Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Drinking water quality and handling practices among women in rural households of Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria","authors":"E. Oloruntoba, D. Olannye","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V12I3.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V12I3.5","url":null,"abstract":"Diarrheal diseases associated with inadequate supply of potable water are the leading causes of mortality among children under five years in developing countries. In Nigeria, women are the water managers in most households. However, there is dearth of information on the effect of women’s handling practices on drinking water quality. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the drinking water quality and handling practices among women in selected rural households in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Paired drinking water samples from available sources and Household Storage Containers (HSC) were assessed for physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters using standard methods. The data obtained were compared with the WHO guideline limits. Water samples with 0, 1-10, 11-50 and > 50 E. coli/100 mL were graded as A, B, C, and D corresponding to excellent, acceptable, unacceptable, and grossly polluted quality, respectively. Pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. A 30-point scale was used to assess water handling practices. Handling practice scores greater or equal to mean handling practice score were grouped into good and those less than that were grouped into bad handling practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and One-way ANOVA at α = 0.05. The results showed physico-chemical parameters for both sources and households within WHO guideline limits. The mean total coliform counts for all sources and household containers exceeded permissible limits. E. coli  was not detected in harvested rain water while counts for borehole was 10.2 ±2.2 (A) and for stream sources was 44.6±33.3 EC/100 mL (B); drinking water stored in HSC had 36.8±32.3 (A) EC/100 mL, borehole had 62.31±33.2 (C) and stream had 30.00±33.2 (B). Mean handling practice score was 19.4+6.6. Majority (60.0%) practiced some water handling technique. Drinking water from assessed sources was of poor microbial quality and it significantly deteriorated when stored in household storage containers. Therefore, there is a need to improve the microbial quality of drinking water at sources and household level through the supply of simple, acceptable, low-cost treatment methods and hygiene education.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125154174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological Aspects, Catch and Length Distribution of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus and Common Carp, Cyprinus Carpio in in Lake Lugo, South Wollo, Ethiopia","authors":"Endalh Mekonnen, Gedion Brehanu, Tizazu Yitayew","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V12I3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V12I3","url":null,"abstract":"Determining biological parameters such as length to weight relationship, sex ratio and size at first maturity of threatened fishes give good information on their growth performance and help manage and conserve fish populations in their natural water bodies. In this study, some biological parameters were reported for Clarias gariepinus and Cyprinus carpio. Samples were taken at monthly intervals from October 2013 to September 2017 in Lake Lugo, South Wollo, Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to determine length to weight relationships, length class frequency, sex ratio and size at first maturity of the fishes. Total length (TL) of the species was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and total body weight (TW) to the nearest 1 g. The physico-chemical parameters were also measured: transparency by using secchi disk, conductivity by Wagtach International conductivity meter and pH by pH meter. The results showed that the parameters were within the permissible limits except the pH level at Gedam Sefar sampling site. A total of 672 fish specimens were collected. Length (cm) to weight (g) relationship for C. gariepinus was sketched as: TW = 0.015TL2.8, n = 81, r2 = 0.901 and for C. carpio as: TW = 0.018TL2.85, n = 591, r2 = 0.926, which, in both cases, showed a curvilinear relationship, signifying the fishes followed negative allometric growth. The sex ratio between males to females showed significant difference (C. gariepinus: χ2 = 4.46, P<0.05; C. carpio: χ2 = 12.0, P<0.05). Size at first sexual maturity (L50) for C. gariepinus was 31.7 cm for females and 31.1 cm for males, while L50 for C. carpio was 19.2 cm for females and 19.3 cm for males.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115449528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Level of selected heavy metals in some commercially available cosmetic products in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania","authors":"M. Ndoile","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V12I3.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V12I3.3","url":null,"abstract":"The study was conducted in order to assess heavy metal content in some commercially available cosmetics products that are manufactured in United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), India and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and sold in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Face creams, beauty soaps, lipsticks and body lotions from the mentioned countries were purchased from local markets in Dar es Salaam and analytical procedures were employed to determine the contents of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The results showed that lipstick samples contained the highest Pb at 23.36 µg/g, Cd at 23.30 µg/g and Cu at 22.91 µg/g. The highest concentrations in the beauty soap samples showed 21.99 µg/g Pb, 0.98 µg/g Cd and 18.8 µg/g Cu. Face cream samples contained the least contents of Pb at 6.52 µg/g, Cd at 0.16 µg/g, and Cu at 3.75 µg/g. In body lotions, no Pb and Cd were detected; in contrast, the contents of Cu was high (up to 1.4 µg/g). The products evaluated contained toxic heavy metals, though, not at an alarming concentration. Further research and analysis on the health risks of these products is proposed and extreme attention must be given to heavy metals during manufacture.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130116201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil organic matter depletion as a major threat to agricultural intensification in the highlands of Ethiopia","authors":"C. L. Beek, E. Elias, Y. Selassie, G. Gebresamuel, Asrat Tsegaye, Feyisa Hundessa, M. Tolla, Melkamu Mamuye, Gebremeskel Yemane, S. Mengistu","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.5","url":null,"abstract":"Agriculture is considered as the backbone of Ethiopian economy. The government promotes rural development through policies that enhance intensive and commercially-oriented agriculture. Soil quality may be the bottleneck of these ambitions as more than half of the agricultural land shows signs of land degradation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents are a key aspect of soil quality, where relatively high SOC contents indicate better water holding capacity, nutrient retention capacity and better structure of the soil. In this research, SOC balances were used as indicator for short and midterm changes in SOC contents. SOC balances were calculated using data collected from 6914 fields for three years (2012-2014) using a simple input-out approach. On average, SOC balances were three tons per hectare per year. This equals 4 to 7% of the total soil organic carbon stock, which varied according to regions and cropping systems. SOC depletion rates were high in the mountainous and high cultivation intensity sites in central and northern Ethiopia where cereal based cropping systems dominates. Under the current practice, soils will eventually become exhausted and lose their productivity. This alarming trend could be reversed by integrating organic matter and nutrient management strategies and by providing alternative sources for feed and fuel supply of the community.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"47 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123797026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicological assessment of Pb, Cd and Cr in lettuce and onion grown around Ellala River in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia","authors":"Teklay Gebreyohannes, Abraha Gebrekidan Asgedom","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.6","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this study was to investigate the toxicological effect of Pb, Cd and Cr in vegetables. Water, soil and vegetables samples were collected to determine heavy metal content using FAAS and its impact on human health via consumption of vegetables. The heavy metals for water samples were recorded in the order of Pb>Cd>Cr, and all, except Cd, were found under WHO/FAO limits. Similarly, the heavy metals of soil samples were also recorded in the order of Cr>Cd>Pb, which was under Ewers and EU permissible limits. On lettuce, mean levels of heavy metals were Pb 0.34 ± 0.04 mg/kg, Cd 1.07 ± 0.12 mg/kg and Cr 3.50 ± 0.23 mg/kg were recorded above the WHO/FAO limits. On onion, levels were 0.75 ± 0.05 mg/kg for Pb, 0.41 ± 0.04 mg/kg for Cd and 1.98 ± 0.27 mg/kg for Cr, which were above the WHO/FAO limits. The high metal content could be attributed to high anthropogenic activities. The TF (transfer factor) for the heavy metal in vegetables also showed a trend of Cd>Pb>Cr. The TF of Cd on lettuce ranged between 0.827 and 0.914, because of the high Cd mobility and its high bio-accumulation factor in lettuce. Thus, TF values of vegetables above 0.5 are considered to be contaminated and thus needs for continuous follow-up. However, the health risk index and daily intake rate of heavy metals of the study indicates the vegetables are safe to eat. But, due to the bioaccumulation nature of the heavy metals and the continual use of these vegetables with increase anthropogenic activities and demand of people for vegetables may pose health problem.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133864797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long term predictors of adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV positive adults at Felege-Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital, North-West Ethiopia: a transitional study","authors":"Awoke Seyoum Tegegne, Principal Ndlovu, T. Zewotir","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.1","url":null,"abstract":"In clinical trials and practices, failure of adherence to medications is a common challenge among patients with chronic diseases. Many factors are associated with this failure. Reports of previous studies about predictors of adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) were not consistent. The main objective of this study was to identify predictors of long-term adherence to HAART, considering lag variables as additional predictors. Transitional modeling was used to determine the predictors of long-term adherence to HAART. A retrospective transitional study design was conducted on 792 randomly selected adult patients at Felege-Hiwot Teaching and Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Results revealed that the first two lag-variables ( ) were significantly associated with performance of current adherence to HAART. The increase in CD4 cell count change was significantly associated with current adherence, if patients made transition from adherent level at lag2 to non-adherent level at lag1 ( ). As a conclusion, for patients who were transferred from adherent level at lag2 to non-adherent level at lag1, their CD4 cell count changes were positively correlated with current adherence level. Due attention should thus be given to address the specific needs of each group of patients. Non-adherence to HAART in this long-term treatment program was at risk and should receive interventional action. Educational therapy during follow-ups should also be given to non-adherent patients to strengthen the era of long-term treatment.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"518 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133944231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants in rural settings of Bahir Dar district, Ethiopia","authors":"Asmamaw Tadesse, Berhanu Abraha Tsegay, Berhanu Belay Telake","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.3","url":null,"abstract":"Most Ethiopian farmers and pastoralists rely on locally available plants to treat diseases of their domestic animals. Such knowledge needs to be recorded and transmitted to generations before it is eroded. In this study, the ethnoveterinary medicinal plants and the associated ethnoveterinary knowledge of farmers in Bahir Dar City Administrative Zone, Ethiopia, was documented. Seventy two informants were purposively selected from six study sites (kebeles). Semi-structured interviews, field observations and focus group discussions were used to collect ethnoveterinary information. Data were analyzed using quantitative approaches. A total of 69 plant species were used in the treatment of 36 livestock ailments. Plant species belonging to families Fabaceae and Solanaceae were frequently used. Roots of 32 species followed by leaves of 29 species were often utilized for remedy preparation. The majority of medicinal plants (72.5%) were harvested from the wild. Herbs constituted the dominant growth form used accounting for 40.6%. Most remedies were prepared in concoction/blend form. The majority of preparations (64.4%) were orally administered. Knowledge of medicinal plants is positively correlated with age of informants. In this study, Phytolacca dodecandra was found to be the most frequently used medicinal plant followed by Cucumis ficifolius . However, Cucumis ficifolius and Ipomoea simonsiana were the best and equally preferred species in the treatment of the most frequent disease locally known as “Kumegna.” It could be concluded that indigenous knowledge and the practice of using medicinal plants was still the major animal health care system in Bahir Dar rural community.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"35 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125062500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On-farm pre-weaning growth performance of Washera, Farta and their crossbred lambs in selected districts of western Amhara Region, Ethiopia","authors":"Esubalew Adimasu, Kefyalew Alemayehu, T. Getachew","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.4","url":null,"abstract":"The objective of the study was to evaluate the pre-weaning growth performance of Farta, Washera, and their cross-sheep lambs. The study was conducted in Farta and Lay Gayint districts of the Amhara National Regional State. The data were collected from November 2016 to May 2017. A total of 132 sheep, i.e., 82 Farta, 20 Washera, and 30 Washera-Farta crossbred, were selected using purposive sampling technique to assess their pre-weaning growth performance. Growth data was analyzed using SAS Version 9.1.3. (SAS, 2008). Mean birth weight (± SE in kg) was 2.7±0.30 for Farta, 3.1±0.14 for Washera, and 2.9±0.08 for Washera-Farta crossbred lambs. Weaning weights were 10.9±0.30 kg for Farta, 13.1±0.50 kg for Washera, and 12.2±1.1 kg for Washera-Farta crossbreds. Daily weight gain calculated from birth to 30 days was 89.4±6.44 g for Farta, 119.4±23.53 g for Washera and 111.4±10.46 g for Washera-Farta crossbreds. Weight gain from birth to 90 days was 88.8±3.21 g, 103.2±11.75 g, and 111.9±5.22 g, respectively. Washera breed was significantly heavier at birth and at weaning age, followed by crossbred lambs. Crossbred lambs were not significantly bigger than Farta lambs. This means crossing the two breeds did not have advantage and selection breeding of Farta sheep by itself will be adequate.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124298395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Kinetic based simulation of fixed bed gasifier and performance study on syngas production from different biomass feed-stocks","authors":"Bedewi Bilal, S. Fanta, N. Satheesh","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I3.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I3.2","url":null,"abstract":"Biomass is one of the most clean and renewable energy resources. In recent times, researchers have given more attention to biomass due to its zero emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon monoxide. In biomass utilization technologies, biomass gasification is an attractive mechanism for utilization of waste biomass generated from different agro-industries. Despite the application of fixed bed flow gasification on a large scale, the reaction rate in the hot conversion zone is almost unknown. However, knowledge regarding the rates of the gasification reaction at high temperature and high pressure is crucial for detailed design and optimization of these gasifiers. The study focused on the simulation of biomass (coffee bean and rice) husk gasification process based on the kinetics of the gasifier in order to investigate the produced syngas composition. The AspenPlus simulation was used to investigate the effect of operating parameters on the composition of the produced gas. Effect of different proportions of the simulation parameter includes gasification temperature, pressure, reactor volume, equivalence ratio and moisture on gas production and composition. Results of sensitivity analysis showed that an increase in temperature led to a rise in the production of H 2 and CO gases. Whereas, an increase in moisture content of the biomass showed lower heating value of the produced gas. Based on the obtained result, the maximum lower heating value of syngas was obtained at the gasification temperature of 800 o C, steam to biomass ratio of 0.1, pressure of 1 bar, 0.05% of moisture content and 0.02 m 3 of reactor volume.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"22 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125015715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of supplemental irrigation on yield and yield attributes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in western Ethiopia","authors":"Y. O. Kemal, G. A. Damot, Derejew Zewdie","doi":"10.4314/EJST.V11I2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/EJST.V11I2.2","url":null,"abstract":"Terminal moisture stress is one of the major factors that reduce the yield of chickpea when it is grown using residual moisture. Field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2015/16 and 2016/17) at Teda research site, northwestern Ethiopia to investigate the effect of Supplemental Irrigation (SI) on yield and yield attributes of chickpea ( Habru variety). The treatments comprised of six SI levels (no SI/rain-fed, SI at: 50% flowering, 50% pod setting; vegetative + 50% flowering, vegetative + 50% pod setting stages). The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were analyzed using SAS software, and means were separated by least significant difference test. The result showed that the effect of SI on water use efficiency, yield and most yield components of chickpea such as weight of 100-seed, biomass yield, number of secondary branch, pods and seeds plant -1 was significant. SI generally decreased the water use efficiency of chickpea compared to rain-fed condition. Based on two-year result, SI twice at vegetative + pod setting produced maximum seed yield (30.02 q ha -1 ), which was at par with that of SI twice at vegetative+ flowering (29.30 q ha -1 ) and once at vegetative stages (29.17 q ha -1 ). SI once at vegetative, twice at vegetative + flowering and twice at vegetative + pod setting stages increased seed yield by 12, 17 and 19% in 2015; and by 35, 24 and 36 % in 2016, respectively, compared to rain-fed condition. SI once at vegetative stage provided maximum net benefit (45880.40 ETB ha -1 ), with a marginal rate of return (477%) greater than minimum acceptable level (100%). Moreover, it had the highest water use efficiency among SI treatments. Therefore, SI once at vegetative stage can be recommended as the best management option for chickpea production in the study area.","PeriodicalId":151905,"journal":{"name":"Ethiopian Journal of Science and Technology","volume":"3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126289249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}