Department of Science, Technology and Engineering
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Item Sorption and Availability of Potassium in selected Soils from Kenya: Effects of organic matter and pH on concentration of adsorbed potassium in sugarcane and maize growing zones(Lambert Academic Publishing, 2013-01-01) Alwala, J.O.Potassium fertilizers have been found to increase yields of food crops in soils of Kenya and the world. The availability of potassium in maize and sugarcane growing soils in Kenya is unknown and this could be causing the low crop yields. It is therefore necessary to establish the availability of soil potassium to determine its efficiency for maize and sugarcane needs with reference to regions in Kenya. The necessity of the work is to ensure optimum nutrient availability and low cost of nutrient application with high yield of maize and sugarcane. The study of the availability of potassium reserves in these areas will enable farmers to determine whether or not to apply fertilizer. The book is divided into five chapters. This study is useful to farmers who want to practice large scale production of maize and sugarcane. The farmers are able to know the effect of pH, organic matter and potassium concentration on adsorption capacity of the soils because the adsorbed potassium concentration fit to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and adsorption of potassium differs significantly (p≤ 0.05) with organic matter and pH.Item Nutrient reduction in runoff water from sugarcane farms by sedimentation method(Environmentalist Journal, 2012-09-02) Omwoma, Solomon; Omwoyo, N.W.; Alwala, J.O.; Ongeri, David; Lagat, Sylas; Lalah, JosephDue to intensive use of agronomic inputs in sugarcane farming, runoff water from these farms is loaded with high concentrations of nutrients. These nutrients find their way into rivers, lakes and sinks, eutrophicating them. Reducing the levels of these nutrients in runoff water from sugarcane farms before it is discharged into sinks will help solve the problems that arise out of eutrophication. This study employed a simple sedimentation method of making depressions in canals draining runoff water from sugarcane farms and emptying them fortnightly during the rainy season and monthly during the dry season. The method was found to significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduce water conductivity (μS/cm), turbidity (Nephelometric Turbidity Units), total phosphates, nitrate–nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, sodium and zinc (ppm) in the dry season from 52.89, 148.70,0.87, 3.34, 446.00, 420.00, 205.00, 12,941.00, 261.00, 398.00, and 484.00 in untreated canals to 48.33, 30.22, 0.21, 2.95, 120.00, 154.00, 98.00, 456.00, 181.00, 234.00, and 311.00 in treated canals, respectively. And in the wet season, the parameters were reduced from 261.46, 719.30, 820.00, 25.16, 654.00, 549.00, 493.00, 19,230.00, 763.00, 748.00, and 903.00 to 128.67, 365.70, 3.47, 10.12, 136.00, 187.00, 167.00, 654.00, 207.00, 321.00, and 231.00, respectively. Dissolved oxygen significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased from 5.11 to 8.14 ppm in the dry season and from 3.82 to 7.92 ppm wet season. Acidity reduced in the wet season from pH 5.02 to 6.20. It is, therefore, recommendedItem A survey of the applications and use of ethnomedicinal plants and plant products for healthcare from the ukambani region in Eastern Kenya(IJEPP, 2016-01-01) Wanzala, W.; Syombua, Sr. Marcellina; Alwala, J.O.The Akamba people of Kenya have a long history of ethnobotany, dating back to the pre-colonial era. Building on the Akamba’shistorical businesses involving the trade of various plants and plant products called ‘Miti,’ literally meaning plants, the Mitiare used in primary healthcare systems. Overall, the Mitilack proper documentation. Thus, the primary purpose of this paper is to record and classify the plants used by the Akamba. Non-alienating, dialogic, participatory action research (PAR) and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approaches wereused to survery 25 women and men between the ages of 50 and 86 years old. Results indicated 200 useful medicinal plant species from 58 families, while their application methods for a wide range of ill-health conditions affecting humans, cattle and poultry were also documented. The recorded medicial conditions ranged from those that manifest clinically to those that are cultural, spiritual and psychological in nature. Management of many chronic and complicated ill-health conditions showed that the Kambaethnomedical system may practically be comparable to that of conventional medicine, particularly following an in-depth scientific studies.Item Determination of tannin concentrations in african indigenous vegetables, grains and cassava roots from Emuhaya District, western Kenya(Sciknow Publications Ltd : American Journal of Nutrition and Food Science, 2014-01-01) Wanzala, W.; Alwala, J.O.; Kiema, Francis N.The studyevaluated tanninconcentrations in four vegetables, three grains and cassava roots as the most common foodstuffs in the diet of local communities from Emuhaya district in western Kenyaand their nutritional health implication. Plant specimens were collected from local arable farms and market centres and their identities confirmed at Maseno University herbarium. Tannincontent was evaluated using the International Phamacopoeia Method.Percent compositionof tannins in the sampled specimens were: 9.49±0.6 for rattle pod (Crotalaria brevidens(Emiroo); Family, Fabaceae), 8.38±0.3 for narrow-leaf bitter-pea(Daviesialeptophylla(Omurere); Family, Fabaceae), 2.49±0.2 for amaranth (Amaranthushybridus(Tsimboka); Family, Amaranthaceae), 0.42±0.04for black nightshade(Solanumnigrum(Lisutsa); Family, Solanaceae), 9.21±0.4 for peanut/groundnut (Arachishypogaea(Tsinjugu); Family, Fabaceae), 8.24±0.4 for sesame(Sesamumindicum(Tsinuni); Family, Pedaliaceae), 8.11±0.2 for finger millet (Eleusinecoracana(Obulee); Family, Poaceae) and 6.99±0.5 for cassava (Manihotesculenta(Emioko); Family, Euphorbiaceae). Solanumnigrumhad significantly the lowest tannin composition profile followed by A. hybridusand M. esculentain that order (P < 0.05). Interestingly, these three plants are preferred in the diet to the rest of the plants. The results provide scientific rationale for dietary exploitationof these plants bythe local communities and may lay down some groundwork for exploiting partially refined products such as peanut butter and a wide range of grades of flour for human consumption and livestock feeds. However, consumption of tannins in the diet may sometimes benecessary for optimal health but caution needs to be taken for their conflicting adverse medical-based nutritional and physiological effects.Item Characterization and evaluation of repellent effect of essential oil of mangifera indica l. from Kenya(Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 2013-03-12) Alwala, J.O.; Wanzala, W.; Inyambukho, RA.Ethnopharmacologically, the mango has a lot of applications in life in humanhealth and ethnoveterinary medicines since ancient times. The study aimed at characterizing theessential oil of Mangifera indica L. leaves and evaluating its repellent effect on the host-seekingfemale Anopheles gambiae,the vector of African malaria. The essential oil was obtained byhydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-massspectrometry (GC-MS). The repellent effect of the essential oil was evaluated using the human-baittechnique to simulate field situation. Of the 26 major hydrocarbon compounds identified, α-pineneoccurred in the largest amount (33.3 %), followed by α-phellandrene (22.6 %), Limonene (13.2 %),p-cymene (6.1 %), Heptane (3.8 %), β-pinene (2.6 %), Ledene (1.3 %), (-)-α-gurjunene (1.2 %), β-myrcene (1.1 %), γ-terpinene (1.0 %), (+)-2-carene (0.9 %) and trans (β)-caryophyllene (0.9 %) inthat order. The oil showed a significant dose-dependent repellent effect on host-seeking femaleAnopheles gambiae s.s. The oil showed a complex composition of hydrocarbon compounds andmay be richer in monoterpenes than in any other type of compounds. It showed the potential to repelmosquitoes.Item Chemical composition of essential oil oftithonia diversifolia(hemsl.) a. gray from the southern slopes of Mount Elgon in western Kenya(I J E P P, 2016-06-01) Wanzala, W.; Osundwa, E.M.; Alwala, O.J.; Gakuubi, M.M.Ethnopharmacologically, Tithonia diversifolia has a lot of applications in the history of human life. The current study aimed at characterizing the essential oil from fresh aerial parts of T. diversifolia. The plant materials were obtained from western Kenya and oil extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compounds were identified by comparison of their mass spectra with those in Wiley NBS and NIST databases and GC retention times to those of authentic samples. The percentage yield of the essential oil of T. diversifoliawas 0.00015% w/w. The oil showed a complex composition of about 50 compounds, a mixture of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, 54% and 46%, respectively.Within the sub-classes of terpenes, hydrogen-carbon-containing terpenes (72%) occurred more than oxygen-containing terpenes (28%) with hydrogen-carbon-containing sesquiterpenes (38%) occurring in the highest proportion, followed by hydrogen-carbon-containing monoterpenes (34%), oxygenated monoterpenes (20%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (8%). Twenty-four percent of the 50 compounds and most of the monoterpenes were found in literature to have some repellence properties. Of these 50 compounds, α-pinene occurred in the largest amount (63.64%), followed by β-pinene (15.0%), iso-caryophyllene (7.62%), nerolidol (3.70%), 1-tridecanol (1.75%), limonene (1.52%), sabinene (1.00%), α-copaene (0.95%), α-gurjunene (0.56%) and cyclodecene (0.54%). With multipotential applications nature of T. diversifoliaplant and its products, these compounds may in future be useful in pharmaceutical, agricultural, food and perfumery industriesItem Thermodynamic properties of yttrium based cuprate due to electron-cooper pair interaction using BVT(Open Access Library Journal, 2018-10-15) Mukubwa, Abel Wanjala; Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; Makokha, John WanjalaSince the discovery of high temperature superconductivity (HTSC), there have been varied results concerning the high pairing energy in the unconventional superconductivity. In an attempt to unearth the mechanism behind the high pairing energy, we study a model in which an excited electron interacts with a Cooper pair. The interaction was studied earlier on using second quantization which depended on a wave function. We now use Bogoliubov- Valatini transformation (BVT) that is independent of the wave function to study the thermodynamic properties due to the interaction between an electron and a Cooper pair in a Yttrium based cuprate. The interaction energy increases with temperature and at T = 93 K ; we record the interaction energy of 2.173 meV and the specific heat of 4.669 J∙mol−1∙K−1. The entropy of this system is found to be 5.11 mJ∙g−1∙K−1. The Sommerfeld’s coefficient is maximum at T = 2/3 Tc where γ = 62.4 mJ ⋅mol−1 ⋅K−2 . It has also been observed, for the first time, that the thermodynamic quantities of YBCO123 are constant when temperature varies between 0 K and 18 K. Above 18 K, the thermodynamic quantities rise sharply. This observation has been attributed to the pairing of electrons in the singlet-s and singlet-p states.Item Trend analysis of aerosol optical depth and angström exponent anomaly over East Africa(scientific Research Publishing, 2017-10-31) Makokha, John Wanjala; Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; shem, Godfrey JumaTrend analysis of atmospheric aerosols enhances confidence in the evaluation of both direct and indirect effects of aerosols on regional climate change. To comprehensively achieve this over East Africa, it’s important to understand aerosols temporal characteristics over well selected sites namely Nairobi (1˚S, 3 ˚E), Mbita (0˚S, 34˚E), Mau Forest (0.0˚S - 0.6˚S; 35.1˚E - 35.7˚E), Malindi (2˚S, 40˚E), Mount Kilimanjaro (3˚S, 37˚E) and Kampala (0˚N, 32.1˚E). In this context, trend analysis (annual (in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at 550 nm and Angstrom Exponent Anomaly (AEA) at 470 - 660 nm) and seasonal (AOD)) from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were performed following the weighted least squares (WLS) fitting method for the period 2000 to 2013. The MODIS AOD annual trends were ground-truthed by AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data. Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) was utilized to derive rainfall rates (RR) in order to assess its influence on the observed aerosol temporal characteristics. The derived annual AOD trends utilizing MODIS and AERONET data were consistent with each other. However, monthly AOD and RR were found to be negatively correlated over Nairobi, Mbita, Mau forest complex and Malindi. There was no clear relationship between the two trends over Kampala and Mount Kilimanjaro, which may imply the role of aerosols in cloud modulation and hence RR received. Seasonality is evident between AOD and AEA annual trends as these quantities were observed to be modulated by RR. AOD was observed to decrease over East Africa except Nairobi during the study period as a result of RR during the study period. Unlike the other study sites, Nairobi shows positive trends in AOD that may be attributed to increasing populace and fossil fuel, vehicular-industrial emission and biomass and refuse burning during the study period. Negative trends over the rest of the study sites were associated to rain washout. The AOD and AEA derived annual trends were found to meet the statistical significance of 95% confidence level over each study siteItem Sun-photometric study and multivariate analysis ofaerosol optical depth variability over some representative sites of the Kenyan atmosphere(International Journal of BioChemiPhysics,, 2015-12-01) Makokha, John Wanjala; Angeyo, H.K.; Muthama, John NziokaThe goal of this study was to explore the temporal-spatial characteristics of aerosol optical depth (τ)over the Kenyan urban (Nairobi-1°S, 36°E), rural (Mbita-0°S, 34°E) and maritime (Malindi-2°S, 40°E) atmospheres using sun spectrophotometric measurements obtained from Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET).AERONET measurements have been taken in Kenya since 2006 and are aimed at assessing aerosol effects on climate and improving the aerosol data base in the region. The multivariate nature of environmental measurements however allows only a limited understanding of atmospheric aerosol characteristics when univariate analysis technique is used. Temporal-spatial characteristics of atmospheric aerosol optical depth can be understood comprehensively if it is appropriately retrieved from ground-based spectrophotometric measurements and then decoupled and analyzed using multivariate analysis techniques since they can explore groups of variables simultaneously, thus providing a more meaningful insight into the temporal-spatial variability of τ is inevitable. The influence of rain and dry spells and temperature on τ at wavelengths, λ = 440 nm and λ = 1020 nm as quantified by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) ranged between 76-83 % and 7-14 %and 4-7 % respectively for all the sites. It was found out that urban heat island (over Nairobi) and local air circulation effects (over Mbita and Malindi) modulate the characteristics of aerosol optical depth over the studied sites. Spatial variability in τ as shown by Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) is independent of measurement wavelength but dependent on aerosol burden in the atmosphere for each site. The individual and coupled influence of weather parameters on atmospheric aerosols has been\ isolated and quantified and found to be site dependent.Item Aerosol optical depth and precipitation rate projections over east africa utilizing self organizing map(The International Journal Of Science & Technoledge, 2017-03-01) Makokha, John Wanjala; Angeyo, H.K.; Muthama, John NziokaAssessment of future aerosols impacts on both regional and global climate change requires a comprehensive projection tool that reliably provides information on aerosol evolution characteristics with high fidelity. In the current study, we propose an algorithm based on Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Community Atmosphere Model 4 (CAM4) for long term Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Precipitation Rate (PR) projections over East Africa. To start with, AOD and PR retrievals from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) respectively were cross validated with simulation from CAM4 so as to assess the uncertainty between the measured and simulated retrievals from 2000 to 2014.The error analysis between CAM4 simulations and MODIS measurements (from 2000 to 2014)shows a close match where R2 varies from 0.58 to 0.83 with a corresponding RMSE of between 0.014 and 0.065 (for AOD). Likewise, the uncertainty between simulate and measured PR from CAM4 and TRMM showed an estimated R2 to range between 0.40 and 0.78 while the RMSE varied from 0.021 to 0.091 in the same period and study sites. Based on proposed SOM algorithm and simulated CAM4 retrievals over each study site, an increase of between 1.34-2.43 % for AOD and a decrease of between 1.03-1.98 % in PR are projected over the region by 2030.Item Long term assessment of aerosol radiative forcing over selected sites of East Africa(scientific Research Publishing, 2018-03-08) Makokha, John Wanjala; Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; shem, Godfrey JumaAtmospheric aerosols have contributed to radiative forcing through direct and indirect mechanisms. Aerosol effects are important in computing radiative forcing estimates for the past, current and future climate. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of regional aerosol radiative forcing, Optical Properties of Aerosol and Clouds (OPAC) model (wavelength range of 0.25 - 4.0 μm) over selected sites in East Africa was done. Aerosol optical properties constituted the inputs of a Radiative Transfer Model (RTM). Optical properties investigated included Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA) and Asymmetry Parameter (AP). Aerosol Radiative Forcing (ARF) during the study period at the surface (SFC), top of the atmosphere (TOA) and the atmosphere (ATM) was estimated to be –18.4 ± 1.4 W∙m−2, +1.1 ± 0.3 W∙m−2 and +19.5 ± 2.5 W∙m−2, respectively. This corresponds to an increment in net atmospheric forcing at a heating rate of about 0.55 ± 0.05 K/day (0.41 ± 0.03 to 0.78 ± 0.03 K/day) in the lower troposphere. The study points out the significant role played by atmospheric aerosols in climate modification over the area of study. It is recommended that a further assessment be done in view of uncertainties that may impact on the findings and which were not within the scope of this research.Item Estimation of radiative forcing due to aerosols over selected sites in Kenya(Kenya Meteorological Society : Journal of Meteorology and Related Sciences, 2013-01-01) Makokha, John Wanjala; Angeyo, H.K.Variations in the radiative characteristics of aerosols can be used to quantify their effects on climate. This study evaluated the temporal-spatial variability of aerosol radiative characteristics at λ = 440 nm, λ = 675 nm, λ = 870 nm and λ = 1020 nm over the Nairobi-1°S, 36°E, Mbita-0°S, 34°E and Malindi-2°S, 40°E sites of Kenya. Aerosol optical properties from AERONET were used as inputs in the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Radiative Transfer (COART) code to model aerosol radiative effects. The results over Nairobi showed an increase in reflectance of 2.6%, 6.7%, 7.2% and 2.4% for 2006–2007 at the specified wavelengths, respectively. Drops of 2.7%, 12.2%, 50.6% and 25.6% were noted in the same wavelengths for the 2007–2008 period. The reflectance over Mbita (0.2284) was higher than that over Nairobi (0.1396) at λ = 675 nm for 2007, due to biomass burning at site. Maritime conditions and aerosols coupled with long range transport of monsoon winds explain the higher reflectance observed over Malindi when compared to Nairobi, except for λ = 440 nm in 2008. This is as a result of aerosols from vehicular and industrial emissions that dominate the λ = 440 nm over Nairobi. The variability of downward and upward spectral irradiance measured at the surface and 12 km levels depended on the wavelength of measurement, but was temporally invariant. Upward irradiance decreased with increasing Solar Zenith Angles (SZAs) due to strong Fresnel reflection at large angles. The equality in the upwelling irradiances at the two atmospheric levels at all sites for λ = 870 nm and λ = 1020 nm was due to the near IR absorption by aerosols. The radiant flux lost in the spectral range 440–1020 nm remained relatively constant over the study sites, and thus the influence of aerosols on radiative characteristics was independent of both site and period of study.Item Investigation of radiative characteristics of the Kenyan atmosphere due to aerosols using sun spectrophotometry measurements and the COART model(Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research : Aerosol and Air Quality, 2013-01-01) Makokha, John Wanjala; Angeyo, H.K.Variations in the radiative characteristics of aerosols can be used to quantify their effects on climate. This study evaluated the temporal-spatial variability of aerosol radiative characteristics at λ = 440 nm, λ = 675 nm, λ = 870 nm and λ = 1020 nm over the Nairobi-1°S, 36°E, Mbita-0°S, 34°E and Malindi-2°S, 40°E sites of Kenya. Aerosol optical properties from AERONET were used as inputs in the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Radiative Transfer (COART) code to model aerosol radiative effects. The results over Nairobi showed an increase in reflectance of 2.6%, 6.7%, 7.2% and 2.4% for 2006–2007 at the specified wavelengths, respectively. Drops of 2.7%, 12.2%, 50.6% and 25.6% were noted in the same wavelengths for the 2007–2008 period. The reflectance over Mbita (0.2284) was higher than that over Nairobi (0.1396) at λ = 675 nm for 2007, due to biomass burning at site. Maritime conditions and aerosols coupled with long range transport of monsoon winds explain the higher reflectance observed over Malindi when compared to Nairobi, except for λ = 440 nm in 2008. This is as a result of aerosols from vehicular and industrial emissions that dominate the λ = 440 nm over Nairobi. The variability of downward and upward spectral irradiance measured at the surface and 12 km levels depended on the wavelength of measurement, but was temporally invariant. Upward irradiance decreased with increasing Solar Zenith Angles (SZAs) due to strong Fresnel reflection at large angles. The equality in the upwelling irradiances at the two atmospheric levels at all sites for λ = 870 nm and λ = 1020 nm was due to the near IR absorption by aerosols. The radiant flux lost in the spectral range 440–1020 nm remained relatively constant over the study sites, and thus the influence of aerosols on radiative characteristics was independent of both site and period of study.Item EDXRF spectroscopic elemental analysis for efficacy of Kibabii University sewage treatment System(Open Access Library Journal, 2018-10-18) Situma, Yonah; Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; Makokha, John WanjalaElemental analysis of sewage effluents in Kibabii sewage treatment system was achieved via Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectroscopy with the aim of assessing the efficacy of the treatment system. Concentrations of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) were measured based on clay soil “standards” in concentration range for Pb, Hg and As as 12.7 ppm, 14.3 ppm and 8.83 ppm respectively for certification. Among other probable reference materials, clay soil “standards” were used for certification in this work because of similarity in matrix composition with the sediments. The concentration for Hg, Pb, and As in the sewage sediments were 10.65 ± 2.28 ppm, 8.86 ± 2.92 ppm and 3.41 ± 2.18 ppm respectively in lagoon A. In lagoon B the levels were 3.82 ± 0.56 ppm, 6.35 ± 1.50 ppm and 1.67 ± 0.53 ppm respectively. Lagoon C showed a reduction in the levels with 3.74 ± 1.39 ppm for Hg and 2.30 ± 0.27 ppm for Pb. As was not detected in lagoon C, on the other hand, Cd was not detected in all the lagoons. The efficacies in the treatment varied from 30.34% - 51.78%, 37.63% - 65.41% and 76.63% - 84.81% for lagoon A, B and C respectively. The study was successful in quantifying the heavy elements in the lagoons from which the efficacy in the treatment process was determined. The study provided awareness on the elemental concentration levels in the Kibabii University sewage treatment system, hence creating awareness on what is released into River Kibabii. With this information, the surrounding community and the University can partner in order to mitigate the effects of heavy metals in the effluents in future due to the growth of the University day by day.Item Specific heat and entropy of a three electron model in bismuth based cuprate superconductor(Science Publishing Group : World Journal of applied physics, 2018-06-11) Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; Makokha, John WanjalaA theoretical study considering Bi2201, Bi2212 and Bi2223 bismuth based cuprates whose critical Temperatures (TC) are 20K, 95K and 110K with one, two and three CuO2 planes respectively; based on a three electron model in Bismuth based cuprates oxide shows that there is a direct correlation between energy of interaction and the number of CuO2 planes at the TC. The specific heat for a mole of Bismuth based cuprates at TC was found to be 7.471×10-24JK-1 regardless of the number of CuO2 planes; though the specific heat per unit mass, Sommerfeld coefficient as well as entropy per unit mass decreased with an increase in the number of CuO2 planes.The entropy of a mole of Bismuth based cuprates at TC was found to be 5.603×10-24JK-1 irrespective of the TC or mass. The peak Sommerfeld coefficient temperature was noted to occur at the ratio T/TC=0.66 in the bismuth based cuprates.Item Effect of duo fermion spin on the specific heat and entropy of a mixture of helium isotopes(Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (, 2018-10-01) Lusamamba, Simon Mwatulo; Sakwa, Thomas W.; Odhiambo, Jared OlooSpin normally determines the character, rate of collision and subsequently the properties of ultracold systems. This study investigated the effect of double spin degeneracy on the thermodynamic properties of Helium-3 and Helium-4 isotopes specifically the specific heat and entropy of a grand canonical ensemble. The approach used was statistical in nature where permutation and exclusion was done on fermions and bosons. From thermodynamics, the expression of partition function which was used to derive other expressions of specific heat and entropy as temperature dependence. Specific heat and entropy were found to increase with temperature. The kink in specific heat at a temperature of 35K implied that there was a phase transition.Item Internal energy of a grand canonical ensemble of a mixture of helium isotopes with duo-fermion spin degeneracy(Centre for Info Biotechnology-IJPMS, 2015-12-01) Lusamamba, Simon Mwatulo; Sakwa, Thomas W.; Odhiambo, Jared Oloo; Oketch, Vincent O.; Ochola, AlphayoWe have considered a system consisting of a mixture of helium isotopes 3He-4He interacting weakly in pairs. The partition function of the system with duo-spin and varying number of bosons and fermions is developed to bring out the superfluid properties of the system. The study focused on a Grand Canonical ensemble of 3He - 4He isotopes whose superfluid properties have been determined by distinctively singling out the duo spin component. The internal energy was established algebraically, analyzed and found out to be increasing with temperature. For high temperatures, internal energy remains constant due to particle saturation.Item Predicting daily streamflow in ungauged rural catchments: the case of Masinga catchment, Kenya(Taylor&Francis, 2007) Mutua, Benedict Mwavu; Klik, AndreasAccess to daily streamflow data at the catchment scale, is a central component of many aspects of water resources and water quality management. However, the majority of river reaches in many catchments in Kenya are ungauged or poorly gauged, and in some cases existing measurement networks are declining. Long-term continuous monitoring is not being done due to high costs of equipment maintenance. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative tool such as a catchment-scale hydrological model that is capable of predicting the daily streamflow. An approach is presented of predicting daily streamflow using a physically-based catchment-scale model, the geospatial Stream Flow Model (SFM). The SFM was developed using the “C” programming language and the user interface was developed using the Avenue script of the ArcView software. The SFM simulates the dynamics of runoff processes by utilizing remotely sensed and widely available global or local data sets. The model was applied in the Masinga catchment, Kenya, and the results gave a model performance coefficient of 0.74 based on the Nash-Sutcliffe statistical criterion.