36 research outputs found
t-Intuitionistic Fuzzy Structures on PMS-Ideals of a PMS-Algebra
No full textIn this article, we apply the concept of a t-intuitionistic fuzzy set to PMS-ideals in PMS-algebras. The notion of the t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal of PMS-algebra is introduced, and several related properties are studied. The relationships between a t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal and a t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-subalgebra of a PMS-algebra, as well as the relationships between an intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal and a t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal are discussed in detail. A condition for an intuitionistic fuzzy set to be a t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal is provided. The t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideals of PMS-algebra are described using their α,β level cuts. The homomorphism of a t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal of a PMS-algebra is studied, and its homomorphic image and inverse image are explored. The Cartesian product of any two t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideals is discussed, and some related results are derived. The Cartesian product of the t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideals is also characterized using its α,β level cuts. The strongest t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-relation in a PMS-algebra is defined. Finally, the relationships between the strongest t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-relation and t-intuitionistic fuzzy PMS-ideal are studied
Artificial intelligence in education: Effects of using integrative automated writing evaluation programs on honing academic writing instruction
No full textAutomated writing evaluation (AWE), which is the result of educational artificial intelligence technology, is a process of scoring and evaluating learners’ written texts automatically. The current study examined the effects of using integrative AWE programs on honing academic writing instruction. It also assessed students’ perceptions towards using these programs. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest two-group design was used. Test, questionnaire, focus group discussion, and teacher diary were used to collect data from 92 randomly selected participants. The experimental group students learned writing skills with Writerly and Google Docs in integration, but the control group students learned through the conventional paper and pencil feedback system. When the quantitative data were analyzed through independent samples T-test and descriptive statistics, the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that using the integrated AWE programs honed academic writing instruction because there was a statistical difference between the experimental and control groups in their academic writing performance. Hence, students who learned using the integrated AWE programs honed their academic writing performance because they were able to produce essays that addressed task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy. However, students who learned through the conventional method were less effective in producing quality essays. Besides, the findings also discovered that the experimental group students had positive perceptions towards using the aforementioned AWE programs because they found the programs interesting, effective, goal-oriented, and supportive. Consequently, this study recommends researchers, curriculum designers, instructional material designers, teachers, and students pay due attention to integrated AWE programs
Yield and nutritional quality of sweet lupine (Lupinus angustifolius) grown in Midaltitudes of Lemo District, Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia
No full textThe study was conducted to determine the yield and nutritional quality of sweet lupine (Lupinus angustifolius.) grown in midaltitude of Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia. The yield and nutritive value of sweet lupine in terms of quantity and quality was conducted using a factorial experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments for the study were two sweet lupine varieties (Vitabore and Sanabore), two locations (Upper Gana and Jewe Kebeles, and six levels of planting spacing: 30 cm × 7 cm (S1), 40 cm × 7 cm (S2), 30 cm × 15 cm (S3), 40 cm × 15 cm (S4), 30 cm × 20 cm (S5), and 40 cm × 20 cm (S6)). The yield, chemical composition, and digestibility among parameters were studied. Sweet lupine varieties in Upper Gana Kebele gave the highest green forage yield (39.58 t/ha) and forage dry matter (4.84 t/ha) at 30 cm × 7 cm planting spacing, respectively. Seed yield (SYD) (t/ha) was highly affected ( P < 0.01 ) by location. The maximum seed (2.98 t/ha) yield was observed in Upper Gana Kebele with the minimum (2.15 t/ha) at Jewe Kebele. The forage in Jewe Kebele gave the highest organic matter (OM) (87.01%) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (37.50%) content at a stage of 100% flowering. Sweet lupine forage in Upper Gana Kebele gave the highest crude protein (CP) content (23.11%) while the highest forage CP content was recorded at a planting space of 40 cm × 20 cm (23.67%). Sweet lupine forage gave the maximum in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) (69.10%) at a spacing of 40 cm × 20 cm in Upper Gana. The highest CP (29.11%) content and IVOMD (80.49%) of seed were recorded in Upper Gana Kebele. The overall result of this study suggested that green forage yield and forage dry matter yield are affected by location, planting spacing, and stage of flowering, whereas the chemical composition of sweet lupine forage was affected by location and variety interaction (dry matter and acid detergent fiber), location and stage of flowering interaction (OM, ADF and total ash), location (CP, metabolizable energy (ME), and IVOMD), planting spacing (CP and IVOMD), and stage of flowering (CP and ME). On the other hand, sweet lupine seed yield, seed CP, and IVOMD were affected by location. The large differences in yield and nutritive values observed among sweet lupine varieties, growth environment, planting spacing, and their interactions entail consideration of these factors for appropriate utilization of sweet lupine as a feed resource for livestock
Characterising the innate immune response in breech strike resistant and non-selected sheep to the sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina)
No full textBreech strike is a major parasitic problem affecting wool-producing sheep. While skin wrinkles and fecal soiling are recognized risk factors, much of the difference in susceptibility between individual sheep remains unexplained. This study compared the early immune response of 3-year-old Merino ewes genetically selected to be resistant to breech strike to that of the non-selected ewes following a brief Lucilia cuprina larval challenge. Fourteen sheep (seven breech strike resistant and seven non-selected sheep) were challenged with L. cuprina eggs at four random sites on their back. Skin biopsies were collected 31 h post-implantation from the four infested and four mock sites (dental plugs without blow fly eggs) from each sheep and analysed using immunohistochemical staining for different cell biomarkers. A Milliplex ovine cytokine/chemokine assay was used to analyse the local cytokine response at these sites. An infiltration of leukocytes was observed at the larval feeding sites that predominantly comprised neutrophils. Significant increases in lymphocytes expressing T cell markers for CD4, CD1, CD8, T19, γδ-T cell, as well as the B cell marker CD45R, were observed compared to the mock sites. The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-6, IL-17a, and chemoattractants including IL-8 and MIP-1α were significantly elevated in challenged sites. These results demonstrated a selective innate immune response in sheep following a brief larval challenge, which was similar in breech strike resistant and non-selected sheep, suggesting that the observed resistance to flystrike in the breech strike resistant flock is unlikely to be primarily mediated by local innate immune mechanisms at the tissue level
The effect of pinocembrin on lung parenchymal T cells.
No full text(A) representative photomicrographs showing CD8+ and CD4+ T cells (arrows show examples of immuno-positive cells) in the lung parenchyma sampled from the differentially treated lung-segments at week 12. (B) graphs showing the average number of positive cells per field at 400x magnification for each differentially treated segment. The differentially treated lung segments were the right medial (RM) lung-segments which were left untreated for healthy lung controls (Control), the right caudal (RC) and the left caudal (LC) lung-segments which were either infused with bleomycin without drug treatment (BLM) or infused with bleomycin and received 4 once-weekly doses of pinocembrin (BLM + PIN). The left panels show mean lung segment data and the right panels show individual sheep data. Significance was determined using paired t-tests, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001, n = 10 sheep. Scale bars = 100 μm.</p
Psychometric Properties of the Caring Behaviors Inventory-16 in Ethiopia
No full textBackground: The Caring Behaviors Inventory-16 (CBI-16) is a comprehensive instrument measuring caring behaviors as experienced by patients. The study aimed to translate, culturally adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the CBI-16 among adult patients who speak the Amharic language. Methods: The measure was completed by 304 hospitalized patients. Construct validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and contrasted groups' validity. Total CBI-16 scores were compared between groups that differed in self-rated satisfaction with care (Patient Satisfaction Instrument) to examine the contrasted groups' validity. Reliability was assessed using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Results: The EFA suggested a four-factor model accounting for 66.1% of the total variance. The items loaded onto the subscales were similar to the CBI-24. The CFA supported the four-factor model with acceptable fit indices: normed Chi-square value 2.65 (X2 = 259.60, df = 98), SRMR = 0.06, and RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.88 and TLI = 0.86. The contrasted groups' validity was supported by significantly higher CBI-16 scores reported by patients more satisfied with their care (t = 3.66, p &lt; 0.001). The reliability of the instrument was satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha = 0.83). Conclusions: The Amharic version of the CBI-16 displayed a four-factor solution and was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of the perceptions of caring behaviors in Ethiopia
Chronic kidney disease and its predictors among highly active antiretroviral therapy naïve and experienced HIV-infected individuals at the selected hospitals, Southwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study
No full textObjective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its predictors among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) naïve and experienced HIV-infected individuals.Method and analysis Hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study design was used at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Bonga General Hospital and Tepi General Hospital. A total of 616 naïve and experienced HIV-infected individuals participated. A systematic random sampling and consecutive sampling methods were applied to select the HAART experienced and naïve HIV-infected individuals, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used for all study variables. Independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were performed to compare the mean between naïve and experienced patients and to identify its predictor variables considering a <0.05 and 95% CI, respectively.Results A total of 616 HIV-positive respondents were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of CKD was 41 (29.3%) of 140 and 78 (16.4%) of 476 HAART-naïve and HAART-experienced HIV patients, respectively. Rural residency, being anaemic, being hypertensive, having had a family history of kidney disease and stage IV current WHO) clinical stage were independent risk factors of CKD among naïve HIV patients, whereas, rural residency, utilisation of drinking water per day below the recommended amount, being anaemic, being hypertensive, stage IV current WHO clinical stage and obesity were predictors of CKD among experienced HIV patients. Statistically significant difference was observed between HAART naïve and HAART experienced participants with regard to the mean glomerular filtration rate level (t=−3.987, 95% CI −18.29 to −6.22).Conclusion CKD was higher among HAART-naïve than HAART-experienced study participants. Therefore, early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs, modification of lifestyles to decrease obesity and early detection and treatment of comorbidities such as anaemia and hypertension may have profound effects in reducing CKD and increasing patients’ quality of life
Hydrological foundation as a basis for a holistic environmental flow assessment of tropical highland rivers in ethiopia
No full textThe sustainable development of water resources includes retaining some amount of the natural flow regime in water bodies to protect and maintain aquatic ecosystem health and the human livelihoods and wellbeing dependent upon them. Although assessment of environmental flows is now occurring globally, limited studies have been carried out in the Ethiopian highlands, especially studies to understand flow-ecological response relationships. This paper establishes a hydrological foundation of Gumara River from an ecological perspective. The data analysis followed three steps: first, determination of the current flow regime-flow indices and ecologically relevant flow regime; second, naturalization of the current flow regime-looking at how flow regime is changing; and, finally, an initial exploration of flow linkages with ecological processes. Flow data of Gumara River from 1973 to 2018 are used for the analysis. Monthly low flow occurred from December to June; the lowest being in March, with a median flow of 4.0 m3 s-1. Monthly high flow occurred from July to November; the highest being in August, with a median flow of 236m3 s-1. 1-Day low flows decreased from 1.55 m3 s-1 in 1973 to 0.16 m3 s-1 in 2018, and 90-Day (seasonal) low flow decreased from 4.9 m3 s-1 in 1973 to 2.04 m3 s-1 in 2018. The Mann-Kendall trend test indicated that the decrease in low flow was significant for both durations at α = 0.05. A similar trend is indicated for both durations of high flow. The decrease in both low flows and high flows is attributed to the expansion of pump irrigation by 29 km2 and expansion of plantations, which resulted in an increase of NDVI from 0.25 in 2000 to 0.29 in 2019. In addition, an analysis of environmental flow components revealed that only four "large floods" appeared in the last 46 years; no "large flood" occurred after 1988. Lacking "large floods" which inundate floodplain wetlands has resulted in early disconnection of floodplain wetlands from the river and the lake; which has impacts on breeding and nursery habitat shrinkage for migratory fish species in Lake Tana. On the other hand, the extreme decrease in "low flow" components has impacts on predators, reducing their mobility and ability to access prey concentrated in smaller pools. These results serve as the hydrological foundation for continued studies in the Gumara catchment, with the eventual goal of quantifying environmental flow requirements.Water Resource
Characterization of Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA) from oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using stable isotopes
No full textRecently it was shown that concurrent measurements of the mixing ratio and δ13C values of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be used to provide information on the extent of chemical processing these VOCs have undergone in the troposphere (Rudolph et al., 2003). As an extension to this approach, we combine the measurement of gas and particulate phase carbon isotope compositions to study the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the ozonolysis reaction of different monoterpenes. Different monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene and limonene) and ozone were injected in to a 1.5 m3 indoor chamber and let to react without the presence of light and OH scavenger under dry conditions. Gas phase samples were collected in MiniVac canisters (400 ml), at a time interval of 30 min. Aerosol samples were collected on quartz fiber filters (Pallflex® Filters) at a flow rate of 9.5 l/min for 3 h. All filters were pretreated at a temperature of 800 °C overnight before sampling. A customized sample pre-concentration system was used for gas phase samples to concentrate the VOC before injecting to a gas chromatograph (Agilent Technologies) coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IsoPrime) via a combustion interface (GC-C-IRMS). Prior to the isotopic measurement individual monoterpenes were positively identified using a quadruple mass spectrometer attached to the Gas chromatograph. δ13C of total SOA was measured using an elemental analyzer coupled to the isotope ratio mass spectrometer. In general, the δ13C of SOA formed from ozonolysis of β -pinene was slightly lower than δ13C of the precursor. The general variability in the isotopic composition of SOA from different monoterpenes and the change in isotopic composition of the gas phase monoterpenes during the ozonolysis experiment will be discussed. Reference Rudolph, J., Anderson, R.S., Czapiewski, K.V., Czuba, E., Ernst, D., Gillespie, T., Huang, L., Rigby, C., & Thompson, A.E. (2003). The stable carbon isotope ratio of biogenic emissions of isoprene and the potential use of stable isotope ratio measurements to study photochemical processing of isoprene in the atmosphere Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry, 44 (1), 39-55
Post-harvest and food safety: Africa RISING science, innovations and technologies with scaling potential from the Ethiopian Highlands
No full text
