Indexing

Abstract: The evolution of antibiotic resistance was studied among revived Vibrio cholerae strains which were previously archived at -800c between 2006 and 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) on 12 antimicrobials; ampicillin (10µg), cefpodoxime (10 µg), ceftazidime (30 µg), cefotaxime (30 µg), amoxicillin- clavulanic acid (10/ 100 µg ratio) nalidixic acid (30 µg), tetracycline (30 µg), ciprofloxacin (10 µg), SXT (sulphamethoxazole -30 µg trimethoprim -5.2 µg), streptomycin (25 µg), gentamycin (10 µg) and chloramphenicol (30 µg) was carried out using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. AST results revealed susceptibility to tetracycline, which is the drug of choice in Kenya administered as doxycycline during cholera outbreaks, among all isolates. Resistance to βeta-lactams and ciprofloxacin emerged in latter years while a decline in resistance to SXT, Chloramphenicol and Streptomycin was noted. This study gave a clear indication that there were changes in the resistance patterns whereby resistance to some antimicrobials declined and others emerged over the ten year period. In order to slow down the emergence and spread of resistance strains, care should be taken by health professionals when prescribing antimicrobials to patients suffering from cholera disease and should be restricted to only severe cases. It is also recommended that antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be done before giving antimicrobials in management of cholera cases.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, Evolution, Kenya, Vibrio cholera.
Title: Trends in Antibiotic Resistance of Vibrio Cholerae Isolates in Kenya (2006 - 2015)
Author: Penina Muthoni Kung’u, Samuel Njoroge, John Kiiru, Paul Okemo, Samuel Kariuki
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract: Organizations have recognized that in order to achieve a competitive advantage over its competitors, it is compulsory to measure, monitor and manage organizational performance. To properly manage a supply chain, supply chain metrics ought to be identified and applied to the supply chain so as to quantify the efficiency and effectiveness of action. The general objective of this study was to analyze the influence of supply chain metrics on organizational performance of reseller companies in Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to find out how on-time delivery affects organizational performance of reseller companies in Kenya; to analyze how product flexibility affects organizational performance of reseller companies in Kenya; to evaluate the effect of order cycle time on organizational performance of reseller companies in Kenya and to find out how product availability affects organizational performance of reseller companies in Kenya. A review of literature relating to supply chain metrics and organizational performance was done with the theory of constraints, resource based view of the firm and knowledge based view of the firm as the theories relating to the independent variables. The study was limited to the Copy Cat Limited in Nairobi, Kenya. A descriptive research design was adopted in an attempt to answer the research questions. The target population of this study was the 80 employees of the Copy Cat Limited, Kenya. A census was conducted. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. The collected data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Quantitative data was analyzed using the assistance of statistical package for social sciences version 22 and presented in tables and other graphical presentations. Correlation coefficient as well as multiple regression analysis were applied to show the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable at 5% level of significance. It is notable that there exists a strong positive relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable as shown by R value (0.787). The coefficient of determination (R2) explains the extent to which changes in the dependent variable can be explained by the change in the independent variables or the percentage of variation in the dependent variable and the four independent variables that were studied explained 61.9% of the organizational performance as represented by the R2. The analysis showed that product availability had the strongest positive (Pearson correlation coefficient= 0.777, p-value= 0.000<0.05) influence on organizational performance. In addition, on-time delivery, order cycle time and product flexibility are positively correlated to organizational performance with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.711, 0.700 and 0.532 with p-values of 0.001<0.05, 0.003<0.05 and 0.004<0.05 respectively. In the light of the findings and conclusions, it is recommended that efforts must be made to implement more supply chain metrics that have not been implemented yet in the study area so as to help improve on organizational performance. The study has contributed to the body of knowledge with regards to the influence of supply chain metrics on organizational performance.

Keywords: On-time delivery, Order cycle time, Organizational performance, Product availability, Product flexibility and Supply chain metrics.
Title: Influence of Supply Chain Metrics on Organizational Performance of Reseller Companies in Kenya: A Case of the Copy Cat Limited
Author: Maureen Kobi
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract: The fishes are one of the most important, vertebrate, provided rich protein sources for human and several animals and important elements in the economy of many countries. Fish diversity essentially represents the fish faunal diversity. The survey was undertaken during the period from February 2016 to july 2016 in the region of Vettathukadavu, in Kayamkulam backwater, Kerala. The major objective of this study was to find out the biodiversity status of fishes in the Vettathukadavu region of Kayamkulam backwater, Kerala. Conservation status of fishes was assessed by IUCN Conservation status. The Survey of the studied stretch of backwater were resulted in recording of 25 fish species belonging to 6 orders and 15 familes. Of the 25 species reported during the study, 15 are least concern, 1 is critically endangered, 1 is vulnerable, 6 species are not evaluated and 2 species are not reported in IUCN Red.

Keywords: Icthyofauna, Biodiversity, IUCN, Endangered.
Title: Biodiversity Status of Fishes from Vettathukadavu, Kayamkulam Backwater, Kerala
Author: Remya.R, Dr. S.Amina
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications

Abstract: This study is on solid waste management in informal settlements in Kenya, with specific focus on Laini Saba Location, Nairobi County. This study was carried out in Laini Saba Location, Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya, between September and October 2015. It contends that solid waste management is a challenge for cities’ authorities in low-income countries mainly due to the increasing generation of waste and the burden posed on the municipal budget as a result of the high costs associated with its management.
The study found out that solid waste management in Laini Saba Location is not comprehensively done, though majority of the respondents at 56% indicated that they understood solid waste to be used items, unwanted items 15.6%; dirty materials 13.1%; used items, unwanted items and dirty materials at 7.3%. Most of the waste generated revolved around food leftovers, cartons, paper, rags, metals, plastic, polythene, glass, wood, ash, electronic waste at 16.4%. The respondents each generated between 6-10 litre buckets of solid waste at 38.6%, 3-5 litre buckets at 33.4%, 1-2 litre buckets at 16.1%, 16-20 litre buckets at 8.1%, and over 20 litre buckets at 5.2%. Eighty-six percent (86%) of the respondents said that they did not separate their solid waste, whereas 14% said that they separated them. The distance between the solid waste dumpsites and the nearest water sources was generally between 5 and 15 metres, posing great health challenges to the population. Finally, the study conducted a logistic regression analysis to determine the odds of occurrence of the variables of interests against exposure to certain variables. The study found out that there was significant relationship between age and health, and sex and contact with hazardous waste. The Odds Ratios (ORs) were 0.587 and 0.967. This means that exposure associated with health and hazardous waste has lower odds of outcome because OR<1.

Keywords: environmental pollution, municipal solid waste, solid waste, solid waste management.
Title: An Assessment of How Various Types of Solid Wastes Affect Their Management in Laini Saba Location, Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya
Author: Beatrice Rose Rotich
ISSN 2349-7823
International Journal of Recent Research in Life Sciences (IJRRLS)
Paper Publications