Background: Iterative blood transfusion is a cornerstone in the management of sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa, but it inherently exposes patients to the risk of Transfusion-Transmissible Infections (TTIs). In children under 10 years of age, interpreting seropositivity is further compounded by the potential confounding factor of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission. Objectives: To evaluate the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis within a pediatric and adolescent sickle cell cohort in Kinshasa (DRC), to discriminate the share of vertical transmission among children under 10 years old, and to model the impact of cumulative transfusion workload among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional, analytical, and single-center study was conducted, including 114 sickle cell patients stratified into two groups: < 10 years old (N=29) and ≥ 10 years old (N=85). A paired survey was performed with the biological mothers of children under 10 years of age (N=29). Serological statuses were determined using immuno-enzymatic assays and rapid diagnostic tests. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test and bivariate logistic regression. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 29 months, and 95.61% of the patients had a history of blood transfusion. In children under 10 years of age, the mother-child concordance analysis revealed a complete absence of vertical transmission for HBV, HCV, and syphilis (0.0%, p=0.045), but confirmed a single case of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (3,4%, p=0,034). Current age was not a discriminating factor for seropositivity (p>0.05). However, among adolescents (N=85), risk modeling demonstrated that HIV (crude seroprevalence of (1.18%) was significantly associated with cumulative transfusion pressure, with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 13.16 (95% CI: [1.24 - 142.8], p=0.048). Hepatitis B (HBV) showed the most alarming crude seroprevalence (5.88%); 5 cases), coinciding with an incomplete or unknown pediatric vaccination status in 14,04% of the overall cohort. HCV (2,35%) was not correlated with transfusion history (p=0.829). Conclusion: While vertical transmission is globally controlled, cumulative transfusion pressure remains a major risk factor for acquiring HIV among sickle cell adolescents in Kinshasa. The high crude prevalence of HBV highlights the urgent need to guarantee a strict (100%) anti-HBV vaccine coverage from the time of sickle cell disease diagnosis and to introduce Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) to secure the biological qualification of blood donations.

Maintenance management remains a persistent challenge in Nigerian manufacturing, where reactive approaches dominate despite their well-documented inadequacies for achieving operational sustainability. This study examined the relationship between maintenance management dimensions (preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance) and project sustainability indicators (cost control, minimal downtime, and asset lifespan) in manufacturing companies in Rivers State, Nigeria. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected from 198 manufacturing companies using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to test the hypotheses. The findings revealed that preventive maintenance significantly positively affects cost control (β = 0.31), minimal downtime (β = 0.29), and asset lifespan (β = 0.27). Predictive maintenance demonstrated the strongest effects across all sustainability indicators (β = 0.47, 0.44, and 0.41, respectively). Corrective maintenance showed no significant relationship with any sustainability outcome. The study concludes that proactive maintenance strategies, particularly predictive maintenance, are essential for achieving project sustainability, while corrective maintenance delivers no measurable sustainability benefits. Theoretical contributions include empirical validation of the conceptual framework within the Rivers State manufacturing context. Practical implications advise manufacturing firms to prioritise investing in predictive maintenance technologies. Policy recommendations encourage regulatory incentives for proactive maintenance adoption. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and single-region focus.

Population growth, habitat destruction, climate change, and new diseases are all threats to the world's fisheries and aquaculture. Traditional selective breeding has achieved success, but has some drawbacks such as long breeding cycles, polygenetic nature of traits, and limited genetic diversity in closed populations. The potential of CRISPR-Cas genome editing is a recent technology that has been used in zebrafish since 2013, and is now revolutionizing the genetic improvement of Atlantic salmon, Nile tilapia, rainbow trout, channel catfish, grass carp, and others. This precision has been further improved by advanced technologies such as base editors, prime editors, CRISPRa, and CRISPRi. Applications include growth enhancement through myostatin disruption; increased disease resistance, reproductive efficiency, flesh quality and thermal/osmotic stress tolerance. These tackle key production bottlenecks, while contributing to lower use of antibiotics, lower environmental footprint and climate-resilient systems based on the UN SDGs. Even with these challenges, there are significant issues off-target effects, mosaicism, regulatory issues, public acceptance and polygenetic traits. Now, new technologies like artificial intelligence-driven design, multi-omics, multiplex editing, and epigenome editing provide answers. To be fully commercialised, regulatory harmonisation and transparent communication are paramount.

This study presents an explainable artificial intelligence framework for climate-responsive residential envelope design in Gulf coastal cities by integrating building performance simulation, multi-objective optimization, machine learning, and explainability analysis. While previous studies have largely focused on minimizing energy consumption, limited research has simultaneously considered energy performance, capital cost, and thermal comfort within a unified and interpretable decision-support framework. The objective of this research was to identify dominant envelope design variables and derive practical design recommendations for residential buildings located in Dubai, Doha, and Manama. A two-story detached villa prototype was developed and simulated under representative coastal hot-arid climate conditions. Six envelope and operational design variables, including window-to-wall ratio (WWR), shading depth, cooling setpoint, glazing type, wall construction, and roof construction, were evaluated through a simulation-based optimization framework. A total of 600 design alternatives were generated using NSGA-II optimization and subsequently used to train Random Forest predictive models for energy use intensity (EUI), capital cost, and ASHRAE 55 thermal discomfort hours. SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanations) analysis was then applied to quantify variable importance and extract interpretable design rules. The results demonstrated strong predictive capability, with Random Forest models achieving R² values of 0.933 for EUI, 0.982 for capital cost, and 0.955 for thermal discomfort. SHAP analysis revealed that WWR was the dominant driver of energy performance, accounting for 65.2% of total feature importance, while wall construction exerted the greatest influence on capital cost. Thermal comfort was primarily governed by cooling setpoint, followed by WWR and shading depth. Dependence analysis further identified clear threshold relationships between envelope variables and performance outcomes. The proposed framework transforms optimization datasets into actionable design knowledge and provides interpretable decision support for architects, consultants, and developers seeking cost-effective and climate-responsive residential envelope solutions in Gulf coastal environments.

Catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a leading cause of healthcare-associated infection, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), where prolonged catheterisation and patient complexity increase risk. Reducing unnecessary catheter use and improving adherence to evidence-based practices are key priorities for patient safety. This case report describes a nurse-led, multidisciplinary quality improvement programme to reduce CAUTI rates in a transplant ICU through optimisation of catheter use and the introduction of non-invasive urinary management alternatives. Interventions included standardisation of catheter indication criteria, implementation of insertion, maintenance and early removal protocols, introduction of external urinary management devices and a structured staff education and audit programme. Performance was monitored using CAUTI incidence per 1,000 catheter days and compliance with catheter-related practices, supported by continuous audit and feedback. Following implementation, CAUTI rates decreased from a pre-intervention rate of 1.41 per 1,000 catheter days to sustained zero incidence between Q4 2018 and Q4 2024. Compliance with catheter care protocols improved, alongside increased documentation of indication for catheter use and earlier catheter removal. The adoption of external urinary catheter management devices contributed to reduced indwelling catheter use. In parallel, the unit reported zero device-related pressure injuries and improved patient comfort, as reflected in staff-reported patient feedback. This multifaceted approach achieved sustained elimination of CAUTI in a high-risk ICU setting, highlighting the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions, standardised practice, and non-invasive catheter alternatives in reducing device-associated harm.

Cameroon's bijural judicial system, combining civil law in Francophone regions and common law in Anglophone areas, creates unique training demands that its judicial institutions have struggled to meet. Using doctrinal analysis and comparative review of three unreported primary judgments, this article examines the decade-long controversy over the Originating Summons procedure in Anglophone Cameroonian courts as a lens through which to analyse the structural training deficit at the heart of the bijural judiciary. The article demonstrates that the same statutory provision, Section 10 of the Southern Cameroons High Court Law 1955, produces opposed judicial outcomes across different courts and different time periods. This divergence is shown to be structurally produced by the absence of systematic continuous professional development and failure to issue harmonising procedural guidance. The omission of a dedicated English-speaking judicial intake in the 2025/2026 recruitment cycle appears to signal the effective discontinuation of the Common Law Section, although no formal decree abolishing the Section has been identified, which has intensified this deficit. The article proposes targeted reforms anchored in a comparative analysis of successful bijural judicial training models.

Mango (Mangifera indica) and peach (Prunus persica) juices are highly perishable, requiring innovative preservation methods to enhance their nutritional value and shelf life. This study evaluates the effect of single-cell protein (SCP) derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the composition and stability of these juices. SCP fortification significantly increased protein content (mango: 0.47% to 0.91%, peach: 0.42% to 0.85%) and fiber (mango: 0.31% to 0.75%, peach: 0.30% to 0.71%), while reducing fat content. Antioxidant capacity improved, with flavonoid content rising (mango: 36.57 to 52.78 mg QE/mL, peach: 34.25 to 48.91 mg QE/mL) and DPPH activity increasing (mango: 39.52% to 62.37%, peach: 37.46% to 59.28%). Ascorbic acid levels, mineral content (calcium, magnesium), and superoxide dismutase activity also showed notable enhancements. SCP treatment slightly increased pH and viscosity, contributing to juice stability. Sensory evaluation confirmed improved color, aroma, and taste, enhancing consumer acceptability. These findings highlight SCP as a sustainable, functional additive for improving the nutritional quality and shelf life of fruit juices, offering potential applications in the food industry.