Classifying Amharic News Text Using Self-Organizing Maps

The paper addresses using artificial neural networks for classification of Amharic news items. Amharic is the language for countrywide communication in Ethiopia and has its own writing system containing extensive systematic redundancy. It is quite dialectally diversified and probably representative of the languages of a continent that so far has received little attention within the language processing field. The experiments investigated document clustering around user queries using Self-Organizing Maps, an unsupervised learning neural network strategy. The best ANN model showed a precision of 60.0% when trying to cluster unseen data, and a 69.5% precision when trying to classify it

Ecosystem Services, Local People Perception and Preferences in Chilimo forest of Ethiopia

Site and situation specific assessments of such services are crucial to sustainably conserve and manage forest resources. In this study, using Chilmo forest as a case study site, an attempt has been made to identify the main ecosystem services which are perceived and preferred by local communities. The study triangulated primary data collection methods such as field observations, household surveys, key informant interviews and pebble-distribution methods. In addition, secondary data was used to support and verify the primary data. Combinations of techniques were employed for data analyses. We identified five landscapes and four forest ecosystem services. Out of which, provisioning services are the main source of livelihood and subsistence incomes for local communities. We also found that forests are the sole source of water and fuel wood services in the study area. According to the perception and preferences of local people forest land received the highest scores compared to other landscapes for all services except provisioning services. We conclude that local communities are highly dependent on forests’ ecosystem services in the study area. This finding is expected to contribute towards management of the Chilmo forest and  to be used as an input for further valuation study. Keywords: Ecosystem service; Valuation; Forest, Ethiopia. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/89-01 Publication date: November 30th 202

Is linum usitatissimum seed a potential medicine in the therapy of peptic ulcer?

Abstract: The spasmolytic and indomethacin-induced ulcer protective effects of Linum usitatissimum seed in guinea pig ileum and mouse stomach, respectively, were investigated. The water extract of the whole seed, after being soaked for different periods, was employed to test it spasmolytic effect and its protective action against experimental ulcerogenesis. The extract was observed to show significant spasmolytic activity and protective effect against experimental ulcerogenesis (p < 0.01). Both effects were observed to increase with increase in the soaking period (p < 0.01). The present findings suggest that the seed of Linum usitatissimum could be a potential medicine in peptic ulcer therapy. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1996; 10(2):79-82

How Public Diplomacy Enhancing Trusts in Ethio-Egyptian Relations? Particularly, in Referencing to the Mutual Utilization of the Nile Water

The main goal of this article is to understand how public diplomacy enhancing trusts in Ethio-Egyptian relations, particularly, in referencing to the mutual utilization of the Nile water.  For clarity purposes, an overview of in public diplomacy, Ethio-Egyptian public diplomacy experiences, and related concepts of public diplomacy are included.  Currently, the role of public diplomacy is in a critical position in the realization of foreign policy interests and the issue of the use of the Nile water has often been a major sticking point in the relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt. Therefore, the conclusion is that listening, advocacy, cultural exchange, citizen exchange, and international broadcasting system are the main alternative solutions (tools) of public diplomacy that enhancing trusts on the mutual utilization of the Nile water. Keywords: Public Diplomacy, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nile, Mutual, listening, Advocacy, Cultural exchange, citizen exchange, international broadcastin

Substance Abuse and Its Association with Adherence to ART Drugs Among HIV-positive Pregnant Women at Selected Hospitals of East Ethiopia

Background: Substance abuse among Human Immune Deficiency Virus-positive patients causes depression, carelessness, and anxiety, which in common results in a decrease in adherence to antiretroviral treatment. The purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of substance abuse and its association with adherence to ART drugs. Methods: The current study was conducted at three hospitals (Hiwot Fana Comprehensive University Hospital, Dillchora Hospital, and Jugal Hospital) located in East Ethiopia. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association of independent variables with the dependent variables. Results: In this study, 119 HIV-positive pregnant patients were included. While 74.8% of the patients were adherent to their medication, the remaining 25.2% were nonadherent. The major reasons for nonadherence to ART medications prescribed were getting better (73.3%) and finishing medication (16.7%). Moreover, 96 (80.7%) respondents abused alcohol while 36 (30.3%) and 75 (35.6%) abused opioids and cigarette smoking, respectively. Mothers who abused alcohol were 38.1 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART medications for PMTCT [AOR = 38.1% CI: 21.47–56.54] compared to their counterparts. Additionally, mothers who abuse opioids were 19 times more likely to be nonadherent to ART treatment medication [AOR = 19, 95% CI: 2.46– 19.46] than their counterparts. Furthermore, mothers who smoked cigarettes were 43.1 more likely to be nonadherent [AOR = 43.19, 95% CI: 8.42–187.84] than nonsmokers. Unemployment was also found to be associated with nonadherence to ART medication to PMTCT of HIV [AOR = 5.4, 95% CI: 2.8–5.7]. Smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.084–0.355]. Conclusion: Abuse of alcohol, cigarette smoking, abuse of opioids, and joblessness were found to be significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications prescribed to PMCT of HIV. Wheareas, smoking of marijuana/cannabis/hashish was not significantly associated with nonadherence to ART medications. &nbsp

Development of Maize Stalk Cellulose Fiber Reinforced Calcined Kaolinite Clay Geopolymer Composite

In recent years the popularity of ecological and renewable materials has grown. Aware of the availability of local resources and economic grounds, the attention is paid to the development geopolymer composite. Geopolymers are inorganic polymers that are formed by the polymerization reaction of silico-aluminate and silico-oxide. The aim of the research was to develop single maize stalk cellulose fiber reinforced calcined kaolinte caly based geopolymer composite. Kaolinite clay was characterized for its chemical composition from two different sites located in Ethiopia to use as precursor material. In addition to that, single maize stalk fiber was extracted from the maize stalk local variety by using a retting process, sodium hydroxide purity 98 % used for chemical treatment of the fiber for 30 minutes and its tensile strength 1184 Mpa and young modulus 16 Gpa were determined based on AST M D3822 to use as reinforcement. Sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate in appropriate ratio were used as an alkaline activator. Therefore,  the geopolymer composite developed from chemical treated short single maize stalk cellulose fiber and calcined kaolinite clay based geopolymer matrix activated by sodium water glass.  Geopolymer composites reinforced with 0 weight%, 0.1 weight%, 0.2 weight%, 0.6 weight%, and 1 weight% maize stalk single cellulose were prepared and tested for compression strength according to AST M C 1424. Measured compression strength ranged from 16 Mpa up to 27 Mpa. The result shows that the appropriate addition of single maize stalk cellulose  fibers can improve the Compression strength of a calcined kaolinite based geopolyme

Flexural Strength and Porosity of NaOH-Treated Maize Stalk Cellulose-Fibers-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites

This study characterizes the flexural strength and porosity of NaOH-treated maize stalk cellulose-fibers-reinforced geopolymer composites. Flexural strength tests are conducted, and the fracture surfaces of the composite and geopolymer powder are observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, porosity analysis is also performed using Image J software from SEM images. The formation of geopolymer is confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The addition of 1.5 wt% of NaOH-treated maize stalk cellulose fibers improves flexural strength by 2.4 times. The results show that the main failure mechanisms, namely fiber breakage, fiber pullout, and debonding of the fiber and matrix, can increase flexural strength and reduce failures during service life. During the analysis for fiber and particle pullout, SEM images under 25^2 pixels of pore areas are not considered, and an average porosity of 36.7% is achieved

Physico Chemical Properties of Cow Milk Produced and Marketed in Dire Dawa Town, Eastern Ethiopia

The present study is primarily aimed at assessing the physico chemical properties of cow milk samples sold by dairy farms and milk vendors in Dire Dawa Town. A total of 30 cow milk samples were collected and examined. The mean values for pH, specific gravity, titratable acidity, protein, fat, total solids and solids-not-fat contents of milk samples collected from dairy farms were 6.627±0.135, 1.030±0.001, 0.165±0.022% lactic acid, 3.42±0.139%, 3.862±0.412%, 12.575±0.635% and 8.75±0.301% respectively. However, the corresponding values for milk vendors were 6.43±0.062, 1.025±0.001, 0.195±0.009% lactic acid, 3.274±0.083%, 3.85±0.284%, 12±0.572% and 8.15±0.308%. On the other hand, the respective values for pasteurized milk were 6.65±0.070, 1.031±0.0007, 0.15±0.014% lactic acid, 3.05±0.098%, 3.7±0.141%, 10.8±0.282% and 7.1±0.141% respectively. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found for the values of total solids, solids not-fat and protein between the sources of milk samples. The present study showed that dairy farm milk producers and milk vendors follow poor milk handling practices. Keywords: Fat, PH, Protein, Raw milk, Pasteurized milk