Fire Reduces Soil Nitrate Retention While Increasing Soil Nitrogen Production and Loss Globally.

Elucidating the response of soil gross nitrogen (N) transformations to fires could improve our understanding of how fire affects N availability and loss. Yet, how internal soil gross N transformation rates respond to fires remains unexplored globally. Here, we investigate the general response of gross soil N transformations to fire and its consequences for N availability and loss.

Monkeypox Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Outcomes, Public Health Implications, and Security Measures.

Background: The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, is responsible for the zoonotic disease known as MPX. Primarily found in western and central Africa, emerging studies indicate a shift in transmission dynamics. Ongoing MPX outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have escalated into significant public health concerns.

Belongingness in Medical Student Placements: Validation and Pilot Study of the Use of the Exeter Belongingness Assessment Tool in Belgian and English Medical Students.

Background: Belongingness is an important factor in the social development of medical students, and the ability to quantify belongingness in medical students may provide additional metrics by which we can compare different learning environments to help explore differential attainment. Previous studies looking at the measurement of belongingness have demonstrated good internal and external validity for tools designed to measure this facet of student experience. This study aimed to explore the use of the Exeter Belongingness Assessment Tool (EBAT) as one potential source of evidence in the study of student learning experience on clinical placements, which could be used to support quality assurance of clinical learning.

The role of between-group signaling in the evolution of primate ornamentation.

Gregarious mammals interact to varying degrees and in a variety of ways with neighboring groups. Since navigating this wider social environment via conventional means (social knowledge) may be challenging, we hypothesize that between-group socio-spatial dynamics have exerted strong selection on phenotypic markers of individual identity, quality, and competitive ability. Ornaments are sexually selected decorative traits with far-reaching signaling potential.

A deterministic analysis of an age-sex-structured model for malaria transmission dynamics.

Children younger than 5 years and women, especially pregnant women, are at high risk of malaria and death because of their weak immunity and exposure to mosquitoes. Several studies have considered only the age-structured model and other factors but have not considered sex. The objective of this work is to develop and analyze the malaria transmission model including this structure, to contribute to existing measures and mechanisms to eradicate malaria in Rwanda.

Worldwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis in children between 2000 and 2021: a systematic analysis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent allergic disease that significantly impacts pediatric health.

Objective: To comprehensively describe the global, regional, and national AD prevalence trends among children aged 0-14 years from 2000 to 2021.

Methods: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyze AD prevalence and case numbers.

Midwife-led birthing centre in the humanitarian setup: An experience from the Rohingya camp, Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, Midwife Led Birthing Centres (MLBCs) have been established to provide midwifery care and sexual and reproductive health services for the displaced Rohingya population in Cox's Bazar. The aim of this study was to explore MLBCs in this humanitarian context from the perspectives of women, midwives, and other key stakeholders. A mixed-method case study was conducted at one of the MLBCs within the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

Towards an Ethical Analysis of Research in One Health (EAROH).

The COVID-19 and Monkeypox pandemics and the ongoing Marburg outbreak in Rwanda provide a stark reminder of the importance of espousing a One Health (OH) approach to zoonoses as well as other public health and global health issues. Recent years have in fact seen an exponential rise in biomedical and public health journals and publications explicitly adopting the name of OH. Not all research that pertains to be OH however is indeed OH research, insofar as it does not comply with the proclaimed OH goals of benefiting humans, animals, and the environment.

On-farm evaluation of aflatoxin binder inclusion in dairy feed as a strategy to reduce milk aflatoxin M1 contamination in the Rwandan context.

Aflatoxins (AF), fungal metabolites, can contaminate feed in favorable environments, posing health risks to humans and animals. Dairy cows exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) excrete its metabolite, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), in milk, compromising its safety. The current study examined the use of an AF binder in dairy feed concentrates on farms in Rwanda to mitigate AFM1 in milk.

Food Security Resilience and Humanitarian Aid in Mali: A Case Study of Bandiagara Cercle.

Mali's food security strategies focus on improving agriculture, water management, and diversifying livelihoods. While initiatives like climate-smart agriculture show promise, challenges like limited resources, market access, and political instability persist. Gender inequalities and reliance on external aid further hinder progress, making it difficult for Mali to build sustainable, self-reliant food systems and ensure long-term resilience.

Predictors of household drinking water E. coli contamination: Population-based results from rural areas of Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, rural areas have lower rates of access to safe drinking water compared to urban areas. We investigated predictors of Escherichia coli contamination in drinking water of rural households in Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

Methods: We used a population-based, cluster randomized sampling design to select rural households in each country.

Outcomes of an integrated knowledge translation approach in five African countries: a mixed-methods comparative case study.

Background: Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) aims to enhance evidence-informed decision-making in public health and healthcare by establishing continuous relationships between researchers and knowledge users, in particular decision-makers. The Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) undertook research on noncommunicable diseases in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda. Alongside the research activities, we implemented an IKT approach, which entailed training and the development and implementation of site-specific IKT strategies.

What if professional mosquito abatement in Africa started in a refugee camp?

In the aftermath of the 2015 political crisis in Burundi, a humanitarian organisation, Maison Shalom, fled the country to Rwanda with tens of thousands of Burundians. In an attempt to assist their compatriots, a group of Burundians in the diaspora created the Académie and teamed with Maison Shalom to give online classes to the refugees. With courage and determination and despite the conditions in the refugee camp and the language barrier, 17 refugees successfully completed the 'Best Practices for Integrated Mosquito Management Virtual Training Programme', offered by the American Mosquito Control Association.

Schistosomiasis transmission: A machine learning analysis reveals the importance of agrochemicals on snail abundance in Rwanda.

Background: Schistosomiasis is an important snail-borne parasitic disease whose transmission is exacerbated by water resource management activities. In Rwanda, meeting the growing population's demand for food has led to wetlands reclamation for cultivation and increased agrochemical enrichment for crop production. However, the ecological consequences of agrochemical enrichment on schistosomiasis transmission remain unexplored.

Outcomes of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare in Rwanda and validation of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) mortality risk score.

There are few data regarding clinical outcomes from COVD-19 from low-income countries (LICs) including Rwanda. Accordingly, we aimed to determine 1) outcomes of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in Rwanda, and 2) the ability of the Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) score to predict mortality in patients with COVID-19 compared to sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and quick (qSOFA) scores. We conducted a retrospective study of patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB), Rwanda, April 2021-January 2022.

Knowledge and practice toward menstrual hygiene management and associated factors among visual impaired adolescent girls: a case of two selected institutions in Rwanda.

Background: Menstruation is a universal and normal phenomenon during the reproductive age of females; adolescence is an essential period where females are preparing and adjusting themselves to manage their menstrual bleeding safely and cleanly. Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention among visually impaired adolescent girls (VIAGs).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and practice of MHM and associated factors among VIAGs of selected institutions in Rwanda.

Mobile app review analysis for crowdsourcing of software requirements: a mapping study of automated and semi-automated tools.

Mobile app reviews are valuable for gaining user feedback on features, usability, and areas for improvement. Analyzing these reviews manually is difficult due to volume and structure, leading to the need for automated techniques. This mapping study categorizes existing approaches for automated and semi-automated tools by analyzing 180 primary studies.

Cross-sectional study exploring the prevalence and clinical manifestations of acute diarrhea among under-5 children in primary care hospital in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Acute diarrhea (AD), which is defined as frequent passing of liquid stools compared to normal, is a serious and worrying problem and remains a concern for healthcare systems because of its high mortality cause in children under 5 years old. The authors' study aimed to present the prevalence and to describe the clinical manifestation of AD among under-5 children.

Methods: From June 2022 to May 2023, the authors conducted a retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study including all patients aged 0-5 years hospitalized for AD.

Caregiver burden among informal caregivers of stroke survivors in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background: Stroke presents significant challenges for both survivors and caregivers, particularly in resource-limited settings like Zimbabwe. Identifying factors contributing to caregiver burden strain (CBS) is crucial to enhance support strategies.

Objectives: This longitudinal study identified caregiver and stroke survivor characteristics associated with CBS among caregivers in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Health systems'resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A South African polio surveillance case study.

Background: More needs to be known on how the South African health system contained the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and maintained the core business of health service delivery. We describe the practices that have shown to affect the health systems' resilience in ensuring maintenance of polio surveillance and immunization systems in South Africa (SA) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: This is a descriptive, reflective desk review study using the South African polio surveillance systems and immunization coverage as a case study.

Records of Lonchaeidae (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha) from Togo and other African countries, with descriptions of new species.

Seventeen species of Lonchaeidae are recorded from the west African state of Togo amongst which are eight species new to science namely; Silba akloa sp. nov., Silba bambesa sp.

Scratching the surface of Afrotropical Dissomphalus (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae): a revision uncovering 114 new species.

The main goal of this paper is to revise the Dissomphalus genus within the Afrotropical region. Specimens were collected across seventeen countries: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A total of 127 species have been identified in the Afrotropical region.

Three new species of Pomphopsilla Jałoszyński in Togo (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae).

The cephenniine genus Pomphopsilla currently comprises twelve nominal species distributed in Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda and the Seychelles. Three new species are described, all based on specimens collected in Togo: P. spinosa sp.