http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/11 All Research Publications by bona fide staff of Meru University of Science and Technology Fri, 15 May 2026 10:51:58 GMT 2026-05-15T10:51:58Z http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1631 Effects of Principals’ Organization of Mathematics Contests on Students’ Performance in Mathematics in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations in Meru County Kirikua, Thiharu Maingi Performance of candidates in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Mathematics in Meru County of Kenya from 2012 to 2016 has consistently been deteriorating. This has called for this study so as to establish whether this trend has anything to do with organization or otherwise of external Mathematics contests in secondary schools of Meru County of Kenya. The study adopted ex post facto design because the effects of independent variable on dependent variable had already occurred. Research instruments were Mathematics teachers’ questionnaire, and Principals’ interview guide. The target population was 299 principals and 836 Mathematics teachers in the County. This study used stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. The sample size was 30% of the total target population. It was established that most principals did not organize Mathematics contests, to the detriment of performance of their KCSE candidates. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1631 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1630 To Examine the Effects of the Principals’ Invitation of Mathematics Specialists on Students’ Performance in Mathematics in KCSE Examination in Meru County, Kenya Kirikua, Thiharu Maingi Performance in Mathematics in Meru County, Kenya from 2012 to 2016 has consistently been deteriorating. The purpose of this study was an evaluation of how the administrative strategies designed by the principals affected students’ performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in Meru County. Objectives that directed the study were to evaluate the various attributes on student performance in KCSE examination in Meru County. The objective was to evaluate the effects of Principal’s invitation of Mathematics specialists and students’ performance, in mathematics. This study used ex post facto design. The research instrument was Mathematics teachers’ questionnaire, KCSE document analysis for five years in Meru County and Principal’s interview guide. The target population was 299 principals and 836 Mathematics teachers in the County. This study used stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. The sample size was 30% of the total target population translating to 92 principals and 251 Mathematics teachers. Validity was ensured by piloting the instrument. Reliability was ensured by using split half technique. From the findings, majority of Mathematics teachers and principals claimed that they invited Mathematics specialists, team teaching and peer teaching specialists to their schools. However, most of the invitations were done only once a year. Chisquare results showed that invitation of Mathematics specialists (p 0.021), team teaching (p 0.006), peer teaching specialists (p 0.048) and others (p 0.034) all had a significant effects on how students performed. The study recommends that principals should invite more than one Mathematics specialist to their schools to ensure that Mathematics teachers and students are adequately exposed to different kinds of skills and strategies on Mathematics performance in K.C.S.E examination. Principals should also increase the frequency of inviting the external support staff from annually to one or twice per term to ensure that the skills and strategies imparted are reinforced to become a routine practice for the Mathematics teachers and the students. The findings of the study were expected to be useful to the Ministry of Education, teachers and students as well as other stakeholders in the education sector. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1630 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1629 To Establish the Effects of Principals’ Support to Teachers Through Mathematics Seminars/Workshop on Student’ Performance in Mathematics in Kcse Examination in Meru County, Kenya. Kirikua, Thiharu Maingi Performance in Mathematics in Meru County, Kenya from 2012 to 2016 has consistently been deteriorating. The purpose of this study was an evaluation of how the administrative strategies designed by the principals affected students’ performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in Meru County. Objectives that directed the study were to evaluate the various attributes on student performance in KCSE examination in Meru County. The objective was to evaluate principal’s support to teachers through Mathematics seminars/workshops and student’s performance in Mathematics. This study used ex post facto design. The research instrument was Mathematics teachers’ questionnaire, KCSE document analysis for five years in Meru County and Principal’s interview guide. The target population was 299 principals and 836 Mathematics teachers in the County. This study used stratified random sampling with proportional allocation. The sample size was 30% of the total target population translating to 92 principals and 251 Mathematics teachers. Validity was ensured by piloting the instrument. Reliability was ensured by using split half technique. The findings revealed that principals were not sponsoring Mathematics teachers to attend workshops and seminars. The principals cited a lack of resources and budgetary allocation to the low number of Mathematics teachers attending seminars and workshops. The findings of the study were expected to be useful to the Ministry of Education, teachers and students as well as other stakeholders in the education sector. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1629 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1582 Isolation, Structural Characterization and Bioactivity of a Novel Exopolysaccharide from Lactic Acid Bacteria in Kefir Grains Lv, Chenglong; Yang, Qin; Mariga, Alfred Mugambi; Pei, Fei; Fang, Yong; Xia, Ji Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are important metabolites produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), exhibiting diverse biological activities. However, their application is limited by low production levels. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and evaluate the bioactivities of an EPS (EPS-PAD) from high-yield LAB in kefir grains. A novel EPS-PAD was isolated, purified and analyzed using molecular weight determination, monosaccharide composition analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and methylation analysis. Moreover, the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory activity of EPS-PAD were investigated as well. The results showed that EPS-PAD had a relatively low molecular weight (42.7 kDa) and consisted of arabinose, glucose, and galactose (molar ratio 1:1:3). Furthermore, structural analysis indicated it possessed an α-pyranose configuration with branched chain residues. Remarkably, EPS-PAD exhibited potent radical scavenging activities, with rates of 62 % (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals), 64 % (2,2′-azinobis (3-ethlybenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid radicals), and 76 % (hydroxyl radical). In addition, at 400 μg/mL, EPS-PAD significantly suppressed the production and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and upregulated the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in RAW264.7 cells. These findings provide a scientific basis for EPS-PAD from kefir grain LAB as a promising natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent with significant application potential. Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://repository.must.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1582 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z