https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/177 2026-03-21T22:13:19Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6829 Title: Fish scale garment hanging decorations (patent) Authors: Wekesa, Peter W.; Akuja, Thomas E. Abstract: The invention provides a production method of a fish scale garment hanging decoration. The production method aims to solve the problems that existing garment banging decorations are not 10 made of real fish scales, and coatings of DIY and plastic artificial fish scale garment hanging decorations contain inferior colloids and harmful tinting pigments to cause a series of adverse factors of poor surface evenness, low adhesive forces, large pollution discharge capacity, and high possibility of environment pollution caused by harmful gas released by inferior colloids. A brand-new garment banging decoration made of real fish scales instead of artificial fish scales 15 has the advantages that the smoothness, glossiness, plumpness and adhesive force of the fish scale garment hanging decoration are remarkably improved; as environment-friendly raw materials are blended into pure natural binding agents and pigments, the fish scale garment hanging decoration simultaneously has decorative, attractive, quality and collection values as well as a practical value and provides powerful support to the upgrading of garment hanging 20 decorations. Description: Patent, 2022 2022-05-31T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6775 Title: Potential fuoride exposure from selected food crops grown in high fuoride soils in the Makueni County, south‑eastern Kenya Authors: Gevera, Patrick K.; Cave, Mark; Dowling, Kim; Gikuma-Njuru, Peter; Mouri, Hassina Abstract: Makueni County, located in south-eastern Kenya, faces challenges such as limited potable water and restricted food supplies as the result of semi-aridity. High fuoride (F) concentrations have been reported in drinking water with resultant dental fuorosis afecting the local population. To determine the potential F exposure through the consumption of food crops grown in the area, F concentration was assessed in the main fve locally grown and consumed crops. Additionally, the water-soluble F fraction was determined from 30 soil samples with mineralogical determination of 20 samples. Mean F concentration in the food crops was in the order; 700, 288, 71.2, 36.6, and 29 mg/kg in kale, cowpeas leaves, green grams, cowpeas (legume portion), and maize, respectively. The F concentration in farm soils ranged from 0 to 3.47 mg/kg (mean of 0.87 mg/kg) and showed a significant strong positive correlation (p=0.03, r=0.89) with F values in the crops. Apatite, muscovite, and biotite were identified as the F-rich minerals present. While considering two hypothetical F absorption fractions (75 and 100%), the estimated average daily dose (EADD) of F from consuming the crops ranged between 0.004 and 65.17 mg/kg/day where the highest values were from the vegetables. Most of these values were higher than the F reference dose (RfD) of 0.06 mg/kg. The estimated EADD values of several hypothetical meals prepared from the analyzed crops revealed that steamed kale and maize porridge pose the highest health risk of F associated diseases to the local population, whereas boiled cowpeas pose no health risk. Children, due to their higher daily energy requirement and low body weight, were the most vulnerable group at risk of high daily F intake relative to the RfD. These results suggest that consumption of the analyzed food crops in Makueni County may significantly contribute to F related diseases in the local population. This creates a food security issue for the area because of the potential health risks associated with these crops which are highly relied upon in the semi-arid area with a limited selection of food crops available and viable to grow. Description: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01240-w 2022-03-09T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6313 Title: Kenya’s Agri-Food and Nutrition Industry: The role of the Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training Institutions (ATVET) Authors: Amwata, Dorothy A.; Boga, Hamadi I. Abstract: ATVET graduates and in-service agrifood sector officers can meet the agricultural sector’s skill requirements by regularly reviewing and updating curricula and continuing education programmes. Innovation in pedagogical approaches is crucial to ensuring effective knowledge dissemination to those who drive resilience building in a highly dynamic agrifood and nutrition systems. It is important to create and foster multi-stakeholder partnerships amongst key actors in the agriculture and food systems, as well as monitor and recommend regular changes in capacity development programmes. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6312 Title: Review of policies and frameworks on climate change, agriculture, food and nutrition security in Rwanda Authors: Mungai, Catherine; Amwata, Dorothy A.; Radeny, Maren; Butare, Louis; Solomon, Dawit Abstract: Rwanda is a small landlocked country in East-Central Af-rica and one of the world’s most densely populated coun-tries. Average rainfall in Rwanda is around 1000 mm per annum, with the annual temperature ranging from 16°C to 21°C (Mikova et al. 2015). Climate variability and ex-treme events in Rwanda are among the most significant factors influencing annual crop production. Climate varia-bility and extreme event-related shocks like drought and flooding have become more frequent, significantly affecting crop production. The Eastern and South Eastern regions are most affected by prolonged drought, while the Northern and Western regions receive heavy rains usually causing severe erosion, flooding and landslides. Extreme floods in the Western province, for example, often lead to significant losses of agricultural produce, destroyed plantations, agro-ecosystems and valuable infrastructure (Mikova et al. 2015). Increased incidences of landslides in the North Western part of the country are also an example of the negative impact of climate change in Rwanda (RoR 2006). Description: CCAFS INFO NOTE 2020-09-01T00:00:00Z