http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/1051/5 Theses & Dissertations 2026-06-13T18:33:18Z http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17686 ANTIDIABETIC POTENTIAL OF Tragia involucrata Linn IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC SWISS ALBINO MICE APIRI, BENARD ONSONGO Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health challenge associated with chronic hyperglycemia, which arises from systemic failure of insulin secretion, action or both. Although conventional treatments are available, many have important adverse effects and are unavailable, especially in developing regions. Hence, there is a critical need for such therapies to be obtained from natural sources. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antidiabetic efficacy, lipid profile and toxicity effects of dichloromethane (DCM) leafy extracts of Tragia involucrata Linn (T. involucrata) in alloxan-induced diabetic Swiss albino mice. T. involucrata is a plant traditionally used by the Abagusii community of Kenya for management of diabetes and inflammation. GC-MS profiling revealed the presence of bioactive compounds including phytol, beta sitosterol, and squalene, known to influence glucose and lipid metabolism through antioxidant and receptor-mediated pathways. Extract treatment led to significant glycemic control and improved lipid profiles, marked by reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C and elevated HDL-C. Acute and subacute toxicity assessments showed no mortality or behavioral or systemic toxicity across doses up to 2000 mg/kg bw. Body and organ weight stability, alongside normal biochemical markers, indicated metabolic tolerance. These results validate the potential of T. involucrata as a viable plant-based therapeutic agent for the management of diabetes and its associated dyslipidemia. The results warrant further investigations including clinical trials to evaluate the therapeutic potential and to identify lead compounds that are crucial for drug discovery and development. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17685 PATTERNS OF JUVENILE REEF FISH DIVERSITY ACROSS A MANGROVE-SEAGRASS-CORAL REEF CONTINUUM IN SOUTH COAST KENYA OTIENO, DENNIS Studying assemblage patterns of juvenile fishes across ecologically connected habitats is necessary for understanding connectivity. Mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral habitats are ecologically essential for the survival of juvenile fishes. These habitats are connected through various mechanisms related to larval supply, ontogenic feeding, juvenile migration, and opportunistic adult phases. A mangrove-seagrass-coral reef continuum on Kenya's south coast was investigated to assess connectivity using juvenile fish assemblages. Between August 2021 and August 2022, a beach seine was used to collect samples monthly for two days. Fish species diversity across habitats was determined using Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H'). Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was applied to investigate species associations with the three habitats. The trophic level of each fish species was obtained from FishBase. Sea surface temperature and salinity were measured monthly at each site using a YSI multi-parameter probe. Species associations with temperature and salinity were assessed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). A total of 8,575 fish specimens representing 228 species from 52 families were recorded. The coral reef habitat had the most individuals (n = 3,186) and was the most species-rich (168 species), followed by seagrass (2,420 individuals, 132 species) and mangrove (1,783 individuals, 119 species). Significant differences in species diversity were observed across the habitats during the northeast monsoon (NEM) and the southeast monsoon (SEM) (p = 0.026). The Kruskall -Wallis test showed no significant differences in the mean number of individuals per haul across habitats H (2, N = 60) = 4.81, p = 0.090). It also showed no significant difference in the mean number of individuals per haul between seasons H(1, N=60) = 2.10, p = 0.150). A two-way ANOVA revealed significant differences in fish diversity across the habitats (df = 2; f = 5.677; p = 0.006). Pair-wise comparison using Tukey HSD test revealed differences in species diversity between the coral and mangrove habitats (p = 0.044), but no significant differences in species diversity between seasons (df = 1; f = 0.818; p = 0.097). Overall, 69 fish species were common across the three habitats. DCA results revealed a strong association of species Pempheris mangula, Yarica hyalosoma, Pristotis obtusirostris, Taeniamia fucata, and Apogon fragilis to mangrove habitat. CCA results showed a positive relationship with increased temperature in the mangrove habitat represented by Apogon fragilis and Taeniamia fucata, while species, such as Siganus luridus and Sphyraena barracuda, showed a positive relationship with increased salinity in seagrass habitat. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) tests revealed no significant difference in trophic signatures between the mangrove and seagrass habitat (D = 0.2308; p = 0.4402), but a significant difference between the mangrove and coral habitat (D = 0.5385; p = 0.00055) as well as between the seagrass and coral habitat (D = 0.4615; p = 0.004906). This study demonstrates the existence of connectivity across a mangrove-coral seagrass continuum in Shimoni and recommends long-term studies on nearshore habitat connectivity for better conservation and management strategies, including ecosystem-based fisheries management. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17684 PURCHASING CONSORTIA DETERMINANTS IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PURCHASING CONSORTIA IN COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITALS IN THE COAST REGION, KENYA CHEBET, EVERLINE Purchasing consortium has been used to describe a form of cooperation in a diversified view to pool resources and manage supply risk. Academics and practice are increasingly interested in purchasing consortia because they provide a broader picture of the joint effort of corporations and government agencies in sourcing. Depending on the anticipated advantages, the function of a purchasing group might be expanded more or less. It's hard to argue for the employment of a purchasing group for anything other than cost reductions, so that's where most of the attention is focused. The strategic approach of coordinating the group purchasing enables the purchasing organization of public health facilities to join forces for a collective acquisition in the view of benefiting at reduced transaction costs from greater purchasing power, and more comprehensive information. The objectives were narrowed down to the influence of supplier capacity, contract management, portfolio approach, and suppliers’ interest; all moderated by the management information system on purchasing consortium. The study was done in the County Referral Hospital in the Coast Region, Kenya. Theoretically, the study was anchored on competency theory, MacNeil Relational Theory, Contingency Theory, Network, and Stakeholder Theory. The study used the descriptive research design in undertaking this study. The study population comprised of 212 officials drawn from across the county referral hospitals in the coastal region of Kenya. The stratified random sampling technique resulted into having a total sample size of 139 units of analysis. Data was collected by use of questionnaires, analyzed, and presented scientifically in tables and graphs. Ridge regression was further used to address multicollinearity issues through shrinking the regression coefficients towards zero, mitigating the impact of high intercorrelation among predictor variables. The study findings revealed that Supplier Capacity has a significant positive influence on the purchasing consortium, Contract Management has a significant positive on the purchasing consortium, Portfolio Approach has a significant positive influence on the Purchasing Consortium, and Supplier’s Interest has a significant positive influence on the Purchasing Consortium at County Referral Hospitals in the Coast Region, Kenya. The R Square Results in the moderated relationship model of .676 in table 4.18 indicated that over 67% of the variability of the dependent variable could be explained by the independent variables in the moderated relationship model. The standard deviation statistics value of 0.98502 which was less than the mean value indicated that the data for the management information system moderating variable was well distributed around the central tendency. The study recommends an in-depth assessment and categorization of the Procurement Needs by the County Referral Hospitals. The study recommended further research to be done on other Counties using different elements of the purchasing consortium. The thesis further recommends the use of different variables for studying purchasing consortium. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.tum.ac.ke/handle/123456789/17683 COMPARATIVE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WILD JUVENILE SHOEMAKER SPINE-FOOT RABBITFISH (SIGANUS SUTOR) UNDER EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING WITH MACROALGAE DIETS BACHA, NAJDA ATHMAN Aquaculture is considered to offer one of the most crucial platforms for producing aquatic food on a worldwide scale. Over the years, there has been an increased dependency on fishmeal and soybean as the main protein ingredients in the aquafeed industry. Therefore, there is a need for an alternative source of protein in the aquafeed sector that is cost-effective and reliable. This study aimed to provide data on the comparative growth performance of cultured shoemaker spine-foot rabbitfish (Siganus sutor) under experimental feeding using three selected diets to recommend affordable alternative protein sources in fish diets. A semi-structured interview using questionnaires was conducted in Mkunguni, Kibuyuni, and Shimoni BMUs to assess the type of potential marine macroalgae where 62 fishers participated in identifying these naturally occurring marine macroalgae used as bait in the basket trap fishery. Proximate analysis for the macroalgae species used as bait was performed. Three diets were formulated: treatment I contained 100% macroalgae (macroalgae diet), treatment II contained 0% macroalgae (fishmeal diet) and treatment III contained 50% each of macroalgae and fish meal (mixed diet). Juvenile Siganus sutor individuals were collected from the wild and transported to the KMFRI lab and stocked in different flow-through systems of 1000-litre plastic tanks at a stocking density of 20 individuals/m3, and experimental feeding was conducted. Initial measurements of fish specimens were recorded using a graduated fish measuring board and electronic weighing balance for total length (cm) and individual weight (g). Sampling of fish specimens for growth was done bi-weekly for 28 days. Proximate results indicated the highest protein content in macroalgae species Fischerella sp. compared to that in Chondrophycus papillosus and Chaetomorphus crassa thus Fischerella sp. was selected for feed formulation. Fish growth in all feed treatments varied in mean body weight. Fish specimens fed with macroalgae diet (T1R1) recorded the highest total weight gain at 25.6 g followed by mixed diet (T3R1) and fishmeal diet (T2R2) at 19.8 g and 17.2 g, respectively over the experiment period. Fish fed with a mixed diet recorded the fastest growth in terms of total length gained by 0.41 cm, followed by macroalgae diet with 0.23 cm whereas fish fed with fishmeal had a decrease in mean total length by 0.05 cm. More results indicated fish specimens fed on fishmeal significantly differed in overall weight from those fed on a macroalgae diet and mixed diet (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the overall weight of fish specimens between those fed on a macroalgae diet and those fed on a mixed diet (P > 0.05 in both cases). The highest survival rate was recorded in fish fed with a macroalgae diet at 83.0%, followed by mixed diet and fishmeal at 81.3% and 69.3%, respectively. Macroalgae diet was most proficiently utilized with a food conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.59. Siganus sutor individuals in experimental treatments II (fishmeal) and III (mixed diet) were not in good condition with condition factor (K) at -19.78 and -29.92, respectively. Based on these results, it is evident that using a macroalgae diet offers promising returns in terms of S. sutor survival rate compared to fishmeal although with higher growth performance. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z