Child nutritional status, mothers’ nutritional knowledge and practice and Household food security status in Tehuledere Woreda, South Wollo, Ethiopia

Child under nutrition due to household food insecurity remains critical issues in many households in Ethiopia. Literature in nutrition knowledge and practice of mothers and the nutritional status of their infants is scanty. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of six to 23-month-oldchildren, mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice of child nutrition and household food security status in a semi-urban and a rural kebeles. A community based cross-sectional study was undertaken in semi-urban and rural kebeles in Tehuledere Woreda (district) to assess household food security and nutritional status of six to 23-month children. A total of 245 mother-child pairs were selected randomly from the two kebeles. Anthropometric indices were used to determine the nutritional status of under-two children. Child age, weight and height were measured and used to calculate weight-for-age, weight-for-height and height-for-age Z-scores. Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ciaf) was calculated to determine total malnutrition. Household food insecurity access scale (hfias) was used to assess food security status. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practice in child nutrition, food diversity and child feeding. Data were statistically analyzed. Stunting was noted in 7.5% and 17% of under-two children in the urban and rural kebeles, respectively. Similar levels of thinness (6%) were observed in both kebeles. There were more under-weight children in the semi-urban (5.2%) than in the rural (3.6%) kebeles. Chronic energy deficiency was noted in 20% and 15% of the children in semi-urban and rural kebeles, respectively. ciaf was higher in children in the semi-urban kebele (48%) than in the rural kebele (31%). A small proportion of study households were food secure (17.9%). The rest were either mildly (54.4%) or moderately (27.8%) food insecure. Average knowledge of child nutrition among mothers in the semi-urban and rural kebeles was very low (about 34% and 37%, respectively).The low anthropometric measurements of the children in this study could be due to poor food diversity, insufficient food intake, and poor nutritional knowledge and practice of mothers. Creating awareness in child feeding practices and diet diversity is recommended. &nbsp

Amorphous Mo₅O₁₄-Type/Carbon Nanocomposite with Enhanced Electrochemical Capability for Lithium-Ion Batteries

An amorphous MomO3m−1/carbon nanocomposite (m ≈ 5) is fabricated from a citrate–gel precursor heated at moderate temperature (500 °C) in inert (argon) atmosphere. The as-prepared Mo5O14-type/C material is compared to α-MoO3 synthesized from the same precursor in air. The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman scattering (RS) spectroscopy. Thermal gravimetry and elemental analysis indicate the presence of 25.8 ± 0.2% of carbon in the composite. The SEM images show that Mo5O14 is immersed inside a honeycomb-like carbon matrix providing high surface area. The RS spectrum of Mo5O14/C demonstrates an oxygen deficiency in the molybdenum oxide and the presence of a partially graphitized carbon. Outstanding improvement in electrochemical performance is obtained for the Mo5O14 encapsulated by carbon in comparison with the carbon-free MoO3. View Full-Tex

Amorphous Mo 5 O 14 -Type/Carbon Nanocomposite with Enhanced Electrochemical Capability for Lithium-Ion Batteries

International audienceAn amorphous Mo m O 3m−1 /carbon nanocomposite (m ≈ 5) is fabricated from a citrate-gel precursor heated at moderate temperature (500 • C) in inert (argon) atmosphere. The as-prepared Mo 5 O 14-type/C material is compared to α-MoO 3 synthesized from the same precursor in air. The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared samples are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman scattering (RS) spectroscopy. Thermal gravimetry and elemental analysis indicate the presence of 25.8 ± 0.2% of carbon in the composite. The SEM images show that Mo 5 O 14 is immersed inside a honeycomb-like carbon matrix providing high surface area. The RS spectrum of Mo 5 O 14 /C demonstrates an oxygen deficiency in the molybdenum oxide and the presence of a partially graphitized carbon. Outstanding improvement in electrochemical performance is obtained for the Mo 5 O 14 encapsulated by carbon in comparison with the carbon-free MoO 3

Electrochemical performance of nanosized MnO 2 synthesized by redox route using biological reducing agents

International audienceFor more than a century, manganese dioxides (MDOs) have been used as electrochemically active materials in energy storage and conversion applications. To reduce the cost and hazardous impact of synthesis, a redox method was used to prepare MnO2 using extracts of green (GT-MnO2) and black (BT-MnO2) tea as biological reducing agents. Polyphenols present in the extracts of tea not only reduce Mn7+ ions but also act as “capping agents” to stabilize and prevent the produced MnO2 nanoparticles from degradation and aggregation. Elemental, structural properties and morphology of nanosized α-KxMnO2 were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, which revealed the different crystallinity between GT-MnO2 and BT-MnO2 due to the strength of the antioxidant species. Electrochemical investigations highlight the beneficial presence of K+ ions in (2 × 2) tunnels; with a higher concentration, α-K0.135MnO2 exhibits a discharge specific capacity of 155 mAh g−1 after 20 cycles at C/26 rate