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This paper argues that access to quality education and skills development programs for refugees, returnees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) is not only one of the fundamental human rights that states and non-state actors have obligations to fulfill; it is also an integral part of sustainable development efforts which will have significant contributions to socio-economic transformation in host countries, countries of origin and countries of destinations in the event that refugees become migrant, which is sometimes the case. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region, consisting of eight member states, namely, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, host more than 13 million forcibly displaced people. This results from protracted and devastating conflicts; drought and famine and other natural or man-made calamities. Within the IGAD region, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan produce 80 to 90% of displacement due to protracted civil wars. However, almost all the member states have refugees, IDPs or migrants sheltered in their territories. Access to higher education among refugees, returnees and IDPs is very low at only 3% compared to 36% globally. The figure for Africa is still dismal, at less than 1%; and the same holds true for the IGAD region. In an effort to address this major challenge facing these population categories, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convened a high level regional (Ministerial Conference) on refugee education held in Djibouti, 12-14 December 2017. That Conference adopted what is now called the Djibouti declaration and Plan of Action for refugee education in the IGAD region. The major purpose of this paper was is to outline the refugee situations in general and the state of higher education in the region in particular.

Sub-Saharan Africa secondary school science curricula recognise language as the most important communication tool for learners' biology learning outcomes. Despite this prominent goal, learners' scientific literacy at secondary school appears to be insufficient to cope with classroom teaching and learning of biology. This paper presents a review of literature regarding the way English as the language of instruction and inquiry-based learning strategies affect biology learning in Sub-Saharan Africa secondary schools. The scope of the review included journal articles, books and book chapters published in the period from 2005 to 2020 on the English language of instruction in biology education in Sub-Saharan Africa. We established criteria for first article searches indexed in Scopus, African Journals Online, the Education Resources Information Center, Web of Science and Psych Info as recognised index systems for science education. We considered studies related to the understanding of learners' language backgrounds, language-in-education policy and pedagogical language strategies (practice) that mediate learning. In this case, 53 studies were identified after removing redundancies; 27 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria when screened by key words and abstract and reviewed for eligibility; and only nine were selected after evaluating the full texts. The review analysis suggests that there is a gap in the corpus of literature on what and how pedagogical language strategies should be utilised to support meaningful learning of biology in multilingual settings. Poor learners' academic achievement and conceptual engagement in biology at secondary school level were the main effects reported by the reviewed literature. Less is still known about the effect of the use of inquiry-based learning strategies on learners' conceptual engagement in multilingual biology classrooms. We recommend formulating a clear policy articulation on the use of bilingual instructions in teaching and learning of biology at the secondary school level; assessing teacher and learner performance over pedagogical language strategies; and evaluating the contribution of IBL strategies in addressing language barriers in biology learning for higher order thinking skills in Sub-Saharan Africa secondary schools.

For refugees, education provides life-changing opportunities, including tools for effective social integration. This study explores higher education (HE) participation among refugee-background African youth in Australia. Drawing on policy review, national HE statistics and population census data, and using theoretical insights from critical sociology and a capability approach to social justice, the article (a) maps trends of HE participation, and (b) sheds light on policy silences and alternatives. The findings show that only one in ten refugee-background African youth (aged 18-30) transitioned to HE within the first five years of their arrival. The group also lagged well behind the general population in terms of undergraduate course completion. In light of these concerns, the article calls for "expanding the educational capabilities" of the refugee youth, specifically highlighting the need for policy recognition, early intervention, and substantive opportunities that can be converted into valued outcomes.

We have good reason to predict that a warming climate will produce more conflict and violence. A growing contingent of researchers has been examining the relationship in recent years, and they've found that hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall are linked to increases in conflict at all scales, from interpersonal violence to war. Children are especially vulnerable to conflict, Richard Akresh writes. In addition to directly exposing children to violence and trauma, conflict can tear families apart, displace whole populations, interrupt schooling, cut off access to health care or food, and eliminate the jobs that families depend on for a living. Children caught in a war zone may suffer physical injuries, malnutrition, developmental delays, and psychological damage, with effects on their physical health, mental health, and education that can persist into adulthood and constrict their ability to make a living. Moreover, those effects can spill over to the next generation and beyond, damaging the affected countries' ability to develop human capital. The likelihood that rates of conflict will increase on a hotter planet, then, poses a serious threat to children's wellbeing--especially in poorer countries, which already see the most wars and other conflicts. Unfortunately, Akresh writes, we still poorly understand the mechanisms that link climate to conflict, and we have almost no evidence to tell us which types of policies could best mitigate the effects of climate change-related violence on children.

This article examines how young African immigrant men in Southern Ontario cope with the dominant racial identity at school in an effort to improve their academic performance and access postsecondary education (PSE). Critical race theory in education is employed to explain how the young men distance themselves from stereotypes about Black masculinity by regulating their own behaviour and differentiating themselves from their Caribbean immigrant peers. Sixty-seven young men who had immigrated to Southern Ontario from several African countries over the last 10 years were interviewed individually and in focus groups for the study. The findings suggest that the research participants adopted a model minority status within an educational system that clearly embodies racist and systemically oppressive frameworks.

Previous research demonstrates that social and interpersonal factors, more than academic preparation, affect decisions by under-represented students to stay in or to leave STEM fields. Yet, much of the theorizing about STEM learning in higher education begins with conceptual and epistemological dimensions. We make the case for a new theoretical framework, a "learning humanities," that begins with relationships. From this relational starting point, we locate STEM knowers as actors in relationships who become "answerable" for their STEM knowledge and take "wise actions" from this place. We then use this framework to analyze learning for STEM undergraduates involved in the STUDIO: Build Our World program, an afterschool mentoring program for low-income, immigrant, and refugee youth of color. Drawing on narrative and ethnographic analyses of data from 12 focal mentors, we found that mentors developed 3 focal practices identified by Edwards, "relational expertise," "common knowledge," and "relational agency" through their efforts to create the best possible program for youth. This built mentors' sense of answerability and a capacity for wise action within and outside of STUDIO. We argue that this theoretical stance provides new ways to conceptualize the nature, purpose, and outcomes of STEM learning for historically non-dominant STEM undergraduates' learning.

Objectives: The study described in this paper sought to identify the social, cultural, and political factors that effect African unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors' (UASM) vulnerability to sexual maltreatment in England. It aimed to illuminate how child protection measures could be strengthened for this highly marginalized group. Methods: A mixed method approach was used. Former UASM from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia who had been sexually maltreated in the UK were interviewed in-depth. Prior to the interviews they all completed a questionnaire which captured their biographical details as well as sensitive but factual information. Results: Of the 53 (N = 53) former UASM who participated in the study only 2 were males. Most arrived in the UK aged 15-17. A range of sexual maltreatment, from sexual harassment to rape was reported. Three quarters experienced more than 1 incident. Most initial incidents happened in the first 12 months of their arrival in the UK. Two perpetrators were female carers. Many participants reported being groomed and sexually maltreated by people from their own country. Many described being seriously sexually maltreated, particularly by groups of young males living in the same accommodation or nearby, some reportedly also asylum seekers. Participants that had been warned of the dangers of sexual maltreatment were more likely to both disclose and to seek professional help. Conclusions: Professionals should assume that UASM will suffer sexual maltreatment in their host country if not protected adequately, which they are unlikely to disclose. They are likely to need more protection from outside sources and help to develop their personal resources than many have received in the past. Practice implications: Preventative measures include provision of safer environments, ideally single sex housing; more monitoring and supervision; more opportunities to develop trustworthy relationships and have emotional needs met; greater opportunities to develop language skills/access to interpretation; early information regarding the social system, culture, and sexual maltreatment; and improved professional awareness and competence in dealing with minors from other cultures. (Contains 2 tables.)

Since 1991, the Eritrean government has put into place an education system which had already been developed in the liberated areas during the years of struggle against Ethiopia. Little has been written on Eritrean education policy, and in particular the voices of educationalists responsible for its implementation have remained silent. In this article the voices of middle managers (teachers, school directors and vice-directors, regional supervisory staff, teacher trainers and ministry administrators) in the education system are heard as they discuss the curriculum in relation to the current and future needs of developing countries such as Eritrea. Although the issues that are discussed are often complex, and the mountain that has to be climbed seems at times insurmountable, it is suggested that the passion and vision of these educationalists will be instrumental in enabling the nation to succeed, and that their voices deserve to be heard.

War crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were committed in the war in Tigray. This article focuses on the use of sexual violence as an instrument of war. It narrates the scale, nature, and intentions of the sexual violence perpetrated on Tigrayan women, girls, men and boys. It showcases the extreme cruelty, dehumanization and intent to sterilize and inflict maximum damage from stories of victims and witnesses. It compares them with the rape crimes committed in other cases and concludes the nature of the crime was genocidal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines colonial Italian menus used in interwar Ethiopia and Eritrea to understand how provide companies supported Fascism's imperial projects. Feasts celebrated battlefield victories, steamship journeys, and settlement soirees. Menus produced by shipping companies (Rex, Lloyd Triestino) and banks (Banca di Roma) for use by Italian colonists on Ethiopian settlements speaks to the economics of Fascism, demonstrating how private companies, used food to uphold and extend Fascist narratives of racial superiority. Herein lies a core contention of this article: the engine of fascist power lay in its financial supporters – that is, in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of this study, A statistical test of Biblical books was conducted using the recently discovered probability models for text homogeneity and text change point detection. Accordingly, translations of Biblical books of Tigrigna and Amharic (major languages spoken in Eritrea and Ethiopia) and English were studied. A Zipf-Mandelbrot distribution with a parameter range of 0.55 to 0.88 was obtained in these three Bibles. According to the statistical analysis of the texts' homogeneity, the translation of Bible in each of these three languages was a heterogeneous concatenation of different books or genres. Furthermore, an in-depth examination of the text segmentation of prat of a single genre—the English Bible letters revealed that the Pauline letters are heterogeneous concatenations of two homogeneous segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afar is undergoing the final stages of continental rifting and hosts the triple junction between the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Main Ethiopian rifts. To better understand the nature of the crust and continental breakup in the region, we calculate teleseismic receiver functions across northeastern Afar and the Danakil microplate, using new data from a regional deployment in Eritrea. We estimate the Moho depth and bulk crustal VP/VS ratio using the H‐κ stacking method. The heterogeneity of our crustal thickness estimates (∼19–35 km) indicates that the Danakil microplate has undergone stretching and crustal thinning. By investigating the relationship between crustal thickness and topographic elevation, we estimate the regional crustal bulk density as ρc ≈ 2,850 ± 20 kg m−3, which is higher than expected, given the crustal thickness of the region. We show that topography is 1.5 ± 0.4 km higher than would be expected due to crustal isostasy alone. We propose that this topography is supported by the same hot mantle upwelling suggested to be responsible for the onset of rifting in East Africa. Uplift is generated due to the presence of a hot thermal anomaly beneath the plate and by thinning of the lithospheric mantle. Our results are consistent with a number of independent constraints on the thermal structure of the asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle. Evidence of melt within the crust is provided by anomalously high VP/VS ratios of >1.9, demonstrating that magma‐assisted extension continues to be important in the final stages of continental breakup. Plain Language Summary: Afar is an area of northern Ethiopia that extends into Eritrea. It hosts three tectonic plate boundaries that are pulling apart from one another (rifting) as continental breakup is occurring. These rifting processes have led to a complicated tectonic history; isolating a small microcontinent (the Danakil) and giving rise to volcanism across the region. To better understand the nature of the crust, we study seismic data to estimate the crustal thickness and the ratio of seismic wave speeds. Our results indicate that the crust shows substantial variation in thickness, meaning that the Danakil microplate has undergone crustal thinning. We use our results to determine that dynamic mantle processes are responsible for supporting the elevation of the region. We also show that partially molten rock (magma) is likely to be present in the crust beneath northeastern Afar and the Danakil microplate, which is evidence that magma assists with continental breakup. Key Points: Receiver functions produce the first estimates of Eritrean bulk crustal propertiesThe crust of Afar and the Danakil microplate is denser than global average and highly heterogeneousEvidence found for melt within crust and for support from hotter mantle propping up topography beneath Afar and the Danakil microplate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal genetic diversity for effective resistance to five foliar diseases and toxic aluminum ions, the entire collection of wheat species from the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) originating from Ethiopia and Eritrea were studied regarding their traits. The collection contains 509 samples of four wheat species (Triticum aestivum—122 samples; T. aethiopicum—340 samples; T. polonicum—6 samples; and T. dicoccum—41 samples). The majority of accessions are new entries of landraces added to the Vavilov collection as a result of the Russian–Ethiopian expedition in 2012. Wheat seedlings were inoculated with causal agents of leaf rust (Pt), powdery mildew (Bgt), Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB), and dark-brown leaf spot blotch (HLB). The types of reaction and disease development were assessed to describe the levels of resistance. All samples of T. aethiopicum were also screened for seedling and adult resistance to Pt, Bgt, and yellow rust (Pst) under field conditions after double inoculation with the corresponding pathogens. To study tolerance to abiotic stress, seedlings were grown in a solution of Al3+ (185 µM, pH 4,0) and in water. The index of root length was used to characterize tolerance. Seedlings belonging to only two accessions out of those studied—k-68236 of T. aethiopicum and k-67397 of T. dicoccum—were resistant to Pt at 20 °C but susceptible at 25 °C. Specific molecular markers closely linked to the five genes for Pt resistance effective against populations of the pathogen from the northwestern region of Russia were not amplified in these two entries after PCR with corresponding primers. Four entries of T. dicoccum—k-18971, k-18975, k-19577, and k-67398—were highly resistant to Bgt. All samples under study were susceptible to HLB and SNB. Under field conditions, 15% of the T. aethiopicum samples were resistant to Pst, both at the seedling and the flag leaf stages, but all were susceptible to the other diseases under study. Among the evaluated samples, 20 entries of T. aestivum, 1 of T. polonicum (k-43765), and 2 of T. dicoccum (k-18971, k-67397) were tolerant to aluminum ions. The identified entries could be valuable sources for the breeding of T. aestivum and other wheats for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why does education damage refugees? To understand this, we need to ask how education frames refugees' thinking about their future, specifically related to questions of waiting in the camp or migrating through dangerous, irregular channels. Between 2016 and 2019, Ethiopia was at the forefront of trends in migration policy that prioritized education as part of a global strategy to prevent irregular, northward migration. However, despite increased educational opportunities, refugees rejected schooling as they weighed the decision to migrate onwards, citing a sharp disconnect between aspirations connected to schooling and the constraints on professional and personal progress that they face in hosting states. Drawing on long-term, multi-sited, ethnographic research on temporal violence, and temporal agency among Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, we develop the concept of teleological violence to describe the harm generated by this disconnect, as risky secondary migration may come to seem like the only path toward a desired future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are one of the best-described taxa, but detailed knowledge about most bird species in Ethiopia remains rare, which hinders the development and evaluation of conservation strategies in the region. In this study, we estimated bird species diversity and abundance in the Suba Forest area (comprising natural forest and adjacent plantation forest and farmland) in central Ethiopia, during the dry and wet seasons in 2021. Bird data were collected using line transects or point counts in each habitat type. Two-way ANOVA was applied to evaluate the effect of habitat and season on bird species richness and abundance. A total of 132 bird species belonging to 51 families were recorded during the study. Of these, 124 are residents, 4 are endemic to Ethiopia, 11 are endemic to Ethiopia and Eritrea, and 4 are near endemics (one largely confined to Ethiopia and the others with their core populations in Ethiopia and Eritrea). Habitat type and season both had significant effects on species abundance and richness. Species diversity was highest in natural forest during the wet season, and lowest in farmland during the dry season. Plantation forest and farmland shared similar avian communities, with both being human-altered habitats in close proximity to each other. Native forest supported the highest number of bird species, which confirms the Suba Forest area's great potential for biodiversity conservation and sustainable wildlife tourism. Continuous monitoring of this area and effective implementation of conservation measures will provide beneficial outcomes for not only avifauna but other taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The South African National Drug Policy (SA-NDP) was introduced to promote rational medicine use (RMU). This study evaluates the quality of prescribing in the public healthcare sector in South Africa's Limpopo province following the World Health Organization's (WHO) rational prescribing standards. In addition, the prescribing practices in South Africa were compared to other African countries. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey of patients' prescriptions was conducted in Limpopo, South Africa, from October to December 2018. Findings were compared with the WHO reference values (WHO-RV), and the International Network of Rational Use of Drugs (IRDP) tool was used to measure the degree of rational prescribing. The optimal IRDP value was defined as 1. Study findings were compared with results from a previous study conducted in Limpopo and studies from Ethiopia and Eritrea. Results: Six hundred prescriptions were reviewed. The mean (SD) age was 43.9 ± 24.4 years (females = 56.5%). The average number of drugs prescribed (4.3, IRDP = 0.47) was higher than the WHO-RV (< 2). Generic prescribing (43%, IRDP = 0.43) and medicines prescribed from the essential medicines list (EML) (90%, IRDP = 0.90) were less than the WHO-RV (100%, respectively). Antibiotics (28%, IRDP = 1) and the number of injections prescribed (8%, IRDP = 1) were below the WHO-RV (< 30% and < 20%, respectively). The number of medicines prescribed was higher compared to previous years (4.3 vs. 3.4). Antibiotic prescribing declined (28% vs. 63.4%). Generic prescribing (43% vs. 41.7%) and medicines prescribed from the EML (90% vs. 93.1%) did not improve. A higher number of medicines were prescribed in this study compared to Ethiopia (1.7) and Eritrea (1.8), and a lower number of antibiotics were prescribed compared to Ethiopia (58.2%) and Eritrea (54.5%). Generic prescribing was low compared to Ethiopia (95.6%) and Eritrea (94.9%). All studies showed reduced injection prescribing (6.6–15.9%) and similar prescribing from the EML (90–95%). Conclusions: There is an increased potential for drug-drug and adverse reactions with the increased number of prescribed medicines; however, the patient's clinical needs may warrant using multiple medicines. There is a need for generic prescribing to reduce medicine expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Aloe elegans Tod. is an ecologically, environmentally, medicinally, and commercially useful aloe species in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Unfortunately, it is highly threatened due to industrial and urban expansion and traditional mining and agricultural activities. As a consequence, it is included in the IUCN List of Threatened Species since 2013. The plant is getting thinly populated in many parts of the Tigrai floristic region since it is being exploited for traditional and commercial purposes. Therefore, this study was aimed to develop a reproducible, large-scale micropropagation protocol using offshoot cuttings in Murashige and Skoog (MS) media enriched with plant growth regulators (PGRs). Results: Sterilized explants cultured in full-strength MS media enriched with 0.25 mg/L benzyl amino purine (BAP) and 0.10 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) resulted in 100% healthy and live (i.e., initiated) explants after four weeks of initiation study. Unsupplemented initiation media (control) yielded only 14.3% initiated explants. The initiated explants were tested for their shooting response to produce microshoots by incubating in different concentrations and combinations of BAP and NAA for four weeks. Fewer days to shooting (13.0 ± 1.0 days), higher mean shoot number (5.0 ± 1.0), and higher mean shoot length (9.20 ± 2.35 cm) were observed with 1.0/0.50, 1.0/0.25, and 1.0 /0.50 mg/L BAP/NAA combinations, respectively. The rooting responses of the microshoots toward producing plantlets were also tested by incubating them in half-strength MS media enriched with different concentrations of NAA and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for four weeks. Fewer mean days to rooting (12.0 ± 1.0 days), higher mean root number (8.0 ± 4.0), and higher mean root length (7.53 ± 3.03 cm) were observed in MS media enriched with 0.75, 0.75, and 1.25 mg/L IBA, respectively. The responses of A. elegans plantlets to primary (in greenhouse) and secondary (in nursery shade and direct sunlight) acclimatization in coco peat, composted soil, and manured soil media were high – with survival percentages of 87.5–97.8% in three to four weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flare-up of hostilities in Ethiopia's Tigray district in November 2020 is simply the aftereffect of a forced battle between so-called reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's central government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). This previous revolutionary development ruled Ethiopian legislative issues for over 25 years before Abiy's rise to control of power in 2018. Numerous Ethiopians considered the TPLF's rule authoritative, and misconducts executed under its authority stirred up scorn in several groups. The fight additionally displays ethnic strains in the country, which have been exacerbated as of late as the nation goes through political and financial modifications. The advancing battle has effectively brought about outrage, expanded the flow of refugees, and stressed territorial relations. This research article provides an account of the origins of the TPLF and the Tigrayans, Eritrea's involvement in the conflict, the sources of tension, and the paths to war. Finally, the repercussions of Ethiopia's Tigray conflict and its corollaries on the Horn of Africa. Specifically, the article draws on the Protracted Social Conflict Theory to explain Ethiopia's Tigray conflict. The answer stipulates a hint at addressing the current problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological diversity of the Horn of Africa is one of the least studied in the world. Yet the Horn supports rich communities of species that are mostly endemic to the region. Here we study the diversity of Sand Snakes (Psammophis) in East Africa, their phylogeny and systematics. Previous studies have unveiled several cryptic and potentially undescribed species of Psammophis that occur in the Horn and their taxonomic status has remained unclear to this day. We used sequence data from two mitochondrial and one nuclear genes to reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus, in which we included newly obtained samples of six different Psammophis species from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. Our aim was to assess the status of some of the undescribed species, examine the level of intraspecific genetic variation within individual species, improve our understanding of the species distributions, and contribute to the taxonomy of the genus. Our results confirm the existence of two undescribed species, one in eastern Somalia, which we formally describe as new, and one in southern Ethiopia that we refer to as Psammophis cf. sudanensis in accordance with previous studies. Further, we provide first genetic data for the nominotypical subspecies of P. punctulatus and confirm the species status for its subspecies P. trivirgatus. In addition, we provide new genetic data for P. tanganicus from Ethiopia and Somalia, and range extension records for P. rukwae from Eritrea and Ethiopia and for P. aegyptius from Somalia. Our findings contribute considerably to our understanding of the diversity and distribution of Psammophis in East Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines enforcement practices and intra-ethnic interactions and encounters across the international border between Eritrea and Ethiopia from 2000 to 2018, with a particular focus on the Central Sector. The specific objective is to investigate how the Tigrinya ethnic group, who were arbitrarily separated by the colonial border between Eritrea and Ethiopia, make use of intra-ethnic relationships to combat the new border enforcement practices imposed by Eritrea and Ethiopia to advance their everyday reciprocal interests. This micro perspective is applied to two border towns, Serha and Tserona, which are located at Eritrea's border with Ethiopia. By analysing the everyday lived experiences of the people who live along the border, this article argues that the underground cross-border support and interactions among kin groups play a significant role in their everyday lives as they combat the States' everyday border enforcement practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background. Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an underutilised cereal crop grown mainly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is an excellent source of dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds. However, it also contains a high amount of phytic acid, which is an antinutrient and reduces the bioavailability of minerals and proteins. To improve the nutritional quality of teff, the phytic acid content should be reduced by an effective dephytinisation method. Experimental approach. In this study, various dephytinisation methods (fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment) were used to dephytinise teff flour. Undephytinised and dephytinised teff flour was mixed into wheat flour (0-40 %) to improve the functional properties of cookies. Twenty different cookie formulations were prepared according to 4x5x2 factorial design. The physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory properties of the cookies were investigated. Results and conclusions. Among the dephytinisation methods, fermentation produced the most effective reduction in phytic acid mass fraction (181 mg/100 g), followed by phytase treatment (198 mg/100 g). The protein, fat, Fe and Zn content and antioxidant activity of cookies enriched with dephytinised teff flour were comparable to cookies fortified with undephytinised teff flour. Moreover, the dephytinised teff cookies had lower phytic acid mass fractions. The cookies containing 40 % teff flour had higher antioxidant activity and nutritional quality than the control wheat cookies. The use of dephytinised teff flour reduced the spread ratio and the a* and b* values of cookies compared to undephytinised flour. Cookies containing fermented and phytase-treated teff flour had a harder texture than cookies containing undephytinised flour. In addition, as the amount of teff flour increased, the spread ratio values of cookies gradually incrased while their hardness decreased. Overall acceptability scores of cookies containing 10-20 % teff flour were similar to the control. Novelty and scientific contribution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the quality of cookies containing dephytinised teff flour. The data highlight the potential of dephytinised (especially autoclaved and phytase-treated) teff flour (up to 20 %) as a functional ingredient to enrich the mineral content and antioxidant capacity of foods. Furthermore, this study shows that fermentation, autoclaving and phytase treatment can be used to improve the nutritional quality of grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Ethio-Semitic (SES) is a genealogical branch of Ethio-Semitic (ES), a subgroup of Semitic found almost entirely in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The paper considers two features characteristic of several South Ethio-Semitic languages. Firstly, the Prefix Conjugation displays a common 1sg/1pl prefix in various SES languages. Secondly, an innovative 1pl suffix is often employed in the Prefix Conjugation. In forms with 1sg/1pl syncretism, this suffix takes over the functional load of the plural marker. Both features are innovative in SES, and their absence from a number of languages in each of the main subbranches suggests areal diffusion rather than a shared innovation going back to the Proto-SES level. In former studies, it has been suggested that the innovative 1pl suffix was borrowed from Cushitic and that its introduction has triggered the 1sg/1pl syncretism. This hypothesis is critically reassessed in the present paper, which considers in detail various patterns of 1sg/1pl syncretism and various patterns of its interaction with the 1pl suffix, and offers a tentative reconstruction of their emergence and spread in the languages in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the crustal structure and the storage and movement of fluids beneath a volcano is necessary for characterizing volcanic hazard, geothermal prospects and potential mineral resources. This study uses local earthquake traveltime tomography to image the seismic velocity structure beneath Nabro, an off‐rift volcano located within the central part of the Danakil microplate near the Ethiopia‐Eritrea border. Nabro underwent its first historically documented eruption in June 2011, thereby providing an opportunity to analyze its post‐eruptive state by mapping subsurface fluid distributions. We use a catalog of earthquakes detected on a temporary seismic array using machine learning methods to simultaneously relocate the seismicity and invert for the three‐dimensional P‐ and S‐wave velocity structures (VP, VS) and the ratio between them (VP/VS). Overall, our model shows higher than average P‐ and S‐wave velocities, suggesting the presence of high‐strength, solidified intrusive magmatic rocks in the crust. We identify an aseismic region of low VP, low VS, and high VP/VS ratio at depths of 6–10 km b.s.l., interpreted as the primary melt storage region that fed the 2011 eruption. Above this is a zone of high VS, low VP, and low VP/VS ratio, representing an intrusive complex of fractured rocks partially saturated with over‐pressurized gases. Our observations identify the persistence of magma in the subsurface following the eruption, and track the degassing of this melt through the crust to the surface. The presence of volatiles and high temperatures within the shallow crust indicate that Nabro is a viable candidate for geothermal exploration. Plain Language Summary: Understanding the structure of the crust and the distribution and movement of fluids beneath a volcano allows for the assessment of volcanic hazard, geothermal potential and possible mineral extraction. To identify different regions of the crust and differentiate between fluids, we use the fact that the speed of seismic waves depends on the material they are traveling through. For example, seismic waves will travel through magma (molten, or liquid, rock) at lower speeds than in the surrounding rock. The focus of this study is Nabro volcano in Eritrea, which erupted in 2011. We use earthquakes that have been automatically detected following the eruption to image the structure of the crust in the form of 3D variations in seismic wave speeds. This identifies a volume of magma stored at depths of 6–10 km below sea level, which fed the eruption. Above this, we observe a region of rocks that are likely remnants of earlier eruptions at Nabro, with fractures containing gases at high pressure. The source of this high pressure is the release of gas from the magma storage zone. The presence of hot fluids means Nabro could be used as a source of geothermal power in the future. Key Points: 3D seismic modeling reveals the structure of the magmatic and hydrothermal systems beneath Nabro volcano in EritreaThe primary melt storage region feeding the 2011 eruption is located at depths of 6–10 km below sea levelDegassing from the magma storage zone causes overpressure in partially saturated, fractured intrusive complex above [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to offer a historical overview, legal framework and analysis of the reserve force, conscription or compulsory military service, and militia systems in Ethiopia from the period of Emperor Haile Selassie to the present. Methodologically, it employs an empirical examination of literature and legal documents on the reserve force, conscription and the militia. There is an inadequacy of literature on the three major citizen soldier defence institutions in Ethiopia, and this paper is a partial attempt to fill the knowledge gap. The paper discusses the legal framework of the Emperor’s effort to create a reserve force named Territorial Amy, which more or less met its objective, even though the effort to start national military service failed. The military government’s vicious mobilisation of militia and heavy recruitment of the youth for national military service resulted from the extended civil war that ended with the liberation of Eritrea and the toppling of the government. Currently, the government is planning to start national military service; on the other hand, a nominal reserve force exists, and the mostly rural institution of the militia plays an important citizen soldier role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Once a unified state, Ethiopia and Eritrea experienced a catastrophic war. Although deep-rooted economic and political conditions were at work in the background, issues of an improperly demarcated border triggered the 1998–2000 war. During the outbreak both Ethiopia and Eritrea were already emerging from another war. As a result, tens of thousands died, and millions were displaced. The intervention of the international community averted the war. The Organization of African Unity arbitrated the matter, supported by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States. However, disagreement over the implementation of the technical arrangements of the arbitration obstructed the full-scale implementation of the arbitration – leading to a period of 'no peace, no war'. Both maintained an adamant position, and resuming relations appears impossible unless a change of government takes place. Fortunately, a wave of civil resistance rocked Ethiopia from 2015 to 2018, resulting in national reform in mid-February 2018. This opened the initiative for the resumption of relations. This paper discusses the conditions contributing to the renewal of the Ethiopian–Eritrean ties and the steps taken by both to revise their foreign policy directions that had them in a deadlock for decades. It also identifies risk factors bottlenecking the full-scale normalisation of the rapprochement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Settlement pattern analysis offers a range of insights about social, economic, and political relationships of Aksumite civilization. Two common approaches involve analyzing site size distributions and the spatial distribution of sites to evaluate possible clustering. We review the history of archaeological survey and settlement pattern analyses for Pre-Aksumite, Aksumite, and Post-Aksumite periods. We focus on data from two areas of northern Ethiopia collected by the Eastern Tigray Archaeological Project and the Southern Red Sea Archaeological Histories Project. We conduct Ripley's-K multi-distance spatial cluster analysis to evaluate spatial clustering/dispersion, and Gaussian mixture model/Bayesian information criterion analysis to evaluate possible site size hierarchies. Results show similar patterns in the two areas, including site clustering predominantly during the Pre-Aksumite period, an increase in the number of sites and decrease in average site size from the Pre-Aksumite to Aksumite periods, and no definitive evidence that site size hierarchies are an indicator of political changes over time. Overall, results indicate locally aggregated political organization during the Pre-Aksumite period, locally decentralized organization, infilling, and population growth during the Aksumite period, and a subsequent decline in population and political centralization during the Post-Aksumite period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium (Ca2+) is one of the essential mineral nutrients for plant growth and development. However, the effects of long-term Ca2+ deficiency in orphan crops such as Tef [(Eragrostis tef) (Zucc.) Trotter], which accumulate high levels of Ca in the grains, remained unknown. Tef is a staple crop for nearly 70 million people in East Africa, particularly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is one of the most nutrient-dense grains, and is also more resistant to marginal soils and climatic conditions than main cereals like corn, wheat, and rice. In this study, tef plants were grown in a hydroponic solution containing optimum (1 mM) or low (0.01 mM) Ca2+, and plant growth parameters and whole-genome transcriptome were analyzed. Ca+2-deficient plants exhibited leaf necrosis, leaf curling, and growth stunting symptoms. Ca2+ deficiency significantly decreased root and shoot Ca, potassium (K), and copper content in both root and shoots. At the same time, it greatly increased root iron (Fe) content, suggesting the role of Ca2+ in the uptake and/or translocation of these minerals. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA-seq revealed that members of Ca2+ channels, including the cyclic nucleotide-gated channels and glutamate receptor-like channels, Ca2+-transporters, Ca2+-binding proteins and Ca2+-dependent protein kinases were differentially regulated by Ca+2 treatment. Moreover, several Fe/metal transporters, including members of vacuolar Fe transporters, yellow stripe-like, natural resistance-associated macrophage protein, and oligo-peptide transporters, were differentially regulated between shoot and root in response to Ca2+ treatment. Taken together, our findings suggest that Ca2+ deficiency affects plant growth and mineral accumulation by regulating the transcriptomes of several transporters and signaling genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of the College Of Basic Education is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The presence of poor-quality medicines is becoming a public health threat in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. Antibiotics are among the most common anti-infective medicines that are highly prone to this problem., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of selected antibacterials that are marketed in Setit Humera and West Gondar Zones, North West Ethiopia, which are located on the Ethiopian side of the Ethiopia-Sudan-Eritrea border., Methods: Seventy-one samples of the four antibacterial medicines (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Amoxycillin, and Amoxycillin clavullanate combination) were collected from six sites in Setit Humera and West Gondar Zones, North West Ethiopia. A mystery shopping system was used for sample collection. Visual inspections and confirmation of the registration status were carried out using the joint WHO/FIP/USP checklist and the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority's (EFDA's) Electronic Regulatory Information System (eRIS), respectively. Then Pharmacopeial methods (USP, BP) were employed to assess the physicochemical quality parameters., Results: During the period of our data collection, the application status for registration in the eRIS system was checked. From 71 samples, 25.35% (18/71) were not registered, and 15.49% (11/71) were registered, but the license period had expired. Some samples (12.06% (17/71)) did not meet the visual inspection criteria. The physicochemical evaluation showed that all the samples studied met the quality specifications for the identification and hardness tests. However, concerning assay, dissolution, uniformity of dosage units, disintegration, and friability test parameters, 27.49% (23/71), 16.9% (12/71), and 14.08% (10/71), 2.82% (2/71) and 8.57% (3/35) of samples were found to be substandard, respectively. Overall, 56.33% (40/71) of the samples tested were of poor quality, failing to meet any one or more of the assessed parameters in this study., Conclusion: The study indicated that poor-quality antibacterial medicines are circulating in the study sites. Therefore, even if the area was affected by conflict at the time of the study, the regulatory bodies should focus on enforcing the necessary measures by collaborating with the regional and national regulatory medicine agencies to ensure that the antibacterial medicines available meet the required mandatory minimum standards., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Denekew et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is known as a health functional food and has been gaining its popularity across the world. Teff is a staple crop and has been cultivated for thousands of years in Ethiopia and Eritrea, currently producing 90% of the world's teff. As the number of consumers are increasing, who look for an alternative to wheat flour especially for people with celiac disease, more countries are increasing teff production. People at all ages can benefit from consuming teff as it contains dietary fiber, iron, potassium, and etc. It is also helpful for people with obesity and diabetes due to its low glycemic index. Therefore, modern society pursues health-oriented thinking, and teff is expected to be in the spotlight as a good food for all ages to consume. However, information on the nutritional benefits of teff and research on food development using teff are insufficient. This review paper is a literature review, and the method is a narrative review. In addition, it is suggested that the frequency of Teff intake can be increased by presenting the introduction of foods with high nutritional value using Teff by providing basic data on nutrition and efficacy through a close investigation of Teff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines species composition, diversity and plant community distribution along environmental gradients of Tulu Lafto Forest (here after called TLF) in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone of Oromia National Regional State, western Ethiopia. Seventy-five quadrats of 400 m2 were systematically laid following altitudinal gradient. A complete list of trees, shrubs, lianas and herbs including vascular epiphytes were made from each quadrat. Environmental variables including soil samples were collected, recorded and analyzed for each quadrat. In the forest, 230 plant species belonging to 188 genera and 79 families were identified. Out of these, 16 species are endemic to the flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea and 56 were new records for Wollega (WG) floristic region. Asteraceae and Fabaceae are the top species rich plant families. Cluster analysis and ordination methods identified 3 plant community types mainly influenced by topographic, edaphic and anthropogenic factors. TLF exhibited an intermediate A fromontane type suggesting the need to revise the existing vegetation classification in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tef is a major staple crop in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many improved Tef varieties were released from the Ethiopian research institute in the past three decades. Information on the farmers' adoption status and perception on released improved Tef technology have paramount importance for launching new and modifying Tef technology packages. However, such information is meager in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess farmers' status and perception of improved Tef technologies. A multistage random sampling technique was employed to select sample of 224 Tef grower farmers. The results were interpreted and discussed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result indicated that farmers in the study area found at the medium level of adoption of Tef production technology (i.e., the average adoption index is 0.43). The findings also confirm that farmers perception towards the relative advantages of improved Tef varieties shows that high grain yield, good germination, early mature, and disease resistance capacity were perceived as the most crucial attributes of improved Tef varieties, whereas straw quality and tolerance to lodging were perceived as the least important attributes of the technology. Therefore, efforts and commitments to be expected from plant breeders and genetic specialists to reduce lodging of Tef through hybridizing semidwarf Tef varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the 2018 peace declaration between Ethiopia and Eritrea was widely celebrated, Eritrean refugees expressed concern that peace would be destabilising, and their status in Ethiopia would change. Their concerns were shaped by a long history of oscillating imaginaries of how Eritrea "fits" wiThethiopia. Drawing from historical analysis and ethnographic fieldwork leading up to the peace agreement, we explore how these oscillating imaginaries create an uncomfortable and unstable situation for Eritreans in Ethiopia, rendering refugees vulnerable to unpredictable violence. Better understanding the way identity categories have been subject to constant slippage and have been instrumentalised by political elites could help to forge a more peaceful future among Ethiopia's nationalities and between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eritrea's rural development trajectory has fallen short of fully meeting the basic needs of its peasants and pastoralists, let alone national food security objectives. This article builds on earlier research on rural development projects in a select number of villages. These projects were primarily characterised by a state-centric technocratic logic that did, to some degree, embed "hard" infrastructure in the villages, but which paid less attention to building village-level capacity or organisational autonomy. Looking beyond these impasses, the present article suggests an inward-oriented national development model centred on the home market, rural co-operatives, and food sovereignty. As yet - at the time of writing - another major war afflicts Eritrea and Ethiopia, the presence of the political will for such a transition is by no means guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of AIDS & Behavior is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using untapped archival documents from the Däbrä Marqos provincial archives in Gojjam, and the archives of the Ministry of National Defence (MOND) in Addis Ababa, this study attempts to investigate the untold stories of militiamen drafted into the Ethiopian army in 1977 on the eve of Somalia's invasion of Ethiopia and in the wake of the fall of many towns in Eritrea in the hands of insurgents. These men played a critical role in reversing these threats (temporarily in the case of Eritrea, on a much longer-term basis in that of Somalia), and their impact on the region's history was massive. The archival evidence gathered from the former Gojjam province sheds new light on their personal lives, and the dislocation for those left behind, which is often missing from the larger histories of the Därg's wars. Those stories have been substantiated by interviewing ex-militiamen. Many of the stories revealed in the archives are quite disturbing – broken marriages, emotional distress, separated families and the like. This study, thus, attempts to show the importance of 'history from below' in the construction of narratives of the Ethiopian revolutionary wars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the litigation strategies adopted by Eritrea and Ethiopia before the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission convened at The Permanent Commission of Arbitration at The Hague between 2001 and 2009. I pursue insights from the work of Laura Nader concerning how, through binding arbitration, the international community imposes its power on disputing parties as opposed to allowing their competing legal claims to be fairly decided. The claims examined by this paper concern who started the border war and that Ethiopia denationalized 'Eritrean' nationals and unlawfully deprived them of their property. I conclude that the PCA's decisions on Eritrea and Ethiopia were flawed and that its deliberations need to be viewed in a much wider political context; furthermore its decisions contributed to further political instability in the Horn of Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microbiological diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (Tb) in a pediatric population is hampered by both low pathogen burden and noncompliance with sputum sampling. Although endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been found useful for the evaluation of mediastinal pathologies in adults, for children, sparse data are available. Here, we have evaluated EBUS-TBNA as a diagnostic procedure in children and adolescents with suspected pulmonary Tb.Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we reviewed the charts of unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) who were admitted between January 2016 and July 2018 and who, during their initial medical screening upon arrival in Germany, were found to have abnormal radiological pulmonary and mediastinal findings and/or immunological results indicative of Tb. For each patient, basic sociodemographic data, clinical features and data on diagnostic procedures performed were assessed. These included imaging, immunodiagnostic tests and microbiological data derived from sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, EBUS-TBNA, bronchoscopy and pleural fluid sampling. All patients who underwent invasive sampling procedures were included in the study.Results: Out of 42 URM with suspected Tb, 34 fulfilled the study's inclusion criteria. Ages ranged from 14 to 17 years. All were of African origin, with 70.0% coming from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Among the 21 patients for whom EBUS-TBNA was performed, the diagnostic yield was high: 66.7% positive results (MTb detected either by acid-fast stain, culture or PCR in 4.8, 42.9 and 61.9% of samples, respectively). Multidrug-resistant MTb was found in two patients from Somalia. No complications were associated with the procedure. Overall, pulmonary Tb was diagnosed in 29 patients (85.3%), miliary Tb in two patients (5.9%) and latent Tb in three patients (8.8%).Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is a sensitive and safe method with high diagnostic yield in the evaluation of pediatric patients with mediastinal pathology and suspected Tb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Historical & Cultural Studies an Academic Magazine is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Currently, there is a demand for new antidiabetic drugs from natural therapeutic agents, and diabetes mellitus disease is global epidemic. The leaf of Hypoestes forskaolii has been used in the traditional health system for the management of diabetes mellitus in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic and in vitro antioxidant activity of leaf extract and solvent fractions of the leaf of H. forskaolii (Vahl) in mice. Methods: The blood glucose-lowering activities of leaf extract and solvent fractions of the leaf of H. forskaolii were screened in the normoglycemic, glucose loaded, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice models. In the treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with leaf extract and solvent fractions, weight and lipid profile was measured. Antioxidant activity of the plant leaf extract was determined using DPPH assay. Results: The leaf extract of H. forskaolii showed significant blood glucose reduction in the normoglycemic model and glucose loaded test at doses of 200 mg/kg (34.1%, p < 0.001 and 55.5%, p < 0.001), respectively, as compared to the normal control. In the streptozotocin-induced diabetic model, extract and solvent fractions significantly (p < 0.001) reduced blood glucose level at all tested doses (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) on the 14th day as compared to diabetic control. In addition, a significant reduction (p < 0.001) of serum TC, VLDL, LDL, TG was observed. In the antioxidant activity test, the IC50 values of extract and a standard drug (ascorbic acid) were 4.87μg/mL and 15.7μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The present study showed that the methanolic leaf extract and solvent fractions of H. forskaolii have antidiabetic, and antioxidant activity that provides a scientific support for the local use of the plant leaves in the treatment of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]