75,875 research outputs found
Seroepidemiology of measles in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: implications for control through vaccination
No full textWe undertook a representative survey of measles antibodies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1994, to characterize immunity and transmission. Specific-antibody levels (IU/l) were determined by ELISA for 4654 sera from individuals aged 0–49 years (1805 <15 years) collected by stratified household-cluster sampling. The proportion seronegative (<100 IU/l) was 20% (95% CI : 16–25) in children 9–59 months old, declining to 9% (7–12) in 5–9 year olds, 5% (4–7) in 10–14 year olds, and <1% in adults. The proportion of children (<15 years old) with low-level antibody (100–255 IU/l) was 8% (7–10). Vaccination and an absence of a history of measles illness were strongly associated with low-level antibody. History of measles vaccination in 9 months to 14-year-old children was y80%. We estimate a primary vaccine failure rate of 21% (12–34) and continued high measles incidence of 22 per 100 susceptibles (19–24) per annum. Our data support the introduction of campaign vaccination in the city in 1998, although higher routine vaccine coverage is required to sustain the impact. The implications of a high prevalence of low-level antibody are discussed
Sustainable Archiving and Storage Management of Audiovisual Digital Assets
No full textWith the advent of end-to-end tapeless production and distribution, the concept of what it means to archive audiovisual content is being challenged. The traditional role of the archive as a repository for material after broadcast is changing as a result of digital file-based technologies and high-speed networking. Rather than being at the end of the production chain, the archive is becoming an integral part of the production process and is being absorbed into wider digital storage environments, including those distributed or used across organizational boundaries. This paper presents some of the work done in the U.K. AVATARm project on service-oriented approaches to digital permanence and preservation of audiovisual content. The main focus is how to specify and govern federated storage services to ensure the long-term safety, security, and accessibility of audiovisual assets in a managed and cost-effective way
The Significance of Storage in the "Cost of Risk" of Digital Preservation
No full textAs storage costs drop, storage is becoming the lowest cost in a digital repository – and the biggest risk. We examine current modelling of costs and risks in digital preservation, concentrating on the Total Cost of Risk when using digital storage systems for preserving audiovisual material. We review the vital role of storage and show how planning for long-term preservation of data should consider the risks involved in using digital storage technology. Gaps in information necessary for accurate modelling – and planning – are presented. We call for new functionality to support recovery of files with errors, to eliminate the all-or-nothing approach of current IT systems, which in turn reduces the impact of failures of digital storage technology and mitigates against loss of digital dat
Investment in Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM): a real option approach : a case study of Koshe/Repi landfill site (Ethiopia)
No full textThe marginal socio-economic condition of many people, lack of cooperative culture and cultural aversion towards waste, absence of well-defined enforcement mechanism to effectively coerce the population, restricted public service funding, high rate of population growth and the resulting ever increasing waste production are some of the major challenges faced by most developing countries, including Ethiopia, in an effort to implement effective and efficient municipal solid waste management (MSWM).
Koshe/Repi, an old landfill in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is considered to be a huge opportunity in terms of material recovery and energy production. In fact, by adopting Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM) as approach for handling the cumulated waste, considerable net economic benefits may be attached to energy production (Waste-to-Energy, WtE) and materials recovery (Waste-to-Material, WtM). In line with this, the thesis produces a preliminary decision making model for Koshe/Repi ELFM project by considering the time evolution of predicted CO2 emission reduction and landfill gas recovery. To achieve this objective, we take a real option perspective and use the binomial method for assessing the economic profitability of the project. Empirically, the model is supported by data from Addis Ababa city municipality, community development research and Ethiopian electric power corporation (EEPCo).
Results of the model reveals that, the percentage (or share), α, of total revenue from emission reduction to be reimbursed to a private firm, is crucial in attracting investments to Koshe/Repi ELFM project. Moreover, for a specific share value (e.g. 16%), where the net present value (NPV) is negative ($–0.18 million), the low annual volatility of electricity price (15%) is high enough to offset the negative NPV. As a result, the project is worth to invest for share value between 15% and 17% included, even though the NPV is negative. Finally, this study call for further investigation focusing on the estimation of determinant exogenous parameters such as annual volatility, carbon credit, investment and operation costs, salvage value and penalty cost
The Benefits of Being Economics Professor A (and not Z)
No full textAlphabetic name ordering on multi-authored academic papers, which is the convention in the economics discipline and various other disciplines, is to the advantage of people whose last name initials are placed early in the alphabet. As it turns out, Professor A, who has been a first author more often than Professor Z, will have published more articles and experienced afaster growth rate over the course of her career as a result of reputation and visibility. Moreover, authors know that name ordering matters and indeed take ordering seriously: Several characteristics of an author group composition determine the decision to deviate from the default alphabetic name order to a significant extent.performance measurement, incentives, economists, name ordering
Final word on Jersey Dutch
No full textIn this article, William Z. Shetter compares and contrasts the dialects that developed between different Dutch colonies in the New World. He explores in-depth the nuances of Jersey Dutch, and provides theories to explain how Dutch and colonial languages blended. The article is reprinted from American Speech, December 1958, Volum XXXIII, No. 4
High prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in dairy cattle in central Ethiopia : implications for the dairy industry and public health
No full textBACKGROUND: Ethiopia has the largest cattle population in Africa. The vast majority of the national herd is of indigenous zebu cattle maintained in rural areas under extensive husbandry systems. However, in response to the increasing demand for milk products and the Ethiopian government's efforts to improve productivity in the livestock sector, recent years have seen increased intensive husbandry settings holding exotic and cross breeds. This drive for increased productivity is however threatened by animal diseases that thrive under intensive settings, such as bovine tuberculosis (BTB), a disease that is already endemic in Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: AN EXTENSIVE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO: estimate the prevalence of BTB in intensive dairy farms in central Ethiopia; identify associated risk factors; and characterize circulating strains of the causative agent, Mycobacterium bovis. The comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CIDT), questionnaire survey, post-mortem examination, bacteriology, and molecular typing were used to get a better understanding of the BTB prevalence among dairy farms in the study area. Based on the CIDT, our findings showed that around 30% of 2956 tested dairy cattle from 88 herds were positive for BTB while the herd prevalence was over 50%. Post-mortem examination revealed gross tuberculous lesions in 34/36 CIDT positive cattle and acid-fast bacilli were recovered from 31 animals. Molecular typing identified all isolates as M. bovis and further characterization by spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing indicated low strain diversity within the study area. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This study showed an overall BTB herd prevalence of 50% in intensive dairy farms in Addis Ababa and surroundings, signalling an urgent need for intervention to control the disease and prevent zoonotic transmission of M. bovis to human populations consuming dairy products coming from these farms. It is suggested that government and policy makers should work together with stakeholders to design methods for the control of BTB in intensive farms in Ethiopi
Pregnancy outcome in the elderly gravida in Addis Ababa
No full textObjective: To determine the difference in selected antepartum obstetric problems and pregnancy outcome between women delivering at the age of 35 or above and women delivering at the age of 20-34 in the Ethiopian setting.
Design: A prospective case control study.
Setting: Saint Paul's and Tikur Anbessa Teaching Hospitals, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Subjects: A hundred and seventy four gravidae delivering at the age of 35 or above and 174 gravidae delivering at the age of 20-34 from December 1, 1997 to August 30, 1998 in the above setting fulfilling inclusion criteria were cases and controls respectively.
Main outcome measures: Included current obstetric problems, labour induction, operative delivery, low birthweight, apgar scores, prenatal death, neonatal intensive care admission rates and mean foetal birthweight.
Results: Pregnancy at old age was more likely to be complicated by hypertension (
Skutki urbanizacji i związanych z nią wywłaszczeń na bezpieczeństwo żywnościowe gospodarstw domowych oraz sytuację bytową przesiedlonych rolników w Addis Abebie w Etiopii
No full textUrban expansion in Addis Ababa presents significant challenges, particularly for peri-urban farming communities facing displacement. This study investigates the critical link between land grabs, forced displacement, inadequate compensation, and food insecurity in households among displaced preurban farmers in the peripheries of Addis Ababa. Using a mixed-method approach, including the household food security index and the binary logistic regression model, we compare the food security status of displaced and nondisplaced households in the Lemmi Kura subcities of Addis Ababa and the Kura Jidda subcities of Sheger City. The findings demonstrate a substantial decrease in food security among displaced households, with significant reductions in food availability, access, utilisation, and stability. The logistic regression model reveals that displacement status, along with factors such as social capital and land security, significantly influences household food security. Specifically, displaced households had a 93.4% lower likelihood of food security compared to non-displaced households. Furthermore, the logistic regression model revealed that the displacement status (displaced = 1 and non-displaced = 0) had a negative coefficient (-2.717), indicating an inverse relationship between the displacement status and food security. Households that have experienced displacement are significantly less likely to have food security compared to nondisplaced households (p < 0.001). The results underscore the discrepancies between Ethiopia\u27s urbanisation rhetoric and the realities faced by displaced farmers, advocating for policy reforms that align urban growth with food sovereignty and agrarian justice. By comprehensively addressing these issues, policy makers and urban planners can work toward more inclusive and sustainable urban development that preserves food security and livelihoods for vulnerable peri-urban communities.Proces urbanizacji wokół Addis Abeby stanowi poważne wyzwanie, szczególnie dla podmiejskich społeczności rolniczych zagrożonych przesiedleniem. Niniejszy artykuł analizuje związek między przejmowaniem ziemi, przymusowymi przesiedleniami, niewystarczającymi odszkodowaniami oraz brakiem bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego w gospodarstwach domowych rolników wysiedlanych z terenów podmiejskich Addis Abeby. Stosując podejście mieszane, w tym wskaźnik bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego gospodarstw domowych oraz binarny model regresji logistycznej, autorzy dokonują porównania bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego przesiedlonych i nieprzesiedlonych gospodarstw domowych na terenach podmiejskich Lemmi Kura na obrzeżach Addis Abeby oraz Kura Jidda na obrzeżach Sheger. Wyniki wskazują na znaczny spadek bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego wśród przesiedlonych rodzin, przy znacznym zmniejszeniu zasobów żywności, dostępu do niej, a co za tym idzie jej wykorzystania oraz stabilności zaopatrzenia. Model regresji logistycznej ujawnia, że fakt przesiedlenia, w powiązaniu z czynnikami takimi jak kapitał społeczny i bezpieczeństwo nieruchomości, znacząco wpływa na bezpieczeństwo żywnościowe gospodarstw domowych. Konkretnie, w przypadku gospodarstw przesiedlonych, prawdopodobieństwo zapewnienia poziomu bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego było o 93,4% niższe w porównaniu z nieprzesiedlonymi gospodarstwami domowymi. Ponadto model regresji logistycznej wykazał, że status przesiedlenia (przesiedlony = 1 i nieprzesiedlony = 0) miał współczynnik ujemny (-2,717), co wskazuje na odwrotną zależność między statusem przesiedlenia, a bezpieczeństwem żywnościowym. Gospodarstwa domowe, które doświadczyły przesiedlenia, mają znacznie niższe prawdopodobieństwo zapewnienia sobie bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego w porównaniu z gospodarstwami domowymi nieprzesiedlonymi (p < 0,001). Wyniki badań wskazują na istnienie rozbieżności pomiędzy retoryką związaną z procesem urbanizacji w Etiopii, a rzeczywistością, z jaką borykają się przesiedleni rolnicy i stanowi głos na rzecz potrzeby zreformowania polityki urbanizacyjnej, która powinna zmierzać w kierunku dostosowania rozwoju miast do konieczności zapewnienia rolnikom bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego i sprawiedliwości agrarnej. Tylko poprzez kompleksowe podejście do kwestii urbanizacji, decydenci i urbaniści będą mogli działać na rzecz bardziej inkluzywnego i zrównoważonego rozwoju obszarów miejskich, który zapewni bezpieczeństwo żywnościowe i środki do życia społecznościom podmiejskim najbardziej narażonym na negatywne skutki zachodzących zmian
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