Tharaka University repository
http://repository.tharaka.ac.ke:5050/xmlui
The Repository digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material.2024-03-29T07:40:18ZOptimization of Growth Conditions for Chlorpyrifos-Degrading Bacteria in Farm Soils in Nakuru County, Kenya
http://repository.tharaka.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/1/4342
Optimization of Growth Conditions for Chlorpyrifos-Degrading Bacteria in Farm Soils in Nakuru County, Kenya
Wepukhulu, Miriam; Wachira, Peter; Huria, Nderitu; Sifuna, Paul; Essuman, Suliman; Asamba, Micah
Chlorpyrifos (CP) is a chlorinated organophosphate pesticide. In Kenya, it is commonly used as an acaricide, particularly in dairy farming, leading to soil and water contamination. The study is aimed at isolating bacteria with CP-degrading potential and optimizing their growth conditions, including temperature, pH, and CP concentration. The enrichment culture technique was used, with minimal salt medium (MSM) supplemented with commercial grade CP. A multilevel factorial design was used to investigate the interactions of temperature, pH, and CP concentration. According to the findings, seven bacterial strains with potential to degrade CP were characterized and identified as Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus weihenstephanensis, Bacillus
toyonensis, Alcaligenes sp. strain SCAU23, Pseudomonas sp. strain PB845W, Brevundimonas diminuta, and uncultured bacterium clone 99. Growth and biodegradation of bacteria differed significantly among the isolates across pH value, temperature, and concentrations (P ≤ 0 05). The optimum conditions for growth were pH 7, temperature of 25° C, and 25mg/l chlorpyrifos concentration, while optimum degradation conditions were pH 5, temp 25° C, and CP conc. 25mg/l. The Pearson correlation between optimum growth and degradation showed a weak positive relationship (R = 0 1144) for pH and strong positive relationship for temperature and concentration of chlorpyrifos. Other than pH, the study shows that there could be other cofactors facilitating the chlorpyrifos degradation process. The findings show that an efficient consortium, at 25°C and pH 5, can include Bacillus toyonensis 20SBZ2B and Alcaligenes sp. SCAU23 as they showed high optical density (OD) values under these conditions. These results indicate the potential for these bacteria to be employed in chlorpyrifos-contaminated ecosystem detoxification efforts upon manipulation of natural growth conditions. The findings of this study offer a potential foundation for future research into the reconstitution of a consortium. Based on the optimum conditions identified, the isolated bacterial strains could be further developed into a consortium to effectively degrade CP in both laboratory and field
conditions. Dairy farmers can utilize the isolated strains and the consortia to decontaminate farm soils.
2024-01-01T00:00:00ZBBIT 121: PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
http://repository.tharaka.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/1/4341
BBIT 121: PRINCIPLES OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
Tharaka, University
2022-09-01T00:00:00ZBBIT 111: COMPUTER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMIZATION
http://repository.tharaka.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/1/4340
BBIT 111: COMPUTER SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT AND CUSTOMIZATION
Tharaka, University
2022-09-21T00:00:00ZInfluence Of Prison Care On Drug Abuse Among Prison Inmates: A Case Of Kangeta Prison, Meru County, Kenya
http://repository.tharaka.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/1/4339
Influence Of Prison Care On Drug Abuse Among Prison Inmates: A Case Of Kangeta Prison, Meru County, Kenya
Mugambi, Benjamin; Lumadede, Japheth; Mwirigi, Charles
Drugs and substance abuse problem affects the moral fabric of societies all over the world. These drugs find their way into prison institutions globally. Kenyan prisons are also affected by the drug and substance abuse menace. Comprehensive problem analysis had not been done in order to inform effective measures and policies addressing the problem of drug and substance abuse. This study sought to fill this gap by assessing the influence of prison care programs on drug abuse among the prisoners of Kangeta Prison. Thisstudy adopted a sequential explanatory method of research design. Kangeta Prison in Meru County, Kenya was chosen by the researcher purposively due to high rate of recidivism and increase in drug trafficking offenses in the area. The target population and the
accessible population of Kangeta prison were 523 respondents which included both inmates and prison stakeholders. From this population, a sample size of 120 inmates was selected using simple random sampling technique. This sample was used for collecting quantitative data. Purposive sampling technique was also used to draw only six individuals from the stakeholders’ population for collecting the qualitative data. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the inmates and interview schedules were used to collect data from the stakeholders. The validity of the instruments was checked with the help of experts in this field of social sciences. To test the reliability of the questionnaires, a pilot study was carried out using 12 respondents from Meru Prison in Meru County, Kenya which is a neighbouring prison. The analysis of the pilot data produced a Cronbach alpha value
of 0.910 which attained the recommended level of equal to or above 0.70. The quantitative data was analysed by use of percentages, means, and correlations using Spearman Correlation coefficient with the aid of Excel and SPSS software. On the qualitative data, thematic content analysis was used by the help of NVIVO Software Version 14. To facilitate data collection, permits from relevant bodies such as Tharaka University Ethics Committee, NACOSTI, and Correctional Department were obtained by the researcher before actual data collection. The relationship between the variable was measured using spearman coefficient where prison care produced a coefficient of 0.642. This positive correlation indicated that there is a strong relationship between the variables. The study added more academic knowledge to the existing one, informed government on prison reviews and recommendations
2023-11-01T00:00:00Z