A Framework For Assessing Water Quality, Prioritizing Recovery Potential, And Analyzing Placement Of Best Management Practices

Motivated by the U.S. EPA goals, this research developed a framework to support identification and restoration of nutrient-impaired water bodies. The study objectives were developing total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) prediction models, evaluating the impact of social indicators on assessing recovery potential, and developing a spatial decision support system for choice and placement of best management practices (BMPS). An artificial neural network was used to develop TN and TP predictive regional models for U.S. lakes using easily measurable and cost-effective variables. The performance of models was superior for regions trained with larger datasets and/or regions with lower temperature and precipitation variability. The use of datasets larger than existing records and obtained from homogeneous climatic region was suggested to achieve the desired performance. The impact of social indicators on assessing a recovery potential was studied by comparing four watersheds using ecological, stressor, and social indicators. Social indicators were grouped into socio-economic, organizational, and information and planning subcategories. The existing U.S. EPA recovery potential screening tool prioritizes restoration for a water body with the most favorable ecological and social condition as well as the least stressing factors. In the present study, water bodies ranked lowest were observed with lower social scores associated with lower socio-economic conditions. This could mean a manager would take a water body with lower socio-economic condition as the lowest priority for restoration. It is suggested that such prioritization plan should carefully incorporate community goals in a prioritization effort because restoration supports an improvement of quality of life. A spatial decision support system was developed with the necessary information to assess nitrogen (n) pollution and methods to estimate an annual exported n load into Beasley Lake, Mississippi. A decision analysis of choice and placement of BMPS was performed based on performance, site suitability, and establishment cost criteria. From this analysis, a BMP scenario that reduces 25% of the exported load at an establishment and an annual opportunity cost-to-performance ratios of 148 $/kg and 29$/kg, respectively, was developed. The presented approach supports similar efforts when the use of existing watershed models is limited by data availability

Impact of Micro Credit on Poverty Reduction in Dega Damot Woreda, Amhara, Ethiopia

The challenge Ethiopia is facing today is to reduce poverty and gear up the living standard of its people. One of the poverty reduction policies of the country therefore is the introduction of micro financial institutions to empower the economically marginalized segments of the society.   Amhara credit and saving institution (ACSI) is one of the largest micro finance institutions operating in Ethiopia established in accordance with proclamation no. 40/1996 The objective of this study, therefore, is to find out whether Amhara Credit and Saving Institution (ACSI) has made changes on living standard of the clients based on tropical livestock unit and Income change, while the other objective is whether ACSI reduces the income gap between program clients and non-clients. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaire from clients and non-clients using simple random sampling method. Both are quantitative and qualitative in nature.Descriptive analysis and dichotomous binary model were applied in the study. The impact study was analyzed based on socio economic variables. The finding of the study indicated that the ACSI’s micro financing program has made positive contribution to its clients in relation with the observed variables in the study area. Therefore, attention should be given in strengthening the prevailing operation of the Amhara Credit and Saving Institution. Keywords: Impact; ACSI; logit regression; Ethiopia; Gini coefficient; Tropical livestock unit. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-23-05 Publication date: December 31st 202

Impact of Owners’-Managers’ Demographic Characteristics on the Performance of MSEs in Ethiopia

This research paper examines the effect of MSEs owners/managers demographic characteristics on the performance of the micro and small enterprise (MSEs) in Ethiopia. 340 MSEs owners’-managers were randomly selected, and the survey method was used. Both descriptive and inferential analysis was used.  Average Sales volume and Employment size were used to measure performances of MSEs. The findings suggest that gender and age of owners/managers have a positive and significant effect on sales and employment performance of MSEs, while years of schooling has a positive and significant effect on the sales performance of MSEs, but not on employment performance. The paired t-test result indicates that there is a significant difference between the sales and employment performances of male-owned and female-owned enterprises. The study concluded that owners/managers demographic characteristics have a positive influence on the employent and sales performance of MSEs. It is suggested that micro and small enterprises development agencies and microfinance institutions should revise the modalities of training delivered to MSEs operators and should strengthen their existing regulations and policies to empower women. Keywords: Owner-manager, demographic factors, MSEs performance, regression, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-35-01 Publication date: December 31st 2020

Review on Cell Reprogramming: Methods and Applications

Cellular differentiation and development appears as a unidirectional process to specific cell fates irreversibly. Once differentiated, mature cells seems permanently locked into the differentiated state and unable to return to pluripotent stem cell state. However, using cell reprogramming methods it is possible to do reversal cell fate from a mature differentiated state to an undifferentiated state or directly to that of progenitors or mature cells of a different cell type. This is due to the resetting of the somatic cell specific epigenotype to the pluripotential cell specific epigenotype. Different methods are used to reprogram somatic cells into pluripotent cells. Among which are somatic cell nuclear transfer, cell fusion, genetic integration of cells extracts into chromatin and direct reprogramming using transcription factor integration. These methods result in morphological and molecular changes because of modification in chromatin and gene expression. The integration of the genome can be performed by the help of viral and non-viral vectors which have great variability the integration efficiency. Reprogrammed induced Pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and the recent induced endodermal cells are a few cell types to mention. Though these cells have numerous limitation in cell transplantation therapy but are promising cell for diseases modeling, drug discovery and bio-artificial organ synthesis. The major problems observed is retaining somatic cell genetic memory. Generally it is possible to reprogram personalized cells using different methods so that it can be patient specific. Keywords: pluripotent, reprogramming, stem cell, transcription factors, vectors.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer among women in Finote Selam city administration, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia, 2017

Introduction: Cancer of the cervix is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women, especially in developing countries affecting women at a time of life when they are critical to social and economic stability.Method: The study was conducted at Finote Selam City Administration from February 01 to March 01, 2017 using a community-based cross-sectional study design. The representative sample size was selected using multistage sampling technique. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the previous study. Data were entered using EpiData Version 3.1 statistical software and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical package.Result: One hundred seventy (23.1%) were knowledgeable about cervical cancer whereas 63% of participants had a negative attitude and only 7.3% had ever screened for the disease. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, marital status, religion, experienced sexual intercourse and age at 1st sexual intercourse were found to be significantly associated with the knowledge of cancer of the cervix.Conclusion: Ministry of health in collaboration with other concerned bodies should design a strategy to give education about cervical cancer including information on risk factors, signs and symptoms; and availability of screening should be provided for women and as well as for the public.Keywords: Cervical cancer, screening, Finote Selam, North West Ethiopia

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer among women in Finote Selam city administration, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia, 2017

Introduction: Cancer of the cervix is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women, especially in developing countries affecting women at a time of life when they are critical to social and economic stability. Method: The study was conducted at Finote Selam City Administration from February 01 to March 01, 2017 using a community-based cross-sectional study design. The representative sample size was selected using multistage sampling technique. The data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the previous study. Data were entered using EpiData Version 3.1 statistical software and analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical package. Result: One hundred seventy (23.1%) were knowledgeable about cervical cancer whereas 63% of participants had a negative attitude and only 7.3% had ever screened for the disease. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, marital status, religion, experienced sexual intercourse and age at 1st sexual intercourse were found to be significantly associated with the knowledge of cancer of the cervix. Conclusion: Ministry of health in collaboration with other concerned bodies should design a strategy to give education about cervical cancer including information on risk factors, signs and symptoms; and availability of screening should be provided for women and as well as for the public

Ethiopian Journal of Technical and Vocational Education and Training

A biannual journal published by the Federal TVT Institute, Ethiopia (ISSN: 3005-4362

Molecular modulators of celastrol as the keystones for its diverse pharmacological activities

© 2018 The Authors In the recent years, much attention has been focused on identifying bioactive compounds from medicinal plants that could be employed in therapeutics, which is attributed to their potent pharmacological actions and better toxicological profile. One such example that has come into the light with considerable interest is the pentacyclic triterpenoid, celastrol, which has been found to provide substantial therapeutic properties in a variety of diseases. In an effort to further accelerate its potential to be utilized in clinical practice in the future; along with advancing technologies in the field of drug discovery and development, different researchers have been investigating on the various mechanisms and immunological targets of celastrol that underlie its broad spectrum of pharmacological properties. In this review, we have collated the various research findings related to the molecular modulators responsible for different pharmacological activities shown by celastrol. Our review will be of interest to the herbal, biological, molecular scientist and by providing a quick snapshot about celastrol giving a new direction in the area of herbal drug discovery and development

Profiling the mental health of diabetic patients: a cross-sectional survey of Zimbabwean patients

Objective The burden of diabetes mellitus has exponentially increased in low resource settings. Patients with diabetes are more likely to exhibit poor mental health which negatively affects treatment outcomes. However, patients with high levels of social support (SS) are likely to report optimal mental health. We sought to determine how SS affects the report of psychiatric morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 108 diabetic patients in Harare, Zimbabwe. Results The average age of participants was 54.1 (SD 18.6) years. Most of the participants were; females (69.4%), married (51.9%), and were of low level of income (43.5%). 37.1% of the participants exhibited signs of psychiatric morbidity [mean Shona Symptoms Questionnaire score—6.7 (SD 3.2)]. Further, patients also reported lower HRQoL [mean EQ-5D-VAS score—64.1 (SD 15.3)] and high levels of SS [mean Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support score—43.7 (SD 11.5)]. Patients who received greater amount of SS had optimal mental health. Being female, unmarried, lower education attainment, having more comorbid conditions, being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and having been diagnosed of diabetes for a longer duration were associated with poorer mental health. It is important to develop context-specific interventions to improve diabetic patients’ mental health