Executive Summary Concerns over chemical contaminants and toxins in local foods and beverages have been raised recently. These days, chronic illness is more common, and toxicants and other contaminants found in food and drink have been linked to many documented fatalities. The chemical toxicants that will be analyzed in this study include acrylamide (a processing toxicant arising from deep roasting of food samples), aflatoxin B1 (a poisonous chemical discharged by mold and fungi), pesticide residues (resulting from pesticide application to cereal, vegetable, and fruits), and methanol (a chemical toxicant produced by spontaneous fermentation of local alcoholic beverages). The acrylamide content of the food samples will be measured via LC/MS-MS. Aflatoxin analysis will be performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), whilst pesticide residues and methanol concentrations will be assessed using a gas chromatography (GC) method equipped with computer-integrated software. This research will be undertaken in three phases. The first phase is collecting food and beverage samples (at least 30 food samples suspected of being chemically contaminated) from selected districts and assessing the toxic substances. The second phase relies on the results of the first phase; for severely contaminated foods, the sources of contamination and factors leading to the presence of chemical toxicants will be investigated. Finally, optimal processing will be investigated to remove or decrease toxic chemicals. The assessment of chemical contaminants in local foods and beverages is important as consumers become more conscious of their health and well-being. Therefore, this research aims to provide insight into the existence, concentrations, and possible health hazards associated with chemical contaminants in foods and beverages that are produced locally. It also makes actionable suggestions for resolving this pressing problem.

Executive Summary Concerns over chemical contaminants and toxins in local foods and beverages have been raised recently. These days, chronic illness is more common, and toxicants and other contaminants found in food and drink have been linked to many documented fatalities. The chemical toxicants that will be analyzed in this study include acrylamide (a processing toxicant arising from deep roasting of food samples), aflatoxin B1 (a poisonous chemical discharged by mold and fungi), pesticide residues (resulting from pesticide application to cereal, vegetable, and fruits), and methanol (a chemical toxicant produced by spontaneous fermentation of local alcoholic beverages). The acrylamide content of the food samples will be measured via LC/MS-MS. Aflatoxin analysis will be performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), whilst pesticide residues and methanol concentrations will be assessed using a gas chromatography (GC) method equipped with computer-integrated software. This research will be undertaken in three phases. The first phase is collecting food and beverage samples (at least 30 food samples suspected of being chemically contaminated) from selected districts and assessing the toxic substances. The second phase relies on the results of the first phase; for severely contaminated foods, the sources of contamination and factors leading to the presence of chemical toxicants will be investigated. Finally, optimal processing will be investigated to remove or decrease toxic chemicals. The assessment of chemical contaminants in local foods and beverages is important as consumers become more conscious of their health and well-being. Therefore, this research aims to provide insight into the existence, concentrations, and possible health hazards associated with chemical contaminants in foods and beverages that are produced locally. It also makes actionable suggestions for resolving this pressing problem.

Recent advances in electrochemistry and electrode surface modification highlight the potential of transitionmetal coordination compounds as effective modifiers. This study presents sodium tetraresorcinolatocuprate(II)(Na₂[Cu(HR)₄]), a newly synthesized compound characterized using UV–Vis, FT-IR spectroscopy, ICP OES, andmelting point analysis. A poly(Na₂[Cu(HR)₄])/GCE was fabricated via potentiodynamic techniques, with cyclicvoltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirming the formation of a polymer film thatenhanced the electrode’s active area and electrocatalytic properties. The developed poly(Na₂[Cu(HR)₄])/GCEwas applied for determination of ciprofloxacin (CPF), an antibiotic prone to resistance issues, that requiresreliable monitoring in pharmaceutical and biological samples. The poly(Na₂[Cu(HR)₄]) modifier significantlyimproved CPF detection by reducing its oxidation potential and increasing current response by eightfoldcompared to unmodified electrodes, suggesting the modifier’s catalytic role in CPF oxidation. Differential pulsevoltammetry (DPV) showed a linear CPF response over concentrations of 1.0 × 10 8 to 4.0 × 10 4 M, withdetection and quantification limits of 2.0 nM and 6.8 nM, respectively. Analysis of commercial CPF brandsshowed 98.05–100.00 % accuracy, while spike recovery rates (99.25–100.40 %) and low interference errors(

The use of long acting contraceptive methods is a commonpractice among women seeking to prevent unintended pregnanciesand plan their families. This study seeks to identify factors associ-ated with the practice of long-acting contraceptive methods, par-ticularly in a conflict-affected area in Awi zone, North WestEthiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a multistagerandom sample of 1,334 women’s. Bivariable and multivariablebinary logistic regression has been applied to identify determinantfactors. Among the 1,334 women surveyed, 25.49% reportedusing long-acting contraceptive methods. The analysis revealedthat women’s educational level, wealth index, being visited byhealth extension, marital status, use of children as a source ofincome, and occupational status of women were factors signifi-cantly hindering the use of long-acting contraceptive methods inthe area. In conclusion, higher contraceptive use was observedamong educated, married women, women who used children as asource of income, and women employed by the government. It istherefore recommended that government officials in Awi Zone andpolicy makers should implement programs to increase female edu-cation and employment, which could lead to greater use of contra-ceptive methods for effective family planning.
Key words: Awi Zone, contraceptive methods, family planning, multiple logistic regression, Ethiopia.

This study introduces a highly sensitive electrochemical method for detecting paracetamol (PCT) in pharma-ceutical tablets and human serum samples, utilizing a glassy carbon electrode modified with alizarin red S (poly(ARS)/GCE). PCT is one of the most widely used analgesic and antipyretic drugs; however, its overdose orprolonged use can lead to severe liver and kidney damage. Therefore, the development of sensitive and reliablemethods for monitoring PCT levels in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids is crucial for ensuringdrug safety and effective therapeutic monitoring. Characterization of the electrode confirmed that the surfacemodification with a conductive and electroactive polymer film (poly(ARS)) significantly enhanced the effectiveelectrode surface area and reduced charge transfer resistance. Compared to the unmodified electrode, themodified electrode exhibited a well-resolved, irreversible redox peak at a significantly lower potential with asixfold increase in current, highlighting the catalytic efficiency of the modifier toward PCT. The electrochemicalbehavior of PCT was analyzed via cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry, revealing significantlyenhanced sensitivity and selectivity due to the conductive polymer coating. Under optimized electrode conditionsquare wave voltammetric current response of poly(ARS)/GCE showed linear dependence on concentration of0.01–250.0 μM and an ultralow detection limit of 1.0 nM in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). Analyticalapplication on real samples confirmed the method's accuracy, achieving recovery rates of 98.8–100.3 % forpharmaceutical tablets and human blood serum, even in the presence of potential interferents. The developedmethod provides a cost-effective and robust alternative for PCT quantification, with superior performancecompared to previously report electrochemical approaches.
Keywords: Paracetamol, Glassy carbon electrode, Alizarin red S, Cyclic voltammetry, Square wave voltammetry

This study systematically assessed the concentrations of selected metals and the proximate composition of milk samples collected from six locations: Agerie Milk Cooperative, Andassa Livestock Research Center, Tekelehymanot Monastery, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar Dairy Cooperative, and households in Keble-7, Bahir Dar city. Proximate composition, including moisture, ash, protein, and fat, was determined using the Kjeldahl digestion and Gerber methods, while metal analysis was performed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy technique. The findings revealed significant variations (P

Two new oligomer mixed ligand complexes, comprising 21 ([Co21(phen)42(bipy)21]Cl42 (C2)) and 100 monomerunits ([Co100(phen)200(bipy)100]Cl200 (C3)) were synthesized. These complexes, designated as [Co21(phen)42(-bipy)21]Cl42 (C2) and [Co100(phen)200(bipy)100]Cl200 (C3), were employed for the modification of a glassycarbon electrode (GCE) to detect ciprofloxacin (CPF) in tablet formulations and human urine samples. Bypotentiodynamic deposition, the modified electrodes (poly(C2)/GCE) and (poly(C3)/GCE) were prepared,forming a conductive electroactive film on the GCE surface. The modified electrodes were characterized usingcyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, which revealed an increased effective surfacearea and a significant reduction in charge transfer resistance of the electrode. An oxidative peak at a lowerpotential with a six-fold increase in peak current was observed at the poly(C2)/GCE. The absence of a reductivepeak in the reverse scan indicated the irreversibility of the electrochemical oxidation of CPF. The correlationcoefficient between the peak current and the square root of the scan rate indicated that CPF oxidation at the poly(C2)/GCE was primarily controlled by diffusion mass transport. With a detection limit of 3.4 × 10 9 M, thevoltammetric current response of CPF at the poly(C2)/GCE under optimal circumstances showed a linear trendwith concentrations ranging from 5.0 × 10 8 to 2.0 × 10 4 M. It was discovered that the CPF levels in theexamined tablet brands fell between 98.35 % and 101.30 % of their stated ranges. The recovery results for tabletand urine samples ranged from 99.44 % to 99.95 % and 99.25 % to 100.51 %, respectively, with interferencerecovery showing an error of less than 4.73 %. When it came to determining CPF in tablet formulations andhuman urine samples, the new approach outperformed recently published voltammetric methods. This superi-ority can be attributed to the simplicity of the electrode modification step, the lowest limit of detection, and areasonably wide linear dynamic range.
Keywords: Electrochemical determination; Ciprofloxacin; Poly(μ-4,4′-bipyridine(bis(1,10-phenanthroline))cobalt(II)chloride)); Glassy carbon electrodeTablet formulations

ABSTRACT: β-Lactam antibiotics are employed to treat bacterial illnesses.Despite a high level of clinical success, they have encountered serious resistancethat demands a high-dose regimen and a new pharmacokinetic combination. Thisrequires continuous monitoring of their levels in pharmaceutical and biologicalsamples. In this study, an electrochemical sensor was developed for thedetermination of cephalexin (CLN) in pharmaceutical formulations and biologicalfluid samples. The sensors were developed by modifying a glassy carbon electrode(GCE) using a conducting polymer (dipicrylamine) by potentiodynamicelectropolymerization. Characterization (using cyclic voltammetry and electronimpedance spectroscopy) results revealed modification of the electrode surface,leading to an enhanced effective electrode surface area and their conductivity. Theappearance of an irreversible oxidative peak at much-reduced potential with 5-foldcurrent enhancement at a poly(dipicrylamine)-modified glassy carbon electrode(poly(DPA)/GCE) verified the electrocatalytic role toward CLN. Under optimizedconditions, a wider linear concentration range (5 × 10−8 to 3.0 × 10−4 M), lowest limit of detection (LoD) (2.5 nM), detectedamount of each tablet brand above 97.00% of the labeled value (showing excellent agreement between the detected amount andcompany label), and excellent % recovery results in pharmaceutical and biological samples were obtained with an excellentinterference recovery error of less than 4.05%. Its excellent accuracy, selectivity, reproducibility, and stabilities and only requiring asimple electrode modification step combined with its readily available and nontoxic modifier, which sets it apart from mostpreviously reported methods, have validated the present method’s potential applicability for determining CLN in biological andpharmaceutical samples.