University of Jos

Bats are a diverse and ecologically important group of mammals that play critical roles in ecosystems. Accurate identification is necessary to comprehend bat species' ecology and behavior to further the conservation of bats. Both phenotypic and genotypic methods have been used for bat identification, but their relative effectiveness remains unclear in the Afrotropics. This study compared the advantages and limitations of phenotypic and genotypic identification of bats to improve and ensure effective bat species identification. Bats were captured using mist nets within protected and unprotected areas in different vegetation zones in Nigeria. Morphological identification of all captured bats was done using the guide, Mammals of Africa. Genotypic identification was done by extracting genomic DNA and Sanger sequencing of the generated mtDNA PCR amplicons. We then compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the phenotypic to the genotypic outcomes of our identification. We trapped 91 bats, and the phenotypic identification of 90 individual species showed sensitivity ranges between 68% and 100%, except for Glauconycteris spp., whose sensitivity was low (14%). The specificity was generally good for all species > 96%. Phenotypic identification is accurate and reliable for most trapped bat species (Epomorphorus gambianus, Scotophilus spp., Micropteropus pusillus, Rhinolophus spp., Roussettus aegyptiacus, and Chaerephon spp.). However, phenotypic identification reveals its limitations in some bat species such as Banana pipistrellus and Glauconycteris spp., which had more variable results from their genetic characterization. Epomorphorus gambianus and Micropteropus pusillus had no distinct genetic differentiation in their mtDNA. This highlights the importance of using multiple methods for bat identification to ensure the most accurate results.

Background:Nanopore‐based sequencing by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) offers rapid, cost‐effective, and portable sequencing. As an emerging technology, ONT must be evaluated for efficacy and practical application in both high‐ and low‐resource settings. This scoping review (SR) aimed to: 1) describe how nanopore technology is used in Africa for surveillance and diagnosis of human infectious diseases, 2) describe how nanopore technology aids in the real-time detection of infectious pathogens in Africa, and 3) identify challenges and opportunities for utilizing nanopore technology in Africa to study infectious diseases. Methods: This SR followed the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer’s Manual framework for SRs. English‐language studies published from January 1, 2008, to April 30, 2024 that used ONT on human specimens collected in Africa and targeted ≥1 microbial agent were included. Searches were performed in Embase, Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. The protocol was publicly available on the Open Science Framework (1) prior to data collection. Two independent reviewers screened studies using Covidence, and data was extracted using a custom REDCap instrument. Descriptive statistics and data visualization were performed in Microsoft Excel. Results: 1162 studies were identified and 93 (8%) underwent full-text review. The portable MinION Mk1B was the most common ONT device (65% of studies). Eighty-eight studies analyzed specimens from a single African country. Of these, 45% were sequenced in the same country, 7% in a different African Country, 11% in a non-African country, and 32% did not specify location. Specimen types included direct patient specimens (62%) and cultured isolates (35%), or a combination of both. Blood, serum, or plasma was most common (35%), followed by naso- or oropharyngeal specimens (27%). Forty-four studies used ONT during an active infectious diseases outbreak, 25 of which studied SARS-CoV-2. Seventy-two studies used ONT for genomic surveillance of infectious pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes, and one study used ONT for a direct clinical application. African-affiliated authors were included as first, middle, and last authors in 46% of studies, and 15% were published by entirely African-affiliated teams. Ten studies published information on workflow timeline and five studies published the per-specimen cost. Conclusions: ONT can enable timely and affordable sequencing in African countries as demonstrated through a small number of studies that accomplished these goals individually. Most studies used ONT for genomic surveillance of pathogens or antimicrobial resistance genes, while only one study used ONT directly for a real-time clinical application. A small number of studies described a short interval between specimen collection and sequence result, supporting that clinical applications are possible. There is a need for improved reporting of ONT methodology including pipeline timelines, cost, use of barcoding, flow cell models, and the use of negative controls. Publications that provide these details will enhance reproducibility and support the development of new studies using ONT for the diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in low resource settings.

Background Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents/young people aged 15–30‐years old. The mainstream care for these affected persons is mostly unsuccessful due to limited culturally appropriate care. Methods This is a mixed‐methods randomised controlled feasibility trial design. A culturally adapted manual‐assisted psychological intervention (CaMaPI) was utilised to treat adolescents/young people with histories of self‐harm and suicidal ideation. CaMaPI is a manualised intervention consisting of 10 sessions, grounded in psychoeducation and cognitive behavioural therapy. Participants aged 18–29 were screened for self‐harm and suicidal ideation. N = 20 participants were randomised into CaMaPI (n = 10) or Treatment as Usual (TaU) (n = 10) groups. One focus group with n = 8 participants, and n = 3 individual interviews were conducted with the experimental group. Result Satisfaction with intervention (CaMaPI, 100%; TaU, 50%). Reduction in self‐harm and suicidal ideation was higher in CaMaPI on the suicide and self‐harm scale at Md = 1.00 with z = −2.264, compared to TaU, Md = 3.00 with z = −0.378. Both groups showed no significant reduction in hopelessness. Emerging themes from the qualitative findings showed acceptance of self‐harm and suicidal ideation as a treatable condition, mood management and behaviour modification, alongside cultural appropriateness and positive experience of the CaMaPI. Conclusions CaMaPI is feasible, culturally appropriate and acceptable in reducing self‐harm and suicidal ideation in adolescents/young people with histories of self‐harm and suicidal ideation in Nigeria. A fully powered randomised control trial is recommended to evaluate the clinical and cost‐effectiveness of CaMaPI compared with TAU. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT06440031) Key Practitioner Message Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among 15‐ to 29‐year‐olds globally. Seventy‐three percent of all suicides and self‐harm happen in low‐ and middle‐income countries, including Nigeria. CaMaPI is acceptable, culturally appropriate and feasible for treating suicidal ideation and self‐harm behaviours in adolescents and young people. CaMaPI is manualised and delivered with minimal resources by trained clinical psychology researchers.

Cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant public health issue in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), especially in Western sub‐Saharan Africa and Nigeria. While global CC incidence and mortality have declined, these regions continue to face high rates due to inadequate screening and the high prevalence of HIV, which increases CC risk by promoting persistent HPV infections. This study aimed to identify DNA methylation (DNAm) biomarkers for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and CC in HIV‐positive Nigerian women and to assess their potential for clinical risk prediction. From 2018 to 2020, 538 participants were recruited from Nigerian tertiary hospitals. Cervical tissue samples were analyzed for DNAm using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip array, and HPV genotyping was conducted via next‐generation sequencing. An epigenome‐wide association study revealed 24 significant DNAm biomarkers associated with CIN and CC. These biomarkers showed hypermethylation in tumor suppressor genes (e.g., PRMD8), hypomethylation in oncogenes (e.g., MIR520H), and aberrant methylation in genes related to HIV/HPV infection and oncogenesis (e.g., GNB5, LMO4, FOXK2, NMT1). A machine learning‐based DNAm classifier achieved 92.9% sensitivity and 88.6% specificity in predicting CC risk, with higher risk observed in adjacent normal cervical samples from CIN/CC patients and HIV/HPV co‐infected women. DNAm biomarkers offer a promising approach to enhancing CC screening and early detection, particularly for HIV‐positive women in LMICs. The DNAm‐based model developed in this study shows potential for more accurate CC risk stratification, highlighting the need for further optimization, validation, and implementation in low‐resource settings.

An illicit market is a system which involves the buying and selling of goods and services which a society classified as inimical to its existence. This study utilized the rational choice theory in explaining the phenomenon of illicit market and transnational organized crime in West Africa. Explanatory research method was utilized in explaining the pattern and trend of the phenomenon. The activities of these criminals in illicit market and organized crime are found in the US, Canada, Europe and Africa. Recently, West Africa has become the hub of global illicit market with countries like Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria as major transit pot of hard drugs and other illicit goods from South America.

Interprofessional team-based care is crucial in ensuring respectful and dignified maternal services. However, there is limited research that explores this issue from the perspectives of health care providers in Ghana. The study sought to explore the perspectives and experiences of health care providers working in a collaborative team-based setting at a health in Ghana, with the aim to improve respectful and dignified maternal care. We used a descriptive qualitative study and conducted semi-structured interviews with 35 participants from diverse cadre of health care providers, including Midwives, Nurses, Nutritionists, Pharmacists, Physicians, Radiographers and Sonographers. The data were subsequently transcribed and analysed thematically. The findings revealed four overarching themes namely roles, facilitators, barriers and strategies to overcome barriers experienced by healthcare professionals within an interprofessional team-based setting providing respectful and dignified maternal services. Providers’ primary roles in enhancing respectful and dignified maternal services within interprofessional team-based setting included enhancing patients’ outcome, improving healthcare professionals’ outcomes and optimizing facility outcomes. The facilitators to respectful and dignified maternal care were clear role definitions, transparent communication, personal empathy and professional competence. Conversely, barriers to the delivery of respectful and dignified maternal services within a team-based setting noted in participants’ responses included infrastructural deficiencies, inadequate staffing, discrimination and negative professional attitudes. Participants’ proposed strategies to overcome these barriers included investments in infrastructure, enhanced professional competence among staff and improved interprofessional communication within and between teams. Addressing these barriers could inform the development of policies and clinical practices aimed at advancing respectful and dignified maternal care. The study can also contribute to the design and formulation of an operational manual required to shape interprofessional team-based respectful and dignified maternal care in Ghana and other similar contexts.

Background: Childhood diarrhoea is a major health problem in developing countries. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a structured teaching programme on mothers’ knowledge and use of oral rehydration solution in the treatment of diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age. Setting: The study was conducted at Life-changing Eudaimonia Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was used, based on a pre- and post-test with one group. Seventy mothers of children under 5 years of age suffering from diarrhoea were recruited as subjects. However, two withdrew, resulting in a response rate of 97.1%. Data were collected by administering a pretest to the respondents and a post-test after a 3-h structured teaching programme on the preparation and utilisation of oral rehydration solution in the treatment of diarrhoea. Results: The t-test analysis revealed that the mean knowledge and utilisation of oral rehydration solution in the treatment of diarrhoea significantly increased, with paired t-values of 3.528 (p = 0.001) and 20.382 (p < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: We concluded that the structured teaching programme significantly improved mothers’ knowledge and utilisation of oral rehydration solution in the management of diarrhoea in children under 5 years of age at Life-changing Eudaimonia Hospital, Jos. Contribution: Based on the findings of this study, we suggest that policy makers should develop programmes that support education campaigns on oral rehydration therapy among family caregivers, especially in rural areas with poor access to health care.

Nigeria aims to enhance its healthcare quality index score of 84th out of 110 countries and its Sustainable Development Goals Index ranking of 146th out of 166. Due to increased population, disease burden, and patient awareness, healthcare demand is rising, putting pressure on funding and quality assurance. The Nigerian healthcare financing and its impacts are complex; this study gives insights into the trends. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey (conducted from June to August 2023) and 2010–2023 health budget analysis examined healthcare finance patterns and user attitudes (utilisation, preference and quality perceptions) in Nigeria. Data from government health budgets and a stratified random sample of 2,212 from nine states, obtained from the socioculturally diverse 237 million population, were analysed with a focus on trends, proportions, frequency distributions, and tests of association. Results show that the average rating of healthcare experiences did not vary significantly over the last decade. Healthcare system quality was rated mainly poor or very poor; structure (74.09%), services (61.66%), and cost (60.89%). While 87.36% used government healthcare facilities, 85.00% paid out-of-pocket, and 72.60% of them were dissatisfied with the value for money. Despite a preference for government facilities (71.43%), respondents cited high costs (62.75%), poor funding (85.65%), inadequate staffing (90.73%), and lack of essential medicines (88.47%) as major challenges. The budget analysis reveals an average government healthcare fund allocation of $7.12 compared with an estimated expenditure of$82.75 per person annually. Nigeria allocates only an average of 0.37% of GDP and 4.61% of the national budget to healthcare, comprising a maximum of 13.56% of total health expenditure. This study emphasises the urgent need for policy reforms and implementations to improve Nigeria’s healthcare financing and service quality. Targeted interventions are essential to address systemic challenges and meet population needs while aligning with international health services and best standards.

Understanding the impacts of human activities on avian communities in‐ and outside protected areas (PAs) is essential for guiding conservation strategies and evaluating the effectiveness of PAs in conserving avian diversity. Effective PAs should not only safeguard species within their boundaries but also contribute to maintaining ecosystem functionality in surrounding landscapes. We used citizen science data from the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project (2015–2024) and the human footprint index (HFI) from the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC) to analyze avian taxonomic and functional richness and diversity across 146 paired pentads (5ʹ × 5ʹ grid cells). Each protected area pentad (PAP) that covered ≥70% of a PA was paired with an unprotected pentad (UPP). Bayesian hierarchical models were applied to assess avian taxonomic and functional richness and diversity between PAPs and UPPs and to examine the influence of human activity on these community metrics based on HFI values. The PAPs had higher taxonomic richness and diversity than UPPs. In contrast, abundance‐weighted functional diversity metrics (Rao's Q, functional dispersion, and divergence) were higher in UPPs than PAPs due to the proliferation of disturbance‐tolerant generalist species. However, functional richness was lower in UPPs than PAPs, reflecting fewer ecological niches. Taxonomic and functional richness increased with moderate human impact, consistent with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, but declined under higher levels of disturbance, suggesting a point beyond which species cannot adapt or persist. These findings support the critical role of PAs in conserving avian species and functional traits and highlight the effects of human impact on species survival. Conservation strategies must prioritize the maintenance of PAs and integrate sustainable management in UPAs to safeguard avian diversity and functional traits essential for ecosystem resilience, especially as anthropogenic pressures increase.

Background Functional dyspepsia (FD) is one of the most common disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI). Varying reported population prevalences probably reflect different definitions and methodological approaches. Aim To study the prevalence and impact of FD and its subgroups in an internet survey. Methods A total of 54,127 respondents from 26 countries completed the survey including the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire‐4 (PHQ‐4), PHQ‐12, PROMIS Global‐10, demographics, and medical history. Respondents reporting a history of relevant organic disease, or fulfilling criteria for self‐induced or cyclic vomiting, or cannabinoid hyperemesis were excluded. Results Rome IV FD prevalence was 7.2% (range 2.2%–12.3%), significantly higher in women and decreased with age. The most prominent subtype was postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) (66.6%). Rome IV IBS was found in 26.1% of those fulfilling FD criteria. Functional heartburn and chronic nausea and vomiting criteria were fulfilled in, respectively, 9.0% and 7.0%. Fulfilling FD symptom criteria was significantly associated with increased prevalence of anxiety and depression and with lower quality of life and higher healthcare seeking behaviour. Conclusions Rome IV FD is one of the most prevalent DGBI globally. Across countries, it is associated with female sex, younger age, psychological distress, reduced quality of life, and higher health care utilisation. PDS is the dominant subgroup. Overlapping other DGBI are present in a minority.

Background Clinical and health systems research are essential for advancing global healthcare. Engaging and training medical students in research will foster lifelong evidence-based practice, particularly for the emerging healthcare workforce. This study investigates the involvement of Nigerian medical students in research, identifying key opportunities and barriers to enhance their engagement. Methods This cross-sectional, descriptive study used an online survey targeting recent graduates from 42 accredited Nigerian medical schools. A purposive sampling approach selected one federal, state, and private institution from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Data were collected between February and June 2024 using a face-validated online questionnaire, which gathered quantitative data and free-text recommendations. The survey was distributed through WhatsApp groups. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were employed to explore trends in the data. Ethical approval was obtained from the Jos University Teaching Hospital ethics review board (JUTH/DCS/IREC/127/XXXI/871). Informed consent was secured from each participant prior to participation. Results Of the 429 respondents (270 men, 159 women) from 15 universities across all six zones, 92% participated in research during medical school. Men engaged in more research projects than women (p = 0.03). Most respondents participated in two projects, usually group-based, with limited individual projects. Few had presented (20%) or published (17%) their research. Proficiency was highest in developing appropriate research methodologies (54%), while data analysis was the most challenging aspect of research (42%). Participation in research was supported by adequate mentorship for most participants (64%), whereas time constraints(74%), lack of research funding (55%), and inadequate research training (31%) were the main barriers to involvement. Regional differences were noted, with the highest participation by students in the South-South geo-political zone (98%) and the lowest in the South-West (85%). Learners from the South-West had more opportunities to present research at conferences, while those from the South-East had the fewest. Participants advocated for integrating more research opportunities into the medical curriculum, emphasising early skill development, expanding mentorship and networking opportunities, and offering grants to support students in conducting innovative research. Conclusion There is a pressing need to enhance structured research opportunities in Nigerian medical education, especially for female medical students. This includes expanding access to training in data analysis, increasing publication and presentation opportunities, and integrating research skills early in the curriculum while addressing barriers like time constraints. Clinical trial number Not applicable.

Background: Stunting remains a significant global health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally, around 22% of children under five are affected, with high rates persisting in South and Southeast Asia. This review examines government-led programs in high-performing LMICs (Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam) to identify key strategies and opportunities for effective intervention. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed using keywords and Medical Subject Heading terms, including “stunting”, “child undernutrition”, “malnutrition” and the names of the three specified countries. Articles were evaluated for relevance based on their focus on stunting prevalence, risk factors, and interventions in these countries, without restrictions on publication date or language. Results: Stunting prevalence among children under five has significantly declined in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam over the past two decades, reflecting the impact of sustained nutrition and health interventions. Nepal reduced stunting from 55.8% in 2000 to 26.7% in 2022, Bangladesh from 54.7% to 26.4%, and Vietnam from 41.5% to 19.3%. Successful strategies included multisectoral approaches integrating nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, enhanced policy frameworks, and strong governance. Despite progress, challenges remain, such as high wasting prevalence in Nepal and disparities among marginalized communities in Vietnam, emphasizing the need for targeted, context-specific interventions. Conclusions: Effective stunting reduction requires multisectoral strategies addressing underlying, intermediate, and immediate determinants. Insights from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam highlight the importance of sustained government commitment, robust policies, and coordinated interventions. Adapting these successful strategies to local contexts can support stunting prevention and management, promoting healthier and more resilient communities.

The world’s population is ageing faster, and most countries are experiencing a rise in the size and proportion of elderly people. The demographic shift has consequent rising burden of age-related health challenges. The study examined the health conditions and vulnerability to health risks among the elderly people in urban settings of Jos north LGA for ageing sustainable health and well-being. A snowballing identified the elderly people, where a simple random sampling assisted in the selection of 128 aged adults who responded to questionnaire interviews. SPSS version 28 aided the analysis of data using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression for association and odds between the socio-demographic variables and vulnerability of the elderly to health risk. Findings reveal that in all, 85.9% of elderly respondents reported health risks. Over two-quarters (68.8%) of the elderly people experienced limitations carrying out activity due to health conditions. Cost delayed medical visits for 64.8%, 36.7% restricted due to their health, and 35.9% had terminal illnesses. Access to healthcare varied with 68.0% had monthly and above visits and only 24.2% registered for the Health Insurance Scheme. Family and friends (83.6%) served as the primary health support network. Age groups, House ownership, levels of education, Monthly income, and Access to health insurance. Younger-older ages between 60-64 years, owning a house, attainment of tertiary education, Registering for Health Insurance Scheme showed significant reduced possibilities of becoming vulnerable to health risks among the elderly people in study settings. While absent at previous health visits for other reasons than solely due to cost monthly earnings between N50,001 - N100,000 had significant relations with high vulnerable to health risk. These suggest urgent need for improve healthcare access, financial security, and social support system for the elderly in study and the Nigeria at large. Key words: Ageing Population, Elderly Population, Elderly Adults, Health Conditions, Jos North LGA

Background About 13% of women globally experience postnatal depression with adverse implications for the mothers and their children. In Nigeria, there is limited access to evidence-based culturally appropriate care for mothers affected by postnatal depression. Methods This study was a multi-centre, two-arm, parallel-group, single-blind, individually randomised controlled trial design adopted to test the feasibility, cultural appropriateness and acceptability of Learning Through Play plus Culturally adapted Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (LTP+CaCBT). The LTP+CaCBT is a 12-session (90 minutes each) intervention to treat postnatal depression, and this was compared with the Enhanced Treatment As Usual (ETAU). Sixty-six mother-child pairs across three centres who scored >5 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were recruited for the study and randomised to either the LTP+CaCBT experimental or ETAU control groups. Data were collected at various time points (baseline, end of intervention and 3 months post-enrolment) and analysed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics. N = 3 focus groups comprising 11 participants each and n = 18 individual interviews were conducted to explore participants’ experiences engaging with the intervention. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Result The LTP+CaCBT group (n=33) recorded a high participants’ recruitment, participation and retention rate of 94% across 12 sessions. Satisfaction with intervention (LTP+CaCBT, 97%; ETAU, 34.4%). reduction in postnatal depression was higher in LTP+CaCBT on PHQ-9 Md = 3.00 with z= -4.935; compared to ETAU, Md=4.00 with z= -2.556. Improvement was also recorded for the anxiety and social support level; there was no improvement for the control group, as the scores remained the same. Themes identified from the qualitative dataset showed positive behaviour management, enhanced mother-child interaction and relationship, modification of negative thought processes, positive experience and relationship formation. Conclusion The LTP+CaCBT intervention is shown to be acceptable and culturally appropriate whilst indicating potential clinical effectiveness in reducing postnatal depression and anxiety in Nigerian mothers. A fully powered RCT is recommended to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of LTP+CaCBT, including the child’s outcomes compared with ETAU. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04644081, identifier NCT04644081.

Objectives Cervical cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), accounting for nearly 85% of the global cervical cancer burden. High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is the main cause of cervical cancer. Easy-to-use, rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and cost-effective HPV tests are urgently needed for low-resource settings. Atila Biosystems’ clinically validated ScreenFire HPV Risk Stratification (RS) assay identifies 13 hrHPV in 4 groups based on their oncogenic risk (i.e., HPV16, HPV18/45, HPV31/33/35/52/58, and HPV51/59/39/56/68). While the current standard format is subject to laboratory contamination Atila has developed an innovative, contamination-preventive Zebra BioDome format. Recently we published the analytical performance of ScreenFire RS Zebra BioDome on the BioRad CFX-96 real-time PCR instrument. This current study evaluated its analytical performance on three additional qPCR platforms: Atila Portable iAMP-PS96, Atila Powergene9600 Plus, and Thermo Fisher Quantstudio-7. Methods We tested 173 DNA samples from Nigerian women with cervical cancer. These samples were tested simultaneously using the ScreenFire HPV Zebra BioDome assay (M5FHPV-96) on four different real-time PCR machines (Atila portable iAMP-PS96, Atila Powergene9600 Plus, Thermo Fisher QuantStudio-7, and BioRad CFX-96). We used overall agreement rate and unweighted kappa values to compare different platforms. Results The overall agreement for detection of hrHPV using Atila portable iAMP-PS96 was 96.5% with kappa value 0.95 (95% confidence interval: 0.91–0.99) compared to Thermo Fisher QuantStudio-7, and 97.1% with kappa value 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.92–0.99) compared to BioRad CFX-96. For genotype HPV16 and risk stratification (RS) genotype groups (HPV18/45, HPV31/33/35/52/58, and HPV51/59/39/56/68) agreement rates were all > 98.3%. For Atila Powergene9600 Plus the overall agreement was 98.8% with a kappa value of 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.96–1.0) compared to Thermo Fisher QuantStudio-7, and 96.5% with a kappa value of 0.96 (95% confidence interval: 0.94–0.99) compared to BioRad CFX-96. The agreements for the HPV16 and RS genotype groups (HPV18/45, HPV31/33/35/52/58, and HPV39/51/56/59/68) were at least 98.3%. Conclusion The novel ScreenFire HPV Zebra BioDome format produced highly concordant hrHPV positivity and RS genotype results on all four qPCR platforms. The data suggests that this innovative technology has the potential to improve HPV testing uptake in low-resource settings without further investment in purchasing new equipment.

Crop evolutionary history and domestication processes are key issues for better conservation and effective use of crop genetic diversity. Black and white fonio (Digitaria iburua and D. exilis, respectively) are two small indigenous grain cereals grown in West Africa. The relationship between these two cultivated crops and wild Digitaria species is still unclear. Here, we analyse whole genome sequences of 265 accessions comprising these two cultivated species and their close wild relatives. We show that white and black fonio were the result of two independent domestications without gene flow. We infer a cultivation expansion that began at the outset of the CE era, coinciding with the earliest discovered archaeological fonio remains in Nigeria. Fonio population sizes declined a few centuries ago, probably due to a combination of several factors, including major social and agricultural changes, intensification of the slave trade and the introduction of new, less labour-intensive crops. The key knowledge and genomic resources outlined here will help to promote and conserve these neglected climate-resilient crops and thereby provide an opportunity to tailor agriculture to the changing world.

Bioluminescence is a biochemical property of living organisms which involves the generation and emission of light through chemical reactions in vivo and/or in vitro in the body of the organism. Since discovering this unique feature in a decaying fish by Robert Boyle (1668), several studies have explored this phenomenon in different organisms, the mechanism, and applications of bioluminescence. This chapter highlights the various luminous bacteria, their habitat, and their symbiotic interaction with other organisms. In principle, bioluminescence takes place in the presence of a luciferase enzyme as a catalyst for the oxidation of luciferin to emit a blue-green visible light. This property of light-emitting bacteria has been widely applied in different fields, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sensing, hygiene control, mapping pollution in ecosystems, preservation of artwork, gene assay, in vivo imaging, disease therapy, and sensing organic and inorganic molecules. Although advances have been made in the study of bioluminescence, the key limitations that may inform future research direction include the confines of applying bioluminescence imaging to plant metabolites, proteins and physiology. Additionally, several synthetic and natural luciferins have limitations because of their low bioavailability, stability, and cell compatibility.

The initial step in suicide prevention involves identifying individuals who may be at risk of attempting suicide at an early stage. Utilising artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques offers innovative avenues for the early detection of such individuals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of clear information regarding the application of AI and ML in suicide prevention. Our objective is to examine the latest research findings on the utilization of AI/ML in forecasting suicidal tendencies. Authors reviewed four databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and SCImago) for studies using AI/ML for suicide prevention published in English from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2021. Search strings and MeSH were employed for searching terms relevant to suicide prevention and AI/ML. Results of the studies were analysed qualitatively, and information was presented as tables and figures. After removing duplicate articles, out of 434 studies, 21 articles, involving a total of 274,876 participants, met the inclusion criteria and were considered for this review. The results suggested that AI/ML-based suicide prediction models might improve healthcare systems by identifying individuals at high risk of suicide by preventing suicidal attempts. However, further researches are needed to perform AI/ML-based evidence-based assessment tools and determine their validity and reliability for suicide prediction models in different contexts.

Rosuvastatin is a synthetic statin medication approved for the management of lipid disorders and also for preventing cardiovascular disease in at-risk individuals. Generic rosuvastatin formulations have been developed which are comparatively lower in cost and also assumed to be bio-similar to the innovator brand Crestor®. The present study investigated the chemical and physical attributes together with the in vitro bioequivalence profiles of four generic brands of rosuvastatin calcium tablets marketed in Jos, Nigeria in comparison to the reference brand. The tablet dimensions (thickness and diameter), weight variation, friability, hardness, disintegration time and dissolution profiles were evaluated in accordance to standard procedures. The samples were also assayed using Ultraviolet–Visible spectrophotometry at wavelength of 242.5 nm in methanol. In vitro bioequivalence was evaluated by determining the difference (${\text{f}}_{1}$) and similarity (${\text{f}}_{2}$) factors. The generic brands all complied with the pharmacopoeial specifications for weight variation, friability and disintegration. In addition, the tablet brands tested all had active drug content ranging from 94.92 to 109.2% and released over 80% of rosuvastatin calcium within the first twenty minutes of the dissolution studies thereby complying with pharmacopoeial requirements for content and dissolution respectively. All brands had similarity factor (${\text{f}}_{2}$) values ranging from 50 to 100 and difference factor (${\text{f}}_{1}$) values between 0 to 15% at pH 6.6, thus implying that the brands can be used interchangeably with the innovator brand. The chemical and physical tests carried out reveal that the locally marketed brands of rosuvastatin calcium are of good quality and meet the required regulatory standards.