Counter Parts Research Articles

Residence-based disparities of composite index of anthropometric failures in East African under five children; multivariate decomposition analysis

BackgroundUndernutrition remains a global challenge and public health concern, despite the presence of policies, programs and interventions. There is substantial evidence that the majority of the rural children under-5 years old have composite index of anthropometric failure than the urban counter parts. Hence, identifying the main contributors of these disparities will help health policy makers, program designers and implementers for the reduction of composite index of anthropometric failures in children under-5 years old in the study areas.MethodsThe most recent and nationally representative samples of demographic and health surveys of five East African countries data were used for the current study. To appreciate the residence-based differences of composite index of anthropometric failure in under-5 children, the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis and its extensions were employed to determine the effects of covariates and coefficients. The country specific survey data analysis was performed.ResultsThe current study revealed that the burden of composite index of anthropometric failure (CIAF) in under-5 children were 40.69%, 22.04%, 34.06%, 31.99%, and 33.27% in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania respectively. The residence-based differences in CIAF were 25.49%, 11.38%, 27%, 22.15%, and 20.55% in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania respectively. Results of the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition analysis and its extensions revealed that 100% of the rural–urban children under-5 composite index of anthropometric failure disparity was explained by endowment characteristics (covariate effect). Wealth index, mother’s education, age of child, type of birth, sex of child and birth interval inequality between rural and urban households explains most of the composite index of anthropometric failure disparity in children under-5 years old.ConclusionsThe residence-based CIAF differences were high in all study countries. The rural–urban CIAF gap is ascribed by household, maternal and child characteristics. This result implies that rural children under-5 is disproportionally disadvantaged with respect to characteristics than their consequences. Through identification of the underlying factors behind the rural–urban CIAF disparities, the result of this study is important in planning effective intervention measures aiming at reducing residence-based inequalities and the population health outcomes. Therefore, should be given for rural children to reduce CIAF by improving house hold wealth index, women education and attentions to older children, and female children.

Stabilize the oxygen vacancies in 2D bipyramidal CoFe2O4 via altering local electronic structure by SnSe for boosted photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin: Interfacial engineering, mechanism insight and toxicological evaluation of byproducts

Investigating a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and improved photocatalysis system for ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) degradation presents a significant hurdle in environmental remediation. In this work, SnSe nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by hydrothermal approach leading to the successful formation of SnSe-CoFe2O4 nanocomposite (SCF NCs). It was achieved by decorating the surface of SnSe NPs with 2D bipyramidal oxygen-vacant (OV) CoFe2O4 NPs. This work aims to stabilize the OV in 2D bipyramidal CoFe2O4 by altering the local electronic structure through SnSe, enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of CIPRO. The NPs surface morphological features, high crystalline nature, and enhanced surface area properties are investigated using several characterization techniques. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals the oxygen defect site in CoFe2O4 and the interfacial electric field between SnSe and CoFe2O4 NPs, significantly improving the catalytic activity of SCF NCs. The degradation of CIPRO at the optimized concentration (50 mg/L – SCF NCs, 10 mg/L CIPRO, pH - 3) under visible light reached around 91.3%. The SCF NCs demonstrate superior photodegradation performance of 2.59 and 1.86 times greater activity compared to their individual counter parts, SnSe and CoFe2O4, respectively. Furthermore, the system accommodates a broad range of degradation concentrations of CIPRO from 5 – 25 mg/L, indicating promising potential for practical applications. Additionally, the intermediate compounds formed during the photodegradation process were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and a possible degradation pathway was proposed. The toxicity levels of these intermediates were assessed in various aquatic organisms, including fish, daphnia, and green algae using the ecological structure activity relationship (ECOSAR) tools. This research presents a new perspective on the development of innovative materials for the removal of pollutants from water sources.

Sexually dimorphic ATF4 expression in the fat confers female stress tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster.

Metabolic differences between males and females have been well documented across many species. However, the molecular basis of these differences and how they impact tolerance to nutrient deprivation is still under investigation. In this work, we use Drosophila melanogaster to demonstrate that sex-specific differences in fat tissue metabolism are driven, in part, by dimorphic expression of the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) transcription factor, ATF4. We found that female fat tissues have higher ATF4 activity than their male counter parts under homeostatic conditions. This dimorphism was partly due to a female bias in transcript abundance of specific ATF4 splice isoforms. We found that the canonical sex determinants transformer (tra) and doublesex (dsx) drive such dimorphic ATF4 transcript abundance. These differences persist in a genetic model of nutrient deprivation, where female animals showed greater resistance to lethality than males in an ATF4-dependent manner. These results suggest that higher ATF4 activity confers higher tolerance to stress in females. Together, our data describe a previously unknown facet of ISR signaling wherein sexual identity of adipose tissue confers differential stress tolerance in males and females. Since energy storage mechanisms are known to be dimorphic and have been linked to ATF4 regulation, our studies provide a mechanistic starting point for understanding how sexual identity influences metabolic disease outcomes.

The Relational Approach in Humanitarian Negotiations and the Uncertainty Reduction of armed Counter Parts on the Front Lines: Critical Analysis of current Policy

The Relational Approach in Humanitarian Negotiations and the Uncertainty Reduction of armed Counter Parts on the Front Lines: Critical Analysis of current Policy

Si/Graphene exotic type IMPATT (p+-n-n+-) Opto-sensor: First experimental observation

On-chip DC characterization study has been performed on exotic-type Si/Graphene Avalanche Transit Time (ATT) device for ultra-fast optical-sensing. The performance of the newly proposed device has further been compared with conventional narrow and wide band gap semiconductor based p+-n-n+ devices. It has been observed that at X-band frequencies, the new class of device outperforms Si/SiC/GaN and their heterostructure counterparts, in terms of better RF power density (∼1W and 8.1W), RF conversion efficiency (6 % and 18 %) and much better quantum efficiency (93 % and 91.5 %), respectively for device active-region-widths of 15 μm and 25 μm. Standard Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) route has been followed to fabricate the new class of device. Further, the authors have studied the applicability of the newly developed devices for optical-sensing. This comprehensive study reveals that the Device Under Test (DUT) exhibits photo responsivity at least 10 times better than its counter parts. Thus, the study will be useful for future applications in single-photon-detection for defence and civil sectors.

Assessment of Soil Moisture through Climatic Variables Using Remote Sensing Data in Semi-Arid Sokoto State, Nigeria

Soil moisture availability is an indispensable requirement for not only the growth of crops but also other living organisms in any ecological settings This study determined soil moisture condition in Sokoto State using climate-based water index. Satellite-based estimations of mean monthly rainfall data was obtained from the USGS/FEWS database for each of the local government areas. Also, approximations of monthly values of minimum and maximum air temperatures (AIRS) were downloaded from the NASA website. The latter variables were utilised in the computation of potential evapotranspiration using Hargreaves equation. It was very clear from the results that water surplus occurred in the months of July, August and September across almost all the locations. In addition, places lying in the southern part of the State such as Kebbe, Yabo, Tambuwal and Shagari recorded higher positive values of moisture availability in contrast to their counter parts in the extreme north bordering Niger republic. Thus, this study revealed slight spatio-temporal variation in soil moisture condition across the entire study area decreasing from the southern locations towards the north. Hence, the research could help improve agricultural planning and suggest irrigation during dry periods. Consequently, the findings could offer useful insights for managing water resources and improving farming in dry areas.

Synthesis of Ag and Gd Co-doped LaCoO3: Tuning the Optical Bandgap through Quantum Confinement Effect for Outstanding Photocatalytic Activity

Structural defects and tuning in bandgap energy of semiconductors can greatly enhance their catalytic performance as photocatalysts for the removal of various water contaminants. For this purpose, a series of perovskite materials were fabricated. Perovskites have chemical formula A+2B+4(X2-)3, where A site cation is generally an alkaline earth or rare earth metal and B site cation is 3d, 4d, or 5d transition metal. The present study includes the synthesis of LaCoO3, Ag@LaCoO3, Gd@LaCoO3, and Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 by simple co-precipitation route. The prepared materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The average crystallite size and % porosity of Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 were increased to 25 nm and 45% respectively as compared to LaCoO3 (15 nm and 5%) after doping of Ag and Gd in the crystal lattice of pristine LaCoO3. Moreover, the UV-Visible analysis was made to determine the bandgap energy and Urbach energy profiles of fabricated samples. The significant decrease in bandgap energy was noticed for co-doped LaCoO3 i.e. Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 as compared to pure LaCoO3. The calculated bandgap (Eg) values of LaCoO3, Ag@LaCoO3, Gd@LaCoO3, and Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 were 3.11 eV, 2.98 eV, 2.83 eV, and 2.44 eV respectively. The decrement in bandgap energy of Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 could be accredited to the increment in its crystallite size as compared to its other counter parts. The average crystallite size and bandgap energy are in good agreement with each other due to the production of quantum confinement effect in LaCoO3 after doping. Furthermore, the samples were tested for the photocatalytic degradation of bromocresol blue (BCB) and bromocresol green (BCG) under sunlight irradiation of about 60 min. The results of photocatalytic experiments showed 88% and 91% degradation of BCB and BCG respectively by Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 photocatalyst. The enhanced catalytic removal activity of Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 could be assigned to its small bandgap, large crystallite size, high Urbach energy, and high % porosity as compared to pure LaCoO3, Ag@LaCoO3, and Gd@LaCoO3. Hence, Ag/Gd@LaCoO3 can be an efficient photocatalyst for the removal of various industrial effluents.

Achieving refined microstructures and improved mechanical properties in a cup-shaped Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy casting by novel near-liquidus squeeze cast process

We have recently proposed a novel process named low frequency electro-magnetic stirring assisted near-liquidus squeeze cast (NSC), which has been shown effective grain refinement effect in pure Mg and binary Mg-RE alloys. In this work, the NSC process was introduced for fabricating of a cup-shaped casting by Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy (VW103K). The cup-shaped VW103K alloy castings fabricated by NSC process show good surface quality and dimensional accuracy, as well as with fine microstructures and no megascopic pores and surface shrinkages. At the cross section of the cup-shaped castings, the grain size, phase compositions and hardness are nearly equally distributed. The NSC processed VW103K alloy show finer average grain size and higher yield strength than that of gravity cast, squeeze cast and rheo-squeeze cast counter parts. Pouring temperature is critical and may influence the microstructure and mechanical properties of NSC processed alloys. With the decrease of pouring temperature from ∼660 to ∼630 °C, the grain size is decreased initially and then coarsened slightly, while the distribution of eutectic phase gets worse continuously. An optimal pouring temperature range of ∼660 to ∼640 °C was obtained for fabricating of VW103K alloy. The mechanisms on formation of fine microstructures in NSC processed VW103K alloys is the combined effects influenced by applied pressure, pouring temperature and the shape of mold cavity.

Association of perceived depression and suicidal ideation with returning to work among cancer survivors in South Korea

ObjectivesCancer survivors face various problems during treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation, particularly when maintaining or re-entering the workforce. Following cancer treatment, returning to work is crucial step for patients in regaining their social lives, improving their self-confidence, returning to their regular lives before being diagnosed with cancer, and recovering their financial stability. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between return to work, perceived depression, and suicidal ideation among cancer survivors using national big data from South Korea. MethodsRecords of 874 cancer survivors retrieved from the database of the 6–8 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. ResultsThe proportion of female cancer survivors with perceived depression was higher than that of their male counter parts. A higher proportion of cancer survivors with perceived depression and suicidal ideation were found in the low-income group. Moreover, cancer survivors without spouses reported higher rates of perceived depression and suicidal ideation, and the nonworking group experienced higher rates of these variables compared with the working group. No differences were noted in perceived depression or suicidal ideation according to the type of work performed by the cancer survivors. ConclusionsReturning to work should be encouraged in order to improve the psychological health of cancer survivors. Engaging in social activities, regardless of the work type, positively affects the mental health of cancer survivors.

Development and Performance of a PANI@NiMnO3 Nanocomposite for Enhanced Supercapacitors and Photocatalytic Applications.

Conductive polymers are gaining considerable attention as a potential material for supercapacitor electrodes due to their favorable properties. Among these, polyaniline (PANI) stands out as a cost-effective and easy to synthesize, making it a promising candidate for improving energy storage applications. This study presents the synthesis of a hybrid composite consisting of PANI and NiMnO3 (NMO) perovskite using the chemical oxidative polymerization method. The morphology and structure of the composite were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. XRD results showed that the addition of NMO transformed the amorphous structure of PANI into a semicrystalline form, leading to enhanced conductivity. SEM images revealed a more uniform and compact structure, with NMO distributed unevenly within the polymer matrix. Optical analysis indicated that a reduction in the band gap of PANI@NMO reached 2.5 eV. N2 adsorption-desorption measurements confirmed an increase in the surface area and pore volume. The photocatalytic activity of the PANI@NMO nanocomposite was tested by degrading methylene blue (MB) dye under UV/visible light. The nanocomposite showed high efficiency, degrading 87.75% of MB dye after 125 min of irradiation as compared to their counter parts. Additionally, electrochemical tests demonstrated an improved electrochemical performance of the composite due to enhanced crystallinity, increased surface area, and reduced electron-hole recombination rate. These results suggest that the PANI@NMO nanocomposite has great potential for use in supercapacitors and photocatalysis.

Perirhinal cortex to the nucleus accumbens circuit in novelty salience following methamphetamine self-administration

Methamphetamine (meth) use disorder is part of an overarching use disorder that encompasses continued drug seeking and an increased risk of returning to drug use following periods of abstaining. Chronic meth use results in drug-induced cortical plasticity in the perirhinal cortex (PRC) that mediates responses to novelty. PRH projection targets are numerous and include the nucleus accumbens core (NAc). Whereas the PRH-prefrontal cortex is involved in object recognition; we propose that the PRHNAc is involved in novelty salience. Rats underwent short-access (ShA, 1 hr) or long-access (LgA, 6 hr) meth self-administration (SA). We then used a dual viral strategy to inhibit or activate PRHNAc during a novel cue test in which rats were presented with meth‑associated and novel levers. Response patterns on these levers differ depending on the meth access protocol: ShA meth SA results in equal responding on both novel- and meth‑associated levers, whereas LgA meth results in perseverative responding on the meth‑associated lever. Inactivation of the PRHNAc increased responding on the meth lever relative to the novel lever, resulting in a LgA behavioral phenotype. In contrast, activation in LgA rats was without a behavioral effect. We also report that male LgA sucrose SA animals perseverated on the novel lever rather than the meth‑associated lever, which contrast their meth SA counter parts and female specific patterns of behavior. These data open a new line of interest in the role of the PRHNAc circuit in novelty salience through identification of the behavioral relevance of this circuit.

Holmium doped La2O3 and its composite with graphitic carbon nitride for the removal of atrazine and chlorpyrifos from wastewater

Herein, the co-precipitation method was employed for the synthesis of rare earth metal oxide La2O3, Holmium doped La2O3, and its composite with 2D layered material i.e. graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to study their photocatalytic behavior towards organic pollutants. Pollutants employed to study are pesticides that include atrazine and chlorpyrifos. Structural, spectral, morphological, and elemental analysis were done by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDX respectively. Optical bandgap calculations showed the decrease in band edge positions of the bare La2O3 from 5.02 eV to 3.39 eV by doping of Ho in La2O3 lattice. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of prepared samples was evaluated using a dual beam UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Experimental investigation showed that the prepared composite i.e. Ho doped La2O3 @g-CN had remarkable photodegradation activity of about 60 % and 86 % towards the atrazine and chlorpyrifos respectively. While the pristine La2O3 showed only 41 % and 65 % degradation activity and Ho doped La2O3 showed 52 % and 75 % removal efficiency for atrazine and chlorpyrifos respectively by using 0.03 g/100 mL of photocatalysts under solar light exposure of about 80 min. The enhanced degradation activity of composite (g-C3N4/Ho@La2O3) as compared to its other counter parts is due to its increased surface area and more active sites provided by g-C3N4 for electrons trapping to cause a delay in electron-hole pair recombination rate. The enhanced surface area also played a key role in adsorbing more pollutant molecules for degradation.

Evaluating energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in fiberglass prefabricated modular structures

Fiberglass (FG) modular buildings are gaining increasing attention in the construction industry due to their adaptability, and potential for cost and time savings. This study compares the FG modular, house-like cubicles to concrete counter parts with respect to the environmental impacts and cost. The scope of the study encompasses the production and operational phase, especially air conditioning (AC) systems in hyper-arid climates. The effectiveness of insulation, quantified through R-value calculations, is evaluated across varying insulation thicknesses using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The results indicate that AC energy requirements significantly contribute to the climate change impact (CCH), accounting for 77 % and 90.5 %, in concrete and FG modules respectively. FG modules exhibit significantly higher environmental impacts compared to concrete modules in agricultural land occupation (+142.7 %), terrestrial ecotoxicity (+80.6 %), and urban land occupation (+66 %). Employing Net Present Value (NPV), the annual cost for FG and concrete modules was USD 963.9 and USD 550.8 per year, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicates that increasing insulation (+5.00 cm) in FG modules reduces that annual cost due to cooling by 16.55 %, reduces CCH by 59.47 % but increases metal depletion by 130 %. This signifies the importance of incorporating the use phase when evaluating innovative building materials and methods.

EFFECT OF AGE ON VISCERAL ORGANS OF NORMAL FEATHERED MALE INDIGENOUS NIGERIA CHICKENS

Male indigenous chickens are more genetically diverse than their female counter parts and age affects the growth, development, anatomy and physiology of animals’ internal organs which could as well affect the performance of the farm animals. Evaluating effect of age on visceral organs of normal feathered Nigeria indigenous male chickens could help in selecting those males that can be used or maintained in breeding programmes to assist in achieving sustainable meat and egg production in Nigeria. Thus, this research was aimed to determine the relative weights and sizes of the visceral organs of the normal feathered spurred and non-spurred male Nigeria indigenous chickens. A total number of 40 (20 spurred/ between 1 and 2 years and 20 non-spurred/ below 1 year) normal feathered male indigenous Nigeria chickens were used for the experiment. The results showed a significant (P<0.05) difference in the relative weight of large intestine, whole gizzard and stratified squamous epithelial layer of gizzard between the treatments (spurred and non-spurred) with non spurred having the highest relative weight of large intestine, whole gizzard and stratified squamous epithelial layer of gizzard.

Risky sexual behaviors and associated factors among adolescent in Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Adolescents represent 16% of the global population and they are identified as a critical demographic group for promoting sexual health. Adolescents are susceptible to engaging in risky sexual behaviors (RSB) such as early sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, substance use during sexual encounters and practicing unsafe sex. Adolescents represent 16% of the global population and they are identified as a critical demographic group for promoting sexual health. Adolescents are susceptible to engaging in risky sexual behaviors (RSB) such as early sexual initiation, having multiple sexual partners, substance use during sexual encounters and practicing unsafe sex. To assess risky Sexual behaviors and associated factors among adolescent in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A community based cross-sectional study. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gedeo Zone among adolescents. A total of 2780 (99.3%) adolescents were participated in the study and gave the response rate of 99.3%. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to gather the data and analyzed by using SPSS version 23. During analysis initially bivariable logistic regression model was used then, those variables with a level of significant at a P-value ≤ 0.25 were considered as candidate for multivariable logistic regression model. A level of significant at a P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in this study. Out of 428 sexually active adolescent 334 (78%) exposed to risky sexual practice. More than half 54.3% of adolescent was protestant in religion followed by Orthodox 34.2% and Muslim 11.5%. In terms of ethnicity, Gedeo 67.4% was the dominant ethnic group in the study area. Mean age at sexual initiation was 15 ± 1.8.Residence AOR 1.14 (1.36–5.25), Sex AOR 2.77 (1.31–5.86), Age AOR 2.01 (1.41–6.39), School attending AOR 1.93 (1.27–5.75), Watching Pornographies AOR 2.51 (1.36–4.62) and Parental monitoring AOR 2.10 (1.07–4.10) were independent predictor of risky sexual practice in this study. The prevalence of risky sexual behavior was found to be alarming among adolescents aged 14–19 years, mostly rural and female adolescents and those adolescent start sexual practice earlier exposed to risky sexual practice than their counter parts. Sexual urge, watching pornography and not attending school were the major factor for risky sexual behaviors of adolescent. Parental over all control can protect risky sexual behaviors among adolescent.

An insight into synergistic effects of Cu and Ag co-doping in nanocrystalline MgFe2O4 for enhancing the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet and benzimidazole

Herein, the optical bandgap of magnetically separable, reusable and visible light active photocatalyst i.e. soft and n- type spinel ferrite MgFe2O4 is tailored to enhance its catalytic efficacy. The un-doped spinel ferrite MgFe2O4, and doped spinel MgFe2O4 i.e. Cu@MgFe2O4 (Cu0.05Mg0.95Fe2O4), Ag@MgFe2O4 (Ag0.1MgFe1.9O4), and Cu/Ag@MgFe2O4 (Cu0.05Ag0.1Mg0.95Fe1.9O4) were prepared by facile co-precipitation technique. Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were performed to confirm the successful synthesis of all prepared materials. The fabricated samples were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of Crystal violet (azo dye) and Benzimidazole (colorless pollutant). The results of photocatalytic experiment obtained from UV-Visible analysis showed about 71 %, 82 %, 85 %, and 93 % degradation of crystal violet by MgFe2O4, Cu@MgFe2O4, Ag@MgFe2O4, and Cu/Ag@MgFe2O4 respectively. Hence, the transition metal (Cu) and noble metal (Ag) co-doped MgFe2O4 exhibited about 22 % increase in its catalytic activity against crystal violet as compared to pure MgFe2O4. The highest catalytic performance of Cu/Ag@MgFe2O4 could be assigned to its decreased crystallite size (18 nm) and moderate band gap (2.17 eV) as compared to its counter parts i.e. MgFe2O4 (26 nm, 2.0 eV), Cu@MgFe2O4 (22.5 nm, 2.03 eV), and Ag@MgFe2O4 (21 nm, 2.05 eV). Furthermore, ∼84 % degradation of benzimidazole was observed using Cu/Ag@MgFe2O4 as catalyst. The enhanced degradation activity of Cu/Ag@MgFe2O4 (Cu0.05Ag0.1Mg0.95Fe1.9O4) photocatalyst for both dye and colorless compound could be accredited to the synergistic effects of structural engineering and optical bandgap tuning by the co-doping of Cu and Ag in MgFe2O4. Hence, Cu0.05Ag0.1Mg0.95Fe1.9O4 could be a remarkable photocatalyst in future for the removal of harmful industrial pollutants.

Iodized salt utilization and associated factors in the South Ethiopia Region: A community based cross-sectional study

BackgroundIodine is one of the essential micronutrient components for healthy human life. However, it is deficient in household salt in most developing countries, like Ethiopia. This survey assessed the prevalence and risk factors associated with the adequacy of iodized salt utilization at the household level in Sawla town, southern Ethiopia. MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study design was used. A multistage sampling technique was employed. Data were collected using a pre-tested and structured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview technique. Descriptive statistics was used to describe variables in tables and figures. A multivariable logistic regression model was applied to determine the final statistical associations between dependent and independent variables at a p-value of <0.05. ResultA total of 551 households participated in the survey, with a response rate of 97 %. A total of 243 (44.1 %) households were using adequately iodized household salt. There were reduced odds of utilizing adequately iodized salt when the main food handlers were in the age group 25–29 years, AOR (95%CI), 0.45 (0.22, 0.93), 35–39 years, AOR (95%CI), 0.37 (0.18, 0.77), ≥40 years, AOR (95%CI), 0.29 (0.14, 0.59), and among households who were using packed salts, AOR (95%CI), 0.33 (0.21, 0.52). Households who had a tradition of properly handling household salt to maintain its iodine content were more likely to use adequately iodized salt than its counter parts, AOR (95%CI), 1.9 (1.3, 2.78) and households who purchased salt from a retailer shop, AOR (95%CI), 2.82 (1.87, 4.24), were more likely to use adequately iodized salt than purchasing from an open market place. ConclusionsIn this study, adequately iodized household salt utilization was similar to regional levels across Ethiopia. The household’s salt handlers need to be empowered to have a tradition of proper salt handling, storage, and use practices.

The Notion of Accountability in the Public Sector

Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to investigate the various views, perceptions and attitudes of people with regards to the notion of accountability within the public sector with the hope of suggesting, recommending and creating knowledge base that can be utilized to enhance best accountability practices in the public sector. Players in the public sector accountability roles should be helped to take an active role in shaping the notion of accountability for public effectiveness and efficiency. The current employment accountability system is top-down and excludes players at the bottom to contribute to the formulation of accountability parameters and standards. The notion stems from the assumption that individuals in organizations are held to a certain standard of excellence, hence responsible for their actions and be answerable for the results of their actions. Implementers at the receiving end just receive parcels of finished products for implementation .This creates platforms for those in management positions to take advantage of their counter parts and abuse them in effecting accountability as a tool for control and appraisal .The current practice has opened up avenues for practice of unprofessional and the unethical practices to prevail in work places .Thus , the presentation came up with mitigatory measures to shift the current perception of accountability to a user-friendly approach that will promote unity among players and ensure quality work and service delivery in work places if adopted Material and Methods: This presentation used the qualitative survey methodology to gather data on, ‘The Notion of Accountability in Public Sector. The interpretivist approach was taken on body in this presentation. This philosophy of qualitative survey was selected for use in this presentation as it is powerful when it comes to individual in-depth interviews or questionnaires to collect analyze and interpret data on what people see, believe hear or think about the notion of accountability in the public sector. The methodology clearly reports on the meaning, perceptions, characteristics and descriptions of phenomena. Actually it was chosen for use due to its open endedness and exploratory nature which are basic fundamentals of depth research. Questionnaires were chosen for their ability to solicit definitive information without allowing chances of data ambiguity. Conversely, the interviews were taken on board in this presentation due to their upper hand in gathering qualitative thick descriptive data hence providing the researcher with the much needed data to warranty research finding generalization. The approach allowed random sampling from the study population leading to data gathering, presentation, analysis and discussions. Findings: The research findings revealed a wide range of scenario coming out of the notion of accountability in the public sector. The major finding emanates from the theory x of the trait theories where those in management view employees as naturally lazy and unwilling to do their jobs or task assignment. As such management and public in general expect employees to account for their performance so that they can be appraised where work outcomes are positive to pre-determined goals and be punished where performance fall short of set expectations and goals. Concerns and perceptions of those at the bottom who happens to account to top management are often neglected and not taken seriously leaving those who are supposed to account feeling worthless and not owning the entire process of accountability. Some of the tasks given to employees to carry out are not feasible but the door for grievance and challenge handling is closed since there is a one way information flow system which is predominantly top-down. The long chain of bureaucracy is a barrier to information communication which should be two way. Those in lower levels of management lack clarity of some specific issues but are compelled to ensure task accomplishment by those in top management who have no time and mandate to receive instruction from people at the bottom lines of the accountability chain. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The presentation recommended best accountability practices where people at the lower level of accountability are offered opportunities to contribute to the construction and formulation of accountability guidelines so that they do not become strangers in implementation of tasks meant for them so as to account. This can be achieved through making reviews on basic assumptions under pinning decision making in areas of accountability within the public sector.

Sugarcane Diseases Detection Using Optimized Convolutional Neural Network with Enhanced Environmental Adaptation Method

This research aims to address the need for accurate and prompt identification of sugarcane diseases, which substantially impact the worldwide sugar industry and the livelihoods of numerous farmers. Conventional visual inspection methods are hindered by subjective interpretations and restricted availability, prompting the investigation of more sophisticated techniques. By harnessing deep learning capabilities, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), and further enhancing their performance using the Environmental Adaptation Method (EAM) optimization, this research demonstrates significant enhancements in disease detection accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-Score. Based on the macro values obtained from the different approaches, it has been observed that an accuracy of 89% was obtained for the CNN designed from EEAM in comparison to the other counter parts. Similarly, the precision of the proposed architecture of CNN is better in comparison to GA, PSO and DE. On the same lines the Recall and F1 score of the proposed approach is better in comparison to that of the three counterparts. Similarly, the ROC analysis for the analysis of AUC is done and it was identified that the AUC curve for the different CNN designed by various optimizer were good in identifying the different classes of the sugarcane diseases. The major limitation of this approach is that model has marginal accuracy with its counterpart algorithm, however, the algorithm suggested the use of simple CNN models that are easy to use. The rigorous methodology, encompassing data collection and model optimization, guarantees the reliability and applicability of the sugarcane disease detection system based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Future research directions focus on integrating hyperspectral imaging, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and user-friendly mobile applications. This integration aims to empower farmers, facilitate proactive disease management, and ensure the sustainability of the sugarcane industry. This advancement represents notable progress in precision agriculture and disease mitigation.

CeO2/ZrO2 p-n heterojunction nanostructures for efficient NO2 gas sensing

In a recent while, heterostructured nanomaterials have shown great potential for highly sensitive and selective gas sensing applications. Herein, CeO2–ZrO2 nanocomposites were fabricated in varying compositions in lower CeO2 region (2.5–10 %) via hydrothermal methodology. UV–visible DRS studies ascertained the band gap tailoring of the heterojunctions ranging from 3.33 to 4.07 eV as compared to their pure counter parts CeO2 (3.03 eV) and ZrO2 (4.96 eV). The surface area studies revealed the high specific surface areas of 90, 81.2, 72.7 and 61 m2/g for the 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 % CeO2–ZrO2 hetero-nanocomposites along with 53.2 and 108 m2/g for pure CeO2 and ZrO2 nanostructures, respectively. CeO2–ZrO2 nanocomposites revealed ameliorated sensing response towards the NO2 as compared to the bare ZrO2. The maximum sensitivity of 1572 was shown by the 5 % CeO2–ZrO2 nanocomposite at optimum operating thermal conditions of 250 °C that was relatively higher as compared to pristine ZrO2 nanospheres. Augmented sensing efficiency is attributed to the tweaked surface area of the nanocomposites, alleviated band energy, existence of oxygen vacant sites over CeO2 surface and ameliorated interaction due to the formation of CeO2–ZrO2 heterojunctions. The improved sensing performance of CeO2–ZrO2 sensors has been extensively discussed alongside mechanistic sketch.