Effect of drip lateral spacing and irrigation regime on yield, irrigation water use efficiency and net return of tomato and onion production in the Kobo Girrana valley of Ethiopia

The irrigation system in Kobo-Girrana valley is extensively developed into modern drip irrigation using ground water sources. Tomato and onion are among the major vegetables grown under drip irrigation. However, the drip lateral spacing is fixed to 1m for all irrigated crops. This lead to low crop water productivity, loss of land, less net return income and un-optimized irrigation production. An on-station experiment was conducted to determine the effect of drip line spacing and irrigation regime on yield, irrigation water use efficiency and net return income. The experiment was carried out for two consecutive irrigation seasons in 2010/11 and 2011/12 at Kobo irrigation research station. The experimental treatments were: two lateral spacing of single row and double row corresponding to each test crop and three irrigation regime (Kp = 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2). The results revealed that an interaction effect between the lateral spacing and irrigation regime was obtained in marketable yield and water productivity of test crops. Application of 0.8 Kp with 2m lateral spacing and 1.2 Kp with 1m lateral spacing provided relatively higher marketable yield of tomato and onion, respectively. Similarly, high water productivity was recorded with same irrigation depths and spacing regimes as to the yield. This result generally revealed that one lateral design for each two plant rows gave high net income than the one lateral design for each one plant row for drip irrigated fresh marketable yield of onion and tomato. An optimized production and irrigation efficiency can be attained by applying irrigation depth adjusted by the given pan coefficients and drip lateral spacing in Kobo areas

Assessment of laboratory logistics management information system practice for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in selected public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Introduction: Logistics management information system for health commodities remained poorly implemented in most of developing countries. To assess the status of laboratory logistics management information system for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis laboratory commodities in public health facilities in Addis Ababa. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from September 2010-January 2011 at selected public health facilities. A stratified random sampling method was used to include a total of 43 facilities which, were investigated through quantitative methods using structured questionnaires interviews. Focus group discussion with the designated supply chain managers and key informant interviews were conducted for the qualitative method. Results: There exists a well-designed logistics system for laboratory commodities with trained pharmacy personnel, distributed standard LMIS formats and established inventory control procedures. However, majority of laboratory professionals were not trained in LMIS. Majority of the facilities (60.5%) were stocked out for at least one ART monitoring and TB laboratory reagents and the highest stock out rate was for chemistry reagents. Expired ART monitoring laboratory commodities were found in 25 (73.5%) of facilities. Fifty percent (50%) of the assessed hospitals and 54% of health centers were currently using stock/bin cards for all HIV/AIDS and TB laboratory commodities in main pharmacy store, among these only 25% and 20.8% of them were updated with accurate information matching with the physical count done at the time of visit for hospitals and health centers respectively. Conclusion: Even though there exists a well designed laboratory LMIS, keeping quality stock/bin cards and LMIS reports were very low. Key ART monitoring laboratory commodities were stock out at many facilities at the day of visit and during the past six months. Based on findings, training of laboratory personnel's managing laboratory commodities and keeping accurate inventory control procedures were recommended.Key words: Logistics management information system, stock outs, laboratory commoditie

Nonvolatile memories using deep traps formed in HfO₂ by Nb ion implantation

We report nonvolatile memories (NVMs) based on deep-energy trap levels formed in HfO₂ by metal ion implantation. A comparison of Nb- and Ta-implanted samples shows that suitable charge-trapping centers are formed in Nb-implanted samples, but not in Ta-implanted samples. This is consistent with density-functional theory calculations which predict that only Nb will form deep-energy levels in the bandgap of HfO₂. Photocurrent spectroscopy exhibits characteristics consistent with one of the trap levels predicted in these calculations. Nb-implanted samples showing memory windows in capacitance–voltage (V) curves always exhibit current (I) peaks in I–V curves, indicating that NVM effects result from deep traps in HfO₂. In contrast, Ta-implanted samples show dielectric breakdowns during the I–V sweeps between 5 and 11 V, consistent with the fact that no trap levels are present. For a sample implanted with a fluence of 10¹³Nb cm⁻², the charge losses after 10⁴ s are ∼9.8 and ∼25.5% at room temperature (RT) and 85°C, respectively, and the expected charge loss after 10 years is ∼34% at RT, very promising for commercial NVMs

Zinc, Iron, Iodine and Cognitive Function of Women from Sidama Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The purpose of the study was examine zinc, iron, and iodine status and their relation to cognitive function of women. A cross-sectional convenience sample of 202 women from three adjoining subsistence farming communities participated in the study. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected by questionnaire, and height,weight and mid upper arm circumference were measured. Selected cognitive tests from the Kaufman's Assessment Battery for Children-II and the Raven's CPM were administered. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin, ferritin, zinc and inflammatory markers. Urinary iodine excretion was measured and total goiter was determined by palpation. The self - reported age of the women was 30.8 (7.8) years. Mean household size and number of children was 6.1(2.4) and 4.2 (2.2) respectively. Of the participants 63.5% had no formal education. Women who had BMI < 18.5 were 25%. The biochemical analysis showed 52.6% had plasma zinc < 70 g/dL, 22% had depleted iron stores, that is ferritin level < 12 g/L, 22.78% had UIE < 20 g/L. Their mean hemoglobin 13.7 g/dL and median UIE was 37.7 g/L. The palpation-based goiter assessment showed 15.9% had goiter. No significant correlation was found between ferritin and all of the cognitive tests but UIE was correlated with Sequential (r = 0.15, p &#8804; .05), simultaneous (r = 0.14, p &#8804; .05) and Raven's CPM (r = 0.14, p &#8804; 0.05). Plasma zinc level was negatively correlated with Raven's CPM and planning measures (r = -0.15, p &#8804; .05). Strong significant correlations were observed between education of the women and all of the cognitive tests employed (p &#8804; 0.001). Economic level based on a wealth index was significantly associated with sequential (r = 0.18, p &#8804; 0.01), planning measures (r = 0.16, p &#8804; 0.01) and Raven's CPM (r= 0.19, p &#8804; .01). Significant differences among the three study areas were observed. Our regression model indicated that education enhanced cognitive test results; iron and iodine deficiencies contributed to impaired cognition but zinc deficiency did not. None of the study participants had consumed iodized salt and iodine deficiency is a public health problem in the study population.Department of Nutritional Science

An all-electron density functional theory study of the structure and properties of the neutral and singly charged M-12 and M-13 clusters: M = Sc-Zn

The electronic and geometrical structures of the M 12 and M 13 clusters where M = Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn along with their singly negatively and positively charged ions are studied using all-electron density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation. The geometries corresponding to the lowest total energy states of singly and negatively charged ions of V13, Mn12, Co12, Ni 13, Cu 13, Zn 12, and Zn 13 are found to be different from the geometries of the corresponding neutral parents. The computed ionizationenergies of the neutrals, vertical electron detachment energies from the anions, and energies required to remove a single atom from the M 13 and M 13 + clusters are in good agreement with experiment. The change in a total spin magnetic moment of the cation or anion with respect to a total spin magnetic moment of the corresponding neutral is consistent with the one-electron model in most cases, i.e., they differ by ±1.0 μ B. Exceptions are found only for Sc12 −, Ti12 +, Mn12 −, Mn12 +, Fe12 −, Fe13 +, and Co12 +

Design of Passive down Draft Cool Tower for 100 m2 Auditorium

A passive down draft evaporative cooling (PDEC) tower is design to capture the wind at high temperature typically at 40ο C and above the top of tower and cool the outdoor air using water which is allowed to flow through shower and due to evaporation of water out door air gets cooled. Many different types of PDEC exist. This paper explains design of PDEC tower. It is a parallel flow heat exchanger with hot and cold fluid are in direct contact with each other. The wet bulb temperature of air is the lowest possible temperature of the air leaving the tower and entering in air conditioned space. It is suitable in hot dry climate due to large difference between dry and wet bulb temperatures. The mathematical model predicted with the variation of wind speed from 1 m/s to 6 m/s with outside air temperature 35 ο C and relative humidity 20 %, a tower height of 6 m is required