Simultaneous determination of seven β-lactam antibiotics in human plasma for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies

There is strong evidence in literature supporting the benefit of monitoring plasma concentrations of β-lactam antibiotics in the critically ill to ensure appropriateness of dosing. The objective of this work was to develop a method for the simultaneous determination of total concentrations piperacillin, benzylpenicillin, flucloxacillin, meropenem, ertapenem, cephazolin and ceftazidime in human plasma. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid and subsequent dilution of supernatant with 0.1% formic acid in water. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a reversed phase column (C18, 2.6. μm, 2.1. ×. 50. mm) via gradient elution using water and acetonitrile, each containing 0.1% formic acid, as mobile phase. Tandem mass spectrometry (MSMS) analysis was performed, after electrospray ionization in the positive mode, with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The method is accurate with the inter-day and intra-day accuracies of quality control samples (QCs) ranging from 95 to 107% and 95 to 108%, respectively. It is also precise with intra-day and inter-day coefficient of variations ranging from 4 to 12% and 5 to 14%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1. μg/mL for each antibiotic except flucloxacillin (0.25. μg/mL). Recovery was greater than 96% for all analytes except for ertapenem (78%). Coefficients of variation for the matrix effect were less than 10% over the six batches of plasma. Analytes were stable over three freeze-thaw cycles, and for reasonable hours on the bench top as well as post-preparation. This novel liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method proved accurate, precise and applicable for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies of the selected β-lactam antibiotics

Available Feed Resources and Nutritive Value of Major Browse Species in East Dembia District, Central Gondar, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to assess the available feed resources, identify the most commonly used browse species as livestock feed and to determine their nutritive value from East Dembia district. Four kebeles (Sufankara, Grargie, Salj Gebeba and Atkilit Teleft) were selected purposively. Stratified random sampling was used for the selection of respondents. A total of 12 plots of 20m *20m (400m2) were established at an interval of 200m along the transect line to identify and record the available browse species. The leaves and petioles of A. abyssinica, C. africana, F. thonigii, F. sycomorus, V. amygdolina, M. arbutifolia, and A. seyal were collected for chemical analysis. General linear model procedure of SAS was used for statistical analysis. The mean CP content of the browse species ranged from 12.13% (F. sycomorus) to 29.74% (V. amygdolina). The IVDMD varied from 38.5% for M. arbutifolia to 71.67% for F. sycomorus. High gas production from immediately soluble component (a) was recorded for C. africana. The gas production from insoluble but potential degradable fraction (b) and production potential (a+b), organic matter digestibility, where high for F. thounigii but low for V. amygdolina. The browse species in the current study could be used as protein supplements to livestock fed on low quality feeds due to their high levels of crude protein, low fiber contents and high digestibility potentials. However, it is recommended that further studies need be undertaken in determining the nutritive value of the other browse components such as pods. Keywords: Browse species, nutritive value, crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-13-03 Publication date:July 31st 202

TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS-THE ETHIOPIAN EXPERIENCE

ABSTRACT: Past experience in Ethiopia has shown that water resources development projects implemented without environmental and health consideration face serious environmental and social problems. The environmental dimensions of sedimentation and soil erosion through accelerated vegetation removal, loss of grazing land, displacement of people, proliferation of disease vectors, productivity decline through salinization and water logging and loss of wild life habitats constitute the major problems encountered. This paper reviews the environmental and health consequences of water resources development projects, and assesses current practices and arrangements for impact assessment and follow-up environmental monitoring in Ethiopia. Lack of compulsory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an established responsibility and procedure for follow-up actions, coupled with shortages of trained manpower and financial provisions constitute serious constraints for effective integration of environmental and health considerations into the development process. Recommendations include the need for compulsory EIA, well defined institutional responsibilities and inter-sectoral collaboration

Impact of Compensation on Employees Productivity on Different Manufacturing Organization

This study was tried to investigate the impact of compensation on employees productivity. Compensation and employees productivity is the most interrelated concepts in the organization day-to-day activities to achieve their goal and objectives. To encourage employees' performance, compensation has a great impact whether it is service giving or manufacturing organization. The study has been assessing the impact of compensation employees' productivity, which is found on different levels of management. This includes Top-level management, Middle level management and Lower level management only in manufacturing organizations. The study will be conducted on 6/ six! organizations, which are found in . Addis Ababa and Debre- Zeit The data that are necessary for accomplishment of the research will be collected .; through questionnaires. These questionnaires were distributed to employees, which are found in different management level in selected organizations. The sampling technique I / am going to use is judgment sampling because it is convenient for the type of research I conduct. After the completion of this research, the researcher concluded that compensation is a very near and dear concept not only to the employees but also to the employers. It is also clearly indicated that the presence of compensation has a great impact on employees' productivity. Finally, the research reveals that F.Herzberg hygiene factor theory is the most appropriate and applicable concept to our country employees than motivational factor. tJimma Universit

An Exploration of Internal Control System of Ethiopian Banks

Adequate internal controls enhance an organization\u27s likelihood of achieving objectives in a changing business environment, contribute to organizational growth and competitiveness, support compliance with regulatory requirements, and help in preventing and identifying fraud, embezzlement, and waste. This qualitative case study explored the potential lack of adequate internal control systems in Ethiopian banks that impact their operational and financial performances. The study sought to understand how these banks design and implement internal controls and to identify factors contributing to the potential lack of adequate internal controls. The study was guided by the COSO internal control framework, which is widely accepted for understanding internal control concepts and for assessing, designing, implementing, and maintaining adequate internal controls. The study used a purposive sampling method to select two commercial banks, with a sample size of 13 participants. The participants were chosen based on their roles and responsibilities in the banks\u27 internal control design and implementation. The data analysis revealed five main themes addressing the research questions. The study found that Ethiopian banks have an adequate internal control system except for weaknesses in the areas of the control environment, risk assessment, and control activities. The study also suggested areas for further research and put forward three recommendations. These include an in-depth study on internal control weaknesses related to digital banking and their impact on Ethiopian banks\u27 operational and financial performances, an in-depth study of the banks’ control environment, and a study exploring Ethiopian banks\u27 enterprise risk management (ERM) design and practices using the COSO ERM framework

Pharmacodynamics of Aerosolized Fosfomycin and Amikacin against Resistant Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae in a Hollow-Fiber Infection Model: Experimental Basis for Combination Therapy

There has been a resurgence of interest in aerosolization of antibiotics for treatment of patients with severe pneumonia caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. A combination formulation of amikacin-fosfomycin is currently undergoing clinical testing although the exposure-response relationships of these drugs have not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to describe the individual and combined antibacterial effects of simulated epithelial lining fluid exposures of aerosolized amikacin and fosfomycin against resistant clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs of 16 mg/liter and 64 mg/liter) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (MICs of 2 mg/liter and 64 mg/liter) using a dynamic hollow-fiber infection model over 7 days. Targeted peak concentrations of 300 mg/liter amikacin and/or 1,200 mg/liter fosfomycin as a 12-hourly dosing regimens were used. Quantitative cultures were performed to describe changes in concentrations of the total and resistant bacterial populations. The targeted starting inoculum was 108 CFU/ml for both strains. We observed that neither amikacin nor fosfomycin monotherapy was bactericidal against P. aeruginosa while both were associated with rapid amplification of resistant P. aeruginosa strains (about 108 to 109 CFU/ml within 24 to 48 h). For K. pneumoniae, amikacin but not fosfomycin was bactericidal. When both drugs were combined, a rapid killing was observed for P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae (6-log kill within 24 h). Furthermore, the combination of amikacin and fosfomycin effectively suppressed growth of resistant strains of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae. In conclusion, the combination of amikacin and fosfomycin was effective at maximizing bacterial killing and suppressing emergence of resistance against these clinical isolates

Relocating Home: Second-Generation East African Women\u27s Twitter-Use as sites of Homeplace, Identity, and Memory

Homeplace, a concept credited to bell hooks (1991), was conceptualized through the practice and resiliency of Black women as they historically transformed the home as a space for reclamation of resistance and freedom. Through digital and social technologies, home is capable of manifesting outside of heteronormative meanings regarding spatiality and assumed gendered roles. This study explores second-generation East African women’s utilization of Twitter as a diasporic tool for homeplace, identity, and memory. This research incorporated a qualitative-phenomenological approach by interviewing ten participants from the ages of 18-26 in the United States, followed by a textual analysis of Twitter. Through coding cycles of transcriptions, key hashtags and phrases were pulled from participant’s interviews to guide the textual analysis. This research explores ways digital spaces are utilized and whether they provide adequate, fulfilling, and freeing manifestations of identity and home that are not often permitted to African diasporic communities in their realities

Spatial and temporal analysis of recent drought using vegetation temperature condition index: case of Somali regional state of Ethiopia

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.The semiarid and arid areas of the eastern part of Ethiopia have suffered a series of droughts and famines in the years 1999/2000, 2003/2004, 2007 and 2011. Absence/decline of rainfall in two of the rainy seasons locally called Dihra and Gu as being the major fact behind drought. Besides, lack of appropriate monitoring techniques aggravate the situation of drought in the study area. In a region where the numbers of meteorological stations are not sufficient enough to monitor the onset and extent of drought, remotely sensed data presents fast and economical way of information as the ground condition reflects the overall condition of rainfall and soil moisture. In this study, the drought monitoring approach is developed using Terra-MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI) and Land surface Temperature (LST) level-3 products. The approach integrates the land surface reflectance and thermal properties as well as the NDVI changes to identify the extent and pattern of the past drought years. From the NDVI versus LST scatter plot, we extract Vegetation Temperature condition index (VTCI) to map the variability and trend of the drought years. The year 2003 was found to be the driest year (more than 90% of the region affected by drought) and the season that showed increasing intensity of drought being Dihra. The correlation (r > 0.7) between rainfall and VTCI across the major meteorological stations suggested that the index could be used as good indicator of drought as rainfall does. The overall trend of drought condition for selected drought years suggested that eastern and southern regions will experience more severe drought in the coming year. Moreover, VTCI value for October from 2000-2011 showed similar increase intensity of drought condition. In addition, it was observed that sparse vegetation and shrub land are highly variable and bare soil region is consistently dry. Wetter regions were found in the area where the elevation is above 1500m above sea level