School of Health Sciences (SHS)
http://repository.kyu.ac.ke/123456789/49
Journal articles for the School of Health Sciences2024-03-24T16:52:58ZDiscrimination of Blue and Black Ballpoint Pen Inks for Forensic Investigations
http://repository.kyu.ac.ke/123456789/1023
Discrimination of Blue and Black Ballpoint Pen Inks for Forensic Investigations
Kirui, M; Obondi, G; Nderu, D; Munde, M
Background: Great attempts have been made to fight fraud and falsification of crucial documents such as travel documents. However, document fraud and
falsification are still rampant. This study aimed to determine the profile of Kenya's blue and black ballpoint pens inks. A total of ten ballpoint pen inks were included
in the study. Of this, six were blue ballpoint pen inks, and the remaining four were black from distinct manufacturers.
Methods: The techniques used for pens ink analysis were thin-layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible
(UV-vis) spectroscopy.
Results: TLC showed a variation in the number of pigments in pen inks with a discriminating power (DP) of 0.87 and 0.83 for blue and black ballpoint pens,
respectively. UV-Vis spectroscopy had a DP of 0.93 for blue pen inks and 0.67 for black pen inks, whereas FTIR spectroscopy had a DP of 1.0 for both blue and
black pen inks. Hydroxyl, carboxyl, amino, nitro, and ester/ether functional groups were detected in blue and black pen inks. Lastly, multivariate analysis revealed
that absorption of the blue and black pen inks in either methanol or ethanol was not different (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Taken together, findings from this study demonstrate the qualitative characteristics and functional group profile of blue and black ballpoint pen inks.
However, more studies are needed to establish a reference for pen ink analysis for forensic investigations in Africa and beyond.
2023-07-01T00:00:00ZA Metric Scale-Based Assessment Framework for Risks Categorization
and Associated Harm for LMS in Public Universities of Kenya.
http://repository.kyu.ac.ke/123456789/1013
A Metric Scale-Based Assessment Framework for Risks Categorization
and Associated Harm for LMS in Public Universities of Kenya.
Kiplimo, J
The development of e-learning is one of the information and communication technology's (ICT)
most successful applications in Kenyan public universities. The higher education has undergone a
significant change in learning approaches in recent years because of the significance and necessity
of e-learning, such as the one occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis as well as associated
disruptions. The rapid growth in e-learning approaches in the public universities, did not come
without risks. Like any other internet-based systems, the learning management systems (LMS) are
prone to hackers’ attack. Given that the internet which is the LMS’s backbone is inherently
unsecure, there is the need for not only fool proof, but also secure system. The main goal of this
study was to investigate the common risks, extent of their harm to the LMS of Public Universities
in Kenya, with the ultimate aim of developing a metric scale-based assessment framework as a
forensic tool for the risks and harm categorization. With hybrid design the researcher proposed to
use a combination of survey and cross-sectional methods to collect quantitative as well as
qualitative data. The data collected was analyzed using both statistical and qualitative analysis
methods. The study identified technology, infrastructure and skill gap as major contributing risks
to the harm of LMS. The ultimate results of this study was the development of a comprehensive
framework for risk assessment, which may be an important tool for forensic investigation by other
stakeholders. Additionally, this framework will have a direct impact on the current practice of risk
management by not only changing the way risks to LMS are handled, but may also policy
development on the same
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZDeterminants Of The Outcome Of Sexual Offenses’ Forensic Investigations In Butere Sub- County, Kakamega County Kenya.
http://repository.kyu.ac.ke/123456789/1010
Determinants Of The Outcome Of Sexual Offenses’ Forensic Investigations In Butere Sub- County, Kakamega County Kenya.
Alwora, A
The criminal justice system has been faced with challenges to conclusively address the plight of victims and survivors of sexual assault offences. In Kenya, it is estimated that only 25% of total sexual offence cases presented before a court of law are successfully convicted. These challenges are faced from the apprehensions of the incidents to the collection and forensic analysis of the necessary evidence. The focus of this study was to investigate the determinants of the outcome of sexual offenses’ forensic investigations in Butere Sub- County, Kakamega County, Kenya. The study was based on three specific objectives that include; to determine the influence of adherence to sexual assault standard investigative guidelines on the outcome of sexual assault offenses’ forensic investigation in Butere sub-county, assessing the influence of availability of sexual offenses’ analysis infrastructure on the outcome of sexual assault offenses’ forensic investigation in Butere sub-county and to establish the influence of coordination between medical and legal sectors on the outcome of sexual assault offenses’ forensic investigation in Butere sub-county. The study was anchored on structural functionalism theory and the theory of change. The significance of the study is to give insight into the successful investigation of sexual offenses and guide policy formulation regarding investigation of sexual offenses. sexual assault offenses. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to provide an explanation of the variables and an explanatory research design to explain causal links between variables. Stratified random sampling was used to pick police respondents from police stations and police posts from Butere Sub County and snowball and purposive sampling was used to pick survivors of sexual assault offences within Butere sub county and health workers from level 4 hospitals in Butere Sub County respectively. Data was collected using closed and open-ended questionnaires administered to police officers, interview guides administered to health workers and survivors of sexual assault offenses. Data was subjected to thorough editing and summarizing before actual analysis. Data was analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative data was analysed thematically with the help of NVivo software. Quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 and results presented using tables. Data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. A regression model of determinants of outcome of sexual assault offense’s forensic investigation was run against the dependent variable, successful investigation of sexual assault offenses. Based on the findings, the coefficient of correlation (r = 0.798) indicated that adherence to sexual assault forensic investigative guidelines, availability of sexual assault forensic investigating infrastructure and coordination between medical and legal sectors on forensic investigation of sexual assault offenses had significant positive relationship with successful investigation of sexual assault offences. The results showed that sexual assault forensic investigative guidelines are moderately adhered to in Butere Sub County (composite mean=2.87). The study found out that there is inadequate sexual assault investigating infrastructure in Butere Sub County (composite mean=2.70). The study also showed that there is poor coordination between the medical and legal sectors on matters of sexual assault forensic investigation in Butere Sub County (composite mean=2.48). The coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.637), indicated that the selected predictors determined about 63.7% of the successful investigation of sexual assault offenses and the model was significant (P = 0.001). The study recommends interagency corporations on forensic investigation of sexual offenses, improvement of sexual assault analysis infrastructure, continuous training on forensic investigations and increased public education.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZAnalysis of Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP14) in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium and in Serum and Endocervical Mucus of Endometriosis
http://repository.kyu.ac.ke/123456789/1008
Analysis of Membrane Type-1 Matrix Metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP14) in Eutopic and Ectopic Endometrium and in Serum and Endocervical Mucus of Endometriosis
Jane B. Maoga 1, Muhammad A. Riaz 1 , Agnes N. Mwaura 1 , Ezekiel Mecha 2 , Charles O. A. Omwandho 3 , Georgios Scheiner-Bobis 4 , Ivo Meinhold-Heerlein 1 and Lutz Konrad
Background: Membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) are a subgroup of
the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family and are key molecules in the degradation of the
extracellular matrix. Membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP14) is often
deregulated in different cancer tissues and body fluids of human cancer patients; however, MT1-
MMP levels in endometriosis and adenomyosis patients are currently unknown. Materials and
Methods: Tissue samples from patients with and without endometriosis or adenomyosis were
analyzed with immunohistochemistry for the localization of MT1-MMP. Serum and endocervical
mucus samples from patients with and without endometriosis or adenomyosis were investigated
with MT1-MMP ELISAs. Results: MT1-MMP was localized preferentially in the glands of eutopic and
ectopic endometrium. MT1-MMP protein levels are significantly reduced in ovarian endometriosis
(HSCORE = 31) versus eutopic endometrium (HSCORE = 91) and adenomyosis (HSCORE = 149),
but significantly increased in adenomyosis (HSCORE = 149) compared to eutopic endometrium
(HSCORE = 91). Similarly, analysis of the levels of MT1-MMP using enzyme-linked immune assays
(ELISAs) demonstrated a significant increase in the concentrations of MT1-MMP in the serum of
endometriosis patients (1.3 ± 0.8) versus controls (0.7 ± 0.2), but not in the endocervical mucus.
Furthermore, MT1-MMP levels in the endocervical mucus of patients with endometriosis were
notably reduced in patients using contraception (3.2 ± 0.4) versus those without contraception
(3.8 ± 0.2). Conclusions: Taken together, our findings showed an opposite regulation of MT1-MMP
in the tissue of ovarian endometriosis and adenomyosis compared to eutopic endometrium without
endometriosis but increased serum levels in patients with endometriosis.
2023-10-09T00:00:00Z