Natural radioactivity levels and radiation risks due to construction sand mined from Tharaka region of Tharaka-Nithi County in Kenya has been measured. The region is mostly rocky with majority of rocks being volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks of volcanic origin; the area is occupationally characterized by sand mining for construction purposes within the County and also in some parts of the neibouring Meru and Embu Counties. The sand is mined along the river banks and also gullies that carry...
Adolescent overweight and obesity have been observed as one of serious public health challenges of the 21st century by the World Health Organization (WHO). Over the past few decades adolescent food consumption has undergone a great deal of transition from the starchy carbohydrates from roots and tubers to the highly refined cereals and sugary beverages. The highly refined cereals consumption contributes in no small measure to body adiposity. Physical inactivity further aggravates the calorie...
The present study was undertaken with the aim of producing Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) using air as a source of nitrogen and bones a source of phosphoric acid. Oxygen was removed from air by passing air over heated copper granules in the temperature range of 300oC – 500oC. Copper granules were heated using charcoal packed in a ceramic charcoal stove. The nitrogen was reacted with lithium to form lithium nitride which was hydrolysed to produce ammonia. The phosphoric acid extracted by boiling...
Kenya is the eighth highest producer of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide with a production of 529,265 tons annually. Climbing beans are highly productive, and can produce yields 2 to 3 times higher than bush beans and is therefore a promising option to increase bean yields in Kenya. However, climbing bean production is greatly affected by the decline in soil fertility, particularly low nitrogen levels in the soil. Replenishment of soil nitrogen using effective rhizobia inoculant...
Mixing water is very vital for development of concrete and /or mortar. It can also be a source of aggressive ions in the cured concrete/ mortar. This study investigated the effect of mixing water on performance of cement mortar made from selected Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and Portland pozzolana cement (PPC). Test cements were sampled from three local cement manufacturing plants while mixing water was randomly sampled from different construction sites in Kajiado, Machakos and Nairobi coun...
Essential elements are those elements which even in small amounts play important roles as far as healthy animal or plant life is concerned. Lead is a heavy metal with no known biological function in the body. Various biopsy materials for example teeth, scale, blood and other body fluids have for a long time been used to assess Pb exposure as well as the levels of essential elements in the body. Hair and nails are more attractive indicators since the analysis is economical and not susceptible ...
Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has been known to cause hepatotoxicity despite its benefit to improve the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infections. However, the impact of HAART on HIV subtypes, drug resistance mutations and cytokine profiles, is not yet fully elucidated especially in the Northwest Region (NWR) of Cameroon. Therefore, this study was carried out with aim of determining the effect of HIV-1 subtypes, drug resistance mutations, cytokine profiles and ris...
In recent years concerns over dwindling reserves of ground and surface water resources coupled with an overloaded or costly sewage treatment plants has generated much interest in the reuse or recycling of greywater. Greywater is untreated household wastewater which includes water from; showers, laundry, dishwashers and washing machines. Re-use of greywater offers several advantages that include a reduction in the water bill, reduced wastewater discharge, as well as reduction in the demand on ...
Maize production in Kenya is under threat due to infection by maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND). The disease is known to cause intensive complete yield loss. It is caused by a synergistic infection of maize by maize chlorotic mottle virus and sugarcane mosaic virus which are mainly vectored by corn thrips (Frankliniella williamsi, Hood) and corn leaf aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis, Fitch) respectively. This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the following aspects; farme...
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is an important African staple food crop in the tropics. The crop contains cyanogenic glycosides which can be readily converted to thiocyanate by glycosidases and sulfur transferase enzymes present in the plant or in the animal tissues. Thiocyanate inhibits the uptake of iodine by the iodide pump of the thyroid gland thus acting as a goitrogen which suppresses thyroid function leading to goiter. Goiter increases the risk of thyroid irradiation in the event o...
Salinity affects about 40% of the global area mainly the arid and semi-arid regions. In Kenya the ASALs cover approximately 80% of the total area where agricultural production constraints include water scarcity, salinity and sodicity. Sweetpotato Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.) is the third most economically important root crop after potato and cassava in the world cultivated for human consumption, animal feed and industrial uses. The production of sweetpotato by smallholder farmers in the AS...
An estimated 1.8 billion people in the world use water coming from fecally contaminated sources. This is as a result of 80% of the human generated wastewater ending up in rivers and other reusable water bodies before treatment. The hygienic balance is locally complicated by the fact that 57% of people in informal settlements have no access to basic sanitation, including latrines and toilets. This study sought to evaluate alternative toileting in the name of “Peepoo”, as single use p...
Geothermal energy has become increasingly important around the world for the past few decades. This renewable energy has been utilized for electricity generation in Kenya. Before harnessing and utilizing this energy, survey of the geothermal area must be done. Moinonin has several geothermal manifestations in form of fumaroles, hot altered ground and steaming grounds among others. Even with these geothermal manifestations, gravity survey has not been done in the area. There is need to ex...
ABSTRACT Fish feed protein ingredients are the most expensive and often unavailable in subSaharan Africa especially in commercial aquaculture systems. The major fish feed protein ingredient in fish farming in Kenya is fishmeal (FM) that is often times expensive and adulterated leading to low productivity of fish farming. This problem has necessitated a need for exploring alternative less expensive and easily available protein sources such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). This study aimed...
ABSTRACT Inflammation is a reaction to irritants that causes an injury to the body. Pain is a physical discomfort caused by injury or illness while pyrexia is an increase in body temperature above the normal range (36.5°C–37.5°C). Commonly used conventional drugs against inflammation, pain and pyrexia are effective but due to long term use, these drugs tend to be costly and are associated with adverse side effects. Traditional medicine has been used as an alternative and complementary d...