Ambo University

Tropical forests are biodiversity hotspots that provide critical ecosystem services but are increasingly threatened by deforestation and intensive land use, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Ethiopia, forest loss due to agricultural expansion underscores the need for sustainable landscape strategies. Agroforestry (AF) systems contribute to biodiversity conservation; however, their role in maintaining woody species composition and diversity across landscape gradients and in supporting adjacent natural forests remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. This study evaluated the contribution of AF systems to woody species conservation in and around the Tulu Korma Natural Forest, Central Ethiopia. A stratified sampling design was employed across three agroforestry systems (homegardens, scattered trees on farmland, and woodlots) and three distance gradients from the forest edge (0–100 m, 100–300 m, and > 300 m). A total of 180 households were selected proportionally across distance gradients and wealth categories (rich, medium, and poor) using simple random sampling. The study recorded 124 woody species from 89 genera to 47 families. Natural forests exhibited the highest species richness and diversity, followed by homegardens, scattered trees, and woodlots. Beta diversity and NMDS analyses showed clear differences in species composition across land-use types, with woodlots dominated by exotic species and contributing least to native species conservation. Within AF systems, woody species richness and Shannon diversity tended to be lower at greater distances from the forest, with β-diversity patterns associated primarily with species turnover. Homegardens and scattered trees retained higher native species richness and compositional similarity to natural forests than woodlots. These findings demonstrate that agroforestry systems near forests play a significant role in maintaining woody species diversity and conserving native species, supporting the integration of AF into biodiversity management, sustainable land-use planning, and forest restoration initiatives.

This model is highly helpful in thermal management and complex energy systems, particularly where precise control over heat and mass transfer is required. Solarized nanofluids can be used to improve heat absorption and transfer in solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic cooling systems, and energy storage devices. The inclusion of slip effects, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion makes the model applicable to micro- and nano-scale devices such as MEMS, micro reactors, and biomedical cooling systems. Furthermore, Bayesian regularization-based machine learning analysis enhances prediction accuracy for complex nonlinear behaviors, making the model effective in industrial process optimization, polymer processing, and chemical reactors that use non-Newtonian fluids with activation energy effects. The heat generation influence on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solarized Boger nanofluid under slip velocity and activation energy effects are examined in this paper. The nonlinear relationship between the governing physical parameters and the resulting flow and heat transfer behaviour is modelled using an artificial intelligence-based neural network framework that has been optimized using the Intelligent Bayesian Regularization technique. The neural network is trained using 80% of the generated dataset, with the remaining 20% being utilized for testing to ensure the suggested model is correct, dependable, and predictive. As the values of the chemical reaction parameter grow, the concentration profile decreases.

BackgroundBlood donation is vital for health systems, yet global shortages persist due to low donor participation. Understanding the psychological determinants of donation is critical to improving recruitment and retention. The Theory of Planned Behavior has been widely applied to predict donation intention and behavior.ObjectiveThis review aimed to map and synthesize the evidence on blood donation practices and behavioral intentions through the lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior, identifying key determinants, barriers, facilitators, and research gaps.MethodsWe conducted a scoping review guided by PRISMA-ScR. Major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, Hinari, and the WHO library) and grey literature were searched for studies published between January 1, 2004, and August 31, 2025. Eligible studies applied the theory of planned behavior constructs to blood donation practices across different populations and settings.ResultsNineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most (n = 12) focused on students, while others examined healthcare workers or established donors. Cross-sectional designs predominated. Theory of planned behavior constructs, including attitude, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, moral norms, and anticipated regret were strong predictors of intention to donate blood. However, intention alone was insufficient to consistently predict actual donation behavior. Reported barriers included fear, low self-efficacy, and systemic challenges; facilitators included altruism, positive attitudes, social influence, and prior donation experience.ConclusionTheory of planned behavior provides a robust framework for understanding blood donation intentions, but augmenting it with moral norms and past behavior may improve the prediction of actual behavior. Interventions should target attitudes, perceived behavioral control, self-efficacy, and supportive social norms, while addressing systemic barriers, to strengthen voluntary donor recruitment and retention.

Abstract Livestock diseases continue to threaten livestock production in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia, due to inadequate veterinary services. However, little is known about the factors limiting effective veterinary service delivery at local animal health facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2024 in Bako Tibe, Toke Kutaye, and Ambo districts of West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, to assess these limiting factors. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 100 purposively selected respondents, including 62 clients, 12 public veterinary clinics, 13 private veterinary pharmacists, and 13 government administrative employees. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14@. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, and the chi-square (χ2) test and Fisher’s Exact Test (FET) examined associations between the hypothesized and dependent variables. The study identified several limitations in veterinary service delivery. Many respondents reported a lack of basic veterinary equipment, with varying levels of agreement across districts (FET < 0.05). Awareness of illegal drug sellers was high: 100%, and 83.3% in Bako Tibe and Ambo, respectively (FET < 0.05). Laboratory results were underutilized for treatment, with 75.0% in Bako Tibe and 50.0% in Ambo not using them (p > 0.05). Additionally, veterinary drugs were often administered without a veterinarian’s prescription: 100%, 55%, and 86.4% in Toke Kutaye, Bako Tibe, and Ambo, respectively (FET < 0.05). These findings indicate that multiple factors constrain veterinary service delivery in the study area. To address this, an integrated, multi-sectoral approach is recommended, including improved veterinary infrastructure, strengthened public–private partnerships, and a coordinated animal health information system to support livestock production sectors.

Measuring women’s experiences of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) requires valid and reliable tools. Although several RMC tools exist, their methodological quality has not been thoroughly evaluated. To evaluate the quality of women’s-reported experience of RMC measures worldwide. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases was conducted. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (reference number CRD42024585853). The review followed the PRISMA guideline and employed the PICO framework. Peer-reviewed English-language studies published between 2014 and 2025 were included. The search targeted articles on Women Reported Experience Measures (WREMs) of RMC, with at least one psychometric property. Data were presented using Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments’ (COSMIN) method. Tools were evaluated for methodological bias, item development, study quality, measurement properties, evidence synthesis, and certainty grading using the COSMIN. This review included 47 articles on the creation and psychometric assessment of 22 measures. Evidence indicating the scale development of each tool was inadequate. The risk of bias evaluation revealed inadequate methodological quality. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were insufficient or not undertaken. Many measures were deemed inadequate in terms of criterion, cross-cultural, and structural validity. Responsiveness was reported in one tool and measurement errors were not reported in any tool. Currently, there is no level A recommended scale for measuring RMC. This review provided a comprehensive evaluation of the available tools to measure RMC. The quality of measurement properties of WREMs of RMC was inadequate. Future studies should develop and validate a standardised tool to measure women-reported experiences of RMC.