Investigating the Effect of Gypsum Powder on Chemical Constituents of Soil and Selected Crops, Adigudem, Tigray, Ethiopia

This paper investigates the effects of gypsum powder from the gypsum plant in Adigudem on chemical properties of soil as well as the yield of two major crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Three mixes of 10kg of soil with 0%, 10%, 30%, and 50% proportion of gypsum powder were used for pot experiments under glasshouse conditions at Mekelle University. One bulk soil sample was collected from a spot at 4 km from the eastern side of the plant. The chemical concentration of major elements Ca, K, Na, Mg, and Mn, and trace elements, Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Fe in soil and plant parts were determined using an Atomic absorption spectrometer as well as NO3, PO4 and SO4 using UV-spectrometer. The results suggest that the gypsum powder enhances metals and anion content in soil and in crop parts compared to the control sample. The chemical constituents in soil and crop parts showed negligible variation with increasing proportions of gypsum powder. Gypsum loaded Ca, SO4, Mn, and Pb onto the soil, which exhibited higher Mg, Cu, Mo, Cd, NO3, and PO4 but the comparable concentrations of Fe, K, Zn, and Cr in decreasing order. However, a direct relationship was noted in chemical constituent loadings along the pathway: powder-soil-crop in a similar fashion in the three mixes. Factor analyses revealed that wheat parts have a higher accumulation of nutrients than the barley parts with higher content in its growth soil blends. As an extension of this research, the in-situ investigation is recommended to assess the direct impact of the gypsum powder emitted over the soil and crops.

My Experiance of Ethiopian Universities

In this article, I will present an experience that I had when I went to Mekelle University to study my doctorate degree. I share this not because I could not get pass the event, but because I realized that a very powerful people in this country are involved in this and the only way to fight this people and stop them is to share the story to others.

Challenges and Opportunities in Building a Successful Digital Library in Developing Countries

The present research work describes the use of the electronic resources by the teaching community at Mekelle University, Ethiopia. The survey was conducted by using questionnaires to collect the data. The questionnaires were administrated to total 1516 on duty teaching faculties of seven colleges. Including the College of Natural and Computational Sciences, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Health Science, the College of Law and Governance, the College of Business and Economics, the College of Language and Social Sciences, College Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as nine regular institutes including; the Ethiopian Institute of Technology, the Mekelle Institute of Technology, the Institute of Paleo Environment and Heritage Conservation, the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences, the Institute of Geo-Information and Earth Observation Sciences, the Institute of Environment and Gender Development Studies, the Institute of Population Studies, the Institute for Climate and Society, and the Institute for Water and Environment at Mekelle University. The survey also examines the purpose of use, frequency, difficulties, and availability of electronic information resources subscribed by the Mekelle University Digital Library. Finally, the data was interpreted, concluded, and suggestions have been given for improvement of electronic information resources at library web portal.

Umbilical Hernia in Cross Holstein Friesian Calf and its Surgical Management: A Case Report

A three-months-old Holstein Friesian crossbred calf weighing 56 kg was presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Mekelle University, Ethiopia with a history of swelling at the umbilical region from birth since last few months. Clinical examination revealed umbilical hernia with a hernial ring of 3 fingers breadth. The case was handled surgically by means of herniorrhaphy using overlapping mattress suture techniques and synthetic absorbable polyglycolic acid. The calf has unevenly recovered on the 20th-day post-operation. The present case report discusses the successful management of umbilical hernia in the calf.

The effect of simulation-based training in non-physician anesthetists in Tigray region, Ethiopia

Objective : In Ethiopia simulation-based anesthesia education is a new way of teaching method which started in Mekelle University as of January, 2019. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate whether simulation-based training improves non-physician anesthetists’ knowledge and attitude on maternal and neonatal anesthesia cares or not. Results : Out of 50 study subjects, 66% had a working experience of less than 5 years.. Knowledge score improved significantly from 49.78% and 66.22% in pretest and posttest results respectively. The posttest result was significantly improved (P< 0.001) for all knowledge questions. The respondents were asked about a negative statement and a positive statement about the need to have effective closed lope communication, maternal resuscitation and neonatal resuscitation. The attitude score improved from 72.45% to 79.11% in pretest and posttest respectively. From the 9 questions the attitudinal mean score for pretest was 6.52 and posttest 7.12. The null hypothesis of equal knowledge and attitude was rejected, t (49) = -5.54, p < 0.001 and t (49) = -2.25, p < 0.03 respectively.