Analysing the temporal water quality dynamics of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract: This study presents the general water quality status and temporal quality dynamics of Lake Basaka water in the past about 5 decades. Water samples were collected and analysed for important physico-chemical quality parameters following standard procedures. The result showed that Lake Basaka water is highly saline and alkaline and experiencing a general reducing trends in ionic concentrations of quality parameters due to the dilution effect. About 10-fold reduction of total ionic concentration occurred in the Lake over the period of 2 decades (1960-1980). There was a sharp and fast decline in EC, Cl, SO4, Na, and K ions from early 1960s up to the late 1980s, and then became relatively stable. Some ions (eg. Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO4) are showing increment in recent years. This characteristics of the lake water is terrible in relation to its potential to inundate the nearby areas in the near future. The expansion of such quality water has negative effects on the water resources of the region, especially soil quality, drainage and groundwater, in terms of salinity, sodicity and specific ion toxicity. The regimes of soil moisture, solute and groundwater could be affected, concurrently affecting the productivity and sustainability of the sugar estate. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify the potential sources of water and chemicals to the lake and devise an appropriate mitigation and/or remedial measures

Effect of Lake Basaka expansion on the sustainability of Matahara SE in the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia

Matahara Sugar Estate (MSE) establishment nearly 40 years ago is experiencing effects of a rising GW table and salinity in some fields, and as the result the yield of certain fields is decreasing and a significant area of cultivated lands are abandoning The problem is believed to be the result of the expansion of saline Lake Basaka towards the plantation field. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of expansion of the Lake (area & shape) in the past 35 years period from Landsat images and assess its negative effects on the nearby sugarcane plantations’ GW dynamics & soil salinity. The result indicates that the lake expanded approximately 34 km 2 in the past 35 years. The GW table is very shallow in the Abadir extension areas and north section where the GW salinity is under severe condition

Bibliography of hydrobiological research on the Gemenc and Béda – Karapancsa floodplains of the River Danube (1498 – 1436 rkm) including the publications of the Danube Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences between 1968 and 2017

A compilation of the published research from the Danube Drava National Park on the Gemenc and Béda-Karapancsa floodplains of the River Danube is presented. 79 publications are included which were focused on this area and accomplished by the Danube Research Institute

Analysis for the Design of a Sustainable Housing Complex in Haiti

This paper presents sustainable strategies for the design of a prototype sustainable housing complex in tropical climate that applies specifically to Haiti. The tropical climate zone is hot and humid with abundant rainfall and luxuriant vegetation growth. Despite its beautiful environment most of the countries in this zone are undeveloped and poverty manifests itself in different faces especially in poor housing condition. In this study, the history, geography, and culture of Haiti are analyzed in the context of family unit, community, and economic aspects. The climate conditions are also investigated in the context of residents’ comfort and energy savings. The construction materials appropriate for Haiti climate are explored. Rainwater harvesting and gray water reuses are discussed. Finally, sustainable design principles are proposed. Sustainable housing design refers to a strategy to plan and build a housing complex that uses efficient energy and water management while minimizing the overall adverse health and environmental problems. This means keeping the conventional comfort and environment conditions in housing by using natural sources of energy, like sun and wind, to provide natural heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and water management while contributing to a responsible natural resources use. The proposed guiding principles target to be utilized for the design of sustainable housing complex in Haiti located in a tropical climate

Arterial supply of the trigeminal ganglion, a micromorphological study

Background: In this study, we explored the specific microanatomical properties of the trigeminal ganglion (TG) blood supply and its close neurovascular relationships with the surrounding vessels. Possible clinical implications have been discussed. Materials and methods: The internal carotid and maxillary arteries of 25 adult and 4 foetal heads were injected with a 10% mixture of India ink and gelatin, and their TGs subsequently underwent microdissection, observation and morphometry under a stereoscopic microscope. Results: The number of trigeminal arteries varied between 3 and 5 (mean 3.34), originating from 2 or 3 of the following sources: the inferolateral trunk (ILT) (100%), the meningohypophyseal trunk (MHT) (100%), and from the middle meningeal artery (MMA) (92%). In total, the mean diameter of the trigeminal branches was 0.222 mm. The trigeminal branch of the ILT supplied medial and middle parts of the TG, the branch of the MHT supplied the medial part of the TG, and the branch of the MMA supplied the lateral part of the TG. Additional arteries for the TG emerged from the dural vascular plexus and the vascular network of the plexal segment of the trigeminal nerve. Uniform and specific intraganglionic dense capillary network was observed for each sensory trigeminal neuron. Conclusions: The reported features of the TG vasculature could be implied in a safer setting for surgical approach to the skull base, in relation to the surrounding structures. The morphometric data on TG vasculature provide anatomical basis for better understanding the complex TG blood supply from the internal and external carotid arteries

Complexity of Risk: Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Youth Risk and Insecurity in Postconflict Settings

In settings of intergroup conflict, identifying contextually relevant risk factors for youth development is an important task. In Vukovar, Croatia, a city devastated during the war in former Yugoslavia, ethno-political tensions remain. The current study utilized a mixed-methods approach to identify two salient community-level risk factors (ethnic tension and general antisocial behavior) and related emotional insecurity responses (ethnic and nonethnic insecurity) among youth in Vukovar. In Study 1, focus group discussions (N = 66) with mothers, fathers, and adolescents of age 11 to 15 years old were analyzed using the constant comparative method, revealing two types of risk and insecurity responses. In Study 2, youth (N = 227, 58% male, M = 15.88, SD = 1.12 years) responded to quantitative scales developed from the focus groups, discriminate validity was demonstrated, and path analyses established predictive validity between each type of risk and insecurity. First, community ethnic tension (i.e., threats related to war/ethnic identity) significantly predicted ethnic insecurity for all youth (β = .41, p < .001). Second, experience with community antisocial behavior (i.e., general crime found in any context) predicted nonethnic community insecurity for girls (β = .32, p < .05) but not for boys. These findings are the first to show multiple forms of emotional insecurity at the community level; implications for future research are discussed

Molecular Detection and Characterization of Newcastle Disease Virus from Chickens in Mid-Rift Valley and Central Part of Ethiopia

Esubalew Endale Alemu,1 Bayeta Senbata,2 Melaku Sombo,2 Chala Guyassa,2 Dawit Hailu Alemayehu,3 Eleni Kidane,4 Adane Mihret,3 Andargachew Mulu,3 Hunduma Dinka1 1Department of Applied Biology, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia; 2Molecular Biology Laboratory, Animal Health Institute (AHI), Sebeta, Ethiopia; 3Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Research Directorate, Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 4TB and HIV/AIDS Disease Research Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Hunduma Dinka; Bayeta Senbata, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly infectious poultry disease that causes major economic losses worldwide. The disease is caused by Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and early detection and identification of the viral strain is essential. Having knowledge of the NDV strain genotype that circulates in some regions would help in designing an effective vaccine to control the disease. In this regard, there is little information on NDV strain in chickens in mid Rift Valley and the central part of Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to detect and characterize NDV strain genotype from chickens in mid-Rift Valley and the central part of Ethiopia and test whether this NDV strain genotype matches the vaccine strain currently used in the study area.Methods: A total of 98 samples: 78 (tracheal and cloacal) swabs from chicken pools of five and 20 tissue samples were collected. To detect NDV strain, conserved region of the virus Matrix (M) gene was amplified by qRT-PCR. To characterize NDV strain genotypes, M-gene positive samples were specifically re-amplified by conventional PCR targeting the Fusion (F) gene region and sequenced by Sanger method.Results: 13.26% of tested samples were positive for NDV strain in the study area with statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) among the study sites. Further characterization of the F genes from NDV strain isolates by phylogenetic analysis indicated that one field isolate clustered with genotype VII whereas three of the isolates clustered to genotype I, II, and III. The isolate of the current NDV strain vaccine in use in the study area clustered with genotype II.Conclusion: The current study indicates the existence of different NDV strain genotype from that of the vaccine strain currently used. Even though large-scale characterization of several isolates is required at national level, the current study laid baseline information for the existence of variations between field NDV strain genotype and vaccine strain currently used against ND in the country.Keywords: APMV-1 strain genotype, F gene, mid rift valley, phylogenetic tree, qRT-PC