BACKGROUND:Pregnancy increases nutrient requirements, making additional meal consumption essential for maternal and fetal health. However, although maternal nutrition studies in Ethiopia have largely focused on dietary diversity, evidence on additional meal consumption remains limited. This study is aimed at determining the magnitude of additional meal consumption and its associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) at Aleta Wondo Primary Hospital in the Sidama Region, Ethiopia. METHOD:A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 407 pregnant women from December 2023 to February 2024. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire. Additional meal consumption was defined as consuming at least one extra meal per day beyond the regular three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Factors associated with additional meal consumption were analyzed using logistic regression models, and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULT:The magnitude of additional meal consumption among pregnant women was 60.4% (95% CI: 55.6%-65.1%). Lower odds of consumption were observed among women with no formal education (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.10-0.66), those earning ≤ 3000 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.61), and those earning 3001-6000 Birr (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.17-0.86), corresponding to 74%, 72%, and 62% reductions, respectively, compared with their counterparts. Higher odds were observed among women without fear of weight gain (AOR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.81-6.96), those with planned pregnancies (AOR = 3.23, 95% CI: 1.67-6.25), urban residents (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.27-3.88), and those from food-secure households (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.11-3.12). CONCLUSION:The magnitude of additional meal consumption was 60.4%. The factors associated with additional meal consumption included educational status, place of residence, pregnancy planning, fear of weight gain, monthly household income, and household food security status. Integrating maternal nutrition into poverty alleviation and food security programs, as well as promoting community awareness of optimal dietary practices, is recommended.
Ensuring the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products is essential for public health, particularly for widely used medications such as paracetamol. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics, dissolution performance, chromatographic quantification, heavy metal content, and microbiological quality of three paracetamol tablet brands, namely Dyna, Homecare Poro, and Paracil, under MS ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory conditions, complemented by a bibliometric analysis of global research trends in paracetamol quality control. Physicochemical assessments included uniformity of weight, hardness, friability, and disintegration time. Dissolution testing was performed using the ERWEKA paddle method at 37°C ± 0.5°C and 50 rpm to assess the rate and extent of drug release. The dissolution profiles showed variable release patterns among the tested brands, with Dyna achieving 100% drug release at 60 min, whereas Homecare Poro and Paracil showed lower release values at the same time point. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis showed distinct paracetamol peaks for all three brands, with Dyna producing the highest peak area response, followed by Homecare Poro and Paracil. Heavy metal analyses for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) were performed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and flow injection atomic spectroscopy (FIAS). Microbiological tests included total aerobic microbial count (TAMC), total yeast and mold count (TYMC), bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. All tested parameters complied with British Pharmacopoeia (BP) and Drug Registration Guidance Document (DRGD) standards. Bibliometric analysis of 2191 Scopus-indexed publications from 2010 to 2025 indicated strong research focus on dissolution, pharmaceutical analysis, and quality control, whereas heavy metal testing, microbiological evaluation, and accreditation-based studies remain limited. This integrated analytical-bibliometric approach confirms product compliance and highlights the need for robust accredited testing frameworks in pharmaceutical quality assurance.
Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are thermostable superantigenic proteins produced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) that are responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) in humans. SEs are classified into classical and nonclassical types, with increasing attention given to the nonclassical due to their potential role in food safety. Therefore, this study is aimed at identifying the presence and distribution of selected nonclassical SE genes (sek, sel, sem, sen, seo, sep, seq, and ser) in 22 stored biological isolates of S. aureus obtained from milk of dairy cows with subclinical mastitis at Mekar Bakti Farm, Pamulihan District, Sumedang Regency, Indonesia. The presence of nonclassical SE genes was investigated using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the sek gene was detected in 90.9% (20/22) of the isolates, whereas the sep gene was identified in 4.5% (1/22), with an isolate harboring both genes. In addition, no amplification was observed for the remaining target genes. Proportions were presented with 95% confidence intervals to reflect uncertainty associated with the limited sample size. As this study was based on PCR detection, the results demonstrated the presence of enterotoxin-associated genes but did not necessarily reflect gene expression, virulence activity, or underlying regulatory mechanisms. The detection of enterotoxin-associated genes in isolates from subclinical mastitis milk indicated their potential relevance at the animal-food interface. These findings provide baseline data for molecular surveillance and support further studies incorporating genomic or expression-based approaches to better characterize enterotoxigenic S. aureus in dairy systems.
Natural disasters cannot be prevented, but it may be possible to reduce their impact on infrastructure by following some guidelines. This study evaluated earthquake-induced damage (from the March 28, 2025 event in Myanmar) to infrastructure (i.e., reinforced concrete [RC], masonry, and temples) through field investigations and fragility analysis. The overturning and beam-column joint failures with spectral collapse were predicted from the field data, which are presented in terms of several damage states (i.e., slight, moderate, heavy, and very heavy) using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA). Nonlinear time history analysis is used to perform IDA by varying the peak ground acceleration (PGA) in the range of 0-1.5 g. Some issues may influence these failures, such as crack depth, inadequate shear reinforcement at the joint, and inadequate seismic detailing. These recommendations are based on the field inspection. The idealized guidelines are provided to overcome these failures; these include reducing crack depth and placing adequate vertical and horizontal shear reinforcements at joints. This study may be enhanced in the future by including more damage categories and risk analysis.
BACKGROUND:Hamstring flexibility may influence postural control through its effects on movement mechanics and lower extremity function. However, whether flexibility is associated equally with motor and sensory components of postural control remains unclear. In addition, previous studies have predominantly relied on categorical classifications of flexibility, which may obscure functional relationships. This study is aimed at examining the associations between hamstring flexibility and multiple components of postural control in healthy young adults. METHODS:This cross-sectional observational study included 70 healthy young adults. Hamstring flexibility was assessed using the sit-and-reach test. Postural control was evaluated through dynamic balance (Y Balance Test), postural stability (Biodex Overall Stability Index), proprioception (joint position sense), and tactile acuity (two-point discrimination). Between-group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed. Multiple linear regression was conducted to identify independent predictors of dynamic balance performance. RESULTS:No significant differences were observed between participants with and without hamstring shortness in dynamic balance, postural stability, proprioception, tactile acuity, or interlimb asymmetry (all p > 0.05). Hamstring flexibility was positively correlated with right-limb YBT composite score (r = 0.298, p = 0.012), negatively correlated with Biodex Overall Stability Index (r = -0.241, p = 0.044), and weakly negatively correlated with shoulder joint position sense (r = -0.265, p = 0.027). In multiple linear regression analysis, hamstring flexibility remained an independent predictor of dynamic balance performance (B = 0.557, 95% CI 0.212-0.903, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS:Greater hamstring flexibility was associated with better dynamic balance performance and showed a weaker association with postural stability, whereas no robust associations were observed with sensory measures of postural control. These findings suggest that hamstring flexibility may be more closely related to motor than sensory aspects of postural control in healthy young adults. Furthermore, associations were identified when flexibility was analyzed as a continuous variable, highlighting the potential value of preserving continuous data in studies examining functional performance.
Anxiety and depression are significant neurological disorders with limited treatment efficacy and notable side effects associated with conventional synthetic drugs. This study investigated the anxiolytic and antidepressant potential of the methanolic leaf extract of Drimycarpus racemosus Hook. f. (MEDR) using both in vivo behavioral models and in silico molecular docking approaches. GC-MS analysis of MEDR identified 39 phytochemical constituents, including bioactive terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and fatty acid esters. In vivo experiments were conducted (n = 5 per group) on Swiss albino mice randomly divided into control, standard (diazepam 1 mg/kg), and treatment groups receiving MEDR (200 and 400 mg/kg) using the elevated plus maze (EPM), hole-board test (HBT), light-dark box (LDB), and forced swim test (FST). MEDR exhibited significant dose-dependent effects. At 400 mg/kg, MEDR significantly increased time spent in the open arms of the EPM by approximately 89% (140.0 ± 1.79 s vs. 74.2 ± 2.71 s in control, ∗p < 0.05) and number of open-arm entries (17.2 ± 1.43 vs. 10.4 ± 1.57) while markedly reducing immobility time in the FST by ~44% (102.2 ± 1.16 s vs. 182.6 ± 1.94 s in control, ∗p < 0.05). These effects were comparable to the standard drug diazepam (1 mg/kg). Molecular docking studies against the potassium channel (PDB ID: 4UUJ), GABAA receptor (PDB ID: 6X3X), and human serotonin transporter (hSERT, PDB ID: 5I6X) revealed that β-sitosterol acetate and 2-[4-cyclohexylbutanoylamino]-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinone exhibited higher binding affinities than diazepam across all three targets. The combined in vivo and in silico findings indicate that D. racemosus exerts multitarget neuropharmacological effects, primarily through modulation of GABAergic and serotonergic systems. These results highlight the phytochemical richness and therapeutic promise of MEDR as a potential source for developing safe, plant-based neurotherapeutics for anxiety and depression.
Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important cash crop and dietary staple in Ethiopia, providing essential income for smallholder farmers and vital nutrients. However, pepper production is severely constrained by a devastating soil-borne fungal disease, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici. It is the fifth most economically important fungal phytopathogen. In Ethiopia, wilt-causing fungal pathogens were reported to be the leading problem of pepper crops, causing huge yield losses. Warm and humid conditions prevalent in major pepper-growing regions, such as Amhara, Oromia, and the South, are highly conducive to the disease. The pathogen's longevity in the soil and ability to spread via infected seeds, seedlings, tools, and irrigation water make it a persistent threat. The pathogen has shown a significant variation in disease severity across and within the major pepper-growing regions. In the Amhara region, a severity of 70% in Jabi Tehena district and a severity of 15% in Guagusa Shekudad district were documented. Similarly, in the southern region, pepper Fusarium wilt disease incidence reached 91% in Alaba district and 79% in Meskan district. In the Oromia region, incidence was recorded at 50% in Dugda district and 19% in Adami Tullu district. In the Assosa and Kamashi Zones, it reached up to 50%. These observed variations in pepper Fusarium wilt disease severity are attributed to various biophysical factors such as agroecological differences, cropping systems, seed sources, disease management methods, and agronomic practices. These disease-causing factors highlight the need to develop holistic disease management practices. F. oxysporum management is challenging due to the pathogen's genetic diversity, limited research activity, and poor extension services. Therefore, this review is aimed at synthesizing the current status, pathogen ecology, epidemiology, and management strategies of pepper Fusarium wilt disease in Ethiopia.
Stunting remains a pressing public health problem in low- and middle-income countries. The specific biochemical roles of growth- and immune-related biomarkers with stunting are less understood. This study is aimed at investigating the contribution of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) to stunting among Indonesian children. A case-control design was employed involving 80 children aged 24-60 months in Manggarai, Indonesia (40 stunted and 40 nonstunted), matched by age, sex, and residence. Data were collected through anthropometric measurements, household surveys, structured interviews, and biochemical analysis of serum IGF-1 and IL-10 using ELISA. Findings revealed that stunted children had significantly lower IGF-1 levels (11.963 ± 8.658 vs. 18.000 ± 15.238, p < 0.05) and higher IL-10 levels (317.841 ± 214.934 vs. 543.605 ± 416.837, p < 0.05) compared with controls. The study concludes that effective stunting prevention requires integrated interventions addressing both nutritional adequacy and infection control in early childhood.
BACKGROUND:With the advent of telecommunication services, dental consultation has advanced from the mere use of telephones to the use of digital imaging and the internet to provide consultation, exchange health information, and maintain electronic health records beyond borders for increased efficiency of dental healthcare delivery to patients. AIM:To assess dental professional's perception, attitude, and practice of teledentistry in rural areas of Belagavi district, Karnataka, India. METHODOLOGY:A cross-sectional survey comprising of 450 participants was conducted among dental professionals, which included dental interns, postgraduate students, faculty members of dental colleges, consultants, and private practitioner who works at rural areas of Belagavi district. A 16-item validated questionnaire containing four domains of professional demographic data, perception, attitude, and practices was distributed among the participants. Descriptive analysis was done using IBM SPSS software (Version 20.0, Chicago, Illinois, United States). The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS:It was found that 52% of dental professionals had low levels of perception. However, levels of attitude and practice were found to be high. When correlation between perception, attitude, and practice was carried out using Pearson's correlation coefficient, a positive correlation was seen between attitude and practice (p = 0.0001∗). CONCLUSION:The majority of dental professionals exhibited low perception levels but demonstrated high levels of attitude and practice. The effective implementation of teledentistry could usher in a new era of dental healthcare delivery, improving oral health among rural populations.
Environmental biotechnology increasingly relies on bioinformatics to address global challenges in pollution control or degradation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management. By integrating genomics, computational tools, and artificial intelligence, bioinformatics enables the analysis of complex biological datasets, such as metagenomes and environmental DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), to uncover microbial diversity, pollutant degradation pathways, and ecological resilience. High-throughput sequencing technologies and multiomics integration provide novel insights into microbial communities and their functional roles in bioremediation and ecosystem monitoring. Predictive modeling further enhances our ability to simulate microbial behavior in contaminated environments and assess the long-term impacts of biotechnological interventions. Despite increased progress, challenges remain in managing large-scale data, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing user-friendly bioinformatics platforms. Future directions emphasize the application of machine learning, sustainable resource management, and collaborative frameworks to bridge bioinformatics and environmental sciences. Unlike traditional descriptive reviews, this work provides a critical evaluation of the functional gaps between genomic potential and in situ microbial activity. It offers a novel synthesis of how multiomics integration and predictive modeling can move beyond species cataloging toward a more robust, evidence-based framework for environmental sustainability.
BACKGROUND:Antenatal ultrasound scanning is a fundamental component of antenatal care across the globe. It is of significant public health importance because it enables early detection of fetal abnormalities, monitors fetal growth and maternal health, informs timely medical interventions, and supports strategies to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite its clinical importance, there are limited studies on the use of antenatal ultrasound in developing countries, including Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE:This study is aimed at assessing the antenatal ultrasound utilization and associated factors among postpartum mothers in Durame Town public health institutions, Central Ethiopia, 2025. METHODS:A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 379 postpartum mothers attending postpartum care from September 10 to November 10, 2025, in Durame Town public health institutions. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data were collected using structured and pretested questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS Version 26. Factors associated with antenatal ultrasound utilization among postpartum mothers were assessed using binary logistic regressions. The strength of the association of dependent and independent variables was presented as crude and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) at a 95% confidence interval. The level of significance was declared at a p value of less than 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS:Based on the present study, the proportion of antenatal ultrasound utilization was 249 (65.7%) (95% CI: 60.9-70.5); 46.2% of mothers had early antenatal ultrasound utilization, done before they were 24 weeks. Factors associated with antenatal ultrasound utilization were living in urban residence (AOR = 3.25; 95% CI: 1.55-5.65), previous delivery with a congenital malformation (AOR = 2.906; 95% CI: 1.222-6.91), and mothers' knowledge on antenatal ultrasound utilization (AOR = 3.132; 95% CI: 1.425-6.88). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION:Based on the present study, the proportion of antenatal ultrasound utilization was lower than the WHO and FIGO recommendations. Significant factors of antenatal ultrasound utilization were residence, women's knowledge, and congenital malformation. Therefore, healthcare providers better to enhance awareness and education among pregnant women regarding the benefits of antenatal ultrasound services, whereas policymakers and health facility administrators better to improve service accessibility and availability to increase antenatal ultrasound utilization, especially in rural and underserved areas, and pay special attention to mothers with prior adverse pregnancy outcomes or congenital malformations.
Graphene oxide (GO), a two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, exhibits a large surface area, rich oxygen-containing functionalities, and favorable aqueous dispersibility, making it a suitable platform for drug delivery. However, traditional covalent modification strategies frequently involve multistep procedures or the use of hazardous organic solvents. In this study, GO was functionalized via a novel green strategy: Diels-Alder (DA) cycloaddition of maleic anhydride (MA) utilizing deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a sustainable reaction medium. The resulting GO-PEG nanocarriers, formed through subsequent esterification with poly(ethylene glycol) lithium alkoxide, were thoroughly characterized by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XRD, and TGA. This DES-based approach distinguishes itself from prior DA functionalizations by offering an environmentally benign pathway that maintains high grafting efficiency without the need for toxic volatile media. The optimized DOX/GO-PEG nanohybrids exhibited a high doxorubicin (DOX) loading capacity of 128.4 wt.% at a feed ratio of 150:1 (DOX/GO-PEG, w/w) and demonstrated pH-responsive drug release-77.3% at pH 5.0 and 36.3% at pH 7.4 after 72 h. Cytotoxicity studies showed that GO-PEG exhibited negligible toxicity to HEK293 cells, whereas DOX/GO-PEG induced potent, dose-dependent cytotoxicity in HeLa cancer cells. Confocal imaging confirmed DOX nuclear accumulation in treated HeLa cells. This study provides a first-time demonstration of DES-mediated DA PEGylation on GO, establishing a high-efficiency and eco-friendly framework for advanced nanocarrier synthesis.
BACKGROUND:The increasing reliance on internet connectivity has led to the emergence of netlessphobia, a psychological phenomenon characterized by the fear of being without internet access. Despite its growing relevance, limited research synthesizes evidence on its prevalence, correlates, effects and predictors. This scoping review is aimed at addressing this gap by mapping existing literature to comprehensively understand netlessphobia in Turkey. METHOD:This review followed Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for conducting a scoping review. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. Additional searches were conducted in Google Scholar. References of eligible studies were also checked, yielding 13 eligible studies. RESULTS:The prevalence of netlessphobia was reported as moderate to high, ranging from 44.4% to 91% across the reviewed studies. The correlates included technological factors (nomophobia, social media addiction, internet addiction, digital addiction, smartphone use, internet use duration and number of technological devices), psychosocial factors (fear of missing out, perceived stress, job satisfaction, quality of life and phubbing behaviours), personality traits (neuroticism and conscientiousness) and behavioural factors such as sleepiness and fatigue. The predictors included nomophobia, social media addiction, sleepiness and sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, grade level, early smartphone acquisition and leisure activity patterns, alongside personality traits. Netlessphobia was also associated with reduced quality of life, increased stress, sleep-related issues and workplace distraction, including clinical errors among healthcare professionals. CONCLUSION:Netlessphobia is common and linked to technological use patterns, psychosocial factors, personality traits and behavioural characteristics. Its associations with stress, sleep issues, reduced quality of life and workplace distraction show implications for psychological well-being and occupational functioning. These findings demonstrate the need for digital well-being strategies and further research to better understand and address internet disconnection anxiety.
Rapid urbanization, driven by the search for better opportunities and improved living conditions, has led to rising unemployment and limited access to nutritious and affordable food. Urban and home-based vegetable gardening has emerged as a practical strategy to address food insecurity, malnutrition, and environmental degradation in rapidly urbanizing areas. This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 (following PRISMA protocol) to assess the status, challenges, and opportunities of home vegetable gardening in Ethiopia. It highlights key challenges, including limited access to land and clean water, gendered barriers to women, limited technical knowledge, inadequate extension services, and weak institutional support, all of which hinder production and sustainability. Moreover, the widespread use of untreated wastewater for irrigation poses significant health and environmental risks due to heavy metal contamination and causes soil-transmitted infectious diseases. Despite these challenges, opportunities such as utilizing vacant urban lots, promoting vertical gardening, and supporting local seed production remain untapped. Furthermore, although government support for urban gardening has grown recently, its implementation remains inconsistent. This review also identifies a significant geographical gap within the literature, with gardening practices and interventions concentrated in Addis Ababa, Sidama, Amhara, and Tigray. Effective interventions should focus on expanding and scaling up, enhancing institutional capacity, strengthening extension systems, encouraging sustainable practices, and integrating urban vegetable gardening into broader food system planning. Addressing these issues can enhance the role of vegetable gardening as a vital element of resilient urban development and food system transformation.
Sago starch can potentially serve as a carbohydrate-rich staple food substitute for rice in Indonesia. However, its limitations include low protein content and a lack of other essential nutrients. This study is aimed at enhancing sago starch's nutritional value and functional properties to make it comparable to rice by fortifying it with whole egg powder and egg white powder. The fortified sago starch was evaluated for its nutritional value, pasting properties, and its application in noodle production. The results indicate that fortifying sago starch with either whole egg powder or egg white powder can increase its nutritional value and improve the quality of both the sago starch and the resulting noodles. Specifically, formulations containing 80% sago starch and 20% whole egg powder yielded a protein content of 8.20%. In contrast, those with 90% sago starch and 10% egg white powder achieved a protein content of 8.64%. The addition of whole egg powder or egg white powder changed how sago starch pastes, which changed how it gelatinizes and forms gels. Compared to pure sago starch, fortification caused a drop in peak viscosity (PV), trough viscosity (TV), and final viscosity (FV). The drop in breakdown viscosity (BV) shows that the structure was stronger when heated. Adding both types of egg powder made the surface of the noodles thicker. Egg white powder had the most noticeable positive effect on the surface of the noodles, making them more compact and less porous and cracked. This improvement makes the noodles last longer, taste better, and have a better texture. The results of this study provide important information for making sago-based foods better and for using sago starch in more ways in the food industry.
The construction industry is embracing Industry 4.0 (I4.0) to improve environmental performance. This study thus evaluated the application of I4.0 on certified green buildings (GBs) projects. The study determined awareness level of I4.0 technologies on GBs, identified factors influencing I4.0 application, and proposed strategies for enhancing GBs' environmental performance. The results of the awareness assessment showed that, among all I4.0 technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) was the most well-understood. GBs apply some I4.0 technologies, including AI, Internet of Things, and cloud computing, and the awareness level for most I4.0-related technologies was found to be high, ranging from 2.68 to 4.68 (for the scale of 1-5). The awareness level of the GBs' principles was assessed, and the result showed that respondents were completely aware of two principles: energy efficiency and waste reduction. The overall mean score for the principles of GBs was 4.06, indicating a high level of awareness. The study also assessed the challenges of implementing I4.0, and noncritical challenges were a lack of standardization and certification, culture and aesthetics, client demands, and regulation and policy. The R-value was 0.723, indicating a high correlation. The R2 = 0.523 shows how much the predictor variables technology, top management commitment, staff skills, infrastructure, financial arrangement, and operational control factor can account for the variation in the environmental performance. Consequently, the study found perception-based projections rather than outcomes verified through objective measurements that the I4.0 technologies are projected to enhance energy efficiency (15%-25%), water conservation (≥ 20%), improve indoor environmental quality, improve material selection and lead to waste reduction. Therefore, I4.0 technologies can enhance GBs' performance by enabling real-time monitoring and data-driven optimization. I4.0 facilitates energy and resource management through smart systems, extends system lifecycles via predictive maintenance, and supports better environmental impact assessments in construction design. Despite challenges like high costs and cybersecurity risks, I4.0 technologies apply to both new and existing buildings, enabling dynamic, evidence-based decision-making that significantly improves environmental metrics and operational efficiency.
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in many low-and middle-income countries. In most of these countries, including Tanzania, medicinal plants (MPs) are primarily used to manage various ailments, though the majority are not yet documented. Therefore, this study is aimed at documenting MPs used by traditional healers (THs) in managing respiratory infections (RTIs) in the Kagera region. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Bukoba, Misenyi and Karagwe districts of the Kagera region using interviews, a semistructured questionnaire and field excursions. Ethnobotanical information on MPs' local names, plant parts used, preparation methods, route of administration, and threats were documented. Twenty-eight plant species from 21 families were recorded, whereby Lamiaceae (14.3%) was the dominant family. Out of 28 MPs documented Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) had the highest relative frequency of citation (RFC) (0.56), followed by Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (Myrtaceae) and Citrus limon Osbeck (Rutaceae) (0.33 each). Informant consensus factor (ICF) for RTIs was 0.70. Trees (50%) and leaves (57.1%) were the most prevalent growth form and plant part used, respectively. Decoction (64%) was the most common method used to prepare remedies, and most remedies were administered orally (68%). Urbanisation (29%) and agricultural expansion (24%) reported to threaten MPs existence in the study areas. The findings from this study revealed that the local people from Kagera region are using MPs for management of RTIs, and THs have high level of agreements regarding the specific plant species to manage RTIs, which indicated by extensive knowledge of using them. Most of species reported have been proven to possess different bioactive compounds with pharmacological activities. Therefore, plants reported in this study are important candidate for further studies on their safety and toxicology. Moreover, following MP threats reported in this study, education on conservation initiatives is recommended to ensure their survival and sustainable utilisation.
The integration of solvent extraction techniques into the circular economy framework offers a sustainable approach to addressing resource efficiency and metal recovery challenges. This review explores the role of solvent extraction in minimizing environmental impacts while maximizing the recovery of critical metals from waste streams, including electronic waste, industrial residues, and end-of-life products. Emphasis is placed on recent advancements in solvent systems, such as biodegradable and smart solvents, and their potential to enhance process efficiency and sustainability. The paper also highlights hybrid extraction systems and advanced separation techniques that complement solvent extraction, enabling higher recovery rates and improved selectivity. Furthermore, the significance of government initiatives, industry collaborations, and investment in sustainable technologies is discussed, underscoring their role in fostering innovation and driving widespread adoption of solvent extraction processes. By integrating solvent extraction with circular economy principles, this review advocates for a holistic approach to sustainable resource management and the development of resilient supply chains, contributing to long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
