Adama University

About: Adama University is a education organization based out in Nazrēt, Ethiopia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 840 authors who have published 1010 publications receiving 5547 citations. The organization is also known as: Adama Science and Technology University & ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ, አዳማ ሳይንስና ቴክኖሎጂ ዩኒቨርሲቲ.

Emerging and Re-emerging Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases and the Challenges for Control: A Review.

Abstract: Vector-borne emerging and re-emerging diseases pose considerable public health problem worldwide. Some of these diseases are emerging and/or re-emerging at increasing rates and appeared in new regions in the past two decades. Studies emphasized that the interactions among pathogens, hosts, and the environment play a key role for the emergence or re-emergence of these diseases. Furthermore, social and demographic factors such as human population growth, urbanization, globalization, trade exchange and travel and close interactions with livestock have significantly been linked with the emergence and/or re-emergence of vector-borne diseases. Other studies emphasize the ongoing evolution of pathogens, proliferation of reservoir populations, and antimicrobial drug use to be the principal exacerbating forces for emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Still other studies equivocally claim that climate change has been associated with appearance and resurgence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Despite the fact that many important emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infectious diseases are becoming better controlled, our success in stopping the many new appearing and resurging vector-borne infectious diseases that may happen in the future seems to be uncertain. Hence, this paper reviews and synthesizes the existing literature to explore global patterns of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infections and the challenges for their control. It also attempts to give insights to the epidemiological profile of major vector-borne diseases including Zika fever, dengue, West Nile fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever.

Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Plant Leaf Extract of Catha edulis and Its Antibacterial Activity

Abstract: Development of green technology is generating interest of researchers towards ecofriendly and low-cost methods for biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, copper oxide (CuO) NPs were synthesized using a copper nitrate trihydrate precursor and Catha edulis leaves extract as a reducing and capping agent during the synthesis. The biosynthesized CuO NPs were characterized using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. XRD characterization confirmed that the biosynthesized CuO NPs possessed a good crystalline nature which perfectly matched the monoclinic structure of bulk CuO. Furthermore, the results obtained from SEM and TEM showed that the biosynthesized CuO NPs were spherical in shape. EDS characterization of the biosynthesized NPs also indicated that the reaction product was composed of highly pure CuO NPs. Moreover, the antimicrobial activities of different concentrations of CuO NPs synthesized using Catha edulis extract were also tested. Accordingly, the result showed that the highest zone of inhibitions measured were for CuO NPs synthesized using 1 : 2 ratios at 40 mg/ml solution concentration and observed to be 22 ± 0.01 mm, 24 ± 0.02 mm, 32 ± 0.02 mm, and 29 ± 0.03 mm for S. aureus, S. pyogenes, E. coli, and K. pneumonia, respectively.

Persistence and stability of Eastern Afromontane forests: evidence from brevicipitid frogs

Abstract: Aim The persistence and stability of habitats through time are considered predictors of high levels of biodiversity in some environments. Long-term habitat persistence and stability may explain the species-rich, endemic forest fauna and flora of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Region (EABR). Using complementary phylogenetic and biogeographical approaches, we examine evolutionary patterns in EABR brevicipitid frogs. Using these data, we test whether brevicipitid history reflects patterns of long-term forest persistence and/or stability across the EABR. Location East Africa. Methods A dated phylogeny for brevicipitids was constructed using two nuclear and three mitochondrial markers. Alternative diversification models were used to determine signal for constant or varying net diversification rates. Using our dated tree, we identified areas of high phylogenetic diversity (PD), and inferred ancestral areas using likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Results Brevicipitids have a long history, with generic diversification among extant lineages pre-dating the Oligocene (> 33 Ma). Ancestral-area reconstructions indicate the presence of brevicipitids in the EABR since the Oligocene, and support a scenario of palaeoendemics surviving in EABR refugia. Ancestral-area reconstructions indicate that the central Eastern Arc Mountains (EAM) formed the initial centre of diversification of forest brevicipitids. Measures of PD show that diversity varies across the EABR but is highest in the EAM. Constant net diversification rate in brevicipitids is a significantly better fit than alternative, rate-variable models. Main conclusions The degree of persistence of forest habitats appears to be a contributing factor to the varying levels of diversity across the EABR in brevicipitids (and other organisms). In contrast to the Southern Highlands and Ethiopian Bale Mountains, the EAM stands out as an area that enabled the constant accumulation of brevicipitid species over a long period of time.

Screening of Fungi Isolated from Environmental Samples for Xylanase and Cellulase Production

Abstract: The aim of this work is to select filamentous fungal strains isolated from saw dust, soil, and decaying wood with the potential to produce xylanase and cellulase enzymes. A total of 110 fungi were isolated. Fifty-seven (57) of these fungi were isolated from soil samples, 32 from sawdust, and 19 from decaying wood. Trichoderma and Aspergillus had the highest relative occurrence of 42.6% and 40.8%, respectively. Trichoderma viride Fd18 showed the highest specific activity of 1.30 U mg−1 protein for xylanase, while the highest cellulase activity of 1.23 U mg−1 was shown by Trichoderma sp. F4. The isolated fungi demonstrated potential for synthesizing the hydrolytic enzymes.