Development and validation of a species-specific environmental DNA (eDNA) primer for endangered Asian arowana, (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) for law enforcement and wild population monitoring.

The Asian Arowana, (Müller and Schlegel, 1844) is a large majestic freshwater teleost, crowned as the king of aquariums with its bright charismatic appearance and magnificent swimming performance. The most expensive Asian arowana is the Golden Blue-based Malayan Arowana which is endemic to the Bukit Merah Lake and Kerian River Basin, Perak, Malaysia. has been listed as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), regulated under Appendix 1 of the Convention of International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES) for commercial trade.

Urgent findings in CT chest examinations: Radiography and medical students' capabilities and learning perspectives - a preliminary study.

Introduction: Radiography and medical students (RMS), upon graduation, require capabilities to provide life-saving care through identification and communication of urgent findings on radiological imaging. This preliminary study investigated RMS' ability to identify and categorise urgent findings on CT examinations. It also explored their experiences of image interpretation education.

Intersection between individual, household, environmental and system level factors in defining risk and resilience for children in Kenya's ASAL: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Children growing up in arid and semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face heightened risks, often resulting in poor developmental outcomes. In Kenya, the arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) exhibit the lowest health and developmental indicators among children. Despite these risks, some children grow up successfully and overcome the challenges.

Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among household heads in northern Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out for the public in August 2021 in Zamfara state, Northen Nigeria. We determined the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Settings: We executed a community-based analytical cross-sectional study during the first 4 months of the second phase of the COVID-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) mass vaccination campaign in Zamfara state.

Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Within Scotland Black, African, and Caribbean Communities and Lessons for Future Vaccination Programmes.

This study highlights how the intersection of multiple factors shapes the experiences of Scotland's Black, African, and Caribbean communities in their access and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the vaccination programme's first, second, and booster stages. There was particular interest in understanding the vaccination journey, from scheduling an appointment to attending the appointment. Data in this study was collected between the 1 and 30 April 2022 using a triangulated approach, including a survey (with 408 responses), interviews (26), and focus group discussions (5 groups involving 30 participants).

Engaging fathers(to-be): a pilot study on the adaptation and programme experience of SMS4baba intervention in Kenya's informal settlements.

Background: Engaging fathers(to-be) can improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. However, father-focused interventions in low-resource settings are under-researched. As part of an integrated early childhood development pilot cluster randomised trial in Nairobi's informal settlements, this study aimed to test the feasibility of a text-only intervention for fathers (SMS4baba) adapted from one developed in Australia (SMS4dads).

Principal component analysis of the Serological response to Plasmodium Falciparum using a Multiplex bead-based assay in Nigeria.

Characterization of serological responses to Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is of interest to understand disease burden and transmission dynamics; however, their interpretation is challenging. Dried blood spots from 30,815 participants aged 6 months to 15 years from the 2018 Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey were analyzed by multiplex bead-based assay to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) to Pf-stage-specific MSP-1, AMA-1, GLURPR0, LSA-1, and CSP. These IgG levels were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA).

Development and Implementation of a Public Health Event Management System, Nigeria, 2018-2024.

Event management systems (EMS) are key tools for epidemic intelligence, integrating surveillance signals and incident response, although international standards to inform development are lacking. We describe the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) SITAware, a software capable of operating with low internet bandwidth to generate notifications, reports, and spatiotemporal dashboards and provide event-level data for real-time accountability and postevent learning. SITAware was enabled by local institutional ownership, co-created at low cost, and integrated into existing workflows.

New subclass of meromorphic harmonic functions defined by symmetric q-calculus and domain of Janowski functions.

In this article, by applying the convolution principle and symmetric -calculus, we develop a new generalized symmetric -difference operator of convolution type, which is applicable in the domain . Utilizing this operator, we construct, analyze, and evaluate two new sets of meromorphically harmonic functions in the Janowski domain. Furthermore, we investigate the convolution properties and necessary conditions for a function to belong to the class , examining the sufficiency conditions for to satisfy these properties.

Study of quantum calculus for a new subclass of bi-univalent functions associated with the cardioid domain.

In this article, we make use of the concepts of subordination and the -calculus theory to analyze a new class of analytic bi-univalent functions associated to the cardioid domain. Our main focus is to derive a sharp inequality for a newly defined class of analytic and bi-univalent functions in the open unit disc . We explore the bounds of initial coefficients, Fekete-Szegö type problems, and coefficient inequalities for newly established families.

PATHWAYS TO CARE AMONG PATIENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO, NIGERIA.

Background: The first line of care is a paramount stage in the management of the mentally ill persons. In Nigeria, traditional and faith-based healers compete with medical professionals in providing care.

Aim: Pathway to care among patients with Mental Illness at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria.

DEPRESSION AS A PREDICTOR OF OPIOID USE DISORDER IN SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is highly prevalent in Africa, especially in Nigeria, the most populous country, and is associated with a high mortality rate. Depression, common among individuals with SCD, correlates with increased pain intensity and opioid misuse, leading to poorer outcomes and diminished quality of life in these patients.

Aim: To determine whether major depressive disorder is a predictor of opioid use disorder among patients with sickle cell disease.

Lassa fever in Nigeria: epidemiology and risk perception.

Annual outbreaks of Lassa fever have resulted in a public health threat in Nigeria and other endemic countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the Lassa Virus (LASV) is endemic in rodent populations, zoonotic spillover to humans causes annual outbreaks. This study reviewed the burden of Lassa fever (LF) in Nigeria between 2020 and 2023 and conducted a cross-sectional survey of Nigerians to evaluate their risk perceptions of LF.

EFFECT OF ELECTRONIC SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE REMINDERS ON MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN KATSINA STATE: A QUASIEXPERIMENTAL STUDY.

Introduction: Globally, hypertension is considered a public health problem affecting over 1.3 billion individuals of which 60% need reminders to take medication to achieve adherence, optimal blood pressure and avert complications. Literature shows electronic short message reminders (eSMS) improved medication adherence.

Association of Chronic Malnutrition, and Not Anemia, with Cognitive Development in Ethiopian Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study assesses the associations between nutritional status and cognitive development of schoolchildren. A unit increase in height-for-age Z-score was associated with 0.12 SD, 0.

Supporting African communities to increase resilience and mental health of kids with developmental disabilities and their caregivers using the World Health Organization's Caregiver Skills Training Programme (SPARK trial): study protocol for a cluster randomised clinical controlled trial.

Background: Most children with developmental disabilities (DD) live in low- and middle-income countries, but access to services is limited, impacting their ability to thrive. Pilot study findings of the World Health Organization's Caregiver Skills Training (WHO CST) intervention, which equips caregivers with strategies to facilitate learning and adaptive behaviours in children with DD, are promising but evidence from an appropriately powered trial delivered by non-specialist facilitators is lacking. This study will investigate the effectiveness and the resource impacts and costs and consequences of the WHO CST intervention in four sites in rural and urban Kenya and Ethiopia.

Cognitive impairment and exploitation: connecting fragments of a bigger picture through data.

Background: Exploitation poses a significant public health concern. This paper highlights 'jigsaw pieces' of statistical evidence, indicating cognitive impairment as a pre- or co-existing factor in exploitation.

Methods: We reviewed English Safeguarding Adults Collection (SAC) data and Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) from 2017 to 22.

Research Participation and Feedback: Perception of Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Evidence-based research remains the cornerstone in changing the narrative of wholesome health among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV (AYALHIV). However, little is known about the perceptions of AYALHIV in research participation and outcomes, in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes the perception of AYALHIV in research participation and outcome in Lagos, Nigeria.

Cognitive Impairment as A Vulnerability for Exploitation: A Scoping Review.

Exploitation is a form of abuse that occurs when one person unfairly manipulates another for profit or personal gain. Various individual and social characteristics have the potential to increase an individual's risk of being exploited. Cognitive impairment is one potential vulnerability factor that has received minimal research attention.