Laikipia University

About: Laikipia University is a education organization based out in Eldoret, Kenya. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Ethnic group. The organization has 83 authors who have published 81 publications receiving 391 citations. The organization is also known as: LU.

Levels of heavy metals in wastewater and soil samples from open drainage channels in Nairobi, Kenya: community health implication.

Abstract: Levels of Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni) & Thallium (Tl) were established in wastewater & soil samples obtained from 8 sites in open drainage channels at Nairobi industrial area, Kenya. Ultra-trace inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) was used for metal analysis. Temperature, pH & turbidity of wastewater ranged from 16.75 to 26.05 °C; 7.28 to 8.78; 160.33 to 544.69 ppm respectively and within World Health Organization (WHO) allowable limits. Wastewater conductivities in 4 sites ranged from 770 to 1074 µS/cm and above WHO limits at 25 °C. The mean concentrations of the metals in wastewater ranged from 0.0001 to 0.015 ppm in an ascending order of Tl

Food-grade Pickering emulsions for encapsulation and delivery of bioactives

Abstract: Background Many biologically active and functional components are chemically unstable, and exhibit variable water/oil solubility, which reduce their bioavailability and efficacy. Therefore, the development and application of edible emulsion-based delivery systems for these compounds using food-grade materials would be extremely beneficial to the food industry. Recently, particle-stabilized emulsions (i.e., Pickering emulsions) have attracted significant attention from the scientific community owing to their surfactant-free character. Scope and approach This Review summarizes the recent applications of Pickering emulsions stabilized by food-grade particles for the encapsulation and delivery of lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactives. Firstly, the beneficial features of Pickering emulsions and their potential use for targeted delivery of bioactives are discussed. Next, different designs of Pickering emulsion-based delivery system (PEDS) and their performance in bioactives delivery are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and opportunities for future research are addressed. Key findings and conclusions Particles derived from proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids have received considerable research interest owing to their intrinsic biochemical properties that enable the development of PEDS that can improve the stability and delivery of bioactives. Different types of PEDS (i.e., O/W or W/O single emulsions, O/W/O or W/O/W double emulsions, emulgel, high internal phase emulsion, and microcapsules) have been developed and studied as versatile tools for encapsulation of both lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactives. Future research should focus on the elucidation of the release mechanism of bioactives from PEDS and the evaluation of the compatibility of PEDS with real food systems, as well as the efficacy and safety of PEDS using in vivo model. Development of PEDS in non-liquid state should also be a focus for future research in order to bridge the gap between lab and market.

Silver microspheres coated with a molecularly imprinted polymer as a SERS substrate for sensitive detection of bisphenol A.

Abstract: An efficient approach is demonstrated for preparing particles consisting of a silver core and a shell of molecularly imprinted polymer (Ag@MIP). The MIP is prepared by using bisphenol A (BPA) as the template and 4-vinylpyridine as the functional monomer. The Ag@MIP fulfills a dual function in that the silver core acts as a SERS substrate, while the MIP allows for selective recognition of BPA. The Ag@MIP is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman intensity of Ag@MIP is higher than that of bare silver microspheres. The detection limit for BPA is as low as 10−9 mol·L−1.

Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technologies in Tanzania

Abstract: Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is agriculture that increases productivity, improves resilience, and mitigates climate change. Smallholder adoption of farming technology is necessary to speed the transition to CSA. Here, we assessed the determinants of adoption of five technologies that can help achieve some of the CSA outcomes in smallholder farms in Tanzania. They included: crop and livestock diversification, irrigation, application of chemical fertilizers, and agroforestry. Using data collected from 821 farming households, a multivariate probit model was employed to evaluate the determinants of adoption, allowing for examination of synergies and trade-offs between the technologies. Application of chemical fertilizers was fairly well adopted (34% of farmers), while irrigation was least adopted (26%). Some technologies, including crop diversification and irrigation, as well as application of chemical fertilizer and agro-forestry, complemented each other. Trade-offs were observed between livestock diversification and irrigation. Female control of farm resources, farm location, and household resources were major determinants of adoption. We therefore, recommend strategies that seeks to enhance building household resource as pathway for improved adoption of new technologies.

Determinants of the competitiveness of smallholder African indigenous vegetable farmers in high-value agro-food chains in Kenya: A multivariate probit regression analysis

Abstract: Smallholder farmers are excluded from efficient and effective participation in high-value agro-food market chains due to major competitiveness constraints and several market failures along these chains. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the competitiveness of smallholder farmers in a more coordinated and sustainable way that promote their effective and efficient participation in high-value agro-food market chains. In particular, the study aims at determining the main role of households’ capitals, institutional, and access-related factors in conditioning the decision of smallholder farmers of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) to access pillars of competitiveness in high-value market chains (HVMCs). For this purpose, a unique household-level data from a total of 1232 rural and peri-urban AIV-producing households were surveyed, and the data obtained were analysed by using a multivariate probit model. The results suggest that about two thirds of smallholder AIV farmers had access to at least one pillar of competitiveness in HVMCs. The model results show the presence of inter-dependency of household level decisions to access multiple pillars of competitiveness in HVMCs. Furthermore, the results also reveal that coping with shocks, coupled with access to information on market prices and warnings of unexpected events, contract farming, certification and modern irrigation technologies are the main conditioning factors to the access of the pillars of competitiveness by smallholder farmers. The promotion and implementation of a well-founded mobile phone-based information access platforms, as well as effective and efficient livelihood strategies that support smallholder farmers to access pillars of competitiveness, is of critical importance towards overcoming the major competitiveness constraints along high-value agro-food chains.