This study determines factors that are associated to non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment in Kenya. In the African Region, over 25% of the tuberculosis deaths occur. Kenya is among the 30 high burden countries accounting for more than 80% of tuberculosis cases in the world. In Kenya, TB is the number five killer. Due to the high cases of TB, WHO established a global plan called End TB Strategy that was aimed at reducing the tuberculosis deaths by 95%. Adherence to TB treatment is a key element to ensuring a successful control TB program, however, not every patient adheres to TB treatment. Non adherence to TB treatment results in the increase in number of deaths, drug resistance by patients, length of illness and disease transmission, which have economic consequences for patients and their families due to loss of income and cost of the health system. A system that tells if a patient will adhere to the tuberculosis treatment or not can help to curb the non-adherence rates.

Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) and Near Range Echoes (NREs) are both natural phenomena observed by SuperDARN High Frequency (HF) radars. This study presents for the first time observations of NREs in the lower E-region whose amplitudes are moderately modulated by medium-scale TIDs propagating in the F-region that have been observed by the same radar at another time in the far ranges. Two events during geomagnetic storms in winter recorded by the SANAE radar and two events during quiet times in summer recorded by the Zhongshan radar, both radars in the southern hemisphere, are described. The Gradient Drift Instability (GDI) proved to be the likely mechanism. The GDI is driven by the velocity difference between neutrals and plasma in the E-region ionosphere, due to the global convection electric field, and can be modulated by the polarization electric field of a passing TID via the near-vertical equipotential magnetic field lines.

This dissertation’s work has focused on the design and development of a prototype UAV that aims to facilitate the delivery of emergency medical aid supplies to remote locations within South Africa (SA). This research has conducted a conceptualized design of a tilt-rotor VTOL UAV named Airslipper, which was entirely fabricated using FDM methods. Identification of key performance parameters within the vehicle’s mechatronic design enabled this research to conduct a simultaneous optimization on the propeller-based propulsion system and aerodynamic configuration. Execution of MATLAB’s ‘gamultiobj’ function on two parametrically formulated objective functions resulted in a UAV setup that increased flight endurance by 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 𝒔𝒔. This improvement amplified the effectiveness of this system and expanded the service radius distance by 𝟏𝟏.𝟓𝟓𝟓 𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌. The outcome of a stability and sensitivity analysis performed on the Airslipper’s aerodynamic surfaces provided critical information that contributed towards the vehicle’s flight characteristics. Findings indicated a stabilized design that exhibited appropriate frequency plots for both longitudinal and lateral stability modes. The addition of a plane analysis, which included viscous and inertial effects, offered essential drag and pressure coefficients, which aided in the final design. This research correspondingly conducted several CFD simulations on an Airslipper model, which allowed this work to examine further the fluid behaviour characteristics endured on the vehicle in both VTOL and Fixed Wing (FW) modes. Simulation findings revealed standard pressure distributions, which confirmed thrust and lift forces for the relevant components without performance compromise. This research proposed to experimentally investigate a correction factor for an FDM fabricated aerofoil that aimed to determine what structural effects were apparent for a printed part with varying FDM parameters. Outcomes demonstrated greater resilience to failure for parts that had reduced layer heights and increased infill percentages. Fabrication of the Airslipper comprised of 99 individually printed parts that encompassed a specific parameter combination which pertained to the design’s importance. Validating the prototype’s functionality was achieved through a series of hover tests that generated suitable data logs plots for the control response, actuator output signals, vibration metrics, and power. This research concluded by discussing the Airslipper’s design and fabrication method with further mentioning of recommendations for potential improvements.

This study on influence of project implementation practices on performance for Uwezo fund supported projects was necessitated by the fact that unemployment is one of the challenges facing the youth, women and PWDs in society. Uwezo funds seeks to empower these groups by funded them to start projects. These projects encounter many challenges in their operations. The purpose of this study was to analyze how challenges caused by project implementation practices influence performance for Uwezo fund supported projects in Isiolo county. This study sought to establish the influence of technical capacity, funding practices, management structure and monitoring and evaluation processes on performance of Uwezo fund supported projects in Isiolo North Constituency. The research was theoretically grounded on stakeholder theory, Public choice theory and Human Capital Theory. The study adopted descriptive research design where the respondents were requested to describe the circumstances facing their business operations. The target population of the study was 232 groups supported by Uwezo fund in Isiolo North Constituency between the year 2014 to 2019. Comprising of 51 youth, 146 women and 6 PWDs. A sample of 147 was selected using proportionate sampling method. A semi structured questionnaire was used in data collection. The completed questionnaires were coded, entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) on the basis of the objectives and research hypothesis and presented using frequency tables and regression analysis. The study found that that to a great extent technical capacity of project implementors and beneficiaries positively impacts on project implementation and management. Education levels have effects in stakeholders relations, entrepreneurship and management skills are important in running businesses. The study found a unit change in the score of technical capacity would change the performance of Uwezo fund supported projects by 0.097. The study also found that funding practices to a moderate extent influence performance of Uwezo supported projects with a unit change in the score of project funding practices would increase the performance of Uwezo fund supported projects in by 0.150. The study also found that management structure to a great extent influence performance of Uwezo fund projects with a unit change in the score of project management practices lead to an increase in performance of Uwezo fund supported projects by 0.067. The study also found M&E practices have a moderate impact on the performance of Uwezo fund supported projects with M&E to a great extent influencing sustainability of projects. The unit change in the score of project monitoring and evaluation processes would increase the performance of Uwezo fund supported projects by 0.0203. The study recommended project funding procedures discouraging potential beneficiaries should be done away with. The group concept was found to enable borrowers get access to credit without collateral. It also recommended loan processing period to be minimized to encourage borrowing and repayment and beneficiaries to get business support services. The study concluded that, with proper and working management structures, the fund is able to reach to the community. These structures enable flow of information that are beneficial to groups, project managers and other stakeholders with feedbacks on continuous basis enhancing sustainability of the projects. Sharing of project M&E reports and findings with the beneficiaries was found to enables groups improve on their businesses, it was also concluded that the M&E teams should properly formed with inclusivity of all relevant stakeholders for their report to be owned and accepted by all. The M&E teams should also be adequately facilitated to routinely carry their functions.

Every central bank of the country should hold enough reserves such as foreign exchange currency, gold, or any form of reserves to be able to help its country in times of difficulties or financial crises. This involves the process of ensuring that adequate official public sector foreign assets are readily available to meet any defined range of objectives by a country. Reserves can also play a pivotal role in supporting and maintaining confidence in the policies for monetary and exchange rate management, including the ability to intervene in the foreign market to influence the value of the local currency. It can also be used to provide proof to the market that a country can meet its current and future external obligations, limit external exposure by maintaining foreign currency liquidity to absorb shock during times of crisis, show the support of domestic currency by external assets, assist the government in meeting its foreign exchange needs and external debt obligations, and maintain sufficient reserves for national disasters or emergencies. All this cannot be done without the understanding of all factors that affect reserves of the country, hence careful analysis of reserves in a country plays a crucial role on how the central bank should manage the reserves of such a country. This includes a wide range of social, economic, and statistical analyses. However, this study focuses more on the statistical analysis part, which is, building models to predict or forecast the trajectory of reserves positions in future. These models should be able to consider all the factors that influence the reserves, such as trend, seasonality and the variability (random variability). The Seasonal ARIMA models were used as initial models to forecast the future reserves positions. Seasonal ARIMA Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity models with Skewed Student-t Distribution (SARIMA – GARCH – SSTD) were also used to forecast volatility from the foreign exchange reserves data after statistical test were carried out and the data was found to have ARCH Effects. The best volatility model that was found to produces best forecast for foreign exchange reserves data was the SARIMA (0,1,0) (2,1,0)12 – GARCH (1,1) – SSTD model. The SARIMA model developed earlier for gold reserves data was then benchmarked with the Holt-Winters' Seasonal method. The results from the analysis showed that SARIMA model outperformed Holt-Winters' Seasonal method in forecasting gold reserves positions. We found that future gold reserves positions can be better predicted using the SARIMA (1,1,0) (0,1,2)12 model. The best model was selected from many other models using model diagnostics process such as comparisons of the AIC, RMSE, number of significant parameters and the evaluation of residuals to identify their flexibility. Using the forecasting methods developed in this study, the central bank can better understand what to expect in the future and decide on what measures to implement for national economic stability.

In this dissertation we study the physical process of a spherically symmetric perfect uid experiencing a continuous gravitational collapse in concurrence with continuous radiating energy in an outward spacetime. Trapped surfaces are avoided and the nal fate of the collapse is a at spacetime. In addition, the collapsing matter conforms to the weak and dominant energy conditions at all epochs. Our investigation clearly unveils the purpose of the equation of state and reveals the bounds on the thermodynamic potentials the equation of state admits for such a model. We arm that these models are generic without any of the issues and paradoxes attached to horizons and singularities, because the system of Einstein eld equations accepts such a theoretical account for an open set of initial data and the equation of state function in their respective functional spaces. High resolution radio telescopes of today, should ideally detect the existence of these compact bodies in the sky.

The time to event analysis or survival analysis aims at making inferences on the time elapsed between the recruitment of subjects or the onset of observations, until the occurrence of some event of interest. Methods used in general statistical analysis, in particular in regression analysis, are not directly applicable to time to event data due to covariate correlation, censoring and truncation. While analysing time to event data, medical statistics adopts mainly nonparametric methods due to difficulty in finding the adequate distribution of the phenomenon under study. This study reviews non-parametric classical methods of time to event analysis namely Aalen Additive Hazards Model (AAHM) trough counting and martingale processes, Cox Proportional Hazard Model (CPHM) and Cox-Aalen Hazards Model (CAHM) with application to the infant mortality at Kigali University Teaching Hospital (KUTH) in Rwanda. Proportional hazards assumption (PHA) was checked by assessing Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival functions per groups of covariates. Multiple events models were also reviewed and a model suitable to the dataset was selected. The dataset comprises 2117 newborns and socio-economic and clinical covariates for mothers and children. Two events per subject were modeled namely, the death and the occurrence of at least one of the conditions that may also cause long term death to infants. To overcome the instability of models (also known as checking consistence of models) and potential small sample size, re-sampling was applied to both CPHM and appropriate multiple events model. The popular non-parametric re-sampling methods namely bootstrap and jackknife for the available covariates were conducted and then re-sampled models were compared to the non-re-sampled ones. The results in different models reveal significant and non-significant covariates, the relative risk and related standard error and confidence intervals per covariate. Among the results, it was found that babies from under 20 years old mothers were at relatively higher risk and therefore, pregnancy of under 20 years old mothers should be avoided. It was also found that an infant’s abnormality in weight and head increases the risk of infant mortality, clinically recommended ways of keeping pregnancy against any cause of infant abnormality were then recommended.

Successful implementation of the Biology curriculum has suffered which has resulted in low biological achievement. The objectives were: to determine the extent to which teaching methods influence implementation of Biology curriculum Bahati Sub County, to determine the extent to which assessment methods influence implementation of Biology curriculum Bahati Sub County and to assess influence of teachers’ characteristics on implementation of Biology curriculum Bahati Sub County. Descriptive design was chosen for the study and based in Bahati Sub County area amongst targeting Biology teachers. The participants were chosen using a simple random sampling method. Krejcie & Morgan table used to develop the sample of 103. Data was obtained through structured questionnaires. In this analysis, instruments reliability was calculated by split-half method, while supervisor also validates testing tools. The findings show that use of teaching methods significantly influences curriculum implementation in Biology (β=0.449; p=0.000). Secondly, assessment methods negatively influence curriculum implementation in Biology (β=-0.155; p=0.363). Lastly, teachers’ characteristics significantly influence curriculum implementation in Biology (β=0.484; p=0.001). A conclusion made that use of inquiry method, project-based teaching; problem solving method could enhance proper curriculum implementation. It was evident that assessment methods that are significant in the implementation of Biology curriculum include provision of timely feedback on examination, conducting outdoor student assessment tests, administering mid-year examinations with at least a practical. Lastly, teachers’ characteristics that are important in curriculum implementation include teachers’ class workload, student-teacher ratio, in-service training on instructional practices and teaching experience.

Technology has influenced every sphere of human life, including education. Schools have continually used technology in various spheres of their operation around the world (Squelch, 2001). The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of CCTV surveillance technology on school safety in public boarding secondary schools in Igembe South sub-county, Meru County, Kenya. Using a descriptive survey research design, the study sought to examine: the role of CCTV surveillance technology in student safety; the perception of students towards CCTV surveillance technology; and to find out the challenges faced in implementing CCTV surveillance technology in schools for safety. Interview schedules and questionnaires were administered to students, watchmen and principals to help gather the relevant data. The target population was 2416 respondents. The data was analyzed with the help of a computer program, SPSS version 23 and Microsoft Excel. From the analysis, the study established that all the schools were located in a safe area from both internal and external threats. The dormitories, toilets and near the fence were the most unsafe areas in the school. Schools had embraced CCTV surveillance as a measure of ensuring that every student enjoyed an environment that is physically safe, emotionally secure and psychologically enabling. The main role of CCTV surveillance technology was in deterring offenders and monitoring students’ activities. The study established that CCTV surveillance cameras were perceived positively by a large number of students and the cameras were linked with keeping the school safe. The challenges facing implementation of CCTV surveillance technology for school safety included: cameras breaking down, the CCTV system being expensive to maintain and inadequate personnel to man CCTV cameras effectively in schools. In order to make schools safe, there should be effective use of CCTV cameras. Other measures that were suggested included: proper fencing of schools, additional security personnel, improved discipline among the students, reducing teacher restrictions by encouraging teachers to be more friendly, proper screening of outsiders and parental involvement. Government should also finance public boarding secondary schools to acquire CCTV surveillance technology for safety.

An education system geared towards critical thinking, problem solving and lifelong learning is an important part of the innovation ecosystem. The examination process is an important indicator of learning outcomes. In Kenya, examinations are managed by Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC), who are required to provide accurate and timely examination information to education stakeholders, including candidates, schools, curriculum developers, and education policy makers. This is hampered by information held in hardcopy documents that poses a challenge to access, search, dissemination and analysis. A number of attempts to digitize existing documents have not been successful. The research is purposed to come up with a digitization readiness model to assess the preparedness of KNEC and by extension other public organizations towards undertaking digitization. After reviewing theory on e-readiness and digitization of organizations, the study developed a digitization readiness assessment model (DRAM), which included organizational, IT governance, competency, technology and ICT security readiness indicators. The model was then validated through a survey at KNEC. Through a quantitative survey, the study sought to establish the preparedness of KNEC to carry out digitization. Purposive sampling targeting a population of 100 respondents was done. A questionnaire was the main data collection instrument, while data analysis was by use of frequencies, descriptive analysis and Principal Component Analysis. The analysis established an aggregation of success factors along three components; most critical, critical, and less critical/supportive. The study reveals that the most critical indicators address governance of ICT projects, critical indicators addresses control measures of the same while less critical factors are supportive. The emergent digitization (preparedness) index for KNEC was found to be 2.88, on a scale of 1 to 4, where 2.5 is the minimum expected level of readiness. A critical look however at the individual indices that aggregate this score shows weakness in some of the factors associated with the “most critical” axis. These are competency readiness and Organizational Readiness. The study concludes that Digitization Readiness Assessment Model is useful to managers of public organizations, for decision-making and recommends sector wide approach towards digitization as a way to optimize resources.