Longitudinal differences of ionospheric vertical density distribution and equatorial electrodynamics

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95627/1/jgra21851.pd

Detection of pathogens in ticks collected from Tanzania using specific Polymerase Chain Reaction and Next-Generation Sequencing

Background: Ticks are blood sucking arthropods that play a vital role in the transmission of a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. This tick also carries several other pathogens that cause human disease, including agents of Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borreliosis, Rickettsia, Coxiella spp and others. Thus, tick borne diseases detection approaches using next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA gene amplicon enhance the efficiency of diagnosis and control strategies. In this study, detection of bacteria and protozoa pathogen was performed in ticks collected from wild animals from Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Methods: Total 136 hard ticks were collected from wild animals (wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, and lion) in Tanzania in 2014-2016. Hard (Ixodidae) tick’s DNA was extracted from the ticks and pathogen-specific PCR was performed. In addition, microbiome study using NGS on of 16S rRNA gene amplification was performed. Result: In this pathogen specific analysis, 72 out of total 136 tick samples were positive for any potential pathogens and the detection rate 52.94%. The detection rate of pathogen in ticks from wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, lion were 64.7%, 60.6%, 54.24%, and 33.33%, respectively. The commonly detected potential pathogen was Coxiella spp. (38.24%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (13.24%), and Theileria spp. (0.74%). While Ana-plasma spp, Bartonella spp, and Borrelia spp were not detected in ticks. Microbiome study was performed on 16 tick samples. The number of bacterial species identified in ticks ranged from 70 to 122 among samples. The number of identified bacterial species and bacterial composition were not different between groups. The average relative abundances of Coxiella spp. in wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra were found as 0.01%, 24.33% and 26.93% respectively. The average relative abundances of Rickettsia spp. in wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra were found to be 0%, 0.28%, and 0.76%. Other potential pathogens were detected. All tick samples positive by NGS approach were found to be positive in pathogen-specific PCR approach in this study. Conclusion: Detection and analysis of ticks collected from wild animals demonstrated that Rickettsia and Coxiella pathogen detection rate were high in this study ,among the targeted pathogens. The microbiomes of bacterial composition varied between tick’s host animals, and the most occurrence microbiota from the members of Coxiellaceae, Francisellaceae, and Rickettsiaceae families (Phylum: Proteobacteria) were the most abundant. Therefore, Potential pathogens were detected in tick samples collected from wild animals in Tanzania using specific PCR and NGS approaches. In the future, NGS application for detection of pathogens could be considered since it is accurate and time saving. Key words: Tick, PCR, 16S rRNA, NGS, Microbiomes.open석

Integration of Service Learning in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Volunteerism in Communities: The Cases of 2018 Summer Season Voluntarism in Amhara Region

Among the classic roles of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) i.e., research, teaching and community service the social engagement of institutions and their impact on civil society should be particularly highlighted. Of which, volunteering and service learning are believed to be an excellent means for accomplishing such goals. However, whether or not HEIs in developing countries like Ethiopia are able to materialize their social responsibility through such activities like student volunteerism, and their role in developing the active society was least explored. As a result, this study was planned to take place with a major objective to explore the integration of Service Learning in HEIs and Services in communities with a special focus to the cases of 2018 Summer Youth Voluntarism in Amhara Region of Ethiopia. For the purpose, a qualitative research methodology was employed. Officers and experts in the Amhara Region Bureau of Youth and Sports, and similar others at Bahir Dar City Zonal administration and in the sub-cities were drawn as informants and drawn data through interviews. In addition, the role of universities in promoting Service learning was examined from the syllabuses point of view, mainly a Course called Civics & Ethical Education using a content analysis technique. The findings reveal that though the service learning in the HEIs was not much visible through the Harmonized curriculum, Youth, especially, students of HEIs in Amhara Region of Ethiopia were found to be fully participated in services of community during the summer season of 2018, which implies the availability of the required motivation from the youth side. However a well-developed integration of service learning and volunteerism was unable to be discovered rather, this study calls for its realization

Availability and Utilization of Educational Technology in Primary Schools of Ethiopia

The purpose of this study is to look into the availability and utilization of instructional technology in Ethiopian primary education, using some urban and regional schools as case representatives. 165 in-service teachers were recruited using available sampling method from Addis Ababa and Amhara regional state primary schools. A questionnaire and semi-structured interview items were created and administered to collect data. The study used a descriptive survey design with a mixed methods research approach. Major findings revealed that teachers in the case primary schools do not have accesses to properly utilize educational technologies in the teaching-learning processes. Multiple regression analysis results showed that there is no significant difference in the use of educational technology between regional and urban school teachers

A meta-analysis of Drug resistant Tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Strongly Associated with previous Treatment and HIV Co-infection?

Background: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the fight against tuberculosis (TB) has encountered a great challenge because of the emergence of drug resistant TB strains and the high prevalence of HIV infection. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the association of drug-resistant TB with anti-TB drug treatment history and HIV co-infection.Methods: After electronic based literature search in the databases of Medline, HINARI, EMBASE and the Cochrane library, article selection and data extraction were carried out. HIV co-infection and previous history of TB treatment were used as predictors for the occurrence of any anti-TB drug resistant or multiple drug resistant TB (MDR-TB). The risk ratios for each included study and for the pooledsample were computed using the random-effects model. Heterogeneity test, sensitivity analyses and funnel plots were also done.Results: The pooled analysis showed that the risk of developing drug-resistant TB to at least one anti-TB drug was about 3 times higher in individuals who had a previous history of anti-TB treatment than new TB cases. The risk of having MDR-TB in previously anti-TB treated TB cases was more than 5-fold higher than that of new TB cases. Resistance to Ethambutol and Rifampicin was more than fivefold higher among the previously treated with anti-TB drugs. However, HIV infection was not associated with drug-resistant TB.Conclusion: There was a strong association of previous anti-TB treatment with MDR-TB. Primary treatment warrants special emphasis, and screening for anti-TB drugs sensitivity has to be strengthened.Keywords: drug resistance, HIV, meta-analysis, previous treatment, tuberculosis, Sub-Saharan Afric