ABSTRACT Screening of pooled urine specimen was suggested during the Second World War as a method for reducing the cost of detecting syphilis in U.S. soldiers. Recently, pooling has been used in epidemiological studies for screening of human immunodeficiency virus HIV/AIDS antibody to help curb the spread of the virus. Pooling reduces the cost but also – and more importantly – offers a feasible way to lower the misclassifications associated with labeling specimens when imperfect tests are...
ABSTRACT Maize (Zea mays L.) and the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are the two most important staple foods not only in Kenya but also in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the importance of these two crops, there have been production constraints due to diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens. The major diseases affecting maize production are Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) and maize ear rot which are caused by fungal pathogens, Cercospora zeae-maydis, Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium graminear...
ABSTRACT The present study examined the total, membrane bound and soluble HLA-G in infected and uninfected placentas using quantitative real time PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. The total HLA-G transcripts differed significantly (p = 0.009) between infected and uninfected primigravidae. The membrane bound HLA-G transcripts were significantly more abundant than the soluble HLA-G in infected placentas (p = 0.04) in all mothers. At the protein level infected placentas had higher mean level...
ABSTRACT Biopreservation systems in foods are of increasing interest in the food industry. It is the use of naturally occurring microorganisms and/or their inherent antibacterial compounds of defined quality and quantity to extend shelf life and to enhance the safety of foods. Bacteriocinogenic LAB and/or their isolated bacteriocins are considered safe additives, useful to control the frequent development of pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in foods. The spreading of bacterial antibiotic...
ABSTRACT Mosquitoes transmit serious human diseases, resulting into millions of deaths globally every year. The use of synthetic insecticides to control vector mosquitoes has caused physiological resistance and adverse environmental effects in addition to high operational costs. Mosquito larvicidal compounds from certain plant and fungal species have been reported. Basidiomycetes fungi are known to synthesize a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites. The objective of this work was to ...
ABSTRACT Protein-energy malnutrition remains a huge problem for children in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenyan children are no exception. These children rely on cereal porridge such as finger millet (Eleusine coracana) for nutrient supply. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), a locally available nutritious legume, could be an excellent complement to lysine-deficient millet diets. Therefore, the present study aimed at innovatively improving the protein quality and sensory properties of the complementary food, ...
ABSTRACT The Schiff base ligand, 2-[(E)-[{3--[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]phenyl}imino)methyl]phenol was synthesized by condensing 1,3-diaminobenzene and 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde in absolute ethanol. Its Cr(III) and Cr(VI) complexes were equally synthesized. The ligand was characterized via UV, IR and NMR spectroscopy, whereas the complexes were characterized based on UV and IR spectroscopy and conductivity values. Stoichiometric studies indicated 1:1 metal to ligand ratio for both complexes. C...
ABSTRACT Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is an indigenous fruit tree occurring in the savannah drylands of sub-Saharan Africa. A vast population of people in this region suffers from hidden hunger and malnutrition. Baobab fruits are a source of micronutrients, and their utilization in local diets has potential to improve health of the rural poor. The present study was conducted to determine the nutritional characteristics of baobab pulp and seeds across Africa geographical regions. Mature baob...
ABSTRACT Paka volcano is situated in active northern Kenya rift. It is considered one of the geothermal prospects. It has been covered by most studies that focused on the regional tectonic evolution of the East Africa Rift, lithospheric and crustal structural analysis. However, regional analysis overlooked local analysis, where key geothermal structural features like thin massive intrusive and shallow faults that are significant have remained relatively poorly constrained. Hence, the key conc...
ABSTRACT The poultry industry, especially chicken production has in recent times faced a major setback due to devastating effects of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactases (ESBL) producing organisms.This research aimed at investigating the diversity of ESBL genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli(APEC) among scavenging local chickens. A total of 400 cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs were obtained, out of which 192 Escherichia coli were isolated. By use of virulence factor profiling, these 192 samp...
ABSTRACT Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds included in the European Union and US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) priority pollutant list because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Several studies have shown that exposure to benzo[A]pyrene (BaP), a member of the PAHs increases the risk of cancer. PAHs have been the subject of much concern in the recent years due to their toxic potential. They are known as highly stable contamina...
ABSTRACT Agricultural land is an important resource for farm households as it forms the base for their livelihoods. Therefore, the manner in which households utilize this resource influences to a large extent their food security situation. This study sought to establish the impact of agricultural land use on household food security in Kisii Central sub-County, Kisii County. To achieve this objective the study focused on the following; examination of the various land use activities, assessment...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of juices manufactured and sold for immediate consumption in Dar es Salaam Municipalities, Tanzania. The assessments were based on identifying the levels of preservatives, hygienic practices in manufacturing industries and determine microbiological quality of the juices. High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method was modified and validated for determination of benzoic and sorbic acids, while direct titration method was ...
ABSTRACT Visible light plays an important role in the survival of species in our ecosystem. Light signals control seed germination, leaf expansion and stem elongation. Visible light consists of electric and magnetic fields. Earlier studies have focused on the exposure of magnetic field for a short span on the growth of plants, this study will investigate the effect of magnetic field on the whole lifespan of spinach with emphasis on its effect on chlorophyll and elemental composition. In this ...
ABSTRACT Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels (Combretaceae), is a member of the genus Terminalia that comprises around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. In Africa it is found along the coast of west and central Africa. It has different uses in traditional medicine such as antimalarial, anti-diabetic, anti-fungal, and anti-hypertensive in the areas where it is found. Most of these uses are yet to be scientifically investigated. The powdered stem bark of Terminalia superba...