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Now days, the level of students' engagement in secondary school chemistry is low. The aim of this study was then to enhance student chemistry engagement through simulation-integrated 7E context-based instructional strategy and compared its efficacy with 7E context-based instructional strategy, simulation-integrated conventional teaching approach, and conventional teaching approach. For the quantitative part, 15-item chemistry engagement scale was utilized to collect data from 229 grade 10 students as part of a quasi-experimental pre/post-test non-equivalent control group design. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect qualitative data. The study's findings revealed that, when compared to the other instructional strategies, the simulation-integrated 7E context-based instructional strategy was the most successful at raising students' overall engagement and its dimensions. This study implies that implementing a simulation-integrated 7E context-based instructional strategy can boost students' overall and individual levels of engagement in chemistry. Thus, to enhance chemistry learning, teachers may progressively move from the conventional approach to the use of simulation-integrated 7E context-based approach over the other strategies.

The implementation of context-based chemistry programs has been started before 40 years ago since 1980s in an attempt to make the learning of chemistry more meaningful for students. Consequent to its lengthy, there has been a steady increase in the number of interventional context-based (ICB) approach chemistry studies investigating the effect of various instructional strategies on students' learning outcomes from primary to post-secondary levels. However, there is a limitation of the literature review conducted on interventional context-based chemistry studies. Hence, the present review was carried out to evaluate interventional context-based chemistry studies using six research questions based on the following categories (main headings): (1) countries or continents in which ICB chemistry studies were conducted in; (2) research methodologies implemented in ICB studies; (3) topics in which ICB chemistry studies used; (4) learning variables measured by ICB studies; (5) teaching methods and instructional strategies adopted by ICB studies; and (6) the effectiveness of context-based instructions on students' learning outcomes. Moreover, some sub-headings also followed the main headings. To achieve this objective, a rigorous systematic literature review has been executed using 25 selected ICB chemistry studies published between the years 2009 and 2022 based on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies were accessed in internationally well-known databases (Google Scholar, ERIC, Semantic Scholar, and Mendeley); and the studies were organized and reviewed thematically. To summarize and present the findings of the studies, matrices, constructed by the researcher, were used. The review analysis results revealed and shed light on the critical appraisal of interventional context-based chemistry studies, missing parts of the context-based approach, and implications and suggestions for future studies.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a simulation-integrated context-based 7E instructional strategy (SICBIS) could increase students' achievement in the chemistry of oxides, acids, bases, and salts (COABS) when compared to context-based 7E instructional strategy (CBIS), simulation-integrated conventional teaching approach (SICTA), and conventional teaching approach (CTA). An embedded mixed-method was employed. For the quantitative part, a 25-item chemistry achievement test was utilized to collect data from 229 grade 10 students as part of a quasi-experimental pre-/post-test control group study design. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyse the data. Semi-structured interviews were used to triangulate it the with quantitative results. Quantitative results demonstrated that although difference was not statistically significant, incorporating computer simulations within CBIS helps students do better than they would have without. SICBIS and CBIS outperformed SICTA and CTA in COABS. Also, implications and recommendations are made.

BACKGROUND: Injury is a major cause of death and disability in Ethiopia. ALERT Hospital, one of only three designated trauma centers in the country, has employed a basic trauma registry since its inception in 2016; however, these data had not been used. In joint efforts with the Federal Ministry of Health, we aimed to understand patient injury characteristics and predictors of mortality, to inform priorities in resource and training investments. METHODS: Data from 12 816 consecutive patients in the first 3 years of the trauma registry were reviewed retrospectively. Modified Early Warning Score was used at triage to indicate injury severity (red=critically injured, green=minor injury). No physiologic data for calculating Injury Severity Scores or in-hospital intervention data were available. Triage groups were compared and multivariate logistic regression conducted to determine predictors of in-emergency department (ED) mortality. RESULTS: Most patients presented with minor injuries with 64.7% triaged as yellow and 16.4% triaged as green, and most (75.9%) referred from another facility. Of those who were critically injured, only 31.0% arrived by ambulance. Most injuries were soft tissue (51.1%) and fractures (23.0%); when stratified by triage category, most critical (red) patients had sustained head injuries (52.7%). Arrival by ambulance (OR 2.20, p=0.017) and head injury (OR 3.11, p

The basic purpose of the present study was to assess the root causes and provoking factors of cheating during an examination and to propose possible solutions to take corrective actions in public secondary schools in Gedeo zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region, Ethiopia. Because of the homogeneity of schools, five schools were randomly selected out of the 24 public secondary schools in the Zone. Similarly, 387 student samples were taken by using simple random sampling techniques to give equal chances to all respondents, while 10 school principals and 10 teachers were selected by availability sampling. The research adopted an embedded mixed (QUANT+qual) design. Questionnaires (quantitative data) for students and unstructured interviews (qualitative data) for principals and teachers were used as collecting instruments. Besides descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, multiple correlations, and multiple linear regression using model IBM SPSS Statistics 20 were used. The result of the study signifies the positive and direct relationships between cheating and the predictor variables. The study is expected to provide evidence-based information for curriculum developers, policy makers, educational officials, school principals, science teachers, and school communities as a whole. The report also adds new knowledge to the existing literature.

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

BackgroundPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common mental health problems that military personnel encounter. It could be lifelong and affect every aspect of military personnel, including their mental and physical health, family and social interactions, and their work. However, in Ethiopia, the magnitude and its associated factors have not been well investigated.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors among military personnel, who were admitted at the Northwest Command Level Three Military Hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2022.MethodsAn institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 June to 21 July 2022, at the Northwest Command Level Three Military Hospital. A computer-generated simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 627 participants. The 17-item Military Version Checklist was utilized to measure PTSD. The Patient Health Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Coping, and Critical War Zone Experience scale were utilized to measure depression, resilience, and combat exposure, respectively. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate binary logistic regressions with odds ratios and a 95% confidence interval were used. The level of significance of the association was determined at a p-value < 0.05.ResultsA total of 612 respondents participated, with a response rate of 97.6%. The prevalence of PTSD in this study was 21.9% (95% CI: 18.6, 25.2). In multivariable regression, female sex [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.3, 95% CI; 1.3, 3.87], combat personnel (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI; 1.44, 6.36), handling dead bodies (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI,1.24, 5.02), having 4–5 deployments (AOR = 2.94, 95% CI, 1.63, 5.32), having ≥6 deployments (AOR = 3.4, 95% CI, 1.95, 6.17), low resilience coping (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI; 1.16, 3.53), poor social support (AOR = 2.46, 95% CI, 1.39, 4.35), very high combat exposures (AOR = 4.8, 95% CI, 2.03, 11.93), and depression (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI, 1.68, 4.67) were significantly associated with PTSD.ConclusionPTSD is markedly prevalent among the Ethiopian military population, with key risk factors identified as being female, poor social support, low resilience coping skills, handling dead bodies, multiple deployments (four or more), high combat experiences, and depression. Healthcare professionals must prioritize the early diagnosis and intervention of PTSD in vulnerable groups of military personnel.

Abstract Introduction Intracranial hematoma is the collection of blood in various intracranial spaces. Knowledge of patterns, origins, causes and outcomes of ICH conditions is important for decision-making for urgent surgical interventions such as craniotomy and hematoma evacuations. No prior study was conducted in our setup. Hence, this study aimed to assess the patterns and management outcomes of intracranial hematomas in low-resource setting and tailored our management approach at Jimma University Medical center. Methods An institution-based prospective observational study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center, Ethiopia, for six consecutive months from June to December 2020. Different data sources and interview methods were used and analyzed using SPSS version 24. A bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the association between the variables. Results A total of 91 eligible patients were recruited during the study period, with a mean age of 34 years. The majority of patients were males [73 (80.2%)] and more common in reproductive age groups (62.6%), from rural areas (50.5%). About 93.4% of patients reported a history of trauma, and road traffic accidents & fighting account for 63.8% of the trauma cases. Sixty-five percent of patients arrive in the hospital within 24 h. Upon presentation, there were loss of consciousness (48.4%), convulsion (11%), aspiration (9.9%) and increased ICP (12%). The majority (49.5%) of the patients had a mild head injury. The focal neurologic deficits were hemiparesis (29.7%) and hemiplegia (5.5%). Acute epidural hematoma (68.1%) was a common finding, followed by sub-acute subdural hematoma. Of the total study participants, 11% had died. All the surviving patients were accessed at 30 days after discharge and re-assessed, 66 patients had good neurologic recovery (62 upper and 4 lower good recovery), 11 patients had moderate disability (7 lower and 4 upper-moderate disabilities), two patients had a severe disability, and two patients (among those with severe disability) had died. Conclusion Trauma was invariably the cause of intracranial hematoma, and patients with low GCS, papillary abnormalities, aspiration and increased ICP had an increased risk of dying from their illness. It is good to formulate policies to enhance injury prevention and bring about health-oriented behavioral change.

Extension professionals are expected to help disseminate agricultural technologies, information, knowledge and skills to farmers. In order to develop valuable and long-lasting extension services, it is essential to understand the methods of extension that farmers find most beneficial. This understanding helps adopt improved practices, overcome barriers, provide targeted interventions and continuously improve agricultural extension programs. Thus, assessing factors affecting farmers' choice of agricultural extension methods is essential for developing extension methods that comply with farmers' needs and socio-economic conditions. Therefore, we analyzed the factors affecting farmers' preferences in extension methods, using cross-sectional data collected from 300 households in two sample districts and 16 Kebelles in Ethiopia between September 2019 and March 2020. Four extension methods, including training, demonstration, office visits and phone calls were considered as outcome variables. We fitted a multivariate probit model to estimate the factors that influence farmers' choice of extension methods. The results of the study showed that the number of dependents in the household head, formal education and membership of Idir (an informal insurance program a community or group runs to meet emergencies) were negatively associated with farmers' choices to participate in different extension methods compared to no extension. On the other hand, the sex of the household head, farm experience, participation in non-farm activities, monetary loan access, owning a mobile phone, radio access and membership of cooperatives were found to have a statistically significant positive impact on farmers' choices of extension methods. Based on these findings, the government and the concerned stakeholders should take farmers' socio-economic and institutional traits into account when selecting and commissioning agricultural extension methods. This could help to develop contextually relevant extension strategies that are more likely to be chosen and appreciated by farmers. Furthermore, such strategies can aid policymakers in designing extension programs that cater to farmers' needs and concerns. In conclusion, farmers' socio-economic and institutional affiliation should be taken into consideration when selecting agricultural extension methods.

RASopathies are a group of genetic syndromes caused by germline mutations in genes involved in the RAS/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling pathway, which regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Despite their involvement at different levels of this pathway, RASopathies share overlapping clinical phenotypes. Noonan syndrome is the most prevalent RASopathy, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 2500 live births, and it is typically inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, with 50% of cases involving gain-of-function mutations in the PTPN11 gene. De novo mutations are common, accounting for 60% of cases. The phenotype of Noonan syndrome includes characteristic facial and physical features, congenital cardiac defects, lymphatic and cerebrovascular anomalies, renal malformations, hematological abnormalities, developmental issues, and an increased risk of cancer. Severe congenital cardiac defects and lymphatic abnormalities significantly impact prognosis, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Recent therapeutic advancements have introduced trametinib, an MEK1/2 inhibitor, for treating Noonan syndrome patients with severe cardiac and lymphatic complications. To assess its efficacy, here, we present a case of a newborn with Noonan syndrome who exhibited refractory chylothorax, ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary stenosis who was treated with trametinib. The patient demonstrated significant improvement in chylothorax and left ventricular hypertrophy, though pulmonary stenosis persisted. This case further confirms trametinib’s potential as a therapeutic option for severe Noonan syndrome complications, emphasizing the need for further clinical trials to optimize treatment protocols and evaluate long-term outcomes.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 is highly infectious and patients with coronavirus diseases demonstrated a series of clinical symptoms caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Without a break of the wave’s hematological profile of the patients is still ambiguous and differs from wave to wave. Objective: This study aimed to assess the hematological profile among coronavirus disease 2019 patients during the first and the second waves in Ethiopia. Methods: A multi-centered facility-based retrospective cohort study design was conducted at six coronavirus disease 2019 treatment centers. A total of 538 study participants were enrolled in the selected coronavirus disease 2019 treatment centers during the first and second waves of the pandemic. The demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, symptoms, and hematological parameters of patients were recorded. Data were entered into Epi-Data Manager 4.6 and analyzed using STATA 14.2. An independent sample t -test was used to assess the mean differences in hematological parameters across waves. Associations between categorical variables across waves were also determined using Chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Results: Among the total study participants, 240 (44.6%) and 298 (55.4%) patients were taken from wave-1 and wave-2, respectively. The average age of the study participants was 56.44 ± 16.25 years. The most frequent comorbidities in this study were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and asthma. The most presenting symptoms of COVID-19 infection across the two waves were presented. In the first wave, dry cough 166 (69.2%), fatigue 153 (63.75%), shortness of breath 148 (61.67%), and fever accounted 116 (48.33%), while during the second wave, dry cough 242 (81.2%), fatigue 244 (81.88%) shortness of breath 204 (68.47%) and fever account 180 (60.40%). White blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, and lymphocytes had shown increment during the first wave. Platelet count and platelet distribution width ( p

The Suluh river basin is subjected to soil erosion due to land use and land cover change. Yet, the impact of land use/land cover change soil erosion has not been applied in the study area. Thus, the current study focused on the modeling of the impact of land use/land cover changes on soil erosion in the Suluh river basin, the northern highland part of Ethiopia. Landsat image data sources were used to achieve the objectives. Ancillary data was also used. The nearest neighbor's fuzzy way of classification and the land change modeler for modeling, and the revised universal soil loss equation model for estimating the soil erosion rate were employed. Both qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study's findings confirmed that cultivated land, bare land, and built-up areas significantly increased while areas occupied by natural vegetation such as forest land, shrub lands, and grazing lands decreased at a rapid rate in between 1990 to 2018. The predicted results suggest the continuation of the trend up to 2048 if business as usual is continued. The annual mean of soil lost in the study area was about 36.31, 43.32, and 47.78 in the years 1990, 2002, 2018, and will be 56.54, and 71.62 tons per hectare per year in 2028, and 2048, respectively. When we consider 15 t ha−1 year−1 as the maximum tolerable soil loss (TSL) rate for ease of presentation, the areas above the TSL have increased from 88.3% in 1990 to 88.6% in 2002 and to 89.6% in 2018, and are expected to increase to 89.9% and 99.8% in 2028 and 2048 periods, respectively. Thus, land use and land cover change information and its impact on soil erosion should be taken under consideration by land use planners to apply sustainable land management activities in the Suluh river basin.

Background Injury is a major cause of death and disability in Ethiopia. ALERT Hospital, one of only three designated trauma centers in the country, has employed a basic trauma registry since its inception in 2016; however, these data had not been used. In joint efforts with the Federal Ministry of Health, we aimed to understand patient injury characteristics and predictors of mortality, to inform priorities in resource and training investments.Methods Data from 12 816 consecutive patients in the first 3 years of the trauma registry were reviewed retrospectively. Modified Early Warning Score was used at triage to indicate injury severity (red=critically injured, green=minor injury). No physiologic data for calculating Injury Severity Scores or in-hospital intervention data were available. Triage groups were compared and multivariate logistic regression conducted to determine predictors of in-emergency department (ED) mortality.Results Most patients presented with minor injuries with 64.7% triaged as ‘yellow’ and 16.4% triaged as ‘green’, and most (75.9%) referred from another facility. Of those who were critically injured, only 31.0% arrived by ambulance. Most injuries were soft tissue (51.1%) and fractures (23.0%); when stratified by triage category, most critical (‘red’) patients had sustained head injuries (52.7%). Arrival by ambulance (OR 2.20, p=0.017) and head injury (OR 3.11, p

The rectangular channel louvered-fin compact heat exchanger (LFCHE) is the most efficient type that has been served in a radiator. However, with this type of heat exchanger, the pressure drop rises by three to four times as the heat transfer increases, which results in decreasing performance. This research is aimed to numerically investigate the louver edges (vertical, inclined, and horizontal) effect on LFCHE performance at different louver angle (θ) with air inlet velocities ranging from 1 to 30 m/s. A total of twelve models are made and simulated. The result revealed that the horizontal edge decreases the pressure drop up to 24.2% with a 1.01% increase in outlet air temperature over the base model (inclined edge). Thus, louver edge has design which results in higher and lower effect on pressure drop and temperature change, respectively. The research investigated the effects of louver edges using different performance evaluation criteria. At 10 m/s (Relp = 972.33) the horizontal edge increases the volume goodness (jf) factor up to 21.49% over the base model. Similarly, the horizontal edged fins resulted in maximum increment of jf-factor by 22% and 25% as compared with inclined edge for louver angles θ of 24 ° (at low Relp) and 20 ° (at high Relp), respectively. Generally, the horizontally edged LFCHE is proven to have higher performance in cooling the coolant with a minimum air side pressure drop.

Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) is an indigenous multipurpose plant in Ethiopia. More than 20 % of people in Ethiopia rely on enset for their subsistence livelihood. Its fermentation produces a starchy food named Kocho, which is yet poorly studied. In this study, physicochemical and microbial community dynamics of Kocho fermented from different enset varieties (Maziya, Genna, and Arkiya) were collected at Dawro Zone (Southern Ethiopia). Samples were collected at various fermentation times (days 1–60) for physicochemical and microbial (culture-dependent and culture-independent) characterization. Results showed that increasing fermentation time has a significantly strong positive (R2 = 0.768, p = 0.004) correlation between titrable acidity, and a significantly strong negative association with pH (R2 = −0.715, p = 0.009), moisture (R2 = −0.982, p Proteobacteria (7–53 %) > Cyanobacteria (7–24 %) were dominant phyla in the three enset varieties. Gamma (traditional starter culture) is dominated by Lactobacillus plantrum and Lactobacillus manihotivorans most probably the two species that play a significant role in initiating enset fermentation.

BackgroundAbout half of the world's populations are infected with Helicobacter pylori, which may create atherogenic lipid profiles and contribute to atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, it has been connected to hematological symptoms like anemia. Even though the high prevalence of H.pylori and its associated complications, including cardiovascular disease and anemia, in Ethiopia, there is little data regarding the risk factors associated with H.pylori infection, such as hematologic parameters, electrolyte imbalances, and lipid profiles.MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study design with a consecutive sampling technique was employed at Jimma Medical Center among 108 dyspeptic patients. Five (5) ml of blood samples were collected from each participant, and serum was extracted and analyzed using a COBAS 6000 core for the lipid and electrolyte, and whole blood was used with a SYSMEX XN 550 to determine hematological parameters. Data were entered in to Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Simple descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to present the socio-demographic characteristics of the study subjects. Student t-test was used for data comparison and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsH.pylori infected patients had significantly decreased levels of red blood cell count (p = 0.002), hemoglobin (p = 0.012), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001), platelet count (p = 0.001), and sodium level (p = 0.006) when compared to the uninfected group. However, total cholesterol (p = 0.001), and low density lipoprotein (p = 0.021) were increased in H.pylori infected patients when compared to the uninfected group.ConclusionsThis study revealed that H.pylori infection can cause derangements of hematologic parameters, electrolyte imbalances, and alterations of lipid parameters which considered as risk factors for anemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Among small ruminants, lungworms are important parasitic nematodes that infect the lower respiratory tract and are implicated in a high mortality and morbidity rate. However, the magnitude and its determinants of lungworm infection in the study districts are not known. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of lungworm infection and assess associated risk factors in selected districts, Wolaita Zone, southern Ethiopia. A total of 742 fecal samples collected from 443 sheep and 299 goats were examined, using modified Baermann techniques, to recover first-stage larvae from fecal samples. Lungworms were detected in 271 (36.52%) samples infecting 192 (43.34%) sheep and 79 (26.42%) goats, respectively. Lungworm species Dictyocaulus filaria, Protostrongylus rufescens, and Muellerius capillaris were recovered in 114 (15.36%), 68 (9.16%), and 57 (7.68%) fecal samples, respectively. Mixed infection by two or more above species was noted in 32 (4.31%) of the samples. Among the determinants examined, agroecological environment, management system, and season showed statistically significant differences (p0.05). The present study indicated that lungworm infection was a problem for sheep and goats in this study area. Thus, measures like deworming, early treatment, and improving animal husbandry should be practiced.

Modeling urban land-use dynamics is critical for urban experts’ and infrastructure managers’ planning. This study attempts to explore the land-use/land-cover (LULC) dynamics of Gondar using satellite images from 1984 to 2020. Markov-Chain and Cellular Automata (MC-CA) models have been recognized as performing well in predicting urban land-use change. However, only a few models work in Ethiopia in general, and no study in Gondar has applied this approach to study urban land-use patterns. Therefore, Gondar land-use/land-cover changes of Gondar were predicted using the MC-CA model in IDRISI. The built-up area in Gondar city covered 1 413 ha (3% of the total area) in 1984 and increased to 2 380 ha (5%) in 1994; 21 153 ha (45.5%) in 2004; 22 622 ha (48.7%) in 2014; and 23 427 ha (50.5%) in 2020. The area has been predicted to reach 57.5% in the 2050s, showing a faster increase that will cause a very vast loss of farmland. This will increase urban sprawl challenges as well as overall environmental disequilibrium in the preceding decade. Thus, innovative and careful structures and systems in urban planning are required to secure a sustainable urban future and to make our cities livable and competitive in the paradigm of sustainable cities.

ABSTRACTLand degradation because of the overutilization of natural resources is a suitable strategy for many countries of the world. This crucial strategy hasn’t been introduced or implemented widely enough. The present study intended to examine the status of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) for the study Rib Watershed, which covers an area of 1585 km2 and is situated in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. For the past two periods between 2000 and 2020, three indicators, such as Land Cover/Use Changes (LUC), Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), and Net Primary Productivity (NPP) metrics were primarily used to assess the LDN status of the study site. A total of 80 soil samples were then collected from the top 15 cm for six different types of LULC, including cultivated land, forest land, shrub lands, grassland, settlement, and water body. Consequently, land uses land cover matrices, NPP metric, and SOC metrics were also obtained using Land sat images, soil samples, and MODIS satellite images, respectively, for three periods of 2000, 2010, and 2020. Lastly, by integrating the three indicators and using one out all out framework, the status of LDN in the study area was evaluated. The combined findings of the study measurements showed that there was a net loss in cultivated land (123,977 ha), forest land (5623 ha), shrub lands (13984 ha), grassland (11,999 ha), water body (1056 ha) and settlement (1993 ha) for the past two decades (2000 to 2020). For the past two decades, LDN status of the Rib Watershed was generally in a net loss condition. The information delivered by the three sub-indicators is important for experts for the good recognition of their spatial distribution and types of land degradation to attain the LDN targets.

ABSTRACTThis study examined the nexus between land use, land cover dynamics, and climate variability and change in the Suha sub-watershed of the upper Blue Nile basin (1990–2020). Data sources such as Landsat images (LULC, NDVI, and LST) and NMAE/KNMI (rainfall) were used and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.7.1, QGIS 2.8.3, and XLSTAT 19. The relationship between NDVI and climate variables was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, while the cellular automata-artificial neural network technique was used to predict future LULC change. Results showed that among the six land use classes, cultivated land gained more than 30%, while grassland lost more than 20% in each decade. The LULC dynamic in the future also showed that bare land and the built-up area had the highest increments, while bush-shrub land had the highest diminishing trends. The NDVI values of each land use class were between −0.14 and +0.74 in 1990 and −0.09 and 0.68 in 2000, respectively. In 2013, the NDVI value ranged from −0.04 to +0.46, and in 2020, it was from −0.08 to 0.55, respectively. The NDVI value of the different land uses showed a decreasing trend. However, LST and rainfall in the watershed showed an increasing and decreasing trend, respectively, which is associated with the LULC daynamics. The correlation between NDVI and LST was found to be negative, whereas the relationship between NDVI and rainfall was positive. Hence, an appropriate use of land is an undeniable fact to minimize the undesirable influence of LULC change on climate variability in the area.

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

The Nomos Georgikos mentions several animal species, mainly quadrupeds as oxen, donkeys and sheep, but also pigs and dogs: the relations between these animals and the men who worked the land as farmers produce juridical consequences, as reparations for damages and punishments of crimes, ruled by norms coming both from customary law and Justinian’s compilation, their presence could represent a sort of interpretation key in studying the compilation technique of the whole collection through the heritage of Roman law.

Background: The diversion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for hydrocephalus is an established surgical practice.Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the most commonly performed diversion procedure. However, the procedure is associated with wide variety of complications, neurological, and non-neurological, which can occur in immediate perioperative period or during follow-up. Anal extrusion of a peritoneal catheter is a rare complication ranging from 0.1 to 0.7% of all shunt surgeries. Case description: We present a rare case of anal extrusion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt in A 1 year and 7 months old male child who presented with extruding distal peritoneal tip of shunt tube per anus of 48 h duration and five episode of vomiting of ingested matter. The physical examination did not reveal any signs of peritonitis or meningitis. There was palpable VP shunt valve which was functional and Peritoneal end of the catheter was protruding through the anus.After proper investigation and family councelling,child was taken to the Operation theater and proximal catheter exteriorized and distal end removed via the anus.After three weeks of IV antibiotics,VPS revised and patient discharged. Conclusion: Though trans-anal VPS extrusion is rare complication,awareness of this unusual complication among general Neurosurgeons and physicians is very important for early recognition, management, and timely intervention to save the life of the patient.

Wettability, typically estimated through the contact angle, is a fundamental property of surfaces with wide-ranging implications in both daily life and industrial processes. Recent scientific interest has been paid to the surfaces exhibiting extreme wettability: superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces, characterized by high water repellency and exceptional water wetting, respectively. Both chemical composition and morphology play a role in the determination of the wettability “performance” of a surface. To tune surface-wetting properties, we considered coatings of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in this study. They are a new class of nanomaterials synthesized in flames whose chemistry, dimension, and shape depend on combustion conditions. For the first time, we systematically studied the wettability of CNP coatings produced in a controlled rich ethylene/air flame stabilized over a McKenna burner. A selected substrate was intermittently inserted in the flame at 15 mm above the burner to form a thin coating thanks to a thermophoretic-driven deposition mechanism. The chemical-physical quality and the deposed quantity of the CNPs were varied by opportunely combing the substrate flame insertion number (from 1 to 256) and the carbon-to-oxygen ratio, C/O (from 0.67 to 0.87). The wettability of the coatings was evaluated by measuring the contact angle, CA, with the sessile drop method. When the C/O = 0.67, the CNPs were nearly spherical, smaller than 8 nm, and always generated hydrophilic coatings (CA < 35°). At higher C/O ratios, the CNPs reached dimensions of 100 nm, and fractal shape aggregates were formed. In this case, either hydrophilic (CA < 76°) or superhydrophobic (CA ~166°) behavior was observed, depending on the number of carbon nanoparticles deposed, i.e., film thickness. It is known that wettability is susceptible to liquid surface tension, and therefore, tests were conducted with different fluids to establish a correlation between the flame conditions and the nanostructure of the film. This method offers a fast and simple approach to determining mesoscale information for coating roughness and topographical homogeneity/inhomogeneity of their surfaces.

Following the 2007 and 2008 global food crisis, emphasis has been placed on large-scale acquisition and transfer of land for agricultural investment to foreign and domestic investors from the global south as a strategy to address food shortages. Worldwide promotion for large scale agricultural investment has again resulted in land grabbing in the global south with potential threats to the land rights and livelihoods of smallholder farmers or local communities. This situation has opened a room for discussion on how to improve governance or administration of agricultural investment land so that the land rights and livelihoods of smallholder farmers or local communities and other vulnerable groups are protected. As a result, the idea of responsible governance of land gained significant attention and various guidelines and frameworks have also developed and endorsed to promote responsible governance of agricultural investment land at global level. As a result, the purpose of this study is to analyze and understand the attention paid to promote responsible governance of land in the context of agricultural investment in Ethiopia. This study has employed a mixed research approach by using both quantitative and qualitative data collected from three case study regional states in Ethiopia. It primarily discusses the practice of land acquisition and transfer for agricultural investment purposes from the perspective of responsible governance of land. The findings of this study show that agricultural investment practices in Ethiopia significantly deviate from the principles of responsible governance of land. The conventional state controlled land acquisition and transfer of agricultural investment lands is more prevalent practice, with little emphasis to local community interests and environmental demands. Finally, this study has advised introduce and promote responsible governance of land as a way out to safeguard local communities’ interests and environmental concerns in the context of agricultural investment in Ethiopia.

Urbanization can cause changes in farming practices, which in turn bring cropland-use loss. However, this issue is an under-researched topic. This study examines changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland (Eucalyptus and clay brick production) using panel and cross-sectional data. Landsat imageries were used as longitudinal panel data to assess cropland-use changes from 2001 to 2021. A cross-sectional survey was designed to collect data from randomly selected 300 farmers in the peri-urban areas of Jimma City. A questionnaire was conducted with farmers to identify factors and reasons leading to changes in farming practices, while interviews and group discussions were organized with key informants to gather their experiences of changing farming practices. A two-way cross-matrix was used to estimate the cropland-use change from 2001 to 2021. A spatial regression model was used to determine significant factors of changing farming practices, while the qualitative data was described along with the model results. The results show that woodland increased by 44% from 2013 to 2021 due to changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland. Cropland and pastureland were converted to built-up areas at 4.4% and 2.8% per year, respectively, while woodland has been converted at 1.5%, implying that it is more resistant to built-up area expansion. The spatial regression model reveals that access to markets, income, institutional barriers, farm size, and family size were the most significant determinants of changing farming practices. Farmers used Eucalyptus as a coping strategy to minimize pressure on natural forests, secure land for lifestyle purposes, and alleviate poverty in the face of rapid urbanization and cropland-use loss. The results of this study indicate that the government should enhance farmers' perceptions; educate them to adopt more environmentally friendly Eucalyptus tree species instead of discouraging Eucalyptus expansion on cropland and establish structures that facilitate farmers’ access to inputs to improve cropland productivity.

Abstract Background When a worker is abused, threatened, or assaulted while at work, it poses an explicit or implicit threat to his/her safety, well-being, or health. However, the magnitude and understanding of the problem and its associated factors have received little attention in low and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed to ascertain the magnitude, perceptions, and associated factors of workplace sexual violence among waitresses in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods Parallel sampling was used in a facility-based convergent mixed-methods study. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Four hundred six waitresses provided quantitative information. To collect data, a pretested structured interview administered questionnaire was used. Qualitative data from ten in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions were also collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were cleaned before being entered into Epidata version 7 and exported to STATA version 15 for analysis. Using odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and a P value of less than 0.05, binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. Thematic analysis was performed using ATLAS ti version 8.4.25 after the recorded audios were transcribed. Results The overall prevalence of workplace sexual violence was 45.9% (95% CI 41, 50.8). Waitresses who had heard about sexual violence and workplace sexual violence, had witnessed family violence as a child, had a family who valued their honor over their children’s safety and health, and lacked employment opportunities were more likely to experience workplace sexual violence. Waitresses who worked in emotionally supportive work environments and were educated were less likely to experience workplace sexual violence. Conclusions Many of the waitresses in this study had experienced workplace sexual violence. Its awareness, witnessing family violence as a child, growing up in a family that prioritized their honor over their children’s safety and health, and lack of employment opportunities exacerbated it. In contrast, emotionally supportive work environments and education have protected them. This implies that organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, civic organizations, and other responsible bodies must pay attention to the identified factors. Additionally, Ethiopian hospitality workplaces should develop policies to protect women.

Background: The increasing prevalence of chronic disease and death from those diseases in both developed and developing countries is a considerable concern to numerous international organizations. Data on practice of medical interns in chronically ill patient care is deficient in Ethiopia. Objective: this study is aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of medical interns in caring for chronically ill patients at Jimma University Medical Centre. Method: Across-sectional study was conducted with self-administered approach for data collection. Multiple regression was done and P-value 25years old [AOR=2.757 95% CI: 1.391-5.465]. Conclusion: Caring practice medical interns for chronically ill patient is low. This finding clearly indicates the importance of better follow up of caring practice of medical interns for chronically ill patients.

One of the main problems with hydraulic structures is that floating silt, gravel, ice sand, boulders, and other materials circulating over a concrete surface have an abrasive effect that causes hydraulic structures to abrade. Abrasion causes concrete to degrade, which could eventually expose the reinforcing to corrosion. In addition to section loss, reinforced concrete hydraulic structures’ endurance may also be a problem. Repair mortars are used to restore surfaces that have been abraded. The suitability of various repair materials for use as a repair layer on concrete surfaces is examined in this study. In order to apply different repair mortars to concrete specimens and subject them to abrasive forces, this work employs an experimental methodology. The ASTM C 1138 standard was followed for testing the abrasion resistance of the samples repaired using repair mortars underwater. Both silica fume mortar and polymer-modified mortar were employed in the study as forms of repair mortar. For each type of repair mortar, three cylindrical concrete specimens were cast, along with control specimens. Hence, nine cylindrical concrete samples in total were employed in this study. In order to quantify the effect of abrasion and, consequently, to assess the efficacy of various repair materials, abrasion volume loss was measured. Important findings about each type of repair material’s resistance to underwater abrasion are included in the study. The findings show that in terms of abrasion resistance underwater, the polymer-modified mortar performs better than the silica fume mortar.

BackgroundThe comorbidity of depression with chronic skin disease negatively affects the quality of life and disease prognosis, creating an immense burden on patients, families, and the wider community. However, there are limited studies conducted on the prevalence of depression and associated factors among people with chronic skin disease in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of depression among people with chronic skin disease at Boru Meda Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia.MethodsAn institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out from March 10- April 18, 2021, among a total of 381 people with chronic skin disease. The Patient Health Questioner-9 was used to assess depression. A logistic regression analysis model with an adjusted odds ratio was used to assess the strength of associations between the outcome and predictor variables. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultThe magnitude of depression among people with chronic skin disease was 23.6% (95%Cl: 19.8%, 28.6%). We identified significantly increased odds of depression among participants with rural residence (AOR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.28), duration of illness above 5 years (AOR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.31, 9.85), comorbid medical illness AOR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.06, 5.98), family history of mental illness (AOR = 3.39, 95% CI: 1.11, 10.41), non-adherence to chronic skin disease medications (AOR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.20, 10.41), low self-image (AOR = 4.69, 95% CI: 2.25, 9.77), and perceived stigma (AOR = 4.61, 95% CI: 2.14, 9.92).ConclusionDepression was common among patients with chronic skin diseases. This study has indicated a need for proper screening of depression in the current medical treatment of patients with chronic skin disease in Boru Meda Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia.

BackgroundNeurocognitive impairment is a widely common problem in the elderly. It encompasses mild and major cognitive impairment, which will lead to disability and increase the risk of death. It also compromises the quality of life of the patient and poses a burden on the family and society as a whole. However, there is a paucity of information concerning neurocognitive impairment among the elderly in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment and associated factors among the elderly in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia 2020.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 respondents using a simple random sampling technique from 1 June to 30 June 2020. Neurocognitive impairment was measured using the Mini-Mental State Exam adjusted cutoff point (presence or absence) by the level of education of the participants. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.62 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis: descriptive statistics were used for summarization and presentation and binary logistic regression for a measure of association between exposures and outcome variable.ResultsThe prevalence of neurocognitive impairment was 42.1%. Factors such as having no spouse [AOR = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08–2.86], having depression (AOR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.80–5.14), lifetime alcohol use (AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.19–7.07), and having low family support (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.35–6.96) and moderate family support (AOR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.10–3.06) were significantly associated with neurocognitive impairment.Conclusion and RecommendationThe prevalence of neurocognitive impairment was high in Bahir Dar city administration. Neurocognitive impairment has shown significant association with no spouse, depression, alcohol use, and low and moderate family social support. It is important to pay attention to old age with comorbid mental illness and also to strengthen social support systems to prevent and manage neurocognitive impairment.