Search

Abstract Background The focus of triticale breeding in the southern Great Plains of the United States has been to increase forage yield for autumn–winter seasons when most other forage species are dormant. This study aims to estimate the trends of seasonal yield changes over time. Methods Yield trials had been conducted in a randomized complete block design for up to two decades. Seasonal yield changes over time were estimated using linear regression analysis. Results The analysis revealed a significant positive relation between autumn forage yield (relative to common checks) and calendar years when the trials were conducted. The estimated improvement of autumn forage yield was about 1.9% per year on medium and heavy soil at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and about 5.4% per year on light soil at Burneyville, Oklahoma. However, winter forage yield change was minimal and the spring forage yield increase was negative, although this decline was not significant. Total forage yield improvements were about 0.6% and 0.7% per year at Ardmore and Burneyville, respectively. Similar results were also observed when years of cultivars' introduction were used instead. Conclusions The results indicate a significant gain in autumn forage yield, but a minor gain in the total forage yield due to the yield tradeoff between the autumn and spring seasons.

It is crucial to develop functional electronic materials that can be processed from green solvents to achieve environmentally sustainable and cost‐efficient printing fabrication of organic electronic devices. Here, the design and cost‐efficient synthesis of two hydrophilic and emissive conjugated polymers, TQ‐OEG and TQ2F‐OEG, are presented, which are rendered hydrophilic through the grafting of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) solubilizing groups onto the thiophene‐quinoxaline conjugated backbone and thereby can be processed from a water:ethanol solvent mixture. The results show that the introduction of the OEG groups enables for a direct dissolution of salts by the neat polymer for the attainment of solid‐state ion mobility. These properties are utilized for the design and development of light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), the active materials of which can be solution cast from a water:ethanol‐based ink. It is specifically shown that such an LEC device, comprising an optimized blend of the TQ2F‐OEG emitter and a Li salt as the active material positioned between two air‐stabile electrodes, delivers deep‐red emission (peak wavelength = 670 nm) with a radiance of 185 µW m−2 at a low drive voltage of 2.3 V. This study contributes relevant information as to how polymers and LEC devices can be designed and fabricated to combine functionality with sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress during the seedling stage of early-planted winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most abiotic stresses of the crop restricting forage and grain production in the Southern Plains of the United States. To map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with seedling heat tolerance, a genome-wide association mapping study (GWAS) was conducted using 200 diverse representative lines of the hard red winter wheat association mapping panel, which was established by the Triticeae Coordinated Agricultural Project (TCAP) and genotyped with the wheat iSelect 90K SNP array. The plants were initially planted under optimal temperature conditions in two growth chambers. At the three-leaf stage, one chamber was set to 40/35°C day/night as heat stress treatment, while the other chamber was kept at optimal temperature (25/20°C day/night) as control for 14 days. Data were collected on leaf chlorophyll content, shoot length, number of leaves per seedling, and seedling recovery after removal of heat stress treatment. Phenotypic variability for seedling heat tolerance among wheat lines was observed in this study. Using the mixed linear model (MLM), we detected multiple significant QTLs for seedling heat tolerance on different chromosomes. Some of the QTLs were detected on chromosomes that were previously reported to harbor QTLs for heat tolerance during the flowering stage of wheat. These results suggest that some heat tolerance QTLs are effective from the seedling to reproductive stages in wheat. However, new QTLs that have never been reported at the reproductive stage were found responding to seedling heat stress in the present study. Candidate gene analysis revealed high sequence similarities of some significant loci with candidate genes involved in plant stress responses including heat, drought, and salt stress. This study provides valuable information about the genetic basis of seedling heat tolerance in wheat. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first GWAS to map QTLs associated with seedling heat tolerance targeting early planting of dual-purpose winter wheat. The SNP markers identified in this study will be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of seedling heat tolerance during dual-purpose wheat breeding.

Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is a man-made species developed by crossing wheat (Triticum spp.) and rye (Secale cereale L.). It incorporates favorable alleles from both progenitor species (wheat and rye), enabling adaptation to environments that are less favorable for wheat yet providing better biomass yield and forage quality. Triticale has huge potential for both grain and forage production, though research to improve the crop for better adaptation and grain quality is lagging behind that of other small grains. It is also gaining popularity as a cover crop to improve soil health and reduce nutrient leaching. Because of its genetic and flower structure, triticale is suitable for both line and hybrid breeding methods. Advances in the areas of molecular biology and the wealth of genomic resources from both wheat and rye can be exploited for triticale improvement. Gene mapping and genomic selection will facilitate triticale breeding by increasing selection precision and reducing time and cost. The objectives of this review are to summarize current triticale production status, breeding, and genetics research achievements and to highlight gaps for future research.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is one of the most important forage crops in the Southern Great Plains of the United States. However, it is more sensitive to cold stress than other small grains. In this study, diverse oat germplasm was evaluated for winter survival across multiple years and locations in the region. Field screening started with an observation trial of 1,861 diverse genotypes in the 2012–2013 season and was followed by four seasons of replicated trials from 2013 to 2017. Selection of good winter survivors was started in 2014–2015 season. All trials were laid out in randomized complete blocks with replications of two in 2013–2014 and 2014–2015, four in 2015–2016, and three in 2016–2017. Winter survival was scored in a 1‐to‐9 scale. Data were analysed for each year and location separately. Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis were carried out on combined data of 35 genotypes that were commonly grown in each year and location. Highly significant (p < 0.001) variations were observed among genotypes, environments and genotype‐by‐environment interaction (GEI). The first three interaction principal components (IPCs) were highly significant (p < 0.001), explaining 96% of GEI. Broad sense heritability ranged from 46% to 93%, while heritability for all environments combined was relatively low (24.6%). At the end of the two cycles (2014/2015‐to‐2016/2017) of selection, mean winter survival was improved by more than 38% per cycle compared with the base population mean. Genotypes CIav 4390, CIav 6909 and CIav 7618 showed significantly higher winter survival than the standard checks Okay and Dallas. Genotypes CIav 4390 showed 20% and 35% improvement over the standard checks Okay and Dallas, respectively. Winter survival improvement in oat will remain a difficult task because of high GEI and low heritability. The identified superior genotypes will be used as crossing parents to transfer cold tolerance genes to other elite lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress during the seedling stage of early-planted winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most abiotic stresses of the crop restricting forage and grain production in the Southern Plains of the United States. To map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with seedling heat tolerance, a genome-wide association mapping study (GWAS) was conducted using 200 diverse representative lines of the hard red winter wheat association mapping panel, which was established by the Triticeae Coordinated Agricultural Project (TCAP) and genotyped with the wheat iSelect 90K SNP array. The plants were initially planted under optimal temperature conditions in two growth chambers. At the three-leaf stage, one chamber was set to 40/35°C day/night as heat stress treatment, while the other chamber was kept at optimal temperature (25/20°C day/night) as control for 14 days. Data were collected on leaf chlorophyll content, shoot length, number of leaves per seedling, and seedling recovery after removal of heat stress treatment. Phenotypic variability for seedling heat tolerance among wheat lines was observed in this study. Using the mixed linear model (MLM), we detected multiple significant QTLs for seedling heat tolerance on different chromosomes. Some of the QTLs were detected on chromosomes that were previously reported to harbor QTLs for heat tolerance during the flowering stage of wheat. These results suggest that some heat tolerance QTLs are effective from the seedling to reproductive stages in wheat. However, new QTLs that have never been reported at the reproductive stage were found responding to seedling heat stress in the present study. Candidate gene analysis revealed high sequence similarities of some significant loci with candidate genes involved in plant stress responses including heat, drought, and salt stress. This study provides valuable information about the genetic basis of seedling heat tolerance in wheat. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first GWAS to map QTLs associated with seedling heat tolerance targeting early planting of dual-purpose winter wheat. The SNP markers identified in this study will be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) of seedling heat tolerance during dual-purpose wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) is a man-made species developed by crossing wheat (Triticum spp.) and rye (Secale cereale L.). It incorporates favorable alleles from both progenitor species (wheat and rye), enabling adaptation to environments that are less favorable for wheat yet providing better biomass yield and forage quality. Triticale has huge potential for both grain and forage production, though research to improve the crop for better adaptation and grain quality is lagging behind that of other small grains. It is also gaining popularity as a cover crop to improve soil health and reduce nutrient leaching. Because of its genetic and flower structure, triticale is suitable for both line and hybrid breeding methods. Advances in the areas of molecular biology and the wealth of genomic resources from both wheat and rye can be exploited for triticale improvement. Gene mapping and genomic selection will facilitate triticale breeding by increasing selection precision and reducing time and cost. The objectives of this review are to summarize current triticale production status, breeding, and genetics research achievements and to highlight gaps for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum spp.) stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. and E. Henn. (Pgt), re-emerged as a devastating disease of wheat because of virulent race Ug99 (TTKSK). Many bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivars grown in North America are susceptible to Ug99 or its derivative races that carry additional virulence. 'Gage' was released in 1963 mainly for its excellent field resistance to leaf rust (caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks) and stem rust. However, Gage's resistance has not been genetically characterized, which would facilitate its use in breeding programs. To better define the nature of the resistance in Gage, we created an F2 population and the corresponding F2:3 and F4:5 families from crosses between Gage and stem rust susceptible cultivar 'Bill Brown'. Inheritance of resistance to Pgt race QFCSC and molecular marker analysis indicated that Sr2 and additional genes explain the stem rust resistance of Gage. Using seedling plant infection types from the F2, F2:3, and F4:5 families, we found that at least one dominant and, most likely, one recessive gene are involved in Gage's resistance. Seedling resistance genes acted independently of Sr2 since Sr2 is effective only at the adult plant stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the informed consent practice process and associated factors among healthcare workers for major surgical procedures at Gurage zone hospitals, in 2022., Methods and Materials: Institution-based cross-sectional study was employed., Settings: This study was conducted in Gurage zone hospitals., Participants: All healthcare workers who have been working in Gurage zone hospitals of surgical, operation rooms and obstetrics/gynaecology wards had exposure to patients who had undergone surgery during the study period OUTCOME: The primary outcome of the study was the practice of informed consent practice among healthcare workers in Gurage zone hospitals., Result: A total of 448 study participants were involved in this study giving a response rate of 98%. The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 29.16 (±4.06) years. The mean score of study participants towards the surgical informed consent was 19.5, and 260 (58%, 95% CI: 53.7, 62.5) of them had good practice in the surgical informed consent. In multivariable logistic analysis model, factors like favourable attitude towards informed consent 2.4 (1.556, 3.596), work experience participants 4.9 (2.8, 8.7), adequate knowledge of informed consent 2.5 (1.6, 3.9) and communication challenge 1.6 (1.07, 2.50) were independently associated with the practice of informed consent at a p value of <0.05., Conclusion: More than half of healthcare providers had good practice towards the surgical informed consent process. The practice of informed consent is low, and it is better to work on healthcare providers' in-service training, knowledge and attitude towards informed consent., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: High-risk fertility behavior (HRFB) is a serious public health issue that may influence the country's economic development as well as the health status of mothers mainly in developing countries, like Ethiopia.However, there is a scarcity of evidence about HRFB and associated factors in the study area. Therefore, this study assessed HRFB and associated factors among mothers attending antenatal care in public health facilities in Hossana town, Hadiya zone, Central Ethiopia Region., Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 276 women who were attending antenatal care follow-up by using a systematic sampling technique from July 01 to 30, 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Data entry was done by Epi data version 4.6 and analysis was done by SPSS 25 statistical software. Variables with p-value < 0.25 in bi-variable analysis were moved to multivariable analysis for controlling the possible confounders. In the multivariable analysis, variables with p-values less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant to HRFB., Results: In the study, it was found that 67.39% of the total participants, specifically women, exhibited high-risk fertility behavior (HRFB) (95% CI: 63.91, 71.01). Among these, 41.90% were identified as having a single high-risk factor (95% CI: 39.78, 44.2), while 25.47% were classified as facing multiple high-risk factors (95% CI: 24.13, 26.8). The research indicated that several factors significantly contributed to maternal HRFB, including lack of antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR: 3.36, 95% CI: 1.78, 6.35), having fewer than four ANC visits (AOR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.38, 4.32), and a poor knowledge of contraceptives (AOR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.02, 5.11)., Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that HRFB is high. Almost two out of three women experience HRFB. Having ANC follows- up, number of ANC visits, and knowledge on contraception were the major factors affecting HRFB. HRFB could seriously indicate the development of the country as well as maternal health issues. Therefore, Health education on advantages of ANC follow up and contraceptive use should get due attention., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by Ethical review Committee of the Wachemo University received RRC letter from Wachemo university with the registration number 818/14. Informed written and verbal consent was obtained from each participant before interview in respective of considering illiterates. All participants below 18 years old were consent taken from their families. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: In developing countries evidences regarding pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) patients are lacking, despite being responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. As a result, identifying the factors that influence PH is crucial to improve the quality of care., Objective: To determine prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and its associated factors among rheumatic heart disease patients at the public hospitals of Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia., Methods: An institution based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among RHD patients who had follow up at the two public hospitals of Bahir Dar city from January 2022 to December 2023. It involved 310 patients selected by systematic random sampling technique. Pretested, structured, and interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic and diseases related parameters.Transthoracic echocardiography by cardiologist was used to assess PH. Data were entered using Epidata Manager version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of PH, considering with a p-value of < 0.05 as statically significant, with a 95% confidence interval., Results: The mean systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) of the participants was 50.2 mmHg [SD ± 25.0 mmHg]. The prevalence of PH among RHD patients was 56.5% (95% CI 50.9 - 61.9) from which 51.4% had severe PH. Severe mitral valve stenosis (AOR 7.8, 95% CI 2.4-25.7), duration of illness ≥ 3 years (AOR 7.7, 95% CI 2.1-28.5), and diuretics use (AOR 5.6, 95% CI 2.2-14.3) were factors associated with PH. In contrast, valvular intervention (AOR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.29) and LVEF ≥ 50% (AOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.02-0.81) were found to be protective factors., Conclusions: The prevalence of PH among RHD patients in Ethiopia is high and it's associated with delayed presentation & complications. Special attention should be paid to early surgical or percutaneous valvular intervention for those who have indication, before they develop permanent cardiac remodeling and LVFE become reduced. As a result, access to valvular intervention need to be addressed to improve PH related morbidity & mortality among RHD patients in Ethiopia., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted according to declarations of Helsinki. Ethical clearance was approved by the Research Ethical Review Board of College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar university (protocol number 802/2023). Written informed consent was obtained from the participants including legal guardians and or parents, and patient data confidentiality was respected at all levels from patient interview, chart retrieving and data analysis which was handled by the investigators. During the data collection process, those patients who were found to have pulmonary hypertension were linked to the treating physicians for any farther management. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

This study investigates the optimization of four gluten free flours namely sorghum, rice, teff flours, and 3% flaxseed flour blends to enhance the quality injera , which was traditionally baked with only pure teff. Utilizing a D-optimal mixture design, ratios were varied (sorghum 43%-50%, rice 20%-27%, teff 23%-30%). Methods followed AOAC and AACC standards, analyzed using Minitab 19.2 software with one-way and two-way ANOVA. Results show flaxseed supplementation significantly improves sorghum-based injera's texture and sensory attributes, approaching teff injera quality. Hedonic ratings (color, rollability, softness, taste, eye distribution, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability) were favorable. Physical texture remained stable during storage, with variable titratable acidity among blends. This research supports integrating flaxseed flour in grain blends to enhance injera's nutritional and sensory qualities, proposing applications in both household and industrial settings. The purpose of this study is to investigate the supplementation of flaxseed flour in a blend of sorghum, rice, and teff flours, for its performance to improve the overall acceptability, and sensory appeals of the produced injera., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2025 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Despite the availability of vaccination and early treatment, cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where access to screening and treatment is often limited., Methods: In this study, researchers conducted a survey of four international databases-Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Henare-along with Google Scholar to search for gray literature. The keywords used for searching the international databases included "Uterine Cervical Neoplasms [Mesh]," "Survival OR Survival Analysis OR Survival Rate," and "Sub-Saharan countries" (including the names of specific countries). Six researchers independently screened and extracted data from the articles. All studies published in English were included without restriction and assessed for quality using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort and cross-sectional studies. The results of this systematic review were reported in accordance with the PRISMA checklist., Results: Out of the 2,180 articles initially identified, 23 were deemed eligible and reported on the survival status of patients with cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the multi-year survival rates (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years) of patients with cervical cancer. Based on the random-effects model, the overall pooled 1-year survival was 65.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 52-78] with I² = 99.31 and p-value < 0.001. The 2-year survival rate was 60% (95% CI, 46-74) with I² = 99.12 and p-value < 0.001, the 3-year survival was 48% (95% CI, 35-62) with I² = 98.45 and p-value < 0.001, the 4-year survival was 42.9% (95% CI, 32.7-53.1) with I² = 96.80 and p-value < 0.001, and the 5-year survival was 35% (95% CI, 27-44) with I² = 98.74 and p-value < 0.001., Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis found that the survival rates for patients with cervical cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa are much lower than the global averages. The results show that the 5-year survival rate can be as low as 35%, highlighting serious challenges in managing cervical cancer in this region. To address this issue, collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, and international organizations is essential to enhance the availability and quality of care. Future research should focus on developing effective early detection and treatment strategies and monitoring long-term survival outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Emagneneh, Mulugeta, Ejigu, Alamrew, Hiwot and Feleke.)

Background: Teachers play important roles in influencing vaccine uptake decisions and should serve as examples for their students by willingly getting vaccinated. Given the low vaccination rates in this area, it is crucial to explore teachers' willingness to get vaccinated and emphasize their role in promoting vaccine acceptance., Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the willingness of teachers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and its associated factors in Dambi Dollo town., Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2022. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 23.0. The dependent variable was willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Variables that showed an association with the dependent variable in the bivariable analyses at a p-value of 0.25 were entered into a multiple stepwise logistic regression model. A p- value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant in this study's multivariable analysis to determine the presence of significant association between the dependent and the independent variables. Adjusted Odds ratios, along with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to interpret the findings., Results: A total of 247 teachers participated in this study. About 92% of the teachers in Dambi Dollo town have heard COVID-19 vaccine and 67.2% of them knew that the vaccine can prevent the COVID-19 disease. On the other hand, 51% (95%CI: 44.8, 57.2) of the respondents had good knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine. From the total 247 participants, 68.4% (95%CI: 62.5, 74.3) were willing to receive the vaccine immediately while the remaining were either not willing or not ready at the time of data collection. Those participants having good knowledge of the vaccine were about six times more willing to get vaccinated (AOR = 5.85, 95%CI: 2.74, 12.47) in comparison with those having poor knowledge., Conclusion: In conclusion, the level of willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among school teachers in Dambi Dollo town was 68.4. Followers of Protestant religion and Muslims were less willing compared with Orthodox Christians while the participants with good knowledge were more willing to be vaccinated., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant to ensure they were aware of their right to participate or not, and the study continued with those who agreed to participate. On the other hand research ethical approval letter was obtained from the Dambi Dollo University Institutional Research Ethics Review Board. Confidentiality and privacy were maintained by excluding the names and IDs of study participants from the questionnaire. Those who did not volunteer to participate in the study were respected not to participate by their decision. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Malaria is a serious global public health problem, which is caused by genus Plasmodium. Resistance of the human malaria parasite to antimalarial drugs is a public health concern in malaria endemic countries. Chloroquine is resistant for both P. vivax and P. falciparum. Chloroquine resistance is understood throughout all of Africa's P. falciparum endemic regions. Molecular markers play a crucial role in tracking and understanding the prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance. Currently, there is inadequate information on the prevalence of molecular markers of chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites., Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of molecular markers of chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites in East Africa., Methods: Systematic search was performed to retrieve articles from PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and the Google Scholar search engine. Twenty potential studies that provided important data on markers of chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites were systematically reviewed and analyzed. Five antimalarial drug resistance markers of chloroquine resistance were extracted separately into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA 17.0. The Inverse of variance (I 2 ) was done to evaluate heterogeneity across studies. The funnel plot and the Egger's test were used to determine the existence or absence of publication bias. A trim-and-fill meta-analysis was carried out to generate a bias-adjusted effect estimate. A random effect model was used to determine the pooled prevalence of molecular markers associated with chloroquine resistance in malaria parasites. Subgroup analysis was performed based on country and year of publication., Results: A total of 20 studies were included for this systematic review and meta-analysis. The molecular markers like K76T, 76T, N86Y, Y184F, and 86Y were selected for meta-analysis. From this meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of K76T, 76T, N86Y, Y184F, and 86Y was 34.5%, 47.3%, 43.8%, 58.3%, and 29.2%, respectively. After adjusting for publication bias, the estimated pooled prevalence of K76T, 76T, N86Y, Y184F, and 86Y were 34.5%, 47.3%, 43.8%, 58.3%, and 29.2%, respectively. Meta-analysis showed a significant difference in all molecular marker prevalence like K76T and 86Y among studies on year of publication except 76T, N86Y, and Y184F. In addition, the meta-analysis showed a significant difference in all molecular marker prevalence like K76T, 76T, N86Y, Y184F, and 86Y among studies at the country level., Conclusions: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis concerning the molecular markers of chloroquine resistance of malaria parasites in East Africa revealed a significant prevalence of antimalarial drug resistance markers of chloroquine. As a result, continued surveillance and monitoring of the prevalence of molecular markers of chloroquine resistance, identification and limitation of drug-resistant malaria parasite strains, and development of new antimalarial treatments are required to guide malaria treatment policies, interventions, control, and elimination of malaria worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Poultry farming in Ethiopia is crucial for food security and income, but it faces significant challenges due to gaps in farmer awareness. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Biocheck.UGent™ biosecurity scoring system and a questionnaire to evaluate poultry farmers' basic and practical knowledge concerning salmonellosis and mycotoxins. The questionnaire revealed substantial gaps in basic and practical knowledge regarding Salmonella spp infections and mycotoxin among 38 poultry farmers in Jimma. About 68.4% of farmers were unaware of the impact of salmonellosis on both poultry and human health. Moreover, 78.9% had limited basic knowledge of how salmonellosis affects production and the economy. Farmers also showed limited practical knowledge of farm management and hygiene practices essential for preventing Salmonella spp. infections. Regarding mycotoxins, 63.2% of farmers lacked awareness of poultry feed management, 60.5% were unaware of the health risks mycotoxins pose, and 73.7% did not recognize signs of mycotoxin contamination. Although 55.3% of farmers demonstrated acceptable practical knowledge of strategies to reduce the impact of mycotoxin contaminations, there are still concerns, particularly since 65.8% and 55.3% only showed moderate practical knowledge of feed storage and mycotoxin prevention, respectively. The overall biosecurity scores of poultry farms were below the global average, with a score of 41.7 compared to the worldwide average of 64. The overall mean score for external biosecurity was 44.9, below the global average of 63. All 3 scoring platforms and biosecurity parameters indicated that internal biosecurity was the weakest aspect, with a score of 31.6, well below the global standard of 64. The results showed a weak correlation (rₛ = 0.06) between farmers' basic and practical knowledge scores about Salmonella spp. infections and mycotoxins. Similarly, there was a weak correlation between the poor biosecurity score of poultry farms and the basic and practical knowledge of poultry farmers on Salmonella spp. infections (rₛ = 0.17) and mycotoxins (rₛ = 0.25). In conclusion, the study found that poultry farmers in Jimma had poor basic and practical knowledge scores on Salmonella , mycotoxins, and biosecurity measures. Thus, awareness creation is paramount to improve these gaps to reduce the impact of mycotoxin contamination and poultry diseases and consequently to improve food security and food safety.

Introduction: Promoting the involvement of male partners in skilled delivery care is a strategy supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of male partner involvement in delivery care service in Ethiopia and its contributing factors., Methods: We retrieved observational studies conducted in Ethiopia from PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane Library, Hinari, and Mednar using Boolean search terms. The Newcastle Ottawa 2016 Critical Appraisal Checklist assessed the methodological quality of the studies. Publication bias was evaluated with a funnel plot and Egger's test, and heterogeneity was checked using the I-squared test. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Stata 11 software., Results: 10 articles with 5,307 participants were included for analysis. The pooled prevalence of male partner involvement in delivery care service was 52.99% (95% CI: 40.63-65.35). Paternal secondary education and above (OR 1.99, 95% CI: 1.69, 2.30), paternal knowledge (OR 3.129, 95% CI: 1.901, 4.356), partner attitude (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.45-3.34), having ANC accompanying experience (OR 8.09, 95% CI: 3.14, 19.32), and urban residence (OR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.61, 2.64) were significantly associated with male partner involvement in delivery care service in Ethiopia., Conclusion: This study found that more than half of male partners in Ethiopia were involved in delivery care services. The key contributing factors for male partner involvement in delivery care services were paternal secondary education and above, paternal knowledge, partner attitude, ANC accompanying experience, and urban residence. Campaigns should be organized to improve knowledge, attitude, and effectively recognize men's involvement in skilled birth care., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Safe motherhood programs must include both readiness for complications and childbirth. Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a comprehensive approach that helps resolve delays in deciding to seek care for obstetric problems., Objectives: To identify the determinants of BPCR practice among reproductive age group women in Africa., Design: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis., Data Sources and Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) were followed and databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, Google Scholar, and Web of Science were used to find the available studies. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was used to identify associated factors. I2 statistics, funnel plot, and Egger test were used to assess the studies' heterogeneity and publication bias., Results: In this review, a total of 32 studies with 17,787 sample sizes were included. Knowledge of BPCR (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.44, 3.13), knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.37, 1.88), Knowledge of labor and delivery danger signs (AOR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.28, 1.62), Knowledge of postpartum danger signs (AOR = 1.40; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.63), urban residency (AOR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.70), Antenatal Care follow-up (AOR = AOR = 1.52;95% CI:1.42, 1.63), history of stillbirth (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.36, 1.86), parity (AOR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.66) and secondary or higher educational status (AOR = 1.51: 95% CI: 1.35, 1.68) were the determinants of BPCR practice., Conclusion: BPCR practice among African women of reproductive age has been greatly affected by antenatal care visits, urban residency, knowledge of danger during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum, history of stillbirth, primiparity, and secondary or higher education. Focused interventions that address the identified factors may enhance BPCR practices and maternal health outcomes in Africa., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate Not applicable. Consent for publication Not applicable. Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Breast cancer remains a significant public health issue, with delayed medical attention often leading to advanced stages and poorer survival rates. In East Africa, evidence on the prevalence and factors contributing to the delayed presentation of breast cancer is limited. As a result, this study aims to assess the pooled prevalence of delayed breast cancer presentation and identify contributing factors in East Africa., Methods: We conducted a systematic review of observational studies from East Africa using PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane Library, Hinari, and Mednar databases. The Newcastle Ottawa 2016 Critical Appraisal Checklist assessed methodological quality. Publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger's test, and heterogeneity was examined with the I-squared test. Data were extracted with Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Stata 11., Results: The pooled prevalence of delayed presentation among breast cancer patients in East Africa was 61.85% (95% Confidence Interval: 48.83%-74.88%). Significant factors contributing to delayed presentation included visiting traditional healers (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.43-5.59), low educational levels (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.61; 95% CI: 2.39-4.82), age>40 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.87; 1.03, 2.71), absence of breast pain (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.42; 1.09, 3.74), distance >5km away from home to health institution (Adjusted Odds Ratio 2.89; 1.54, 4.24), and rural residence (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 3.33; 95% CI: 2.16-4.49)., Conclusion: This meta-analysis's findings demonstrated that over half of breast cancer patients in East Africa delayed detection. Significant factors associated with delayed presentation include age over 40 years, illiteracy, rural residence, use of traditional healers, distance greater than 5 km from a health facility, and absence of breast pain. Healthcare stakeholders and policymakers must be focused on raising awareness and educating people to encourage early detection and prompt therapy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Mulugeta et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Urban expansion in developing countries like Ethiopia is causing political turmoil in peri-urban areas due to inadequate compensation for evicted farmers because of the absence of a land market, which is prohibited by Ethiopia's land policy. This paper applies the contingent valuation method to measure the compensation value considered acceptable to those who are evicted from their farm land. The west Gojjam and Awi zones of Amhara region, Ethiopia are chosen for the case study based on 393 completed questionnaires. It has been demonstrated that a willingness to accept compensation is essential for maintaining sustainable livelihoods. The study applied single-bounded contingent valuation and double-bounded contingent valuation methods to estimate the mean willingness to accept compensation value. Based on the finding, double-bounded contingent valuation could be more optimal for the welfare of the evictees in detecting and correcting respondent's bias due to its narrow confidence interval. Pilot survey was employed to ensure reliability and validity of the methods employed. Therefore, the optimal bid vector for multiplying the average land output preceding three years of eviction is 29.27. Additionally, variables such as initial bid, age, education, and total annual income significantly affect the willingness to accept compensation. The study recommends that federal and local governments should provide adequate compensation offers that prioritize the well-being of peri-urban communities during urban expansion programs, as farmers are losing their most valuable asset. This is crucial for sustainable living and poverty reduction among those who have been evicted., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Reliable detection of Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibodies is crucial for diagnosing Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). However, cell-based assays, the most reliable approach, are limited by inadequate instruments. This study reports the use of silver metal-organic gels (Ag-MOGs) as coreactants in a single-electrode electrochemical system (SEES)-based electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor for multiplex detection of AQP4 antibodies. The immunosensor was constructed by modifying the carbon nanotube single-electrode with Ag-MOGs, incubating it with AQP4 peptides, and ultimately enabling the immobilization of AQP4 antibodies. Voltage-induced potential gradients at the electrode triggered the Ru(bpy) 3 2+ ECL reaction, and reduced emissions caused by AQP4 antibodies were recorded using a smartphone. Under optimal conditions, the immunosensor exhibited a strong linearity (10-1000 ng/mL) with a detection limit of 2.8 ng/mL. Validation of its accuracy, precision, dilutability, and selectivity confirmed robust performance across the diverse parameters. Furthermore, it successfully detected AQP4 antibodies in serum samples from seropositive NMOSD patients. The platform's single electrode design and multiplex capability make it simple, fast and cost-effective. Enhanced accessibility and user-friendliness could position this system as a transformative tool for improving disease diagnosis and treatment, particularly in resource-limited regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has intensified the search for novel antidiarrheal drug. Plant-derived extracts offer promising alternatives due to their ability to modulate gut motility and enhance water absorption. The leaves of Leucas deflexa Hook.f., a plant native to Ethiopia, have been traditionally utilized in the treatment of diarrheal diseases. Nonetheless, its traditional application has yet to be scientifically confirmed., Aim of the Study: Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate antidiarrheal activity of the crude extract and fractions of the leaf of Leucas deflexa Hook.f (Lamiaceae)., Materials and Methods: Healthy Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into five groups per experimental model: castor oil-induced diarrhea, gastrointestinal motility, and anti-enteropooling assays. The control group received distilled water (10 ml/kg), while the positive control was treated with loperamide (3 mg/kg). The remaining groups were administered various dosages (LD100, LD200, and LD400 mg/kg) of a hydroalcoholic extract or its fractions from Leucas deflexa Hook.f., Result: The crude extract and chloroform fraction substantially (P < 0.001) delayed the onset of diarrhea, reduced fecal frequency, and decreased total fecal weight at all administered doses compared to the negative control. The butanol and aqueous fractions exhibited a substantial antidiarrheal effect at doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, respectively. All treatments, including the crude extract, chloroform, butanol, and aqueous fractions, substantially (P < 0.001) reduced the volume and weight of intestinal contents at various doses. Additionally, the chloroform, aqueous fraction, and crude extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg substantially inhibited gastrointestinal motility compared to the negative control., Conclusion: The results of this study corroborate the traditional use of Leucas deflexa leaves in the treatment of diarrhea. These findings give a scientific justification for further exploration of the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications of this plant extract., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We have no conflicts of interest to disclose associated with this publication This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors that could have influenced its outcome. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process. He is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Co-inhibitory receptors (immune checkpoints) regulate activated immune cells. Their expression on T cells can limit host defense. We hypothesized that chronic Leishmania donovani infection in patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) leads to expression of co-inhibitory receptors that could be markers of treatment response and clinical outcome., Method: A prospective cohort of 21 subjects with VL (7 with HIV coinfection) and 10 controls was established to measure T-cell expression of co-inhibitory receptors (PD-1, Tim-3, LAG-3, CTLA-4, and TIGIT) by flow cytometry in discarded remnants of diagnostic splenic or bone marrow aspirates and peripheral blood collected before and after treatment. Plasma levels of soluble co-inhibitory proteins (sPD-1, sTim-3, sLAG-3, and sCTLA-4) and selected cytokines were determined by immunoassay., Results: Expression of co-inhibitory receptors in peripheral blood T cells generally reflected findings in spleen and bone marrow aspirates. PD-1 and Tim-3 were upregulated in CD4+ T cells in HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects with VL compared to controls. CD8+ T cells from HIV-negative subjects with VL displayed a similar pattern. Plasma levels of sPD-1 and sTim-3 were also greater in VL patients than controls. CD8+ and CD4+ T cells coexpressing PD-1 and Tim-3 showed considerable decline with treatment. Mortality in HIV-negative VL patients was associated with increased CD8+ T cells coexpressing Tim-3 and PD-1, triple-positive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (PD-1 + Tim-3 + LAG-3 + ), and elevated sLAG3., Conclusions: Tim-3 and PD-1 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and increased plasma sLAG-3, were markers of treatment response and clinical outcome in patients with VL., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts. The funders had no role in the study design, data analyses, interpretation of data, writing the manuscript, and decision to publish the results., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Salmonellosis represents a significant economic and public health concern for the poultry industry in Africa, leading to substantial economic losses due to mortality, reduced productivity, and food safety problems. However, comprehensive information on the burden of poultry salmonellosis at the continental level is scarce. To address this gap, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to consolidate information on the prevalence and circulating serotypes of poultry salmonellosis in African countries. This involved the selection and review of 130 articles published between 1984 and 2021. A detailed systematic review protocol was structured according to Cochrane STROBE and PRISMA statement guideline. From the 130 selected articles from 23 different African countries, the overall pooled prevalence estimate (PPE) of poultry salmonellosis in Africa was found to be 14.4% (95% CI = 0.145-0.151). Cameroon reported the highest PPE at 71.9%. The PPE was notably high in meat and meat products at 23%. The number of research papers reporting poultry salmonellosis in Africa has shown a threefold increase from 1984 to 2021. Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium were the two most prevalent serotypes reported in 18 African countries. Besides, Salmonella Kentucky, Virchow, Gallinarum, and Pullorum were also widely reported. Western Africa had the highest diversity of reported Salmonella serotypes (141), in contrast to southern Africa, which reported only 27 different serotypes. In conclusion, poultry salmonellosis is highly prevalent across Africa, with a variety of known serotypes circulating throughout the continent. Consequently, it is crucial to implement strategic plans for the prevention and control of Salmonella in Africa. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The pooled sample prevalence of poultry salmonellosis in Africa is high (14.4%).The highest PPE was recorded in meat and meat products. Salmonella serotypes of zoonotic importance were found in all sample types. Salmonella Enteritidis and Typhimurium are common serotypes spreading in Africa.

Background: Birth before arrival (BBA) constitutes a high-risk newborn population with high perinatal morbidity and mortality. In Ethiopia, most studies and health surveys consider only home and hospital deliveries but do not consider deliveries that take place between the house and health facility. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of BBA and its associated factors among postpartum women in Lemo woreda, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2023., Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among postpartum women in Lemo woreda, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, from April 5 to May 20, 2023. Three hundred eighty-two postpartum women who gave birth 6 months prior to this study were included. Twelve out of 36 kebeles were selected randomly, and simple random sampling was employed for the selection of participant women. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. A binary logistic regression analysis was computed, and variables with a p value of <0.25 were included in the final multivariable logistic regression analysis. Model fitness was checked via the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test ( x 2  = 16.04, p value = 0.250). Statistical significance was declared via odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals at a p value <0.05., Results: The prevalence of BBA among women who gave birth in the last 6 months preceding this study in the study area was 15.2% (95% CI: 11.8, 19.1%). In the multivariable analysis, the variables associated with birth before arrival in the final model were having no antenatal care (AOR = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.23, 5.63), having a female autonomy status (AOR = 3.32; 95% CI: 1.12, 9.89), not being knowledgeable about labor symptoms (AOR = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.11, 4.18), and having birth preparedness toward the index birth (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.35)., Conclusion: The prevalence of BBA in the study area was unacceptably high. A statistically significant association was observed between birth before arrival and having no antenatal care, dependent women's autonomy status, being not knowledgeable about labor symptoms, and having birth preparedness toward the index birth., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Amanuel, Desalegn, Lukas and Yohannes.)

Background: Over the past years, there has been a growing concern that a considerable amount of anti-malarial supply in the underdeveloped world particularly in the private sector, is of poor quality. The World Health Organization (WHO) has received about 1500 reports that mentions instances of substandard and falsified products since 2013. The majority of the reports concerned antibiotics and anti-malarials. The majority of reports (42%) originate from the WHO African region., Objective: This study intends to assess the quality of the most widely used anti-malarial medications [artemether-lumefantrine tablets, chloroquine phosphate tablets, primaquine phosphate tablets, artesunate, and artemether injections] in Gambella, South-West, Ethiopia., Methods: A total of 52 samples were collected on June 2022 from Gambella National Regional State, Ethiopia. Half of the districts (six) located in the four zones of the region were chosen using simple random sampling technique. All drug retail outlets available in the selected districts (locally known as woredas) were included. The samples were subjected to visual inspection with a tool adopted from the joint WHO/FIP/ USP checklist. The pharmacopeial tests for identification, uniformity of dosage forms, assay, thickness, diameter, hardness, friability, disintegration test, dissolution, and sterility tests were carried out according to the USP 44-NF 39 and International Pharmacopoeia 11th edition, 2022 monographs., Results and Discussion: Only 25% of the samples were registered on the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA's) electronic regulatory/ registration system (ERIS). Besides, 88.8% of artemether injection products were presented in clear glass ampoules. This might expose the products to photochemical degradation that leads to in loss of anti-plasmodial activity. In addition, 50% of the artemether products assessed were not bioequivalent with the comparator product in the in vitro dissolution comparison tests. Overall, the study findings reveal a high prevalence (58.3%) of substandard anti-malarial drugs in the region. The stated percent of the samples had failed in one or more of the quality test parameters assessed in this study., Conclusion: The study findings reveal a high prevalence (58.3%) of substandard anti-malarial drugs in the region. Only a quarter were registered and 38% of the unregistered products failed the quality tests. Hence, the national, regional medicine regulatory bodies and other stake holders should perform the required roles to circumvent presence of Substandard and Falsified (SF) anti-malarial drugs in the study sites., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a global health concern, and its prevalence among older adults and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is gaining attention. Understanding the extent of antibiotic resistance in these populations is critical for designing targeted interventions., Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in older adults and AD patients with a focus on quantitative studies in order to provide comprehensive insights into the current landscape., Methods: To identify relevant studies, we conducted a thorough search of the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Only studies involving adults and AD patients, published in English, and reporting quantitative data on antibiotic resistance prevalence were considered. The Risk of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used to assess quality. The data was summarized by using Revman 5.4.1., Results: A total of six studies met the final criteria for selection and results from the meta-analysis found a pooled prevalence odds ratio of OR = 1.27 (95% CI: [0.99, 1.63], Z  = 1.87, p  = 0.06). The studies showed significant heterogeneity (I2 = 100%, p  < 0.00001), emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation., Conclusions: The findings indicate a potential trend of increased antibiotic resistance in older adults and AD patients, though statistical significance was not achieved for both. The significant heterogeneity highlights the complexity of resistance patterns in these populations, necessitating additional research for tailored interventions., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (© 2024 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasites from the Leishmania (L.) donovani complex. VL is characterised by uncontrolled parasite replication in spleen, liver and bone marrow, and by an impaired immune response and high systemic levels of inflammation. Monocytes have been poorly characterised in VL patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of markers involved in the regulation of T cell responses on different subsets of monocytes from the blood of VL patients and healthy non-endemic controls (HNEC). Monocytes can broadly be divided into three subsets: classical, intermediate and non-classical monocytes. Our results show that the percentages of all three subsets stayed similar at the time of VL diagnosis (ToD) and at the end of anti-leishmanial treatment (EoT). We first looked at co-stimulatory receptors: the expression levels of CD40 were significantly increased on classical and intermediate, but not non-classical monocytes, at ToD as compared to EoT and HNEC. CD80 expression levels were also increased on intermediate monocytes at ToD as compared to EoT and HNEC, and on classical monocytes only as compared to HNEC. The levels of CD86 were similar at EoT and ToD and in HNEC on classical and intermediate monocytes, but significantly higher at EoT on non-classical monocytes. We also looked at an inhibitory molecule, PD-L1. Our results show that the expression levels of PD-L1 were significantly higher on all three monocyte subsets at ToD as compared to HNEC, and to EoT on classical and intermediate monocytes. These results show that monocytes from the blood of VL patients upregulate both co-stimulatory and inhibitory receptors and that their expression levels are restored at EoT., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Adem et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: The presence of poor-quality medicines is becoming a public health threat in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. Antibiotics are among the most common anti-infective medicines that are highly prone to this problem., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of selected antibacterials that are marketed in Setit Humera and West Gondar Zones, North West Ethiopia, which are located on the Ethiopian side of the Ethiopia-Sudan-Eritrea border., Methods: Seventy-one samples of the four antibacterial medicines (Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Amoxycillin, and Amoxycillin clavullanate combination) were collected from six sites in Setit Humera and West Gondar Zones, North West Ethiopia. A mystery shopping system was used for sample collection. Visual inspections and confirmation of the registration status were carried out using the joint WHO/FIP/USP checklist and the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority's (EFDA's) Electronic Regulatory Information System (eRIS), respectively. Then Pharmacopeial methods (USP, BP) were employed to assess the physicochemical quality parameters., Results: During the period of our data collection, the application status for registration in the eRIS system was checked. From 71 samples, 25.35% (18/71) were not registered, and 15.49% (11/71) were registered, but the license period had expired. Some samples (12.06% (17/71)) did not meet the visual inspection criteria. The physicochemical evaluation showed that all the samples studied met the quality specifications for the identification and hardness tests. However, concerning assay, dissolution, uniformity of dosage units, disintegration, and friability test parameters, 27.49% (23/71), 16.9% (12/71), and 14.08% (10/71), 2.82% (2/71) and 8.57% (3/35) of samples were found to be substandard, respectively. Overall, 56.33% (40/71) of the samples tested were of poor quality, failing to meet any one or more of the assessed parameters in this study., Conclusion: The study indicated that poor-quality antibacterial medicines are circulating in the study sites. Therefore, even if the area was affected by conflict at the time of the study, the regulatory bodies should focus on enforcing the necessary measures by collaborating with the regional and national regulatory medicine agencies to ensure that the antibacterial medicines available meet the required mandatory minimum standards., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Denekew et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: People who are forced to leave home often experience emotional suffering and may be disproportionately subjected to risk factors for suicide. Although it is a grave concern for the global public health community, it has not been understood in Ethiopia., Aims: This study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022., Method: From 23 May to 22 June 2022, a cross-sectional study design was conducted, and a sample of 765 participants was selected through simple random sampling. A structured interview was employed to collect data. Suicidal ideation and attempts were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview., Results: Out of 751 interviewed participants with a response rate of 98.2%, the magnitude of suicidal ideation and attempt was 22.4% (95% CI: 19.5%, 25.4%) and 6.7% (95% CI: 5.1%, 8.7%), respectively. People of female gender, having depression, family with a history of mental illness, and poor social support were significantly associated with both suicidal ideation and attempts. Furthermore, post-traumatic stress symptoms and the death of a family member were significantly associated with suicide ideation and attempt, respectively., Conclusion: At least one in five of the displaced people in this population had experienced suicide ideation, and one in fifteen had attempted suicide. Therefore, strengthening early detection and intervention for individuals is recommended, especially for females with depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, family with a history of mental illness, poor social support and the death of family members.

Integrated nutrient management and crop rotation are important farming practices, which enhance the nutrient use efficiency of crops and reduce the incidence of diseases and insect pests. The study was carried out to address the gap in using integrated nutrient management in crop rotation systems for soil qualities and crop yield improvement. That was done by adjusting the balance ratio of dry bio-slurry and nitrogen fertilizers. The experiment was containing ten levels; Control (0,0), recommended nitrogen, 50% dry-bio slurry, 100% dry-bio slurry, 75% dry-bio slurry, 75% dry-bio slurry+25% recommended nitrogen, 50% dry-bio slurry+50% recommended nitrogen, 25% dry-bio slurry+75% recommended nitrogen, 100% dry-bio slurry + 25% recommended nitrogen and 100% dry-bio slurry + 50% recommended nitrogen that was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications for three years. The data on soil properties and yield components of potatoes and wheat were collected and analyzed using statistical analysis system software 9.4. An application of dry bio-slurry with nitrogen fertilizer was significantly affected both crop yield and soil properties in the rotation system. The application of 25% dry bio-slurry with 75% recommended nitrogen gave the highest tuber yield of potato (27.6 tha-1) as compared to control. Similarly, using 100% and 75% sole dry bio-slurry resulted in the highest grain yield (3.85 tha-1) and above-ground biomass (9.59 tha-1) of wheat. The combination of 25% dry bio-slurry with 75% recommended nitrogen scored the highest net benefit (2889.2 US$) with an acceptable marginal return (4463.3%) via by improving crops yield in the system. So, an application of 25% dry bio-slurry with 75% recommended nitrogen could be promoted for yield-soil improvement in the study area and similar agroecology., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Addis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: A large number of people are often directly involved in armed conflict and, therefore, are at greater risk of developing a wide range of mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite this, few have been reported about it in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia., Objective: This study was carried out to assess the magnitude and factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder among war-affected internally displaced people in northwest Ethiopia, 2022., Methods: Cross-sectional study design was conducted from May 23 to June 22, 2022, and simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 412 participants. Data were collected by structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. The post-traumatic stress disorder checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition with extended criteria-A was used to assess post-traumatic stress disorder. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder., Results: A total of 412 participants were interviewed with the response rate of 100%. The mean age of the respondents was 34.7 (±10.9) years. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder was found to be 60.98% (95% CI: 56.1%, 65.5%) with an estimated prevalence of 23.5% and 76.5% among males and females, respectively. In multivariable analysis, female sex (AOR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.48, 3.86), having depression (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.78, 4.60), family history of mental illness (AOR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.43, 9.42), and poor social support (AOR = 3.61; 95% CI: 1.74, 7.47) were factors significantly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder at p -value < 0.05., Conclusion and Recommendation: Based on this study, at least 6 out of 10 war-affected populations have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder. Especially females, those who had depression, family history of mental illness, and poor social support, were more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, it is recommended to do on-site screening and provide treatment for all displaced populations suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder by giving special concern for females, individuals having depression, poor social support, and family history of mental illness., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Ethiopia is currently facing a major environmental problem caused by soil erosion. In order to tackle this problem, it is essential to implement a comprehensive watershed management approach and give priority to conservation efforts depending on the level of severity. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the mean annual soil erosion and rank the sub-watersheds for conservations in the Ayu watershed, utilizing the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and the Sub-Watershed Prioritization Tool (SWPT). RUSLE was utilized to predict the annual average soil erosion rate, while SWPT was applied to conduct Weighted Sum Analysis (WSA) for ranking sub-watersheds. Support Vector Machine (SVM) was employed for classifying land use and land cover. The Relative importance of morphometric and topo-hydrologic features in the SWPT was analyzed using a Random Forest model. The Bland-Altman plot and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were employed to assess the agreement in prioritizing watersheds between RUSLE results and the SWPT. Furthermore, field observations were conducted to validate the land use classification by collecting ground data. In addition, the study was enhanced with local viewpoints by conducting focus group discussions with agricultural experts and farmers to obtain qualitative insights and validation of resuts. The findings showed that soil loss varied from 0 to 110 t/ha/yr, with an average of 8.95 t/ha/yr, resulting in a total loss of 384365.3 tons annually. The comparison of RUSLE and SWPT showed a moderate positive relationship (r = 0.59). The results of the Bland-Altman plot indicate a consistent agreement between the two methods. However, there is inconsistency among the five sub watersheds. This study enhances the knowledge of soil erosion patterns and offers useful guidance for watershed conservation techniques. It can be also used as a beneficial framework for managing watersheds, with possible uses outside of the Ayu watershed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori , and the factors associated with it are not well understood. This study evaluates MetS and its associated factors among both H pylori-positive and H pylori-negative individuals in Northeast Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1 March 2022 to 30 May 2022. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables. A total of 228 subjects were randomly selected. Blood and stool samples were collected from each subject to measure fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles, and to identify H. pylori infection. Data were entered into Epi. Data 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Logistic regression analysis and the Mann-Whitney U-test were performed to determine associated factors and compare median and interquartile ranges., Results: Of the 228 participants, 114 were H. pylori positive, and 114 were H. pylori negative. Participants (50.9% female) ranged in age from 18 years to 63 years, with a median age of 31 (IQR, 22, 40) years. The overall prevalence of MetS among the participants was 23.2%. We found a statistically significant association between MetS and fasting blood glucose level (AOR, 15.965; 95% CI, 7.605-33.515, p<0.001). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant difference in the median serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p<0.001), triglycerides (p=0.036), systolic blood pressure (<0.001), and total cholesterol (p<0.001) between H. pylori -positive and H. pylori -negative participants., Conclusion: MetS was prevalent among study participants. There was also a statistically significant association between fasting blood sugar and MetS. In addition, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels were significantly different between H. pylori -positive and H. pylori -negative individuals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Asmelash, Nigatie, Melak, Alemayehu, Ashagre and Worede.)

Hypertension (HTN), a cardiovascular disease (CV), is a major public health challenge. Therefore, the quality of drugs used to treat it has become a major concern. Enalapril and furosemide are among the drugs prescribed to manage hypertension. Hence, this study is aimed at evaluating the quality of different brands of enalapril and furosemide tablets available in the Gedeo and Borena zones, southern Ethiopia. Thirteen generic brands of enalapril maleate (5 mg) and furosemide (40 mg) tablets were evaluated for visual defects, in vitro dissolution test, weight variations, friability, hardness, and disintegration tests. The analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) content was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Out of 55 samples, 7 (12.73%) failed to comply with the criteria for visual inspection; otherwise, all samples passed the identification test. Except for one brand of each of enalapril maleate and furosemide, all passed the dissolution test. The assay value showed that all enalapril maleate samples were within the limits of United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), 2020. Additionally, except for two batches, all furosemide samples were within the USP and British Pharmacopoeia (BP), 2020 standards. Out of 55 samples, 8% (2/25) and 6.67% (2/30) of enalapril maleate and furosemide tablets failed the uniformity of dosage units test per the USP-2020, respectively. All samples passed the disintegration test, and selected furosemide samples passed the microbial limit tests. However, 36% (9/25) and 20% (6/30) of enalapril maleate and furosemide samples failed to pass hardness test. Generally, from the total samples, 50.91% (28/55) were substandard (did not meet the specifications failing any one or more parameters assessed). The studied drugs circulating in the market did not meet some of the needed quality specifications. This could have brought a risk of reduced efficacy due to the distribution of poor quality medicines in the area., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they did not have any conflicts of interest to declare in relation to this study and publication. The funders did not have any role in the study design, data interpretation or publication., (Copyright: © 2024 Tesfaye et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious and infectious disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals. Disease control is complicated by its highly contagious nature and antigenic diversity. Host microRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators that either promote or repress viral replications in virus infection. In the present study, we found that ssc-miR-7139-3p (Sus scrofa miR-7139-3p) was significantly up-regulated in host cells during foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection. Overexpression of miR-7139-3p attenuated FMDV replication, whereas inhibition promoted FMDV replication. In addition, the survival rate of FMDV infected suckling mice was increased through injection of miR-7139-3p agomiR. Further studies revealed that miR-7139-3p targets Bcl-2 to initiate the apoptotic pathway and caspase-3 cleaved 3C pro behind the 174th aspartic acid (D174), which eventually promotes the degradation of 3C pro . Overall, our findings demonstrate that miR-7139-3p suppresses FMDV replication by promoting degradation of 3C pro through targeting the apoptosis-negative regulatory gene Bcl-2., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative disease affecting synovial joints, predominantly the knee, leading to various complications, including mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. This systematic review aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety in knee OA patients., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in various databases till September 15, 2023. Studies focusing on the prevalence of mental health issues in patients with knee OA were included, excluding narrative reviews, protocols, unpublished reports, editorials, case reports, abstracts, and commentaries. All statistical analyses were performed in R version 4.2.3., Results: This review included a total of 14 studies involving middle-aged to elderly adult patients with knee OA, with ages ranging from 45 to 75 years. Among these, 13 studies involving 3390 adult patients with an average age of 59.75 years reported a pooled prevalence of depression of 30% (95% confidence interval: 18-43), demonstrating a substantial heterogeneity ( I 2 =98%). Additionally, anxiety was identified with a combined prevalence of 27% (95% confidence interval: 24-30) based on three studies that included 1407 older adult patients with an average age of 62.1 years. These studies displayed minimal heterogeneity ( I 2 =7%)., Conclusion: The findings show a significant prevalence of depression among adult patients with knee OA and anxiety among older adults with knee OA, emphasizing the need for integrated healthcare approaches that address both orthopedic and mental health conditions. More comprehensive research is essential to deepen our understanding of the connection between mental illnesses and knee OA and to develop effective preventive and treatment strategies., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is the most prevalent but neglected psychiatric disorder, with somatic symptoms that are severe enough to markedly affect usual daily activities and have a negative impact on mental health and quality of life by affecting female patients' behavior and cognition. Studies regarding premenstrual dysphoric disorder and associated factors among high school students in low- and middle-income countries are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of PMDD among high school students, and this is pivotal in further investigation., Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 25 to April 17, 2023 using a simple random-sampling technique to select a sample of 564 participants. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder was assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Self-administered standardized questionnaires were used to collect data., Result: A total of 548 study participants participated, with a 97.2% response rate. The prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder among high school students was found to be 33.03% (95%CI: 29.20-37.09). In a multivariable analysis, irregular menstruation cycle (AOR = 4.242, 95%CI = 2.182-8.246), depression (AOR = 5.272, 95%CI = 2.779-10.002), having greater than 4 days of menstruation bleeding duration (AOR = 2.138, 95%CI = 1.105-4.138), and high perceived stress (AOR = 3.468, 95%CL = 1.217-9.880) were the factors significantly associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder., Conclusion: The overall prevalence of PMDD which was one-third among high school students was high. Moreover, long duration of menstruation bleeding, depressive symptoms, irregular menstruation cycle, and high perceived stress were significant factors in PMDD. Therefore, it needs early screening and intervention in primary healthcare settings, especially for those who have high perceived stress, having depression, having a long duration of menstruation bleeding, and having an irregular menstruation cycle, so as to have good academic achievement and psychological wellbeing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Kibralew, Demilew, Koye, Yitayih, Kelebie, Melkam, Tadesse, Fentahun, Nakie, Wassie and Amare.)

Background/aims: Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is a severe consequence of chronic inflammation/conjunctival scarring resulting from trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Our prospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of refresher training (RT) for experienced surgeons (1-22 years) on the outcomes of upper lid (UL) TT surgery in rural Ethiopia., Methods: Patients undergoing UL TT surgery in at least one eye by a participating surgeon were included. Patients were split into two cohorts: patients enrolled prior to (C1) and after (C2) RT. RT consisted of a 1-week programme with practice on a HEAD START mannequin and supportive supervision in live surgery by expert trainers. Data were collected at preoperative enrolment, and at 6-month and 12-month follow-up visits. The primary outcome was development of postoperative TT (PTT). A series of multivariate generalised estimating equations were fit to model PTT involving potential covariates of interest., Results: A total of 261 eyes contributed by 173 patients were studied between 2017 and 2019. By 1-year postoperatively, 37/128 eyes (28.9%) in C1 and 22/133 eyes (16.5%) in C2 had developed PTT (p=0.03). Other than surgeon RT participation, no factors studied were associated with differences in PTT., Conclusion: Our results indicate a significant reduction in the risk of PTT after experienced surgeons' participation in RT as compared with eyes receiving surgery before RT. This observation suggests a significant potential benefit of the RT with HEAD START mannequin practice and supportive supervision during surgery, and suggests RT may be a valuable strategy to improve surgical outcomes., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Civilian war and internal conflicts increase the incidences of mental health conditions among war survivors. It is crucial to assess war-related psychological consequences in war-affected areas in Ethiopia to intervene in the future. Thus, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of psychological distress and associated factors of psychological distress among war survivor women in Northern, Ethiopia., Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted, and 1596 war survivor women were recruited to participate using a face-to-face interviews with a census sampling technique from May 1-30, 2022. The psychological distress was assessed using a Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were used, and variables with a p-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable analyses were considered statistically significant., Result: In this study, the response rate was 100% and the prevalence of psychological distress was 44.90% at a 95% CI: (42.40, 47.40). Psychological distress was significantly associated with the education of ability to read and write (AOR = 2.92; 95% CI: 2.12, 4.01), primary education and above (AOR = 3.08; 95% CI: 2.09, 4.54), housewife (AOR = 5.07; 95%CI: 2.64, 9.74), farmer (AOR = 8.92; 95%CI: 4.03, 19.70), emotional violence (AOR = 1.52; 95%CI: 1.05, 2.18), physical violence (AOR = 3.85; 95%CI: 2.37, 6.26) and sexual violence (AOR = 3.25; 95%CI: 1.98, 5.33) whereas being separate was protective for psychological distress (AOR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.16, 0.92)., Conclusion: The prevalence of psychological distress was found to be high. Therefore, women who are housewives, married, farmers, educated, and who have experienced violence must be the focus of governmental and private collaborative interventions to prevent war-related psychological morbidity and mortality., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background:   There is vast preclinical evidence that indicates that extracts from several Artemisia plant species have significant antidiabetic benefits. However, clinical evidence is limited to this effect., Objective:  We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of  Jena DM ®  (an  Artemisia annua -based poly-herbal formulation) on glycemic control (Hb A1C) and insulin metabolism (HOMA), when administered as a complementary therapy in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study was supported by a research grant (JRD005) from Jena Herbals (U) Ltd, which is a local herbal medicines manufacturing facility in Uganda., Methods: We conducted a 12-week quasi-experimental study, involving 118 patients under routine follow-up at a diabetes and endocrinology clinic. Random assignment to either conventional or experimental study groups was done using a random number generator (Microsoft Excel version 16.0). Participant sociodemographic and clinical data as well as whole blood samples (3-5 mL) were obtained at scheduled clinic visits. Medication adherence was assessed using the Hill-Bone Scale, and adverse drug events (ADEs) using the Naranjo causality and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of AIDS (DAIDS) scales. Group differences in glycemic control (HbA1C), fasting serum insulin (FSI) indices (% HOMA2-B, HOMA-IR), and other cardiometabolic parameters were assessed using independent samples t-test, and Pearson chi-square statistical tests were used. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical approvals were obtained before the study commencement., Results: 12-week daily complementary therapy with  Jena DM ®  showed no significant effect on Hb A1C reduction (0.1 (95% CI: -0.56, 0.80) %;  p =0.798); however, we observed a significant reduction in total body weight (2.0 (95% CI: 0.73, 3.28) kg;  p =0.002). The overall frequency of self-reported ADEs including dizziness was significantly higher among patients that used  Jena DM ®  (p=0.001). Epigastric pain was the most severe ADE necessitating clinical management. There was no significant difference in the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) between study groups., Conclusion:  In contrast to a few studies that previously showed significant hypoglycemic effects of  Artemisia-based  extracts, this study did not show a statistically significant reduction on HbA1C during a 12-week complementary use of  Jena DM ®  in patients with T2DM. Based on the findings of this study, future research should evaluate the long-term effects of  Jena DM ®  on body weight, overall insulin metabolism, and the subsequent effect on glycemic control in T2DM., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Mbarara University of Science & Technology Research Ethics Committee issued approval MUST-2021-283. Ethical approval to conduct this study was obtained from the Mbarara University of Science & Technology Research Ethics Committee (MUST-2021-283), and the Uganda National Council for Science & Technology (UNCST) (HS2440ES). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: This work was supported by a research grant from Jena Herbals (U) Ltd [JRD/005]. The funder played no role in the collection of data, statistical analysis and interpretation of data, and in the writing or submission of the manuscript for publication. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kiptoo et al.)

Chemiresistive-based metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors are widely used in gas sensing due to their advantageous properties. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) and metal oxide heterostructure materials can improve charge transport properties, selectivity, and sensitivity in MOS gas sensor materials. Herein, for the first time, CuO hollow polyhedral structures (HPSs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal technique and annealed at different temperatures, with the 400 °C annealed (CuO-400 HPSs) demonstrating remarkable sensing capabilities for diethylamine (DEA) gas at room temperature (RT). The x -g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets were decorated with CuO HPSs in varying amounts ( x = 0.8, 1.8, 2.1, and 3.1 wt %) and then annealed at 400 °C for x -g-C 3 N 4 -CuO-400 hollow polyhedral heterostructures (HPHSs). Indeed, among the synthesized samples, the 1.8%-g-C 3 N 4 -CuO-400 HPHSs have a higher sensitivity to DEA (resistance change in gas ( R g ) and air ( R a ); R g /R a = 65 @ 20 ppm), a low detection limit ( R g /R a = 6 @ 500 ppb), wide dynamic response ( R g /R a = 190 @ 80 ppm), strong stability (30 days), and 21.6 times higher sensitivity than pure CuO at RT toward 20 ppm of DEA. The exceptional gas-sensing behavior can be attributed to various factors, including controlled annealing conditions that result in the formation of well-defined structures and greater porosity, efficient charge transfer properties resulting from an optimized ratio of g-C 3 N 4 to CuO in HPHSs, an abundance of defects, unsaturated Cu sites, and synergistic effects. The study presents a universal strategy for generating sensitive and selective g-C 3 N 4 -based composite materials for low-temperature gas sensors.

Objective: A 15-month longitudinal study was conducted to determine the duration and infectivity of asymptomatic qPCR-detected Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections in Ethiopia., Method: Total parasite and gametocyte kinetics were determined by molecular methods; infectivity to Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes by repeated membrane feeding assays. Infectivity results were contrasted with passively recruited symptomatic malaria cases., Results: For P. falciparum and P. vivax infections detected at enrolment, median durations of infection were 37 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 15-93) and 60 days (95% CI, 18-213), respectively. P. falciparum and P. vivax parasite densities declined over the course of infections. From 47 feeding assays on 22 asymptomatic P. falciparum infections, 6.4% (3/47) were infectious and these infected 1.8% (29/1579) of mosquitoes. No transmission was observed in feeding assays on asymptomatic P. vivax mono-infections (0/56); one mixed-species infection was highly infectious. Among the symptomatic cases, 4.3% (2/47) of P. falciparum and 73.3% (53/86) of P. vivax patients were infectious to mosquitoes., Conclusion: The majority of asymptomatic infections were of short duration and low parasite density. Only a minority of asymptomatic individuals were infectious to mosquitoes. This contrasts with earlier findings and is plausibly due to the low parasite densities in this population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A variety of factors can predispose newborns to have a low Apgar score after delivery. Identification of the determinants of low Apgar scores is an important first step to take to apply the necessary precautions. This study aimed to identify the determinants of low fifth-minute Apgar score after a Cesarean section. An institutional-based case-control study was conducted among mothers who deliver their newborns by Cesarean section in Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, from July 1, 2022, to September 30, 2022. Data were collected from 70 cases and 140 controls using a semi-structured checklist. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select both charts of mothers with cases and controls. Charts of mothers with newborns Apgar score less than 7 were considered as cases; whereas a similar group of charts of mothers with newborns with fifth-minute Apgar score greater than or equal to 7 were categorized as control. Descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to describe the mothers and newborns and identify determinants of the fifth-minute low Apgar score, respectively. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to declare the determinant factors, and the statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. In total, 140 controls and 70 cases of mothers charts were enrolled in this study. The Mean ± SD age of mothers of cases and controls were 26.9 ± 4.9 and 27.06 ± 4.1 years, respectively. General anaesthesia (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.9 ‒ 9.3), rural residence (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI, 1.7‒8.1), low birth weight (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI, 1.3‒7.8), and emergency Cesarean section (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.2 ‒ 5.8) were identified determinant factors of low fifth minute Apgar score. A fifth-minute low Apgar score was significantly associated with newborns delivered through emergency Cesarean section, low birth weight, rural residence, and delivered from mothers who had undergone Cesarean section under general anaesthesia., (© 2024. The Author(s).)