Archives-December 

Agriculture is the major economic activity in Kenya contributing up to 24 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (GoK, 2014). According to Odhiambo et al. (2004), agriculture is the most important sector in the Kenyan economy. This is because it provides employment opportunities, source of foreign exchange earner, and food provision besides offering linkages with the other sectors of the economy. Moreover, agriculture is among the six key sectors identified to deliver a 10 percent economic growth per annum as envisaged under the economic pillar of the Kenya Vision 2030. The country aims at promoting an innovative, commercially oriented, and modern agricultural sector (Kenya Vision 2030). Animal genetic resources are used to accommodate both short and long term benefits for improved livelihoods. Structured breeding programmes provide a key to increase production levels and product quality, increase productivity and cost efficiency, maintain genetic diversity and support the conservation and sustainable utilization of specific breeds. For sustainable breeding strategies to take place there is a need for long term planning and commitment. For conservation or improvement of a breed or population for a given purpose the choice of breeding strategy is determined by a number of factors and is giving the framework for design of more detailed breeding programmes for specific populations.

Environment monitoring system is developed to ensure the safety and convenience of an environment which needs high security. It makes use of a temperature sensor, door sensor, hall effect sensor, RFID and accelerometer. This paper aims to develop such an embedded system that monitors parameters like temperature and door status through an android app along with providing security and high temperature alerts. Over current sensing is also employed to protect the circuit by relay switching. The real time values from the sensors are monitored by LPC1754 and SMS is sent to required mobile numbers having the EMS app with the help of a GSM module. The system uses a compact circuitry built around ARM Cortex M3 LPC1754 microcontroller Programs are developed in Embedded C using the IDE Keiluvision4. JTAG is used for loading programs into Microcontroller.

Behavioral problems have remained a critical problem among girls incarcerated in rehabilitation schools. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design with the two rehabilitation schools being randomly assigned into either treatment or control group. Quantitative method was used to collect the data through the use of questionnaire and Achenbach youth self-report (YSR) (11-18 years). Baseline data was first collected in the two sites. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. T-test, Chi square, Anova as well as Ancova tests were carried. The prevalence rates for depression, anxiety disorder and conduct disorder were 66.7%, 70.5% and 55% respectively. In the experimental group the study shows statistically significance difference in mean differences scores at both post-treatment one and two (p<0.001). Therefore this is an indication that MST had an impact on post treatment one and two among juvenile delinquents in experimental as opposed to control groups. The results provide significant insights into effectiveness of MST on selected behavioral problems among Juvenile girls incarcerated in rehabilitation schools.

The objective of the investigation is to mathematically simulate dynamics and vibrations of a small structure. This structure is simulating a short length bridge with 3 spans, two end fixed supports and 2 intermediate supports. The top bridge portion of the structure is subjected to a concentrated moving load simulating a vehicle moving on the bridge. Structural Analysis as regards determination of support moments and reactions is done by Matrix Method of Structural Analysis. All supports are subjected to time varying reactions. Considering intermediate supports as a single DOF system, the transient vibration response is ascertained.

We are very happy to announce that from 30th June 2018, Dr.Charles Chikwendu Okpala has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He/She will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Production Engineering. Dr.Charles Chikwendu Okpala working as Lecturer in Industrial/Production Engineering Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. The appointment of Dr.Charles Chikwendu Okpala as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to elixirpublishers@gmail.com.

The effects of growth hormones and cutting positions on stem cuttings of Griffonia simplicifolia were investigated. The stem cuttings were treated with IBA and NAA at 0mg/L, 100mg/L and 200mg/L with different cutting positions (top, middle and bottom). Cuttings were assessed for root length, roots number, shoot number and sprout percent weeks after planting. Highest root length (16.69cm) at upper cutting position and highest root number (4.05) at middle nodal position were observed in cuttings with no auxin. For shoot number (2.94) and sprout percentage weeks after planting (15.18), cuttings with no hormone also had the highest mean value.

African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) is one of the numerous tree plants in the tropics found abundantly in the Eastern part of Nigeria where the seed called ugba – a non timber forests product is not only consumed as a delicacy but highly revered and recognized as one of the cultural menu recipes for traditional ceremonies. The study was all about the profitability of marketing the seed within Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was employed using structured questionnaires to interview the traders. The result revealed among many others that the business was female gender – driven, dominated by Igbo traders (78.12%) and quite profitable. The average profit per 98.6kg bag was ?23675. Profitability (?0.29) tells that for every one Naira investment, 29kobo is realized as profit and the profitability ratio (0.22) with regard to sales reveal also that for every one Naira sales or returns 22kobo comes in as net income. Notwithstanding the profit margin, the business was however not without some constraints against which some recommendations were made.

Expert systems, which are the most commercially successful result of research in artificial intelligence, are software entities that follow the cognitive abilities of human experts in complex decision making situation. As one of the primary activities in computer science and dependent heavily on the rapid development in computer technology, Expert systems have been eagerly adopted by industries and applied to a wide range of applications. Expert systems belongs to a field of intelligence knowledge based systems the constitute one of the principle field of activity of computational intelligence, a field which been referred to as the science that attempts to reproduced human intelligence using computational means.

The Government of Kenya started the implementation of Free Primary Education programme in January 2003 and Free Day Secondary Education in 2008. Basic education is critical as it lays a foundation for the subsequent levels of education. To implement the Free Primary Education, the Kenya Government progressively increased budgetary allocations to primary education from an expenditure of Kshs 745.08 million in 2001/2002 financial year to Kshs 18.30745 billion in 2007/2008 financial year. While there has been improvement in pupils’ enrolment in primary and secondary schools, its effect on retention and participation of pupils/students in basic education has not been determined. This paper, therefore, looks at factors that affect retention and participation of pupils/students in basic education. Changes in enrolment should be accompanied by improvement in quality of instruction and retention if the set goals of basic education are to be achieved. The paper is based on a study that investigated the factors that affect retention and participation of pupils/students in basic education. The study was carried out in twenty four counties in Kenya. Descriptive survey research design was used. The study targeted learners in primary and secondary schools, teachers, school administrators, BOG/ SMC’s and education officials. The research instruments used to collect data were questionnaire and interview guide. They were piloted and validated for reliability. Means and standard deviations were used to describe the data gathered during the main study. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings were presented in form of tables, pie charts and graphs. It is expected that the findings of this study will provide insightful reference that can help enhance pupils/students retention and participation in education.

The study has been conducted to see if Advertising in News papers influence the news content of newspaper and if newspapers can publish content against thier advertisers, incase of them being involved in any controversy. The research included respondents in the form of a focus group of 20 media practitioners from Islamabad. The ages of the respondants were between 25 to 35. The data was collected through an open ended questionnaire and decoded manully to learn about the topic. The data interpreted proved the assumptions positive which said that the newspaper has to compromise its credibilty to keep the advertisers happy. It also learnt that the newspapers will not publish any content against thier advertisers.