Search Results (280)

Clade I mpox virus (MPXV) is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Recent studies have described the changing epidemiology of mpox in the country, which has been mainly characterized by the emergence of new MPXV lineages, Clade Ib/sh2023 and Ia/sh2024, associated with sustained human-to-human transmission. Both Clade Ib/sh2023 and Ia/sh2024 are co-circulating in Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC. Here, we report the first two cases of Clade IIb/sh2017 identified in Kinshasa, DRC, imported from West Africa and locally transmitted. Clinical specimens were collected and tested by PCR. We performed whole genome sequencing using a tiled-amplicon sequencing approach with Clade IIb MPXV-specific primers. The phylogenetic tree shows that Kinshasa Clade IIb MPXV is assigned to Clade IIb/sh2017 within the newly designated lineage G.1, as identified in January 2025 in Sierra-Leone. Full article

Sierra Leone’s water sector faces a “paradox of scarcity in abundance”: despite plentiful natural water resources, access to safe, reliable, and affordable supply remains limited, particularly for vulnerable populations. This paper investigates the governance dynamics and stakeholder relationships that underpin these challenges, drawing on a mixed-methods approach combining desktop research, surveys, and 37 semi-structured interviews. Using stakeholder and social network analysis, the study identifies key actors and their roles, interests, influence, and interdependencies, while also examining systemic barriers across social, technical, economic, environmental, and political dimensions. The findings reveal a highly fragmented governance landscape, characterised by overlapping mandates, donor dependency, weak enforcement, and the marginalisation of community voices. Although recent reforms—including new regulatory institutions, donor-funded infrastructure projects, and community-based initiatives—represent progress, they remain largely piecemeal, reactive, and insufficient to address entrenched structural deficiencies. The paper concludes that Sierra Leone’s water crisis is less a problem of resource scarcity than one of governance. Achieving sustainable water security requires integrated, system-wide reforms that strengthen institutional capacity, enhance coordination, enforce accountability, and embed inclusive stakeholder participation. Full article

Cassava plants’ response to waterlogging must be monitored in an accurate and timely manner to mitigate the adverse effects of waterlogging stress. Under waterlogging conditions, root hypoxia reduces water uptake and stomatal closure limits transpiration, which often results in increased leaf temperature due to reduced evaporative cooling. However, how this relationship changes in cassava leaves under waterlogged conditions remains poorly understood. This study hypothesized that more negative ΔT values reflect enhanced transpirational cooling, which is a key determinant of superior physiological performance under waterlogging stress among cassava genotypes. Two cassava cultivars were subjected to twelve days of waterlogging. Results revealed a significant decrease in photosynthetic rate (p < 0.001), stomatal conductance (p < 0.001), and transpiration rate (p < 0.001), as well as an increase in leaf temperature (p < 0.001) and ΔT (p < 0.001), reflecting impaired stomatal regulation and reduced evaporative cooling. Strong negative correlations between ΔT and photosynthetic parameters (Pn (p < 0.001, r = −0.91), gs (p < 0.001, r = −0.91), and E (p < 0.001, r = −0.87)) were observed, presenting ΔT as a reliable, nondestructive indicator of cassava’s physiological responses under hypoxic conditions. Findings indicate that maintaining cooler canopies may contribute to waterlogging-tolerant cassava genotypes, and that ΔT can act as a screening parameter for waterlogging-tolerant genotypes. However, further studies with contrasting genotypes and additional parameters are recommended for validation. Full article

Introduction: The hub-and-spoke model (HSM) offers a methodological and hierarchical project management framework for efficient healthcare service delivery. The Commonwealth Partnerships for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS) programme supports the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) interventions to optimise the use of antimicrobials across eight African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Currently the second phase of the programme (CwPAMS 2.0) is being implemented, between March 2023 and March 2025, in which six countries are adopting the HSM to deliver AMS interventions. The aim of this study was to design a hybrid II monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) framework to assess the implementation and effectiveness of the HSM in delivering and adapting AMS interventions. Methods: A mixed-methods Hybrid II Implementation trial design was used to develop the MEL framework, guided by the Theory of Change, Socio-Ecological Theory, and Normalisation Process Theory and in alignment with the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Data collection will be continuous and longitudinal (pre-, mid- and post-implementation). The evaluation framework has been designed to study implementation evaluation at three ecological levels: programme, partnership, and individual site level. Data collection will encompass mixed methodologies and include non-participant observations, formal and informal feedback (from individual key stakeholders and groups), knowledge tools and surveys, scored evaluations, pre-and post-assessments, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and data collected during formal and informal meetings. This approach will facilitate continuous data collection for evaluation and help study the utilisation and adaptation of AMS interventions. Discussion: This study provides a protocol for developing and utilising an MEL framework to study the application of the HSM in delivering AMS interventions. Developing an evaluation framework requires meticulous planning and a robust implementation and evaluation protocol to ensure methodological rigour, transparency, and effective resource management throughout the project lifecycle. Despite comprehensive consideration of developing progress and programmatic indicators and measures across all domains, the study acknowledges limitations in definitively attributing causality to individual AMS interventions due to their complexity and varied implementation contexts. Full article

Freshwater mussels hold significant ecological and economic value. Gut bacterial communities can regulate the growth and immunity of freshwater mussels. However, the dynamics of gut bacterial communities in freshwater mussels at different life stages are still limited. This study used the globally widespread mussel, Sinanodonta woodiana, as a model animal and employed 16S rRNA sequencing technology to comparatively analyze the gut bacterial communities of early juveniles, late juveniles, and adults. Alpha diversity indices indicated a trend of increasing richness and diversity of the gut bacterial communities with the mussel growth. Beta diversity analysis revealed distinct stage-specific taxonomic profiles. At the phylum level, four dominant phyla were identified in the early juveniles, namely Fusobacteriota, Verrucomicrobiota, Pseudomonadota, and Cyanobacteriota; and seven dominant phyla were identified in both late juveniles and adults, namely Fusobacteriota, Pseudomonadota, Verrucomicrobiota, Cyanobacteriota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, and Chloroflexota. Among them, the relative abundance of Fusobacteriota decreased with the mussel growth (p < 0.05), while the relative abundances of Pseudomonadota and Cyanobacteriota increased with the mussel growth (p < 0.05). At the genus level, four dominant genera were identified in the early juveniles: Cetobacterium, LD29, Cyanobium_PCC-6307, and Cupriavidus; seven dominant genera were identified in the late juveniles: Cetobacterium, Roseomonas, LD29, Cyanobium_PCC-6307, Limnolyngbya_CHAB4449, Terrimicrobium, Limnothrix; and nine dominant genera were detected in the adults: Cetobacterium, LD29, Roseomonas, Cyanobium_PCC-6307, Limnothrix, Limnolyngbya_CHAB4449, Sediminibacterium, Terrimicrobium, Acidibacter. Among these, the relative abundance of Cetobacterium decreased with the mussel growth (p < 0.05), while the relative abundance of Acidibacter increased with the mussel growth (p < 0.05). Functional prediction revealed that the gut bacterial communities were primarily involved in metabolic pathways, including the biosynthesis of ansamycins, biosynthesis of vancomycin group antibiotics, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, biotin metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis. The findings provide insights for enhancing the nutrition and health of freshwater mussels. Full article

Genealogy is a powerful analytical framework for understanding the cultural evolution of tribes, communities, and societies. This article demonstrates that the recurrent reliance on genealogical structures is a common feature of human societies, serving as a fundamental mechanism for cultural evolution through time, space, and culture. Based on comparative analysis of indigenous tribal societies (e.g., Aboriginal Australian kinship, Polynesian chiefly genealogies), agrarian civilizations (e.g., European feudal lineages, Chinese patriliny), and modern nation-states (e.g., nationalist mythmaking, DNA-based ancestry movements), this study reveals consistent patterns in genealogical functions. Drawing on an interdisciplinary perspective from anthropology, sociology, history, and evolutionary biology, it is argued that genealogical systems are not passive records of descent but dynamic forces of cultural continuity and adaptation. The evidence shows that, despite vast sociocultural differences, genealogy widely operates as a dual-purpose instrument. It preserves cultural memory and legitimizes political authority while simultaneously facilitating social adaptation and innovation in response to new challenges. The paper also critiques contemporary trends like commercial genetic genealogy, highlighting its potential for reconnecting diasporic communities alongside its risks of biological essentialism. Ultimately, the work establishes that the persistent and patterned reliance on genealogy from oral traditions to genetic data offers a critical lens for understanding the deep structures of cultural continuity and transformation in human societies. It further underscores the importance of genealogy in cultural evolution, historical persistence, societal transformation, and the construction of belonging in an increasingly globalized world. Full article

Clinical trial (CT) safety surveillance is critical to protecting participants and ensuring reliable evidence on the safety and efficacy of new medical products. This is especially relevant in Africa, where CT activity remains limited, regulatory maturity varies, and drug safety surveillance systems are under-resourced despite considerable demographic advantages and genetic and cultural diversity. Pre-licensure safety monitoring is a vital yet underdeveloped element of the research ecosystem, and the absence of a regional repository for safety data constrains early detection of risks, particularly in multi-country trials. To assess the current state of CT safety surveillance in Africa, a landscape analysis of the systems for clinical trial safety data reporting, collation, and analysis was conducted. Expert perspectives were synthesized to describe existing practices, identify key gaps, and propose opportunities for strengthening systems. Findings revealed limited regulatory capacity, limited drug safety monitoring expertise, and inadequate resources for causality assessment and aggregate data analysis. Despite these challenges, opportunities exist to strengthen CT safety surveillance through digitization of reporting systems, harmonization of serious adverse event forms, regional collaboration, and capacity building for strengthening the ecosystem. Experts emphasized the need for collaboration among regulators of member states, availability of electronic CT management platform in member states and a regional pre-licensure safety data repository to enable timely evidence generation, support member states, and ensure appropriate linkages between pre-licensure and post-market surveillance. Strengthening CT safety surveillance is critical for safeguarding participants, promoting ethical research, and enhancing Africa’s role in global clinical research. The results of this landscape analysis provide a roadmap for building a coordinated model for pre-licensure safety monitoring across the continent. Full article

Gamified recommender systems, which mix game design with recommendation frameworks, are a new way to increase user involvement and satisfaction. Even though they have a lot of potential, there has not been any systematic research on how their design affects how people use them. This study introduces a fuzzy DEMATEL-based framework for the assessment and enhancement of gamified recommender systems. Four theoretically grounded gamified recommender system prototypes were developed as a novel contribution, as no readily available systems exist for these designs. The assessment utilized nine user-centric criteria—Effectiveness, Transparency, Persuasiveness, Satisfaction, Trust, Usefulness, Ease of Use, Efficiency, and Education—systematically derived from a PRISMA-guided literature review. This study integrates gamification theory, systematic review, and fuzzy decision-making to formulate a comprehensive framework for identifying the key factors influencing adoption. The fuzzy DEMATEL was applied to evaluate feedback from 25 end-users, and it was found that usefulness and ease of use were the most essential factors for satisfaction and system effectiveness. Analysis of design showed that competition in Points, Badges, and Leaderboards (PBL) design boosts short-term motivation, Acknowledgments, Objectives, and Progression (AOP) boosts progress and openness, Acknowledgments, Competition, and Time Pressure (ACT) boosts efficiency in competitive situations but might lower satisfaction, and Acknowledgments, Objectives, and Social Pressure (AOS) depends on social influence and accountability. Full article

Cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs) were evaluated in chimpanzees at Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Sierra Leone. Blood from 75 visually healthy chimpanzees was collected, centrifuged within one hour of collection, and analyzed at Choithram Hospital within 24 h. Statistical analyses assessed differences and interactions based on age, body condition score (BCS), housing group, and sex. HDLs varied widely by housing group; HDLs and LDLs were higher in males than in females. Cholesterol and LDLs were higher in prepubertal individuals while VLDLs and triglycerides were higher in postpubertal individuals. Lipid biomarker differences by age and age ∗ sex statistical interactions were not observed. These data represent a novel compilation of serum lipid biomarkers from a large population of sanctuary-housed Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) within a range country, a population not previously studied with regard to serum lipid biomarkers. This study has documented significant differences compared to known values from managed chimpanzees and human reference ranges. The relationship of serum lipid biomarkers with health and disease in great apes remains understudied, but the present data set provides a basis for future studies to ascertain whether these differences are healthy biomarker variations or represent an elevated risk factor for disease. Full article

Background/Objectives: Antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) improves birth outcomes more effectively than iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation alone. However, the acceptability of MMS among pregnant individuals, a critical factor for adherence and program success, remains poorly defined and inconsistently assessed. This narrative review proposes a comprehensive definition of “acceptability” in the context of nutritional supplementation and evaluates the evidence on the acceptability of MMS compared to IFA in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We conducted a systematic literature search across Embase, Medline, and Scopus to identify studies (including grey literature) reporting on acceptability-related outcomes for MMS versus IFA among pregnant individuals. Studies exploring dimensions such as organoleptic properties, ease of consumption, side effects, cultural appropriateness, and socioeconomic factors were included. Results: Out of 1056 screened studies, five informed a novel multi-dimensional definition of acceptability. Six studies assessed acceptability-related characteristics. MMS was generally accepted across most organoleptic domains. Most studies reported fewer or comparable adverse side effects for MMS as compared to IFA. Studies consistently reported more perceived benefits for MMS than IFA. Facilitating factors included trust in health professionals, free provision, and family support. Barriers included poor taste or smell, fear of side effects, misconceptions, cost, and lack of family support. Conclusions: Antenatal MMS is widely acceptable in LMICs. Addressing socio-cultural, sensory, and socioeconomic factors is essential to increase uptake and adherence. This review provides a clear, standardized definition of acceptability to guide future research and inform effective program design. Full article

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of two doses of hCG (100 and 300 IU) administered at two different times after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) on some response variables related to early fetal loss and total litter weight in goats during the reproductive transition period. Crossbred multiparous goats (n = 40) were subjected to an estrus induction protocol, subsequently inseminated, and randomly distributed into five experimental groups (n = 8): (1). G100-7, 100 IU hCG, 7 d post FTAI; (2). G100-14, 100 IU hCG, 14 days post FTAI; (3). G300-7, 300 IU hCG, 7 d post FTAI; (4). G300-14, 300 IU hCG, 14 days post FTAI; and (5). CONT, 0.5 mL of saline solution, 7 and 14 days post FTAI. The variables of corpus luteum area, embryonic implantation rate, embryonic efficiency index 1 and 2, conception rate, fertility rate, fecundity rate, fetal losses at days 30 and 45, total fetal losses, and the total weight of the litter favored G300-14. The use of hCG (300 IU) in the reproductive transition period is an effective reproductive strategy, reducing early fetal losses, improving embryonic efficiency, and increasing total litter weight, all of which are fundamental to the reproductive success of marginal goat production systems. Full article

The end of the conflict in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2002 provided an important context for exploring the role of peace education in restoring governance, rebuilding institutions, and promoting socio-economic development. Following the civil war, a variety of externally designed peace education programmes were introduced across the country. These included formal programmes integrated into the school curriculum and non-formal initiatives led by stakeholders. This study evaluated these programmes by examining their goals, implementation approaches, and effectiveness in fostering sustainable peace alongside development. The evaluation employed a social constructionist framework, recognising that understandings of peace and education are shaped by historical, social, and cultural factors. Data were gathered through the analysis of documentary sources and semi-structured online interviews with 12 key informants involved in peace education. The findings reveal important insights regarding both the potential of peace education as a developmental tool and its limitations in achieving lasting peace. Key lessons emphasise the critical role of local ownership, cultural relevance, and ongoing support for post-conflict educational interventions. These insights offer valuable guidance for enhancing future peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts in Sierra Leone and other similar post-conflict settings. Full article

Sierra Leone possesses distinct educational, economic, and social characteristics. Public universities in the country, funded by the government, are mandated to promote sustainable development, ethical conduct, and social welfare, aligning with national development strategies such as the Midterm National Development Plan and the Education Sector Plan, which emphasize leadership, diversity, and ethical standards to advance sustainable development practices. This study applies Transformational Leadership Theory to investigate the influence of transformational leadership on corporate social responsibility, exploring the mediating role of innovative work behavior and the moderating effect of organizational culture on this relationship. Using a stratified sampling technique, data were collected from 367 employees across six public universities in Sierra Leone and analyzed with SMART PLS software 4.1.1.2. The findings revealed that transformational leadership positively and significantly impacts corporate social responsibility and innovative work behavior, with innovative work behavior partially mediating the relationship between transformational leadership and corporate social responsibility, while organizational culture positively and significantly moderates this relationship. Based on these findings, the study recommends that public universities in Sierra Leone integrate transformational leadership principles into their institutional frameworks to improve organizational outcomes and leadership effectiveness. This can be achieved through leadership development programs emphasizing transformational attributes such as inspirational motivation, individualized consideration, and vision-sharing, alongside mentorship programs for leaders at all levels to strengthen leadership skills and foster an organizational culture aligned with institutional goals. Full article

The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia canis in clinically suspect dogs in the Laguna Region of Coahuila, Mexico, and to analyse its association with several clinical, haematological, and social variables. The present study focuses on the veterinary care provided to a total of 249 dogs during the period from August 2023 to November 2024. The implementation of an immunochromatographic test was undertaken for the purpose of antibody detection. The observed seroprevalence was 63.9% (n = 156). Firstly, statistically significant associations were identified with clinical haemorrhagic signs (77.33%; OR = 5.03; p < 0.001), anaemia (81.25%; OR = 4.17; p < 0.001), and thrombocytopenia (96.26%; OR = 43.24; p < 0.001). Secondly, rural dogs exhibited a higher prevalence (70.54%) compared to urban dogs (54.17%), which was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis and logistic regression identified thrombocytopenia as the most robust predictor. The findings emphasise the substantial circulation of Ehrlichia canis in the region, thereby reinforcing the clinical significance of haemorrhagic manifestations and haematological parameters as diagnostic tools in low-resource settings. The implementation of epidemiological surveillance, vector control, and community education programmes is recommended in order to reduce the impact of this disease on animal and public health. Full article

Bigeye grunt (Brachydeuterus auritus) is a dominant fish species and mostly a major target species in both artisanal and industrial fisheries in the coastal waters of Sierra Leone. It was listed as near threatened in 2015 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Although this species has been repeatedly assessed as overexploited by the Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic (CECAF) in the majority of its range in the Eastern Central Atlantic, there have never been studies of stock assessment in the coastal waters of Sierra Leone. We conducted a study on the population dynamics of bigeye grunt in the coastal waters of Sierra Leone, which is crucial for completing the resource status of this species in the Eastern Central Atlantic. The results showed that the bigeye grunt had a wide distribution in the coastal waters of Sierra Leone, with significant spatiotemporal variation characteristics in biomass and abundance. The growth parameters of bigeye grunt varied across different months, but all E values were below 0.5, indicating that no overfishing occurred. These findings were further corroborated by the results of the Length-Based Bayesian Biomass Estimation method (LBB). The results of the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) show that there is a certain nonlinear relationship between the resource abundance of the bigeye grunt and both environmental factors and geographical locations, among which the influence of latitude is the greatest. This study posits that the bigeye grunt in Sierra Leone’s coastal waters exhibits moderate exploitation potential. The findings are anticipated to provide a scientific framework for informing evidence-based management strategies for this fishery resource. Full article