common bean production in Kenya. Two studies were carried out during the long and short rain seasons of 2015 to determine the effect of mixtures of bean varieties and other legume species and also to investigate the effect of different bean varieties on bean foliage beetle incidence, population density and severity of damage and grain yield. Field experiments were conducted in six sites (Madola, Bujumba, Busire, Nyalara a...
ABSTRACT Climate change and variability greatly affect many human activities particularly agriculture. Various adaptation strategies to climate variability have been used over the years with little attention to the vital role played by seasonal climate forecast (SCF) in providing information on the expected climatic conditions to adapt to. Despite dissemination of SCF information to varied users by Kenya Meteorological services (KMS) before rain seasons, it still remains unclear whether the ...
ABSTRACT African trypanosomiases are a group of related diseases that affect humans (Human African Trypanosomiasis - HAT) and their livestock (Animal African Trypanosomiasis), with devastating medical and economic consequences for Africa. The diseases are caused by trypanosome parasites cyclically transmitted by tsetse flies. Recent reports indicate that HAT is on the decline in sub Sahara Africa. However, the disease still remains a major health problem in some parts of Africa such as South...
ABSTRACT A category is defined as an algebraic structure that has objects that are linked by morphisms. Categories were created as a foundation of mathematics and as a way of relating algebraic structures and systems of topological spaces. Any foundation of mathematics must include algebra, topology, and analysis. Algebra and topology have been studied extensively in category theory but not the analysis. This is partly due to the algebraic nature of category theory and the fact that the axio...
ABSTRACT Infectious diseases remain to be a global health burden due to the development of antibiotic resistance by pathogenic microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance has led to increased number of deaths among children and adults. This study sought to screen for antimicrobial activity of extracts from fungal endophytes against selected human pathogens, identify, and characterize the fungal endophytes and screen for phytochemicals present in selected medicinal plants‟ extracts. Sixty-five fu...
ABSTRACT Biofuels made from plant sources, usually used to run in diesel engines are of two types namely bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is mostly derived from maize and sugar cane molasses, while biodiesel is derived from vegetable oils and animal fats. A wide range of biofuels can be used as renewable resources of energy, including tallow and waste vegetable oil from hotels and fish vendors. Presently waste vegetable oil is discarded into sewerage systems, causing pollution in water w...
ABSTRACT Micronutrient deficiency of zinc and iron is a major problem worldwide, especially in the developing countries that heavily rely on cereal rich diets for sustenance. Wheat is a popular staple cereal crop containing substantial levels of micronutrients and could be used as a tool for alleviating their deficiencies. The study reported herein focused on determining the concentration of zinc, iron, resistant starch (RS) and phytic acid in 9 newly released wheat varieties and their effec...
ABSTRACT Consensus of opinion in literature regarding tobacco use has shown that cigarette smoking can cause irreparable damage to the genetic material, cell injury, and the general respiratory landscape. The alkaloid family of tobacco has been implicated in a series of ailments including addiction, mental illnesses, psychological disorders, and mental deficits. Accordingly, this study describes the kinetic and molecular modelling of the major tobacco alkaloids in mainstream cigarette smoke;...