Magnitude of Out of Pocket Health Expenditures and Associated Factors Among Civil Servants

In Ethiopia, as other developing countries, public health care is provided at nominally low prices and free to those that does not afford to pay. But the health care consumer population is still to make considerable amount of out-of-pocket health expenditure for various reasons. A cross sectional quantitative study from January to May 2013 was done. Study population was civil servants in Debre Markos town. A total of 467 study participants were selected by using simple random sampling method. Data were collected by trained high school graduates and then the collected data were entered into a computer by using Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16 for windows. Possible associations between out of pocket health expenditure and its predictors were analyzed by using both bivariate and multivariate analysis. The mean age of the study participants were 41 years. Majorities were between 25 and 44 years of age, 258 (55.2%). The level of education among the study participants indicated that most 380 (81.4%) were graduates of higher education (HE) and majority were Orthodox Christian which accounted 446 (95.5%) followed by Muslims 13 (2.8%). To put it briefly, the study identified that the median of out of pocket health care expenditure accounted 8.26% of total household income. Health status of the household (with or without chronic illness), debt on any of the household, house on construction owned by any household member, educational fee for at least one member of the household and predominantly used health institution were the associated factors that have significant impact on household out of pocket health expenditure. There is economic burden as a result of health care at household level. Based on the results, the recommendation was introducing social health insurance for all civil servant employees in the study area

A DC Programming Approach for Solving Multicast Network Design Problems via the Nesterov Smoothing Technique

This paper continues our effort initiated in [9] to study Multicast Communication Networks, modeled as bilevel hierarchical clustering problems, by using mathematical optimization techniques. Given a finite number of nodes, we consider two different models of multicast networks by identifying a certain number of nodes as cluster centers, and at the same time, locating a particular node that serves as a total center so as to minimize the total transportation cost through the network. The fact that the cluster centers and the total center have to be among the given nodes makes this problem a discrete optimization problem. Our approach is to reformulate the discrete problem as a continuous one and to apply Nesterov smoothing approximation technique on the Minkowski gauges that are used as distance measures. This approach enables us to propose two implementable DCA-based algorithms for solving the problems. Numerical results and practical applications are provided to illustrate our approach

Thermal Properties of the Binary-Filler Composites with Few-Layer Graphene and Copper Nanoparticles

The thermal properties of an epoxy-based binary composites comprised of graphene and copper nanoparticles are reported. It is found that the "synergistic" filler effect, revealed as a strong enhancement of the thermal conductivity of composites with the size-dissimilar fillers, has a well-defined filler loading threshold. The thermal conductivity of composites with a moderate graphene concentration of ~15 wt% exhibits an abrupt increase as the loading of copper nanoparticles approaches ~40 wt%, followed by saturation. The effect is attributed to intercalation of spherical copper nanoparticles between the large graphene flakes, resulting in formation of the highly thermally conductive percolation network. In contrast, in composites with a high graphene concentration, ~40 wt%, the thermal conductivity increases linearly with addition of copper nanoparticles. The electrical percolation is observed at low graphene loading, less than 7 wt.%, owing to the large aspect ratio of graphene. At all concentrations of the fillers, below and above the electrical percolation threshold, the thermal transport is dominated by phonons. The obtained results shed light on the interaction between graphene fillers and copper nanoparticles in the composites and demonstrate potential of such hybrid epoxy composites for practical applications in thermal interface materials and adhesives.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figure

Electric Switching of the Charge-Density-Wave and Normal Metallic Phases in Tantalum Disulfide Thin-Film Devices

We report on switching among three charge-density-wave phases - commensurate, nearly commensurate, incommensurate - and the high-temperature normal metallic phase in thin-film 1T-TaS2 devices induced by application of an in-plane electric field. The electric switching among all phases has been achieved over a wide temperature range, from 77 K to 400 K. The low-frequency electronic noise spectroscopy has been used as an effective tool for monitoring the transitions, particularly the switching from the incommensurate charge-density-wave phase to the normal metal phase. The noise spectral density exhibits sharp increases at the phase transition points, which correspond to the step-like changes in resistivity. Assignment of the phases is consistent with low-field resistivity measurements over the temperature range from 77 K to 600 K. Analysis of the experimental data and calculations of heat dissipation suggest that Joule heating plays a dominant role in the electric-field induced transitions in the tested 1T-TaS2 devices on Si/SiO2 substrates. The possibility of electrical switching among four different phases of 1T-TaS2 is a promising step toward nanoscale device applications. The results also demonstrate the potential of noise spectroscopy for investigating and identifying phase transitions in materials.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure

Low-Frequency Noise Spectroscopy of Charge-Density-Wave Phase Transitions in Vertical Quasi-2D Devices

We report results regarding the electron transport in vertical quasi-2D layered 1T-TaS2 charge-density-wave devices. The low-frequency noise spectroscopy was used as a tool to study changes in the cross-plane electrical characteristics of the quasi-2D material below room temperature. The noise spectral density revealed strong peaks - changing by more than an order-of-magnitude - at the temperatures closely matching the electrical resistance steps. Some of the noise peaks appeared below the temperature of the commensurate to nearly-commensurate charge-density-wave transition, possibly indicating the presence of the debated "hidden" phase transitions. These results confirm the potential of the noise spectroscopy for investigations of electron transport and phase transitions in novel materials.Comment: 16 pages; 5 figure

An Insight on Ethiopia’s reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child

Implementation of human rights treaties by state parties is subject to international monitoring. Evaluation of state reports and forwarding recommendations is the primary human rights monitoring tool employed by treaty bodies. All core human rights treaties adopted this procedure. This piece is aimed at appraising Ethiopia’s performance in fulfilling its obligations with regard to the reporting procedure. Particularly, the article will examine participation of Ethiopia in reporting to the Committee on the Rights of the Child concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols. With a place for improvement, Ethiopia has recorded impressive experience of complying with the periodicity requirement in reporting to the Committee. Compliance to the reporting obligations on child and women rights treaties is better than performance in other treaties. But, preparation of State reports to the Committee was not comprehensively participatory. Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations in submitting their shadow report to the Committee and commenting on State reports was nominal. Diversity in composition of Ethiopian government delegation to the dialogue with the Committee varied from one report to another. The practice of dissemination of recommendations of the Committee is also unorganized

Review on Nutrient Management, Cycles, Flows and Balances in Different Farming Systems

Soil fertility management is continuously modified and adapted as conditions change in time and integrated plant nutrient management is a holistic approach to optimizing plant nutrient supply for the objective of adequately nourish the crop as efficiently as possible, while minimizing potentially adverse impacts to the environment Existence of life depends on continuous cycling of nutrients from the nutrient pool (in the abiotic component of environment) to the living beings and then back to the nutrient pool. These complex series of invisible, delicately balanced, and interrelated biochemical reactions fuel life on earth. Nutrients cycles have been substantially altered by human activities mainly agriculture with large positive and negative consequences for a range of ecosystem services and for human well-being and The presence of animals into the agricultural production system can modify the rates and flows of nutrient dynamics between the compartments of the system and Integrated crop-livestock systems can positively change the biophysical and socio-economic dynamics of farming systems, reestablishing sustainable rural development and promoting higher overall farm profitability. Soil nutrient balances reflect the net change in soil fertility and indicate trends in time, but do not necessarily determine the current state of soil fertility and can differ considerably between different crops, farming systems and agro-ecological zones Keywords: Nutrients, nutrient cycle, nutrient balance DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-18-03 Publication date:September 30th 202

Financial Performance Challenges of Microfinance Institutions in Oromia Regional State: Bale Zone

Microfinance service intervention in Ethiopia is considered as one of the policy instrument of the government and non government organizations (NGOs) to enable rural and urban poor increase output and productivity. It also induces technology adoption, improve input and productivity, improve input supply, increase both individual and national income, reduce poverty and attain food security. Even though MFIs have shown a remarkable growth in outreach and performance in the last 20 years, they are expected to expand significantly to meet the growing demand for loan, saving, and insurance service. The major objective of this study was to assess the financial performance challenges of microfinance institutions in Bale zone, Goba and Robe/Sinanna woreda three branches. The assessment included in the study was analyzing the financial performance challenges of MFIs encountered during their operation. The study covered trend analysis of three fiscal periods, 2005 E.C. to 2007 E.C. Questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions were used to collect data from respondents of the MFIs in the study area. Purposive and stratified random sampling technique was used to select the required sample size of both officials and clients, respectively. The study found that there was improvement on the current financial performance of the financial institutions. Growth indicator such as growth in outstanding portfolio, personnel productivity showed increasing pattern for each of the three MFI involved in the study. With regarding to the challenges of MFIs, the responses obtained from the MF officials showed that shortage of loan able funds for MFIs and shortage of skilled work force in the field were some of the major challenges facing the current operations of MFIs. Above all, the National Bank of Ethiopia should device ways to solve the shortage of loan able funds by allowing MFIs to borrow sufficient amount from mainstream banks and lend loans to the poor. Keywords: Microfinance, Performance challenges, Trend analysis, Bale zone DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/13-23-03 Publication date: December 31st 202