Search

This study critically investigates the social economic predictors of parental involvement in rural schools in Kenya and its implications on teaching and learning. Education is a major foundation for socioeconomic growth and the provision of quality education. However, teaching and learning are affected by various socioeconomic factors that this study seeks to investigate. Among the social economic predictors, family size, household income level and parents' level of education were found to significantly influence teaching and learning outcomes in Kenya's rural schools. Large families with small household income face challenges in paying school-related levies; acquire learning and teaching materials, book for extra learning activities and support co-curricular activities for their children. The article also presents the policy implications of the study, particularly on issues related to family size and household income level in parents' level of education in rural school settings.

As we enter a new age of technological innovation and subsequent educational instrumentation change, there is increasing demand for innovative methods that encourage student learning experiences in virtual, online spaces. ePortfolios and e-book projects are designed and owned by students and are centered within the student's learning. They provide a structured, online space for students to learn new technological skills while intentionally integrating it with their learning experience. We have utilized the content creation platform Pressbooks for our student learners to develop and create their "e-Book of One's Own" (eBoOO). A simplified derivation of the "Domain of One's Own" (DoOO) philosophy, our intention with eBoOO was to address the high bar for digital literacy required to get started while staying true to the embodied ideology of Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own."

Abstract Background Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and child health interventions are proven simple and cost-effective strategies for preventing diarrhea and minimizing excess mortality. Individually, they are able to prevent diarrhea though sub-optimally, and their effectiveness when combined may be higher. This study examined the effect of integrated WASH and maternal and child health (MCH) interventions on prevalence of diarrhea, in a resource-limited setting in Kenya. Methods A controlled intervention was implemented in Narok County. The interventions included WASH interventions integrated with promotion of MCH. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on targeted indicators before and after the interventions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square to establish the impact of the interventions. Results A total of 431and 424 households and 491 and 487 households in intervention and control sites, respectively, participated in the baseline and endline surveys. Following implementation of the interventions, prevalence of diarrhea decreased by 69.1% (95% CI: 49.6–87.1%) and 58.6% (95% CI: 26.6–82.4%) in the intervention and control site, respectively. Treatment of drinking water and animal husbandry practices were significantly associated with diarrhea post-interventions. Conclusions Integrating WASH interventions with other diarrhea control strategies and contextualizing them to meet site-specific needs may effectively prevent diarrhea.

Abstract Aim This study aimed to develop a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of major Gram-negative etiologies of septicemia and evaluate its performance. Methods Multiplex PCR (mPCR) assays were developed targeting 11 bacterial strains. Species-specific primers were confirmed using known clinical isolates and standard strains. Gradient PCR was performed on each primer against its target bacterial gene to determine its optimal amplification condition. The minimum detectable DNA concentration of the two assays was evaluated by adjusting bacterial DNA concentration to 100 ng/μL and, tenfold serially diluting it up to 10 pg/μL with DNAse-free water. The diagnostic accuracy of mPCR assays was established by subjecting the assays to 60 clinical blood samples. Results Two mPCR assays were developed. Optimal primer annealing temperature of 55 °C was established and utilized in the final amplification conditions. The assays detected all targeted bacteria, with a 100 pg minimum detectable DNA concentration. Pathogens were not detected directly from whole blood, but after 4 h and 8 h of incubation, 41% (5/12) and 100% (12/12) of the bacteria were detected in culture fluids, respectively. The assays also identified Salmonella spp. and Klebsiella pneumoniae co-infections and extra pathogens (1 E. coli and 2 K. pneumoniae) compared with culture. The sensitivity and specificity of the mPCR were 100.0% (71.7–100.0) and 98.0% (90.7–99.0), respectively. The area under the ROC curve was 1.00 (1.00–1.00). Conclusions The mPCR assays demonstrated substantial potential as a rapid tool for septicemia diagnosis alongside the traditional blood culture method. Notably, it was able to identify additional isolates, detect co-infections, and efficiently detect low bacterial DNA loads with high sensitivity, implying its value in enhancing efficiency of diagnosis of septicemia.

Mathematics anxiety and attitude have a great influence on mathematics performance. This article presents an analysis of the relationship between Mathematics anxiety, attitude and performance. The study adopted a correlational research design. The analysis is based on the responses of 367 students who were randomly selected from 55 secondary schools. An adapted Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) and Attitude towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) were used. The performance grades for the students were also gathered from the teachers whereby the list that contained the students' marks also contained the admission numbers of the students for easier linkage with the individual student questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the scatter plot diagram to give the outline of the relationship and Spearman's correlation coefficient to find out whether there is a significant relationship between Mathematics anxiety, Mathematics attitude and performance. There was a positive significant linear relationship between Mathematics anxiety and Mathematics attitude (r= 0.538, p< 0.05). There was a negative significant linear relationship between Mathematics performance and Mathematics anxiety (r= -0.723, p< 0.05). This shows that Mathematics attitude correlates with Mathematics anxiety which later correlates with Mathematics performance of the students, hence the two variables should be given appropriate attention to produce better and positive results in terms of performance.

AbstractThe techniques and methods of teaching in Kenya have changed rapidly from traditional methods to contemporary, 21st century, technology-based approaches (Ashrafi et al., 2020). This development led to the introduction of several frameworks to support the application of numerous innovations in learning. However, the uptake of technology-supported teaching and learning, particularly in Christian Religious Education (CRE), remains low. Recent research indicates that the application and utilization of these technologies in CRE are minimal because of the perceptions of key stakeholders, including teachers, students, and school administrators. Educational technologies not only enhance the quality of learning but also contribute to deepening of religious knowledge and insights, fostering the development of moral values and beliefs. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between students’ perceptions and the uptake of educational technologies in CRE in Embu County, Kenya. This study sampled 300 students from 30 public secondary schools using a descriptive cross-sectional survey design and multistage random cluster sampling methods. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed a significant weak positive relationship between students’ perceptions and their uptake of educational technologies in CRE (r = 0.002, p = 0.01 and R2 = 0.032). The findings of this study imply that initiatives aimed at increasing the uptake of educational technology should be specific, lucid, and tailored to the perceptions, ideas, opinions, experiences, and diverse needs of students.

The disruption in daily activity performance during COVID-19 lockdowns is widely understood to have impacted health, but a better understanding of how restricted performance of specific activities are associated with health is needed. This cross-sectional study answers the following question: How were changes in the performance of 16 daily activities associated with health during COVID-19 lockdowns? A total of 116 participants completed an online survey rating their health before and during COVID-19 lockdowns and comparing their recollection of the performance of 16 activities before COVID-19 with their performance during lockdowns. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between self-reported changes in activities during lockdowns and concurrent (during-lockdown) health status, while controlling for pre-COVID-19 health status. Only changes in activities that were uniquely and significantly associated with lockdown health status were retained in the final model. Health before COVID-19 accounted for 3.7% (P = 0.039) of the variance in health during COVID-19 lockdowns. After controlling for health before COVID-19, five types of activity were significantly and uniquely predictive of health during lockdowns, together accounting for 48.3% of the variance. These activities and the variances they accounted for were rest and sleep (29.5%, P

Personality types and practices are presumed to play a significant role in the improvement of schools' performance. This paper presents the findings from the analysis of quantitative data drawn from a larger study that examined the relationship between headteachers' personality types, instructional supervision practices, and performance. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design to collect data by utilizing a self-developed and Self-Directed Search (SDS) questionnaire that participants answered. A census sampling was conducted with 71 and 37 headteachers from Embu East and West public primary schools, respectively giving 108 participants. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS for descriptive and inferential statistics. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine any relationship between personality types, instructional supervision practices, and schools' performance. The findings of the study revealed a significant statistical relationship between enterprising personality types and schools' academic performance (r =0.125*, p<0.05). Further, the results revealed that there is a positive (r=0.229, P<0.05) relationship between realistic personality type and holding parents-pupils-teachers' conferences while among conventional types, there is a negative (r=-0.223, p<0.05) correlation in giving teachers feedback. The significance of this study is that headteachers' personality types do not influence instructional supervision practices, which is a unique finding indicating that other factors influence instructional supervision practices.

Abstract This study was carried out to analyze mycotoxins of entomopathogenic fungi of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) and poultry feed safety. An experiment was set up to assess the types of mycotoxins produced by entomopathogenic fungal parasite of fall armyworm larvae and their subsequent effect on the safety of the larvae as a feed ingredient. Molecular characterization was done to estimate the diversity of entomopathogenic fungi on fall armyworm larvae specimens from the treatment plots. Sequenced data was analyzed and processed using Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis 6.0 software. The results showed relative diversity of fall armyworm larvae with 11 species isolated belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Trichoderma, Bipolaris and Irpex genus. Some of these are potential mycotoxin producing fungi. Although isolated fungi potentially produce Ochratoxin, Fumonisin, Zearalenone and Trichothecene mycotoxins, only aflatoxins were analyzed in this study. About 3.98 μg /kg of aflatoxin was observed using the ELISA total assay which is within the threshold toxicity levels set in Kenya for feed of about 20 μg /kg. While this is under the threshold set by Kenya, it is still enough to cause concern as the cumulative exposure of even low doses can have impacts. This study therefore concludes that, Spodoptera frugiperda can be potentially contaminated with aflatoxins and when formulating poultry diets, there is need to monitor production so that the quality is not compromised and feed safety is ensured. Further studies are recommended to determine how much produced aflatoxins are then transferred into the poultry products such as eggs and meat.

Autonomous electric vehicles provide benefits to both drivers and the environment compared to conventional vehicles; however, they are burdened with an increase in potential pathways for cyber-attacks. Therefore, reliable cyber-security strategies for these vehicles must be pursued. This paper addresses this concern by implementing a threat detection strategy that utilizes an observer and a neural network. These tools monitor discrepancies between the vehicle’s lateral metrics, which are produced via sensor data, neural network output, and an observer. Previous literature focuses on physics-based analytics to create the threat decision, but here, a data based approach is utilized. The vehicle used in this study is a four-motor-drive autonomous electric vehicle that is propelled with brushless DC motors. The motors are controlled by direct torque control. In this study, three forms of cyber-attacks are implemented. These include data integrity attacks, replay attacks, and denial-of-service attacks. A performance metric is also created, which indicates the data-driven approach outperforms the physics-based approaches. All modeling and simulation were conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment.

Objective There are no globally agreed on strategies on early detection and first response management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) during and after caesarean birth. Our study aimed to develop an international expert’s consensus on evidence-based approaches for early detection and obstetric first response management of PPH intraoperatively and postoperatively in caesarean birth.Design Systematic review and three-stage modified Delphi expert consensus.Setting International.Population Panel of 22 global experts in PPH with diverse backgrounds, and gender, professional and geographic balance.Outcome measures Agreement or disagreement on strategies for early detection and first response management of PPH at caesarean birth.Results Experts agreed that the same PPH definition should apply to both vaginal and caesarean birth. For the intraoperative phase, the experts agreed that early detection should be accomplished via quantitative blood loss measurement, complemented by monitoring the woman’s haemodynamic status; and that first response should be triggered once the woman loses at least 500 mL of blood with continued bleeding or when she exhibits clinical signs of haemodynamic instability, whichever occurs first. For the first response, experts agreed on immediate administration of uterotonics and tranexamic acid, examination to determine aetiology and rapid initiation of cause-specific responses. In the postoperative phase, the experts agreed that caesarean birth-related PPH should be detected primarily via frequently monitoring the woman’s haemodynamic status and clinical signs and symptoms of internal bleeding, supplemented by cumulative blood loss assessment performed quantitatively or by visual estimation. Postoperative first response was determined to require an individualised approach.Conclusion These agreed on proposed approaches could help improve the detection of PPH in the intraoperative and postoperative phases of caesarean birth and the first response management of intraoperative PPH. Determining how best to implement these strategies is a critical next step.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) has been lauded as a more inclusive, rights-based, and progressive approach to sexuality, particularly in its assumed impact on youth sexuality in Kenya. An emotive approach is proposed by both protagonists and antagonists of CSE. This article, however, seeks to ground the discussion on a theological and ethical approach, by way of utilizing a customized practical theological methodology. First, it utilizes inter-disciplinary methods to analyze the CSE policy in Kenyan society. Second, its normative aspect is grounded in a theological reflection on the sexual ethics espoused in key New Testament passages. Third, its practical recommendations explore the ramifications of this research for sexual ethics in youth and family ministries and public theological engagement with Kenya’s society.

Abstract Recent literature highlights the potential of animal pollinator-dependent (PD) crops in enhancing food and nutrition security, although there is a lack of detailed household-level estimates. In this study, we investigate the nutrient composition, productivity, and contribution of PD and pollinator-independent (PI) crops to household nutrition in four sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We also evaluate the impact of reallocating resources from PI crops to PD crops on nutrient deficiencies, utilizing nationally representative panel data from three waves and over 30,000 household-year observations. Our findings reveal that PD crops exhibit higher micronutrient content per unit, albeit with lower macronutrient content compared to PI crops. PI crops have higher yield of calories per hectare while PD crops have higher vitamin A yield per hectare. However, protein and iron yield for PD and PI crops varies across countries. PI crops predominantly contribute to macronutrients and iron, while PD crops significantly contribute to vitamin A production. Our econometric results demonstrate that increasing the cultivation of PD crops relative to PI crops reduces the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies and increases crop income without compromising macronutrients production. This suggests that greater investment in PD crop production can be an integral approach to achieving nutrition security in SSA.

Abstract Globally, crickets are gaining recognition as a valuable alternative protein source for human consumption due to their lower resource requirement and ecological footprint compared to traditional livestock. In this paper, we examine strategies that may expedite the sustainable domestication of crickets as a food source. Using survey data from 306 households in western Kenya, we find that supplying cricket production starter kits, granting access to credit facilities, encouraging participation in farmer groups, and fostering partnerships can enhance the adoption of cricket farming. Moreover, we provide new evidence that institutional training significantly increases cricket yields while embracing cricket consumption (i.e. entomophagy) increases market supply. These findings underscore the importance of technical training, provision of production starter kits, and raising awareness about entomophagy to achieve sustainable mass production and adoption of cricket farming.

Abstract This paper presents a QV-based approach called Critical Voltage-Reactive Power Ratio (CVQR) index to assess the voltage instability tendencies of power system buses with increase in renewable energy (RE) penetration within the power system. The buses are thus ranked according to the order in which they are impacted by increase in renewable energy penetration. Simulations were performed using DIgSILENT PowerFactory and result analyses were done with MATLAB. The developed CVQR index has been employed to assess the effect of increasing RE generation on grid voltage stability. This index provides information on the voltage instability tendencies of all non-slack buses of the RE-integrated grid and the buses are ranked from the weakest to the strongest. The rankings obtained from the developed CVQR has been compared with five commonly-used indices and the result of the comparison verifies the accuracy of the proposed index. IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 39-bus New England systems have been used to evaluate the proposed CVQR index and various scenarios of RE system combinations and placements have been considered. Voltage collapse condition is indicated whenever the CVQR index associated with any bus becomes positive (CVQR > 0). This index can as well be applied to other power system networks. The overall ranking of the buses based on the CVQR index can provide insights on the most appropriate location for large inductive loads or compensating devices, which can either absorb or inject reactive power into the power system, thereby influencing the system’s voltage stability.

Energy market deregulation and increased integration of intermittent renewable energy resources (RE) have pushed modern power systems to operate close to their security limits, which if violated could be catastrophic. To prevent power system failure and damage, a fast and accurate security assessment tool is required. In this paper, a data-driven fuzzy inference system tuned by hybrid genetic-simulated annealing (HGSA-FIS) is proposed for quick static security assessment (SSA) of a power system under a single component failure. An existing composite security index is modified to make a reliable SSA by distinguishing between severe and non-severe operating scenarios and contingencies. The prediction performance of HGSA-FIS was evaluated on an RTS-GMLC test system with operating scenarios varying with RE generation, load demand, and tie-line flows. The findings demonstrate the robust performance of HGSA-FIS in making static security assessments under varying operating scenarios, exceeding ANFIS in most and ANN in a few scenarios.

Abstract Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) face several challenges such as carbon support corrosion, poor kinetics, and long‐term stability, requiring improved electrocatalyst support development. We synthesized 5 %Pd/fMC−NiO using a microwave‐assisted sodium borohydride‐enhanced polyol method. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and X‐ray diffractometry probed the material's surface composition, morphology, and structure. ICP‐OES is employed to quantify palladium loading. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy mapped the functional groups. Cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry show that the 5 %Pd/fMC−NiO has the lowest activation energy, and with that, the best electroactivity, which is ~16 times higher compared to commercial Pd/C; additionally, the catalyst shows anti‐poisoning properties, and long‐term durability. This is merited to the cooperation and promotional effect of Pd/fMC−NiO. The electrocatalysts’ electroactivity improved via enhanced electron movement instigated by NiO. This study introduced the parallelism effect concept borrowed from the graphite structure for controlled electron channeling the 5 % Pd/fMC−NiO electrocatalyst. The theoretical calculations corroborated the experimental findings that our approach favors anchoring and dispersing Pd NPs uniformly, demonstrating NiO′s cooperative and promotional effects. Thus, opening new opportunities for the development of electrocatalysts for high‐performance DAFCs.

This article provides a description of baseline survey data that was collected in Senegal in the regions of Sedhiou and Tambacounda in 2020, respectively, and as part of an agricultural development project aimed at improving the well-being and resilience of farming households. The survey was implemented using a structured questionnaire administered among 1503 households, 70% of whom are women and 30% are young people, in the two regions. This paper contains data that can helps in understanding the socioeconomic well-being and resilience of smallholder farming households, especially among women and youth. This data helps to associate information on: (i) the socioeconomic project area variables, (ii) the extent of use of irrigated and climate change-adapted crops; (iii) the level of soil and water resource management in the study regions; and (iv) the food security and dietary diversity with the well-being and empowerment of women and young smallholder farming households. In addition, the dataset can be used as a baseline or reference point to track the economic empowerment and climate resilience building achieved in the study regions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271241.].

The rate of decline in the global burden of avoidable maternal deaths has stagnated and remains an issue of concern in many sub-Saharan Africa countries. As per the most recent evidence, an average maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 223 deaths per 100,000 live births has been estimated globally, with sub-Saharan Africa's average MMR at 536 per 100,000 live births-more than twice the global average. Despite the high MMR, there is variation in MMR between and within sub-Saharan Africa countries. Differences in the behaviour of those accessing and/or delivering maternal healthcare may explain variations in outcomes and provide a basis for quality improvement in health systems. There is a gap in describing the landscape of interventions aimed at modifying the behaviours of those accessing and delivering maternal healthcare for improving maternal health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. Our objective was to extract and synthesise the target behaviours, component behaviour change strategies and outcomes of behaviour change interventions for improving maternal health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Our protocol was published a priori on PROSPERO (registration number CRD42022315130). We searched ten electronic databases (PsycINFO, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL PLUS, African Index Medicus, African Journals Online, and Web of Science) and included randomised trials and quasi-experimental studies. We extracted target behaviours and specified the behavioural interventions using the Action, Actor, Context, Time, and Target (AACTT) framework. We categorised the behaviour change strategies using the intervention functions described in the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). We reviewed 52 articles (26 randomized trials and 26 quasi-experimental studies). They had a mixed risk of bias. Out of these, 41 studies (78.8%) targeted behaviour change of those accessing maternal healthcare services, while seven studies (13.5%) focused on those delivering maternal healthcare. Four studies (7.7%) targeted mixed stakeholder groups. The studies employed a range of behaviour change strategies, including education 37 (33.3%), persuasion 20 (18%), training 19 (17.1%), enablement 16 (14.4%), environmental restructuring 8 (7.2%), modelling 6 (5.4%) and incentivisation 5 (4.5%). No studies used restriction or coercion strategies. Education was the most common strategy for changing the behaviour of those accessing maternal healthcare, while training was the most common strategy in studies targeting the behaviour of those delivering maternal healthcare. Of the 52 studies, 40 reported effective interventions, 7 were ineffective, and 5 were equivocal. A meta-analysis was not feasible due to methodological and clinical heterogeneity across the studies. In conclusion, there is evidence of effective behaviour change interventions targeted at those accessing and/or delivering maternal healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. However, more focus should be placed on behaviour change by those delivering maternal healthcare within the health facilities to fast-track the reduction of the huge burden of avoidable maternal deaths in sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract Background Malaria remains a public health concern globally. Resistance to anti-malarial drugs has consistently threatened the gains in controlling the malaria parasites. Currently, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) are the treatment regimens against Plasmodium falciparum infections in many African countries, including Kenya. Recurrent infections have been reported in patients treated with AL or DP, suggesting the possibility of reinfection or parasite recrudescence associated with the development of resistance against the two therapies. The Plasmodium falciparum cysteine desulfurase IscS (Pfnfs1) K65 selection marker has previously been associated with decreased lumefantrine susceptibility. This study evaluated the frequency of the Pfnfs1 K65 resistance marker and associated K65Q resistant allele in recurrent infections collected from P. falciparum-infected individuals living in Matayos, Busia County, in western Kenya. Methods Archived dried blood spots (DBS) of patients with recurrent malaria infection on clinical follow-up days after treatment with either AL or DP were used in the study. After extraction of genomic DNA, PCR amplification and sequencing analysis were employed to determine the frequencies of the Pfnfs1 K65 resistance marker and K65Q mutant allele in the recurrent infections. Plasmodium falciparum msp1 and P. falciparum msp2 genetic markers were used to distinguish recrudescent infections from new infections. Results The K65 wild-type allele was detected at a frequency of 41% while the K65Q mutant allele was detected at a frequency of 22% in the recurrent samples. 58% of the samples containing the K65 wild-type allele were AL treated samples and while 42% were DP treated samples. 79% of the samples with the K65Q mutation were AL treated samples and 21% were DP treated samples. The K65 wild-type allele was detected in three recrudescent infections (100%) identified from the AL treated samples. The K65 wild-type allele was detected in two recrudescent DP treated samples (67%) while the K65Q mutant allele was identified in one DP treated (33%) recrudescent sample. Conclusions The data demonstrate a higher frequency of the K65 resistance marker in patients with recurrent infection during the study period. The study underscores the need for consistent monitoring of molecular markers of resistance in regions of high malaria transmission.

Objective: To correlate initial serum lactic acid and base deficit (BD) levels with early mortality in major thermal burns. Methods: This was a prospective descriptive study conducted over 6 months at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi, Kenya. Ninety consecutive patients with major thermal burns exceeding 20% of total body surface area (TBSA), who met other inclusion criteria participated. Biographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were drawn at admission for arterial blood gas analysis (ABGAs) to obtain serum lactic acid and BD levels. Patients were followed up for 7 days at KNH Burns Unit. Results: Studied patients had burns from 21% to 100% TBSA. Majority, 54(60%), had burns between 21% and 50% TBSA. 55(61.1%) patients died within 7 days after admission. 38(69.1%) of these deaths occured within the initial 48 h. Both mean serum lactic acid (P

Purpose: This study aims to understand master's students' experiences of service-learning, following their participation in a workshop with local social innovators whose activities had contributed to combating poverty in East Africa and to determine how this participation affected work on the students' theses. The authors also explored possible gender differences in this context. Design/methodology/approach: The study was based on pretest-posttest mixed methods research design. Data were collected from master's students within the social sciences and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, respectively, in Kenya and Uganda, via surveys and interviews before the workshop, immediately afterwards and six months later. Findings: Students' immediate experience was that the workshop contributed to increased critical awareness, adoption of transdisciplinary community-serving approaches and strengthened self-confidence. Six months later, most had related their projects to social problems (e.g. poverty) in their communities. Moreover, the results motivated integration of gender-sensitive curricula based on service-learning in East Africa. Practical implications: Based on the results, the authors suggest a framework for gender-sensitive curriculum development that can stimulate service-learning in master's students. Implementation of such a curriculum could eventually contribute to community development, including, e.g. poverty reduction. Originality/value: Studies on service-learning are rare in Africa, especially in postgraduate education. Gender-sensitive studies on service-learning are generally scarce and the same holds for studies on encouraging STEM students to integrate social innovation into their thesis work. By combining these aspects, this study presents an original contribution to existing research.

With climate change, population growth, and land degradation exerting mounting pressures on agricultural systems in developing countries, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) strategies have been prioritized as a means to strengthen smallholder farmers' resilience. However, precise targeting methodologies remain a challenge. This study employs a comprehensive approach, integrating Socio-economic, and Biophysical (SEBP), and the Five Capitals Model analyses encompassing human, social, physical, natural, and financial capital. The study employs factor analysis for mixed data (FAMD), cluster analysis using partitioning around the medoids (PAM) and univariate and bivariate techniques to identify and classify distinct typologies of smallholder farming systems in Senegal's Tambacounda and Sedhiou regions in 2020. A probit regression model gauges CSA adoption probability, to better focus CSA efforts. Results underscore the pivotal role of SEBP factors in shaping distinct farmer typologies, enabling precise CSA targeting. Geographical distribution patterns of these typologies reveal non-random clustering, particularly in specific regions. Four farmer typologies emerge: Cluster 1 (Sedhiou, low-income, high climate challenges), Cluster 2 (Sedhiou and Tambacounda, low-to middle-income, moderate climatic challenges), Cluster 3 (Tambacounda, high income, favorable climate), and Cluster 4 (Tambacounda, low income, severe climate challenges). Technology mismatches emerge between farmers' SEBP profiles and capital assets, prompting the identification of relevant technologies for soil fertility restoration and increased output. These findings highlight the importance of implementing CSAs in accordance with specific requirements, such as enhancing soil fertility, yield, and nutritional quality. A contextual understanding of local agricultural dynamics is likewise necessary for optimizing intervention strategies, according to the study.

Abstract Background Influenza viruses are an important cause of respiratory infections across all age groups. Information on occurrence and magnitude of influenza virus infections in different populations in Kenya however remains scanty, compromising estimation of influenza disease burden. This study examined influenza infection in an urban high-income setting in Nairobi to establish its prevalence and activity of influenza viruses, and evaluated diagnostic performance of a rapid influenza diagnostic test. Methodology A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in six private health facilities located within high-income residential areas in Nairobi from January 2019 to July 2020. Patients of all ages presenting with influenza-like illness (ILI) were recruited into the study. Detection of influenza virus was conducted using rapid diagnosis and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and tests of association. Sensitivity, specificity and area under receiver operating characteristics curve was calculated to establish diagnostic accuracy of the rapid diagnosis test. Results The study recruited 125 participants with signs and symptoms of ILI, of whom 21 (16.8%) were positive for influenza viruses. Of all the influenza-positive cases, 17 (81.0%) were influenza type A of which 70.6% were pandemic H1N1 (A/H1N1 2009). Highest detection was observed among children aged 5–10 years. Influenza virus mostly circulated during the second half of the year, and fever, general fatigue and muscular and joint pain were significantly observed among participants with influenza virus. Sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test was 95% (95% confidence interval 75.1–99.9) and 100% (95% confidence interval 96.5–100.0), respectively. Conclusions Findings of this study shows continuous but variable activity of influenza virus throughout the year in this population, with substantial disease burden. The findings highlight the need for continuous epidemiologic surveillance including genetic surveillance to monitor activity and generate data to inform vaccine introduction or development, and other interventions.

Entomophagy has recently gained attention as a potential solution to the problems of food and nutritional security. One example is the consumption of edible stinkbug. Different drying techniques may affect the nutritional, microbiological and sensory properties of the edible stinkbugs. Thus, the study assessed the effects of toasting, microwave, oven and sun drying on the nutritional composition, microbiological quality and sensory attributes of processed edible stinkbugs. Drying significantly (p oven dried > microwave dried > sun dried edible stinkbugs. Toasting, oven and microwave drying can be used for processing of edible stinkbugs.

Policies are imperative in assessing how certain proposed actions or practices can be implemented. In the context of the circular economy, public policies have been influential in determining the way practices are adopted and implemented. In specific contexts, policies can be used to assess a country's preparedness to transition to the circular economy by examining how those that are formulated support the transition. This study examines Kenya's circular economy policy landscape by looking at the strides made by the country to embrace the concept and principles of the circular economy and focusing on the policies formulated so far. Using the thematic analysis approach, the study examines relevant circular economy laws, policies, and regulations to capture the initiatives the country has taken to embrace circular economy principles. The study's overall finding points to environmental sustainability, resource efficiency, sustainable economic development, and stakeholder engagement as the four primary policy areas shaping Kenya's transition to a circular economy. However, there persist certain obstacles to the effective implementation of circular economy principles. These challenges encompass the prevailing dominance of the government in the circular economy sector, which ought to be a collaborative endeavor involving both the private and public sectors. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of financing mechanisms to support circular economy initiatives, inadequate infrastructure to effectively implement circular economy practices, and a lack of capacity to propel progress in both the public and private sectors. Given that many of these challenges revolve around the financial aspect, the study recommends that the Kenyan government considers providing financial incentives to foster dynamism in harnessing the environmental and economic potential offered by the emerging circular economy.

Mango is an important fruit crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Zambia, due to its nutritional value and contribution to food security. However, the invasive and mango-infesting fruit fly is a significant constraint in mango production. Therefore, icipe and partners developed and disseminated the integrated pest management package to curb this menace. The current study uses household-level data from 325 smallholder mango-growing households from selected regions in Zambia to evaluate how empowerment affects women's willingness to pay (WTP) for an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) package for the suppression of mango-infesting fruit flies. We used a double-bounded contingent valuation model to determine the association between Project-Level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI), other social-economics factors, and WTP. The results show that women’s empowerment status positively and significantly increased the likelihood of considering a higher bid for the IPM package. Other factors affecting women’s WTP for the IPM package were women's education level, access to extension services, non-farm occupation, and household income from mangoes, with a positive and significant influence on their WTP. However, distance to the input market, perception of the effectiveness of current fruit fly management methods, and level of mango loss due to fruit flies negatively influenced WTP for the IPM package. Empowering women, especially increasing their access to extension services, and providing livelihood alternatives would increase their uptake of pest management technologies. Efforts to lower women’s domestic workloads, boost their finances, and sensitize others in the community to promote women’s freedom of movement would be vital to empowering women hence increasing their uptake of new agricultural innovations.

The secure operation of a power system depends on the available security evaluation tools and improvement techniques to tackle the disturbances or contingencies. The main objective of the survey presented in this paper is to provide a comprehensive review to the researchers, academicians, and utility engineers on the available techniques of static security assessment and improvement in modern power systems. Various performance indices are used to express the severity of limit violations from security margins typically in transmission line loading and buses voltage magnitude under a given disturbance or contingency. The accuracy and speed of computation considering uncertainties in renewable energy generation and load demand scenarios are the fundamental requirements of any security assessment tool. Conventional power flow and machine learning approaches are explored and compared for static security assessment. Although, conventional AC power flow provides accurate result, it is computationally demanding and slow process to assess the security of a power system with uncertainties and changing future operating scenarios considering simultaneous component failures. Several machine learning techniques have been studied to make fast and sufficiently accurate assessment. The application of FACTS devices to improve static security of a power system has been reviewed. To ensure the effectiveness of FACTS devices, various sensitivity and optimization approaches have been suggested for proper placement and sizing. The increasing complexity and uncertainty in power systems due to increased penetration of renewable energy resources and the introduction of new type of loads such as electric vehicles and heating loads suggests the development and application of more robust and portable security assessment tools such as deep learning algorithms and fast responding flexible security improvement mechanisms like FACTS devices.

Abstract This paper presents a deep Q‐network (DQN) technique to optimally manage energy resources in a microgrid in which the algorithm learns tasks in the same way as humans do. Every move the agent makes in the environment generates feedback which then motivate the agent to learn more about the environment and perform far more intelligent steps later in its learning stages. This paper proposes a DQN‐based energy management system that learns system uncertainties, including load demand, grid prices and volatile renewable power supply to ensure that energy is optimally dispatched in such a setting. The method uses experience replay and target network to increase learning speed and improve stability in previous research. The performance of the system is evaluated with slow, medium, and fast fluctuating load profiles and their combinations and also with different sets of actions. The system is designed to minimize both grid transactional costs and battery degradation costs. Results shows that the proposed system successfully learns from experience to raise the battery state of charge and optimally shift loads from a one‐time instance, reducing aggregate peak load and cost of energy purchased from the utility grid while maximizing revenue from energy exported to the grid.