TUK IR
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EFFECTIVENESS OF BAOBAB-PEARL MILLET BLEND ON BONE MINERAL DENSITY OF WOMEN AGED 40-65 YEARS IN KITUI COUNTY, KENYA
(Technical University of Kenya, 2024-03-01) Immaculate, Kieti
Osteoporosis is a condition marked by low bone mass and bone tissue loss, which makes a person weak and frail. Osteoporosis, one of the most incapacitating diseases of older people, increases the risk of bone fractures, notably in the hip, spine, and wrist. Women over the age of 45 occupy a third of the hospital beds, on average. 24.3% of Kenyans are estimated to have osteoporosis. The main objective of the study will be to establish the nutrient content of baobab fortified pearl millet flour and assess its impact on bone health among women aged 40-65 years and with osteoporosis at Kitui East sub county, Kitui County. The study will adopt an experimental interventional trial study design. The sample size will be 93 female osteoporotic patients. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) data will be obtained by performing DEXA scan Absorptiometry tests on the women to get their Standard Deviation (SD) levels whereby a SD of 2.5 and above will be considered normal. Baobab dry fruit pulp, pearl millet and baobab fortified pearl millet flour will be analyzed for the nutrient content of selected nutrients of importance to bone health. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, vitamin C and zinc will be analyzed. The interventional trials on women with osteoporosis will make use of two formulations of pearl millet flour supplemented with baobab. Data on the study sample's nutritional status, physical activity level, and health-related characteristics will be gathered using a standardized questionnaire. With the exception of the nutritional status data, which will be entered and analyzed using the Nutri-survey computer package, data from the structured questionnaire will be entered and analyzed using SPSS version 19 software. Bone mineral density, the nutritional value of baobab-fortified pearl millet flour, and respondents' nutritional status will all be interpreted using World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff values. Chi-square (x 2 ) will be used to establish the associations between categorical data on BMD and Body mass Index (BMI). Persons Correlation (r) will be done to establish the association between continuous data. Data will be generated into means, frequencies and percentages and grouped into tables, charts and graphs. A p value of (p< 0.05) will be considered significant. Since many scientific researches has shown that majority of women don’t consume adequate bone health nutrients such as calcium in their diets, there is need of developing a nutrition intervention product which can provide the required bone health nutrients to prevent and manage osteoporosis
TOXICOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SODIUM METABISULFITE AND MITIGATION OF ITS EFFECTS BY STANDARDIZED Ginkgo biloba EXTRACT (EGb-761) IN A MOUSE MODEL
(2023-11-01) Wairimu, Nancy
Sodium metabisulfite (SMB), is a biocide and antioxidant agent generally used as a preservative in food and beverage industries, but can oxidize to harmful sulfite radicals. A standardized Ginkgo biloba (EGb-761) is well characterized, with 24% flavone glycosides (primarily quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin) and 6% terpene lactones (2.8-3.4% ginkgolides A, B and C, and 2.6-3.2% bilobalide). Notably, Ginkgolide B and bilobalide account for about 0.8% and 3% of the total extract, respectively. EGb-761 has demonstrated potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, beneficial for the treatment of toxicants and diseases that exhibit oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study sought to investigate the putative ameliorative effects of EGb-761 against SMB-induced toxicity in mice. Thirty-two male Swiss white mice were randomized into control, SMB-treated, SMB + EGb-761-treated and EGb-761-treated groups. EGb-761 (100mg/kg/day) and SMB (98mg/kg/day) were administered by gastric gavage for 40 days. Body and relative organ weight, haematological profile, serum electrolytes and lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-10, nitric oxide (NO),tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced (GSH) levels and organ damage and pathology have been estimated. Oral administration of EGb-761 restored SMB-induced decrease in body weight and prevented SMB-induced thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and anaemia. Further, EGb-761-treatment protected against SMB-induced liver and kidney injury depicted by decreased serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, creatinine, urea, uric acid and albumin. Furthermore, EGb-761 treatment attenuated SMB-driven dyslipidemia and metabolic acidosis. Besides, EGb-761 supplementation abrogated SMB-driven oxidative stress as depicted by stabilized GSH levels in the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, heart and lungs. SMB induced a significant increase of tissue levels of MDA, NO, IFN-γ and TNF-α were abrogated by EGb-761 treatment. Histopathological analysis revealed that exposure to SMB resulted in liver and kidney damage. It was noted that EGb-761 nullified those adverse pathological lesions. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that oral administration of standardized Ginkgo bilobaattenuated SMB-induced alteration of hematological parameters, metabolic acidosis, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and organ damage. These findings provide a novel approach that can be optimized for preventing or treating exposure due to SMB toxicity
AN EVALUATION OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN MUSIC EDUCATION IN PRIMARY TEACHERS’ TRAINING COLLEGES IN KENYA: A CASE OF KISII COUNTY
(2022-11-01) SAMBU, ALICE
The use of technology is not a new venture in the teaching and learning of music; it has assisted music educators for centuries. Harpsichord and piano are examples of old technological gadgets that were of great importance to those who first used them, just as recently invented devices such as computers, electronic keyboards, and compact discs (CDs) are to those who use them today. This study evaluated the use of technology in Primary Teachers' Training Colleges in Kenya, the case of Kisii County. The following are the study objectives: to examine what technology is used in teaching music in Primary Teachers Training Colleges (PTTCs); to establish the extent to which available technology is used in PTTCs; to identify challenges to technological integration, and to establish possible solutions to the challenges faced in the use of technology in PTTCs. The study employed a mixed-method approach to data collection and analysis. The target population consisted of 1500 student teachers, 4 principals, and 8 music tutors from the four teachers' training colleges in Kisii County. The study used purposive and systematic sampling techniques to select all the 4 principals of the primary teachers' training colleges in Kisii County, the 8 music tutors, and the 150 student teachers. The study sampled a total of 162 respondents. Questionnaires, an in depth interview guide, and documented data were used as research instruments. The data processing was done by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)program. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics, that is, in the form of frequencies and percentages. The Quantitative data was presented in the form of tables and charts. The qualitative data was analyzed, categorized into themes, and presented in narrative form. The study established that providing access to the required technological and non technological resources such as chalkboards, flip charts, keyboards, pianos, television/videos, audio CDs, and radio resources for all students; lack of electricity, provision of adequate administrative support, and technical issues were significant challenges to the use of technology in PPTCs. It was concluded that chalkboards, local resources, flip charts, audio CDs, recorders, and pianos/ keyboards were sufficiently available for teaching and learning music. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education provide adequate funds to PTTCs to purchase the required technology. In addition, the ministry of education should organize training seminars for music tutors on technology to facilitate their use in the teaching and learning of music. Further, administrators of PPTCs should adequately plan music halls to facilitate electricity access points for use with the available technology.
MANAGEMENT OF TACIT KNOWLEDGE FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AT INSURANCE REGULATORY AUTHORITY (IRA), NAIROBI, KENYA
(2022-11-01) MUTUKU, THERESIA
An organization's ability to sustain a long-lasting competitive advantage is brought about by the appropriate management of tacit knowledge. This study purposed to examine ways in which tacit knowledge is managed at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya as well as examine its challenges. The study gives recommendations that if applied can competitive advantage for IRA. The study’s specific objectives were; to establish the sources of tacit knowledge at IRA Nairobi, Kenya, to determine the management's responsibility in establishing a favourable atmosphere for tacit KM in order to bring about a competitive advantage at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya, to assess ways in which tacit knowledge management is applied at IRA Nairobi, Kenya in order to bring competitive advantage, to examine the challenges encountered and give recommendations in the management of tacit knowledge for competitive advantage at IRA, Nairobi, Kenya. This study was informed by the Knowledge Conversion Theory – Socialization, Externalization, Combination and Internalization (SECI). The research employed a qualitative research method. An exploratory case design was applied to understand the phenomenon and an interpretivist philosophical world view was adopted by the researcher. The target population was 85 members of staff at IRA out of which a sample of 43 was drawn using purposive criterion sampling. Data was collected using face to face interviews and reported in verbatim. NVivo version 12 software program was used for the analysis of the study and the findings presented in terms of figures and charts. The research revealed that tacit knowledge management practices are implemented at IRA to some extent. Different sources of tacit knowledge management were identified, majority being held by the staff members. Further, it was established that the management supports knowledge management initiatives in the organization. Through tacit knowledge management, the organization has acquired a competitive advantage over other firms thereby demonstrating the importance of tacit knowledge to a firm. Despite these, the research established that there were some challenges facing tacit knowledge management in the organization. These included lack of commitment from staff and lack of a policy. The study recommends a structured way of tacit knowledge management, involvement of staff in tacit knowledge management and having proper policies for managing tacit knowledge, among other strategies. This study is also relevant for government such as parastatals in the management of the rich tacit knowledge within their organizations as it reiterates the importance of the same