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.

Synthesis of ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanocomposite using aqueous Moringa Oleifeira leaf extract template: antibacterial and electrochemical activities

Abstract: Abstract The application of flexible polymer nanocomposites for food packaging to inactivate microorganisms associated with foods is the demand of the present-day food industry to assure quality throughout the packaging operation. The utilization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) assisted zinc oxide nanocomposite for food stuff packaging has been very attractive in the recent past. Nanostructured ZnO was synthesized at optimized pH (10.5) from different ratios of zinc acetate and Moringa oleifeira leaf extract (1:7, 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1). ZnO coated polyvinyl alcohol (ZnO/PVA) nanocomposites were prepared from 5, 9, 13 and 16% by wt of ZnO and PVA using solution casting method. The thermal stability of ZnO synthesized with 1:1 ratio at pH 10.5 was investigated with TGA/DTA. The analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultra-violate visible analysis (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for the characterization of the synthesized ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanocomposites (NCs). The antibacterial activity of the synthesized ZnO and ZnO/PVA NCs were evaluated against gram negative E. coli and gram positive S. aureus bacteria. The electrochemical stability of ZnO/PVA NCs was also investigated by cyclic voltammetric (CV) method. The thermogram of ZnO indicated that the oxide was found to be stable even beyond 500°C. The SEM analysis revealed rod shaped morphology for synthesized ZnO from 1:1 ratio at pH 10.5. But the nanocomposite prepared with 5% of ZnO of (1:1) at the same pH exhibited uniformly dispersed rod-shaped particle on the surface as well as in matrix of polyvinyl alcohol film. According to XRD result, ZnO synthesized with more percentage of plant extract resulted in the small size crystallites while that with low percentage of plant extract resulted in the larger crystallite size. The antibacterial inhibition efficiency of ZnO/PVA NCs was better and found to increase with increase in the amount of ZnO.

A review on environmentally benevolent synthesis of CdS nanoparticle and their applications

Abstract: The word ‘Nano’ received great attention of world, due to their fabulous and novel applications in numerous fields. Cadmium sulphide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) are unique in their properties due the size and shape, and are popular in the area of biosensor, bio-imaging, nano-medicine, molecular pathology, antimicrobial activities, photovoltaic cells, semiconductor, and drug delivery, etc. Due to its fascinating applications, it was synthesized using several methods and explored for its all possible applications. The most affordable, efficient, friendly and biocompatible way of creation of CdS NPs is biogenic synthesis using microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus, algae, enzymes, proteins and parts of plants. In biogenic synthesis of CdS, cadmium undergoes bio-reduction by the variety of natural products present in microorganism as well as in plants. In present review, inclusive study was piloted on the nano-synthesis, characterization and various applications of CdS NPs made using different plant sources and microorganism.

Prevalence Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis and malaria co-infection among pregnant women and risk factors in Gilgel Gibe dam Area, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract: Malaria and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) are co-endemic and major public health problems in Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of malaria and STHs co-infection and to determine the association risk factors. A cross-sectional community based study was conducted on 388 pregnant women living in three districts around Gilgel Gibe Dam area, southwestern Ethiopia. Socio-demographic and socio-economic data, single stool sample and blood sample were collected from each participant. The prevalence of STH and malaria was 159 (41%) and 45 (11.6%), respectively and the prevalence of STHs/malaria co-infection was 30 (7.7%). Hookworm was the most prevalent 114 (29.4%) soil transmitted helminthiasis infection followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) 58 (15%) and Trichuris trichiura (T. trichiura) 13 (3.4%). Habit of eating soil (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 4.64, 95% CI: 1.50-14.36, P=0.008), presence of stagnant water near study participants’ house (AOR=2.99, 95% CI: 1.28-6.99, P=0.012) and habit of using human feces as a fertilizer (AOR= 5.34, 95% CI: 1.99-14.28, P<0.001) were found to be significantly associated with malaria and STH co-infection among the pregnant women. Hookworm parasitic load was positively correlated with malaria parasitic load (r = 0.299, P<0.001) while A. lumbricoides parasitic load was negatively correlated with malaria parasitic load (r = −0.095, P<0.001). Intestinal parasite and/or malaria co-infection is a health problem among pregnant women living around Gilgel Gibe dam area. Therefore, intervention including improving sanitation, removing stagnant water, and health education to the pregnant women should be given.

Binding of caffeine with caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid using fluorescence quenching, UV/vis and FTIR spectroscopic techniques

Abstract: The interactions of caffeine (CF) with chlorogenic acid (CGA) and caffeic acid (CFA) were investigated by fluorescence quenching, UV/vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques. The results of the study indicated that the fluorescence quenching between caffeine and hydroxycinnamic acids could be rationalized in terms of static quenching or the formation of non-fluorescent CF-CFA and CF-CGA complexes. From fluorescence quenching spectral analysis, the quenching constant (KSV), quenching rate constant (kq), number of binding sites (n), thermodynamic properties and conformational changes of the interaction were determined. The quenching constants (KSV) between CF and CGA, CFA are 1.84 × 10(4) and 1.04 × 10(4) L/mol at 298 K and their binding site n is ~ 1. Thermodynamic parameters determined using the Van't Hoff equation indicated that hydrogen bonds and van der Waal's forces have a major role in the reaction of caffeine with caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid. The 3D fluorescence, UV/vis and FTIR spectra also showed that the binding of CF with CFA and CGA induces conformational changes in CFA and CGA.