Wollega University (WU), also known as Nekemte University, is a university in Nekemte, a town in the Western Oromia Region of Ethiopia..
Enhancing common bean productivity in western Ethiopia requires understanding genetic variability and trait interrelationships for the Bako region’s specific agro-ecology. This study assessed twenty common bean varieties using a randomized complete block design with three replications at Bako Agricultural Research Center during 2024. Data on eleven agronomic traits were analyzed using variance, genetic parameters, correlation, path analysis, and disease scoring. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) among varieties for all traits. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for hundred seed weight (32.91
Solar-powered irrigation Systems (SPIS) are critical for agricultural production enhancement, food security and climate change adaptation, especially in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL). There is increased attention towards shifting to more abundant and cleaner energy potential sources for revitalising irrigation strategies in ASAL areas. This study employed a geospatial approach to identify suitable locations for solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) in Baringo County, Kenya. Based on an integrated use of GIS spatial analysis and analytical hierarchy procedure (AHP), suitable locations for solar-powered irrigation were mapped. Precipitation, irrigated areas, proximity to rivers, slope, and solar radiation were analysed and processed to derive spatially explicit SPIS suitability classes ranging from very low to very high suitability. The thematic layers were assigned weights based on Saaty’s AHP method, where weights for each factor were determined from a pairwise comparison matrix, and a Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) approach was used to derive the final suitability classes for the county. The findings reveal that approximately 58
Warfarin is widely used to prevent thromboembolic events; however, achieving optimal anticoagulation control remains challenging. In Africa, Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) is generally low, and no nationally representative pooled estimate exists for Ethiopia. To estimate adequate anticoagulation control (TTR ≥ 65
BACKGROUND:Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have improved malaria diagnosis; however, the emergence of hrp2/3 gene deletions threatens the reliability of HRP2-based RDTs. This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a novel RDT detecting both HRP2 and PfLDH in a single test line. METHOD:A cross-sectional study was conducted at two health centers in Ethiopia, recruiting 1004 study participants. Blood samples were tested using the novel and comparator RDTs, using microscopy and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the reference standards. Plasmodium falciparum hrp2 and hrp3 genotyping and HRP2 and P. falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) antigen quantification were also conducted. RESULTS:In this study setting, characterized by 80% of P. falciparum infections showing hrp2 or hrp3 deletion, the novel RDT showed a sensitivity of 77.4% and a specificity of 96%, surpassing the HRP2-only comparators Bioline™ Malaria Ag Pf (55.9%) and Bioline™ Malaria Ag Pf/Pv (56.8%). Its performance was comparable to the three-line Bioline™ Malaria Ag Pf/Pf/Pv RDT, which detects HRP2, PfLDH, and PvLDH, at 77.7% sensitivity. Additionally, the novel RDT exhibited the ability to detect P. falciparum cases across a broader range of HRP2 and PfLDH antigen concentrations compared to the comparator RDTs. CONCLUSIONS:The single-line, easy-to-interpret index malaria RDT outperforms conventional HRP2-only RDTs, making it a promising tool for enhancing malaria diagnosis in regions with high hrp2/3 deletion prevalence. Clinical Trial Registration. The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05286359.
Incorporating various materials into the basin water of solar stills can significantly enhance their efficiency, offering a sustainable solution for freshwater production in remote and arid regions. This study addresses a critical gap in previous research by systematically evaluating both conventional and unconventional materials, such as iron filings, wick cotton, Burlap, and paraffin wax, within a single solar still under identical environmental conditions. Unlike prior studies focusing on single material or separate experiments, this work provides a reasonable comparative analysis, highlighting the effects of different additives on solar still performance. This study investigates the effects of various materials on solar still performance under summer conditions in Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. A conventional solar still (CSS) unit was evaluated alongside modified configurations incorporating these materials, with performance assessed in terms of water yield, basin and glass temperatures, and energy efficiency. Results revealed that CuO nanoparticles outperformed others, achieving enhancement ratios of 141%, 128%, and 132% for basin water temperature, glass temperature, and freshwater productivity, respectively. Wick cotton and Burlap also showed notable improvements, with hourly productivity enhancement ratios of 126% and 123%, respectively. Cumulative freshwater yields were highest for CuO at 4.13 L/m2, followed by Al2O3 (3.91 L/m2), wick cotton (3.83 L/m2), Burlap (3.72 L/m2), PCM (3.62 L/m2), and iron filings (3.54 L/m2). Energy efficiency peaked at 1:00 p.m., with CuO achieving a 137% enhancement ratio over CSS. These findings revealed that CuO nanoparticles are the most effective additive for optimizing solar still performance, offering valuable insights for advancing sustainable water production and energy efficiency.
