Efficacy of Essential Oils from Ocimum kenyense as a Biopesticide against Aphis gosypii, Thrips tabaci and Bemisia tabaci.

Natural sources of biopesticides such as plants and microorganisms are widely employed for pest management globally. Over the last five decades, the use of biopesticides has been explored as a safer alternative to synthetic pesticides. This study determined the repellence and contact toxicity of essential oils from Ocimum kenyense plant against Thrips tabaci, Bemisia tabaci, and Aphis gosypii. The essential oils (Eos) were extracted from dry leaves by hydrodistillation using the Clevenger apparatus for 8 hours. The composition of essential oils was qualitatively and quantitatively analysed using GC-MS, while ATR-FTIR was used to determine the functional groups. The major compound ion in the Eos was 1,8-Cionele while the major phytochemical identified was Eucalyptol Bioassay of the crude extracts were carried out on T. tabaci, B. tabaci, and A. gosypii. Contact toxicity and repellency tests against mixed-sex adult pests were carried out on T. tabaci, B. tabaci, and A. gosypii. In contact toxicity, five different concentrations were prepared and each was replicated five times. Acetone was used as a negative control, while permethrin, a commercial chemical pesticide was used as a positive control. The LD50 of the essential oils was determined by Probit analysis SPSS version 26.0. The response to the treatments was observed after 24 hours by using a blunt object probing and the pests that did not respond were counted as dead. It was found that essential oils from O. kenyense had the lowest LD50 of 0.127 µL against A. gosypii. This implies that O. kenyense can be used as a contact toxicant against A. gosypii. Repellency tests were carried out at four different concentrations. N, N-Diethyltoluamide (DEET) repellent from a commercial mosquito repellent was used to compare the effectiveness of the essential oils against commercial repellents. The repellency test responses were observed after 1 hour and the data was used to determine the correlation between different levels of concentration of Eos and percentage repellency of Eos of O. kenyense leaves carried out at α=0.05. There was a high correlation of 1.000 between the increase in concentration of Eos and repellency against A. gosypii, T. tabaci and B. tabaci. The results were statistically significant and (P<0.05, α=0.05). Therefore, essential oils from O. kenyense can be used as a contact toxicant biopesticide against A. gosypii and a repellent biopesticide against A. gosypii, T. tabaci and B. tabaci.

Blockchain Technologies: Potential Use of Cryptographic Protocol in Financing Forests Conservation Stewardship

Environmental markets that consider trade-offs of benefits flow and conservation burdens among economic units contributes to the sustainability of natural resource capital. Despite the benefits of environmental markets, the existence of bureaucratic processes in ecosystem financing such as Payment for Environmental Services creates a perverse market structure, which impedes the efforts of internalising environmental costs through distributional effects of conservation rewards and burdens among economic units. Therefore, this paper explores the applicability of using cryptographic protocols in blockchain technologies as a paradigm shift in financing conservation stewardship at the micro-level. Secondary data from documented literature was used as the source of information in this study. Systematic searches on different websites were used to identify relevant scientific papers, journals, abstracts, reports and presentations that resonated with the theme of this study. To gain hands-on information regarding blockchain technologies, the snowballing research design was used to identify individuals with technological know-how on the functionality and blockchain operability. Blockchain technologies can be merited because it portrays a high degree of transparency and trustworthiness among economic units when used in environmental markets. Therefore, designing a robust cryptographic protocol that facilitates efficient trade-offs of conservation rewards and burdens in present environmental market creates incentives for the resource conservation and protection.

Factors and Constraints Hindering Effective Municipal Solid Waste Management Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Study of Northern Uganda

In developing countries, little information is available about solid-waste characteristics, determinants for adoption and performance-evaluation of municipal-waste management systems in Municipals. This study aimed: to characterize the municipal solid-wastes, collection, dumping and evaluate the efficiency and reliability of Municipal solid-waste management system. A total of 200 households were randomly sampled and interviewed. Data was analysed using Binary-Logistic Regression model to determine factors influencing collection and dumping of solid wastes. Results showed that biodegradable/organic wastes comprise a major fraction of solid-wastes produced. Factors that influenced solid-waste collection and dumping included: household-age, unavailability of solid-waste containers, inadequate collection/dumping space and weak legal-enforcement against poor-dumping. The waste system is constrained by inadequate transport facilities, inadequate space for temporal dumping; and lack of legal enforcement in matters of solid-waste poor handling. These have made the systems ineffective and unreliable. This study recommends involvement of all stakeholders in innovative approaches to uphold sustainable municipal sanity.

Role Model Choice Habits of Primary School and University Students in An International Perspective

By the XXI century, we are always online thanks to the available modern telecommunication tools, so certain concepts, results, and value systems are therefore revalued. This change, which involves loss of value as well, is present in all areas of life and has an impact on the morality and value perception of the growing generation. The purpose of the study is on the one hand to present and analyse the changes in values of today's society. On the other hand, its purpose is to give a picture of the role model choices of today's young people. As a test method, we used a questionnaire survey method besides exploring the domestic and international literature. A total of 687 people participated in the survey. The study was conducted with the participation of six countries, including four in Europe - Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, and Serbia - and two outside Europe - Malaysia and Kenya. Our hypotheses were: H1: It is assumed that most of the young people have an athlete role model; H2: It is assumed that in Kenya and Malaysia there is a significantly higher proportion of those who choose athlete role models and they are chosen along with positive values; H3: It is assumed that, due to social, economic, and cultural disparities, I can show significant differences in the choice of role models for young people surveyed in Central and Eastern European and non-European countries. As a result, the habits of athlete role model choice among the interviewed young people of six countries become comparable. We get a clearer picture of the values along which young people choose an orientation person

Generation and Interpretation of Sculptural Ideas in Large Scale Stone Sculptures Placed in Outdoor Public Spaces: An Analysis of the Stone Sculptures of Gerald Motondi Oroo.

This paper presupposes that there is no artwork, in this case, large-scale outdoor sculptural work, that is undertaken without a defined ‘intent’; the extent and description of which depends on the individual artist and the visual impact of the work. In examining artwork, such intent is often relegated to the sidelines and yet it should constitute the first line of information as to why the work was created in the first place and can form a good basis for the eventual interrogation and interpretation of the work itself by the audience. This paper seeks to delve into the intent of the artist in order to determine the genesis of his motivation and the source of his inspiration and subsequently, also to determine the extent to which the work itself is effective in propagating this intent. Although there is a reference to the expression and expressiveness of artwork as an avenue of understanding how artwork is generally viewed and visually examined, the core purpose of the study gravitates around the intent of this particular artist, his motivation and inspiration. However, in this regard, questions still abound on whether the artist’s individual intent is ‘all encompassing’ or whether there are, indeed, other factors that spur multiple interpretations from the audience that point to new meanings and, therefore, make the work more interactive and engaging. The work featured in this paper makes these arguments even more significant because firstly, they are executed by the same individual and secondly, the pieces were conceived and executed on-site in different countries raising the prospect of intense contextual and cultural implications. The intriguing question that lingers is whether the artist’s personal creative intent is relevant or he is entangled by communal thematic expectations to which he must conform since the work is in the people’s space. This immediately raises questions about the role of ‘outsider’ artist in some instances, in the generation of subject matter and the role of outdoor sculpture placed in public spaces which are expected, in essence, to be in contextual resonance with the local community. The sculptures are large stone sculptures placed in outdoor spaces and done in various media such as marble, granite and soapstone. The work is located in different sites in various countries.

Coal-Key Energy Resource for the Future in Kenya? A Review

Coal has been a major contributor to energy security in many developed countries and is projected to continue contributing a significant fraction of global energy demand in the foreseeable future. Although coal power generation has been associated with numerous environmental implications, technological advances in the mining sector have enabled the mining of coal with minimal environmental impacts, especially in major coal-producing countries. In Kenya where inadequate energy supply is a major deterrent to economic growth, the discovery of coal reserves in the country presents a suitable opportunity for the country to address its energy security challenges. The challenge is how the exploitation of this resource can be done sustainably. This article explores the potential for sustainable coal mining in Kenya to address energy security challenges in the country. However, as it will be discussed in the paper, sustainable coal mining is often met with many challenges which include lack of finances, lack of technology, poor conditions of the physical environment, and unsupportive laws and regulations. Therefore, the article concludes that there are adequate ways and technologies that can be adapted in Kenya for sustainable coal mining. However, the decision as to whether coal mining should be embraced in the country should put into consideration the amount and nature of available coal reserves, availability of finances, availability of technologies, physical environmental conditions and the associated laws and regulations.

Exploration of Human Figure Drawings Using Charcoal Pencil - Analysis of Post-Graduate Drawings by Zephania Lukamba

Human figure drawing is undertaken and ultimately used for a number of purposes. Artists use it to continually sharpen their skills in order to apply it in the execution of their work in artistic disciplines that pertain to self-expression. Students and other groups as well as individuals embark on human figure drawing in order to acquire and horn their skills for purposes of artistic development that is then applied ultimately to their respective artistic endeavours. However, the drawing and acquisition of skills is a process and people render their human figure drawings to different levels of success and finesse at any given stage. In this process, one draws human figures using certain prescribed guidelines. It is expected that as one works within this process, particularly in a formal learning environment like studio-based work, following these guidelines become essential and helpful in attaining a proportional and accurate human figure drawing. In analysing the featured work executed on toned paper, this paper seeks to determine the extent to which the artist applies the basic tenets of human figure drawing and whether the drawings themselves attain this threshold. The analytical framework includes the depiction of correct proportions, the study of gestures, the suggestion of movement and application of value. Within the development of personal style, the artist specifically explores the effect of charcoal pencil on toned paper as his medium of choice. His methodology includes the application of a variety of tones and the use of focused illumination upon pertinent areas in the drawings to create deliberate effects that highlight the drawings, enhance gestures, suggest movement and add dynamism to the drawings. The drawings include photograph referenced male and female figures as well as separate studies of hands and feet

Beekeeping Potential, Richness, and Distribution of Plant Species Foraged by Stinging Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera L.) in West Kilimanjaro Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS) Plantation.

An assessment of beekeeping potential, richness, and distribution of plant species foraged by stinging honey bee Apis mellifera L. in West Kilimanjaro Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS) Plantation area was conducted in 2020. A total of 40, 20 m x 20 m plots were set on the 5 natural vegetation remnants within the plantation forest ranges of Sanya juu, Lemosho, Hill wood, Wasendo, and Londrosi at an interval of 100 m. Within the 20 m x 20 m, 1 m x 1 m nested plots were established to assess herbs, sedge, grasses, and seedlings, while 2 m x 5 m were established to determine shrubs. Agriculture crops grown by the bordering villagers were identified and evaluated for the bee forage potential. Plant species richness (S) was determined from the total number of plant species identified from every site using the Shannon Weiner Diversity Index (H’). Plant species distribution was determined grounded on the frequency (F) and evenness (E) were determined. The sites were revealed to have high plant species diversity foraged by stinging honey bees. A total of 204 plant species belonging to 76 families and 178 genera were identified. The calculates H’ of 2.37 for non-wood plants and 3.05 for wood plants implied high plant diversity. The most distributed plant species had a relative frequency (RF) of 6.250 ± 3.0303, while the rest had an RF < 3.0303. The disappearance of one species does not cause any significant effect on bees, as they can go for another species in the area. 92% of non-woody plants and 94% of the identified woody plants were known to be foraged by stinging honey bees. The evenness (E) of 0.7484 for non-wood plants and 0.795 implied that the plants in all categorize were not evenly distributed. West Kilimanjaro Forest Plantation (WKFP) natural forest patches are potential for honey beekeeping. Stinging honey bee fodder plants should be planted, regular visits to the project sites should be exercised to protect honey theft, spot clearing to give a room for naturally germinated seedlings covered by climbers. Further study should be done on the biological species diversity, training to beekeeping staff, and plan for regular inspection of the honey bee colony strength will help to reveal any challenges facing the venture including diseases and hives strengths and weakness.

Influence of Performance Appraisal in Determining Academic Staff Performance in Public Universities in Uganda

In an effort by public universities to improve the performance of lecturers in Uganda, universities are implementing annual performance appraisal. Despite this move, ineffective teaching, low research and publication continue to prevail, making it difficult for public universities to produce the needed human resources for national development. This study investigated the relationship between performance appraisal and teaching and research outputs of academic staff in selected public universities. A mixed method design using convergent parallel approach was employed to collect and analyse data from a population of 4 Vice-Chancellors, 4 Directors of Human Resources and 1127 full-time academic staff. Four universities were selected using purposive sampling based on the year of establishment before 2011. The academic staff was selected by the use of the stratified random sampling technique. A total sample of 299 participants was involved made up of 291 academic staff, 4 directors of human resources and 4 Vice-chancellors in the study. Data collection employed the use of semi-structured questionnaires for the academic staff and interview guides for the Vice-Chancellors and Directors of Human Resources. Analysis of quantitative data collected was done using Pearson’s Correlation, linear regression and factor analysis. Qualitative data was analysed based on thematic content analysis. Results indicated that a moderate positive relationship existed between performance appraisal and academic staff teaching output in public universities (r = 0.452, p < 0.01) and a moderately positive relationship existed between performance appraisal and academic staff research output (r = 0.379, p < 0.01). It was recommended that Ugandan public universities need to revise the existing performance appraisal system to make it more relevant to the key work roles of academic staff of teaching and research outputs.

‘Drawing with My Students’ - The Role of Surrealism in Self-Expression among University Art Students. Analysis of Selected Surrealistic Work by Fourth Year Students at Kenyatta University

Surrealistic art is one of the most engaging and intriguing art genres. Surrealism itself is considered to have been the most influential art movement of the 20th century. Started in the 1920s as a literary movement that eventually took on a visual dimension, its foundational principles have continued to influence the thought process and style of many modern artists in the realm of self-expression. In their studies of many disciplines in the art including genres of painting, drawing and sculpture, students of art at the University usually find the concept of surrealism initially difficult to decipher mainly because of the uniqueness of its own description. The dream-like imageries of surrealism are derived from dreams and the unconscious mind; hence, the students have to contend with the derivation of subject matter from an unusual source. This is challenging for most of them since they are used to formulating subject matter from a purely academic perspective and from themes that they ordinarily relate to in their environment or can easily reference. Although students embark on drawing from their first year of study, they are introduced to surrealistic drawing as a unit in their final year. With their drawing background, it is presumed that by their final year, they have attained adequate levels of drawing skills for application in any artistic challenge. This study examines, through analysis of selected works, firstly, the extent to which students are able to internalise the concept of surrealism and apply it in the construction of the artistic composition, and secondly whether their drawings demonstrate an individual capacity for self-expression and the derivation of meaning, through dream-like imageries drawn from the unconscious mind. The students were exposed to preliminary studies and examination of surrealistic work, discussions of subject matter, origination, style and technique in the course of their unit programme. For the purpose of uniformity of medium, they were instructed to work only in pencil. They were subsequently accorded adequate time and space to embark on their work with class presentations and discussions at prescribed intervals. The resultant drawings were many and varied and the ones selected are those that displayed good artistic execution and/or displayed a certain profoundness of meaning or interpretation.