Search

Recycling waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) for valuable materials is a critical aspect of the circular economy and sustainable waste management. Recycling these solid wastes into value-added products is one method for reducing landfill waste and pollution. The purpose of this research was to investigate the recyclability of plastic wastes of Polycarbonate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene blends with Brominated Flame-Retardant additives (PC-ABS-FR). Two types of plastic wastes, PC-ABS-FR (GL) and PC-ABS-FR (DB), were collected and converted into polymer chips using a mechanical process. To study the effectiveness of waste recyclability, 3D printing filaments were produced through the extrusion process. Chemical elements, functional groups, and thermal and mechanical properties of recycled products were evaluated using EDX, FTIR, DSC, and universal tensile testing equipment, respectively. TGA, cone calorimetry, and melt flow index analyses were also carried out. The results showed that recycled PC- ABS–FR (GL) waste-based filament samples had better thermal and mechanical properties. On the contrary, PC- ABS–FR (DB) waste recyclability was not effective in filament extrusion. The mechanical properties of the 3D printing filaments produced from PC-ABS-FR electronic waste were found to be similar to those observed in commercially available and previously reported filaments. The strength, thermal property, cross-sectional homogeneity, and filament diameter of 1.8 ± 0.03 mm of the 3D printer filament made from PC- ABS–FR (GL) were suitable for 3D printing applications such as children’s toys, dust bins, and flower vases.

This study aimed to develop food packaging from cornstarch combined with methanol extract of Plumbago zeylanica root as antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial activity of the extract was tested against three bacterial strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli and one fungal strain called Aspergilla niger. Microorganism growth inhibition was examined by employing a zone of inhibition check on solid media. Two hundred microliters of assorted concentrations (200 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, and 25 mg/ml) of plant extracts were added into an eight-millimeter hole diameter employing a micropipette. Hence, 200 µl of 200 mg/ml extract inhibited 13.5, 8.75, 10.5, and 27 mm diameter for S. typhi, E. coli, S. aureus, and A. niger, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations 1.25 mg/ml, 2.5 mg/ml, 1.25 mg/ml, and 0.625 mg/ml of crude extract utterly suppressed the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, S. typhi, and A. niger, respectively. Later on, the antimicrobial agent films and the control media were prepared by the casting method. The prepared antimicrobial packaging films exhibited inhibitory zones (a wide clear zone on solid media) for S. typhi and A. niger growth inhibition; however, inhibitions for E. coli and S. aureus were not effective. Antimicrobial activity decreased while decreasing the solubility of the film and antimicrobial concentration with increasing cornstarch content in the solution. The tensile strength of the films increased with increasing antimicrobial content in the solution. Higher antimicrobial inhibition activity was found at a 1.5 glycerol/starch ratio, 1.5 gram content of P. zeylanica, and 0.5 mm film thickness. Generally, the plasticized cornstarch antimicrobial packaging film combined with P. zeylanica extract had a significant effect on the growth of each selected microorganism and the physical properties of the material (P

Food insecurity is one of the most serious problems in developing countries, especially in Ethiopia. Therefore, it is important to understand the barriers to improving the state of food security in the country. Thus, this study aims to investigate the determinants of food security of rural households in the North Shewa zone in the Amhara region, Ethiopia. A sample of 796 farm households was considered. This paper used the calorie intake method per day to measure household food security status and a logit model to investigate the determinants of food security. The results show that family size, age of the household head, educational level of the head, off-farm activities, monthly income of the household, and distance from the market are the major determinants of rural household food security in the North Shewa Zone. The findings suggest that expanding the access to education in farm households, expanding the access to off-farm activities to increase household income, and expanding market access to farm households are important to improve rural food security status in the study area.

Background. Childhood diarrhea remains a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Women empowerment reduces child mortality, and wife beating attitude is one of the indicators of women empowerment. There is a dearth of evidence about wife beating attitudes and childhood diarrhea in SSA. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the association between attitude towards wife beating and diarrhea among under-five children. Methods. We used Demographic and Health Surveys from 25 countries in SSA that were conducted between 2010 and 2020. Using Stata version 14 software, we carried out the analysis on 153,864 children under five. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied, and the results were presented using adjusted odd ratios (aOR) at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results. The pooled results show that 71.4% of married women disagreed with wife beating. About 20.5% of under-five children of married women had diarrhea. Childhood diarrhea varied from highest prevalence in Chad (27.9%) to the lowest prevalence in Sierra-Leone (8.5%). The study showed lower odds of diarrhea among children of married women who disagreed with wife beating (aOR = 0.66 95% CI; 0.54–0.80) compared to children of married women who agreed with wife beating. Moreover, the study results show that women’s age (35–39 years-aOR = 0.48, 95% CI; 0.31–0.74, 40–44 years-aOR = 0.57, 95% CI; 0.35–0.93, 45–49 years-aOR = 0.35, 95% CI; 0.16–0.79) was negatively associated with childhood diarrhea, while husband’s education (primary school-aOR = 1.36, 95% CI; 1.05–1.77), parity (ever born 3-4 children-aOR = 1.36, 95% CI; 1.09–1.70, and 5+ children-aOR = 1.56, 95% CI; 1.14–2.12), and religion (Muslim-aOR = 3.56, 95% CI; 1.44–8.83) were positively associated with diarrhea among under-five children. Conclusions. The study shows association between women attitude towards wife beating and childhood diarrhea. Therefore, empowering women, especially young women by increasing awareness about domestic violence, their rights, and empowering them through education and economic advancement need to be considered in order to reduce childhood diarrhea. Moreover, fertility control or birth spacing and working closely with religious leaders are important factors to consider in reducing childhood diarrhea.

Background. Globally, anemia affects one-fourth of the world population including 30% of nonpregnant reproductive-aged women. It has a number of causes including micronutrient deficiencies and chronic infections, inherited or acquired disorders of hemoglobin synthesis and red blood cell production, or survival alterations. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among reproductive-aged women in Sayint Adjibar town, South Wollo Zone, Northeast Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April among 359 reproductive-aged women (RAW). Systematic random sampling technique was implemented to select study participants. Sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and reproductive histories of study participants were collected using the structured and pretested questionnaire. Capillary blood and stool samples were collected from each study participant for hemoglobin and parasitological analysis, respectively. Data were entered into Epi Info version 7 and transferred to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression models were fitted to identify associated factors of anemia. p value

Background. Targeting pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics provides a unique opportunity for implementing the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programs against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of newborn babies. The objective of this study was to assess the PMTCT service utilization rate and to characterize its reasons among pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics at selected public health facilities in Debre Berhan Town, Northern Ethiopia. Methods. A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 355 pregnant women from May 1 to June 15, 2019. The participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique, and data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics like frequency, mean, and standard deviation were reported using text, table, and graphs. Results. The mean ages of the respondents were 24 (±5.6) years, and the majority of the respondents (287 (80.8%)) were urban residents. In this study, prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission service utilization rate was 86.8%. The most frequently mentioned reasons for not utilization of services were fear of stigma and discrimination (42.6%), fear of rejection by partner (19.1%), fear of positive test results (17.0%), lack of awareness (12.7%), and wastage of time (8.5%). Hence, continuous health education and comprehensive counseling are necessary to increase the awareness and reduce stigma, fear of the positive result, and partner rejection.

Background. Interleukin 6 (IL6) is a multifunctional cytokine produced by various cells, including vascular endothelial cells. IL6 has both pro- and non-/anti-inflammatory functions, and the response to IL6 is dependent on whether it acts via the membrane-bound IL6 receptor α (IL6Rα) (classic signaling) or the soluble form of the receptor (transsignaling). As human endothelial cells produce IL6 and at the same time express IL6Rα, we hypothesized that IL6 may have autocrine functions. Methods. Knockdown of IL6 in cultured human endothelial cells was performed using siRNA. Knockdown efficiency was evaluated using ELISA. RNA sequencing was employed to characterize the transcriptional consequence of IL6 knockdown, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to further explore the functional roles of IL6. Results. Knockdown of IL6 in cultured endothelial cells resulted in a 84-92% reduction in the release of IL6. Knockdown of IL6 resulted in dramatic changes in transcriptional pattern; knockdown of IL6 in the absence of soluble IL6Rα (sIL6Rα) led to differential regulation of 1915 genes, and knockdown of IL6 in the presence of sIL6Rα led to differential regulation of 1967 genes (fold change 1.5, false discovery rate

Lavandula angustifolia is used in traditional and folk medicines of Ankober District, North Central Ethiopia, for the treatment of several livestock and human disorders. This toxicity study aimed to investigate L. angustifolia essential oil oral toxicity in mice and skin irritation in rabbit. L. angustifolia essential oil was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods and showed predominance of Eucalyptol (52.36%), Camphor (11.91%), gamma-terpinene (8.775%) and endoborneol (7.585%). Limit test at 2000 mg/kg dose was used for L. angustifolia essential oil acute toxicity test and revealed LD50 value was higher than 2000 mg/kg. For subacute toxicity study 2000mg/kg was given orally to each mouse for 21 days. The result demonstrated no significant changes (p > 0.05) in the body weights, and biochemical parameters, gross abnormalities, water, and food intake were observed. No macroscopic changes were seen in the histopathology analysis of kidneys and livers. For skin irritation test shaved rabbit skin was treated with 10% ointment formulation. Ointment of L. angustifolia oil did not affect mice skin. Generally, this toxicity study demonstrated that L. angustifolia essential oil is nontoxic.

Objective. To assess undernutrition and associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in Gondar Town, northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Multistage sampling method was used to select study participants. Structured interviewer administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were used. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify associated factors. Results. The prevalences of wasting and stunting were 6.8% and 45.7%, respectively. Higher odds of wasting were observed among children whose fathers were daily laborers (AOR = 2.63), children who had eating problem (AOR = 2.96), and those who were not exclusively breast-fed for the first six months (AOR = 5.63). Similarly, higher odds of stunting were found among female children (AOR = 1.65), children who lived in households having four to six families (AOR = 2.14), and children who did not start breast-feeding within one hour of birth (AOR = 0.67). Conclusion. Childhood undernutrition was a significant problem. Child eating problem, paternal occupation, and exclusive breast-feeding were associated with wasting, whereas family size, child sex, and breast-feeding initiation time were associated with stunting. Therefore, strengthening of early initiation and exclusive breast-feeding, promoting healthcare seeking behavior, and designing social support programme for poor family are recommended to reduce undernutrition.

Liver disease has emerged as the most common non-AIDS-related cause of death in HIV patients. However, there is limited data regarding this condition including our setting in Ethiopia. Hence, liver enzyme abnormalities among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) experienced and HAART naïve patients were assessed in this study. A total of 164 HAART experienced and 164 HAART naïve patients were studied. Blood specimen was collected to determine alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), CD4 count, and viral hepatitis. The prevalence of liver enzyme abnormality was 20.1% and 22.0% among HAART experienced and HAART naïve patients, respectively. The HAART experienced patients had higher mean ALT than HAART naïve patients (P=0.002). Viral hepatitis (AOR = 6.02; 95% CI = 1.87–19.39), opportunistic infections (AOR = 2.91; 95% CI = 1.04–8.19), current CD4 count

We introduce a class of η-accretive mappings in a real Banach space and show that the η-proximal point mapping for η-m-accretive mapping is Lipschitz continuous. Further, we develop an iterative algorithm for a class of general variational-like inclusions involving η-accretive mappings in real Banach space, and discuss its convergence criteria. The class of η-accretive mappings includes several important classes of operators that have been studied by various authors.

Suppose X is a real q-uniformly smooth Banach space and F,K:X→X with D(K)=F(X)=X are accretive maps. Under various continuity assumptions on F and K such that 0=u+KFu has a solution, iterative methods which converge strongly to such a solution are constructed. No invertibility assumption is imposed on K and the operators K and F need not be defined on compact subsets of X. Our method of proof is of independent interest.

We investigate an algorithm for a common point of fixed points of a finite family of Lipschitz pseudocontractive mappings and solutions of a finite family of γ-inverse strongly accretive mappings. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved in this direction for this important class of nonlinear mappings.

We introduce an iterative process for finding an element of a common fixed point of a finite family of Bregman weak relatively nonexpansive mappings. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators.

We prove a strong convergence theorem for a common fixed point of a finite family of right Bregman strongly nonexpansive mappings in the framework of real reflexive Banach spaces. Furthermore, we apply our method to approximate a common zero of a finite family of maximal monotone mappings and a solution of a finite family of convex feasibility problems in reflexive real Banach spaces. Our theorems complement some recent results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear mappings.

We construct an implicit sequence suitable for the approximation of solutions of K-positive definite operator equations in real Banach spaces. Furthermore, implicit error estimate is obtained and the convergence is shown to be faster in comparsion to the explicit error estimate obtained by Osilike and Udomene (2001).

We study a strong convergence for a common fixed point of a finite family of quasi-Bregman nonexpansive mappings in the framework of real reflexive Banach spaces. As a consequence, convergence for a common fixed point of a finite family of Bergman relatively nonexpansive mappings is discussed. Furthermore, we apply our method to prove strong convergence theorems of iterative algorithms for finding a common solution of a finite family equilibrium problem and a common zero of a finite family of maximal monotone mappings. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear mappings.

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a common fixed point of a finite family of uniformly continuous asymptotically ki-strict pseudocontractive mappings in the intermediate sense for i=1,2,…,N. The projection of x0 onto the intersection of closed convex sets Cn and Qn for each n≥1 is not required. Moreover, the restriction that the interior of common fixed points is nonempty is not required. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear mappings.

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to solutions of a certain variational inequity problem for -inverse strongly accretive mappings in the set of common fixed points of finite family of strictly pseudocontractive mappings in Banach spaces. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators.

We provide an iterative process which converges strongly to a common fixed point of finite family of asymptotically k-strict pseudocontractive mappings in Banach spaces. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators.

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a zero of a finite sum of monotone mappings under certain conditions. Applications to a convex minimization problem are included. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved in this direction for this important class of nonlinear mappings.

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a common point of set of solutions of equilibrium problem and set of fixed points of finite family of relatively nonexpansive multi-valued mappings in Banach spaces.

It is our purpose, in this paper, to prove strong convergence of Halpern-Ishikawa iteration method to a common fixed point of finite family of Lipschitz pseudocontractive mappings. There is no compactness assumption imposed either on C or on T. The results obtained in this paper improve most of the results that have been proved for this class of nonlinear mappings.

We introduce an iterative process which converges strongly to a common point of solution of variational inequality problem for a monotone mapping and fixed point of uniformly Lipschitzian relatively asymptotically nonexpansive mapping in Banach spaces. As a consequence, we provide a scheme that converges strongly to a common zero of finite family of monotone mappings under suitable conditions. Our theorems improve and unify most of the results that have been proved for this important class of nonlinear operators.

Let K be a closed convex subset of a real Hilbert space H and let be a continuous pseudocontractive mapping. Then for and each , there exists a sequence satisfying which converges strongly, as , to the minimum-norm fixed point of T. Moreover, we provide an explicit iteration process which converges strongly to a minimum-norm fixed point of T provided that T is Lipschitz. Applications are also included. Our theorems improve several results in this direction.