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Recent Submissions

Publication
AI-Powered Mobile Proctoring Frameworks using Machine Learning Algorithms in Higher Education: Post-Covid Trends, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
(Mount Kenya University, 2025-12-05) Mogoi,Oganda Bartholomew, Kamau,John,Ongus,Raymond
The rapid transition to online learning during and after the COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease) pandemic has heightened the need for secure, scalable, and ethical online exam systems. AI-powered mobile proctoring frameworks have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional invigilation methods, enabling automated anomaly detection and behavior analysis through machine learning algorithms. This systematic review examines post COVID trends, technological developments, challenges, and ethical implications of mobile AI proctoring in higher education. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 180 studies were retrieved and screened, with 20 peer-reviewed articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Findings reveal that while AI-powered proctoring enhances scalability, integrity, and real-time monitoring, it raises significant concerns about privacy, algorithmic bias, accessibility, and technical reliability. The review identifies gaps in relation to technical and methodological issues, ethical and social concerns, and institutional and infrastructural readiness. This review illustrates a lapse in the existing literature, which focus on resource intensive proctoring frameworks without considering mobile compatibility and light-weight frameworks, discusses technical challenges, and recommends future research directions to balance technological effectiveness with ethical standards.
Thesis
Synthesis and characterization of silver Nanoparticle elecrocatalyst embedded onto indium tin oxide electrodes for degradation of azo dyes
(Mount Kenya University, 2025-11-05) Osemba,Martin Ouma; Muriuki,Mary; Karenga,Samuel
The research was conducted to establish the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles embedded on indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film conducting material in causing the textile azo dyes effluent degradation. The Overall Objective was to synthesize and characterize silver nanoparticles electrocatalyst embedded on indium tin oxide for the degradation of azo dye in the textile effluent. The 40.0 g of powdered crab shells resulted in 23.0g of chitin after demineralization and 7.2 g (31.3 %) of chitosan. Chitosan obtained from crab shells exhibited 89.5% degree of deacetylation showing efficiency in reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles from the Ag+ ions. The UV-Vis spectroscopy showed the formation of spectra with λmax at 420 nm. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) depicted nanoparticles showing spherical morphology with size range of 50 nm. FTIR signals were recorded at 1658 cm−1 corresponding to the amide (C=O) bonds, at 1089 cm−1 representing secondary alcohol (C-O-C) bonds at 564 cm−1 plane with bends NH, plane-out and bends C−O. C-H stretching vibrational signal was noted at 2927 cm−1, a broader band at 3426 cm−1 for an overlap between the O−H stretching vibration and the N−H stretching vibration of the oligosaccharide applied in the capping. The intensity of the O−H and N−H stretching bands emanated from the hydroxyl and amino groups thus shifting to 3426 cm−1, implying that chelation of silver with both O−H and N−H groups of chitosan actually took place. The percentages of azo dyes degradation were as follow: 68.4%, 72.5% and 93.1% using electrocoagulation, ITO and ITO-AgNPs coupled electrodes respectively. The results obtained from the two factors ANOVA with replication indicated significant difference (p= 0.0024) when the silver nanoparticles embedded on indium tin oxide electrodes were utilized in the degradation of these azo dyes in the effluent samples. In all the four samples it was noted that, 8 ppm of the silver nanoparticle concentration applied to the ITO thin film electrodes resulted in the least power consumption maximum of 0.4536 watts with average values of 0.0300±0.0023 hours and a current flow of 0.63 A. The average specific consumption of energy at 12 V was 2.110 kWh/m3 compared to 1.318 kWh/m3 at Pd of 24 V respectively. IR drop was minimized by lowering the created gap within the thin film electrodes to 0.2 cm and raising the surface area of the cross section of electrodes and specific solution conductance. The COD listing for the samples after treatment fell below 100 mg/L which is much lower than the acceptable limits of COD ≤250 mg/L. The BOD for dye effluent from the two-way ANOVA with replication portrayed a significant variation (p=0.0000238) when compared to the one of WHO 2002 with the range of 150±5 mg/L. The colour removal was 99.97% showing that, the optimized process was effective and efficient in the degradation of these azo dyes in
Publication
Production of Chitosan from Crab Shells
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-09-07) Osemba,Martin Ouma; Muriuki,Mary; Karenga,Samuel
The amino polysaccharide of chitin polymer happens to be the most commonly known polymer. Chitosan as a derivative of chitin is obtained through demineralization and deacetylation. Owing to the special properties of chitin and chitosan for instance their bio compatibility, bio-biodegradability, non-toxicity and also capability to form films, have resulted in their suitability in chemical and thermal conductivity applications. In the field of nanotechnology, chitosan based materials are currently being widely applied. The purpose of this review is to synthesize and characterize chitosan obtained from the crab shells. The absorption band obtained from FTIR between 1220 cm−1 and 1020 cm−1 represented free amino group (−NH2). The 40.000 grams of powdered crab shells resulted in the formation of 23.000g of chitin after undergoing the process of demineralization to eliminate the minerals available in the crab shells. The removed minerals from the crab shells constituted 17.000 g (39.53%) of the total dry weight in the crab shell. The water binding capacity (WBC) was found to be 69 %.
Publication
Using ITO–Silver Nanoparticles with Electrocoagulation to Reduce Colour, COD, and BOD in Textile Wastewater
(Mount Kenya University, 2025-12-05) Osemba,Martin; Maghanga,Justin
This study developed a material made from indium tin oxide and silver nanoparticles to improve the electrocoagulation process used for cleaning textile wastewater. The material was made through chemical reduction and examined using SEM, TEM, XRD, and BET tests. The results showed that the silver particles were evenly spread on the ITO surface with sizes between 20 and 50 nanometers. The crystal structure confirmed that both ITO and silver were successfully combined. The surface area was high, which helps reactions take place more easily. The material was then used as an electrode in an electrocoagulation system to treat real textile wastewater. The wastewater had very high levels of colour, COD, and BOD. The best results were achieved at a current density of 25 mA per square centimeter, a pH of 5, and 20 minutes of treatment. Under these conditions, the system removed 97 percent of the colour, 89 percent of COD, and 92 percent of BOD. These results were possible because the ITO and silver worked together to improve charge movement and help break down dye molecules. The study shows that this method is effective, sustainable, and suitable for large-scale use in textile wastewater treatment.
Publication
Chitosan Coupled Silver Nanoparticles Electrocatalyst Synthesis and Characterization
(Mount Kenya University, 2024-09-25) Osemba,Martin; Muriuki,Mary; Karenga,Samuel; Keru,Godffrey
This study sought to find a suitable technique for synthesizing and characterizing silver nanoparticles due to its applications in various fields such as nanotechnology and medical. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized using SEM microscopy, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The maximum absorbance from the UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed the formation of silver nanoparticles with λ max of 418 nm. The FTIR analysis envisaged a strong symmetrical stretching at 1400 cm-1 to 1200 cm-1 with the major peaks recorded at 1390 cm-1 and 1380 cm-1, indicating the presence of nitro components in the sample. The signal at 1658 cm−1 corresponded to the amide (C=O) bonds stretching vibrations, at 1089 cm−1 C-O-C bonds and at 564 cm−1 plane with bends NH, plane-out and bends C−O. C-H stretching vibrational signal was noted at 2927 cm−1, and a broader band at 3426 cm−1 with an overlap between the O−H stretching vibration and N−H stretching vibration of the oligosaccharide applied in the capping. The concentration of chitosan on transmittance was done using 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% solutions with the results from FT-IR showing elaborate intensity at 2.0 % chitosan capping and the least at 0.5 %. Scanning microscope validated characterized silver nanoparticles morphology at 500nm. The results obtained from SEM depicted a size range of 100 nm with resolutions between 0.5 to 4 nm