Search

Doping enhances the optical properties of high‐band gap zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), essential for their photocatalytic activity. We used the combustion approach to synthesize cobalt‐doped ZnO heterostructure (CDZO). By creating a mid‐edge level, it was possible to tune the indirect band gap of the ZnO NPs from 3.1 eV to 1.8 eV. The red shift and reduction in the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra resulted from hindrances in electron‐hole recombination and sp‐d exchange interactions. These improved optical properties expanded the absorption of solar light and enhanced charge transfer. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image and elemental mapping analysis confirmed the CDZO′s porous nature and the dopant's uniform distribution. The porosity, nanoscale size (25–55 nm), and crystallinity of the CDZO were further verified by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron image analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the CDZO exhibited much greater efficiency (k=0.131 min−1) than that of ZnO NPs (k=0.017 min−1). Therefore, doped heterostructures show great promise for industrial‐scale environmental remediation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidimensional significance of metabolomics has gained increasing attention in oilseeds research and development. Sesame, peanut, soybean, sunflower, rapeseed, and perilla are the most important oilseed crops consumed as vegetable oils worldwide. However, multiple biotic and abiotic stressors affect metabolites essential for plant growth, development, and ecological adaptation, resulting in reduced productivity and quality. Stressors can result in dynamic changes in oilseed crops' overall performance, leading to changes in primary (ex: saccharides, lipids, organic acids, amino acids, vitamins, phytohormones, and nucleotides) and secondary (ex: flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, coumarins, and lignans) major metabolite classes. Those metabolites indicate plant physiological conditions and adaptation strategies to diverse biotic and abiotic stressors. Advancements in targeted and untargeted detection and quantification approaches and technologies aided metabolomics and crop improvement. This review seeks to clarify the metabolomics advancements, significant contributions of metabolites, and specific metabolites that accumulate in reaction to various stressors in oilseed crops. Considering the response of metabolites to multiple stress effects, we compiled comprehensive and combined metabolic biosynthesis pathways for six major classes. Understanding these essential metabolites and pathways can inform molecular breeding strategies to develop resilient oilseed cultivars. Hence, this review highlights metabolomics advancements and metabolites' potential roles in major oilseed crops' biotic and abiotic stress responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) transform crop production by enabling more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices. These technologies utilize data‐driven approaches to optimize the management of crops, soil, and resources, thus enhancing both productivity and environmental sustainability. This article reviewed the application of PATs for sustainable crop production and environmental sustainability around the globe. Key components of PAT include remote sensing, GPS‐guided equipment, variable rate technology (VRT), and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Remote sensing and drones deliver high‐resolution imagery and data, enabling precise monitoring of crop health, soil conditions, and pest activity. GPS‐guided machinery ensures accurate planting, fertilizing, and harvesting, which reduces waste and enhances efficiency. VRT optimizes resource use by allowing farmers to apply inputs such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides at varying rates across a field based on real‐time data and specific crop requirements. This reduces over‐application and minimizes environmental impact, such as nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions. IoT devices and sensors provide continuous monitoring of environmental conditions and crop status, enabling timely and informed decision‐making. The application of PAT contributes significantly to environmental sustainability by promoting practices that conserve water, reduce chemical usage, and enhance soil health. By enhancing the precision of agricultural operations, these technologies reduce the environmental impact of farming, while simultaneously boosting crop yields and profitability. As the global demand for food increases, precision agriculture offers a promising pathway to achieving sustainable crop production and ensuring long‐term environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The competition between superconductivity and magnetism has been studied for the ongoing investigation of mechanisms in unconventional superconductors. Fe1+yTe1−xSex is distinct among iron‐based superconductors due to its structural simplicity, comprising solely FeTe/Se layers that are favorable for probing the superconductivity mechanism. The main goal of this article is to focus on the computational investigation of the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity in the Fe1+yTe1−xSex multiband superconductor. From the electronic structure of the Fe1+yTe1−xSex superconductor, a two‐band Hamiltonian model was considered to examine the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity in the Fe1+yTe1‐xSex superconductor. Using Green's function formalism with the Hamiltonian model, the mathematical statements for the superconducting (Sc) gap parameter, spin density wave (SDW) ordering parameter, Sc and magnetic transitional temperatures have been obtained. Using these mathematical expressions, the phase diagram of transition temperatures versus the gap parameters for the Fe1+yTe1‐xSex superconductor has been plotted. The intersection region in the phase diagram of transition temperatures as a function of the SDW order parameter has been plotted to show the possible interplay of superconductivity and magnetism in a Fe1+yTe1‐xSex iron‐based superconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the leather processing industry is vital in terms of employment creation, revenue generation, consumption of by‐products from the meat industry, and the production of the valuable commodity called leather, the industry is considered "red marked" due to the discharge of solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes from each unit operation. In addition, different cleaner production options were investigated to mitigate the negative effects of the leather industries. Cleaner options in curing were mostly focused on the use of plant extracts and the sodium chloride‐free preservation method, which eliminates the salinity and 70% TDS of the discharged water. The application of enzymes in the soak and unhairing facilitates the operation, reduces COD, BOD, and TDS in the effluent, and yields better results than the conventional method. Saltless and waterless pickling with nonswelling acid and chrome‐free tanning was considered cleaner options for pickling with salts and conventional tanning methods. This article provides an in‐depth analysis and review of conventional leather processing, hazardous chemicals in each unit operation, the environmental impact of conventional operations from curing to tanning, and cleaner leather production approaches in each unit operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization in emerging nations such as Ethiopia encourages participants in the area to consider the sustainability and balanced growth of metropolitan centers from a variety of angles and to offer suitable solutions. This study aims to comprehend how urban land use influences the efficiency and connection of road networks, which in turn affects how accessible different parts of the city are, to determine the influencing factors and critical indicators that enable a systematic categorization of subcity accessibility from the perspectives of urban land use. Geographic information system (GIS) techniques are used to gather and analyze precise geographical data on road networks, land use patterns, and other pertinent properties. In addition, a regression model is created to measure the effect of land use features on the accessibility of the road network. The primary questionnaire data are used to estimate the current situation of road accessibility and are used in the study validation process. This research has incorporated qualitative and quantitative approaches to sustainability. The findings imply that residential areas are 90% significant in making transport along the city, and 98% of the accessibility of the road network is dependent on land use features, including road density and subcity areas. Among the subcities, Bole, Kirkos, and Arada have 87% road network accessibility and better access to public transportation. Overall, these techniques emphasize the value of spatial analytic tools in planning procedures to better comprehend and control the intricate relationships between transportation and land use dynamics and to assist in the sustainable design and growth of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to produce spicy red pepper paste (Awaze) by addition of various sources of antioxidant, mineral, and fiber and optimize better processing methods of the paste. For this purpose, D‐optimal mixture design was used, Awaze considering color value (a*), antioxidant content, mineral content, fiber content, chewiness, and viscosity of the paste as the main parameters. Various properties of the optimized formulation were evaluated. The optimal formulation contained 65.66% red pepper, 10% garlic, 19.08% red onion, and 5.25% ginger. In the optimized formulation, the redness value (a*) increased by more than 3.12 times compared to the control with the average antioxidant activity (44.6%). The optimal formulation had a higher fiber content, chewiness, and viscosity value compared to control which is probably related to the ingredient proportion difference. Due to the higher nutritional and processing quality obtained, this formulation can be suggested for commercial and household producers as a guide to manufacture Awaze. The results obtained indicate that it is possible to production of Awaze with high nutritional value and improved processing quality by utilizing a blend of red pepper, garlic, red onion, and ginger. Therefore, this formulation stands as a viable recommendation for both commercial enterprises and household producers due to its demonstrated ability to yield Awaze with enhanced nutritional content and superior processing quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breeding objectives of Central Highland goats rearing under a low‐input production system were defined through a participatory proportional piling method and bio‐economic model. Additionally, the economic values and relative economic value of the breeding objective traits were derived. A participatory proportional piling method was used to estimate the relative weights of farmers attached to a list of goat traits identified, and the relative weights were statistically evaluated using a generalized multinomial logit model analysis. A bio‐economic model was used to compute the economic values of the identified traits. The most important traits for selection of does according to farmer's preference were body size, coat colour, post‐weaning growth rate and weaning rate with a relative weight (odds ratio) of 1.58, 1.38, 1.37 and 1.13, respectively. Goats with dark red followed by light red coat colour were the most preferred (p < 0.001) by goat keepers compared with white‐coloured goats. Farmers were more likely (p < 0.001) to allocate higher scores for does‐bearing twins than for single and triplet‐bearing does. Using the bio‐economic model (economic value and relative economic value), post‐weaning growth rate, weaning rate, and six‐month weight (body size) were identified as the most important traits and if the mean of these traits is changed by one genetic standard deviation, the change in profit will range from 2.06 to 3.03 $ doe−1 year−1. Therefore, the most important traits for the selection of Central Highland goats according to the economic‐based method were post‐weaning weight gain, weaning rate and body size (six‐month weight). Besides, coat colour was the second preferred trait by goat keepers next to body size. Thus, this aesthetical trait should be included in the designed breeding programme besides economically important quantitative traits. The combination of the participatory proportional piling method and bio‐economic model would give better insights to explore the trait preferences of farmers and enhance profitability. The economic values of traits estimated in this study can be used for the construction of selection indices for Central Highland goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest body of fresh water, covering approximately 3,200 km2. Despite its multidisciplinary applications in Ethiopia and neighboring countries, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) is a significant problem in this large lake. This invasive weed first appeared in Lake Tana in 2011 and quickly spread to the water's surface over the next two to three years. In this background, this article aims at reviewing the existing knowledge on the occurrence, impact, and management options for water hyacinths in Lake Tana. Water hyacinth is one of the most dangerous water weeds, causing a wide range of problems in bodies of water and water resources, including ecological, environmental, economic, and social consequences. Due to the weed species' rapid spread via sexual and asexual reproduction, it covers a wide range of water bodies, and appropriate management options must be implemented before seriously affecting the water body and spreading to the Nile Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based leather substitutes are an emerging class of ethically and environmentally responsible natural fabrics that are increasingly exceeding consumer aesthetic and functional expectations as an alternative to bovine and synthetic leathers. This literature review creates a clear and elaborative overview of conventional leather processing along with innovative potential bio-leather substitutes. Plant-driven, fungal-origin, bacterial-driven, and animal-origin bio-leathers are the current innovative research advances addressed in this literature. While traditional leather and its alternatives are sourced from animals and synthetic polymers, these renewable and sustainable leather substitutes are gained from bacterial cellulose, mycelium, plant cellulose, and animal cells using tissue engineering and other eco-friendly techniques. In conclusion, bio-based leather alternatives are eco-friendly, non-toxic, and sustainable and ultimately can substitute natural leather made by conventional processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural colorants play a vital role in the production of eco-leather by substituting environmentally hazardous and toxic synthetic dyestuffs. In this study, a natural dye is extracted and optimized from the bark of Ficus sycomorus, a plant species locally known as shola, by designing different combinations of concentration, temperature, and time parameters. A dye extracted from 120 g/l concentration at a temperature of 1000°C for 60 minutes showed the highest absorbance value, and it has been used for further dyeing processes with and without mordant. Properties such as color strength (k/s), L ∗ a ∗ b ∗ values, and color fastness of a dyed leather specimen were measured and analyzed. Oxalic acid mordant-dyed leather samples mordanted with the postmordanting method have revealed the highest k/s value among other experimental samples. Moreover, better color fastness properties were obtained from a leather sample mordanted with oxalic acid. Consequently, a dye extracted from the bark of Ficus sycomorus can be used as a leather dyeing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are considered a high‐risk group for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) exposure, ascribed to the amount of time they spend in health‐care facilities (HCFs). This study aimed to assess HCWs' compliance with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) procedures and the risk of exposure during the early period of the pandemic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A descriptive cross‐sectional survey was conducted from June to September 2020. With a response rate of 79.2%, a standardized questionnaire was administered among 247 HCWs, working in eight HCFs. Descriptive and multivariate regression analysis was carried out in STATA version 16. Results: About 22.5% (55) of the HCWs had proper adherence to IPC procedures. Of the total participants, 28.2% (69) had proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% (98) had proper hand hygiene practices, and 33.1% (81) had frequently cleaned their working environment. HCWs who received training on IPC protocols were four times more likely to follow IPC standards than those with no training (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46, 10.58). Besides, HCWs working in treatment centers were four times more likely to follow IPC standards than those working in conventional hospitals (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI:1.63, 8.02). Nurses were four times more likely to have adherence to IPC measures than cleaners and runners (AOR = 4.37; 95% CI: 1.38–13.88). Conclusion: The nature and magnitude of the pandemic did not introduce the required degree of adherence to IPC procedures, per se does not match the level of diligence needed to halt SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission. Our finding suggested that providing periodic training of HCWs with particular emphasis on nonclinical staff is commendable. Furthermore, it is necessary to maintain resilent IPC in HCF through continous follow up and safety drills, to assess the readiness of HFCs' adherance to IPC measures under normal circumstances, which could improve prepardeness for an effective response during epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the effect of multiple climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS) on farm household welfare using a new three‐wave panel data derived from the World Bank's geo‐referenced household socioeconomic survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) historical weather data. Using the multinomial panel endogenous switching regression model, we discovered that combining climate change adaptation strategies such as crop rotation and improved seed varieties is the most effective way to improve the welfare of smallholder farmers. The average treatment effect (ATT) results show that all CCAS have a positive and significant effect on the pattern of welfare improvement among smallholder farmers, but combinations of CCAS provide the highest payoffs. As a result, the combination of crop rotation and improved seed is the most appealing CCAS package that farmers could adopt as an ex‐ante strategy to improve farm household welfare. We also discovered that climate change and technology adoption are the most important factors influencing the welfare of rural farm households. Furthermore, we discover that the effectiveness of climate change adaptation strategies varies by farm households. Thus, we argued that targeted extension and advisory services, as well as other policies that support the synchronization of adaptation strategies, are critical for improving the welfare of rural farm households. We estimate the effect of climate change adaptation strategies on farm households' welfare using a new data set formed from the geo‐referenced household socioeconomic survey of the World Bank and historical weather data of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by employing multinomial panel endogenous switching regression model. The results show that all CCAS have a positive and significant effect on the pattern of welfare improvement among smallholder farmers, but combinations of CCAS provide the highest payoffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undernutrition is continued to be significant public health problem worldwide. The extra calories and nutrients required to support breastfeeding make lactating mothers at higher risk of malnutrition than general population. Undernourished lactating mothers have also been found to influence both the quantity and quality of breast milk and then the nutritional and health status of their offspring. Different evidence showed that undernutrition among lactating mothers is a serious public health problem in Ethiopia in which one of every four lactate mothers are undernourished. Despite this fact, the prevalence of undernutrition among lactating women in Ethiopian was not well investigated and very limited number of studies are conducted. This study aims to assess the prevalence of undernutrition and associated factors among lactating mothers in rural Yilmana Densa District, Northwest Ethiopia. A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among 428 lactating mothers. The data were collected by using interviewers administered structured questionnaire; and also, anthropometric measurements were taken from the study participants. Binary logistic regression model was undertaken to identify significantly associated factors with undernutrition. The prevalence of undernutrition among lactating mothers was 22.6%. Household income, food security status, dietary diversity score, number of meals, potable water source, and latrine facility were found to be significantly associated with undernourishment of lactating mothers. A significant proportion of lactating mothers in the district suffered from undernutrition and hence, to improve nutritional status of lactating mothers, strategies should focus on nutrition counseling, advancing diversified production and consumption, improvement of access to potable water and latrine, as well as effective household food security interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spices are known to have important benefits in our daily diet, and it is common to see industrial and traditional spicy foods in our households and markets. In the present work, a systematic profiling of the nutritional, physicochemical, and textural properties of red pepper, garlic, red onion, and ginger was conducted. The detailed data of forty eight (48) parameters that consisted of macronutrients, micronutrients, physicochemical properties, functional property, and rheological properties of each of the components were organized. The result showed that red pepper had the highest content of crude protein (14.7%), crude fat (11.3%), crude fiber (38.57%), ash (6.7%), redness (a ∗ value) (32.5), CI (37.4%), and porosity (37.43%) compared to garlic, ginger, and red onion. Garlic had the highest content of carbohydrate content (76.42%), energy (346.58 kcal), pH (6.03), total soluble solid (26.76), particle size (D90, 561 µm), and volume weighted mean (238 µm) which is related to the high antimicrobial and antioxidant quality of garlic. Red onion had the highest content of Zn (71.16 mg/100 g), Na (94.5 mg/100 g), and Ca (71.16 mg/100 g) indicating that it is a rich source of minerals. The availability of data about the nutritional, physicochemical, functional, and textural properties of the ingredients is crucial for the production and formulation of industrial and traditional spicy foods with the highest quality and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to characterize the performance of crossbred sheep and crossbreeding scheme and to solicit farmers' opinions about crossbred sheep. A total of 238 respondents were selected from five districts and data were collected through a personal interview, focus group discussion, measurement of animals, and field observation. Continuous type of data were analyzed using different procedures of SAS, while the estimated breeding value (EBV) for distributed rams was estimated by the WOMBAT software fitting animal model. The findings showed that sheep were the most significant species and that they were primarily raised for meat consumption and income generation. The proportions of crossbred sheep were 79.6% in Angot, 61.3% in Dessie zuria, 64.2% in Gazo, 80.6% in Legambo, and 27.5% in the Kobo area. The sheep crossbreeding program was constrained by feed shortage, lack of improved genotype, and diseases. The ongoing sheep crossbreeding program lacks a proper recording scheme, rams were not selected based on genetic merit, not exchanged in time, lack periodic importation of genetically unrelated rams, and lacks fixing the maximum exotic gene level suitable for the production system. The EBVs of Dorper crossbred rams for birth weight and weaning weight were 0.007 kg and 0.273 kg, respectively. Tikur sheep had an earlier age at first lambing (AFL) than Awassi x Tikur sheep. Likewise, the indigenous Wollo sheep had earlier AFL, short lambing interval, and produced a large number of lambs per lifetime than their Awassi crossbreds. Dorper crossbreds were preferred (9.30 - 72.2 times greater and P < 0.001) for their growth rate, physical appearance, preference in the market or price, and milk production of ewes compared with indigenous Tumele sheep. The Awassi crossbred sheep were preferred (odds ratio = 12.7– 90.0 and P < 0.001) due to their good physical appearance, fast growth rate, wool yield, milk yield, and better preference in the market compared with Tikur and Wollo sheep breeds. The implementation of the crossbreeding program needs some sort of revision, monitoring, and periodic evaluation. Besides, it must be accompanied by improved management to exploit the expected benefits from the crossbreeding program in the low-input production system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curing is the first process of skin treatment mainly using sodium chloride salt to prevent its decay. At soaking step of tannery, the effluents will be discharged to the environment, which contains the chloride ion, which will negatively affect our environment. Therefore, it should be either treated or reused so that it can help to reduce amount of chloride ion of the soaking effluent discharged to the environment and cost of pickling. This study focused on recycling of curing salt for sheepskin pickling and studying its effect on the pickled skin's properties. Salt was recycled from cured skins manually, and it was purified through dilution, filtration, treatment, and drying. Five enzymatic bated sheepskins were collected from Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The recipes were developed based on the weight of the pelt which was going to be pickled with 0.8% H2SO4, 0.5% formic acid, and 80% H2O for each trial and the recycled salt at different concentrations (8%, 8.5%, 6.5%, 7%, and 7.5%) for S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, respectively. Bromocresol green was the pH indicator. Then, properties of treated samples were measured and evaluated in line with ISO standards, and the pH of the recipe was checked. The results showed that S1 treated with the mentioned materials and 8% salt amount has highest tensile strength (80.3 N/mm2). In addition, S1 has also the maximum tear strength of 60 N/mm2 and the minimum was 45.69 N/mm2. On the contrary, S3 has shown the least values of tensile strength and elongations as well as least tear strength. S1 has the maximum shrinkage temprature of 107°C and S3 has that of the least value 89°C which is lower compared with the standard shrinkage temperature, 95°C. The pH values were found to be within the standard for pickling. The overall result of this study was promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a continually spreading health problem in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Despite this, up- to-date information on referral laboratory facility has been not yet reported. Therefore, this study was aimed at reporting up-to-date information about eight year's cutaneous leishmaniasis trend status. Data on referred cases from 2013 to 2020 were collected at Amhara Public Health Institute Parasitology department by reviewing log book. Of the 243 suspected cases, 114 (46.9%) were positive (confirmed) with microscope and cultured results showed that most of them were negatives. Most of the suspected cases were from 16 to 30 years and males by age and sex, respectively. Trend status by year depicted that largest numbers of suspected and confirmed cases were reported in 2013, 2015, and 2019 years. Finally, the trend status by zone showed that most cases were reported from South Gondar and Awi zones, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many endoparasites are still considered neglected tropical illnesses. The term "endoparasites" refers to infections caused by both helminths and protozoa. In many places in Ethiopia, particularly Debre Tabor, epidemiological data on the prevalence and associated variables of endoparasites among under-five children is unavailable. Thus, the aim of this study was to gather baseline data on the prevalence of endoparasites and their associated variables among under-five children who visited the Debre Tabor comprehensive specialized hospital in Northwest Ethiopia. A hospital-based quantitative cross-sectional study was used. The study was carried out from May 1 to November 30, 2021. Study participants were selected by a systematic sampling technique. The stool specimen was examined for the presence of different stages of intestinal parasites (adult, trophozoite, larvae, cysts, and ova) using direct wet mount, modified formal-ether sedimentation, and modified Ziehl–Neelsen methods. The IBM SPSS statistical package (version 23) was used to enter and analyze the collected data. The data was summarized using frequency tables and a bar chart. The adjusted odds ratio and p value <0.05 were used to declare the final association. In the present study, a total of 258 under-five children and their mothers/guardians were involved in the study, with a response rate of 100%. More than half of the respondents, 137 (53.10%), were females, and 159 (61.63%) were in the age group of 24 to 59 months. The overall prevalence of one or more endoparasites among under-five children was 45 (17.44%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that health supervision, child food freshness, regular trimming of fingernails, and children's playground cleanliness were significantly associated with childhood endoparasites. The present study demonstrated a higher prevalence of endoparasites among under-five children. Health supervision, child food freshness, regular trimming of fingernails, and children's playground cleanliness were significantly associated with endoparasites. Thus, strengthening health education about food, personal, and environmental hygiene for both children and their mothers/guardians is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approval of direct‐acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) was an important milestone, providing a wider range of treatment options and creating the possibility for drug switching after initiation. In addition to improved utilisation of oral anticoagulants (OACs) for stroke prevention, reports of switching among OACs are growing in the literature; switching may influence clinical outcomes, healthcare costs and patient satisfaction. This review aimed to summarise the current literature on the pattern of OAC switching in patients with AF, including reasons for switching and clinical consequences following switching. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Embase on 27 June 2020. We included 39 articles published after 2013, following the introduction of apixaban. The review found that switching among OACs was common in clinical practice, significantly varying with the type of OAC. Studies reporting the reason for switching and clinical outcomes were comparatively limited. The decision to switch was often related to safety issues (usually bleeding), poor anticoagulation control and ease of use. Patient characteristics, clinical conditions and drug interactions were found to be associated with switching from OACs. Findings regarding bleeding outcomes following switching were inconsistent, possibly confounded by the rationale for switching and the switching protocol. Noting the limited number of studies included and their relatively short follow‐up periods, switching did not have a significant impact on the risk of stroke and other thrombotic outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to understand better potential rationales for switching and the clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage stability and line losses are inevitable issues even in modern power systems. There are several techniques that emerged to solve problems in the power system to provide quality and uninterrupted supply to customers. The algorithms used in this paper to determine the appropriate location and size of the Static Var Compensator (SVC) in the Distribution Network (DN) are Moth Flame Optimization (MFO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The objective function is defined to minimize voltage deviation and power loss. The burning problem of voltage stability improvement current scenario is because of a rise in electricity demands in all sectors. Paramount duties of power engineers are to keep the system stable and maintain voltage magnitude constant even during peak hours. The results were checked with the aid of MATLAB on Wolaita Sodo radial distribution of 34 bus data networks. The potential use of SVC is key to solve distribution system power quality issues and estimating the advantage of the installation. The results obtained from the test system were compared with PSO results. This comparison was done to know the computational time of proposed techniques. The performance of the MFA based SVC was superior in distribution system and highlighted the importance of device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To estimate the prevalence of macrosomia and contributing factors among pregnant women with diabetes in Ethiopia. Methods: The Cochrane, PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Science electronic databases and grey literature found in online university repositories were searched for primary studies reporting the prevalence of macrosomia (birth weight ≥4 kg, irrespective of gestational age) and/or at least one determinant factor using WHO diabetes diagnosis criteria were involved. Variations across the studies were checked using the I2 statistic; funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess publication bias. A weighted inverse random effect model was used to estimate the overall prevalence of macrosomia. Results: The overall prevalence of macrosomic newborns among pregnant women with diabetes [15.1% (95% CI: 9.0%, 21.2%)] was higher than the prevalence among non‐diabetic mothers (3.9%). Maternal blood glucose level >100 mg/dl [AOR = 10.5: 95% CI: 5.9, 15.1] and >120 mg/dl [AOR = 8.8: 95% CI: 4.5, 13.0], lack of Antenatal Care (ANC) visit [AOR = 10.8: 95% CI: 6.0, 15.0], previous adverse birth outcomes and advanced maternal age [AOR = 3.5: 95% CI: 1.0, 5.9] were significantly associated with the prevalence of macrosomia at 95% CI. Conclusion: The pooled prevalence of macrosomia among pregnant women with diabetes was higher than the prevalence among non‐diabetic pregnant women (3.9%). Advanced maternal age, previous adverse birth outcomes, lack of ANC and uncontrolled maternal plasma glucose level were independent predictors of macrosomia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, postharvest losses, mainly storage losses by insects, are very critical problems in agricultural production systems. In particular, maize is highly susceptible to insect and pest attacks in the storage. These storage losses affect the livelihood of small-scale farmers by aggravating their food insecurity and reducing their household income. This critical problem forced the farmers to look forward modern storage technologies like Purdue improved crop storage (PICS) bags, but its adoption is considerably low in the study area. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to examine the determinants to use PICS bags for maize storage. Data were collected through semistructured questionnaire, group discussion, key informants, and direct observation. A total of 392 sample household heads were selected by simple random sampling techniques. Binary logistic regression model, descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the data. This study revealed that, about 58% of the respondents replied that the importance of PICS bags in reducing insect damage was high. The results of binary logit model also indicated that educational level, sex, awareness, training, accessibility, perception on the effect of pesticide, social responsibility, and total income of the household positively and significantly affect farmers' decision to use PICS bags. Moreover, the price of PICS affects negatively and significantly. Therefore, policy makers have to give emphasis for this newly introduced storage technology to address storage loss problems by taking in to account these determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical energy demand is steadily growing, and hence, the integration of photovoltaic system to the distribution networks is also dramatically increasing though it has a significant effect on the network's power quality. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of solar PV integration on the power quality of distribution networks. The study is conducted using ETAP software, taking one of the radial distribution networks available in Bahir Dar city during the peak of connected loads which has the least voltage profile. Furthermore, the optimal location of the PV in the network is done using particle swarm optimization. Accordingly, the appropriate location of the PV system is determined to be the farthest end bus (bus 34). Also, the impact in terms of voltage and current harmonic distortion on the distribution feeder network is comparatively discussed by comparing the distribution system parameters with different penetration levels of solar PV system. The simulation results obtained demonstrate that high harmonic distortion level is injected correspondingly as the penetration capacity of PV system increased which indicates that the solar PV system should be integrating only up to a maximum possible capacity the network can carry. The integration of the PV system beyond this maximum penetration level causes production of high harmonic distortion which adversely affects the system performance. At the maximum penetration level which allows the acceptable harmonic distortion limit, the total voltage harmonic distortion and current demand distortion are found to be 4.97% and 14.98%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and Schistosoma mansoni are the main causes of morbidity among schoolchildren in the tropics. A school-based deworming program was launched to control and eliminate the infection in endemic countries including Ethiopia. Although periodic deworming is conducted in endemic areas, the prevalence of the infection is high in the country. In addition, periodic evaluation of the efficacy of the anthelminthic drug is limited. Objective. This study is aimed at checking the efficacy of mebendazole and praziquantel with the respective STHs and Schistosoma mansoni parasites. Methods. A longitudinal study was conducted from February to March 2018 among 422 schoolchildren. Stool samples were collected at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks posttreatment and were processed using the Kato-Katz technique. Schoolchildren positive for STHs were treated with mebendazole and those positive for Schistosoma mansoni with praziquantel. After two weeks, a second round of stool was collected and examined, and then, single-dose redosing was given to each positive child. Lastly, the third stool sample was collected two weeks after the initiation of the redosing and checked for STHs and S. mansoni parasites. A close follow-up of students who were treated was done. All the data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to compute the cure rate and egg reduction rate of mebendazole and praziquantel. Results. Among 422 participants, the prevalence of STHs, hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and S. mansoni was 44.7%, 35.1%, 21.1%, and 13.9%, respectively. The cure rate of mebendazole against A. lumbricoides increased from 60% in the single dose to 100% in redosing after two weeks. The cure rate of mebendazole against hookworm also increased from 32.4% in the single dose to 91.0% in the redosing. The cure rate of praziquantel against S. mansoni-infected children was 91.5% in the first round and 100% in the redosing phase. There was a 98.6-100% egg reduction rate in the redosing regimen of both drugs. Conclusion. The cure and egg reduction rates of single-dose mebendazole in the treatment of hookworm and A. lumbricoides are lower at week two than at redosing, while cure and egg reduction rates of single-dose praziquantel are satisfactory to treat S. mansoni. Therefore, single-dose praziquantel to S. mansoni and redosing of single-dose mebendazole to A. lumbricoides and hookworm infections can be used for treatment purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections in grade school children in Maksegnit, Northwest Ethiopia. Five species of intestinal parasites were identified with an overall prevalence of 155 (40.4%). Among these, Ascaris lumbricoides 122 (31.8%) and Entamoeba histolytica 18 (4.7%) were predominant. Of the total 155 (40.4%) positive individuals, 149 (39%) had a single infection and the rest 6 (1.6%) had double parasitic infections. Of the different variables assessed, age, gender, shoe wearing, and eating raw or undercooked vegetables were not significantly associated with the prevalence of intestinal parasites (P > 0.05). However, a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) was observed between infected children and variables including defecation habit (AOR = 0.216), cleanliness of fingernails (AOR = 0.146), drinking river water (AOR = 0.124), and hand washing habit after defecation (AOR = 0.236) (P < 0.05). Regular deworming, education on personal hygiene, and environmental sanitation to both students and their parents shall be implemented to reduce the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The prevalence and incidence rate of epilepsy were found to be higher in low- and middle-income countries. Uncontrolled epilepsy has a high risk of disability, stigma, discrimination, human rights violations, and premature death. The available studies of controlled seizure in Ethiopia have showed inconsistent results which calls for systematic review and meta-analysis. Therefore, this review intended to show the pooled prevalence of controlled seizure among people with epilepsy receiving antiepileptic drugs at outpatient department. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Hinnarri databases, and Google Scholar for grey literatures. Data were extracted with structured format prepared using Microsoft Excel and exported to Stata/MP 16.0 software for analyses. The I 2 test was used to check the heterogeneity between primary studies with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. A total of 23 primary studies were included in the review showing the pooled prevalence of controlled seizure to be 46% (95% CI: 35, 56). A subgroup analysis of the primary studies showed a considerable variation in magnitude of seizure freedom by study regions, age groups, and seizure-free period. The highest prevalence was found in Addis Ababa 52% (95% CI: 29, 75), pediatric patients 77% (95% CI: 71, 83), and a seizure-free period of less than six months 58% (95% CI: 32, 83). On the other hand, the lowest prevalence of controlled seizure was found in Tigray 27% (95% CI: 11, 65), adult patients 43% (95% CI: 32, 54), and a seizure-free period of six or more 41% (95% CI: 32, 51). Higher frequency of seizure before treatment (2.23, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.31) and medication nonadherence (2.7, 95% CI: 1.25, 4.15) had statistically significant association with uncontrolled seizure. Conclusion. In this review, the prevalence of controlled seizure was found to be low. This warrants that clinicians should give more focus to epileptic patients regarding monitoring and evaluation of treatment outcome of epilepsy and factors that affect seizure control in routine clinical services. The use of standardized definition of controlled seizure, designing strategies to identify pharmacoresistant epilepsy and its treatment, and increasing medication adherence are recommended in Ethiopia. The review protocol has been registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42021215302. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Though the goal of healthcare institutions is patient safety, errors have been committed by healthcare providers. Incident reporting behavior enhances patient safety by reducing the repeated occurrence of errors in the health facility. Therefore, this study aims to identify incident disclosing behaviors and associated factors among nurses working in referral hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. Institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among randomly selected 319 nurses working in referral hospitals of Amhara region from March 1–30, 2019. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data were coded and entered into EpiData 4.2 software and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 for analysis. All variables with p value <0.25 during bivariable binary logistic regression analysis were considered for multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. Odds ratio along with 95% CI was estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value ≤0.05. Results. The proportion of nurses who reported incidents was 31.9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 27, 3)). Fear of administrative sanctions (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.22, 0.90), fear of legal penalty (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14, 0.50), lack of feedback (AOR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.13, 0.66), nonsupportive environment (AOR = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14, 0.52), and feel that reporting to colleague is easier (AOR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.35, 5.20) were all found to be significant factors. Conclusions. The proportion of nurses who reported incidents was low. Fear of administrative sanctions, fear of legal penalty, lack of feedback, nonsupportive environment, and felling that reporting to colleagues was easier are found to be significant factors. Developing a system that encourages critical incident reporting behavior and provide protection from penalties for nurses to report incidents for the enhancement of patient safety and quality of care at each health facility and regional level is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electricity distribution network in Ethiopia has the radial nature of network configuration. The interruption of power is due to overloading and failure of distribution lines due to external forces, like trees, animals, and wind. The failure of the radial distribution network brings blackout in the whole power system network as there is no alternative electricity supply. The renewable energy potential of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, especially solar power is abundant and needs a mechanism to give a response for electricity demand in the country and city other than expecting from the national grid. The solar photovoltaic system interconnection in radial feeders may bring a solution for power interruption and network performance. The sizing and siting of the solar photovoltaic system in the Ethiopian radial distribution system required an optimization tool to obtain better distribution network parameter. The power loss minimization and voltage profile enhancement of the radial distribution network are the key objectives of this research. Selective particle swarm optimization (SPSO) is used to fix the size and site of installation for network capacity enhancement. A multiobjective optimization problem is formulated so as to meet different constraints to be optimized by the SPSO. Finally, the SPSO enables determining proper size and site of solar power installation and bringing better performance in the radial distribution network of Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the development of a microbial bioprocess for high‐level production of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA), a valuable non‐proteinogenic amino acid with multiple applications in medical, agricultural, and food industries, using Escherichia coli as a cell factory. We first implemented the Shemin (i.e., C4) pathway for heterologous 5‐ALA biosynthesis in E. coli. To reduce, but not to abolish, the carbon flux toward essential tetrapyrrole/porphyrin biosynthesis, we applied clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) to repress hemB expression, leading to extracellular 5‐ALA accumulation. We then applied metabolic engineering strategies to direct more dissimilated carbon flux toward the key precursor of succinyl‐CoA for enhanced 5‐ALA biosynthesis. Using these engineered E. coli strains for bioreactor cultivation, we successfully demonstrated high‐level 5‐ALA biosynthesis from glycerol (~30 g L−1) under both microaerobic and aerobic conditions, achieving up to 5.95 g L−1 (36.9% of the theoretical maximum yield) and 6.93 g L−1 (50.9% of the theoretical maximum yield) 5‐ALA, respectively. This study represents one of the most effective bio‐based production of 5‐ALA from a structurally unrelated carbon to date, highlighting the importance of integrated strain engineering and bioprocessing strategies to enhance bio‐based production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medication-related problems (MRPs) are an important healthcare problem. This study aimed at reviewing the published literature in Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence of MRPs and to summarize associated factors. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases from inception to April 2020. Articles that addressed MRPs were eligible for inclusion. Article screening, data extraction, and study quality analysis were performed independently by two reviewers. Studies targeting specific disease condition were considered as specific, while the remaining were nonspecific. The prevalence of MRPs was then computed in medians and interquartile ranges (IQR), while associated factors were summarized in a table. Of the thirty-two studies included in this review, the majority of them (n = 24) targeted MRPs, while the remaining studies (n = 8) investigated adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Studies varied in the study design, study population, and definition of MRPs and ADRs used. The overall median prevalence was 70.8% (IQR = 61.0-80.2) with a range of 16.0% to 88.7%. The median prevalence of MRPs in specific and nonspecific patients was 71.2% (IQR = 60.7-71.2) and 69.3% (IQR = 60.7-82.0), respectively. In addition, a median of 36.6% (IQR = 10.0-85.7) of patients experienced ADRs. Indication-related and effectiveness-related MRPs were commonly reported in both specific and nonspecific patients, while noncompliance MRPs were more prevalent among specific patients than nonspecific patients. Increasing age, presence of co-morbidity, and an increasing number of drugs were the commonly identified contributing factors of MRPs. The review showed that more than two-thirds of the study participants developed MRPs. Hence, an integrated approach should be designed to improve the optimal use of pharmacotherapy to reduce the burden of MRPs. Further, future research should be undertaken to prepare cost-effective and efficient prevention mechanisms to reduce or halt the development of MRPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Preconception care is a set of interventional care for the better maternal and childbirth outcome. Nevertheless, this area still faces implementation problems in most of the developing countries including Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the knowledge of preconception care and associated factors among healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. Method. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 660 healthcare providers working in public health institutions in Awi zone, North West Ethiopia. A pretested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from individual healthcare providers who were selected randomly using a multistage sampling technique. The data entry and analysis were conducted using SPSS version 25 software. Frequency, proportions, means, and standard deviations were used to describe the data. Candidate variables at bivariate logistic regression with a p value > 0.2 were moved to multivariable logistic regression models, and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Result. Among the total of 660 healthcare providers, 344 (52%) had good knowledge of preconception care. The odds ratio of having good knowledge of preconception care was high among healthcare providers working at hospitals [ AOR = 2.316 , 95% CI: 1.900-5.528], using smartphones [ AOR = 3.177 , 95% CI: 1.945-5.167], presence of preconception care guidelines at health institutions [ AOR = 3.166 , 95% CI: 1.872-5.299], taking training on preconception care education and counseling [ AOR = 3.812 , 95% CI: 2.241-6.581], taking training about human immune virus [ AOR = 4.911 , 95% CI: 3.008-8.123], and attending training on increasing public awareness of preconception health and care [ AOR = 2.345 , 95% CI: 3.922-5.488] which were independent predictors associated with knowledge of preconception care among healthcare providers. Conclusion. Healthcare providers' knowledge of preconception care was low. Study participants working at hospitals, using smartphones, presence of preconception guidelines at health institutions, taking training on preconception education and counseling, taking training about human immune virus testing and management, and increasing public awareness of preconception care affect knowledge of health providers positively. The provision of updated training on preconception and linkage of internet service with health service should be enhanced among healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Adverse effects from antiretroviral therapy (ART) have an impact on quality of life and medication adherence. There is no clear understanding of how people manage the adverse effects of ART. The individual taking medications which cause serious adverse effects may choose to stop or reduce the medications to relieve the adverse effects. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing coping strategies for adverse effects of ART among adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at HIV clinic of University of Gondar Referral Hospital (UoGRH). A total of 394 study participants were recruited by systematic random sampling. Data were collected through interviewing patients. Data were entered to Epi-Info 3.5.4 and analyzed using SPSS-20.0. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient's sociodemographic data and the adverse effects of their ART regimen. Binary and multivariate logistic regressions were used to investigate the potential predictors of nonadherence coping strategies. Results. The majorities of study participants were females (66%) and aged between 35 and 44 years (38.1%). The major adverse effects reported by the participants were headache (48.2%) followed by fatigability (18%) and loss of appetite (17.5%). Coping strategies used by HIV patients for adverse effect of ART were positive emotion coping strategy (91.1%), social support seeking (76.6%), taking other medications (76.6%), information seeking (48.7%), and nonadherence (35.5%). Younger age (AOR = 29.54, 95% CI = 2.49–35.25, p = 0.007), low level of education (AOR = 5.70, 95% CI = 2.16-15.05, p < 0.001), and living far from the health institution (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.29–5.57, p = 0.008) were associated with nonadherence coping strategy to relieve the adverse effects of ART. Conclusion. The present study revealed that positive emotion coping was the most commonly used strategy. Age, level of education, and distance from health institution were the predictors of nonadherence coping strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the management practice, medication adherence, and factors affecting medication adherence in CKD patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the nephrology clinic of TASH. A total of 256 CKD (stages 1 and 2=50, stage 3=88, stage 4=55, and stage 5=63) patients were recruited through systematic random sampling. Data were collected from medical records and interviewing patients. The rate of adherence was determined using 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 statistical software. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression were used to investigate the potential predictors of medication nonadherence. Results. About 57.3% of diabetes mellitus with hypertension were treated with combination of insulin and ACEI based regimens. Other cardiovascular comorbidities were predominantly treated with Acetyl Salicylic Acid in combination with β-blocker. Only 61.3% (stages 1 and 2=70%, stage 3=73.9%, stage 4=54.5%, and stage 5=43%) of the study population were adherent to their treatment regimens. Forgetfulness (79.8%) was the major reason for medication nonadherence. Patients who had an average and high monthly income were 4.14 (AOR=4.14, 95% CI: 1.45-11.84, p=0.008) and 6.17 times (AOR=6.17, 95% CI: 1.02-37.46, p=0.048) more likely to adhere as compared to those who had very low income. Patients who were prescribed with ≥5 drugs were 0.46 times (AOR= 0.54, 95% CI: 0.27-1.10, p=0.049) less likely to adhere compared to their counterpart. Patients who were students, drivers, or teachers working in private school were about 7.46 times (AOR=7.46, 95% CI: 1.49-37.26, p=0.014) more likely to adhere compared with patients who were farmers. Conclusion. Insulin and ACEIs based regimens were the most frequently used regimens in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and hypertension comorbidities. Very low income, increased number of prescribed medications, and being a farmer were the predictors of medication nonadherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Although tenofovir (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC)/efavirenz (EFV) and zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC)/efavirenz (EFV) are used as preferred first line regimen, their head-to-head comparison in terms of their efficacy and tolerability was limited. This review aimed to synthesize the best available evidence on the comparative efficacy and tolerability of the two regimens. Methods. Seven sites and databases in addition to Google search until August 20, 2016, were searched. Only randomized clinical trials conducted on adult population were included in this study. Our primary outcome was viral load suppression while secondary outcomes were death and tolerability. Undetectable viral load is defined as <50 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) copies/ml. Joanna Briggs institute meta-analysis of statistics assessment and review instrument (JBI-MAStARI) and critical appraisal and data extraction tool were applied for critical assessment and data extraction, respectively. We performed a random effect meta-analysis to pool the relative risk (RR) for viral load suppression (<50 HIV RNA copies/ml and <400 HIV RNA copies/ml), tolerability, and death. Result. Data was extracted from four articles, which included a total of 2381 participants. We found superior viral load suppression among tenofovir (TDF) arm compared to zidovudine (ZDV) arm. Tenofovir arm achieves viral load <50 HIV RNA copies/ml (RR = 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.04, 1.21], I2=0%) higher than zidovudine arm. Similarly TDF arm is superior in viral load suppression to <400 HIV RNA copies/ml (RR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.11, 1.27], I2=0%). Moreover, TDF based regimens were more likely to be tolerated than ZDV based regimens (4 trials, 2381 participants (RR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.02, 1.10], I2=51%)). However, forest plot of death shows that it was not significant (RR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.51, 1.62]). Conclusion. The use of TDF/FTC/EFV as first line regimen for naïve HIV-1 infected adult patient showed superior viral load suppression and tolerability as compared to ZDV/3TC/EFV. In order to compare the death outcome of both ZDV/3TC/EFV and TDF/FTC/EFV further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of nonadherence and its contributing factors among diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic in Adama Hospital. Methods. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with diabetes mellitus attending the diabetes mellitus clinic of Adama Referral Hospital. Every other patient was selected and data regarding their medication adherence was collected using a structured interview. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS-16. Result. The response rate from this study was 98.3%. A total of 270 patients were interviewed; 51.5% were males. A total of 68.1% of the patients included in the study were married. 14% were younger than 40 years, and 50% were between 40 and 60 years. 21.8% of the participants ascribed their nonadherence to forgetting to take their medications. Patients with duration of diabetes ≤5 years (82.07%) were more compliant to their medication than those with >5 years (60.8%), which was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.003). Insulin, 47%, and glibenclamide plus metformin, 43.7%, were the most commonly prescribed mono- and combination therapies, respectively. Common comorbid conditions include hypertension, 148 (54.82%), and visual impairment, 89 (32.96%).The proportion of male patients adherent to their antidiabetic medications was found to be lower than 69.78% compared to the female patients (74.81%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Most diabetic patients are currently being managed with the most effective available drugs. However the result from this study indicates that the desired blood sugar level could not be controlled and maintained adequately. This was because of poor adherence to the prescribed drug regimen and poor knowledge and practice of successful self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the Ethiopian state was reorganized as an ethnic federation in the 1990s, both ethnicity and governance experienced the impact of the change. Most importantly, ethnicity became the key instrument regarding entitlement, representation and state organization. For the larger ethnic groups, fitting into the new ethno-federal structure has been relatively straightforward. In contrast, ethnic federalism has necessitated a renegotiation of identity and of statehood among several smaller communities that straddle larger ethnic groups. It has also led to the reconfiguration of centre–periphery relations. This contribution discusses how the federal restructuring of Ethiopia with the aim of matching ethnic and political boundaries led to renegotiation of identity, statehood and centre–periphery relations among several Somali and Oromo clans that share considerable ethno-linguistic affinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in the understanding of the medicinal properties of many herbs, the consumer today is confronted with the lack of or misinformation concerning the safety of these herbs that rivals the heyday of the patent medicine era. In the present study, Dodonaea viscosa (Sapindaceae), a medicinal plant commonly used for skin diseases in Ethiopia was subjected to a systematic dermatotoxicity study. To this effect, the dermatotoxicity of an 80% methanol extract of the leaf was investigated in animals following standard procedures for irritation, sensitization, acute toxicity and repeated toxicity tests. The skin irritation test in rabbits showed the extract to be a slight or negligibly slight irritant, with a primary irritation index of 0.45. A sensitization test in mice by the mouse ear swelling test method revealed the extract to be a non-sensitizer in the dose range 12-30 mg/mL. The percent responder was zero. The acute and repeated dermal toxicity tests on rats did not show any overt sign of toxicity. The findings of this study collectively indicate that dermal application of D. viscosa is not associated with any toxicologically relevant effects and the data could provide satisfactory preclinical evidence of safety to launch a clinical trial on a standardized formulation of the plant extracts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article titled "Critical Incident Disclosing Behaviors and Associated Factors among Nurses Working in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study" [[1]], there was a spelling error in author Demeke Mesfin Belay's name in the author list, where "Demke Mesfin Belay" should have read "Demeke Mesfin Belay." REFERENCES 1 Eshete Y., Tesfaye B., Dagnew Z., Kefale D., Mesfin Belay D., Minuye B. Critical Incident Disclosing Behaviors and Associated Factors among Nurses Working in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study. [Extracted from the article]