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Recent Submissions

Computer Modeling for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Curriculum in Kenya: A Simulation-Based Approach to Science Education
(Science Publishing Group, 2016-01-09) Sifuna, James; Manyali, George S.; Sakwa, Thomas W.; Alima, Mukasia
Developed countries have appreciated the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for scientific and technological development. STEM subjects have been posting low results in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations over the years and we have linked the deteriorating standards to the inappropriate teaching approaches that mainly tend to be teacher-centered and hence compromising the learner-centered approach. Due to the poor teaching methods, we ought to incorporate simulation in science education to foster good grades and this formed the basis of this research. Computation techniques have been applied in many subject areas in tertiary institutions with promising results that tend to be in agreement with experimental data. Our research is a quasi-experimental study and thus we have employed the Solomon-Four-Quasi-Experimental design that enabled us to involve a comparison between two computational groups and two control groups. The control groups served to reduce the influence of confounding variables and allowed us to test whether the pre-test had an effect on our objective. Purposive sampling technique was used to select three schools (A boy school, a girl school and a mixed sex school). Each school was expected to have a computer for simulation. The three schools were further split into four groups (single boy’s school, single girl’s school, boys from the mixed and girls from the mixed school). Each school provided the form one class and a total of 150 students participated. We taught the concept of the periodic table to all the students, the computational groups were taught using the simulations while the control groups were taught using the regular methodology. After we had taught for a period of one month, all the four groups were tested using a tool verified by KurderRichardson 21 Formula and the data analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Origin 9.0. The results showed that the computation groups posted higher scores in the concept of the periodic table. This research points to the fact that there is an urgent need to re-design the teaching of Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields, by incorporating computation techniques to enhance STEMs.
Specific Heat Jump in Anisotropic YBa2Cu307−δ Superconductor
(CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, 2007-12) Khanna, K. M.; Kirui, Karap M.; Sakwa, Thomas W.; Torongey, P. K.; Ayodo, K. Y.; Rotich, S.
Using the exotic pairing model, the jump in the specific heat ∆C/Tc in YBa2Cu307−δ , for both breathing mode and buckling mode has been calculated. Its value was compared with the experimental values and it has been found that the specific heat jump in superconductor and the density of states were one fifth of the earlier reported values. This is indicative of the small fraction of carriers close to the Fermi level, which are paired and exotic pairing due to anharmonic perturbation of the apical oxygen ions leads to a lowering of ∆C/T.
A Study on the Geophylogeny of Clinical and Environmental Vibrio Cholerae In Kenya
(Public Library of Science, 2013-09-16) Kiiru, John; Mutreja, Ankur; Mohamed, Ahmed A.; Kimani, Racheal W.; Mwituria, Joyce; Sanaya, Robert O.; Muyodi, Jane; Gunturu, Revathi; Parkhill, Julian; Thomson, Nicholas; Gordon, Dougan; Kamau, Samuel
Cholera remains a significant public health challenge in many sub-Saharan countries including Kenya. We have performed a combination of phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis based on whole genome DNA sequences derived from 40 environmental and 57 clinical V. cholerae from different regions of Kenya isolated between 2005 and 2010. Some environmental and all clinical isolates mapped back onto wave three of the monophyletic seventh pandemic V. cholerae El Tor phylogeny but other environmental isolates were phylogenetically very distinct. Thus, the genomes of the Kenyan V. cholerae O1 El Tor isolates are clonally related to other El Tor V. cholerae isolated elsewhere in the world and similarly harbour antibiotic resistance-associated STX elements. Further, the Kenyan O1 El Tor isolates fall into two distinct clades that may have entered Kenya independently.
Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Qualitative Study of Health Managers in Kenya
(BioMed Central, 2020-11-17) Mbugua, Samuel M.; Njoroge, George; Kijogi, Caroline; Kamita, Moses; Kimani, Racheal W.; Mwaura, Peter; Waiganjo, Bibianne A.; Gitaka, Jesse
Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health concern with the establishment of antimicrobial stewardship in hospitals being increasingly obligatory. Perspectives and insights of health managers on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), complementary health services and building blocks are imperative towards implementation of robust AMS programs. This study aimed to understand perspectives of hospital managers on AMS and identify areas of management engagement while addressing potential blockades to change.
A Sample-to-answer COVID-19 Diagnostic Device Based on Immiscible Filtration and CRISPR-Cas12a-assisted Detection
(Elsevier, 2022-12-01) Bongkot, Ngamsom; Wakaba, Patrick; Kimani, Racheal W.; Iles, Alexander; Kamita, Moses; Rodriguez-Mateos, Pablo; Mungai, Mary; Dyer, Charlotte E.; Cheryl, Walter; Gitaka, Jesse; Pamme, Nicole
In response to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and disparities of vaccination coverage in low-and middle-income countries, it is vital to adopt a widespread testing and screening programme, combined with contact tracing, to monitor and effectively control the infection dispersion in areas where medical resources are limited. This work presents a lab-on-a-chip device, namely ‘IFAST-LAMP-CRISPR’, as an affordable, rapid and high-precision molecular diagnostic means for detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The herein proposed ‘sample-to-answer’ platform integrates RNA extraction, amplification and molecular detection with lateral flow readout in one device. The microscale dimensions of the device containing immiscible liquids, coupled with the use of silica paramagnetic beads and guanidine hydrochloride, streamline sample preparation (including RNA extraction, concentration and purification) in 15 min with minimal hands-on steps. The pre-amplification in combination with CRISPR-Cas12a detection assays targeting the nucleoprotein (N) gene achieved visual identification of ≥ 470 copies mL−1 genomic SARS-CoV-2 samples in 45 min. On-chip assays showed the ability to isolate and detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA from 100 genome copies mL−1 of replication-deficient viral particles in 1 h. This simple, affordable and integrated platform demonstrated a visual, faster, and yet specificity- and sensitivity-comparable alternative to the costly gold-standard reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, requiring only a simple heating source. Initial testing illustrates the platform viability both on nasopharyngeal swab and saliva samples collected using the easily accessible Swan-brand cigarette filter, providing a complete workflow for COVID-19 diagnostics in low-resource settings.