Aksum University

Nowadays, there is an increase in the demand for plant-extract-mediated nanoparticles, mainly due to low toxicity and biocompatibility, which owing to their enhanced bioavailability, exhibit significant antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, and antiviral activities. However, green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (SM-Au NPs) offers a sustainable targeted and effective way for drug delivery. This study first report to our knowledge demonstrated that gold nanoparticles (SM-Au NPs) synthesized from aqueous leaf extract of Solanum marginatum (SM), evaluated their in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity and their underlying mechanism in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced RAW 264.7 cells. The peak at UV-Vis 540 nm confirmed formation of SM-Au NPs. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) of SM-Au NPs revealed a hydrodynamic size of 1253.3 nm and zeta potential of − 21.1 mV. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that SM-Au NPs were crystalline and pure with an average crystal size of 22.3 nm. The cytotoxicity results confirmed that SM-Au NPs were found to be did not show cytotoxic effect within the concentration of 6.25–12.5 µg/mL against RAW 264.7 macrophages. SM-Au NPs inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner showing 45.31

In vitro propagation using shoot apical meristem culture provides a reliable method for producing uniform, disease-free sugarcane planting material. This study aimed to optimize hormone regimes for two French genotypes, FG03-418 and FG04-754, and highlighted their genotype-specific responses that improved shoot initiation, multiplication, rooting, and acclimatization efficiency. This study optimized in vitro propagation of two French sugarcane genotypes (FG03-418 and FG04-754) using shoot apical meristems under a randomized design, revealing genotype-specific responses to plant growth regulators. FG03-418 showed optimal initiation on MS medium with 0.75 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), while FG04-754 responded best at 1.25 mg/L BAP. During multiplication, FG03-418 produced the highest shoot number (11.56 ± 0.68) at 1.5 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and achieved maximum shoot length and leaf number (5.47 ± 0.31) at 2.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA, whereas FG04-754 exhibited optimal shoot growth at 2.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L NAA. Root induction was most effective on half-strength MS medium supplemented with NAA, at 5.0 mg/L for FG03-418 and 4.0 mg/L for FG04-754, producing mean root lengths of 7.05 ± 0.13 cm and 5.27 ± 0.14 cm, respectively. Acclimatization in a greenhouse substrate of sand, soil, and compost (1:2:1) resulted in survival rates above 95

This paper introduces a relaxed iterative method for approximating solutions to bilevel variational inequality problems (BVIP) in real Hilbert spaces framework. The mathematical structure addressed herein involves two variational inequalities: one constrained by the other, where the mapping in the lower level is pseudomonotone uniformly continuous. We propose an iterative algorithm that specifically addresses cases where the lower-level mapping is pseudomonotone and uniformly continuous. We then establish strong convergence of the generated sequence to a unique solution of the BVIP using an Armijo-line search procedure. We also provide numerical illustrations in infinite-dimensional Hilbert space settings, including a comparative analysis with previous methods, demonstrating that the proposed approach achieves faster convergence and requires less computational time. A significant contribution of this work is the removal of restrictive assumptions commonly found in existing literature, such as weak sequential continuity and other specific conditions for the lower-level mapping. Furthermore, the method improves computational efficiency by reducing the number of metric projections required to just one per iteration.

Purpose: Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), transmitted by whiteflies, is a highly destructive pathogen that threatens tomato production worldwide. Temperature plays a crucial role in determining how tomato plants respond to TYLCV infection, primarily because it influences the activity and population dynamics of insect vectors. This study is aimed at exploring how variations in temperature affect the transmission dynamics of TYLCV among tomato plants. Methods: We formulate and analyze a mathematical model for the spread of TYLCV that incorporates temperature-dependent variation in virus inoculation and acquisition rates. We compute and examine the basic reproduction numbers without temperature variation (R-01) and with temperature variation (R-02). In addition, numerical simulations are performed to investigate the impact of temperature on the disease dynamics. Results: We show that warmer climates or rising seasonal temperature exacerbate outbreak severity and persistence. Besides, we find that if R-02 < 1, then R-01 < 1 automatically holds, leading to a disease-free equilibrium at higher temperatures. This implies that controlling the disease is possible when R-02 is less than unity. However, R-01 < 1 does not necessarily guarantee that R-02 < 1, which means disease eradication may not occur under varying temperature conditions. Sensitivity analysis reveals the influence of critical parameters on TYLCV dynamics. Notably, a backward bifurcation can occur, where both the disease-free and endemic equilibria coexist, even when R-01 < 1 under increasing temperatures. Conclusion: The disease can persist in tomato and whitefly populations even when R-01 < 1. Thus, achieving R-01 < 1 is not sufficient for disease eradication. However, effective management is possible if temperature-dependent reproduction number R-02 is reduced below unity. These findings offer insights that may aid in developing more effective strategies for controlling TYLCV.MSC2010 Classification92B05, 92D25, 92D30

The first one thousand days of life are a critical window of opportunity for children's health and development. Nutritional deficiencies during this time can have serious consequences for the child's health and development, with limited chances for correction later. For example, inadequate feeding among children can lead to consequences such as stunting, wasting, impaired immunity, and delayed cognitive development. Therefore, this study aimed to determine meal frequency and associated factors among children aged 6-23 months in the Tahtay Maichew district, northern Ethiopia. We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study involving 981 randomly selected mothers of children aged 6-23 months. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The children's meal frequency was determined by asking mothers how many times their child had eaten food in the 24 hours preceding the survey. We used binary logistic regression with backward elimination to identify factors associated with children's meal frequency. Overall, 68% (95% CI: 64.9, 70.9%) of the children received adequate meal frequency. Being from a rich household (p = 0.013, 95% CI = 1.12, 2.59), having growth monitoring follow-up (p < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.44, 2.88), good mother's knowledge of child feeding (p < 0.001, 95% CI = 1.59, 3.22), and having a birth preparedness plan (p < 0.046, 95% CI = 1.013, 4.339) were associated with adequate meal frequency. The proportion of children who did not receive adequate meal frequency was significantly high. Being from a wealthy household, undergoing growth monitoring follow-up, having a knowledgeable mother regarding child feeding, and having a birth preparedness plan were associated with adequate meal frequency. In conclusion, our findings highlight the need to improve child meal frequency through enhancing maternal knowledge of child feeding, strengthening growth monitoring and promotion services, and improving socioeconomic status, as indicated by the wealth index.