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Improving Technical Education for Human Resource Training for the Realization of Vision 2030: A Case of Technical Training Institutes
(2015-01-01) George Muthaa
The Kenyan Governments’ vision 2030 plan seeks to make Kenya a middle level industrialized nation and improve the economic and social status of its citizens. The realization of this vision will be achieved with adequate human resource at the technology, technician and artisan levels of skill training. Technical Training institutions (TTIs) are charged with the responsibility to train technicians and artisans. Concerns have been raised on the quality and quantity of the graduates coming out of these training institutions. The current study sought to investigate strategies that should be put in place to enhance the training in TTIs. A descriptive survey research design was used for this study with heads of academic departments and students as respondents. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used for data collection. The study established that training was conducted with inadequate teaching staff and obsolete equipments. The study recommends that adequate staff should be hired in training institutions and programmes put in place to upgrade the skills and knowledge of trainers in light of changing technology. Training facilities in the training institutions should urgently be upgraded.
Culture as a Predictor of Effective Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture in Mbeere North, Kenya
(Advancements in Agricultural Development, 2022-01-17) R. Gikunda1 , D. Lawver2 , J. Magogo
The research advances the existing extension education knowledge by illustrating the relationship
between culture and adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Using a sample of 127, the study
adopted a descriptive correlational design to gather data that addressed the hypotheses. The sample
was selected randomly through systematic sampling procedures covering all parts of the sub-county.
A semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to gather data. Independent samples t-test and
multiple regression analysis were applied in data analysis. The results indicated that farmers who
received climate-smart information compared to farmers not receiving the information
demonstrated significantly higher CSA practices adoption levels. A combination of cultural elements
significantly predicted the adoption of climate-smart practices. The moderate effective adoption
rates witnessed may have been contributed by limited access to extension services and cultural
barriers. Among the cultural elements inability of extension agents to communicate in the local
language was found to be the main inhibitor to effective dissemination and subsequent adoption.
Hence, extension agents conversant with local language should be recruited to break the
communication barrier to improve the diffusion of CSA practices. The county extension agents
should be encouraged to use a mix of mass media extension education methods so as to expand the
coverage.
Metrics for Evaluating Alerts in Intrusion Detection Systems
(international journal of network security and its application, 2023-01-04) Jane Kinanu Kiruki1, 3 , Geoffrey Muchiri Muketha2 and Gabriel Kamau1
Network intrusions compromise the network’s confidentiality, integrity and availability of resources.
Intrusion detection systems (IDSs) have been implemented to prevent the problem. Although IDS
technologies are promising, their ability of detecting true alerts is far from being perfect. One problem is
that of producing large numbers of false alerts, which are termed as malicious by the IDS. In this paper we
propose a set of metrics for evaluating the IDS alerts. The metrics will identify false, low-level and
redundant alerts by mapping alerts on a vulnerability database and calculating their impact. The metrics
are calculated using a metric tool that we developed. We validated the metrics using Weyuker’s properties
and Kaner’s framework. The metrics can be considered as mathematically valid since they satisfied seven
of the nine Weyuker’s properties. In addition, they c
Heavy Metal Phytoremediation Potential of Wild Plant Species Naturally Growing on Dumpsite, Kenya
(chuka university, 2024-12-04) Orao LA1 , Muraya MM2 and Ombaka CO3; ; ;
Soils form an essential part of life and the main sink of pollutants. Intense industrial and
anthropogenic activities have led to serious environmental threats, resulting in increased
heavy metal concentration in soils and, consequently, a phytotoxicity effect on plants.
Phytoremediation can offer effective and eco-friendly remedies for polluted sites. This
study characterized the diversity of various plants that spontaneously grow in a dumpsite
and scrutinized their phytoremediation potential. The plants evaluated for
phytoremediation potential were Ricinus communis, Parthenium hysterophorus, Cassia
didymobotrya, and Datura stramonium. The location of the research was Kang’oki
dumpsite, Kenya. Species diversity was studied using quadrat sampling thrown randomly
throughout the dump site. The bioaccumulation factor (BF) and the translocation factor
(TF) were calculated to determine the accumulation and mobility of the heavy metals in the
plants. To determine the ability of the plants to remove, accumulate, and mobilize the
selected heavy metals, soil and plant sampling was conducted within the 14 sampling sites.
The samples were acid-digested, and concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd were analyzed
using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometry. Data obtained was subjected to statistical
analysis using SAS version 94. Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) was used for species
diversity. An H’ of 0.94 and species evenness of 0.45 was found showing a high species
diversity on the dumpsite. Cadmium concentration in soil samples ranged from ND to 1.63
mg/kg of soils and 0.4418 to 0.6939 mg/kg of plant tissues. Nickel concentration ranged
from 7.9 to 36.33 mg/kg in soils and 9.31 to 11.38 mg/kg in plant tissue, respectively.
Copper was found between 3.41 to 121.18 mg/kg of soils and 3.74 to 10.89 mg/kg of plant
tissues, respectively. Lead in soils ranged from 13.25 to 8.013 mg/kg of soils and 11.48 to
13.89 of plant tissues. Leaves accumulated significantly (p < 0.05) higher amounts of heavy
metals than roots and stems. The leaves and stem of Datura stramonium showed the highest
concentration of cadmium and copper, while its stem showed the maximum concentration
of Nickel and lead. Datura stramonium showed BCF and TF >1; hence, it can be used for
phytoextraction of cadmium. All plants showed TF>1; hence, these plants can be used as
hyperaccumulators.
On The Norm of Elementary Operator of Length Two in Tensor Product of C*-Algebras
(journal of mathematics, 2024-05-26) Peter Guchu Muiruri
Considerable research has been done on Norm property of
different examples of Elementary operators with significant
findings. From available literature not much have been done in
determining the norm of elementary operator in tensor product of
C*-algebras. The norms of Basic elementary operator, Jordan
elementary operator and finite length elementary operator in
tensor product of C*-algebras have been determined and results
obtained. The main focus of this work is to investigate the norm of
the elementary operator of length two in the tensor product of
C*-algebras and to expand on our previous discussion on the
elementary operator in tensor product of C*-algebras. To reach
the goals, methods such as finite rank operator, tensor products
of C*-algebras, and other well-known results were applied.