My Love-Hate Relationship with Mandarin

Postcard from Mihretabe Gizaw, during the Linfield College Semester Abroad Program at the China Studies Institute at Peking University in Beijing, Chin

Today Can Say a Lot about the Future

Postcard from Mihretabe Gizaw, during the Linfield College Semester Abroad Program at the China Studies Institute at Peking University in Beijing, Chin

Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Drug-eluting Nanofibers from Polycaprolactone/Chitosan Blends

Electrospinning has emerged as a widely accepted technique with ability to produce nanofibers that can be employed in many biomedical applications. In particular, drug-eluting nanofibers have become very popular in controlled release of small molecule drugs. In this study, nanofibers from blends of polylactocaprone (PCL) and chitosan (CHI) were electrospun with the ability to load a model drug, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), at 10 wt%. PCL/CHI fibers exhibited smooth surface morphology at polymer compositions ranging from 100/0 to 40/60 with or without the incorporation of ASA. Mechanical properties suggested a brittle failure mechanism for fibers loaded with drug. In vitro drug release study displayed a controlled release profile of ASA up to 48 h. Our study aims to explore the drug-polymer interactions and their effects on fiber structure, mechanical properties and drug release profile.Cockrell School of Engineerin

Blending of Traditional and Modern Technologies Through Science

While the developed world benefits from the modern explosion in technology, countries such as Ethiopia are still reliant on the methods of there fore fathers for essential every day tasks like farming, cooling and provision of clean water. These tasks are often physically demanding, very costly in terms of time and energy, and, in many such societies, are often carried out by female members of the family. Additionally, they may cause damage to the local ecology and environment such as the deforestation and soil erosion arising from the use of trees for firewood. Western technologies are of little or no use in these environments as they are often too complex, too costly, inappropriate and difficult to maintain in developing societies

Opening Address

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address this august gathering of experts on the control of chronic communicable diseases and Primary Health Care with particular reference to leprosy and tuberculosis. The gains achieved by the Ethiopian Revolution are many and are well-documented. It may suffice to say that the gains are increasing year after year although there is still much to be done. The formation of the Workers ' Party of Ethiopia and the 10- Year perspective Plan are among recent developments in the history of the Revolution which will strengthen our effort to achieve the objectives of health for the broad masses. From the outset of our popular revolution, the Revolutionary Government of Socialist Ethiopia declared its commitment to sparing no effort in providing health for the broad masses as clearly stated in the national democratic revolution programme. To that end, and in accordance with the social goal of "Health for All by the Year 2000", the Ministry of Health established a health policy based on Primary Health Care which is rural-oriented. The broad masses were organized so that today they are actively participating in all socio-economic activities to facilitate the achievement of the nation's health aims and objectives

Determinants of Rice Production Technology Adoption in Fogera Woreda, South Gondar, Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Fogera district, South Gondar zone, Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). Four rice producing kebeles among the fifteen rice producing kebeles were selected and a total of 191 selected households were interviewed to generate primary data. Descriptive statistics and binary logit were employed to determine factors that influence the adoption behavior of farmers. A sum of ten explanatory variables for the binary logit model was used, out of which six variables were found to significantly affect the adoption of rice production technology. These are: age of the household head, family size of household head, participated labor force, level of education of household head, size of cultivated land and extension services. The study recommends that any effort in promoting improved rice production technology should consider the social, economic, institutional and psychological characteristics for better adoption of the technology. Keywords: Adoption, Production, Rice, Technology, Binary Logit Model, Fogera Woreda.