PLOS ONE

Populations are denser in the urban areas where there is inadequate arable land for farming. This calls for innovative use of limited spaces in sac farming to produce food to augment household nutrition. The study determined the feasibility of cultivating and comparing the performance of different frafra potato varieties in polypropylene sacs. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments, each having three replications, was used. Each treatment was a variety of frafra potato, cultivated on a polypropylene sac filled with nutrient-enriched soil. The data collected was analyzed using STATA 15.0. The results show that plants having leaves with the largest leaf area in 2021 (20.54 (8.41) cm2) and in 2022 (19.98 (7.83) cm2) were in the MAL variety. The greatest number of leaves (417.11 (255.26)) were produced by the WAP variety in 2021 but by the MAM variety (349.33 (154.63)) in 2022. Plants having the longest vines in 2021 were in the MAM strain (41.24 (22.01) cm) but in the NAT variety (39.93 (21.54) cm) in 2022. In 2021, the highest yield of tubers was 5.56 (0.23) t/ha in the MAL variety with the lowest yield (1.59 (1.27)) t/ha recorded in the LOV strain. In 2022, the NUP variety produced the highest yield (1.91 (0.40)) (t/ha) with the WAP strain producing the lowest (0.87 (0.50)) (t/ha). The data shows that it is feasible to cultivate frafra potatoes on polypropylene sacs. In the main, all the frafra potato varieties produced considerable quantities of vegetative organ biomass and root tubers with the MAL, NAT and NUP varieties performing better. Therefore, though further investigation is required to draw an appropriate conclusion, these varieties may be recommended for cultivation on polypropylene sacs to produce food for both humans and livestock consumption.

Currently, a significant proportion of young people are discouraged by the teaching of botany and, consequently, show little interest in preserving local biodiversity. On the other hand, with the recurrent use of digital technologies (DTs), young people have shown significant interest in virtual devices. Our project's tested the hypothesis whether plants awareness disparity in public school students was overcome through active teaching and learning. Thus, the objective was to investigate the use of active methodology in a non-formal teaching environment (e.g., sensory garden, SG) in order to stimulate learning in plant organography based on its evaluation using digital games. Our proposal was investigated at the Lagoa do Sino campus (Buri/SP, Brazil) in partnership with the Public School System of the Municipality of Campina do Monte Alegre/SP, Brazil. Furthermore, students were divided into two teams, which applied qualitative methodologies, such as that one of these (Team A) had face-to-face contact with the SG, using the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology, digital game and survey. Team B, on the other hand, will only have contact with the game. After collecting the data, we verified statistically significant differences between the teams using the Wilcoxon test and based on the latent traits evaluated. Given this, the literature points out that discouraging students influences their learning and, consequently, their education. In addition, our considerations are based on the latent trait knowledge of botany and, thus, we reject our null hypothesis and accept our alternative hypothesis. On the other hand, based on the latent trait of plant perception, we cannot affirm the acceptance or rejection of the hypotheses. It is worth noting that future studies should have a larger number of participants than this research in order to better evaluate what is intended.

Introduction: Nursing students experience stress arising from demanding academic requirements and emotionally challenging clinical placements, which may affect wellbeing, learning, and programme retention. This study explored perceptions of stress, its impacts, and coping experiences within undergraduate nursing education among nursing students and educators in New Zealand. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with six undergraduate nursing students and six nurse educators at a New Zealand university. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using inductive reflexive thematic analysis, with interpretation informed by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Results: Three themes were identified: stress from multiple sources, stress shaping wellbeing and learning, and navigating stress through appraisal and coping. Stress arose from academic, clinical, personal, and social demands and affected academic engagement, health, and relationships. Participants described varied responses to stress, including different appraisals of challenging situations and coping strategies such as peer support, self-care, and use of institutional resources. Conclusion: Stress in nursing education reflects a dynamic interaction between individual appraisal, coping resources, and educational and interpersonal contexts. Although findings are limited to one institution, they highlight the importance of accessible, flexible, and culturally responsive support and of addressing modifiable educational stressors alongside strengthening students' coping resources.

Abstract Unplanned Extubation is a frequent adverse event in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), that is associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization and financial costs. Evidence suggests that unplanned extubation (UE) is preventable through the management of its risk factors. Many modifiable UE risk factors are directly related to nursing care, thus empowering nurses through education can improve neonatal safety outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention in improving nurses knowledge and practices related to UE in NICUs. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in northern Jordan. One hospital is university-affiliated and one is governmental hospital. Participating Nurses in the selected settings received a four-week multimodal educational intervention related to UE. The intervention comprised of face-face session, WhatsApp-based educational messages, educational videos and placement of a poster in the NICU. Knowledge and practices of 58 nurses were assessed at baseline, post intervention and one month later using a validated questionnaire and direct observation. A baseline rate of UE was also measured in both settings with rate of 5 events per 100 ventilator days in the university-affiliated compared to 32 events per 100 ventilator days in governmental hospital. Repeated-measures and mixed-design ANOVA revealed significant improvements in nurses knowledge in both settings with a large effect size (p{superscript 2} = .60). Also, the observed preventive practices scores also improved significantly and remained elevated at one-month follow-up (p{superscript 2} = .50). Older age was associated with lower baseline knowledge, though this was diminished post study intervention. Whereas no demographic variables were associated with practice scores. The high rates of UE highlight the need for quality improvement. Study findings suggest that UE-focused education is a feasible and cost-effective strategy for strengthening neonate nurses competencies regarding safer care for mechanically ventilated neonates in the NICUs.

Freshwater fishes are an important component of the Neogene fossil record of South America. They have been recorded in the Acre fossil fauna, with considerable taxonomic and ecological diversity. Novel findings from the Patos locality in Acre State have produced several specimens representing eleven taxa, including the first occurrences in the fossil record of the genera Agamyxis, Glanidium, and Trachycorystes. These taxa comprise two orders, Characiformes and Siluriformes, with four and seven taxa respectively. The taxa found in the Patos locality are representative of typical modern Amazonian assemblages found in the drainages of the region, thus suggesting substantial ecological conservatism. An updated list of the Rio Acre fossil fish fauna is consistent with previous findings in the literature regarding clustering structure in fossil assemblages during the Neogene of South America.

Dietary supplements are increasingly being adopted by physically active individuals to support exercise performance and recovery. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the ergogenic potential of SpinoleRG, an HPLC-PDA-standardised combination of Amaranthus tricolor L. and Spinacia oleracea L. in healthy, recreationally active adults over 12 weeks. Participants received a total of 1,600 mg of the extract or a placebo daily before exercise. Primary endpoints included cardiopulmonary exercise testing, muscle strength, and endurance. Secondary endpoints included treadmill-based time to exhaustion (TTE), body composition, repetitions to failure, biochemical markers, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and vitals. Routine investigations and safety monitoring were also conducted. Four participants per group were withdrawn due to non-compliance and 64 participants completed the study. Compared to the placebo, the test group showed a significant increase in the ventilatory threshold, but not in VO2 max or maximal ventilation. They also showed significantly improved one-repetition maximum strength, fatigue indices, TTE, repetitions to failure, plasma nitrite, blood lactate, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and DOMS outcomes. Vital signs or routine parameters were not impacted meaningfully. Three minor adverse events across both groups were observed, considered unrelated to the interventions and fully resolved. Overall, the findings support the tolerability and ergogenic potential of the extract.

Paraspinal muscles support and move the spine, and reduced size and density of these muscles is associated with increased risk of vertebral fracture and back pain. We test the hypothesis that subsistence-oriented forager-horticulturalists (Bolivian Tsimane) have larger and denser paraspinal muscles, and smaller age-related differences in paraspinal muscle size and density, than more sedentary post-industrialized suburbanites (Framingham Heart Study [FHS]). We measured cross-sectional area (CSA) and density of trunk extensors and psoas major at L3 from computed tomography scans of 411 FHS and 330 Tsimane (50% women, aged 50-90 years). Sex-stratified linear regressions determined associations of muscle CSA and density with age and cohort (Tsimane or FHS [ref.]), with and without an age-cohort interaction term. Covariates were height and weight. After adjusting for covariates, Tsimane women had 11-14% larger and denser extensors, and 17-26% smaller and less-dense psoas major, than FHS women. Tsimane men had 8-21% smaller and less-dense psoas major than FHS men. The age-related difference in extensors density was 41% smaller for Tsimane men than for FHS men. There were no other significant age-related cohort differences in muscle CSA or density. We observed a different balance in the size and density of trunk extensors versus psoas major between Tsimane and FHS. A possible explanation for this observation is cohort differences in the amount and types of physical activity, although future work is required to determine the influence of lifestyle and environmental factors on paraspinal muscle size and density.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the floristic composition and site characteristics of four peat bogs in Bucovina, Romania: Poiana Stampei, Romanesti, Saru Dornei, and Gaina-Lucina. The research was based on phytosociological releves on 25 msq plots and direct field phenological observations, on six field visits from May to August 2026. Vegetation was characterised using the Braun Blanquet method, and floristic similarity between sites was assessed with the Sorensen and Bray Curtis indices. All four plots shared a common core of taxa characteristic of peatland vegetation: Sphagnum spp., Carex rostrata, Drosera rotundifolia, Eriophorum vaginatum, and Vaccinium species. Species richness was 13 taxa at Poiana Stampei, Romanesti, and Saru Dornei, and 12 at Gaina-Lucina. Romanesti and Saru Dornei showed the highest floristic similarity (descriptive values, not statistically tested, given a single releve per site), while Gaina-Lucina differed most markedly, not through species richness, which was similar across sites, but through species identity and through the presence of Betula nana, a glacial relict absent from the other sites. The results provide a descriptive basis for future research on the floristic composition and conservation of these habitats.

Abstract Aim: To translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the Arabic version of the REAP-S among Arabic speaking young adults using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Rasch Measurement Theory (RMT). Design: A cross-sectional methodological psychometric validation study. Methods: The study included 500 undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students recruited from Saudi universities during the 2025-2026 academic year. The REAP-S was translated into Arabic using standardized forward backward translation procedures and cross-cultural adaptation guidelines. Participants completed the Arabic REAP-S through an online self-administered questionnaire. Construct validity was evaluated using CFA with robust estimators, assessing the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Rasch Measurement Theory was applied to examine item fit, response category functioning, person item targeting, and person reliability. We assessed internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and the Rasch Person Separation Index (PSI). Results: Psychometric analyses included 490 participants with a median age of 20 years (IQR = 19-22), of whom 54.1% were female. CFA supported the hypothesized one-factor structure and showed good model fit (CFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.978, RMSEA = 0.076, SRMR = 0.061). Standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.429 to 0.768, and internal consistency was good (Cronbach's = 0.863). Rasch analysis confirmed the scale's unidimensionality, with satisfactory person reliability (Expected A Posteriori [EAP] = 0.872; Weighted Likelihood Estimate [WLE] = 0.848). All items demonstrated acceptable infit and outfit mean square statistics (0.826-1.311 and 0.866-1.283, respectively), with ordered response thresholds and adequate person-item targeting. Overall, the Arabic REAP-S effectively discriminated between different levels of dietary behavior among Arabic-speaking young adults. Conclusion: The Arabic REAP-S demonstrated strong validity and reliability, supporting its unidimensional structure and appropriate psychometric performance. Evidence from both CFA and Rasch analysis confirmed acceptable model fit, good internal consistency, and adequate item functioning. The instrument provides a brief and practical tool for assessing dietary behaviors among Arabic-speaking young adults in clinical and research settings. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: The Arabic REAP-S provides nurses and other healthcare professionals with a brief, standardized tool for rapidly assessing dietary behaviors and identifying individuals at nutritional risk. Its integration into routine clinical and community practice may support early dietary screening, guide nutrition education, and strengthen evidence based preventive care for diet related chronic diseases. Keywords: Arabic REAP-S; Dietary Screening; Confirmatory Factor Analysis; Rasch Measurement Theory; Construct Validity; Young Adults.

Extensive green roofs are an important component of urban green infrastructure. However, harsh rooftop conditions, including shallow substrates, high temperatures and limited water availability, considerably restrict plant selection. Although extensive green roofs are traditionally dominated by succulent species, increasing attention has been directed towards annual plants because of their rapid establishment, developmental plasticity and potential contribution to vegetation diversity. This review aimed to identify annual plant species introduced on extensive green roofs and to characterize the functional traits most frequently associated with their establishment under rooftop conditions. In addition, the review examined the geographical distribution and methodological characteristics of existing studies and identified species with potential for application under temperate climatic conditions. A total of 22 studies published between 2015 and 2025 were analyzed, comprising 100 annual species representing 29 plant families. The reviewed studies showed a clear geographical bias towards Mediterranean and arid regions, whereas temperate climates were considerably underrepresented. Among species occurring in Central Europe, ruderal life strategies, drought avoidance, efficient dispersal mechanisms, low plant height and prolonged flowering were the most frequently observed functional characteristics, while seed mass and specific leaf area (SLA) exhibited substantial interspecific variation. These findings suggest that functional traits, rather than taxonomic affiliation alone, provide a useful framework for selecting annual species for extensive green roofs. The review also highlights the need for long-term studies conducted under temperate climatic conditions to improve evidence-based plant selection and support the development of resilient and multifunctional green roof vegetation.

Cognitive and psychological difficulties are frequently reported by patients undergoing haemodialysis, yet these experiences are rarely explored within routine clinical assessments. The aim of this study was to examine self-perceived cognition and psychological well-being as patient-reported outcomes in adults with chronic kidney disease undergoing maintenance haemodialysis, and to explore the relationships between these outcomes and sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical variables. Adults receiving maintenance haemodialysis were recruited from a hospital-based dialysis unit as part of the GoodRENal project, which focuses on developing educational approaches for people on haemodialysis. Participants completed self-report measures assessing perceived cognitive functioning and psychological well-being. Sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical data routinely collected in dialysis care were obtained from medical records. Associations were examined between self-perceived cognition, psychological well-being, and the available data. Seventy-eight patients took part in the study. Perceived cognitive difficulties were more closely related to indicators of kidney disease severity and metabolic imbalance, whereas psychological well-being showed stronger associations with social and emotional factors. The patients' subjective experiences could not be fully explained by objective clinical indicators alone, suggesting a gap between physiological measures and patient-reported outcomes. Self-perceived cognition and psychological well-being provide clinically relevant information that could complement routine clinical indicators in haemodialysis care.

Fledglings of burrow-nesting seabirds are vulnerable to disorientation by artificial light at night (ALAN) and grounding in coastal human settlements, where most individuals presumably perish if not rescued. Accurate estimates of the effects of stranding on seabird populations remain elusive due to several levels of uncertainty, such as the number of stranded seabirds estimated to remain undiscovered by rescuers. One species subjected to stranding is the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica). We hypothesized that the detection probability of puffin fledglings by the Puffin Patrol rescue program, operating in Newfoundland, Canada, is affected by light level, concealment level, and search effort. We deployed realistic puffin decoys in locations of varying light and concealment levels throughout two sites that are searched nightly by rescuers and measured the amount of time and search effort required until each decoy was found. Approximately 78% more search effort was required to find a decoy in darkness (32.0 min) compared with illuminated conditions (18.0 min), and up to 100% more search effort was required to find a decoy placed in concealed conditions (35.5 min) than one in the open (17.5 min). After two hours of searching, on average over 10% of decoys were still not found, although each additional minute of search effort increased detection rate of an individual decoy by 0.6%. In combination with recent advances in our knowledge of seabird post-stranding behaviour, our study offers a first step in the development of correction factors which can be adapted to site- and species-specific requirements of other rescue programs around the world that rely on volunteers to search for stranded birds. Application of such correction factors will hopefully result in better estimation of mortality rates and their resultant effects on populations.

This study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a 12-session group-based nurturing care intervention for adolescent mothers in the Dominican Republic. We conducted a one-group pretest-posttest feasibility study in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. Participants were adolescent mothers under 20 years of age with a child enrolled in an early childhood development (ECD) center operated by the National Institute for Early Childhood Comprehensive Care. The intervention, based on the World Health Organization's Nurturing Care Framework, addressed ECD, affective care, positive discipline, and maternal well-being. We calculated effect sizes using Cohen's d. Of 14 adolescent mothers who started the program, 11 completed both assessments (78.6% retention). Participants had a mean age of 16.91 years (SD = 1.35), with children averaging 1.15 years (SD = 0.84). Two outcomes showed statistically significant improvements. Parental efficacy (1-4 scale) increased from M = 3.38 to M = 3.84 (d = 0.99, p = .008), with significant gains observed in three subdomains: protective (d = 1.21, p = .003), formative (d = 0.90, p = .014), and bonding competencies (d = 0.81, p = .023). Cognitive stimulation activities (0-1 scale) increased from M = 0.42 to M = 0.65 (d = 0.81, p = .036). Participant satisfaction was high (M = 4.64 on a 5-point scale). ASCENDI demonstrated feasibility and preliminary effectiveness in improving parental efficacy and cognitive stimulation among adolescent mothers. Large effect sizes and high retention and satisfaction support the potential of group-based nurturing care interventions for adolescent mothers in resource-limited settings.

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT), but the relationship between comprehensive metabolic control and the Symptoms/Problems domain of kidney diseasespecific HRQoL remains uncertain. Objective To evaluate the association between composite metabolic control and the Symptoms/Problems domain of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 (KDQOL-36) in patients with stage 5 CKD receiving KRT, and to explore the relationship between individual metabolic parameters and the continuous Symptoms/Problems score. Materials and Methods We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study of 177 adults receiving hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis at a nephrology unit in Chihuahua, Mexico. Metabolic control included blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Adequate control was defined as achievement of at least three of four studydefined operational thresholds. The KDQOL-36 Symptoms/Problems score was analyze as a continuous variable and categorized as low, moderate, or high according to the study protocol. Group comparisons, Spearman correlations, Pearson chi-square tests, and ordinal logistic regression were performed. Results Adequate metabolic control was present in 106 patients (59.9%). No, statistically significant association was observed between achievement of at least three of four study-defined operational thresholds and Symptoms/Problems score category (x2=3.983; p=0.137; Cramers V=0.150). None of the individual metabolic parameters differed significantly across Symptoms/Problems score categories or showed significant correlations with the continuous score. In ordinal logistic regression, adequate metabolic control yielded an odds ratio of 1.81 (95% CI: 0.98-3.35; p=0.057) after adjustment for age, sex, time receiving KRT, and KRT modality. Conclusions No, statistically significant association was identified between the operational definition of metabolic control used in this study and the KDQOL-36 Symptoms/Problems domain in patients with stage 5 CKD receiving KRT. The findings support evaluating HRQoL multidimensionally and warrant confirmation in larger longitudinal studies. Categories: Family/General Practice, Internal Medicine, Nephrology Keywords: chronic kidney disease (ckd), hemodialysis, kdqol-36, kidney replacement therapy, metabolic control, peritoneal dialysis (pd)

Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Fabaceae), the barwood or vene, is at the heart of one of the most severe conservation crises currently affecting tropical timber species. It has become the most heavily traded timber species in the world by volume, at the centre of an illegal rosewood trade to Asia that has driven the species to near-total disappearance in several countries despite its listing on CITES Appendix II since 2016. Faced with this urgency, ex situ conservation and restoration programmes often rest on the untested assumption that selecting seed trees by size improves the quality of the offspring produced in the nursery. This study rigorously tests this hypothesis against the competing one of a determinism dominated by the planting site, using six complementary analytical approaches (continuous regression, linear mixed models with a site x seed-tree interaction, seed-mass mediation analysis, non-linear growth modelling of height and diameter, between-site phenotypic plasticity, and multi-predictor allometric equations), across two contrasting bioclimatic sites in COte d'Ivoire (Korhogo: dry zone; Daloa: humid zone) and six seed-tree categories. Site exerts a decisive influence on growth at all ages (ANOVA, p<0.001 for height, diameter and biomass), whereas germination does not differ significantly between sites (70.3% at Daloa versus 61.6% at Korhogo; X2=1.95; p=0.162). Seed-tree DBH does not affect growth in any of the tests (continuous regression, p>0.30; mixed model, p>0.07), and the seed-mass mediation analysis remains inconclusive, seed mass varying only slightly among seed trees in this species (0.07-0.08 g). The exponential growth model provides the best fit for height and diameter at both sites, and two-predictor allometric equations explain 96.2% of biomass variance compared with 89.9% for the single-predictor model. These results indicate that ex situ conservation and compensatory reforestation programmes for this endangered species would benefit from prioritising the choice of planting site over the dendrometric selection of seed trees. A recommendation directly applicable to conservation nurseries established in response to the rosewood crisis.

The study of animal personality has gained increasing attention in recent years, as researchers recognize that non-human animals exhibit stable individual differences in behaviour. In dairy cattle, understanding personality traits holds potential for improving animal welfare, enhancing management practices, and supporting productivity outcomes. However, validating the behavioural tests used to assess these traits remains a significant challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the consistency and validity of five commonly used behavioural tests in dairy cows: the Human Approach Test (HAT), Sudden Test (SUD), Novel Object Test (NOT), Open Field Test (OFT), and Novel Surface Test (NST). These tests were chosen for their potential to assess personality dimensions that parallel components of human personality, particularly Openness, Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness. Repeated assessments were conducted across three time periods to evaluate both intra-test (temporal) and inter-test (contextual) consistency. Results revealed that only the SUD exhibited significant behavioural consistency across all periods, suggesting its potential as a reliable tool for personality assessment. Additionally, a moderate correlation between the HAT and SUD was observed, indicating that these tests may capture overlapping personality traits. In contrast, the remaining tests (NOT, OFT, NST) lacked consistent behavioural patterns over time and across contexts, raising questions about their reliability and the complexity of trait expression. These findings highlight the challenges of identifying stable personality traits in cattle and emphasize the need for more rigorous validation of behavioural tests. This research contributes to the growing field of animal personality by providing insights into trait stability, the limitations of current testing methods, and the potential application of personality assessment in future livestock management practices.

Background: Internalized HIV stigma remains a major psychosocial challenge for women living with HIV (WLHIV) and may adversely affect antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, fewer studies in sub-Saharan Africa have examined how internalized stigma and ART adherence jointly relate to multidimensional HRQoL among WLHIV receiving routine HIV care. This study examined the associations of internalized HIV stigma and ART adherence with HRQoL among WLHIV in Lagos, Nigeria, and explored whether the relationship between stigma and HRQoL varied by ART adherence status. Methods: This was a baseline analytical study nested within a quasi-experimental study among WLHIV receiving care at the HIV Treatment Centre of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria. The analysis included 1,005 women with complete baseline data on internalized stigma, ART adherence, HRQoL, and selected covariates. Internalized stigma was assessed using the 10-item Internalized Stigma of HIV/AIDS Tool and categorized as low or high using the sample median. ART adherence was measured using pharmacy refill adherence and self-reported adherence, which were combined into a composite overall adherence variable. HRQoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-HIV BREF, and the primary outcome was the total domain-based quality-of-life score derived from the six WHOQOL-HIV domains. Linear regression was used to examine associations between stigma and adherence and the total domain-based QoL score, and an interaction term between internalized stigma and overall ART adherence was included to assess effect modification. Results: The mean age of participants was 47.8 years (SD 12.5), and 56.0% had high levels of internalized stigma. Overall, 73.3% were classified as adherent using the composite ART adherence measure. HRQoL was consistently poorer among women with high internalized stigma across all WHOQOL-HIV BREF domains. Women with high internalized stigma had a substantially lower total domain-based QoL score than those with low stigma (106.5; SD 11.0 vs 117.8; SD 10.6; p < 0.001). In the final multivariable model, high internalized stigma remained the strongest independent correlate of lower QoL ({beta} = -10.07, 95% CI: -11.41 to -8.73; p < 0.001), while overall ART non-adherence was also associated with lower QoL ({beta} = -2.78, 95% CI: -4.24 to -1.33; p < 0.001). Older age and living more than 5 km from the health facility were associated with lower QoL, whereas social support was associated with higher QoL. Interaction analyses showed that predicted QoL was highest among women with low stigma who were adherent and lowest among those with high stigma who were non-adherent. Conclusions: Internalized HIV stigma and ART non-adherence were independently associated with poorer HRQoL among WLHIV in Lagos, Nigeria. Internalized stigma emerged as the strongest correlate of poorer well-being, underscoring the need to move beyond narrowly biomedical models of HIV care. Interventions that integrate stigma reduction, adherence support, and psychosocial strengthening may be particularly valuable for improving patient-centered outcomes among WLHIV in routine HIV care settings.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia is an occupational exposure experienced by workers who alternate between high-altitude worksites and lower-altitude resting locations. Its effects on cardiac autonomic modulation and electrocardiographic parameters remain insufficiently characterized in Andean workers. This study aimed to compare heart rate variability and electrocardiographic parameters between workers exposed to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia and controls working permanently at lower altitude in Arequipa, Peru. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 96 male workers aged 20-60 years. The exposed group included 53 workers performing rotational shifts at altitudes [&ge;]3,000 m above sea level with rest periods at <2,500 m, while the control group included 43 workers working permanently at <2,500 m. Heart rate variability was assessed during the morning rest period in Arequipa, at approximately 2,300 25 m above sea level, using a Polar(R) H10 heart rate sensor after 15 minutes of rest. Participants also underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography. Vital signs were clinically similar between groups. No statistically significant differences were observed in PR interval, corrected QT interval, time-domain heart rate variability parameters, or frequency-domain heart rate variability parameters. In this sample of apparently healthy male workers evaluated during their rest period at moderate altitude, exposure to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia was not associated with significant differences in resting heart rate variability or standard electrocardiographic parameters.

Gamete donation may widen access to assisted reproductive technology, but donor gametes remain difficult to obtain in Ghana. This institution-based cross-sectional survey assessed knowledge, attitudes and willingness to donate among 380 undergraduate students at Ho Technical University. The sample was allocated proportionately across 24 strata defined by six faculties and four academic levels; within each stratum, students who were present during scheduled classes were recruited consecutively. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, exact tests and exploratory logistic regression. Although 88.2% of participants had heard of gamete donation and 72.4% supported it, only 42.1% said they would donate if approached. Among the 220 participants who were unwilling, 210 (95.5%) selected the response that donation felt wrong to them. Participants who perceived societal attitudes as positive had higher odds of reported willingness than those who perceived them as negative (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-7.08). Belief that donation could exhaust ones gametes was associated with lower odds of willingness (aOR 0.27, 95% CI 0.15-0.48). The conditional statement that payment would increase willingness was also associated with direct willingness (aOR 7.16, 95% CI 4.25-12.06), but the two measures overlapped conceptually. The findings identify fertility misconceptions, concerns about donation and differing views on compensation that should be considered when developing donor information, counselling and protection measures.

Crickets are gaining attention as sustainable protein sources because of their high nutritional value and low environmental impact. Growth models are essential tools for optimising production by predicting growth characteristics. However, previous studies have not compared multiple non-linear growth models for crickets or explicitly considered environmental factors. We analysed the growth patterns of the two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) and the Asian cricket (Teleogryllus occipitalis) at multiple temperatures (25.0, 27.5, 30.0, 32.5 and 35.0 {degrees}C) using three non-linear models (Gompertz model, logistic model, and von Bertalanffy model) and combined the predicted body mass with observed survival rates to predict the optimal harvest time and temperature. All three models fitted the data well (R2 [&ge;] 0.97 in both species). The asymptotic body mass was highest at 30.0 {degrees}C, and the growth rate constant increased with temperature, reaching its maximum at 35.0 {degrees}C except for the logistic model in G. bimaculatus (32.5 {degrees}C). In addition, the predicted value of harvest, calculated by combining predicted body mass and observed survival probability, was highest at 30.0 {degrees}C in both species, reaching 13.82 kg/m3 at 38 days in G. bimaculatus and 7.12 kg/m3 at 62 days in T. occipitalis. These results suggest that 30.0 {degrees}C is the most suitable constant-temperature condition for maximising predicted productivity, although the optimal harvest timing differs between species.