University of Kindu

Background Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) is used principally to identify embryos with whole chromosome aneuploidy, which are generally considered non-viable. Reports of healthy live births following transfer of embryos classified as fully aneuploid are therefore extraordinary and require rigorous verification. Methods This commentary evaluates how claims of live births from embryos diagnosed as fully aneuploid by PGT-A are generated, interpreted and reported. We examine prevailing evidentiary standards and highlight key sources of potential error, including lack of genetic identity confirmation, natural conception, laboratory or clerical error and misclassification of mosaic or segmental aneuploid embryos. Results To date, no published report has included DNA-based confirmation demonstrating that a healthy child originated from an embryo diagnosed as fully aneuploid. Failure to clearly distinguish whole chromosome aneuploidy from mosaic or segmental aneuploidy, which retain the potential to result in live birth, further complicates interpretation and risks overstating the implications of such reports. Conclusion In the absence of genetic identity confirmation, claims of live births from embryos classified as fully aneuploid cannot be considered evidentiary. As interest in this topic grows, rigorous genetic validation and standardised reporting should be required to ensure scientific credibility, support accurate patient counseling and guide responsible interpretation of these reports.

In many low-income countries, gastroduodenal endoscopy under conscious sedation remains uncommon due to added costs and concerns about managing complications and side effects. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of performing the procedure without sedation, using a potent antinauseant as premedication. We conducted a prospective, single-center study between 2020 and 2022 in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Endoscopies were performed without sedation, supplemented by a protocol involving sublingual ondansetron spray. Clinical outcomes, procedural data, and patient feedback before and after the procedure were analyzed. A total of 145 patients were enrolled, including 76 men (52.4%). Only 12 patients (8.28%) reported poor tolerance. The majority (91.72%) tolerated the procedure well, especially those who followed instructions and for whom endoscope insertion was straightforward (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified ease of endoscope insertion as the primary determinant of tolerance (adjusted OR 44.34 [2.78-708.22], p = 0.007). Performing upper digestive endoscopy without sedation, but with ondansetron premedication, is generally well tolerated. Successful tolerance depends on thorough patient preparation and careful execution of the initial stages of the procedure.

Accurate multi-node energy market forecasting is critical for secure and economic grid operation under increasing penetration of renewable energy and electric vehicles. This paper proposes a physics-aware spatiotemporal forecasting framework that integrates Graph Convolutional Networks (GCNs) for modeling network-level spatial dependencies with a self-attention mechanism for capturing long-range temporal correlations. Unlike existing GCN + RNN or attention-based forecasting approaches, physical feasibility is enforced during learning through structured penalty terms reflecting power balance, generation limits, EV state-of-charge dynamics, and AC load flow constraints, rather than via post-processing optimization. The model is evaluated on a synthetic IEEE 24-bus benchmark with realistic load scaling, renewable variability, and EV charging profiles. Results show a mean squared error of 1.84 MW2 and a 7–10% reduction in forecasting error relative to baseline ARIMA and LSTM models, while maintaining constraint violation rates below 5%. Multi-step forecasting experiments demonstrate stable error growth under high volatility conditions. The proposed framework establishes a bridge between purely data-driven forecasting and physically consistent grid-aware prediction, offering a scalable foundation for operationally feasible energy market forecasting.

Antenatal care (ANC) is essential for early detection of pregnancy complications. The WHO recommends an initial visit before 12 weeks of gestation. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, many women initiate care late, often after the fourth month of pregnancy, compromising the expected benefits. A narrative review was conducted using a literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Hinari, including articles published between 2002 and 2022, in English and French. Frequency of late ANC use: 81.6% of women who initiated ANC late were aged 20 to 34 years, 61.75% had a parity of 2 to 4, 97.87% were married, and 60.4% had a secondary education. Coverage: 56.47% of women who had ≥ 4 antenatal consultations started them late, compared to only 14.42% who had ≥ 4 early consultations. ; Factors associated with delay: Residence in a rural area (OR = 2.156); lack of education (OR = 3.24); age ≥ 25 years (OR = 1.62); unplanned pregnancy (OR = 2.16); monthly income ≤ 1000 ETB (≈ 50 USD) (OR = 1.77); lack of knowledge of the start date of ANC (OR = 1.8); multigravity (OR = 2.575). Delay in the first ANC is common and multifactorial. Targeted interventions are needed, particularly in the areas of education, family planning, community awareness and improvement of the quality of services. The most vulnerable women (poorly educated, elderly, multiparous) must be given special attention in public health policies to reduce maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Most tree species can suffer from inbreeding depression (ID), which they escape by reproducing predominantly through outcrossing. A remarkable exception is Pericopsis elata , an African timber species naturally producing 54% of self‐fertilized seeds in the eastern Congo Basin. This species is highly logged and suffers from a deficit of natural regeneration, so that silviculture is needed for its sustainable management. While selecting good genetic material can increase the value of plantations, we lack fundamental biological knowledge on the effect of inbreeding and competition on growth potential, variability in leaf traits and phenotypic plasticity (PP). We hypothesize that ID in P. elata could result from the expression of deleterious mutations affecting functional traits, or from a reduction of adaptive PP in inbred genotypes. To test our hypotheses, 540 P. elata seedlings were monitored for 4 years in a Nelder‐type device, in which trees were planted along concentric circles to generate a density gradient. Nine leaf morphological traits (including specific leaf area, stomata density and size), eight leaf chemical traits, diameter and total height were measured regularly on 60 individuals, while paternity analyses allowed distinguishing inbred and outbred plants. To explain the observed ID on growth, we tested whether inbreeding affected leaf traits and/or their plasticity expressed across years, across the density gradient or across sunlight exposure. Outbred plants grew faster than inbred ones, demonstrating ID for each level of competition. Despite the significant correlation found between specific LA and growth, and the impact of planting density, plant age and leaf exposure to sunlight on multiple traits, mean leaf trait values did not differ according to inbreeding. However, a few leaf traits (chlorophyll content, maximum stomatal water vapour conductance and leaf fresh mass) showed significantly higher plasticity in outbred than inbred plants. Synthesis . The observed ID on growth traits was not explained by a direct effect of inbreeding on the mean values of leaf traits but possibly by a reduction in PP with inbreeding. Additional studies on the interplay between ID, functional traits and plasticity should be conducted at the intraspecific level to identify general patterns.

Introduction: Gastroenteritis is a major public health concern, particularly in low-income countries. Adenovirus types 40 and 41 are associated with diarrhoea in humans. Approximately 1.7 billion cases of diarrhoea occur each year, with over 525,000 d

Las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación (TIC) desempeñan un papel fundamental en la educación al proporcionar herramientas innovadoras que facilitan el acceso a la información y promueven la interactividad, favoreciendo así el desarrollo de habilidades digitales. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar la implementación de las Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación en la Educación Escolar Básica y Media en el departamento de Canindeyú, Paraguay, desde la perspectiva de los supervisores educativos. Para ello, se utilizó una metodología de enfoque cualitativo de estudios de casos. La población estuvo compuesta por 12 supervisores educativos del departamento, y se aplicó un muestreo intencionado. Los resultados demuestran que, una cuarta parte de las instituciones educativas cuenta con equipos informáticos, y la falta de capacitación de directores y docentes para utilizar estos recursos limita su aprovechamiento. Además, la insuficiencia de equipos, la falta de conectividad a internet, y la ausencia de recursos económicos para mantenimiento dificultan la integración efectiva de las TIC en la educación. Esta situación obliga a algunos docentes a contratar servicios de internet a expensas propias y a utilizar las computadoras principalmente para tareas administrativas. Se concluye que, la implementación efectiva de las TIC en las instituciones educativas es esencial para mejorar la calidad educativa. Sin embargo, esto requiere una inversión significativa en capacitación y recursos tecnológicos adecuados para superar las barreras actuales.

L’objectif de l’étude était d’analyser l’influence de la dose d’urée et de la fréquence de sarclage sur l’efficience d’utilisation de l’azote (NUE) et le rendement du maïs dans les conditions écologiques de Kolwezi. Pour y arriver, un essai a été établi en split plot comprenant 2 facteurs, la dose d’urée avec quatre modalités (0 ; 200 ; 300 et 400 kg d’urée.ha-1) et la fréquences de sarclage avec trois modalités (0 ; 1 et 2 sarclages). Après la récolte du maïs sec et le pesage, deux types d’échantillons composites ont été constitués par traitement (un échantillon pour les parties végétatives et un autre pour les graines, soit un total de 24 échantillons composites) et amenés au laboratoire pour analyse de la teneur en azote total par la méthode Kjeldahl. Les résultats obtenus ont montré qu’a l’exception de l’efficience de prélèvement, la dose d’urée a eu une influence très positive sur tous les paramètres d’efficience d’utilisation d’azote (prélèvement d’azote, efficience physiologique, efficience de production) ainsi que sur le rendement en grains du maïs. En revanche, la fréquence de sarclage n’a eu aucun effet sur tous les paramètres d’efficience et le rendement du maïs. Cependant, sa combinaison avec la dose d’urée a seulement influencé l’efficience physiologique ; les autres paramètres étant restés similaires. L’apport de la dose de 200 kg d’urée.ha-1 en combinaison avec un seul sarclage se sont révélés des pratiques non seulement productives, mais aussi optimales, rentables et moins polluantes c’est-à-dire recommandables. Cette étude met à la disposition des producteurs de maïs des pratiques culturales appropriées capables d’améliorer significativement le rendement et la marge bénéficiaire tout en limitant les pertes d’azote.