TD2SecIoT: Temporal, Data-Driven and Dynamic Network Layer Based Security Architecture for Industrial IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging technology, which comprises wireless smart sensors and actuators. Nowadays, IoT is implemented in different areas such as Smart Homes, Smart Cities, Smart Industries, Military, eHealth, and several real-world applications by connecting domain-specific sensors. Designing a security model for these applications is challenging for researchers since attacks (for example, zero-day) are increasing tremendously. Several security methods have been developed to ensure the CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) for Industrial IoT (IIoT). Though these methods have shown promising results, there are still some security issues that are open. Thus, the security and authentication of IoT based applications become quite significant. In this paper, we propose TD2SecIoT (Temporal, Data-Driven and Dynamic Network Layer Based Security Architecture for Industrial IoT), which incorporates Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and Nth-degree Truncated Polynomial Ring Units (NTRU) methods to ensure confidentiality and integrity. The proposed method has been evaluated against different attacks and performance measures (quantitative and qualitative) using the Cooja network simulator with Contiki-OS. The TD2SecIoT has shown a higher security level with reduced computational cost and time

Anaerobic Digestion of Tannery Solid Waste for Biogas Production: The case of Modjo Tannery, Modjo; Ethiopia

The present study characterized the physical property, total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS) and Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio) of tannery solid waste (TSW). Five different combinations with or without cow dung (CD) were assessed for their biogas production suitability in triplicate batch digesters (D-1, D-2, D-3, D-4, and D-5) with a total volume of 2.8L. The results showed that TS, VS and C/N ratio of wastes were 56.37%, 76.34% and 29.05%, respectively. The results also suggested that the highest volume of biogas (4,756 ml) with a methane content of 60.37% was produced by the digester containing 75% TSW and 25% CD and the lowest biogas (2,539 ml) with quality of 68.06% was produced by digester containing 100% CD. The average methane contents of different digesters were D-1 (100% TSW) 53.23%, D-2 (75% TSW: 25% CD) 60.37%, D-3 (50% TSW: 50% CD) 58.78%, D-4 (25% TSW: 75% CD) 57.66% and D-5 (100% CD) 67.31%. Total and volatile solid removal efficiency of all digesters was in the range of 42.27-76.34% and 47.16-79.23%. The study concluded that TSW is a good feedstock for biogas production by utilizing agro-industrial based organic solid waste for bioenergy production

Evaluation of Ethiopian Tax Administration System: emphasis on taxpayer compliance

Voluntary compliance with tax laws of taxpayers is believed to be shaped by two major streams of factors: economic and social-psychological. Many countries of the world including Ethiopia try to emphasize the economic deterrence approach in which the belief is that taxpayers pay taxes only because they fear audit and the subsequent sanctions. The social-psychology approach to taxation, on the other hand, takes the position that taxpayers’ (non)compliance decision is influenced by justice perception, how they value government expenditure, how they feel they are treated by the revenue authority, and so on. In this study we concisely went over the historical evolution of taxation in Ethiopia, assessed the culture of voluntary compliance, looked at how taxpayers perceive service delivery by the revenue authority, and evaluated the fairness perception of the Ethiopian tax system. Data for the study were gathered primarily through questionnaire distributed to 200 (162 usable ones returned) taxpayers and unstructured interview with selected officials from the revenue authority. Secondary sources such as journal articles, reports of the World Bank, IMF, and MoFED were also consulted. We used descriptive data analysis method. Both economic and social-psychological factors are found to influence taxpayers’ (non)compliance decision in so far as those respondents’ responses indicate.Keywords: Tax administration, Voluntary compliance, Taxpayers’ services, Tax system fairnes

Khat chewing habit as a possible risk behaviour for HIV infection: a case-control study

Background: The use/abuse of psychoactive drugs such as khat leaves (Catha edulis) are believed to alter one's moods or emotional state either through the sustained release or inhibition of neurotransmitters, thereby enhancing or dampening the response of the individual. Most people whose thinking are warped by continued drug use may not be able to see the harm resulting from their actions. Thus, there has been a strong linkage between drug use and casual or unsafe sexual practice despite the serious concern about HIV infection. Objective: Khat chewing is known to be a widespread habit in Ethiopia. This study is, thus, aimed at investigating whether or not the use of this psychostimulant alone or in conjunction with other behaviors associated with its use constitutes a risk behavior that accelerates the spread of HIV infection. Methods: A case-control study involving 850 human subjects, i.e. 425 HIV positives (cases) and 425 HIV negatives (controls) was conducted using rapid test algorithm and/or western blot method for determination of HIV status. Both groups were interviewed about their probable khat chewing habits, alcohol intake, multiple sexual practice, and the like, using a structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS/PC + statistical software.Results: Risk behaviors for HIV infection such as khat chewing in conjunction with alcohol intake and casual sex were observed more in people with HIV than in the control group. Khat chewing was significantly associated with multiple sexual practice (OR = 4.03, 95% CI = 3.02, 5.39), which in turn was strongly linked with HIV cases (OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 2.64, 4.69). Thus, more than the non-chewers, khat chewers constituted significantly higher number of HIV cases (OR =2.32, 95% CI = 1.75, 3.07).Conclusion/Recommendations: Khat chewing is a risk behavior for the spread of HIV infection. Mainstreaming of khat control into national development planning initiatives is recommended.The Ethiopian Journal of Health Development Vol. 19(3) 2005: 174-18

Consultative Workshop on the Development and Implementation of the National Framework for Climate Services for IGAD and SADC Countries: Challenges and Opportunities

The Global Framework of Climate Services (GFCS) was developed to enhance resilience in social, economic, and environmental systems to climate variability and change at national and regional levels. Conceived as the national declinations of the GFCS, the National Framework for Weather, Water and Climate Services (NFWWCS), which is used interchangeably in this concept note with the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) was introduced at the national level to serve as the national mechanisms to bridge the gap between the climate information being developed by scientists and service providers and the practical needs of users, from global to community levels. For such a Framework to be attained at the national level, however, national stakeholders must drive the process and its design in a manner that addresses national needs and priorities in weather, water and climate service provision and use. It is expected that the framework once developed will be coordinated by national government and key national organisations to ensure that all participants can express their needs and requirements for successfully implementing climate services that serve the population of the country. The purpose of this consultative workshop was to provide a platform for various stakeholders (including WMO Permanent representatives and experts) from the ESA countries to enhance their capabilities in shaping their NFWWCS/NFCS for effective delivery of weather, water and climate services and reduce climate vulnerabilities in the sub-regions

Spatiotemporal variability of soil moisture over Ethiopia and its teleconnections with remote and local drivers

Soil moisture is one of the essential climate variables with a potential impact on local climate variability. Despite the importance of soil moisture, studies on soil moisture characteristics in Ethiopia are less documented. In this study, the spatiotemporal variability of Ethiopian soil moisture (SM) has been characterized, and its local and remote influential driving factors are investigated. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and KMeans clustering algorithm have been employed to classify the large domain into homogeneous zones. Complex maximum covariance analysis (CMCA) is applied to evaluate the covariability between SM and selected local and remote variables such as rainfall (RF), evapotranspiration (ET), and sea surface temperature (SST). Inter-comparison among SM datasets highlight that the FLDAS dataset better depicts the country’s SM spatial and temporal distribution (i.e., a correlation coefficient r=0.95 , rmsd=0.04m3m−3 with observations). Results also indicate that regions located in northeastern Ethiopia are drier irrespective of the season (JJAS, MAM, and OND) considered. In contrast, the western part of the country consistently depicted a wetter condition in all seasons. During summer (JJAS), the soil moisture variability is characterized by a strong east–west spatial contrast. The highest and lowest soil moisture values were observed across the country’s central western and eastern parts, respectively. Furthermore, analyses indicate that interannual variability of SM is dictated substantially by RF, though the impact on some regions is weaker. It is also found that ET likely drives the SM in the eastern part of Ethiopia due to a higher atmospheric moisture demand that ultimately invokes changes in surface humidity and rainfall. A composite analysis based on the extreme five wettest and driest SM years revealed a similar spatial distribution of wet SM with positive anomalies of RF across the country and ET over the southern regions. Remote SSTs are also found to have a significant influence on SM distribution. In particular, equatorial central Pacific and western Indian oceans SST anomalies are predominant factors for spatiotemporal SM variations over the country. Major global oceanic indices: Oceanic Nino Index (ONI), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Pacific warm pool (PACWARMPOOL), and Pacific Decadal Oscillations (PDO) are found to be closely associated with the SM anomalies in various parts of the country. The associationship between these remote SST anomalies and local soil moisture is via large-scale atmospheric circulations that are linked to regional factors such as precipitation and temperature anomalies.publishedVersio

Cultural malpractice during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period and its associated factors among women who gave birth once in Dire Dawa city administration, Eastern Ethiopia, in 2021

BackgroundCultural practices are any experiences or beliefs that are socially shared views and behaviors practiced in a certain society at a certain time. Cultural malpractices are defined as socially shared views and traditionally accepted behaviors experienced in a certain society that harm maternal health. Worldwide, the period of pregnancy, labor, and delivery is embedded with different beliefs, customs, and rituals in different societies that contribute a lot to maternal death. They are responsible for the annual deaths of 303,000 mothers and 2.7 million newborns globally. In developing countries, it accounts for approximately 5%–15% of maternal deaths. In Ethiopia, approximately 18% of infant deaths occur due to cultural malpractice, and 52% of pregnant mothers give birth at home following cultural customs in Dire Dawa city. The objective of this study was to assess cultural malpractices during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period and its associated factors among women who gave birth once in Dire Dawa City in 2021.MethodsCommunity-based mixed study was conducted. A total of 624 study participants were selected through a systematic random sampling technique, and a purposive sampling method was used for qualitative data. The study was conducted in the randomly selected Kebeles of Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia, from November 1 to December 30, 2021. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.1 and exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done, and the degree of association was measured by using the odds ratio with 95% CI and significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05. The qualitative data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS-ti version 7.ResultsThe overall prevalence of cultural malpractice during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period was 74.6% [95% CI: 70.59%, 77.49%]. Women over the age of 35 were two times more likely [AOR 2.61, 95% CI, 1.45–4.72] to commit cultural malpractice than women aged 15–24 and 25–34. Those with no antenatal care (ANC) follow-up were three times more likely to commit cultural malpractice [AOR 3.57, 95% CI, 1.72–7.40], those who were absent from health education were nearly two times more likely to commit cultural malpractice [AOR 1.83, 95%CI, 1.25–2.67], and women whose culture allows harmful traditional practices were nearly two times more likely to commit cultural malpractices than their counterparts [AOR 1.69, 95%CI, 1.29–2.54].ConclusionIn this study, nearly three-fourths of participants were involved in cultural malpractices. Therefore, strengthening community education and behavioral change messages on the importance of ANC and avoiding unhealthy care during pregnancy, childbirth, postnatal and neonatal periods, especially with pregnancy at old age (age > 35), may help to reduce cultural malpractices

Prevalence of Trachoma from 66 Impact Surveys in 52 Woredas of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' and Sidama Regions of Ethiopia, 2017-2019.

PURPOSE: Trachoma is endemic in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' (SNNP) and Sidama regions of Ethiopia. We aimed to measure the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) among children aged 1 - 9 years and the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system among people aged ≥15 years following interventions for trachoma in 52 woredas of SNNP and Sidama regions. METHODS: From 2017 - 2019, 66 two-stage cluster sampling cross-sectional population-based surveys were carried out in 52 woredas (third-level administrative divisions) using a standardized World Health Organization-recommended survey methodology. This included one impact survey in 40 woredas, two consecutive impact surveys in 10 woredas and three consecutive impact surveys in two woredas. Water, sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) access was assessed using a modified version of the United Nations Children's Fund/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme questionnaire. RESULTS: By the end of this survey series, 15 (23%) of the woredas had met the active trachoma elimination threshold (TF prevalence <5%) and 12 (18%) had met the TT threshold (TT ≤ 0.2%). Regarding WASH coverage, 20% of households had access to an improved drinking water source within a 30-min journey and 3% had an improved latrine. There was strong evidence that TF was less common in 4 - 6-year-olds and 7 - 9-year-olds than 1 - 3-year-olds. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, further antibiotic mass drug administration is required in 37 woredas and active TT case finding is needed in 40 woredas. In these surveys, access to WASH facilities was very low; WASH improvements are required

Predicting perinatal mortality based on maternal health status and health insurance service using homogeneous ensemble machine learning methods

Abstract Background Perinatal mortality in Ethiopia is the highest in Africa, with 68 per 1000 pregnancies intrapartum deaths. It is mainly associated with home delivery, which contributes to more than 75% of perinatal deaths. Financial constraints significantly impact timely access to maternal health care. Financial incentives, such as health insurance, may address the demand- and supply-side factors. This study, hence, aims to predict perinatal mortality based on maternal health status and health insurance service using homogeneous ensemble machine learning methods. Methods The data was collected from the Ethiopian demographic health survey from 2011 to 2019 G.C. The data were pre-processed to get quality data that are suitable for the homogenous ensemble machine-learning algorithms to develop a model that predicts perinatal mortality. We have applied filter (chi-square and mutual information) and wrapper (sequential forward and sequential backward) feature selection methods. After selecting all the relevant features, we developed a predictive model using cat boost, random forest, and gradient boosting algorithms and evaluated the model using both objective (accuracy, precision, recall, F1_score, ROC) and subjective (domain expert) based evaluation techniques. Results Perinatal mortality prediction models were developed using random forest, gradient boosting, and cat boost algorithms with the overall accuracy of 89.95%, 90.24%, and 82%, respectively. Risk factors of perinatal mortality were identified using feature importance analysis and relevant rules were extracted using the best performing model. Conclusions A prediction model that was developed using gradient boosting algorithms was selected for further use in the risk factor analysis, generating relevant rules, development of artifacts, and model deployment because it has registered better performance with 90.24% accuracy. The most determinant risk factors of perinatal mortality were identified using feature importance and some of them are community-based health insurance, mother's educational level, region and place of residence, age, wealth status, birth interval, preterm, smoking cigarette, anemia level, hemoglobin level, and marital status

Survey of poisonous plants in southern Ethiopia

(Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 2001, 15(3): 209-221