Analysis of the Practice of Cooperative Learning Strategies in Academic Achievement in Secondary School in Wolaita, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to assess the practices of cooperative learning strategies to student achievement in secondary schools of Wolaita Zone. To achieve this purpose the study employed descriptive survey research design by considering 6 secondary schools comprised of 125 teachers and 200 students as sampled respondents. Both secondary and primary data were collected. The result of the study indicated that cooperative learning students are not actively participating in the approach; school leaders don’t continuously evaluate the process and its implementation preparing of checklist and also its implementation students were participated unsatisfactory. The major challenges that affect the implementation of cooperative-learning approach were existence of overcrowded classroom, inadequate supervision and lack of interest, lack of skill and ability of teachers, inadequate instructional material and inadequate commitment from teachers. Regarding to the contribution of cooperative learning students who appropriately learned through it their academic achievement is highly performed. As indicated students result in the schools successful implemented and which not efficient practiced cooperative learning were not continuously increased it’s showed that collapse up and down. Based on these findings school leaders shall continuously evaluated and assess the teachers in order to give appropriate feedback for the implementation of cooperative-learning approaches; the school leaders should create awareness students to be interested and teaches should provide meaningful feedback for students daily activities or group work were recommended. Keywords: Cooperative Learning, Academic Achievement, Secondary School DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-34-04 Publication date: December 31st 202

Assessment of the Impact of Productive Safety Net Program in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia

Poverty and food insecurity go together in many circumstances. Chronic food insecurity is one of the main problems which have been affecting millions of Ethiopians. Productive Safety-Net Program (PSNP), is one of the main food security Programs, has been undertaking by the government of Ethiopia with the aim of fulfilling food gap and promoting asset accumulation to food insecure households. However, studies indicate that the success of PSNP in achieving its aim is an area of debate. The study was to assess and explore the impact of PSNP on economic changes of the beneficiaries by looking at changes of the probability of food gap months, asset accumulation and SLM practices in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolayta zone, SNNPRS. The research used random sampling technique to collect cross sectional data from 97 PSNP and 89 non-PSNP participants. It was analyzed by both descriptive and econometrics methods. In econometric analysis propensity scores matching technique was applied to estimate the impacts of PSNP on asset accumulation and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. The study revealed that the mean number of months that a household cover its food requirements for PSNP participants was 2.63 whereas for non-PSNP participants was 1.82 months. This implies that PSNP has contributed to decline food gap more for PSNP participants than non-PSNP participants. It showed that PSNP Participant has positive impact on livestock holding (0.63 TLU) and SLM (soil bund (13 m/ha) and stone bund construction (14 m/ha) and chemical fertilizer use (10.9 Kg/ha)) and showed an adverse effect on the value of non-livestock assets holding as likely due to expense of beneficiaries’ transfer on consumption. Almost all PSNP can be considered as narrowing food gap and promoting asset accumulation and SLM practices over time. Despite the long-term requirement of sustainable livelihood improvement, it is understandable that PSNP is possible instrument for practitioners and policy makers to reach the poor. Therefore, to sustain food security in the study area considerable effort should be made to cover the remaining food gap and create awareness on asset accumulation together with further work on environmental impact of the program. Keywords: Productive Safety-Net Program, Food gap, Asset accumulation, Sustainable Land Management practices, Propensity Score Matchin

Determinants of Income from Agroforestry Practice in Boloso Bombe Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia

Agroforestry land use practice is important alternative land use in situations of land shortage with potential solution for the problem of declining rural agricultural productivity and land degradation.  Agroforestry practice reduce the risks associated with agricultural production, increases the sustainability of agriculture and support livelihood of the farming community by generating income for smallholder farmers. Farmers are expanding the agroforestry by incorporating non-traditional fruit crops such as mango and avocado. On the other hand, some farmers are switching from agroforestry practice to expanding monocropping especially ginger production. The objective of the study was to assess determinants of income from agroforestry practice and to examine land holding and its allocation to different land uses in Boloso Bombe Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Ethiopia. The study employed household survey for primary data collection and different documents referred for secondary data. Both descriptive analysis and econometric method were employed. In econometric method multiple linear regressions was used to identify the determinants of income earned from agroforestry practice. The result reveals that average land holding of households in the study area was less than one hectare (0.93 ha) and land size allocated for agroforestry practice is less than land allocated for monocropping system. The regression result indicates that five variables, such as, farm size, family size, access to extension service, number of livestock kept and experience of farmers are positively and significantly affect the income earned from agroforestry practice. In order to increase income earned from agriculture, general and from agroforestry practice particularly, it is important to expand extension service build their capacity in different way. Therefore, the government and other responsible bodies should give due attention to help smallholder farmers in order to use agroforestry land use for sustainability of smallholder agriculture that has been constrained by agricultural land shortages. Keywords: Land use; income, Agroforestry practices DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-9-01 Publication date:May 31st 201

Assessment of the Impact of Productive Safety Net Program in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia

Poverty and food insecurity go together in many circumstances. Chronic food insecurity is one of the main problems which have been affecting millions of Ethiopians. Productive Safety-Net Program (PSNP), is one of the main food security Programs, has been undertaking by the government of Ethiopia with the aim of fulfilling food gap and promoting asset accumulation to food insecure households. However, studies indicate that the success of PSNP in achieving its aim is an area of debate. The study was to assess and explore the impact of PSNP on economic changes of the beneficiaries by looking at changes of the probability of food gap months, asset accumulation and SLM practices in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolayta zone, SNNPRS. The research used random sampling technique to collect cross sectional data from 97 PSNP and 89 non-PSNP participants. It was analyzed by both descriptive and econometrics methods. In econometric analysis propensity scores matching technique was applied to estimate the impacts of PSNP on asset accumulation and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. The study revealed that the mean number of months that a household cover its food requirements for PSNP participants was 2.63 whereas for non-PSNP participants was 1.82 months. This implies that PSNP has contributed to decline food gap more for PSNP participants than non-PSNP participants. It showed that PSNP Participant has positive impact on livestock holding (0.63 TLU) and SLM (soil bund (13 m/ha) and stone bund construction (14 m/ha) and chemical fertilizer use (10.9 Kg/ha)) and showed an adverse effect on the value of non-livestock assets holding as likely due to expense of beneficiaries’ transfer on consumption. Almost all PSNP can be considered as narrowing food gap and promoting asset accumulation and SLM practices over time. Despite the long-term requirement of sustainable livelihood improvement, it is understandable that PSNP is possible instrument for practitioners and policy makers to reach the poor. Therefore, to sustain food security in the study area considerable effort should be made to cover the remaining food gap and create awareness on asset accumulation together with further work on environmental impact of the program. Keywords: Productive Safety-Net Program, Food gap, Asset accumulation, Sustainable Land Management practices, Propensity Score Matchin

Primary hyperparathyroidism can generate recurrent pancreatitis and secondary diabetes mellitus – A case report

Introduction. Acute or recurrent pancreatitis may be a complication of primary hyperparathyroidism and patients with previous episodes of pancreatitis may develop secondary diabetes mellitus. Case report. We describe the clinical case of a 52-year old Caucasian man diagnosed with chronic recurrent pancreatitis in 2007. The first episode of acute pancreatitis occurred in 2002, followed by another 4 episodes in 2004 and 2007. In 2004, papilosfincterectomy was implemented with a stent mount that was removed one month later. In 2005, the patient underwent a surgical intervention for the diagnosis of chronic lithiasis, and cholecystectomy was performed. Additional investigations on the etiology of recurrent chronic pancreatitis, initially diagnosed as idiopathic, revealed elevated values of total serum calcium, serum parathormone, and the presence of a parathyroid adenoma in the right lower pole of the thyroid. In September 2007, parathyroidectomy was performed with a favorable evolution and the remission of the acute pancreatitis episodes. The patient had not had any family history of diabetes; in 2017 he was diagnosed with diabetes. Conclusion. In cases of recurrent pancreatitis, screening for hyperparathyroidism is recommended. Metabolic evaluation is required, because the risk of developing diabetes in patients with recurrent pancreatitis is high

Serum markers of bone fragility in type-2 diabetes mellitus

Patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have normal or increased bone mineral density (BMD) but despite that, they are characterized by an increased hip and vertebral fracture risk that involves the alteration of bone quality and not the reduction in bone mass. BMD is utilized for the diagnosis and evaluation of osteoporosis, but BMD itself cannot provide an accurate diagnosis of the individuals at increased risk of fracture and, therefore, studies have focused on identifying other risk factors that are partially or fully independent of BMD. The fracture risk score tool-FRAX® models provide information about a 10-year probability of osteoporotic fractures, but do not include risk factors specific to illness such as diabetes duration, diabetes drug therapy, glycemic control, or the presence of micro-vascular complications. Multiple markers have been investigated to provide information on the risk of fractures in patients with T2DM such as: advanced glycation end products (AGEs), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), osteocalcin (OC), adiponectin, and sclerostin, but epidemiological studies did not provide homogeneous information regarding the link between these markers and bone fragility in T2DM subjects. Markers that increase the accuracy of fracture risk estimation in patients with T2DM need to be identified and employed in current medical practice

Factors Influencing Land Degradation in the Billate Water shade: The Case of Dimtu and Shelo Sub Water shade, Southern Ethiopia

The economic growth of developing countries depends on the performance of the agricultural sector which in turn depends on how the natural resources are managed.  Agriculture in Ethiopia is hindered by many factors among which land degradation in the form of soil erosion and nutrient depletion plays major role. Land degradation resulting from soil erosion and nutrient depletion is one of the most challenging environmental problems in Ethiopia. It has economic loss (food, pasture, and fuel wood) at household level. Billate is particular water shade found in the southern Ethiopia which faces similar problems. The study was to analyze factors influencing land degradation by examining the degree of land degradation, by identifying the factors influencing land degradation at plot level and by assessing management techniques applied in the billate water shade in the case of Dimtu and Shelo sub water shades, Southern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected from 92 sampled households. Binary logit model analysis was used to determine factors affecting land degradation. The results revealed that only 10.9% of the sample households’ plots were undegraded and 89.1%, degraded with different degrees (slightly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded). The model results reveal that seven explanatory variables, education, plot ownership, livestock holding, family size, slope, and market distance from the residence were found to be statistically significance in affecting degradation at less than 10% probability level. The Billate Water shade is one of highly degraded areas with different degrees of land degradation (slightly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded). Understanding some of factors that determine land degradation of the area would contribute to devise appropriate strategies to achieve the desired change in SWC measures and to alleviate damages of land degradation in the study area. Sustainable land management systems must be developed to reduce further degradation and restore the productivity of the eroded land. Thus selecting strategies and intervention areas need to be given due attention in the near future. Keywords: Land degradation, Water shade, Land management, Household, Plot size DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-7-04 Publication date: April 30th 201

Clinical, Molecular and Imaging Study in Neuromuscular Disorders in Developmental age: contribution to the genotype-phenotype correlation

This doctoral thesis has a wide scope, resulting from a research effort made in three directions: i) to better characterize genotype-phenotype correlations in different forms of neuromuscular disorders; ii) to highlight the usefulness of muscle MRI in differential diagnosis and iii) to expand its use to improve definition of pathogenic mechanisms in muscular pathologies. This dissertation initially describes present knowledge of several diseases discussed in my research thesis. The state of the art of muscle MRI, a non invasive diagnostic tool useful in directing genetic tests and achieving a correct diagnosis, is highlighted in a separate chapter being the “hot topic” of my work. In the section regarding the clinical and genetics studies, I also reported the efforts spent for characterizing new forms of muscle diseases and better genotype-phenotype correlations: the chapter mainly describes two new forms of distal SMA, a presintomatic form of lipidic myopathy and the genetic breakdown in several genes related to congenital muscular dystrophy. This contribution is relevant to gain new knowledge in neurogenic and myopathyc clinical conditions and to describe the relative frequency of CMD subtypes and the mutation's incidence among different CMD genes. In the other section regarding muscle MRI studies, I discuss data onto whether muscle myoimaging could be a helpful tool in both diagnosis and prognosis in TRPV4-related disorders. More specifically, this part of the thesis presents data for an improved definition of the pattern of muscle involvement in TRPV4-pathies and demonstrate that muscle MRI is useful in the early differentiation between forms of distal SMA and Charcot-Marie-Tooth. This part also argues how muscle MRI can be used to drive molecular studies in congenital myopathies with the description of the clinical case of two sisters in whom clinical and immunoistological findings were misleading. In a separate chapter, my research thesis also highlight the sensitivity and specificity of the visual analysis of muscle MRI to identify inner muscle alterations able to differentiate neurogenic diseases involving distal muscles from the forms with primary muscular involvement. The pattern of involvement within muscles, that is not something normally captured by standardized “Mercuri grading” approach seems to be a useful diagnostic marker of late neurogenic changes. In addition, putting together my neurology experience with my neuropsychiatric competence in a multidisciplinary work with language therapist and psychologist, a special clinical work possible at IRCCS Stella Maris, I discuss in the last part of the thesis the presence and characteristics of literacy deficits in DMD children and analyse the neuropsychological profiles associated with reading abilities when compared to similarly aged dyslexic children. This study shows how a multi-component cognitive deficit may contribute to specific literacy difficulties in DMD with rapid access to lexicon and phonological processing. Early recognition of deficits might help DMD toddlers prior to entering primary school prompting appropriate rehabilitation of reading disabilities

Јелица Беловић Бернаџиковска: од мале везиље до мелографа кроз преписке и сарадње

Позната у свијету фолклористике, како на етнографском и књижевном, тако и на педагошком и просвјетном нивоу, Јелица Беловић-Бернаџиковска је дала допринос и у области народног музичког стваралаштва/мелографије, који је широј јавности мање познат. Кроз различите, преписке, писма, разгледнице, рукописе и сарадње остварене са (страним) истраживачима, поготово аустријским етнографом и филологом Фридрихом С. Краусом, могуће је ишчитати доприносе наведене ауторке на пољу истраживања народне усмене књижевности и народне музичке традиције Срба и других Јужних Словена, исказаних кроз вокално-инструменталну форму пјевања уз гусле. У овом излагању биће наглашен научно-истраживачки рад Беловић-Бернаџиковске у ширем етномузиколошком контексту, значајном за фолклористику и друге области као рефлексија на таква истраживања с почетка 20. вијека

Group Singing with the Accompaniment of Gusle in the Central-Eastern Bosnia

Poznato je da su muzičko-folklorne prakse veoma vitalne forme koje su sklone promjenama, različitim uticajima i transformacijama u odnosu na određene “izvorne” i “autentične” modele muzičke tradicije u obliku “tradicije tradicionalnosti”. Jedna od takvih refleksija narodne muzičke vokalno-instrumentalne tradicije jeste grupno pjevanje uz gusle, prepoznato kao produkt novijeg doba. Njegova rasprostranjenost i popularnost van “matice” (današnje države Crne Gore) se na različite načine prenijela i na druge krajeve, uključujući kako “srodnu” Hercegovinu, tako i pojedine dijelove Bosne. U fokusu izlaganja biće grupno pjevanje uz gusle u oblasti centralno-istočne Bosne posmatrano kroz različite dijahronijske i sinhronijske perspektive, odnosno funkciju, repertoar, stil, (muzičku) strukturu, pitanje žanra, odnosa ka tradiciji i slično, što će dati polaznu osnovu za proučavanje ove aktuelne i žive folklorne tvorevine na datom kulturno-muzičkom podneblju