30 research outputs found
A Critique of the Application of Liberal Peace Theory in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding: Cases From African Experience
No full textMichael Doyle (1983) pioneers contemporary liberal peace theory. He argued that no liberal democracy has ever gone to war with another liberal democracy. After nearly a decade, the victorious Western camp undisputedly declared the ontological and epistemological premises of liberal peace as a universalizing rationality of pacific order and a panacea for post-conflict societies. In the following years, peacebuilding interventions were launched under the auspice of the UN and other agencies in war torn countries with excessive liberal enthusiasm. However, conflicts in Africa have proved unwaveringly resistant to Western attempts to easily institute liberal peace. As Collier et al. (2003) noted, almost half of all post-conflict states relapsed to armed violence within the first decade of relative peace. This has generated a considerable debate and disagreement in the realm of scholarship and policy (Newman,Paris & Richmond, 2009). Responding to this debate, in this paper, I draw on data from World Bank, United Nations Development Program, Freedom House, and pertinent empirical research works to critically appraise the application of liberal peace theory in the context of post-conflict societies in Africa. It was found out that liberal peacebuilding instigated more damages to the ill-equipped post-conflict states. In conclusion, liberal peace is “acultural” and insensitive towards recipient of the peacebuilding and ultimately aimed at creating chronically dependent states
Anatomies of Protest and the Trajectories of the Actors at Play
No full textUIDB/04627/2020
UIDP/04627/2020This study analyses the dynamics of mass protests in Ethiopia between 2015 and 2018 through the lenses of the political opportunity structure theory. It focuses on youth movements - Qeerroo in Oromia and Fano in Amhara - which despite their distinct trajectories and geographic origins came together at a key juncture to support both common (e.g. democracy, human rights) and competing aims (fuelled by ethnic grievances). Building on qualitative material collected during field work (semi-structured interviews, newspapers, and reports), this chapter shows how protesters took advantage of three opportunities arising in the political context, to engage in effective collective action: The leadership vacuum and intra-party fighting that followed the death of Meles Zenawi, the alliance between Qeerroo and Fano groups, and the access to internet and digital activism. However, the brutal state repression, ultimately explains the (limited) outcome of the protests. Indeed, while the protests started by triggering a transformation in politics, the initial reformist momentum eventually derailed as a new spiral of violence escalated, and past authoritarian practices gained ground. This study contributes to wider debates on the emergence and impact of protest in post-conflict authoritarian settings.publishersversionpublishe
Mosquito odour-baited mass trapping reduced malaria transmission intensity: a result from a controlled before-and-after intervention study
No full textBackground Conventional vector control strategies have significantly reduced the malaria burden. The sustainability of these methods is currently challenged. Odour-based traps are emerging technologies that can complement the existing tools. Implementation of odour-based traps for mass trapping is limited due to the restricted range of vectors caught with available carbon dioxide-dependent lures, and the lack of comprehensive field studies. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of odour-mediated mass trapping targeting outdoor vectors, using a synthetic cattle urine lure that attracts a wide range of vector species in a variety of physiological states, on malaria prevalence and entomological parameters to determine malaria transmission intensities. Methods A controlled before-and-after study was conducted in two rural communities in southern Ethiopia. Baseline monthly entomological and seasonal cross-sectional malaria prevalence surveys were conducted in both communities for a year. Then, mass trapping of mosquitoes was conducted in one of the villages, while the monthly entomological surveillance and seasonal malaria prevalence surveys continued in both villages. Generalised linear mixed models were constructed and tested to determine which factors were significantly affected by the intervention. Results Mass trapping contributed to the reduction of the population of the principal malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, and the associated entomological indicators, the human bite rate (HBR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR), in the intervention village compared to the control village. The intervention village had an average HBR by An. arabiensis of 3.0 (95% CI 1.4-4.6) during the peak malaria transmission season, compared to 10.5 (95% CI - 0.5-21.5; P < 0.0001) in the control village. The intervention village (mean 0.02, 95% CI - 0.05-0.4.8) had a daily EIR eight times lower than the control village (mean 0.17, 95% CI), which likely contributed to the reduced malaria prevalence in the intervention community following its introduction by ca. 60% (95% CI 55-63). Conclusions The combined use of odour-based mass trapping and conventional control strategies coincided with a reduction of human-vector contact and malaria prevalence, providing support for odour-baited technologies as a viable option for next-generation vector control tools. Further cluster-randomised control studies are recommended in different eco-epidemiological settings with varying malaria transmission intensities
Child labor, agricultural shocks and labor sharing in rural Ethiopia
No full textThe author studies the effect of an agricultural shock and a labor sharing arrangement (informal social network) on child labor. Albeit bad parental preference to child labor (as the strand of literature claims), poor households face compelling situations to send their child to work. This is, especially, true when they are hit by an income shock and face a binding adult labor constraint.The author used panel data from the ERHS and employed a fixed effects model to pin down causal relation between shocks, membership in a labor sharing arrangement and child labor. It was found that child labor is, indeed, a buffer stock. Though a labor sharing arrangement doesnÂ’t affect child labor at normal times, it helps households to lessen the pressure to rely on it when hit by idiosyncratic shocks. While almost the whole effect of these shocks is offset by participation in a labor sharing arrangement, the covariate shock is not. Even if this may well affect a childÂ’s academic performance, school attendance doesnÂ’t decrease. This differential effect of shocks on child labor in participant households might be because of the extra adult labor made available or due to mutual support that comes with these social networks.This paper is indicative of the importance of considering social networks in smoothing out consumption. Further, it highlights the difficulty to cope up with covariate shocks and hence, calls for development interventions that are particularly meant to address their impact.social networks;Ethiopia;shocks;child labor;labor sharing
Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte-induced volatiles enhance attraction of Anopheles mosquitoes in the field
No full textBackgroundPlasmodium parasites manipulate the interaction between their mosquito and human hosts. Patients infected with gametocytes attract anopheline mosquitoes differentially compared to healthy individuals, an effect associated with an increased release of attractive volatile cues. This odour-driven manipulation is partly mediated by the gametocyte-specific metabolite, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP), which induces increased release of select aldehydes and terpenes from red blood cells and results in the enhanced attraction of host-seeking mosquitoes, which are vectors of malaria. This study investigates the effect of the HMBPP-induced volatiles on the attraction of wild Anopheles mosquitoes to humans under field conditions.MethodsThe efficacy of the HMBPP-induced odour blend to attract Anopheles was evaluated in a 4x6 Latin rectangular study design indoors using baited Suna traps. Furthermore, to assess the efficacy of the HMBPP-induced odour blend in (1) augmenting the attractiveness of human odour, and (2) attracting Anopheles mosquitoes in the absence of human odour, a two-choice assay using host decoy traps (HDTs) was used and evaluated using binomial generalized regression.ResultsTraps baited with the HMBPP-induced odour blend attracted and caught both Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles pharoensis females in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of background human odour, up to 2.5 times that of an unbaited trap. Given a choice between human odour and human odour laden with the HMBPP-induced odour blend, mosquitoes differentially preferred traps augmented with the HMBPP-induced odour blend, which caught twice as many female An. arabiensis. Traps baited with the HMBPP-induced odour blend but lacking the background of human odour were not effective in attracting and catching mosquitoes.ConclusionThe findings of the present study revealed that the HMBPP-induced odour blend, when augmented with human body odour, is attractive to anopheline mosquitoes and could be used as a complementary vector control tool along with existing strategies
Antidiabetic Effect of Fenugreek Seed Powder Solution (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on Hyperlipidemia in Diabetic Patients
No full textBackground. Many drugs are commercially available for use in the management of diabetes. However, their side effects and high costs underscore the need for herbal alternative drugs. Trigonella foenum-graecum is one of the medicinal plants which are important in the management of diabetes mellitus. This study investigated the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution on the lipid profile of newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients. Methods. A total of N=114 newly diagnosed type II diabetic patients without any significant diabetes complication were selected. They were grouped into two groups: the treatment group (n=57) consumed 25 g Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution orally twice a day for one month and the second group is the control (n=57) which receives metformin. Blood sample was collected from each participant by a medical technologist/technician before and after the study. Lipid profile was analyzed by using Mindray BS 200E fully automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Result. By the end of the intervention period, the treatment group showed significantly lower total cholesterol level by 13.6% as compared with the baseline level (219.1±35.51 vs. 189.29±29.06, P<0.001) and the control group (189.29±29.06 vs. 208.2±40.2, P<0.001); triglyceride level also reduced by 23.53% compared with the baseline level (256.1±15.4 vs. 195.8±82.95, P<0.001) and compared with the control group (195.8±82.95 vs. 244.1±96.9, P<0.05); and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level also reduced by 23.4% as compared to the baseline level (137.9±26.9 vs. 105.6±24.2, P<0.001) and the control group (between groups) (105.6±24.2 vs. 144.1±23.3, P<0.001), but the treatment group showed significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level by 21.7% as compared to the baseline level, within group (37.8±1.51 vs. 48.3±11.9, P<0.001), and the control group, between groups (48.3±11.9 vs. 36.01±9.5, P<0.001). However, lipid profile levels in the control group were not significantly changed. Conclusion. The present study showed that the administration of Trigonella foenum-graecum seed powder solution had pronounced effects in improving lipid metabolism in type II diabetic patients with no adverse effects. Therefore, Trigonella foenum-graecum seed may provide new alternatives for the clinical management of type II diabetes
QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF EXTRACTION CONDITIONS FOR EMBELIN IN EMBELIA SCHIMPERI BY UV-VIS SPECTROMETRY
No full textEmbelin is a unique chemical compound found in nature, composed of quinone moiety resembling Coq10 (Ubiquinones), having ketone and hydroxy groups with an aliphatic chain. An Optimum solvent for extracting Embelin from Embelia schimperi and its simultaneous determination of the content of Embelin in the extract has been performed using UV-VIS spectrometry. The identification of Embelin spot obtained from hot ethyl acetate extract of the seed is confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Spectroscopy (NMR). A plot of peak absorbance versus concentration of Embelin was found to be linear over the range of 3-12 μg/ml. The limit of detection was 0.11μg/ml and the limit of quantitation was 0.37 μg/ml. Extraction conditions were also optimized for the best possible extraction of Embelin from the fruits of Embelia schimperi in different solvent polarity like n-hexane, carbon tetrachloride, diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, propanol and ethanol. The determination of Embelin in various solvent extract exhibited a mean content of 0.66-5.79 % w/w. Carbon tetrachloride and ethyl acetate was found to be best for the highest possible recovery of the analyte, Embelin. The developed UV method was validated in terms of precision, accuracy, stability, LOD and LOQ Keywords: Embelia schimperi, Embelin, spectrometry, extractio
Reversal of Burden of Proof in Case of the Crime of Illicit Enrichment: A Case Study
No full textThis thesis aims at addressing questions such as what is reversal of onus of proof; is there a
reversal of onus of proof in case of the crime of illicit enrichment; if any, its constitutionality. It
answers the constitutionality question of the onus imposed on those who are accused of the crime
of illicit enrichment under Ethiopian laws. The constitutionality test is made in view of the
fundamental rights of accused persons that are guaranteed under the FDRE Constitution. To this
end, this thesis embarks on by determining the existence or otherwise of reversal of onus of
proof in case of the crime of illicit enrichment. Apart from theoretical explications, the
discussion is backed up by examination of illustrative practical cases. Moreover, in addition to a
discussion on the legal frameworks that govern the crime of illicit enrichment, the thesis
examines the elements of and rationales behind criminalisation of illicit enrichment.
After discussing all the above issues, the author argues that, in Ethiopia, in case of the crime of
illicit enrichment, there is a reversal of onus of proof, and it infringes the constitutionally
guaranteed rights of accused persons, unambiguously, the PoI and protection against selfincrimination. However, contrary to Article 9(1) of the FDRE Constitution, the author
recommends not to nullify the proclamation‟s provision on the crime of illicit enrichment but to
amend some constitutional provisions; particularly, the provision on the PoI and the protection
against self-incrimination
Child labor, agricultural shocks and labor sharing in rural Ethiopia
No full textThe author studies the effect of an agricultural shock and a labor sharing arrangement (informal social network) on child labor. Albeit bad parental preference to child labor (as the strand of literature claims), poor households face compelling situations to send their child to work. This is, especially, true when they are hit by an income shock and face a binding adult labor constraint.
The author used panel data from the ERHS and employed a fixed effects model to pin down causal relation between shocks, membership in a labor sharing arrangement and child labor. It was found that child labor is, indeed, a buffer stock. Though a labor sharing arrangement doesn't affect child labor at normal times, it helps households to lessen the pressure to rely on it when hit by idiosyncratic shocks. While almost the whole effect of these shocks is offset by participation in a labor sharing arrangement, the covariate shock is not. Even if this may well affect a child's academic performance, school attendance doesn't decrease. This differential effect of shocks on child labor in participant households might be because of the extra adult labor made available or due to mutual support that comes with these social networks.
This paper is indicative of the importance of considering social networks in smoothing out consumption. Further, it highlights the difficulty to cope up with covariate shocks and hence, calls for development interventions that are particularly meant to address their impact
Mosquito odour-baited mass trapping reduced malaria transmission intensity: a result from a controlled before-and-after intervention study
No full textBackground
Conventional vector control strategies have significantly reduced the malaria burden. The sustainability of these methods is currently challenged. Odour-based traps are emerging technologies that can complement the existing tools. Implementation of odour-based traps for mass trapping is limited due to the restricted range of vectors caught with available carbon dioxide-dependent lures, and the lack of comprehensive field studies. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of odour-mediated mass trapping targeting outdoor vectors, using a synthetic cattle urine lure that attracts a wide range of vector species in a variety of physiological states, on malaria prevalence and entomological parameters to determine malaria transmission intensities.
Methods
A controlled before-and-after study was conducted in two rural communities in southern Ethiopia. Baseline monthly entomological and seasonal cross-sectional malaria prevalence surveys were conducted in both communities for a year. Then, mass trapping of mosquitoes was conducted in one of the villages, while the monthly entomological surveillance and seasonal malaria prevalence surveys continued in both villages. Generalised linear mixed models were constructed and tested to determine which factors were significantly affected by the intervention.
Results
Mass trapping contributed to the reduction of the population of the principal malaria vector, Anopheles arabiensis, and the associated entomological indicators, the human bite rate (HBR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR), in the intervention village compared to the control village. The intervention village had an average HBR by An. arabiensis of 3.0 (95% CI 1.4–4.6) during the peak malaria transmission season, compared to 10.5 (95% CI − 0.5–21.5; P < 0.0001) in the control village. The intervention village (mean 0.02, 95% CI − 0.05–0.4.8) had a daily EIR eight times lower than the control village (mean 0.17, 95% CI), which likely contributed to the reduced malaria prevalence in the intervention community following its introduction by ca. 60% (95% CI 55–63).
Conclusions
The combined use of odour-based mass trapping and conventional control strategies coincided with a reduction of human-vector contact and malaria prevalence, providing support for odour-baited technologies as a viable option for next-generation vector control tools. Further cluster-randomised control studies are recommended in different eco-epidemiological settings with varying malaria transmission intensities
