Multimetric assessment is one of the important tools for diagnosing, detecting and measuring impairment inecosystem function in lentic ecosystems. It enhances detection capabilities across a broader variety of stressorsand offers a more complete picture of ecological conditions than single metrics or biological indicators. In thiscontext, a diatom-based multimetric index (MMI-D) has been developed to evaluate the ecological health ofLake Hawassa. Physicochemical and benthic diatom sampling was conducted at nine sites along the lakeshore,representing varying levels of human disturbance, from February to November in2015 and 2016. The sampling siteswere classified a priori into three categories: minimally disturbed (three sites), moderately disturbed (three sites) andhighly disturbed (three sites). This classification, was based on a clustering analysis using the percent disturbancescore (PDS). Of the 24-diatom candidate metrics, only ten were chosen as core metrics for the development ofMMI-D, based on redundancy analysis, reaction to environmental conditions, percent discriminatory efficiency (%DE)and box plots. The newly established MMI-D clearly distinguished between reference and non-reference sites, andbetween the lake’s three clusters. The MMI-D’s performance was validated using independent data sets from lakesHawassa and Ziway and it demonstrated the best capability for discrimination between different disturbance levels.MMI-D 2-stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression analysis revealed an inverse but robust connection with the PDS,indicating its responsiveness to Lake Hawassa habitat quality degradation (n = 9, R2 = 0.921, p < 0.001). The MMI-Drevealed a high %DE (95.1%) and a negative but significant connection with nutrients, total suspended solids (TSS),and turbidity (R2 > 0.6; p < 0.05). Generally, it can be concluded that this index is a powerful tool that could assistendusers by providing a practical method for measuring the ecological quality of Lake Hawassa.Keywords: benthic diatoms, ecological quality, Lake Ziway, redundancy analysis, validation

Integration of nonlinear loads in modern power systems has led to many issues arising mainly dueto the generation of harmonic currents and the presence of reactive power, both having adverseeffects on power quality and grid stability. Harmonic currents cause increased losses, overheatingof equipment, and voltage distortions, while reactive power imbalances result in inefficiencies inpower delivery and compromised system performance. To overcome these problems, a Shunt ActivePower FIlter design and an optimal control strategy for harmonic mitigation and reactive powercompensation are proposed in this paper. The design incorporates an optimized anti-windup PIcontroller for DC-link voltage regulation and an optimized output filter to enhance the quality of theinjected current. This design is formulated as an optimization problem and solved using the GoldenJackal Optimizer. MATLAB/Simulink simulations validate the proposed method under differentoperating conditions, covering dynamic change of loads and unbalanced grid conditions. The resultshows a remarkable reduction in Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of grid current, and reactive powercompensation meanwhile maintaining the stability of the grid.Keywords: Golden Jackal optimization, Shunt active power filter (SAPF), Optimal control, Power quality,Current harmonics compensation

This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of medicinalplants (MPs) used to treat wounds. Methanol and ethyl acetatecrude extracts of four medicinal plants were examined for anti-bacterial efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negativeAmerican Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains. Plant crudeextracts were produced using the maceration technique andanalyzed using qualitative phytochemical tests. The antibacter-ial properties of plant products were evaluated using the agardisc diffusion assay. The broth microdilution method was usedto determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) andminimum bactericidal concentrations. The data were analyzedusing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The methanol extract ofRumex nervosus had the highest yield (21%). The methanolextracts of all tested MPs tested positive for alkaloids, phenolics,and tannins. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts exhibiteda dose-dependent increase in the growth inhibition zoneagainst all ATCC. The methanol extract of Plantago lanceolatademonstrated the highest antibacterial activity (16.67 ± 1.15)against Staphylococcus epidermidis. S. aureus and S. epidermidisrecorded a relatively lower MIC (6.25 mg mL−1) from methanolextracts of P. lanceolata, while P. lanceolata and R. nervosusrecorded a lower MBC (25 mg mL−1) against S. aureus.
KEYWORDS: Antibacterial activity; inhibition zone; medicinal plants; MIC; phytochemical; wound

Introduction: One of the main complications for stroke patients is aspiration pneumonia, which is an acute lunginfection brought on by the entry of endogenous flora and various bodily substances from the gastrointestinaltract into the respiratory system. Aspiration pneumonia following a stroke was linked to older age, gender,dysarthria, denture use, cerebral atrophy, and basal ganglia-infarcted foci. Despite improvements in care, theepidemiological and prognostic effects of pneumonia associated with stroke are increasing mortality andmorbidity.Objective: To assess the pooled prevalence of aspiration pneumonia among stroke patients in Ethiopia.Methods: Several databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, African JournalsOnline (AJOL), grey literature, and articles from the repository of Ethiopian universities, were examined to findavailable articles. The data were extracted and sorted in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA/MP 17.0 foranalysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) was employed to assess each study’s qualities. A weighted inverse vari-ance random-effects model with a 95 % confidence interval was used to examine the pooled prevalence ofaspiration pneumonia. The Galbraith plot and funnel plot were used to evaluate heterogeneity and publicationbias, respectively. To identify the possible cause of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and meta-regression wereperformed. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Result: The pooled prevalence of aspiration pneumonia among stroke patients in Ethiopia was 31.65 % (95 % CI:25.30–38.01). Visual examination of the Galbraith plot reveals the presence of significant heterogeneity (I2 =96.55 %, p < 0.001). Studies conducted in Addis Ababa and Harar revealed the highest prevalence of aspirationpneumonia: 37.67 % (95 % CI: 31.56, 43.78). Similarly, articles carried out before 2020 and studies done usingcross-sectional study design revealed the highest proportion of aspiration pneumonia: 32.97 % (95 % CI: 24.96,40.98) and 36.75 (95 % CI: 32.11, 41.38), respectively.Conclusion: Nearly one-third of stroke patients developed aspiration pneumonia. The highest prevalence wasreported in Addis Ababa and Harar regions. As a result, early detection, treatment, and control of stroke areadvisable to prevent the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia.
Keywords: Aspiration pneumonia, Stroke, Cerebrovascular accident, Systematic review, Meta-analysis, Ethiopia

Abstract
Unemployment, particularly graduate unemployment, brings a huge impact on the community. Thus, the fundamental purpose of the study was to examine the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community. To do this, descriptive research with a cross-sectional design was used to reckon the socioeconomic challenges of graduate unemployment in the community, and a mixed research approach was employed. Accordingly, 279 survey respondents, 6 unemployed graduates, 5 parents of job seekers for the interview, six discussants, and 3 key informants were selected by employed stratified, simple random, and purposive sampling methods. The data which are obtained from survey questionnaires were analyzed through descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed by narration and thematic. Hereof, the findings depict that families of jobseekers and their community members have faced economic and social-related troubles. Thus, it brings economic bankruptcy, family strain, menanced for social security, and young students have low interest in education because of the presence of graduate unemployment.




Keywords: Communiy, family, socioeconomic effects, unemployment

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

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal schistosomiasis in students atBochesa Elementary School in the wetlands of Lake Ziway.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 384 students was conducted in May 2016. Intestinal schistosomiasis wasexamined using the Kato-Katz technique. For the association between the prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasisand categorical variables, the chi-square (𝜒2 ) test was used. A binary logistic regression was applied.Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis was 25.52%. Males were more infected (17.45%)than women (8.07%), and the difference was significant (𝜒2 = 17.756; P

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of malaria in individuals visiting health centers in the wetlands of Bahir Dar Zuria District, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used on 422 study participants from three selected health centers from February to March 2020. Plasmodium parasite detection was examined using thick and thin blood smears, with a rapid diagnostic test. The chi-square (χ2) test was used to analyze the association between the prevalence of malaria and categorical variables, whereas binary logistic regression was used to identify potential risk factors using SPSS Version 25. For all types of tests, P-values below 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of malaria observed at the selected health centers around the wetlands of Bahir Dar Zuria District was 23.90% (95% confidence interval: 20.30-27.70%). There was a higher prevalence of malaria in males (39.78%) than in females (11.44%). The younger age group (16-30 years) was the most affected (47.76%), compared with the remaining 0-2 (19.23%), 3-15 (8.64%), 36-45 (37.25%), and above 45 years age groups (13.01%). Individuals with bed net-using habit decreased the risk of malaria infection by 99.70% compared with their counterparts (adjusted odds ratio: 0.003, 95% confidence interval: 0.001-0.011).
Conclusions: In this study, the wetlands of Bahir Dar Zuria District were found conducive to the survival and reproduction of mosquitoes, and the occurrence of malaria prevalence was very high. Therefore, wetland management practices and community mobilizations that might decrease vector abundance and malaria transmission should be strengthened in the study area.

Keywords: Bahir Dar Zuria; Malaria; Prevalence; Rapid diagnostic test; Wetlands.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections occur in patients under medical care, which is a major public health issue in hospitals worldwide. The prevalence is two to three folds higher in developing countries compared to developed countries. Inanimate objects used by healthcare professionals such as gowns, mobile phones, and stethoscopes are highly prone to bacterial contamination from the healthcare setting. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of published data on the bacterial profile and susceptibility patterns of an isolates.
Objective: To determine the bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from inanimate objects used by healthcare professionals and associated factors at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Markos Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from inanimate objects from April 10, 2023 to June 30, 2023 using simple random sampling technique with lottery method. Socio-demographic data was collected using a structured questionnaire. A swab sample from healthcare professionals' gowns, mobile phones, and stethoscopes were collected and inoculated onto blood agar, chocolate and MacConkey agar. Isolates were identified and characterized by colony morphology, Gram staining and biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed in all isolates by the disk diffusion technique on Muller Hinton agar according to CLSI, 2022 guidelines. Data was entered into EPI-Data and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression model was used. Variables with p-value ≤ 0.25 in bivariable logistic regression was fitted to multivariate logistic regression analysis. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 with 95%CI was considered statistically significant.
Result: A total of 376 healthcare professionals' inanimate objects were included from 191 study participants. Overall, 60.1% (226/376) (95%CI: 55.1-65) inanimate objects were contaminated. The proportion of bacterial contamination was (65.1%; 82/126), (60.3%; 76/126) and (54.8%; 68/124) for mobile phones, gowns and stethoscopes, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent isolate accounting (22.1%; 83/376) followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (17.0%; 64/376), Escherichia coli (8.8%; 33/376) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.9%; 18/376). Working in gynecology/ obstetrics wards (AOR: 8.69; 95%CI: 1.09-69.41, P = 0.041), did not disinfect mobile phones (AOR: 2.69; 95%CI: 1.15-6.25; P = 0.021) and stethoscopes regularly (AOR: 3.06, 95%CI: 1.23-7.59; P = 0.016), carry mobile phones with patient care materials (AOR: 2.72; 95%CI: 1.18-6.29, P = 0.019) and not taken infection prevention training (AOR:3.91; 95%CI:1.71-8.93; P = 0.001) were significantly associated with bacterial contamination.Most Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and amoxacilline-clavunic acid, while Gram-positive isolates showed high level of resistant to penicillin. On the other hand, meropenem, for Gram-negative and clindamycin for Gram-positive bacteria showed lower level of resistance. Multidrug resistance among Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were (62.6%; 92/147) and (75.3%; 64/85), respectively with over all MDR (67.2%, 156/232).
Conclusion: Inanimate objects commonly used by healthcare professionals are important sources of bacterial contamination. S. aureus, S. epidermidis and E. coli were the predominant isolates. Most Gram-negative bacteria were resistant to ampicillin while Gram-positive isolates showed high level of resistant to penicillin. All healthcare professionals should regularly disinfect their inanimate objects to prevent bacterial colonization and potential spread of infection.

This study investigates the performance of hemispherical solar stills (HSS) enhanced with date kernelsand olive kernels as heat storage materials to improve water distillation efficiency. By utilizing thesenatural and sustainable materials, the research highlights an alternative to synthetic options. Rigorousexperimentation and detailed analysis under identical conditions reveal that both kernels significantlyimprove heat retention and water production rates. The HSS with date kernels (HSSDK) achieved adaily water productivity of 6.66 kg/m2 day, representing an efficiency increase of 10.87%, while theHSS with olive kernels (HSSOK) produced 8.00 kg/m2 day, enhancing efficiency by 13.54%. The cost perm3 of distilled water for HSSDK is approximately USD 4.65, while HSSOK costs USD 3.89, comparedto USD 7.83 for the conventional CHSS system. These results demonstrate that the inclusion of heatstorage materials has significantly reduced the cost of water production, with reductions of about 40%for HSSDK and 50% for HSSOK compared to the conventional system. These results are attributedto the high thermal conductivity and specific heat capacities of the kernels, enabling effective heatstorage and gradual release. This study demonstrates the potential of agricultural by-products ascost-effective and sustainable solutions for solar water distillation. Further research is recommendedto optimize the quantities and configurations of these materials, as well as to explore their integrationwith other renewable energy systems to enhance overall efficiency and sustainability.Keywords: Hemispherical solar still, Date kernels, Olive kernels, Heat storage materials, Distillation efficiency