ABSTRACT The ashes of different types of agricultural biomasses from Githurai market and rice husks collected from Mwea, have been analyzed for their inorganic elements content using both Atomic Absorption and X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopic Techniques. The results show that ash content of various agro-waste ranges from 3.31± 0.10% to 23.92±0.39% with rice husks having 23.92±0.39%. Further analysis on the ashes show that some biomaterials contain very high levels of K2O and Na2O, for inst...
ABSTRACT Trees are very important in Thiririka sub-catchment of Kiambu County in Kenya for reasons such as income generation, soil and water conservation, biodiversity conservation, charcoal production, erosion control, among many others. Eucalyptus spp. (E. grandis, E. saligna and E. globulus) remain part of the dominant tree species planted in the Thiririka sub-catchment. Although these species are planted in various spatial patterns in the sub-catchment to meet the demand for fuel wood, ...
ABSTRACT Both HIV and TB as well as substance use cause profound dysregulation in the production of inflammatory cytokines such as adiponectin, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Although there are marked immunologic alterations in HIV and TB co-infected patients, IFN-γ, IL-10 and adiponectin levels, and their association with clinical correlates of disease such as CD4 counts, HIV-1 viral loads and BMI has not been examined in Kenyan HIV and TB co-infected non-injection su...
Abstract Water soluble components derived from black tea contain active antibacterial compounds, that can be utilized in combined antibiotic-herb therapy to combat bacterial resistance. This strategy is more advantageuos than using single therapy as it is more effective and has minimal side effects. However, it is not clear if the major bioactive compounds interacts with other water soluble compounds, which inturn affects their interaction with antibiotics. This research therefore aimed at co...
ABSTRACT Plant extracts with medicinal value have been used to treat many diseases that can either be bacterial, fungal or parasitic among many others. Plants with medicinal value produce certain chemical elements known as phytochemicals that have antimicrobial activity. Enteric bacterial pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms that are usually located in the intestinal tracts of either animal or human beings. The pathogenic members are usually associated with infections that are charact...
ABSTRACT The study of excitation of helium atom by positron impact has drawn considerable attention since the prediction of existence of the positron by Dirac in 1928.This is due to the fact that the study of atomic collisions forms the basis for understanding of many scientific phenomena in the planetary atmosphere and Astrophysical science. In this study the excitation of helium atom to the is state by positron impact using the Distorted Wave formula has been done. Previously, studies have...
ABSTRACT Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a major constraint to livestock health and production. The disease has for years continued to contribute towards economic and developmental setback in the sub-Saharan Africa. Tsestse flies belonging to Glossina species are the main vectors for transmission. They are attracted to livestock and wildlife hosts where they feed on blood meal contaminated by trypanosomes, the disease causing parasites. Host ageing urine has been shown to be the sourc...
ABSTRACT Solar energy is deemed the single energy resource that is continuously decreasing in price (by 75%), increasing in utility and could effectively contribute to sustainable watershed management. In Kenya, there is an observed acceptance of Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Home Systems (SHS) as the best-fit form of energy to meet rural energy demand. This could potentially displace rural predisposition to woodfuels and paraffin and cumulatively, reduce environmental vulnerability. Photovolt...
ABSTRACT The contamination of water by toxic heavy metals is a worldwide environmental problem. Global environmental changes have dramatically increased the environmental “load” of heavy metals. Therefore, there is need to find an economical method to remove pollutants from water. Onion skins are known to contain flavonoids which are polyphenolic. Quercetin is an example of flavonols, which is mainly in onions. Therefore, onion skins can bind metal ions enabling adsorption. This study eva...
ABSTRACT Due to an increased risk of malaria during pregnancy, WHO recommends a strategic framework for malaria prevention and control during pregnancy in areas of stable transmission in Africa such as Malawi. One of the central policies is intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP). However, the emergence of SP resistance calls into question its effectiveness for IPTp. It has recently been demonstrated that 12 years after the withdrawal of chlor...
ABSTRACT Malaria is devastating diseases afflicting humans, in Kenya; the disease is endemic in areas around Lake Victoria and along the southern coast. Untreated malaria in school children, result in anaemia, reduced ability to concentrate and learn in school and if fallen sick may lead to school absenteeism. Insecticide treated nets (ITN) have been shown to provide significant protection against Plasmodium infection. Available data show that the overall prevalence of Plasmodium and anaemia...
ABSTRACT The study focused on the possible oxidation of various nitrogen bases by molybdenum(II) and tungsten(II) halocarbonyls, formation of zerovalent aminecarbonyl metal complexes and mode of coordination of nicotine to molybdenum and tungsten. Aminecarbonyls of the type M(CO)3L3 (M=Mo, W; L= CH3NH2, CH3CH2)2NH), M(CO)4TMEDA and M(CO)5nicotine were prepared by a reaction of the halocarbonyls [M(CO)4X2]2 (M=Mo, W; X=Br or Cl) with selected nitrogen bases. The crystal structurse of Mo(CO)4TM...
ABSTRACT A good energy mix is desirable for sustainability of the energy needs of many countries. Currently, electricity, including that sourced from photovoltaic cells is widely used for not only homesteads but also for industries. The desire to develop a cost-effective source of energy has motivated the development of dye sensitized solar cells. This technology has motivated a lot of research owing to its improved efficiency. This work has utilized plant extracts using a binder to deve...
ABSTRACT HIV/AIDS remains a major health issue in Kenya and in the whole world. Over 34 million people are currently living with the HIV and a majority of them are in the Sub-Sahara Africa; a big pool for potential HIV transmission. In Kenya, out of a population of 40 million, over 1.6 million are HIV infected and approximately 100,000 new infections are realized yearly, most of them through unprotected sexual intercourse. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of high-risk sex and to i...
ABSTRACT Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death world-wide despite the vigorous campaigns that have been made to combat them. This has been occasioned by drastic growth of drug resistant pathogens. Phytomedicines derived from plants have shown the ability to overcome resistance in some organisms and great promise in the treatment of intractable infectious diseases. Plant based antimicrobials represent a vast untapped source of medicines and a further exploration of plant antimicro...