PLOS ONE

Investigating Changes Detection in Land Use and Land Cover Analysis of Opencast Singareni Coal Mine Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques was the focus of the current investigation. Change Detection Analysis for Land Use Land Cover over a decade frequency (2005-2015) of cultivated soils surrounding OpenCast Coal Mine areas namely Ramakrishnapur, Srirampur and Medipalli of Telangana State.AWiFS data of IRS Resoursesat Satellite images of 2005 and 2015 were taken for the detection of temporal variation in Land use/ Land cover due to open cast coal mining.The ability of remote sensing techniques to produce precise spatiotemporal statistics of LULC and its changes in the typical coal mining region has been demonstrated, in open cast coal mining per year was the highest at Ramakrishnapur (@ 300 ha / year) followed by Srirampur (@ 150 ha / year) and Medipalli (@ 100 ha / year).At Ramakrishnapur with the onset of mining there was considerable decrease in agricultural land, shallow water bodies and deciduous forests i.e., conversion of these land uses to mining was evident. Whereas, at other two mining sites (Srirampur and Medipalli) conversion of scrubland followed by shallow water bodies, agriculture lands and deciduous forests into mining area was detected. However, the built-up land at all three-mining site was from cultivated lands and at Medipalli and Srirampur it was also contributed from scrubland. On the whole impact of open cast mining on deep water bodies was not detected. If the mining and surrounding regions continued and appropriate use of the land and water resources at hand, careful long-term planning is of utmost importance.

Introduction: Professionalism is a conceptualization of obligations, attributes, interactions, attitudes, and role behaviors required for professionals with individual clients and to the society as a whole. Despite there is a known effect of low professionalism of nurses on health care delivery system, the study determining professionalism and affecting factors in Ethiopia is limited in to a few numbers. Therefore this study was aimed to assess perceived level of professionalism and associated factors among nurses working in Hadiya Zone public hospitals, south Ethiopia. Methods: An institution based concurrent mixed cross sectional study was conducted from May 09 to June 09/2022. A total of 376 nurses were selected by using Computer generated Simple random sampling techniques for quantitative study whereas Purposive sampling technique was used to select qualitative study participants. Epi data version 4.6 was used to enter the data whereas Statistical package for social science version 25 was used for the analysis of quantitative data. Ordinal logistic regression model was used to identify effects of independents on outcome variable. Results: A total of 360 nurses participated in the study with a response rate of 95.7%. The overall low perceived professionalism among nurses working in Hadiya zone found to be 40.3%. Variables such as Educational status (AOR= 0.045 (0.021, 0.096), Sense of accomplishment (AOR= 3.21(1.85, 5.55), and participating in professional associations (AOR= 5.302(2.82, 9.96) were significantly associated with professionalism. Qualitative study finding showed Salary, training, upgrading education; undermining nursing profession, inadequate facilities were the raised influencing factors of professionalism. Conclusion: This study revealed that professionalism among nurses was low and the associated factors were; level of education, taking training, participating in professional organizations, and sense of accomplishment. Ethiopian nursing association and Ministry of Health should focus on developing nurses professionalism.

Spatial overlap of domestic animals and wildlife can have positive effects such as increased biodiversity in some areas and reduction in forest fires but it can also have negative consequences such as pathogen spillover, vector and pathogen propagation into new areas among others. Thus, understanding the interactions between wildlife and domestic animals on shared landscapes is critical for conservation and management purposes. To investigate these cattle-wildlife interactions, we chose Buck Island Ranch (BIR) in southcentral Florida. We studied spatial overlap between Domestic Cattle (Bos Taurus) and multiple wildlife species such as Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Rabbits (Sylvilagus spp) and others in pasture, semi-pasture, and hammock habitats/vegetation types at BIR. Five management blocks were selected that had pasture and hammock habitats and within each block we established matched pairs of 100m transects. Animal dung samples were surveyed and identified in 13 pairs of transects. We used Wilcoxon signed rank test to determine differences in dung counts between the habitats and calculated Simpson diversity index to analyze the differences in diversity between the habitat types. We found that there was greater dung count of white-tailed deer in hammock habitats compared to pastures (p=0.048) and greater diversity of wildlife in hammocks than pastures (p=0.028). Cattle dung was found in high density in both hammocks and pastures. These results indicate that hammocks are areas shared between cattle and wildlife at BIR and depending on the extent of direct and indirect contacts between these animals there can be a risk for pathogen spillover. We recommend further research on local land and cattle management practices that can facilitate the co-existence of livestock and wildlife.

Background: Abortion is safe when carried out using a method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), appropriate to the pregnancy duration, and by someone with the necessary skills. lobally, around 73 million induced abortions take place each year. Around 95% of maternal deaths occur in developing countries due to childbirth and pregnancy-related complications. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used for the study among the married reproductive (20-45 years) age women using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. A self-developed semi-structured questionnaire was used via face-to-face interview for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version descriptive and inferential statistics were used to find the association between variables. Results: The findings of the study show that among 118 respondents, nearly two-thirds (57.6%) of the respondents had adequate knowledge and less than half (42.4%) of the respondents had inadequate knowledge regarding safe abortion. The study further shows that there was a significant association between the level of knowledge regarding safe abortion and education status and education level with p-value <0.05. Conclusion: The study concludes that nearly two third of the respondents have adequate knowledge regarding safe abortion. Educational status significantly influenced their level of knowledge. Thus, we could provide correct knowledge, education, and enhance awareness to married women in the reproductive age group.

Genetic gains for yield and yield-contributing traits are low or stagnant in sorghum especially under low soil moisture environments which have contributed to a yield gap of 3.0 in Africa. Exploring the extent of variation for yield-determining traits in sorghum will effective variety design to boost production in drought-stressed environments. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine genetic variability, heritability and genetic gains for agronomic and physiological traits in sorghum under varying drought stress conditions to guide cultivar and trait selection for breeding. The study was conducted as a three-way factorial treatment structure involving a genetically diverse panel of two hundred and twenty-five (225) sorghum genotypes which were grown under three drought conditions [i.e., non-stressed (NS), pre-anthesis drought stress (PrADS), and post-anthesis drought stress (PoADS)] and two environments (e.g., field and glasshouse environments) using a 15 x 15 alpha lattice design in two replicates. Data were collected on agronomic and physiological traits, namely: days to anthesis (DA), days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), stay-green (SG), seed weight (TKW), biomass yield (BM), harvest Index (HI), grain yield (GY), leaf area (LA), leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD) and stomatal conductance (SC) and subjected to various statistical analyses. Combined analysis of variance showed highly significant (P < 0.001) genotype, drought condition and environment, and their interactions for most traits under assessment. Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was lower than phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) for all traits. Heritability in the broad-sense (H2) was moderate for GY (40%) under PrADS condition, but high under NS (60%) and PoADS (65%) conditions. Similarly, high genetic advance was recorded for traits with high heritability. GY positively and significantly correlated with HI under NS (r = 0.88), PrADS (r = 0.62) and PoADS (r = 0.61). Other agronomic and physiological traits poorly correlated with GY. The following genotypes were selected based on high grain yield and suitable agronomic and physiological traits under NS conditions; DAN YARA (5.7 t/ha and SC = 335.5) and JARWA (GY = 5.6 t/ha, SC = 326.3); under PrADS CSRO1 (GY = 2.9 t/ha, SC = 275.2) and ICNSL2014-021-1 (GY = 2.7 t/ha, SC = 268.2) and under PoADS conditions DANYAR BANA (GY = 4.2 t/ha, SC = 237.2) and DAN YARA (3.9 t/ha. SC = 330.0). The selected genotypes with the desirable traits are useful genetic resources for breeding high-performing sorghum hybrids to boost sorghum productivity in drought-prone areas in Africa.

Background: Stress research in nursing education has largely focused on distress, stressors, and negative outcomes, although challenging experiences may also support motivation, confidence, learning, and growth when appraised positively. Objective: To develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Nursing Student Positive Stress Scale (NSPSS). Design: A methodological instrument development and psychometric evaluation study. Methods: The NSPSS was developed using a deductive, theory-driven approach informed by the transactional theory of stress and coping and positive psychology perspectives. Content validity was assessed by an international nursing expert panel. Psychometric evaluation used national survey data from nursing students in New Zealand. Of 539 responses, 507 were analysed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted using separate subsamples. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, and convergent validity through correlation with Perceived Stress Scale-10 scores. Results: Content validity was strong (I-CVI = .88-1.00; S-CVI/Ave = .975; S-CVI/UA = .800). EFA identified a dominant factor explaining 41.38% of variance (loadings = .528-.735). CFA supported a two-context Academic and Clinical Positive Stress model with correlated residuals between five parallel item pairs, chi-square(29) = 60.49, CFI = .970, TLI = .954, RMSEA = .063, SRMR = .065. Internal consistency was good (alpha = .839; omega = .843). NSPSS scores correlated negatively with PSS-10 scores (r = -.298, p < .001). Conclusion: The NSPSS demonstrated strong content validity, preliminary evidence of structural and convergent validity, and good internal consistency reliability for assessing positive stress appraisal among nursing students. Further validation in independent samples is warranted.

Nutritional status and immune function have a significant impact on the prognosis of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Previous studies have shown that the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) at the initiation of dialysis can be used to assess the prognosis of MHD. However, as the physical status of patients are usually unstable in the early stage of dialysis, we hypothesized that the nutritional status and immune function after a certain period of stable dialysis might be more closely related to the prognosis. This study conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who started MHD between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. A total of 200 patients were included, with 66 patients succumbing during follow-up. Both initial PNI and initial GNRI exhibited a negative correlation with all-cause mortality (p=0.019 and p=0.046, respectively). After three months of MHD, both PNI and GNRI increased in most patients; however, only the PNI measured after three months was significantly associated with prognosis and higher PNI was associated with a better prognosis (p<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that only PNI after three months of MHD was linked to prognosis (p=0.004). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated patients experiencing a decrease in PNI following three months of MHD had poorer prognoses compared to those whose PNI increased (p=0.004). Furthermore, the predictive value of PNI after three months of MHD was evident in both younger (<60 years old; p=0.024) and older (>60 years old; p=0.022) patient groups. Both the PNI and GNRI showed a downward trend before death, but only PNI had a significant decline (p=0.03, compared with PNI after three months of MHD). In conclusion, for patients undergoing MHD, the correlation between PNI and prognosis is closer than that of GNRI, and the PNI after three months of MHD is a statistically significant but moderate predictor of long-term outcomes.

Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss., the West African savanna mahogany, is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to prolonged commercial and medicinal overexploitation, compounded by failing natural regeneration amid growing deforestation and climate change. Restoration strategies generally rest on the implicit assumption that rigorous selection of seed trees based on their size improves offspring quality. Yet this assumption has never been confronted with the competing hypothesis of a determinism dominated by the planting site, using statistical approaches of adequate power. This study tests the relative contribution of seed-tree dendrometric characteristics (diameter, height) and planting site to germination and juvenile growth (6-24 months) of K. senegalensis, using six complementary analytical approaches: continuous regression, linear mixed models with site x seed-tree interaction, seed-mass mediation analysis, non-linear growth-trajectory modelling, between-site phenotypic plasticity indices, and multi-predictor allometric equations, across two contrasting bioclimatic sites in Cote dIvoire (Korhogo: Sudanian savanna, and Daloa: humid forest) and six seed-tree categories. Converging across all these approaches, the results show that the planting site exerts a decisive influence on germination (71.1% at Korhogo versus 63.9% at Daloa; {chi}{superscript 2} = 6.09; p = 0.014) and on the entire growth trajectory (p < 0.001), whereas no seed-tree characteristic affects offspring performance, whether in continuous regression (p > 0.37), mixed models with interaction (p > 0.29), or through a seed-mass mediation pathway (Sobel test, p = 0.46). An exponential growth model fits better than linear or power-law models ({Delta}AIC = 13.6-14.7 depending on site), and multi-predictor allometric equations (diameter and height) explain 97.4% of the variance in total biomass, versus 94.8% for the single-predictor model. These convergent results indicate that, contrary to the widespread practice of selecting seed trees on size criteria, it is the choice of planting site that truly determines the success of restoring this vulnerable species. A conclusion calling for a reorientation of priorities in reforestation and agroforestry programmes across West Africa.

Drought and low temperatures are major abiotic factors affecting key physiological and biochemical processes and limiting the yields of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.). To in-crease soybean production in Europe, different agricultural strategies are applied to re-duce abiotic stress, including biostimulants. Therefore, studies on the effectiveness of local strains isolated in Europe are becoming increasingly relevant. In this study two bacterial strains Arthrobacter pascens (AP) and Bradyrhizobium japonicum (BJ) along with plant-derived protein hydrolysate (PH) were analysed with soybean plans under abiotic stress conditions in plant growth chambers. Six treatments (control; AP; BJ; PH; BJ+AP; BJ+AP+PH) were tested to evaluate biostimulation effect before stress induction (VC stage) and to determine stress reduction effect on soybeans after plants recovery period (V3 stage). Biostimulants application has positive effect on soyabean biometric parameters in early plant development stage and post stress periods. More stable long-term effect was found on structural plant development parameters, than on pigment accumulation. The best results on plant biometric parameters were found where (AP) and (BJ+AP+PH) com-bination was inoculated. (BJ+AP+PH) combination was the only effective treatment, which showed significantly different results in pigments indices, compared to the control, after stress period. Author summaryYasha Jamil: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing- original draft, Giuseppe Colla: Formal analysis, Writing- original draft, Writing- review & editing, Justina Kaziuniene: Data curation, Formal analysis, Sarune Ramoskaite :Writing- review & editing. Monika Toleikien[e]: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing- original draft, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing- review & editing.

Background Nurses play a pivotal role during infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), often placing themselves at significant personal and professional risk. While nurses are central to Ebola response efforts, their lived experiences, particularly in Uganda, remain underexplored. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of nurses who provided care to EVD patients during the 2022 outbreak at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. Methods An exploratory qualitative design was employed using in-depth interviews with seven nurses who worked in the Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU). Participants were selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analysed thematically using a phenomenological approach to capture the emotional, psychological, and professional dimensions of nurses experiences. Results Findings revealed a complex interplay of positive and negative experiences. Positive experiences included joy from patient recovery, strong teamwork, professional growth, and enhanced training in infection prevention and control (IPC). Nurses reported increased confidence, new skills, and opportunities for career advancement, including recognition from international agencies. Conversely, negative experiences dominated the narratives. These included severe resource constraints, overwhelming workload, physical exhaustion, and psychological distress, particularly from witnessing patient suffering and death. Participants described post-traumatic stress symptoms and constant fear of infection and death, exacerbated by inadequate early-stage preparation. Social isolation and disrupted family life were also common, with some nurses concealing their work to avoid distressing loved ones or experiencing stigma within their communities. Additional challenges included team tensions, absenteeism, and disparities in compensation and recognition between existing staff and external recruits. Conclusion The study highlights the profound emotional and professional toll on nurses during the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda. While moments of resilience and growth were evident, structural and systemic challenges significantly impacted nurses well-being and care delivery. To better support frontline health workers, future outbreak responses must prioritize fair compensation, psychosocial support, consistent training, and improved resource allocation. Insights from this study can inform policies aimed at strengthening workforce readiness and retention during health emergencies.

Objective: To quantify inter-surgeon heterogeneity in operative efficiency of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) at high altitude and identify independent determinants of operative time. Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study at Qinghai Red Cross Hospital (2,260 m altitude) included 591 elective LC cases by 7 surgeons (2020-2023). One-way ANOVA, multivariate regression with log-transformed operative time, nested model comparison, and ICC quantified surgeon versus baseline factor contributions. Results: Inter-surgeon operative time differed significantly (F = 7.16, P < 0.001, eta squared = 0.069), with 12.64 min (24.0%) gap between fastest and slowest surgeons. Regression (Adj R2 = 0.075, P < 0.001) identified age (beta = 0.0029/yr, P = 0.009), male sex (beta = 0.063, P = 0.019), and surgeon identity as independent predictors. Nested comparison showed surgeon factors explained 2.02-fold more variance than all baseline factors combined (Delta R2 = 0.063 vs R2 = 0.031; ICC = 0.074). Conclusion: Surgeon variability is the dominant modifiable determinant of operative time heterogeneity in high-altitude LC.

Efficient nutrient and water management is crucial for enhancing crop productivity, soil health, and mitigating environmental losses in cereal cropping systems of semi-arid regions. A two-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dairy manure annual application of 50 Mg ha-1 to maintain recommended fertilizer N, compared to sole urea application with two different irrigation regimes (100% and 75% ETc) on crop yield, water use efficiency, deep percolation, nitrate leaching, and soil quality within a wheat-fallow-maize rotation in Pakistan. Suction lysimeters installed at a depth of 1.2 m were used to collect nitrate-N leachates, while HYDRUS-1D was used to assess daily deep percolation losses. Results indicate that the interaction between manure and irrigation was significant for yield, nitrate-N leaching, and soil health. Manure with deficit irrigation showed wheat and maize yield of 4.36 and 7.80 Mg/ha, irrigation water use efficiency (WUEi) of 1.09 and 1.59 kg/ha/mm, respectively, with no significant increase observed with full irrigation; while a significant decrease was observed in the absence of manure, either with full irrigation or deficit irrigation. Manure with deficit irrigation averaged annual nitrate-N leaching of 17.45 kg/ha, while urea and manure with full irrigation averaged 11.46 and 55.59% increases in nitrate-N leaching losses, respectively, without any yield benefits. Our results indicate that deficit irrigation with manure produces optimum yield with reduced nitrate-N leaching risk and improved soil physical properties.

Drought stress is the major yield limiting factor in upland rice production where the moisture availability is highly variable. Understanding and evaluating how upland rice responds to drought stress is critical to improving resilience and yield stability. In this study performance of sixteen upland rice varieties were evaluated under non-stressed, moderately stressed and highly stressed conditions. Drought stress was introduced by irrigating upland rice at 70% and 50% field capacity (FC) whereas non-stress treatment was irrigated at 100% FC. Irrigation in moderately stressed and highly stressed conditions was also withheld for six days at lateral crop stages to observe temporary wilting by inducing a stress interval. Data on agronomic traits of upland rice was collected in three experimental replications. Results indicated that performance of upland rice varieties was significantly altered under stress conditions and highest performance was observed under non-stressed conditions. Yield losses for short duration and long duration varieties ranged 35-60% and 24-62% under moderate stress whereas it ranged 43-78% and 52-73% under highly stressed conditions, respectively. Overall varieties Dawk Kha, Khao/ Sai and Dawk Pa-yawm, indicated higher stability under stressed conditions therefore, these long duration varieties could be used for obtaining better yields under diverse agroclimatic conditions and under unpredicted weather patterns. Short duration Ma-led-nai-fai and long duration Goo Meung Lung and Bow Leb Nahag could be used for acquiring traits for higher tillering and panicle bearing capacity. Short heighted varieties such as Jao Daeng, Sahm Deuan and Ma-led-nai-fai could be used in breeding for short heighted new varieties to overcome lodging concerns. Strong significant association of GMP, STI, MPRO, MHAR with grain yield under non-stressed, moderately stressed and highly stressed conditions indicated that these indices were appropriate for their use as selection criteria for drought resilience.

Juglans neotropica is an endangered South American walnut species for which standardized descriptions of early development are lacking, limiting its effective use in conservation and restoration programs. We developed a BBCH-scale description of early vegetative growth of J. neotropica based on observations under nursery and field conditions in Colombia. Three principal vegetative stages were described: seed germination (stage 0), leaf development (stage 1), and stem elongation (stage 3). Germination was hypogeal and occurred 30-140 d after sowing, occasionally extending to 180 d. During early growth, leaflet morphology, number, and architecture showed consistent and discrete changes between stages 1 and 3, including shifts in apex, base, margin type, and laminar shape. These modifications indicate that early development is organized into distinct ontogenetic phases rather than continuous variation, marking the transition from juvenile to vegetative adult stages. By providing a standardized, development-based framework independent of chronological age, this BBCH scale facilitates accurate identification and monitoring of seedlings in nursery production, restoration projects, and urban forestry programs. More broadly, this approach contributes to the characterization of ontogenetic phase transitions in tropical tree species and supports the use of development-based criteria for managing early establishment and performance.

Background: Though progress has been made towards universal access to diagnosis and treatment, inequalities in HIV testing are a major obstacle to HIV care in the world, as not everyone has enough access to HIV testing services. Progress is being made towards universal HIV testing and treatment, but inequalities in HIV testing are also an important hurdle to HIV care. Design: Cross-sectional secondary analysis Setting: Nationally representative survey across all 16 administrative regions of Ghana. Participants: 22,058 respondents (15,014 women aged 15-49 and 7,044 men aged 15-59) from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Primary outcome measure: HIV testing uptake, defined as ever having been tested for HIV and received results (binary: yes/no). Aim: The aim of this study was to examine socioeconomic inequalities and spatial clustering in uptake of HIV testing in Ghana in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). Specifically, it considered the level of inequality in wealth, the factors related to these inequalities, and the spatial distribution of HIV testing and factors associated with uptake of HIV testing. Methods: The secondary analysis of cross sectional data was done on 22,058 respondents from all 16 administrative regions of Ghana by using descriptive statistics, Erreygers concentration index, Wagstaff decomposition, spatial autocorrelation techniques, and multilevel logistic regression. Results: The findings showed that there was significant pro-rich inequality in HIV testing, with the majority of inequalities observable not being accounted for by the difference in wealth, but in education level. There was a significant geographic clustering with hotspots in the south, and coldspots in the north. HIV testing uptake was significantly predicted by wealth, education, and the age, sex, marital status and being covered by health insurance Conclusion: The study revealed that socioeconomic and geographical inequalities still exist and have significant impacts on uptake of HIV testing in Ghana. It suggests specific programs such as those aimed at disadvantaged communities, geographic areas, greater access to health insurance, and improved community-based HIV testing services to help ensure equitable access.

BackgroundHair tools such as hairbrushes and combs allow for various styling options to produce desired hairstyles among various people. However, there is the risk of they serving as fomites for infection and contamination especially among people in close habitation. ObjectivesThis study therefore decided to investigate the trend of microbial populations on these hair grooming tools in universities such as KNUST to inform student hygiene practices and disease prevention strategies. Methods30 students were randomly selected for the study, and swab samples from different hairbrushes and combs were taken for microbial investigation. Microbial isolates were identified based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Determination of efficacy of different cleaning methods for hair tools was also done. ResultsThe study found an average bacterial and fungal count of 7.4x102 CFU/ml and 4.6x103 CFU/ml, respectively. The bacterial isolates suspected included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus sp., Bacillus subtilis, and Corynebacterium sp. The fungal isolates included Aspergillus species, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Neurospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Curlvularia sp. Correlation analysis showed higher bacterial numbers significantly associated with the presence of hair diseases such as dandruff (p=0.046). Water and detergent were found to be the most effective method of eliminating microbial content from hairbrushes and combs. ConclusionThis study uncovered a variety of microbes on KNUST students combs and hairbrushes, which is evident of microbial contamination. While these numbers are relatively low, this study highlights the need for students to still follow good hygiene procedures and implement efficient cleaning techniques of hair tools, as they may still serve as an ideal environment to harbor and transfer microbes

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channel and its activating stimuli include anandamide, bisandrographolide, citric acid, arachidonic acid metabolic products by epoxygenases, hypo-osmotic cell swelling, and warm temperature. TRPV4 is involved in Ca2+-dependent signal transduction in several tissues. Since the activation of TRPV4 facilitates adherens junction formation in the skin epithelium, compounds that activate TRPV4 are expected to maintain or improve the barrier function of epidermal cells. In this study, we found that the extract of Arachis hypogaea (A. hypogaea) activate human TRPV4 (hTRPV4). In the Ca2+-imaging experiment, the application of A. hypogaea extract exhibited an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in HEK293T cells expressing hTRPV4. The [Ca2+]i increases by application of A. hypogaea extract were not observed in HEK293T cells expressing hTRPV1, mouse TRPV2, hTRPV3, hTRPM8, or hTRPA1. We then examined the physicochemical properties of the components responsible for TRPV4 activation. Ethanol extracts of A. hypogaea caused an increase in [Ca2+]i in hTRPV4-expressing HEK293JN cells, whereas water, chloroform, and hexane extracts showed no activity. Moreover, the application of A. hypogaea extract enhanced transepithelial electrical resistance in the keratinocyte monolayer. These results suggest that A. hypogaea extract may contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the epidermal barrier function.

Insect proteins represent a promising and more sustainable alternative to soybean meal in swine nutrition. However, high dietary inclusion levels often result in reduced animal performance, indicating that factors other than crude protein concentration should be considered. This study evaluated the protein quality and degradability of feed-grade defatted black soldier fly (BSF) meal in comparison with a conventional organic protein core for post-weaning piglets. Protein content, amino acid composition, reactive lysine, Maillard reaction markers, buffering capacity, and protein hydrolysability were determined. Our results showed that defatted BSF meal exhibited a protein content and amino acid profile comparable to those of the protein core but contained substantially higher levels of free amino acids. Accounting for free amino acids reduced the estimated lysine damage from 18.4% to 10.4%, highlighting the importance of considering free amino acids when determining reactive lysine. In addition, BSF meal exhibited a higher buffering capacity and lower protein degradability than the protein core. These findings provide new insights into the nutritional limitations of feed-grade BSF meal and suggest that a more accurate assessment of reactive lysine, together with dietary strategies to reduce buffering capacity, may improve its utilization in post-weaning piglet diets.

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy among Zambian women, and HIV coinfection accelerates disease progression. However, in the contemporary era of widespread antiretroviral therapy, the determinants of cervical cancer disease state among women living with HIV at Zambia's primary oncology referral centre are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate these determinants at the Cancer Disease Hospital in Lusaka. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records of 198 WLHIV with histologically confirmed invasive cervical cancer. Data on demographics, HIV status (CD4 count, viral load), and cancer characteristics (FIGO stage) were abstracted. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Results: The prevalence of advanced stage (Stage III/IV) cervical cancer was 34.4% (68/198), while 54.5% presented with Stage IIB disease. Metastatic disease was only 7.1% (14/198). The peak age of diagnosis was 40-49 years (51.5%). Median CD4 count was 484 cells/uL, and 89.4% had suppressed viral loads. No significant association was found between HIV disease status and advanced-stage cancer (CD4 <200: AOR 1.42, 95% CI 0.68-2.96; detectable viral load: AOR 1.38, 95% CI 0.71-2.68). Younger WLHIV aged 30 to 39 years had the highest proportion of advanced-stage disease (38.5%), as did peri-urban residents (40.0%) compared to Lusaka residents (30.0%). Conclusion: In the ART era, HIV disease status is no longer the dominant determinant of cervical cancer stage among WLHIV at CDH who develop invasive cancer, likely due to effective immune reconstitution. However, persistent Stage IIB presentation indicates inadequate screening coverage. Younger WLHIV and peri-urban residents are at highest risk of late-stage diagnosis. Keywords: Cervical Cancer; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Antiretroviral Therapy; HIV infections; FIGO Staging; Zambia

BackgroundThe relationship between aesthetic appreciation and environmental values remains a critical yet under-researched area in environmental psychology. Although the Two-Major Environmental Values (2-MEV) model--encompassing preservation and utilization dimensions--serves as a standard framework for assessing environmental attitudes, the integration of aesthetic perception within this structure has largely remained unexplored. This study investigates the conceptual linkages across a diverse international sample to determine whether aesthetic appreciation functions independently of a traditional environmental value framework. Methods and FindingsWe conducted a large-scale, cross-sectional survey involving 11,800 pre- and in-service teachers across 34 countries. Participants environmental values were evaluated using the 2-MEV scale, while their aesthetic appreciation of nature and the built environment was assessed using Osgoods semantic differential technique. Employing principal component analysis, hierarchical exploratory factor analysis (EFA), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and within-class analysis (WCA), we accounted for cross-national variations and evaluated response consistency. The results demonstrate that aesthetic appreciation comprises two distinct dimensions-- focusing separately on nature and the built environment--that operate independently of traditional preservation and utilization values, showing only weak correlations. Furthermore, while the overarching psychological structure remains consistent globally, our findings reveal significant cross-national variations in respondent scores, particularly concerning utilization-related values. ConclusionsThese findings establish that aesthetic appreciation constitutes a distinct psychological construct separate from conventional environmental value frameworks. The observed cross-cultural variability underscores the necessity of accounting for national and cultural contexts when designing environmental education programs. By leveraging a robust, comprehensive global dataset, this study provides a vital empirical foundation for integrating aesthetic and value-based dimensions into future environmental research and educational policy.