Inheritance of determinants of flower colour in tetraploid roses

The choice of selection breeding for crop improvement in cut roses requires a better understanding of biological mechanisms and knowledge of the inheritance of the major target traits which can lead to new or improved screening methods. Colour is still the most important trait in cut roses. A tetraploid mapping population will be characterized for flower colour, by using colour charts such as the official chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, and additionally, by image analysis and measuring reflectance using a spectrocolorimeter. The genetics of flower colour will be studied. In addition, flower petals of all genotypes will be analysed by HPLC to characterize secondary metabolic components that determine flower colour, such as anthocyanins. The inheritance of these components will also be assessed and compared to that of flower colour. Preliminary results show that the most effective method to quantify colour is by HPLC analysis of the extracted anthocyanins. The highest pelargonidin concentrations occur at relatively low cyanidin concentrations. Absorbance and reflectance measurements illustrate the accumulated effect of all the individual antho¬cyanins present in the peta

Assessment of Agricultural Information Needs in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States: Eastern Africa: Country study Kenya

The study aimed to provide insight on status of infrastructure, information services and ICM capacity of institutions involved in agriculture and rural development, Information and capacity building needs in the area of ICM identified for key institutions and potential CTA partners involved in ARD and potential strategic partners for CTA activities and services identified and baseline data on the status of ICM and ICT in ARD compiled for monitoring purposes and improved outreach..

Phytochemical screening and antipyretic activities of dichloromethane-methanolic leaf and stem bark extracts of Ximenia americana in rat models

Introduction: In most parts of Africa, Ximenia americana is used in folklore to treat various disorders such as oedema, pain, fever, helminthiasis, diarrhoea, burns among other diseases. This study tested the antipyretic activities of dichloromethane-methanolic (DCM-MeOH) stem bark and leaf extracts of X. americana in rats. Qualitative phytochemical screening was also done to evaluate the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phenolics and terpenoids in the extract.Methods: The plant materials were collected from Mbeere North sub-county, Embu county, Kenya. Methanol and dichloromethane in the ratio of 1:1 was used to extract the active compounds. Two to three months old male Wister rats were employed for the antipyretic studies. Animals were divided into six groups of five rats each: normal, negative, reference and three experimental groups (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight). Pyrexia was induced experimentally using turpentine. The experimental groups were treated with predetermined dose quantities of prepared extracts. Aspirin was used as the reference drug. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: The extracts from the leaves lowered rectal temperature by 0.45 to 2.11 while the stem bark extracts lowered rectal temperature in the range of 0.71 to 2.13. Aspirin lowered the rectal temperature in the range of 0.74 and 1.67. Qualitative phytochemical screening showed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, phenolics and terpenoids in the extract.Conclusion: DCM-MeOH leaf and stem bark extracts of X. americana is effective in management of fever and therefore it can be explored as a possible bio-resource in the development of herbal antipyretic medicines

The role of a news media information resource centre in preserving national heritage: the case of the Nation Media Group library and archives

The Nation Media Group Information has a Library-cum-Archive serving the company and the Kenyan public. It holds back issues of newspapers since1959 when the first paper was published to current. Bulky print copies have been scanned and are now available in easily-accessible and retrievable digital format.The process is still ongoing to also digitise the photographic content available.As a media resource centre, it captures the nations heart beat in both images, text, audio and audiovisual format. Fromthe resources available books, documentaries, publications and advertorialshave beenpublished. This helps current and future generations relate with the journey the nationhas taken in the past.It therefore forms an important part of our culturalheritagewhichshould be preserved for posterity. Loss or damage to this resource would bankrupt the national memory. A multimedia content management system is in place to manage these resources and make searching and retrieval more user-friendly.It also stocks relevant books and has access to online resources necessary to train and keep the staff informed for efficient practice.A library management system is also in place to enable library processes

Influence of Changing Family Transition on Gender Roles Among Chuka Community in Meru South District, Tharaka Nithi County

The instability of family structure has become an increasingly salient part of people’s lives in Kenya. Lack of stable parenting coupled with strained relationships between parents and other family members as a result changing gender role have impacted negatively on family cohesion. This study investigated to investigate effects of family transitions on gender roles among the Chuka community.  The study was guided by social structural theory.  This study utilized the descriptive survey research design and the target population was 140 subjects comprising of 98 household heads in Magumoni division, 30 Church leaders, 6 women group leaders and 6 Chiefs. A total of 5 church leaders, 6 location chiefs, 6 women leaders and 98 households participated in this study. Questionnaires were used as the instruments of collecting data from all the respondents. A pilot study revealed a reliability coefficient of 0.7047 with the house hold head questionnaire, 0.7014 with chief’s questionnaire, 0.7020 for both church leaders and women leader’s questionnaire. The study concluded that the change in traditional family gender roles heavily impacts on gender household responsibilities and ultimately the cohesiveness of the family household. The study recommends counseling and other intervention programmes such as to mitigate the negative outcomes arising from the changes in the traditional family gender roles

UTILIZING SEMIOTIC PERSPECTIVE TO INVESTIGATE ALGEBRA II STUDENTS’ EXPOSURE TO AND USE OF MULTIPLE REPRESENTATIONS IN UNDERSTANDING ALGEBRAIC CONCEPTS

The study employed Ernest (2006) Theory of Semiotic Systems to investigate the use of and exposure to multiple representations in a 10th grade algebra II suburban high school class located in the southeastern region of the United States. The purpose of this exploratory case study (Yin, 2014) was to investigate the role of multiple representations in influencing and facilitating algebra II students’ conceptual understanding of piece-wise function, absolute-value functions, and quadratic functions. This study attempted to answer the following question: How does the use of and exposure to multiple representations influence algebra II students’ understanding and transfer of algebraic concepts? Furthermore, the following sub-questions assisted in developing a deeper understanding of the question: a) how does exposure to and use of multiple representations influence students’ identification of their pseudo-conceptual understanding of algebraic concepts?; b) how does exposure to and use of multiple representations influence students’ transition from pseudo-conceptual to conceptual understanding?; c) how does exposure to and use of multiple representations influence students’ transfer of their conceptual understanding to other related concepts? Understanding the notion of pseudo-conceptual understanding in algebra is significant in providing a tool for examining the veracity of algebra students’ conceptual understanding, where teachers have to consistently examine if students accurately understand the meanings of the mathematical signs that they are constantly using. The following data collection techniques were utilized: a) classroom observation, b) task based interviews, and c) study of documents. The unit of analysis was students’ verbal and written responses to task questions. Three themes emerged from the analysis of in this study: (a) re-imaging of conceptual understanding; (b) reflective approach to understanding and using mathematical signs; and (c) representational versatility in the use of mathematical signs. Findings from this study will contribute to the body of knowledge needed in research on understanding and assessing algebra students’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. In particular the findings from the study will contribute to the literature on understanding; the process of algebraic concepts knowledge acquisition, and the challenges that algebra students have with comprehension of algebraic concepts (Knuth, 2000: Zaslavsky et al., 2002)

Malaria in school-age children in Africa: an increasingly important challenge.

School-age children have attracted relatively little attention as a group in need of special measures to protect them against malaria. However, increasing success in lowering the level of malaria transmission in many previously highly endemic areas will result in children acquiring immunity to malaria later in life than has been the case in the past. Thus, it can be anticipated that in the coming years there will be an increase in the incidence of both uncomplicated and severe malaria in school-age children in many previously highly endemic areas. In this review, which focuses primarily on Africa, recent data on the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and on the incidence of clinical malaria in African school-age children are presented and evidence that malaria adversely effects school performance is reviewed. Long-lasting insecticide treated bednets (LLIN) are an effective method of malaria control but several studies have shown that school-age children use LLINs less frequently than other population groups. Antimalarial drugs are being used in different ways to control malaria in school-age children including screening and treatment and intermittent preventive treatment. Some studies of chemoprevention in school-age children have shown reductions in anaemia and improved school performance but this has not been the case in all trials and more research is needed to identify the situations in which chemoprevention is likely to be most effective and, in these situations, which type of intervention should be used. In the longer term, malaria vaccines may have an important role in protecting this important section of the community from malaria. Regardless of the control approach selected, it is important this is incorporated into the overall programme of measures being undertaken to enhance the health of African school-age children