DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMER PREFERENCES IN ADDIS ABABA RESTAURANTS

This study was proposed to explore the determinants of consumer preferences in Addis Ababa restaurants. Using consumer behavior literatures and theories it was hypothesized that disposable income, price, quality, hygiene practices, friendliness of restaurant staff, safety of food and range or menu variety are important determinants of consumer choice for restaurants. Primary data were generated from 265 customers of 55 restaurants randomly selected with the use of questionnaire of which 258 of the questionnaire ended usable. The non parametric hypothesis testing statistical tool, chi –square tests, and measures of variation were used for statistical analysis purposes. The anticipation of the researcher was that the hypothesis testing results would be significant in parallel with the hypothesized facts. The findings of the research suggest that income has insignificant impact up on quality price trade of among consumers of different income categories. Other hypothesis associated with price, quality, friendliness of restaurant staff, quick table service and range or menu varieties are found to be statistically significant. Over all, the research results suggest that restaurateurs should design marketing strategy that integrates the attributes used in this study to satisfy the needs and wants of their customers and differentiation of their products and services on the basis of the variables scored as they are significant considerations by consumers.consumer preferences, determinants, deposable income, price, quality.

Review on Genetical, Morphological, Physiological and Molecular Mechanism of Plant to Insect Resistance

Plants and insects have been living together for more than 350 million years. In co- evolution, both have evolved strategies to avoid each other’s defense systems. Plants produce specialized morphological structures, genetical, physiological or secondary metabolites, molecular or proteins that have toxic, repellent, and/or anti nutritional effects on the herbivores, to counter the herbivore attack and the insects have also their own weapons. Research on plant-herbivore interactions is one of the most important and multidisciplinary undertakings in plant biology involving various disciplines to describe chemical and ecological processes influencing the outcome of plant - herbivore interactions. Our understanding of how plants communicate with their neighbors, symbionts, pathogens, herbivores, and with their personal “bodyguards”- the natural enemies, both above and below ground, via chemical signals, is still in its infancy. Because of this reviewing of the genetical, morphological, physiological and molecular mechanism of plant to insect resistance are very important in designing crop plants with better protection against the herbivores. Keywords: Morphological, Physiological, Genetical, Molecular, interaction, Defense. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-9-03 Publication date:July 31st 202

Review on Application of Genetic Engineering to Crop Improvement and Its Perceptions in Ethiopia

Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, is the process of manually adding new DNA to an organism. The goal is to add one or more new traits that are not already found in that organism. An organism that is generated through genetic engineering is considered to be a genetically modified organism (GMO). Recombinant technology is helpful in solving the agricultural problems arising due to biotic and abiotic stresses. Cognizant of this potential, the Ethiopian government has made significant investment in modern biotechnology capacity building and the parliament also amends GMO law to allow Ethiopian research partnerships initially on non-edible items that was previously said to be stringent. After many years of fighting against the technology, Ethiopia is poised to become one of the few African countries to commercialize and produce at least one genetically-engineered crop. Keywords: Genetic, Resistant, Transgenic and Engineerin

Factors Affecting the Performance of Commercial Banks (A Case Study on Commercial Banks in Ethiopia): CAMEL Ratings

This study tried to assess factors affecting the efficiency and performance of Ethiopian commercial banks. Nine years audited financial data (i.e.2010-2018) was used to analyze the effect of explanatory variables on the explained variables using explanatory research design with quantitative research approach. Banks play a great role in the development of the countries. They act as financial intermediaries between the parties with lack of capital and parties with surplus capital. In order to perform their functions first their financial healthiness should be improved. In this study performance of the banks was measured by ROA and efficiency of the banks by efficiency ratio. On the other hand, factors that could be affect the performance of the banks were capital adequacy, assets quality, management capacity, earning quality, liquidity position, GDP and age of banks were used using different measurement mechanisms. Random effect GLS regression result indicated that management capability, assets quality and earning quality significantly affect the performance of the banks measured by ROA.  On the hand, assets quality, earning quality, liquidity and age of the banks has significant effect on the efficiency of the banks. Capital adequacy, GDP and age of the banks have no impact on the ROA, and capital adequacy, management capacity and GDP do not have significant effect on the performance of the banks measured by efficiency ratio. According to the finding, management capability and earning quality have positive effect on the performance of the banks. Keywords: CAMEL, ROA, Performance of the banks, Efficiency ratio and commercial banks DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-5-01 Publication date:March 31st 202

Efficacy evaluation of different foliar fungicides for the management of wheat strip rust (Puccinia striiformis) in West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Rust is one of the most widespread and devastating disease of cereal crop all over the world. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of different fungicide against strip rust of wheat (Puccinia striiformis) at Toke Kutaye District, West Showa Zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications and contains five treatments. Disease parameters like incidence, severity, Area under Disease Progress curve (AUDPC), and yield loss (dry biomass, grain yield, and thousands grain weight) were used to evaluate the treatments. The fungicides showed significant differences (P<0.05) in reducing incidence, severity, AUDPC and yield losses compared to the control treatment. There also significant differences between Zantara EC 216 and Rex®Duo fungicide in reducing disease incidence and also between Zantara EC 216 and Tilt 250 EC in reducing the disease severity. Zantara EC 216 fungicide reduced strip rust severity by 94.2% compared to the control treatment. The analysis of variance also revealed significant difference among Zantara EC 216 and Rex®Duo, Tilt 250 EC and Progress fungicides in reducing grain yield loss and thousand grain weights loss. Zantara EC 216 fungicide increased grain yield by 32.2% compared to the control. However, for the most parameters, there was no significant difference among Rex®Duo, Tilt 250 EC and Progress fungicides. Hence, Zantara EC 216 which is newly introduced to Ethiopian country was very effective and can be recommended as alternative fungicide for the management of strip rust of wheat in west showa zone of Ethiopia and areas of similar agro-ecological conditions.Keywords: Fungicides efficacy, Wheat, Severity, Zantara EC 21

Relationships between Circulating Urea Concentrations and Endometrial Function in Postpartum Dairy Cows

Both high and low circulating urea concentrations, a product of protein metabolism, are associated with decreased fertility in dairy cows through poorly defined mechanisms. The rate of involution and the endometrial ability to mount an adequate innate immune response after calving are both critical for subsequent fertility. Study 1 used microarray analysis to identify genes whose endometrial expression 2 weeks postpartum correlated significantly with the mean plasma urea per cow, ranging from 3.2 to 6.6 mmol/L. The biological functions of 781 mapped genes were analysed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. These were predominantly associated with tissue turnover (e.g., BRINP1, FOXG1), immune function (e.g., IL17RB, CRISPLD2), inflammation (e.g., C3, SERPINF1, SERPINF2) and lipid metabolism (e.g., SCAP, ACBD5, SLC10A). Study 2 investigated the relationship between urea concentration and expression of 6 candidate genes (S100A8, HSP5A, IGF1R, IL17RB, BRINP1, CRISPLD2) in bovine endometrial cell culture. These were treated with 0, 2.5, 5.0 or 7.5 mmol/L urea, equivalent to low, medium and high circulating values with or without challenge by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS increased S100A8 expression as expected but urea treatment had no effect on expression of any tested gene. Examination of the genes/pathways involved suggests that plasma urea levels may reflect variations in lipid metabolism. Our results suggest that it is the effects of lipid metabolism rather than the urea concentration which probably alter the rate of involution and innate immune response, in turn influencing subsequent fertility

The Effect of Corporate Governance Mechanism on the Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions Evidence from Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions

The study was aimed to examine the effect of corporate governance attributes on the financial performance of MFIs. Explanatory research design with mixed research approach was employed to carry out the study. From 12 legally registered microfinance institutions at NBE and operating in Addis Ababa city administration, 7 MFIs was purposively selected to investigate the effect of corporate governance variables such as board size, board educational qualification, board experience in the financial sector, meeting frequency of the board, board audit committee size and board independency on the financial performance of MFIs measured by Return on Equity and Operational Self Sufficiency. In addition to main explanatory variables, control variables such as MFIs size, leverage and MFIs age were also included in the study variables. Both primary and secondary data were used in which primary data regarding board characteristics was collected through questionnaire and secondary data was obtained from NBE and AEMFI. Panel data covering six year from 2010-2015 was analyzed for seven microfinance institutions. The regression results revealed that board size, board educational qualification, meeting frequency, board independency and MFIs age have positive and significant relationship with financial performance; whereas board experience in the financial sector and board audit committee size has statistically negative association with MFIs’ financial performance. Leverage and the size of microfinance institutions do not have significant impact on the financial performance of Microfinance Institutions. Based on empirical result of the study, it is recommended that board audit committee sizes should be kept low. Furthermore, in order to reduce the problem of management failures which put at risk the money obtained from government and other sources, the governance system of MFIs have to be effective. Keywords: Corporate Governance Mechanisms, Agency Theory, Financial Performance, MFI DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-11-07 Publication date: November 30th 201

The Effect of Corporate Governance Mechanism on the Financial Performance of Microfinance Institutions: Evidence from Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions

The study was aimed to examine the effect of corporate governance attributes on the financial performance of MFIs. Explanatory research design with mixed research approach was employed to carry out the study. From 12 legally registered microfinance institutions at NBE and operating in Addis Ababa city administration, 7 MFIs was purposively selected to investigate the effect of corporate governance variables such as board size, board educational qualification, board experience in the financial sector, meeting frequency of the board, board audit committee size and board independency on the financial performance of MFIs measured by Return on Equity and Operational Self Sufficiency. In addition to main explanatory variables, control variables such as MFIs size, leverage and MFIs age were also included in the study variables. Both primary and secondary data were used in which primary data regarding board characteristics was collected through questionnaire and secondary data was obtained from NBE and AEMFI. Panel data covering six year from 2010-2015 was analyzed for seven microfinance institutions. The regression results revealed that board size, board educational qualification, meeting frequency, board independency and MFIs age have positive and significant relationship with financial performance; whereas board experience in the financial sector and board audit committee size has statistically negative association with MFIs’ financial performance. Leverage and the size of microfinance institutions do not have significant impact on the financial performance of Microfinance Institutions. Based on empirical result of the study, it is recommended that board audit committee sizes should be kept low. Furthermore, in order to reduce the problem of management failures which put at risk the money obtained from government and other sources, the governance system of MFIs have to be effective. Keywords: Corporate Governance Mechanisms, Agency Theory, Financial Performance, MFI DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-21-03 Publication date: November 30th 201

Delay in reaching institutional delivery service utilization among mothers attending Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Maternal delay in the utilization of delivery services is one of the contributing factors for high maternal mortality in developing countries. However, it is preventable by timely arrival for obstetric care. The difference between life and death in obstetrics might be a matter of timely arrival and management. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with maternal delay in reaching institutional delivery service utilization among mothers attending Jimma Medical Center.METHOD: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. The sample size was determined by a single population proportion formula and entered into epi data version 3.1, then exported to SPSS version 23. The data was presented using texts and tables. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis with 95% CI for odds ratio (OR) was used to assess the factors.RESULT: The prevalence of maternal delay in reaching institutional delivery service utilization was 163(40.2%). Low husbands' educational levels were significantly associated with delay in reaching: illiterate (AOR=4.22, 95% CI: 1.10-16.19), primary (AOR=3.88, 95% CI: 1.24-12.1). Mothers who live in rural areas have been delayed 2 times more than mothers who live in urban areas (AOR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.044-4.73). Likewise, mothers who live a long distance from health facilities are 13 times more likely to delay than mothers who live ≤ 10 kilometers (AOR=12.89,95%CI:6.66-24.94).CONCLUSION: Delay in reaching institutional delivery service was high. Factors such as husband's education, distance of health facility, and living area were significant factors with delay in reaching