318 research outputs found

    Unchecked Powers of the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service in the Prevention and Countering of Terrorist Crimes: Some Disquiets at a Glimpse

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    This article questions the supreme role of the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) in the prevention and countering of alleged terrorist acts vis-à-vis its institutional legitimacy and operational integrity. With no exception to other states, Ethiopia also re-established the National Intelligence and Security Service in 2013 but as a sole and unique institution of its kind with multiplex mandates both on general and specific intelligence and security matters. Having in mind the more sensitive powers conferred to the institution and its unrivalled authority in masterminding all the preventive and punitive measures against alleged terrorist conducts as enshrined under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of the country, this article examines whether the establishing proclamation has set the required normative standards and watchdogging institutional platforms to ensure its functional accountability. After investigating the Service’s organizational structure, the public, judicial and political watchdogging apparatuses, the lack of administrative and financial transparency, as well as the alleged alliance of the institution to the regime in power, this article submits that the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service lacks the key attributes of a politically independent and functionally autonomous institution that strives to protect the nation’s politico-economic and security interests. As it stands, much of the Services’s mission rather appears to have been constricted to serving as an untouchable guardian of the party or the regime in power, or as a rising unique entity that roams on its own impervious orbit

    Effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculation on yield and nutritive values of grain and haulm of selected grain legumes in mixed crop-livestock production system of Ethiopia

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    A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculants application on yield and nutritional quality of grain and haulm of selected grain legumes and to assess farmers’ grain legumes haulm use practices and their perception on the effects of phosphorus fertilizer and inoculation on haulm yield and quality. The study involved field experiment and household survey. For the field experiment, four grain legumes (faba bean, chickpea, haricot bean and soybean) were subjected to four fertilizer treatments (inoculation + P fertilizer (+P+I), inoculation alone (-P+I), P fertilization alone (+P-I) and control i.e. no inoculation and no fertilizer (-P-I)) on individual farmer plots. Grain and haulm yield data were recorded and subsequently representative samples were collected for quality analysis in the laboratory. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on household characteristics. Analysis of variance was run in general linear model of SAS for experimental data in randomized complete block design and household data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of SPSS. Faba bean grain and haulm DM yield were significantly improved (P0.05) on haulm DM yield of chickpea. The maximum mean grain yield (2.13 t/ha and 1.98 t/ha) of chickpea was recorded in treatment +I+P and +I-P, respectively. The haulm CP, IVOMD and ME contents of chickpea responded positively (P0.05). The highest mean grain (1.98 t/ha) and haulm DM (1.84 t/ha) yield of haricot bean was obtained from treatment +P+I. Treatment +P+I was also resulted into significantly high (P<0.05) haulm ash and CP contents, and IVOMD and ME values of haricot bean, while the same treatment (+P+I) had lower NDF and ADF contents than the others. In soybean, significantly maximum mean grain (2.56 and 2.46 t/ha) and haulm DM (3.07 and 3.23 t/ha) yield were recorded in treatments +P+I and -P+I, respectively. Except haulm ash content and ME value, all feed quality variables analyzed (CP, NDF, ADF, ADL and IVOMD) were significantly (P<0.05) affected due to the treatments in soybean. The maximum mean values of soybean haulm CP and IVOMD were obtained in the inoculated treatments (+P+I and –P+I), meanwhile treatment +P+I contained the lowest NDF, ADF and ADL. The result also showed that households used grain legume haulms as a source of feed (76.7%), fuel (11.4%), for mulching and compost making (8.8%) and income generation (3.1%). Majority of the respondents (62.2%) perceived that inoculation and P fertilization positively affects haulm biomass yield. The current results demonstrated the possibility of improving both grain and haulm yield and quality of faba bean, haricot bean and soybean by using rhizobium inoculants and P fertilizer. Moreover, regardless of haulm yield and haulm fiber contents; improvement of grain yield of chickpea is also possible by the use of combined rhizobium inoculants and P fertilizer

    Application of TechFit to prioritize feed technologies in Sinana District of Bale Highlands, Southeastern Ethiopia

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    Flow Regime Classification and Hydrological Characterization: A Case Study of Ethiopian Rivers

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    The spatiotemporal variability of a stream flow due to the complex interaction of catchment attributes and rainfall induce complexity in hydrology. Researchers have been trying to address this complexity with a number of approaches; river flow regime is one of them. The flow regime can be quantified by means of hydrological indices characterizing five components: magnitude, frequency, duration, timing, and rate of change of flow. Similarly, this study aimed to understand the flow variability of Ethiopian Rivers using the observed daily flow data from 208 gauging stations in the country. With this process, the Hierarchical Ward Clustering method was implemented to group the streams into three flow regimes (1) ephemeral, (2) intermittent, and (3) perennial. Principal component analysis (PCA) is also applied as the second multivariate analysis tool to identify dominant hydrological indices that cause the variability in the streams. The mean flow per unit catchment area (QmAR) and Base flow index (BFI) show an incremental trend with ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams. Whereas the number of mean zero flow days ratio (ZFI) and coefficient of variation (CV) show a decreasing trend with ephemeral to perennial flow regimes. Finally, the streams in the three flow regimes were characterized with the mean and standard deviation of the hydrological variables and the shape, slope, and scale of the flow duration curve. Results of this study are the basis for further understanding of the ecohydrological processes of the river basins in Ethiopia

    Exploring low-carbon futures: A web service approach to linking diverse climate-energy-economy models

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    © 2019 by the authors. The use of simulation models is essential when exploring transitions to low-carbon futures and climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. There are many models developed to understand socio-environmental processes and interactions, and analyze alternative scenarios, but hardly one single model can serve all the needs. There is much expectation in climate-energy research that constructing new purposeful models out of existing models used as building blocks can meet particular needs of research and policy analysis. Integration of existing models, however, implies sophisticated coordination of inputs and outputs across different scales, definitions, data and software. This paper presents an online integration platform which links various independent models to enhance their scope and functionality. We illustrate the functionality of this web platform using several simulation models developed as standalone tools for analyzing energy, climate and economy dynamics. The models differ in levels of complexity, assumptions, modeling paradigms and programming languages, and operate at different temporal and spatial scales, from individual to global. To illustrate the integration process and the internal details of our integration framework we link an Integrated Assessment Model (GCAM), a Computable General Equilibrium model (EXIOMOD), and an Agent Based Model (BENCH). This toolkit is generic for similar integrated modeling studies. It still requires extensive pre-integration assessment to identify the ‘appropriate’ models and links between them. After that, using the web service approach we can streamline module coupling, enabling interoperability between different systems and providing open access to information for a wider community of users

    Going Ballistic: Graphene Hot Electron Transistors

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    This paper reviews the experimental and theoretical state of the art in ballistic hot electron transistors that utilize two-dimensional base contacts made from graphene, i.e. graphene base transistors (GBTs). Early performance predictions that indicated potential for THz operation still hold true today, even with improved models that take non-idealities into account. Experimental results clearly demonstrate the basic functionality, with on/off current switching over several orders of magnitude, but further developments are required to exploit the full potential of the GBT device family. In particular, interfaces between graphene and semiconductors or dielectrics are far from perfect and thus limit experimental device integrity, reliability and performance
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