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Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Co Doped with Sulfur and Copper for Photo catalytic Activities and Extending Shelf-Life of Orange Fruit
No full textNowadays, environmental pollution is induced by the release of persistent dyes from
industries. Orange fruits have a relatively short shelf-life of only 3-5 days at room
temperature, and conventional packaging methods, such as paper or plastic, can only
extend their shelf-life to 7-10 days. To overcome the limitations of previous approaches, it
is necessary to explore new solutions that prevent secondary pollution and reduce the
spoilage of fruits. Researchers have tried to use various advantages of metal oxide
nanoparticles (MONPs) to overcome these problems. We have been attempting to
overcome problems associated with the ZnO-NPs via the preparation of its NP materials
with other metal oxide and doping with appropriate types of nonmetals. This study was to
prepare ZnO NPs with low energy band gaps like Cu and dope them with S to further
enhance their photocatalytic properties and extend the shelf-life of orange fruit. The
synthesis of Cu & S-ZnO NPs has been carried out sol-gel method. The synthesized NPs
were characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, SEM, and FT-IR. The energy band gap information
from UV-Vis characterization shows that the successive decrement values, 3.07 eV, 2.94
eV, 2.80 eV, and 2.59 eV are for ZnO NPs, Cu-ZnO NPs, S-ZnO NPs, and Cu & S-ZnO
NPs respectively. The XRD characterization shows that the synthesized samples were
highly crystallized. The SEM image of ZnO NPs shows that the shape of the nanoparticle is
rod-shaped whereas a spherical shape was observed for Cu-ZnO NPs, S-ZnO NPs, and Cu
& S-ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic performance of the nanomaterials was evaluated by
their ability to degrade methylene blue dye. The photocatalytic efficiency of 0.06 g/L of
catalytic dose per 10 mg/L dye solution at pH=11 was 99 %, 96.7% 92.6%, and 89.7%
for, Cu &S-ZnO NPs, S-ZnO NPs Cu-ZnO NPs, and ZnO NPs, respectively. Furthermore,
the shelf-life of Orange fruits was significantly extended when treated with the Cu &S-ZnO
NPs, demonstrating their potential for use in orange fruit preservation
The Role of Agroforestry Practice in Enhancing Agro Ecological Landscape Resilience: A Case of Mana and Kersa Districts of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
No full textAgroforestry is a sustainable land management approach that integrates trees, crops, and
livestock to enhance agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and agroecological
resilience. Despite its potential, the role of agroforestry in enhancing landscape resilience
remains underexplored, particularly in the context of Mana and Kersa districts, Southwest
Ethiopia. This study, therefore aims at assessing the contribution of agroforestry practices in
improving household income, identifying the most common agroforestry types, and evaluating
the level of agroecological resilience in the study area. A mixed-methods approach was used,
collecting data from 200 smallholder farmers through structured surveys, key informant
interviews, and focus group discussions. Statistical analyses using SPSS Version 27 included
descriptive statistics, and Chi-square tests to determine significant variations among key
agroforestry indicators. The findings reveal that home gardens (99.5%, p < 0.001) and woodlots
(69.5%, p = 0.035) are the dominant agroforestry practices in the area. Agroforestry
significantly improved household income (p = 0.018) and access to forest products (p = 0.001),
while also stabilizing species composition and biodiversity (p = 0.001). However, food insecurity
persisted despite increased income levels (p = 0.001), indicating gaps in food production
efficiency within agroforestry systems. Radar chart analysis revealed that biodiversity
conservation and livelihood enhancement were the highest-rated benefits of agroforestry, while
governance and institutional support scored lower, highlighting the need for policy
interventions. The study concludes that agroforestry enhances agroecological resilience by
maintaining biodiversity, improving livelihoods, and mitigating land degradation. However,
challenges such as land tenure insecurity, limited market access, and inadequate institutional
support hinder broader adoption. Strengthening policy frameworks, farmer training programs,
and government support is recommended to enhance agroforestry adoption and maximize its
contribution to sustainable landscape management
Magnitude of hepatitis b, liver status of the cases, and Associated factors among cleaners and cases of Hepatitis b, in jimma town hospitals, southwest Ethiopia
No full textBackground: Hepatitis B (HBV) poses a higher risk to healthcare cleaners due to frequent
exposure to contaminated blood and fluids. Regular screening and vaccination for at-risk
professionals are recommended. However, the prevalence of HBV among cleaners is not well
studied. Evaluating liver enzymes and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index
is essential for managing HBV-infected patients effectively.
Objective: The main aims of this study was to determine the magnitude of hepatitis B, the
liver status of the cases, and associated factors among cleaners and cases of hepatitis B in
government and private hospitals in Jimma town, south-west Ethiopia, from April 20 to May
20, 2024.
Methods: A mixed-type, institutional-based, multi-centered, cross-sectional and retrospective
study was conducted. Data were collected from 501 eligible cleaners and 114 hepatitis B
surface antigens (HBsAg) positive cases using KoboCollect, an Android app linked to
KoboToolbox for mobile data collection. Structured questionnaires were administered
through interviews. Each participant provided about 5 milliliters of venous blood for HBsAg
cassette tests, while liver function tests and complete blood counts were conducted for those
who tested HBsAg-positive. Descriptive statistics, ROC analysis, and bivariable and
multivariable Firth penalized logistic regression were performed using STATA version 14.
Results: From the total of 501 cleaners, the magnitude of HBV was 0.6% (95%CI; 0.1%
1.7%), none of them were vaccinated against HBV infection; 34.73% experienced needle
stick injuries in the workplace and 26.75% had a history of exposure to blood or fluids. The
study participants who had not married were associated with an increased risk of having
HBV infection [AOR=1.86; 95% CI, 1.12-2.67; p=0.001]. However, we found no evidence
that any other factors were associated with HBV infections. Among 114HBsAg positive
cases; 34.2% (95% CI; 25.6% - 43.7%) exhibited abnormal liver status and 29.82% (95%
CI; 21.6%-39.1%) were eligible for antiviral treatment.
Conclusion and recommendation: The magnitude of HBV was low per WHO classification,
but abnormal liver enzymes were noted in HBV-positive cases, with over a quarter eligible
for antiviral therapy. Screening and vaccination for HBV are essential for medical waste
cleaners. Unmarried individuals should limit sexual partners to reduce HBV risk, and early
evaluation of liver function tests, CBC, and APRI is crucial for slowing cirrhosis progressio
Determinants of Adoption of Improved Teff Variety and Its Impact on Household Food Security in Gena District, Dawuro Zone, South West Region, Ethiopia
No full textIn Ethiopia, increasing household food security is largely dependent on the adoption of improved
teff variety. The main goal of this study was to examine how the adoption of improved teff variety
affected on the households food security. The data was collected from Gena Woreda of Dawuro
Zone, South West Region, Ethiopia in 2024. The survey consists of 219 sampled teff growers out
of whom 91 were improved teff variety adopters and 128 were non-adopters. The study employed
a two-stage sampling techniques, purposively selecting rural Kebeles followed by simple random
sampling of households. Sample households provided cross-sectional data for the study. The
study employed a probit model and an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model to
investigate the factors influencing the adoption of improved teff variety and the resulting impact
on household food security. According to the findings of the probit model, the adoption of
improved teff variety was significantly and positively associated with the frequency of extension
contact, cooperative membership, and tropical livestock unit. However, the adoption of the
improved teff variety was negatively and significantly influenced by the sex of the household
head and the distance to the market. The impact results from the ESR models showed that if
adopters had not chosen to adopt the improved teff variety, their food consumption score and
household consumption expenditure would have decreased by 3.92 and 7612.77 ETB annually,
respectively. However, if non-adopters choose to change to the enhanced teff variety, their
household consumption expenditure and food consumption score increased by 6030.13 ETB
annually and 0.05, respectively. Additionally, the endogenous treatment effect model results
showed that the adoption of the improved teff variety had a significantly positive influence on the
household food consumption expenditure and score. Accordingly, promoting farmers to
membership of cooperatives, improving frequency of extension contact, creating reliable
information and awareness about improved farm technology, and timely agricultural inputs
supply will increase farmers’ decision to adopt improved teff variety in the are
Assessment of adherence to pre-operative fasting guidelines and associated factors among elective pediatric surgical patients in Jimma University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (JUCSH), Jimma, 2024G.C
No full textBackground; Anesthetic agents can impair protective airway reflexes, increasing the risk of
aspiration and complications like pneumonia. Pre-procedural fasting is crucial, particularly in
pediatric patients, to reduce aspiration risk, with specific fasting durations recommended by
guidelines, although adherence varies.
Objectives: To assess the adherence to pre-operative fasting guidelines and identify the
associated factors among elective pediatric surgical patients at Jimma University Comprehensive
Specialized Hospital. The study was conducted over a period of four months, from October,
2024 to January, 2025G.C
Methods
Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on pediatric patients undergoing elective
surgery at JUCSH between October 2024 and January 2025.
Adherence Assessment: Adherence to preoperative fasting guidelines was evaluated by
comparing actual fasting durations to recommended guidelines for clear fluids, solid foods, and
breast milk.
Population and Sample: The study included 113 pediatric patients scheduled for elective
surgery and their primary caregivers, using a descriptive cross-sectional design.
Data Collection and Analysis: Data were entered using EpiData version 4.6 and analyzed with
SPSS version 27. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify
factors associated with adherence, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05
Results: Adherence to fasting guidelines was 25.7% (95% CI: 18.3%–33.1%). The mean age of
participants was 3.47 years, with 75.2% male. The main reason for non-adherence was incorrect
fasting instructions (64.3%). Factors associated with adherence included age (AOR = 0.690, 95%
CI: 0.523–0.909, P = 0.008), prior complications due to non-fasting (AOR = 5.39, 95% CI: 1.07
7.10, P = 0.041), and patient scheduling (AOR = 0.178, 95% CI: 0.032–0.981, P = 0.047).
Conclusion: Adherence to fasting guidelines was low. Factors such as age, previous
complications, and patient scheduling influenced adherence. Improved education and
communication are needed to enhance compliance.
Recommendations; Improve surgical scheduling to minimize delays and maintain a structured
sequence. Strengthen education programs for parents and guardians regarding fasting guidelines.
Future research should explore the long-term impact of adherence on surgical outcomes
Prevalence of Typhoid Fever and Associated Risk Factors among patient Visiting Bedele and Chora Hospitals, South Ethiopia
No full textTyphoid fever (TF) caused by Salmonella enteric serotype typhi is a major public health
concern in low-income countries. In Ethiopia, as in other sub-Saharan African countries, the
situation is worsened by a shortage of safe potable drinking water and limited access to clean
sanitation facilities. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of TF and its
associated risk factors in Bedele and Chora Hospitals, southwest Ethiopia. In this health
facility-based cross-sectional study design, the patients attending Bedele and Chora Hospitals
were the source population and those suspected of TF was successively recruited. Using a
structured questionnaire data related to socio-demographic, clinical, dietary and knowledge
related data were collected. A Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model was
used to test the association between socio-demographic variables and sero positivity for
Salmonella antigens. In this study, of the total 403 cases that participated, the majority
(53.8%) of them were males. Typhoid positivity rate was 65.5%. The majority of study
participants (41.2%) were between the ages of 5 and 14, and 42.7% (172) were illiterates.
59.1% of participants have heard about typhoid fever. Being 5-14 years [AOR = 0.269, 95%
CI (0.096, 0.758)], being above 14 years [AOR =0.14, 95% CI (0.051,0.4), being
female[AOR =0.43, 95% CI (0.203, 0.91)], having income above 1000 birr [AOR =0.179,
95% CI (0.046, 0.695)], heard about typhoid fever [AOR =70.7, 95% CI (31.36, 159.5)], and
those who had stomach ache[AOR =0.34, 95%CI (0.12, 0.94)] were significantly associated
with typhoid fever infection. The prevalence of typhoid fever among febrile patients was high
(65.5%). Typhoid fever infection was significantly associated with age group (5-14 and above
14 years), sex (female), household income (above 1000 birr), primary health canters and have
learned about typhoid fever, including its symptoms. As a result, community-level behavioral
change initiatives are required
Investigating Students Perception towards Learning Speaking Skills and Speaking Strategies Used To Develop Their Speaking Skills: The Case of Biftu Nonno Secondary School Grade Ten in Focus
No full textLe this research aimed to explore and analyse students perception in learning speaking skill and
its challenges. To achieve this objective, the study employed descriptive survey research method
with quantitative and qualitative data collecting approaches. The quantitative data collecting
approach was used to collect data from 154 sample respondents of students through
questionnaire. Sample respondents were selected as the sample respondents for this study
through simple random sampling. The collected data were analysed through descriptive
statistical analysis. Percentages, frequencies, mean and standard deviations were used as
descriptive statistics to analyse the data. On the basis of the analysis the study showed that
students had have positive perception towards learning speaking skills. The result of the study
indicated that the students faced challenges in learning speaking skills causes from teachers
teaching technique, students’ attitude towards learning speaking, lack of students’ active
participations in speaking exercises, teachers working load, constrained instructing hours and
students’ lack of confidence and motivation and the teacher had not focused on students center
teaching and learning process to equip students speaking skills. In addition, the result of the
study revealed that
lists of strategies that were used by the students to learn speaking skills
were produced grammatical expressions to learn speaking skills, using an acceptable
pronunciation to learn speaking skills, participated in role playing activities to learn speaking
skills, participated in game playing activities to learn speaking skills and participated in turn
taking activities to learn speaking skills. The result of the study indicated that students overcome
challenges they have been faced through improving their grammar skill to use for learning speaking,
improving their vocabulary skill to use for learning speaking, improving their pronunciation skill through
practice out of the class to use for learning speaking and developing confidence to speak English
language without fear. Finally, the study recommended that should participate and purposeful in
their participation in learning speaking skills
Parasitic Nematodes And Fusarium Wilt Of Hot Peppers (Capsicum Spp.) And Their Management Using Endospore Forming Rhizo bacteria in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia
No full textHot pepper is a popular crop in Ethiopia, widely cultivated for consumption and as a significant
source of income for smallholder farmers. It also contributes to the overall economy of the
country. Among vegetables and spices, pepper ranks first in terms of area under cultivation and
production. However, the crop's production and productivity are often constrained by wilt
causing pathogens such as Fusarium wilt and root-knot nematode (RKN), particularly during
certain seasons. These issues significantly limit Ethiopia's contribution to global markets.
Between 2017 and 2022, a comprehensive study was conducted to investigate the occurrence and
distribution of plant-parasitic nematodes infecting hot peppers. The study also evaluated the
population dynamics and damage threshold of Meloidogyne incognita, assessed the reactions of
hot pepper varieties to Fusarium oxysporum and M. incognita, and examined the effectiveness of
endospore-forming bacteria from the pepper rhizosphere in controlling these pathogens under
both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Soil and plant samples were collected from four major
pepper-growing districts in the Jimma Zone. Microbial characterization was performed in the
Research and Postgraduate Laboratory of the Department of Biology, while nematode
processing, soil physicochemical analyses, and pot experiments were conducted at the College of
Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University. Molecular analyses of Meloidogyne
isolates were conducted at Ghent University, while those of Fusarium and bacterial isolates were
performed at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Data collected during the study
were analyzed using Minitab® version 19, R-4.2.1, SAS version 9.3, and Origin Pro 202. Over
83% of surveyed pepper fields were found to be infested with parasitic nematodes, and 13
nematode types were identified. Among these, Meloidogyne, Scutellonema, Rotylenchulus,
Helicotylenchus, Pratylenchus, and Rotylenchus were the most prevalent, with Meloidogyne
(identified as M. incognita through Nad5 gene analysis) being the most common. This represents
the first report of M. incognita on pepper crops in Ethiopia. The damage potential of M.
incognita was investigated through greenhouse experiments, using 13 initial population densities
(Pi). The "Dinsire" variety showed a tolerance limit for total fresh weight and fruit number at
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0.30 and 0.18 M. incognita (g soil)-1, respectively. Results indicated a negative correlation
between Pi and both plant growth and the final nematode population density (Pf). The study
estimated the maximum multiplication rate (a) and maximum population density (M) of M.
incognita at 8813.2 and 3420.1 M. incognita (g soil)-1, espectively. The "Dinsire" variety
performed well at a Pi of fewer than 8 second-stage juveniles (J2) (g soil)−1, exceeding the field
average of 6 nematodes (g soil)−1. Fusarium isolates from infected pepper samples were
identified as F. oxysporum using ITS region analysis. Among these, the isolate FI1 was highly
pathogenic, significantly affecting the "Mareko Fana" variety under greenhouse conditions. Of
the 11 varieties tested, "Melka Dera" was resistant to FI1, while "Melka Zala" was highly
susceptible, experiencing a 66% reduction in fresh root weight and a 61% reduction in fresh
shoot weight. Most pepper varieties currently under production are susceptible to Fusarium wilt,
underscoring the need for further screening of genotypes and the development of effective
management strategies. From 48 soil samples taken from healthy pepper rhizospheres, 35
endospore-forming bacteria were identified, exhibiting multiple plant growth-promoting traits.
These included phosphate solubilization (indices ranging from 2.8 to 10), indole acetic acid
production (27.31–59.16 µg/ml), and chitin hydrolysis (chitinolytic indices of 1–7.5 in 20
isolates). Of these, 21 bacterial isolates reduced pathogenic Fusarium growth by 39.4–79.2%,
while 12 inhibited M. incognita egg hatching by 51–96.4% and increased nematode J2 mortality
by 45–98.7%. Molecular analyses identified these bacteria as Bacillus siamensis, B. velezensis,
B. cereus, and Paenibacillus polymyxa. Bacillus cereus (JUBC7) and B. siamensis (JUBC12)
demonstrated strong potential for producing plant growth-promoting substances and
antagonizing F. oxysporum and M. incognita in vitro. Greenhouse evaluations of 12 pepper
genotypes found that the "Dinsire" variety suppressed M. incognita populations, while "Bako
Local" and "Dame" were highly susceptible. Co-inoculation of B. cereus and B. siamensis
reduced co-infection by M. incognita and F. oxysporum by 92.6%, with B. cereus alone
suppressing Fusarium infection by 90.1%. Based on these findings, the "Dinsire" variety, in
combination with B. cereus and B. siamensis, is recommended as an integrated pest management
strategy for fields infested with Fusarium wilt and M. incognita, pending further validation under
field conditions
Surgically induced corneal astigmatism and associated Factors after small incision cataract surgery at jimma University medical center department of ophthalmology, Ethiopia
No full textCataracts are the primary cause of blindness in the world. Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery
(MSICS) is a commonly used method for cataract surgery, especially in countries with limited
resources, delivering impressive visual results without requiring advanced technology. However,
a major post-operative issue is the emergence of surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), which can
affect visual results and patient satisfaction. Therefore, evaluating SIA and its related factors
following MSICS is essential.
Objective
This study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of surgically induced
astigmatism after MSICS at JUMC Department of Ophthalmology from November 2024 to
January 2025.
Method
A prospective cross sectional study design was conducted at JUMC department of ophthalmology
from November 2024 to January 2025 on patients undergoing MSICS. By using Consecutive
sampling technique data was collected by questioner during preoperative, intraoperative and
postoperative period. SIA was calculated using hills SIA calculator version 2.1. The collected data
was analysed using SPSS version 26 and univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used
to identify associated factors of SIA.
RESULT
A total of 222 eyes of 193 individuals were studied. The centroid SIA and Aithmethic mean SIA
of the study was 1.31D x 5o axis and 2.08 + 1.26D respectively. SIA ranged from 0.13D to
5.65D. Scleral incision length and shape of scleral incisions were major associated factors of
SIA from multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion and recommendation
Scleral incision length <7mm and frown shaped scleral incisions resulted in lower SIA
magnitude. It is recommended to measure the scleral incision length with caliper to
minimize SIA in the center
EFL teachers’ practices and challenges in implementing collaborative writing strategyseka number 2 secondary school: The case of grade 11
No full textThe core purpose of this study was to investigate the current EFL teachers’ practices and
challenges inimplementingthecollaborative writing strategy of Seka Number 2 Secondary
School/1the case of grade 11.This study employed a descriptive research design. By using this
design, the researcher collected valuable and reliable data about the issue from the participants
of the study. The study involved quantitative and qualitative research approaches for data
collection and data analysis. The research instruments were a questionnaire, interview, and
classroom observation. The sampling method was simple random sampling for students and
census sampling for teachers. The analysis of the data showed that even if the benefits of the
collaborative writing strategy were expressed by so many scholars and researchers;the findings
of the current research revealed very low implementation of collaborative writing strategy due to
factors such as lack of resources, poor classroom management, and lack of detail awareness of
students and teachers about the strategy and inappropriate use of teachingmethods. Thus, EFL
teachers,
Educational administrative bodies(Directors, supervisors, and curriculum
designers),and other stakeholders were recommended to give due attention to the
implementation of the collaborative writing strategy especially in the studied school.
Additionally, if possible, more research is recommended to harvest more results from it