An Assessment of the Principal’s Practice in Delegation of Authority to Teachers in Some Selected Public Primary Schools of Wolkite Town Administration

The purpose of this study was to assess the principal’s practice in delegation of authority to teachers in wolkite town some selected public primary schools. In doing so, investigate the major problem and to provide possible improvement ways, the study was focused on addressing three basis or leading research questions, (a) to what extent school principals practice in delegation of authority? (b) Does authority delegated co-equal with responsibility? (c) How principals do pass their time in development activities? The objective of the study was generally to investigate major problems and to provide ways of improving the delegation practice of principals in wolkite town public primary schools. The study would be useful and timely because our education system now a day’s give due consideration for quality educational leadership and management as one part of the six educational quality assurance program. This study would provide some insight to improve the management capacity of principals from delegation prospective. The study was mainly focused and delimited on the principal’s practice in delegation of authority. Different literatures related to the issue were used to strength the study. Descriptive survey research design with both quantitative and qualitative method was concurrently used, and data was primarily collected through questionnaires and interview from primary school principals and teachers. Out of 5 public primary schools, 3 schools were selected through simple random sampling techniques from these schools 40 teachers and 3 principals were selected through sample random sampling and comprehensive sampling techniques respectively. The finding of the study revealed that there is moderate level of effective delegation practice on the part of the principal, yet teachers were reluctant to accept and carryout delegation of authority. The conclusion drawn from this study were mainly, there is no proper delegation authority, principals do not grant proper authority with assigned responsibility, and the principal does not append his time on development activities. Consequently, to improve the delegation practice of principals the major recommendations forwarded are principals should provide proportional authority to task delegated for teachers, it should be clearly spelled out in written form and monthly and quarterly meeting and report program should be set, the principal should clearly identify tasks that can be delegated and that cannot be delegated, individual teachers best performance in the school should be recognized, and incentives should be made available. Keywords: Delegation, Authority, Accountability, Decentralization, Responsibility and Primary Schools. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-7-04 Publication date:March 31st 202

Assessment of Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices in Hawassa University Campuses, Ethiopia

This study was conducted in four campuses of Hawassa University (HU), Ethiopia, with the aim of identifying the major sources, composition and quantity of solid wastes and solid waste management (SWM) practices. Key informant interview and visual assessment was carried out to identify the major sources, sampling sites, measurement points and management practices. The wastes were segregated and categorized into classes and measured for seven consecutive days in each campus. The result showed that about 35,364.2 Kg of food leftover and more than 10,541.4 kg of paper, plastic, grass and leaves, medical waste, and some other mixed solid waste were generated every week. From the total waste more than 92 % was recyclable and 81.5% was organic. The food leftover was managed by selling to ranchers, giving it to poor-of-the poor, and the remaining was managed through damping. The clinical wastes, papers and some other wastes were burned and only limited solid waste was recycled. Generally, the SWM practice in HU is reactive to the problems and a more proactive solution is required. For instance, conversion of organic waste to biogas could reduce the cafeterias cooking firewood spending, greenhouse gas emission and other socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with SWM problem. Recycling of paper waste by selling to pulp and paper factory can also be a feasible and win-win strategy for the university and the environment as the experience gained from Adama Science and Technology University.Keywords: Hawassa University, Solid Waste, SWM, SW recovery, SW Recyclin

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell using Extract of Jacaranda Mimosifolia and Salvia Spelendens as a Natural Sensitizer

Nanocomposites of Sn-Ti oxide were prepared by sol-gel method to use as photo anode for dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Crystal size, elemental contents, structural properties and energy band gaps of the as-synthesized powders was examined using XRD, EDX, SEM and UV-Vis spectrophotometer respectively.  A quasi-solid state photo electrochemical solar energy conversion device with I3¯/I¯ redox couple has been constructed and characterized. Natural pigments were also extracted using ethanol, HCl and water solvents from jacaranda mimosifolia and Salvia spelendens to use as sensitizer. Ethanol extract of natural sensitizer absorbs in the visible region. Dye sensitized solar cells were assembled using extracted natural dyes. 8.63% Incident photon to current conversion efficiency (IPCE) at 330 nm was obtained. The photo electrochemical performance of the quasi-solid state DSSCs based on the  ethanol extract of Salvia spelendens showed best photon conversion efficiency with an open circuit voltage (Voc = 266 mV) and short circuit current density (Jsc = 0.1930 mAcm?2) at 100 mWcm-2 white light intensity. Keywords: Sol-gel method, photo electrochemical cell, dye sensitized solar cell, quasi -solid state electrolyt

Recent Development of Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells

Recently, the world energy demand has been raised up dramatically. Numerous energy sources have been developed to satisfy the urgent energy desires and to overcome the world energy crisis. Among them, solar energy has been considered an efficient energy source for current energy requirements. Nowadays, the lead-based perovskite solar cells achieved excellent power conversion efficiency exceeding 29.1%. However, to address major problems such as toxicity and underprivileged stability, several hardworks were made toward the replacement of lead-free perovskite material in perspective of device’s performance and stability. In this book chapter, we summarize material, dimensions, stability, and the current achievement of lead-free solar cells. Finally, we review the remaining challenges and future perspective for development of lead-free perovskite solar cells

Recent Developments in Catalysts for Biodiesel Production Applications

The world’s most urgent problem today is the quick depletion of energy resources, which necessitates research into alternative energy sources in order to meet the world’s explosive growth in energy demand. Among other renewable energy sources, biodiesel holds promise for meeting energy demand at a low cost through a variety of processes. In the biodiesel industry, sophisticated catalysts have recently grown in popularity for their ability to activate esterification and transesterification processes. The goal of this chapter is to give a general overview of catalyst developments, including their benefits and drawbacks in the biodiesel production process. In particular, we present a comparison of various homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. We found that nanocatalysts hold the most promise for the production of biodiesel

Durability monitoring of long-lasting insecticidal (mosquito) nets (LLINs) in Madagascar: physical integrity and insecticidal activity

Abstract Background Long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets (LLINs) are highly effective for malaria prevention. However, it is also clear that durability monitoring is essential to predict when, post-distribution, a net population, no longer meets minimum WHO standards and needs to be replaced. Following a national distribution campaign in 2013, we tracked two durability indicators, physical integrity and bio-efficacy at six and 12 months post-distribution. While the loss of net integrity during this period was in line with expectations for a one-year net life, bio-efficacy results suggested that nets were losing insecticidal effect faster than expected. The rate of bio-efficacy loss varied significantly between different net brands. Methods We tested 600 randomly selected LLINs, 200 from each of three net brands. Each brand came from different eco-epidemiological zones reflecting the original distribution scheme. Fabric integrity (size and number of holes) was quantified using the proportional hole index (pHI). A subsample of the nets, 134 new nets, 150 at six months and 124 at 12 months, were then tested for bio-efficacy using the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended method. Results Three net types, Netprotect®, Royalsentry® and Yorkool®, were followed. After six months, 54%, 39% and 45%, respectively, showed visible loss of integrity. The median pHI by type was estimated to be one, zero and one respectively. The percentage of damaged nets increased after 12 months such that 83.5%, 74% and 68.5%, had holes. The median pHI for each brand of nets was 47.5, 47 and 23. No significant difference in the estimated pHI at either six or 12 months was observed. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of hole size category between the three brands (χ 2 = 15.761, df = 4, P = 0.003). In cone bio-assays, mortality of new Yorkool® nets was surprisingly low (48.6%), mortality was 90.2% and 91.3% for Netprotect® and Royalsentry® (F (2, 131) = 81.59, P < 0.0001), respectively. At 12 month use, all tested nets were below the WHO threshold for replacement. Conclusion These findings suggest that there is a need for better net quality control before distribution. More frequent replacement of LLINs is probably not an option programmatically. Regardless of prior approval, LLIN durability monitoring for quality assessment as well as net loss following distribution is necessary to improve malaria control efforts

Insecticide resistance in Anopheles arabiensis from Ethiopia (2012-2016): a nationwide study for insecticide resistance monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) remain the cornerstones of malaria vector control. However, the development of insecticide resistance and its implications for operational failure of preventative strategies are of concern. The aim of this study was to characterize insecticide resistance among Anopheles arabiensis populations in Ethiopia and describe temporal and spatial patterns of resistance between 2012 and 2016. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2016, resistance status of An. arabiensis was assessed annually during the long rainy seasons in study sites from seven of the nine regions in Ethiopia. Insecticide resistance levels were measured with WHO susceptibility tests and CDC bottle bioassays using insecticides from four chemical classes (organochlorines, pyrethroids, organophosphates and carbamates), with minor variations in insecticides tested and assays conducted between years. In selected sites, CDC synergist assays were performed by pre-exposing mosquitoes to piperonyl butoxide (PBO). In 2015 and 2016, mosquitoes from DDT and deltamethrin bioassays were randomly selected, identified to species-level and screened for knockdown resistance (kdr) by PCR. RESULTS: Intense resistance to DDT and pyrethroids was pervasive across Ethiopia, consistent with historic use of DDT for IRS and concomitant increases in insecticide-treated net coverage over the last 15 years. Longitudinal resistance trends to malathion, bendiocarb, propoxur and pirimiphos-methyl corresponded to shifts in the national insecticide policy. By 2016, resistance to the latter two insecticides had emerged, with the potential to jeopardize future long-term effectiveness of vector control activities in these areas. Between 2015 and 2016, the West African (L1014F) kdr allele was detected in 74.1% (n = 686/926) of specimens, with frequencies ranging from 31 to 100% and 33 to 100% in survivors from DDT and deltamethrin bioassays, respectively. Restoration of mosquito susceptibility, following pre-exposure to PBO, along with a lack of association between kdr allele frequency and An. arabiensis mortality rate, both indicate metabolic and target-site mutation mechanisms are contributing to insecticide resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Data generated by this study will strengthen the National Malaria Control Programme's insecticide resistance management strategy to safeguard continued efficacy of IRS and other malaria control methods in Ethiopia

Scanning Electrochemical Microscope Studies of Charge Transfer Kinetics at the Interface of the Perovskite/Hole Transport Layer

Interfacial carrier transfer kinetics is critical to the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells. Herein, we measure the regeneration rate constant, absorption cross-section, reduction rate constant, and conductivity of hole transport layered perovskites using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The SECM feedback revealed that the regeneration rate constant, absorption cross-section, and reduction rate constant of the nickel oxide (NiO) layer perovskite layer are higher than those of the poly (3,4-ethyenedioxythiophene)-poly (styrenesulfonate) layered perovskite. Also, at a specific flux density (Jhv), the value of the regeneration rate constant (keff) in both blue and red illuminations for the NiO/CH3NH3PbI3 film is significantly higher than in both PEDOT: PSS/CH3NH3PbI3 and FTO/CH3NH3PbI3 films. The difference in keff between layered and nonlayered perovskite conforms to the impact of the hole conducting layer on the charge transfer kinetics. According to the findings, SECM is a powerful approach for screening an appropriate hole transport layer for stable perovskite solar cells