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Abstract A pot experiment was carried out in a shade house at Hawassa University in 2023 to evaluate the effects of rates of domestic sludge (0, 10, and 20 t/ha) in combination with three levels of diammonium phosphate (0, 50 and 100 kg/ha). The treatments were executed in a pot with soil capacity of 6 kg having 9 treatments each replicated three times and arranged in a completely randomized design. The results showed that yield and yield related parameters of Haricot bean showed a positive response to domestic sludge, diammonium phosphate fertilizer rates and their interactions. The interaction effects significantly affected days to flowering and days to maturity. The interaction of domestic sludge and diammonium phosphate significantly affected the entire yield and yield related parameters assessed in this study. The maximum number of pods per plant (19) was recorded from the application of 20 t/ha domestic sludge + 0 kg diammonium phosphate with statistically similar result to most the treatments while the minimum was recorded from the control. Compared to the control, application of 20 t/ha domestic sludge + 0 kg diammonium phosphate increased the number of pods per plant by 21.25%. The maximum (28.24 g) grain yield per plant was obtained from application of 10 t/ha domestic sludge + 100 kg diammonium phosphate while the lowest (15.99 g) was obtained from the control. As compared to the control, the application of 10 t/ha domestic sludge + 100 kg diammonium phosphate increased the grain yield by 76.61%. In conclusion, based on the results of the current study, domestic sludge could be considered for use either alone or in combination with diammonium phosphate fertilizer in haricot bean production to increase the productivity of the crop. Application of 10 t/ha domestic sludge + 100 kg diammonium phosphate surpassed the other combination of treatments and therefore could be recommended as the best combination for use. The domestic sludge application caused significant changes in soil macro-element content especially phosphorus, organic carbon, and total nitrogen, improved soil physical and chemical contents of the soil. In addition, domestic sludge can be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers whose costs are escalating beyond the purchasing powers of the crop producers of smallholders.

Abstract Background To ensure fair access to TB screening, early diagnosis of TB infections, and timely starting of appropriate treatment, mobile technology tools provide convenience and feasibility for communities with limited infrastructure. This study aimed to assess the intention to use mobile-based TB screening among HIV patients in Debre Tabor Town Public health facilities, in Ethiopia. Method A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 HIV patients. Data was collected from May 23 to July 11, 2022, through the use of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Epi-data 4.6 was utilized for data entry, and analysis was performed using Stata 14. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with the outcome variable. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result Around 70.7% of HIV patients indicated their intention to use mobile phone-based TB screening services. being employed, (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.35–6.34), experience reading received text messages (AOR = 2.81; 95% CI: 1.05–7.49), perceived usefulness (AOR = 7.29; 95% CI: 4.00 -13.31), perceived ease of use (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.17–3.95) clients having clinical follow-ups at the hospital (AOR = 3.03; 95% CI: 1.63–5.62) are significantly associated with intention to use mobile phone-based TB screening. Conclusion In conclusion, approximately 70.7% of HIV clients intend to use mobile phone-based TB screening services, which is higher compared to previous studies. Factors such as employment status, experience reading received text messages, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and having clinical follow-ups at a hospital were found to be significantly associated with the intention to use mobile phone-based TB screening. Healthcare providers, mobile health developers, and policymakers should take into account these factors when developing and deploying mobile phone-based TB screening initiatives.

Abstract Livelihood diversification is a set of activities that households engage in to generate revenue, and sustain life, or maximize financial benefit. This study examined the impact of rural-urban connectivity on household income diversification into farm and non-farm businesses, as well as the underlying driving factors in Robe Town’s hinterland, Bale Zone, Southeastern Ethiopia. Structured survey questions, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 260 samples were taken, representing 5% of households in hinterland villages within a 20-kilometre radius. Both multiple linear regression and descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the data. According to the descriptive statistics, 40% of the 260 households generated income from non-farm sources. The data also showed that most households (84.3%) earned their income from agricultural activities. It was further revealed that income generated from non-farm businesses accounted for 16.3% of the total household income share. The average Simpson Diversity Index (SDI) for household livelihood income source diversification was 0.5087, indicating a modest level of livelihood diversity. In the hinterland, 21.9% of households have less diverse income sources, while 58.5% and 19.6% have moderately and highly diverse income sources, respectively. Landholding size, education level, irrigation use, harvesting of forest products, non-farm activities, Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU), farm commercialization, and rural-urban linkages are statistically significant drivers of farm households’ livelihood diversification (P

Urban land use plans (ULUPs) contribute to the efficient use of resources for sustainable urban development. However, the metered contribution of Bahir Dar’s ULUPs to the efficient use of resources has not yet been known. Bahir Dar is the capital of the Amhara Region and a scenic city on the southern shore of Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake and the source of the Blue Nile. It attracts many visitors from inside and outside the country. This study evaluates the effectiveness of ULUPs in Bahir Dar to achieve efficient use of resources such as water, energy, and food. Thus, the study developed criteria to assess the effectiveness of ULUPs based on the global indicator framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results show that its ULUPs were not resource efficient in terms of food production, water quality and yield, and transport energy usage.

Abstract Background Neonatal health is one of the targets for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that aim to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1 000 live births in 2030. However, the world is not on track to achieve this target. The problem has worsened in many low-income countries, including Ethiopia, due to a fragile health system, as well as health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, food insecurity and climate change. According to the Mini Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey, neonatal mortality is unacceptably high in Ethiopia in general, and in Amhara region in particular. Despite these facts, there is a paucity of information on the quality of neonatal health service provision in comprehensive specialized hospitals in Amhara region. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the quality of neonatal health services in terms of outcome (neonatal mortality) and its causes in comprehensive specialized hospitals in Amhara region. Methods A multi-center retrospective study was conducted (from September 1–30/2022) on 315 neonates in four comprehensive hospitals with chart review. Data were collected through death audit with standardized neonatal death audit tool. Data were entered into Epi-data 3.1 and exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to describe and summarize the data in an informative manner. Results From 315 neonatal deaths, about two-thirds, 205 (65.1%), were from rural areas. Nearly half, 151 (48%), of the mothers had complications and delivered outside a health facility. About 36 (11.4%), 45 (14.3%), and 21 (6.7%) neonates’ mothers had 1st, 2nd, and 3rd delays, respectively. About 59 (19%) of mothers had membrane rupture before the onset of labor and 23 (7.3%) had meconium-stained liquor. Almost three-fourths, 226 (71.7%), of the deaths were low birth weight (

BackgroundPatients with chronic illnesses need to take care of themselves and seek ongoing medical attention. By using technology, telemonitoring can minimize hospitalization and care costs, while increasing professional productivity, providing constant medical attention and enhancing patient self-care management. Despite all these advantages, nothing is known regarding the intentions of Ethiopian professionals and nurses to adopt telemonitoring technologies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the telemonitoring intention of Ethiopian professionals and nurses, as well as the factors related to it.MethodsA total of 781 randomly chosen nurses and physicians who worked at public hospitals in Bahir Dar City, northwest Ethiopia, participated in a cross-sectional survey. To give everyone an opportunity, the sample size was distributed equitably among the hospitals and the profession according to staffing numbers. The sample was obtained using a simple random sampling technique. Data were gathered by skilled data collectors utilizing a self-administered questionnaire. For additional cleaning and descriptive statistical analysis, the data were imported into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Analysis of Moment Structure version 23 structural equation modeling was used to ascertain the degree of the association between the variables.ResultThe response rate was 732/781 (93.7%), with 55.7% (408/732) of the participants being men and two-thirds (67.6%, 495/732) being nurses. About 55.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 52.3–59.6] of respondents intended to use telemonitoring. The desire to employ telemonitoring is positively impacted by performance expectancy (β = 0.375, 95% CI: 0.258–0.494), effort expectancy (β = 0.158, 95% CI: 0.058–0.252), facilitating condition (β = 0.255, 95% CI: 0.144–0.368), and habit (β = 0.147, 95% CI: 0.059–0.233). Age and gender positively affected the link between effort expectancy and intention to employ telemonitoring. It was discovered that being young and male has a beneficial relationship impact. Age positively moderated the association between the intention to use telemonitoring and the facilitating conditions, and adults were strongly linked with the relationship.ConclusionIn Bahir Dar City public hospitals, over half of the doctors and nurses have the intention to use telemonitoring. Predictive indicators of intention to utilize telemonitoring that were statistically significant were performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, and habit.

Introduction: Small bowel volvulus occurs when a section of the small bowel rotates abnormally around its mesentery. Small bowel volvulus due to Ascaris infestation is a rare surgical occurrence. Case presentation: A 4-year-old boy from rural Ethiopia was brought to our pediatric emergency department with a four-day history of worsening abdominal pain, distension, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. He had a history of passing worms per rectum. On physical exam he was tachycardic, febrile, and had a distended, tender abdomen with guarding and rigidity. A plain abdominal X-ray showed multiple air-fluid levels and dilated bowel loops, suggestive of a small bowel obstruction. He was taken emergently to the operating room for an exploratory laparotomy. We found a volvulized partially necrotic segment of small intestine, 40 cm proximal to the ileocecal valve. The volvulized bowel was filled with worms. We devolvulized the bowel manually, did an enterotomy to remove the worms, resected 10 cm of necrotic bowel, and did an end-to-end anastomosis. On the 4th postoperative day, he exhibited signs of an anastomotic leak and was taken back to the operating room. We found no leak but could palpate more intraluminal Ascaris worms. We did a resection of a short segment of the ileum, removed all palpable Ascaris and did a re-anastomosis. He had an uneventful recovery following the second operation. Once he resumed bowel function, he received mebendazole 100 mg twice daily for 3 days. A second round of treatment was given 6 weeks later. Conclusion: Patients with intestinal Ascaris infestation carry a risk of developing small bowel volvulus and should therefore be closely monitored for that while they receive medical treatment. In the event of a volvulus, early intervention is critical to optimize outcomes.

This study aimed to enhance the existing vehicle’s structural reaction to a frontal and side impact collision. Energy-absorbing parts, a sturdy frame design, and enhanced crash performance are used to produce improvements based on the outcomes of the current model. When conducting the analysis, 3D modeling is done using CATIA, and FEM analysis is done using LS-DYNA. After adjustment, the ability to stabilize the momentum, the impact force during a crash, and the relation between internal energy and deformation is discussed; in doing so, the impact force is reduced by 7.82% and a 3.52% increment of energy is absorbed during a frontal collision. The side structure of the modified model also provided additional 162 mm space protection for the occupant, a reduction of impact force by 14.4%, and absorbed additional 7.6% energy. The new model generates more moment force that stabilizes fast as compared to the current, and also the relationship between energy absorbed and deformation is seen that with less deformation, the new model absorbs more energy. In conclusion, it can be claimed that the updated model considerably improved the pickup vehicle’s safety and crashworthiness without affecting the vehicle’s weight or appearance.

Background: Psychosocial problems are widely affecting the population around the world and worsening in university students. Timely access to psychosocial counseling and support remained challenging. Hence, implementing a digital-based approach to psychosocial counseling services could potentially improve access and efficiency for students in need. However, limited evidence on the intention to use digital-based psychosocial counseling and its predictors among university students in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the intention to use digital-based psychosocial counseling and its predictors among students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 759 students from 28 March until 28 April 2023 at the University of Gondar, Northwest, Ethiopia. Proportional allocation was done, and the participants were selected using stratified random sampling. The median score was used as a cutoff point. The student who scores median and above on intention to use construct was considered as intended to use digital-based psychosocial counseling otherwise unintended. The interviewer-administered questionnaire, adapted from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and kobo collect app, was employed to collect the data. Data were exported to SPSS 20 for descriptive analysis and Analysis of Moment and Structure version 23 for structural equation modeling analysis to assess the significance of relationships between variables using a path coefficient and a p -value of

Abstract Background Although vaginal stenosis following pelvic or vaginal radiotherapy for cancer treatment is a common complication, postpartum vaginal stenosis is a very rare obstetric complication. We report two cases of postpartum vaginal stenosis. Case presentation The first was case was a 30-year-old para-I Ethiopian woman who presented with a history of foul-smelling vaginal discharge on her 11th postpartum day. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a 1.4 cm distal vaginal stenosis. The second case was a 39-years-old para-II Ethiopian woman who presented with history of amenorrhea and dysparunia of 20 months duration. Abdominopelvic ultrasound examination revealed hematometrocolpos secondary to postinflammatory vaginal stenosis, and 3300 ml of hematocolpometra was drained. In both cases, adhesion excision with successful vaginal reconstruction was performed. Conclusion Postpartum vaginal stenosis is a rare obstetric complication and vaginal adhesions excision with regular vaginal dilation is the recommended management for it.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues among the current environmental problems and it affects the livelihood of the community by creating scarcity of renewable resources. Ethiopia is one of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa extremely vulnerable to climate change. This study was aimed to investigate climate-change-driven conflict by taking case from Northeast Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey study was employed and data was collected from the primary and secondary sources. The structured household survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data from selected samples. About 100 survey respondents, 10 KII and 3 FGD participants were involved in generating data which was analyzed by employing descriptive and qualitative analysis techniques. The finding revealed that climate change is occurring through increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall and frequent drought caused by deforestation, degradation of natural resources and urbanization. Consequently, the participants have experienced critical shortage of water, animal fed and most of them were food insecure. Similarly, a considerable number of residents were exposed to climate-change-induced conflict. The conflict in North Wollo was climate driven and interethnic whereby Amhara ethnic are conflicting with Afar ethnic over the resources around their border. It is recommended that employing the customary law and religious institutions are the most trusted and leading agents to resolve conflict. Area-specific and local-based climate change adaptation techniques including drought-resistant plant species and reducing the number of livestock were suggested as the solutions to solve the problems.

Introduction: Heteropagus twins are extremely rare, occurring in one to two million live births. To date, fewer than 75 cases of epigastric heteropagus twins have been reported, and only a handful of these cases have involved heteropagus twins with a concomitant omphalocele. Case presentation: We present a case of heteropagus twins in a 2-day-old neonate with a fully formed parasitic mass attached to the lower anterior chest wall and epigastrium. The parasitic twin was acephalic and acardiac, had bowel structures, pelvic bones, bilateral lower limbs, and a single upper limb. The blood supply of the parasitic twin primarily originated from the right internal mammary artery, and the venous return was via the right internal mammary vein to the superior vena cava. The parasitic twin's bowel loops overlapped the left lobe of the autosite's liver, which was partially contained in a midline omphalocele-like abdominal wall defect. The autosite also had a small patent foramen ovale and a patent ductus arteriosum with a left-to-right shunt. A successful dissection and excision of the parasitic twin was done to remove the rudimentary limbs, pelvis, and part of the parasitic trunk. The autosite's omphalocele was repaired at the same time. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery. Conclusion: Early surgical separation of heteropagus twins is crucial to optimize the outcomes of the healthy twin.

Introduction: Measuring what it tends to measure makes a tool powerful and useful for decision-making. As the Amharic version summary of the diabetes self-care activity scale construct hasn't yet been validated, there is an urgent need for validation. This study aims to validate the Amharic version of the summary of the diabetes self-care activity scale among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Addis Ababa hospitals. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 600 participants. The data was collected using open-data-kit and exported to SPSS and STATA for analysis. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on 300 randomly allocated separate samples. Result: A total of four factors with an eigenvalue greater than one, constituting nine items, were identified. The average variance executed (AVE) becomes 0.78, with a composite reliability of 0.97. Hence there is convergence between the items and the new construct. The overall internal consistency of the new construct was 0.853, which is greater than 0.7, affirming the reliability of the construct. Conclusion: We can conclude that this 4-factor structure with a 9-item Amharic version of SDSCA is highly valid and reliable. Researchers and clinicians are highly recommended to use this validated tool.

IntroductionChronic diseases are the leading causes of death in the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, it leads to more mortality than almost every other region in the world. Currently, digital health technology like personal health records plays a crucial role in managing patients with chronic diseases. In low-resource countries like Ethiopia, it is uncertain how many chronic patients intend to use PHRs and the accompanying circumstances. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess chronic patients’ intention to use PHRs and its predictors enrolled in public health hospitals in Bahir Dar city, northwest Ethiopia.MethodAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 924 respondents from April 5 to May 9, 2023, in Bahir-Dar city public hospitals. A stratified sampling technique followed by a systematic sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. An interviewer-administrated questionnaire was conducted using Kobo Collect. A UTAUT2 model was applied to develop theoretical frameworks. SPSS version 25 software was used to estimate the descriptive statistics, and the structural equation model analysis was used to evaluate model constructs using AMOS version 21 software.ResultsIn this study, a total of 908 study subjects participated. The proportion of chronic patients’ intention to use PHR was 46.7% [95.0% CI (43.4–50.1)]. According to the findings, performance expectancy (β = 0.259, p-value

Introduction: Globally, there is rising concern over the growing reliance on breast milk substitutes (BMSs). However, limited studies have been conducted to explore this issue in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess infant formula feeding and associated factors among mothers of infants aged 0–6 months in Debre Berhan City, 2023. Methods and materials: This cross-sectional study used a multistage sampling technique to select 656 mothers residing in Debre Berhan city. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were employed to identify the factors associated with infant formula feeding. The findings are then presented as frequencies, percentages, and odds ratios. Results: The prevalence of infant formula feeding in Debre Berhan city was 39.7 %. In addition, having a female child [AOR = 1.75, 95 % CI: 1.08–2.86], receiving a college education or higher [AOR = 5.79, 95 % CI: 2.38–14.08], being in the age category of 25–34 [AOR = 2.38, 95 % CI: 1.10–5.15] or 35–45 [AOR = 3.43, 95 % CI: 1.35–8.69], being a prime mother [AOR = 1.81, 95 % CI: 1.12–2.94], receiving breastfeeding advice [AOR = 4.64, 95 % CI: 2.78–7.75], delivering via a C-section [AOR = 5.39, 95 % CI: 2.54–11.42], initiating breastfeeding late [AOR = 2.26, (95 % CI: 1.41–3.64)], or being unaware of the risks associated with infant formula feeding [AOR = 5.48, 95 % CI: 3.20–9.39] were the factors that drove mothers towards infant formula feeding. Conclusion: In Debre Berhan city, the prevalence of infant formula feeding was high. Fortunately, with appropriate interventions, most of the factors that led to infant formula feeding could be effectively addressed.

Land degradation and sedimentation are global issues stemming from inappropriate land management practices within watersheds, primarily due to soil erosion. The primary aim of this investigation was to estimate sediment yield, pinpoint erosion-prone areas, and determine effective strategies for reducing erosion and sediment yield within the Mormora watershed utilizing the SWAT model. The performance of the SWAT model was assessed through calibration and validation procedures employing the Sequential Uncertainty Fitting 2 (SUFI-2) algorithm within the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Procedures (SWAT-CUP). Calibration was conducted for the period 1993 to 2006, while validation was carried out for 2007 to 2013, focusing on streamflow and sediment yields at gauging station. Various metrics including R 2 , NSE, RSR, and PBIAS were used to assess model performance. All model performance metrics indicated high accuracy. The average annual sediment yield at the outlet of the watershed was 1.19 million t/year with a spatial average of 8.54 t/ha/year. About 47.33% of the watershed was critical areas demanding implementation of soil conservation strategy. The effectiveness of five watershed management scenarios was compared to existing baseline conditions for their effectiveness in sediment yield reduction. The results indicate soil erosion decreased by 28.3% to 55.9% by applying filter strips, 61.7% to 68.4% by grassed waterways, 71.38% by terracing, 62.64% by contouring, and 46.3% by applying stone/soil bunds. Ultimately, terracing emerged as the most effective strategy for mitigating soil erosion within the study area. Consequently, the research outcomes and the developed methodology serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers, experts, and researchers involved in sustainable watershed management.

The production of biodiesel conventionally relies on batch reactors for the transesterification of oil and alcohol. However, the inherent limitations of batch-wise biodiesel production, including biphasic oil and alcohol, the establishment of equilibrium during transesterification, and heightened manufacturing costs, underscore the need for intensifying biodiesel synthesis. The integration of microreactors and micromixers presents a promising avenue to achieve these objectives, driving significant interest in the development of continuous biodiesel synthesis within microreactor systems. Continuous microreactors, empowered by micromixers, offer key advantages such as a heightened interfacial area between immiscible reactants and phases, as well as reduced mass transfer resistance, culminating in elevated biodiesel yields. Consequently, the micromixer emerges as a pivotal component in microreactor systems. This review delves into the pivotal role of micromixers in biodiesel production within microreactors, shedding light on micromixer types, channel configurations, reactor dimensions, mixing indices, and the influence of co-solvents in micromixers. The efficiency of various micromixer types is meticulously analyzed using a mixing index and yield of oil. Furthermore, the review addresses the challenges inherent in biodiesel production when employing micromixers and microreactors.

Background: Salt is an affordable commodity and has wide coverage regardless of economic and social status and, hence, could be suitable vehicle for multiple micronutrient fortification. Objectives: This study aimed to simulate the contribution folic acid and zinc fortification of iodized salt to nutrient intake among the Ethiopian population. Methods: The 2013 Ethiopian National Food Consumption Survey and various food composition tables were used to estimate baseline individual-level micronutrient intake. Usual intake was estimated using the Simulating Intake of Micronutrients for Policy Learning and Engagement macro tool. Discretionary salt consumption was calculated from total salt intake estimated using urinary sodium excretion. Fortificant addition rates were set to obtain maximum nutrient intake while simultaneously constraining that population with intake above the tolerable upper intake level to

Background Telesurgery has become helpful in overcoming the current shortage of surgeons and reducing the barriers to timely and effective surgical intervention caused by long-distance travel, which is caused by distance, cost, complexity and frequent hazards. However, knowledge and attitude remain challenges in the implementation of such a system.Objective This study aimed to assess physicians’ knowledge and attitude towards telesurgery and associated factors at resource-limited setting, Northwest Ethiopia.Method and analysis A simple random sampling method was carried out to choose study participants from each referral hospital, and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to estimate knowledge and attitudes towards telesurgery among physicians and to identify factors associated with physician knowledge and attitudes towards telesurgery.Study design Cross-sectional study design.Setting This study was conducted at six specialised referral hospitals and two specialised and teaching referral hospitals in the Amhara region, northwest Ethiopia.Result 408 physicians were included for analysis, with a response rate of 96.45%. Among study participants, 47.8% and 43.1% had good knowledge and attitudes towards telesurgery, respectively. Educational status, digital literacy, source of information, computer training, digital health training and internet access in the organisation were factors associated with a physician’s knowledge of telesurgery. Moreover, physician’s knowledge, technology use, educational status, computer training, computer access and internet access in the organisation were factors associated with physicians’ attitudes towards telesurgery.Conclusion and recommendation Almost half of physicians had good knowledge, and less than half had a good attitude towards telesurgery, so healthcare policy-makers should improve physicians’ digital literacy, technology use and internet access to enhance their knowledge and attitudes for future implementation.

Abstract Background Despite the significant weight of difficulty, Ethiopia's survival rate and mortality predictors have not yet been identified. Finding out what influences outpatient breast cancer patients' survival time was the major goal of this study. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on outpatients with breast cancer. In order to accomplish the goal, 382 outpatients with breast cancer were included in the study using information obtained from the medical records of patients registered at the University of Gondar referral hospital in Gondar, Ethiopia, between May 15, 2016, and May 15, 2020. In order to compare survival functions, Kaplan-Meier plots and the log-rank test were used. The Cox-PH model and Bayesian parametric survival models were then used to examine the survival time of breast cancer outpatients. The use of integrated layered Laplace approximation techniques has been made. Results The study included 382 outpatients with breast cancer in total, and 148 (38.7%) patients died. 42 months was the estimated median patient survival time. The Bayesian Weibull accelerated failure time model was determined to be suitable using model selection criteria. Stage, grade 2, 3, and 4, co-morbid, histological type, FIGO stage, chemotherapy, metastatic number 1, 2, and >=3, and tumour size all have a sizable impact on the survival time of outpatients with breast cancer, according to the results of this model. The breast cancer outpatient survival time was correctly predicted by the Bayesian Weibull accelerated failure time model. Conclusions Compared to high- and middle-income countries, the overall survival rate was lower. Notable variables influencing the length of survival following a breast cancer diagnosis were weight loss, invasive medullar histology, comorbid disease, a large tumour size, an increase in metastases, an increase in the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians stage, an increase in grade, lymphatic vascular space invasion, positive regional nodes, and late stages of cancer. The authors advise that it is preferable to increase the number of early screening programmes and treatment centres for breast cancer and to work with the public media to raise knowledge of the disease's prevention, screening, and treatment choices.

Abstract Improved crop genotypes are constantly introduced. However, information on their nutritional quality is generally limited. The present study reports the proximate composition and the concentration and relative bioavailability of minerals of improved finger millets of different genotypes. Grains of finger millet genotypes (n = 15) grown in research station during 2019 and 2020 in Ethiopia, and replicated three times in a randomized complete block design, were analysed for proximate composition, mineral concentration (iron, zinc, calcium, selenium), and antinutritional factors (phytate, tannin and oxalate). Moreover, the antinutritional factors to mineral molar ratio method was used to estimate mineral bioavailability. The result shows a significant genotypic variation in protein, fat and fibre level, ranging from 10% to 14.6%, 1.0 to 3.8%, and 1.4 to 4.6%, respectively. Similarly, different finger millets genotypes had significantly different mineral concentrations ranging from 3762 ± 332 to 5893 ± 353 mg kg−1 for Ca, 19.9 ± 1.6 to 26.2 ± 2.7 mg kg−1 for Zn, 36.3 ± 4.6 to 52.9 ± 9.1 mg kg−1 for Fe and 36.6 ± 11 to 60.9 ± 22 µg kg−1 for Se. Phytate (308–360 µg g−1), tannin (0.15–0.51 mg g−1) and oxalate (1.26–4.41 mg g−1) concentrations were also influenced by genotype. Antinutritional factors to minerals molar ratio were also significantly different by genotypes but were below the threshold for low mineral bioavailability. Genotype significantly influenced mineral and antinutritional concentrations of finger millet grains. In addition, all finger millet genotypes possess good mineral bioavailability. Especially, the high Ca concentration in finger millet, compared to in other cereals, could play a vital role to combating Ca deficiency. The result suggests the different finger millet genotypes possess good nutrient content and may contribute to the nutrition security of the local people.

Abstract Background Despite the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) given free of charge in many high-burden countries, the costs that patients face in the cascade of care remain a major concern. Here, we aimed to investigate the financial burden of TB diagnosis and treatment for people with TB in Ethiopia. Method For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Center for Clinical Trials from December 1 2022 to 31 June 2023 for articles reporting the cost of diagnosis and treatment for patients regardless of their age with all forms of TB in Ethiopia. Major study outcomes were catastrophic costs, direct (out-of-pocket) pre-diagnosis, medical cost, and post-diagnosis costs, indirect (income loss) costs, coping costs, and total costs. We have used a threshold of 20% to define catastrophic costs. We used random-effects meta-analyses to calculate summary estimates of costs. R-studio software was used for analysis. The study is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42023387687. Result Twelve studies, with a total of 4792 patients with TB, were included in our analysis. At the 20% threshold of total expenses, 51% of patients (2301 participants from 5 studies, 95% CI: 36-65%, I2 = 97%) faced catastrophic costs due to bacteriologically confirmed drug-sensitive pulmonary TB. Private facility diagnosis, drug-resistance TB, TB-HIV co-infection, hospitalization, and occupation were found to be associated with catastrophic costs. Reduction in the total cost spent by the patients was associated with digital adherence interventions, community-based direct observed therapy, short-course MDR-TB treatment regimens, and active case-finding. Pre-diagnosis costs had a positive correlation with diagnosis delays and the number of facilities visited until diagnosis. Post-diagnosis costs had a positive correlation with rural residence and inpatient treatments. Conclusion Irrespective of a national policy of free TB service, more than half of TB patients are suffering catastrophic costs due to drug-sensitive pulmonary TB in Ethiopia and most of the patients spend a lot of money during the pre-diagnosis period and intensive phase, but declined drastically over time. Active case-finding, digital adherence interventions, community-based treatment, and comprehensive health insurance coverage have the potential to minimize the financial burden of TB diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition which can be prevented and treated and is characterized by difficulty of breathing that is not entirely curable. The overall objective of this study was to model the variation of longitudinal measurement over time for outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases at the University of Gondar referral hospital. From February 1, 2019, to February 1, 2022, a retrospective study of outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was conducted in a hospital. The data was extracted from all patients' data records from the patient’s chart. The information includes the fundamental demographic and clinical details of each outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mixed linear model were used to investigate the determinant factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. From a total of 266 outpatients, Averages of the ratio of forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients were 0.65, with a standard deviation of 0.043. Comorbidities (average = 2.18, 95% CI 0.43:3.9, P = 0.0133), HIV(average = 4.83, 95% CI 1.94:7.72, P = 0.0012), education (average = 2.98; 95% CI 0.75:4.8, P = 0.008), and weight (average = 0.178, 95% CI 0.045:0.311, P = 0.009) are risk factors for change in forced vital capacity. This study clearly shows that there is a high COPD prevalence in Ethiopia. The risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases are the smoking status, comorbidities, HIV, education status of the patient, weight, and time of the visit.

Abstract Industrial chemical pollutants such as methylene blue (MB) dye are released into the water body and potentially cause harm to the human and aquatic biosphere. Therefore, this study aims to synthesize eco-friendly nanocatalysts, i.e., reduced graphene oxide (rGO), zinc oxide (ZnO), and reduced graphene oxide-zinc oxide (rGO@ZnO) nanocomposites, for efficient photocatalytic degradation of MB dye. A graphite rod was obtained from waste dry cell batteries for the electrochemical exfoliation synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and rGO. For the eco-friendly synthesis of ZnO and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts, Croton macrostachyus leaf extract was used as a reducing and capping agent. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized using a UV–Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray. The eco-friendly synthesized rGO, ZnO, and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts were applied for the photocatalytic degradation of MB dye using direct sunlight irradiation. At optimum parameters, photocatalytic degradation of MB dye efficiency reached up to 66%, 96.5%, and 99.0%, respectively. Furthermore, kinetics of the photodegradation reaction based on rGO, ZnO, and rGO@ZnO nanocatalysts follow pseudo-first-order with a rate constant of 2.16 × 10–3 min−1, 4.97 × 10−3 min−1, and 5.03 × 10−3 min−1, respectively. Lastly, this study promotes a low catalyst load (20 mg) for the efficient photodegradation of MB dye.

Abstract Background Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the parasites Leishmania donovani spices complex that can spread to internal organs and the disease is fatal with a fatality rate of nearly 100% if left untreated. Visceral Leishmania-HIV (HIV1) coinfection disease is a new clinical form of leishmaniasis very serious disease in the endemic part of the world. It also served as the primary cause of death in the lowlands of Ethiopia with the endemic Humara and Metema that are located near the Sudanese border. Methods A total of 153 visceral leishmaniases with HIV co-infection secondary data was taken from the medical chart of patients from January 2015 to January 2021 and a hospital-based cross-sectional study design was carried out to retrieve relevant information. The data entered by SPSS and analysed using STATA version 14 and R4.2.1 statistical software packages using a non-parametric Model, semi-parametric Cox proportional hazard survival models at 5% significance level. Result Among the total visceral leishmaniasis with HIV co-infected patients 3.27% were females and 96.73% were males, 19 (12.42%) patients died and 134(87.58%) patients were censored. The Cox proportional hazard model result indicates that severe acute malnutrition, baseline CD4+ cell count ≥100, and underweight significantly contributed to the survival time of a patient. Cox proportional hazard model shows that severe acute malnutrition (HR=4.40027, 95% CI= 2.455061 262.7934, P-value=0.007), baseline CD4+cell count ≥100 (HR=0.2714623, 95% CI= 0.0764089 0.9644395, P-value=0.044), and Underweight (HR=4.678169, 95% CI= 1.970097 11.10872, P-value=0.040) significantly contributed to a shorter survival time. Conclusion Visceral leishmaniases with HIV co-infected patients show a large number of deaths occurred in the earlier days of treatment this implies that Visceral leishmaniasis accelerates HIV replication and disease progression death. The researcher suggests that people be aware of the burden posed by those risk factors and knowledgeable about the diseases. So, the researcher recommended that to health workers implement primary health care in those patients and careful consideration of a neglected parasitic disease.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is one of the most serious threats to women's lives. Modelling the change in tumour size over time for outpatients with cervical cancer was the study's main goal. Methods A hospital conducted a retrospective cohort study with outpatients who had cervical cancer. The information about the tumour size was taken from the patient's chart and all patient data records between May 20, 2017, and May 20, 2021. The data cover 322 cervical cancer outpatients' basic demographic and medical information. When analysing longitudinal data, the linear mixed effect model and the connection between tumour sizes in outpatients were taken into consideration. A linear mixed model, a random intercept model, and a slope model were used to fit the data. Result A sample of 322 cervical cancer outpatients was examined, and 148 (or 46% of the outpatients) tested positive for HIV. The linear mixed model with a first-order autoregressive covariance structure revealed that a change in time of one month led to a 0.009 cm2 reduction in tumour size. For every kilogramme more in weight, the tumour size change in cervical cancer patients decreased considerably by 0.0098 cm2. The tumour size change in the cervical cancer patient who was HIV-positive was 0.4360 cm squared greater than that in the HIV-negative outpatients. Conclusion As a consequence, there was a significant association between the longitudinal change in tumour size and the predictor variables visit time, therapy, patient weight, cancer stage, HIV, oral contraceptive use, history of abortion, and smoking status.

Background Childhood tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis remains challenging, partly because children cannot provide sputum. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Simple One-Step (SOS) stool method with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert-Ultra) for childhood TB compared to culture and Xpert-Ultra on a respiratory sample (RS) and clinical diagnosis. It also assessed the feasibility and acceptability of stool testing according to laboratory staff, and caregivers’ sample preference. Methods We enrolled children (≤10 years) with presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis in Ethiopia. RS was tested using Xpert-Ultra and culture; stool samples were tested using the SOS stool method with Xpert-Ultra. Laboratory staff and caregivers’ opinions were assessed using standardised questionnaires. Results Of the 898 children enrolled, 792, 832 and 794 were included for assessing the diagnostic accuracy of SOS stool with Xpert-Ultra against culture, RS Xpert-Ultra and clinical diagnosis, respectively, yielding sensitivity estimates for SOS stool with Xpert-Ultra of 69.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56.0–79.7%), 76.8% (95% CI 64.2–85.9%) and 59.0% (95% CI 47.9–69.2%), respectively. The specificity was ≥98.8% for all comparisons. The rate of non-determinate test results was 2.8% after one repeat test. According to laboratory staff, stool collection was feasible and acceptable and the SOS stool method was easy to perform. Most caregivers (75%) preferred stool for TB diagnosis over RS. Conclusion This study shows that SOS stool Xpert-Ultra testing offers a good alternative to RS testing for TB in children who cannot spontaneously produce a sputum sample and would otherwise need to undergo invasive procedures to obtain RS for diagnosis.

Abstract Background and Aim Echinops kebericho, an endemic plant to Ethiopia, traditionally used to treat infectious as well as noninfectious diseases. The primary objective of this study was isolating dehydrocostus lactone (DHCL) from E. kebericho and evaluating antibacterial activities on selected human pathogenic bacteria. Methods Extraction method used in this study was maceration. Based on the bioassay information methanol extract of the root of E. kebericho was subjected to column chromatography on silica gel by increasing solvent gradients to isolate DHCL. Optimized amount isolation of DHCL was done by dissolving methanol crude extract by hexane followed by recrystallization at room temperature in the dark place. Different concentrations of the extract were subjected by disc diffusion method against tested bacterial species and antioxidant activity test. Results The phytochemical analysis of E. kebericho revealed a high presence of terpenoids, which are diverse natural compounds known for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This suggests that terpenoids contribute significantly to the pharmacological effects of E. kebericho. In antibacterial testing, Escherichia coli was the most sensitive bacterium among all extracts and concentrations. The methanol extract displayed higher antioxidant activity compared to ethyl acetate and hexane extracts, indicating a higher concentration of antioxidant compounds. Notably, the isolated compound DHCL showed promising activity against tested pathogens and significant antioxidant activity. The higher activity of DHCL compared to the crude extracts suggests its responsibility for the observed effects, indicating that the isolation and purification process may have concentrated its beneficial properties. These findings highlight the potential of E. kebericho and DHCL as sources of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications. Conclusion All tested extracts and pure compound showed higher inhibition than positive controls in both bioassay. DHCL the principal bioactive component in the root extract of the plant and it displayed potent antibacterial and antioxidant activity.

Background: Although cervical cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women and has a high morbidity, mortality, and low quality of life burden among human immune virus-positive women, there is little evidence of it in northeastern Ethiopia. Objective: Sought to determine the magnitude and associated factors of cervical cancer screening among human immune virus-positive women in public health facilities in northeastern Ethiopia. Methods and material: A multicentered, institution-based cross-sectional study with 401 participants using the systematic random sampling technique was employed. The data was gathered through personal interviews and chart reviews. The predictors were established via multivariate logistic regression analysis. Result: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening was 19.2% (15.7%–22.9%). Multiparity, bad obstetric history, hearing about cervical cancer, recommendations from medical professionals, duration of antiretroviral therapy >10 years, a family record of cervical cancer, and knowing cervical cancer were revealed to be predictors of testing for cervical cancer. Conclusion: The magnitude of cervical cancer screening was 19.2% (15.7%–22.9%). Multiparity, bad obstetric history, hearing about cervical cancer, recommendations from medical professionals, duration of antiretroviral therapy >10 years, a family record of cervical cancer, and knowing cervical cancer were revealed to be predictors of testing for cervical cancer.

The use of biodiesel as a reliable and green energy source has grown over the past few years. Biodiesel is sustainable and biodegradable because it is only made from vegetable contents and waste cooking oil. Although biodiesel has many advantages over conventional fuels, there are still a lot of technological issues that need to be addressed during the production process. The yield of biodiesel produced using conventional methods is poor and the process is time-consuming. Process enhancements like cavitation and microwave have thus been developed to address this problem. Starting with a comparison to the conventional biodiesel process, this paper has reviewed the most recent developments in the increase of mixture and transfer of heat in these two reactors. This paper examined biodiesel improvement using microwave and cavitation reactors, including biodiesel yield, by meticulously reviewing and analyzing previous works. The production of biodiesel from various raw materials using a range of catalysts, energy requirements, as well as operating factors, activation energy, and constraints also have been discussed. Additionally, the economic analysis discusses the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of implementing these technologies on a commercial scale. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the intensification of biodiesel production using cavitation and microwave reactors while considering both the technical and economic aspects.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide. as well as the 4th most common cause of cancer-related death. The main objective of this study was to identify factors that affect the survival time of outpatients with cervical cancer. Methods A retrolective study including outpatients with cervical cancer was carried out in a hospital. To achieve the aim, 322 outpatients with cervical cancer were included in the study based on the data taken from the medical records of patients enrolled from May 15, 2018, to May 15, 2022, at the University of Gondar referral hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia. The Kaplan–Meier plots and log-rank test were used for the comparison of survival functions; the Cox-PH model and Bayesian parametric survival models were used to analyze the survival times of outpatients with cervical cancer. Integrated nested Laplace approximation methods have been applied. Results Out of a total of 322 patients, 118 (36.6%) died as outpatients. The estimated median survival time for patients was 42 months. Using model selection criteria, the Bayesian log-normal accelerated failure time model was found to be appropriate. According to the results of this model, oral contraceptive use, HIV, stage, grade, co-morbid disease, history of abortion, weight, histology type, FIGO stage, radiation, chemotherapy, LVSI, metastatic number, regional nodes examined, and tumor size all have a significant impact on the survival time of outpatients with cervical cancer. The Bayesian log-normal accelerated failure time model accurately predicted the survival time of cervical cancer outpatients. Conclusions The findings of this study suggested that reductions in weight, treatment, the presence of comorbid disease, the presence of HIV, squamous cell histology type, having a history of abortion, oral contraceptive use, a large tumor size, an increase in the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage, an increase in metastasis number, an increase in grade, positive regional nodes, lymphatic vascular space invasion, and late stages of cancer all shortened the survival time of cervical cancer outpatients.

A new electrochemical sensor, poly(bis(2,2′-bipyridine)hydroxycopper(II) iodide modified glassy carbon electrode (poly([Cu(Bip)2OH]I)/GCE), was prepared by electropolymerization of bis(2,2′-bipyridine)chlorocopper(II) iodide ([Cu(Bip)2Cl]I) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for voltammetric determination of chloroquine (CQ). The synthesized complex (bis(2,2′-bipyridine)chlorocopper(II) iodide) was characterized using UV–Vis, CHN elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), electrolytic conductivity, melting point and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to characterize and confirm the synthesis of the desired complex (bis(2,2′-bipyridine)chlorocopper(II) iodide). The Uv-Vis, FTIR and electrochemical data of the synthesized polymer supports the replacement of chloro ligand by hydroxyl ligand during electropolymerization of the monomer in aqueous solution. The fabricated electrode (poly([Cu(Bip)2OH]I)/GCE) was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The voltammetric behavior of CQ was examined using CV and square wave voltammetry (SWV). Compared to the bare GCE, poly(Bip)/GCE, and Cu/GCE, the current signal of CQ was significantly enhanced at poly([Cu(Bip)2OH]I)/GCE, which demonstrates excellent electrocatalytic behavior of poly([Cu(Bip)2OH]I)/GCE towards electrochemical oxidation of CQ. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the SWV current signal of poly([Cu(Bip)2OH]I)/GCE offered linearity on the concentration range of CQ between 0.5 and 250 μM with LOD and LOQ values of 4.22 ×10−2 and 1.4 × 10−1 μM, respectively. In the presence of possible interfering substances including glucose, paracetamol, adenine and guanine, the voltammetric determination of CQ was also considered, and their interventions were found to be insignificant, which evidenced the selectivity of the introduced electrode. The analytical application of the established sensor was successfully applied in the determination of CQ in pharmaceuticals, milk, serum, and urine samples. The detected amount of CQ in the tablet samples was in the range between 100.5 and 110.2% with RSD of 1.5 and 1.87%, respectively. The spiked recovery results in pharmaceuticals, milk, serum, and urine biological samples were in the range of 100.5 to 110.2%, 97.13 to 98.12, 103.7 to 103.6% and 95.50 to 97.05%, respectively. These results confirm that the developed method exhibits high applicability for electrochemical determination of CQ in various real samples.

AbstractLand administration institutional arrangements with clear functions, robust coordination, and integrated monitoring and evaluation systems are critical to ensuring sustainable land and housing delivery in rapidly expanding cities. It is also important to benefit the homeless and low-income groups in society. However, urban areas in Ethiopia have faced various challenges in providing land for residential housing development. Moreover, studies on assessing the capacity of urban local governments from an urban land institutional arrangement point of view in Ethiopia were limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the appropriateness of existing urban land administration institutional arrangements to support the effectiveness and efficiency of land delivery for housing development. A comparison of existing capacity to desired capacity is conducted to show the capacity gap in urban land administration institutions. A mixed-methods research approach was used to achieve the study’s objective by utilizing both primary and secondary data sources. Data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and desk reviews. The findings revealed that urban land administration institutions lack functional clarity, have poor vertical and peer coordination, inadequate monitoring and evaluation, and have flawed feedback loops, which hinder the effective and efficient operation of land and housing development. Thus, it needs reforming existing institutional arrangements, which could significantly contribute to existing knowledge by identifying institutional capacity gaps and its exit strategy in urban land administration.

One of the outlining challenges of the twenty-first century is managing rapidly urbanizing cities. If managed well and guided by sound urban governance principles, cities can act as instruments of growth, and the goal of urban sustainability can be realized. On the other hand, poorly governed cities can become hubs of poverty, disparity, and conflict. Thus, this study is aimed to explore the implementation of urban governance principles in Gondar city. UN-Habitat’s Urban Governance Index (UGI) is employed as an analytical framework. UGI is a straightforward, easy, and flexible framework suited to measure the quality of urban governance practices in the local context. This study’s data included quantitative and qualitative data related to customer satisfaction in service delivery, citizen charter, access to electricity, waste management, water supply connections, pro-poor water policy, citizen involvement in decision-making, and incentives for the informal market. The result indicated that the highest values had been achieved in the effectiveness and accountability sub-indexes, with scores ranging between 0.65 and 0.56, respectively. Similarly, the lowest values have been recorded in equity and participation sub-indexes with scores between 0.44 and 0.37, respectively. The results revealed that the city still needs to implement sound governance principles. Therefore, attention should be given to implementing good urban governance principles to achieve the city we need that fits the smart city paradigm. Innovative structures with systems to implement UGI should be needed for sustainable urban development and to make our cities livable and competitive in the paradigm of sustainable cities.

IntroductionThere is spatial variability of selenium (Se) in soil and crops in Ethiopia. We assessed the Se content of food items, breast milk, and urine among infants in Ethiopia from two areas with contrasting Se concentrations in soils.MethodsDietary Se intakes among children (6–23 months) were evaluated using a weighed food record on two non-consecutive days. Also, spot urine samples from children and breast milk samples from their mothers were collected to determine Se concentration. Selenium concentrations in the samples were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).ResultsInjera (prepared from teff and mixtures of other cereals) with a legume-based stew were the most frequently consumed foods by the children in both areas, followed by pasta. Overall, the Se concentration (mean ± SD) of food items, breast milk (12.2 ± 3.9 μg/L vs. 3.39 ± 1.5 μg/L), and urine samples (22.5 ± 11.5 μg/L vs. 3.0 ± 1.9 μg/L) from East Amhara were significantly higher than the corresponding samples from West Amhara (p < 0.001). The total Se intakes by the study children from East Amhara and West Amhara were 30.2 [IQ 25%, 14.2; IQ 75%, 54.1] and 7.4 [IQR 25%, 4.2; IQ 75%, 10.6] μg day–1, respectively; 31.5% of children from East Amhara and 92% of children from West Amhara were at risk of inadequate Se intakes. Urinary Se excretion accounted for 53 and 39% of daily dietary Se intake in East Amhara and West Amhara, respectively. Dietary Se intake was positively correlated with urinary Se excretion in East Amhara (r = 0.56; p < 0.001) but not among samples from West Amhara (r = 0.16; p ≥ 0.05), suggesting greater physiological Se conservation in a state of deficiency.ConclusionThere is spatial variability of Se in foods, breast milk, and urine in Ethiopia, suggesting the need for implementation of targeted agronomic interventions that enhance Se concentrations in the edible portion of plant foods.

Elevated temperature has already caused a significant loss of wine growing areas and resulted in inferior fruit quality, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The existence of broad genetic diversity in V. vinifera is key in adapting viticulture to climate change; however, a lack of understanding on the variability in berry metabolic response to climate change remains a major challenge to build ad-hoc strategies for quality fruit production. In the present study, we examined the impact of a consistent temperature difference between two vineyards on polyphenol metabolism in the berries of 20 red V. vinifera cultivars across three consecutive seasons (2017–2019). The results emphasize a varietal specific response in the content of several phenylpropanoid metabolites; the interaction factor between the variety and the vineyard location was also found significant. Higher seasonal temperatures were coupled with lower flavonol and anthocyanin contents, but such reductions were not related with the level of expression of phenylpropanoid related genes. Hierarchical clustering analyses of the metabolic data revealed varieties with a location specific response, exceptional among them was Tempranillo, suggesting a greater susceptibility to temperature of this cultivar. In conclusion, our results indicate that the extensive genetic capacity of V. vinifera bears a significant potential to withstand temperature increase associated with climate change.

Land to people interaction is an old phenomenon that has occurred throughout human history. The scope and nature of the relationship has been changing over time as a result of continuous and disruptive socio-cultural and technological changes. Human civilizations observed in the past as well as the current rapid technological advancements and high rate of urbanization, along with the need for sustainable development are driving for changes in land to people interactions. However, studies and scientific discourses on examining the changing people-land relationships and the co-evolving need to manage or govern land are scarce. This paper, therefore, aimed to offer an understanding on how the concept of land administration evolved from the complexities involved in the changing people to land relationships. To achieve the objective of the paper, desk review research approach was employed. The review demonstrates that various forms, designations, functions of land administration have been evolved over the history of human being as a response to manage the changing people to land relationships. Thus, it is plausible to assume that the notion of land administration is deeply founded in human history and is one of the oldest professions that support humanity. Finally, this study underlines that land administration as a subject or concept is constantly evolving due to the changing nature of people's perception towards land and it is also expected to continue to co-evolve and respond to address societal needs at a particular time.

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes airflow obstruction and respiratory problems. Thus, the main objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for the progression of COPD using longitudinally measured forced vital capacity with time to onset of polycythemia outpatients follow‐up. Methods A retrospective study design was used to gather the related data on longitudinal change of forced vital capacity and time to onset of polycythemia from the medical charts. The joint model consists of a longitudinal submodel for the change of forced vital capacity and a survival submodel for the time to onset of polycythemia of chronic obstructive pulmonary patients. Results From the total of 266 patient's estimated value of forced vital capacity of chronic obstructive pulmonary patients was 74.45 years with a standard deviation of 8.59. The estimated value of the association parameter was −0.006, which indicates that the lower value for a forced vital capacity measure was associated with the higher risk of polycythemia and vice versa “Based on the joint model analysis found that the predictor smoking, comorbidities, marital status, weight, and HIV” jointly affected the two responses, which are change of forced vital capacity and time to onset of polycythemia among chronic obstructive pulmonary patients. Conclusion The overall performance of separate and joint models, joint modeling of longitudinal measures with the time‐to‐event outcome was the best model due to smaller standard errors and statistical significance of both the association parameters.

Verbascum sinaiticum (Qetetina or yeahya Joro) is a medicinal plant with secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and alkaloids. This study was designed to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters to enhance the phenolic content and characterize the phenolic compounds using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), and antioxidant activities in Verbascum sinaiticum extract. Extraction time, sample-to-solvent ratio, and extraction temperature were considered for UAE optimization. It was found that UAE generated the highest extraction yield (21.6%), total phenolic content (179.8 GAE mg/g), total flavonoid content (64.49 CE mg/g), DPPH (61.85 µg/mL), and ABTS (38.89 µg/mL) when compared to maceration extraction. Metabolite analysis in this study showed the detection of 17 phenolic compounds, confirming antioxidant capacities. The optimization parameters have significant effects on phenolic compounds. Scanning electron microscopy showed the presence of structural changes when UAE was used over the maceration method. The optimized UAE parameters for extraction temperature (41.43 °C), sample-to-solvent ratio (36.32 g/mL), and extraction time (33.22 min) for TPC were obtained. This study shows the potential application for UAE of Verbascum sinaiticum leaves in the development of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.

Abstract Background Delayed antenatal care is when the first visit is carried out after 12 gestational weeks. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted on antenatal care initiation, little attention has been paid to its spatial pattern. Therefore, this study examine geographical weighted regression analysis of delayed antenatal care initiation and its factors among all reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia. Objective To assess geographical weighted regression analysis of delayed antenatal care initiation and its factors among all reproductive-aged women in Ethiopia, 2016. Methods This study was grounded on the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey. It incorporated extracted sample size of 4740 (weighted) reproductive-aged women. ArcGIS version 10.8 and SaTScan™ version 9.7 software were employed to investigate geographic information. To distinguish factors associated with hotspot areas, local and global models were fitted. Result the geographic pattern of Delayed antenatal care initiation was clustered (Moran’s I = 0.38, p

Existing acute febrile illness (AFI) surveillance systems can be leveraged to identify and characterize emerging pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated with ministries of health and implementing partners in Belize, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, and Peru to adapt AFI surveillance systems to generate COVID-19 response information. Staff at sentinel sites collected epidemiologic data from persons meeting AFI criteria and specimens for SARS-CoV-2 testing. A total of 5,501 patients with AFI were enrolled during March 2020–October 2021; >69% underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing. Percentage positivity for SARS-CoV-2 ranged from 4% (87/2,151, Kenya) to 19% (22/115, Ethiopia). We show SARS-CoV-2 testing was successfully integrated into AFI surveillance in 5 low- to middle-income countries to detect COVID-19 within AFI care-seeking populations. AFI surveillance systems can be used to build capacity to detect and respond to both emerging and endemic infectious disease threats.

ABSTRACT Stool is recommended as an alternative specimen for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in young children, as they cannot easily produce sputum. The Simple One-Step (SOS) stool processing method is a new and simple stool processing method for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert-Ultra). We determined the robustness of the SOS stool processing method and stool specimen transport conditions in participants with confirmed TB. We processed stool using the standard protocol after simulated “transport,” varying time, and temperature, and experimented with slightly modified processing steps. We included 2,963 Xpert-Ultra test results from 132 stool specimens of 47 TB participants, including 11 children aged 0.8 g of stool. We found that almost all steps in the current SOS stool processing method provide optimal Xpert-Ultra results but recommend an adjustment to use a wider range of stool amounts (0.3 to 0.8 g) than advised previously (0.8 g). With this adaptation, stool-based diagnosis of TB using the SOS stool processing method can be scaled-up. IMPORTANCE The manuscript will support the global implementation and scale-up of the SOS stool method in routine settings. It also provides important insights on the optimal stool transport conditions and robustness of the SOS method, which can be used for bacteriological diagnosis of TB in children at the lowest levels of the healthcare system, avoiding lengthy healthcare-seeking pathways and additional costs.

Abstract Background The effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on precancerous cervical lesion is not consistent across studies. Besides to the variability in the presence of a significant association between HIV and precancerous cervical lesion, the reported strengths are inconsistent among studies that report a significant association. Therefore, we sought to determine the impact of HIV on women's risk of precancerous cervical lesion by conducting a systematic review and meta‐analysis of case–control studies in Ethiopia. Methods Relevant articles were systematically searched on African Journals Online, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed from January 1, 2023, to February 20, 2023. After critical appraisal, pertinent data were extracted into an Excel spreadsheet and then exported to STATA 14 for further statistical analysis. The pooled effect size was estimated using the random‐effect model. The Egger's regression test and I2 statistics were employed to assess publication bias and heterogeneity among included studies, respectively. Results Ten case–control studies with a total of 3035 participants (992 cases and 2043 controls) were involved in this meta‐analysis. According to our analysis, HIV‐infected women were 2.86 times more likely to develop precancerous cervical lesion as compared with their counterparts (odds ratio: 2.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.79, 4.58). Conclusion We found that HIV‐infected women have a higher risk of precancerous cervical lesion. Thus, targeted screening programs should be considered to reduce the burden of cervical cancer among HIV‐infected women in Ethiopia.

The carbon stock of forest is disturbed by environmental variables. Therefore, the study was undertaken to examine the variation of carbon sock along environmental gradient of wacho forest, South-Western Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to collect the data from 20 m × 20 m of 73 sample quadrants. Trees and shrubs having ≥ 5 cm diameter at breast height were collected from 20 m × 20 m, whereas litter and soil samples were collected from each of the five 1 m × 1 m subplots situated at the four corners and one at the midpoint of the main plot. The carbon stock of trees, shrubs, litter, and soil was determined by using different equations. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the variation of carbon stock along environmental gradient of wacho forest, while descriptive statistics were used to estimate the maximum, minimum, mean and standard deviations of carbon stock in the study forest. An altitudinal gradient had a statistically significant effect on dead tree and dead wood carbon, litter carbon, and soil organic carbon. The carbon pools of above-ground carbon, below-ground carbon, dead tree and dead wood carbon, and soil organic carbon were statistically varied with slope gradient. Aspect had a statistically significant effect on the above-ground and below-ground carbon stocks, dead tree and dead wood carbon, litter, and soil organic carbon stock.

Tiru-Selam forest is degraded due to human interventions. Several scholars have studied the carbon stock of various forests using combinations of ground inventory and remote sensing imagery without checking the correlation between these two carbon stock assessment methods. Thus, the study was conducted to determine the carbon stock of Tiru-Selam forest and the correlation of carbon stock estimated by ground inventory and remote sensing imagery. The ground inventory data was collected through a systematic random sampling technique from 400 m2 of 72 sample plots, while the remote sensing imagery data was collected from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (https://ladsweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov). The moderate resolution imaging spectra-radiometer data was acquired with respect to the ground sampling date. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the maximum, minimum, mean, and standard deviation of carbon stock. A linear regression model was used to estimate the correlation between ground inventory and remote sensing imagery for estimation of carbon stock in Tiru-Selam forest. According to the ground inventory, and the remote sensing imagery, the overall mean above-ground and below-ground carbon stock of the study area was estimated to be 224.6582 and 226.56 t/ha, respectively. The carbon stock estimated by ground inventory had a strong correlation with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (r=0.742, p

Measurement(s) Trace Element • soil chemical properties Technology Type(s) Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Factor Type(s) Geography • Staple cereal crop Sample Characteristic - Organism Staple cereal food crops Sample Characteristic - Environment Smallholder farming Sample Characteristic - Location Ethiopia • Malawi

Entangled states are an important resource for quantum information processing and for the fundamental understanding of quantum physics. An intriguing open question would be whether entanglement can improve the performance of quantum heat engines in particular. One of the promising platforms to address this question is to use entangled atoms as a non-thermal bath for cavity photons, where the cavity mirror serves as a piston of the engine. Here we theoretically investigate a photonic quantum engine operating under an effective reservoir consisting of quantum-correlated pairs of atoms. We find that maximally entangled Bell states alone do not help extract useful work from the reservoir unless some extra populations in the excited states or ground states are taken into account. Furthermore, high efficiency and work output are shown for the non-maximally entangled superradiant state, while negligible for the subradiant state due to lack of emitted photons inside the cavity. Our results provide insights in the role of quantum-correlated atoms in a photonic engine and present new opportunities in designing a better quantum heat engine.

This paper investigate into the complex field of electrical discharge machining (EDM) to improve material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR), and surface roughness (SR) for the machining of Inconel 718, a difficult-to-machine superalloy. The effects of discharge current, pulse duration, and pulse interval on machining performance were assessed through experiments. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) models, such as RNN, LSTM, and CNN, were used to optimize. Twenty runs of confirmation experiments were used to confirm the optimal process parameters found by the created models for better machining. For Inconel 718, the novel Cu-Ni-B _4 C nanocomposite electrode greatly enhanced EDM performance. The ideal configuration increased MRR while decreasing wear and surface roughness. Machined surfaces were inspected using SEM and EDAX analysis. With optimal settings of 50 μs pulse duration and 90 μs pulse interval, increasing current to 8 Amps increased MRR to 0.0118 g min ^−1 , reducing EWR to 0.001 g min ^−1 and SR to 3.108 μm. Compared to the RNN, LSTM, and RSM models, the CNN model had the greatest R-squared (R ^2 ) score of 0.9999, suggesting greater MRR, EWR, and SR prediction.