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Abstract Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi) of the Southern Hemisphere were brought to near extinction by twentieth century industrial whaling. For decades, they had all but disappeared from previously highly frequented feeding grounds in Antarctic waters. Our dedicated surveys now confirm their return to ancestral feeding grounds, gathering at the Antarctic Peninsula in large aggregations to feed. We report on the results of an abundance survey and present the first scientific documentation of large fin whale feeding aggregations at Elephant Island, Antarctica, including the first ever video documentation. We interpret high densities, re-establishment of historical behaviours and the return to ancestral feeding grounds as signs for a recovering population. Recovery of a large whale population has the potential to augment primary productivity at their feeding grounds through the effects of nutrient recycling, known as 'the whale pump'. The recovery of fin whales in that area could thus restore ecosystem functions crucial for atmospheric carbon regulation in the world's most important ocean region for the uptake of anthropogenic CO2.

The life history of a fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) caught during whaling operations in the 1950s was partly reconstructed. 3D surface models of the bones of the skeleton curated at the Zoological Museum of Hamburg were used for an osteopathological analysis. The skeleton revealed multiple healed fractures of ribs and a scapula. Moreover, the processus spinosi of several vertebrae were deformed and arthrosis was found. Together, the pathological findings provide evidence for large blunt trauma and secondary effects arising from it. Reconstruction of the likely cause of events suggests collision with a ship inflicting the fractures and leading to post traumatic posture damage as indicated by skeletal deformations. The injured bones had fully healed before the fin whale was killed by a whaler in the South Atlantic in 1952. This study is the first in-detail reconstruction of a historical whale—ship collision in the Southern Hemisphere, dating back to the 1940s, and the first documentation of a healed scapula fracture in a fin whale. The skeleton provides evidence for survival of a ship strike by a fin whale with severe injuries causing long-term impairment.

Following their near extirpation by industrial whaling of the 20th century, the population status of Southern Hemisphere fin whales (SHFW) remains unknown. Systematic surveys estimating fin whale abundance in the Southern Ocean are not yet available. Records of fin whale sightings have been collected by a variety of organisations over the past few decades, incorporating both opportunistic data and dedicated survey data. Together, these isolated data sets represent a potentially valuable source of information on the seasonality, distribution and abundance of SHFW. We compiled records across 40 years from the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea from multiple sources and used a novel approach combining ensemble learning and a maximum entropy model to estimate abundance and distribution of SHFW in this region. Our results show a seasonal distribution pattern with pronounced centres of distribution from January-March along the West Antarctic Peninsula. Our new approach allowed us to estimate abundance of SHFW for discrete areas from a mixed data set of mainly opportunistic presence only data.

Abstract This study investigates the distribution of Antarctic minke whales (AMW) in relation to sea ice concentration and variations therein. Information on AMW densities in the sea ice‐covered parts of the Southern Ocean is required to contextualize abundance estimates obtained from circumpolar shipboard surveys in open waters, suggesting a 30% decline in AMW abundance. Conventional line‐transect shipboard surveys for density estimation are impossible in ice‐covered regions, therefore we used icebreaker‐supported helicopter surveys to obtain information on AMW densities along gradients of 0%–100% of ice concentration. We conducted five helicopter surveys in the Southern Ocean, between 2006 and 2013. Distance sampling data, satellite‐derived sea‐ice data, and bathymetric parameters were used in generalized additive models (GAMs) to produce predictions on how the density of AMWs varied over space and time, and with environmental covariates. Ice concentration, distance to the ice edge and distance from the shelf break were found to describe the distribution of AMWs. Highest densities were predicted at the ice edge and through to medium ice concentrations. Medium densities were found up to 500 km into the ice edge in all concentrations of ice. Very low numbers of AMWs were found in the ice‐free waters of the West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). A consistent relationship between AMW distribution and sea ice concentration weakens the support for the hypothesis that varying numbers of AMWs in ice‐covered waters were responsible for observed changes in estimated abundance. The potential decline in AMW abundance stresses the need for conservation measures and further studies into the AMW population status. Very low numbers of AMWs recorded in the ice‐free waters along the WAP support the hypothesis that this species is strongly dependent on sea ice and that forecasted sea ice changes have the potential of heavily impacting AMWs.

This comment presents acoustic and visual data showing deep seafloor depression chains similar to those reported in Marsh et al. (R. Soc. open sci. 5: 180286), though from a different deep-sea setting. Marsh et al. present data collected during cruise JC120 from polymetallic nodule rich sites within the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ), at water depths of between 3999 and 4258 m. Within this comment, we present data collected with equivalent acoustic and imaging devices on-board the RV Sonne (SO261—March/April 2018) from the Atacama Trench, approximately 4000 m depth, which shows comparable depression chains in the seafloor. In contrast with the CCFZ observations, our study area was wholly free of polymetallic nodules, an observation therefore weakening the ‘ballast collection’ by deep-sea diving mammals formation hypothesis discussed in their paper. We support their alternate hypothesis that if these features are indeed generated by deep-diving megafauna, then they are more likely the resultant traces of infauna feeding or marks made during opportunistic capture of benthic fish/cephalopods. We observed these potential prey fauna with lander and towed camera systems during the cruise, with example images of these presented here. Both the SO261 and JC120 cruises employed high-resolution sidescan systems at deployment altitudes seldom used routinely until the last few years during scientific deep-sea surveys. Given that both cruises found these depression chains in contrasting physical regions of the East Pacific, they may have a more ubiquitous distribution than at just these sites. Thus, the impacts of cetacean foraging behaviour on deep seafloor communities, and the potential relevance of these prey sources to deep-diving species, should be considered.

Between the 8th January and the 25th February 2016, the largest sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus mortality event ever recorded in the North Sea occurred with 30 sperm whales stranding in five countries within six weeks. All sperm whales were immature males. Groups were stratified by size, with the smaller animals stranding in the Netherlands, and the largest in England. The majority (n = 27) of the stranded animals were necropsied and/or sampled, allowing for an international and comprehensive investigation into this mortality event. The animals were in fair to good nutritional condition and, aside from the pathologies caused by stranding, did not exhibit significant evidence of disease or trauma. Infectious agents were found, including various parasite species, several bacterial and fungal pathogens and a novel alphaherpesvirus. In nine of the sperm whales a variety of marine litter was found. However, none of these findings were considered to have been the primary cause of the stranding event. Potential anthropogenic and environmental factors that may have caused the sperm whales to enter the North Sea were assessed. Once sperm whales enter the North Sea and head south, the water becomes progressively shallower (

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where condomless anal intercourse (CAI) is a major driver of HIV transmission among this hidden subpopulation. Objectives: To determine CAI drivers and prevalence among HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM. Method: Data from 1538 MSM who participated in a biobehavioural survey in Zimbabwe were used. Secondary statistical data analysis methods were used to determine prevalences and drivers of CAI. Results: A high prevalence of CAI, of at least 30%, among HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM was found. Factors that led to a statistically significant higher CAI among HIV-positives compared to HIV-negatives included drunkenness (35% vs. 25%, P = 0.01), fear of partner (13% vs. 9%, P = 0.017), trusting the partner (10% vs. 6%, P = 0.008), and being offered more money (10% vs. 6%, P = 0.003). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that economic, socio-behavioural and perceptual dimensions increase men’s likelihood to engage in risky sexual behaviour, suggesting the need for HIV prevention efforts that provide tailored education regarding HIV risk among MSM in SSA. This is the first large biobehavioural survey that generated valuable information useful for analysing condomless anal sex among MSM in Zimbabwe.

Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional networks of hydrophilic polymers capable of absorbing and retaining large amounts of water, have emerged as versatile materials with vast potential in various fields [...]

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) has been shown to have significant and long-lasting impacts on women’s physical and mental health. It is, therefore, important to study its occurrence in a population and its intersect with infectious diseases such as HIV to inform the wider health promotion agenda. This study aimed to determine the association between GBV and HIV status in women and adolescent girls in Zimbabwe. Methods: A secondary data analysis of data from a cross-sectional Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) was conducted. Statistical analysis was employed to establish the association between GBV and HIV status. Geospatial mapping was conducted using a kernel smoothing method was employed to generate a continuous kernel density surface to illustrate the local spatial variations of female HIV and GBV prevalence. Results: Women and adolescent girls suffering emotional GBV, such as those subjected to humiliation by their husbands or partners, were 1.45 (1.14-1.84) [OR (95% CIs)] times more likely to be HIV positive than those who were never humiliated. The same was true for women and adolescent girls whose husbands or partners threatened to harm them or someone they love, 1.33 (1.04-1.68). There is a relationship between women’s HIV status and intimate partner aggression, such as when their partners pushed, shook, or threw something at them or physically abused them. This was also the case for those who reported that partners kicked, dragged, or beat them, tried to choke or burn them on purpose, or threatened or attacked them with a knife, gun, or other weapons. Women who experienced forced sexual violence with threats were more likely 1.61 (1.08-2.41), to be HIV positive than those women who did not experience the same. Conclusion: GBV is widely spread in Zimbabwe. There is a need for the government to implement creative strategies to reach out to survivors, especially those that are forced to have unprotected sex and are at increased risk of HIV acquisition. This manuscript raises issues that can be addressed by robust health promotion strategies to reduce the impact of the syndemic of GBV and HIV acquisition in Zimbabwe.

Health care workers (HCWs) are more than ten times more likely to be infected with coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) than the general population, thus demonstrating the burden of COVID-19 among HCWs. Factors that expose HCWs to a differentially high-risk of COVID-19 acquisition are important to elucidate, enable appropriate public health interventions to mitigate against high risk and reduce adverse outcomes from the infection. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize and critically analyze the existing evidence on SARS-CoV-2 risk factors among HCWs. With no geographical limitation, we included studies, in any country, that reported (i) the PCR laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 as an independent variable (ii) one or more COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs with risk estimates (relative risk, odds ratio, or hazard ratio) (iii) original, quantitative study design, and published in English or Mandarian. Our initial search resulted in 470 articles overall, however, only 10 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Out of the 10 studies included in the review, inadequate/lack of protective personal equipment, performing tracheal intubation, and gender were the most common risk factors of COVID-19. Based on the random effects adjusted pooled relative risk, HCWs who reported the use of protective personal equipment were 29% (95% CI: 16% to 41%) less likely to test positive for COVID-19. The study also revealed that HCWs who performed tracheal intubations were 34% (95% CI: 14% to 57%) more likely to test positive for COVID-19. Interestingly, this study showed that female HCWs are at 11% higher risk (RR 1.11 95% CI 1.01–1.21) of COVID-19 than their male counterparts. This article presents initial findings from a living systematic review and meta-analysis, therefore, did not yield many studies; however, it revealed a significant insight into better understanding COVID-19 risk factors among HCWs; insights important for devising preventive strategies that protect them from this infection. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020193508 available for public comments via the link below https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020193508).

Background: The relationship between HIV infection and COVID-19 clinical outcomes remains a significant public health research problem. We aimed to determine the association of HIV comorbidity with COVID-19 mortality. Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar and World Health Organization library databases for relevant studies. All searches were conducted from 1st to 7th December 2021. Title, abstract and full text screening was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The relative risk of mortality in HIV-infected COVID-19 patients was computed using a random-effects model. All analyses were performed using Meta and Metasens statistical packages available in R version 4.2.1 software package. The quality of included studies was assessed using the GRADE approach, Egger’s test was employed to determine the risk of bias. Results: A total of 16 studies were included in this review. Among the COVID-19 patients with HIV infection, the mortality rate due to COVID-19 was 7.97% (4 287/53,801), and among the COVID-19 patients without HIV infection, the mortality rate due to COVID-19 was 0.69% (127, 961/18, 513, 747). In the random effects model, we found no statistically significant relative risk of mortality in HIV-infected COVID-19 patients (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86–1.32). The between-studies heterogeneity was substantial (I2 = 91%, P

Efforts to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been negatively affected by myths, misconceptions and misinformation, fuelled by an "infodemic" spread via social media platforms. In response, The Zimbabwean COVID-19 response built on its experience with past public health communication strategies to employ edutainment strategies for COVID-19 awareness campaigns. This article discusses the different strategies and how they were employed. In this perspective piece, the authors discuss edutainment as an effective vehicle for reaching wider sectors of society. In tackling complex social issues with simple language, integrated into various entertainment formats, edutainment can bring about change in contexts where traditional strategies and actions may prove unsuccessful.

Rheology plays a crucial role in the field of extrusion-based three-dimensional (3D) printing, particularly in the context of hydrogels. Hydrogels have gained popularity in 3D printing due to their potential applications in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and drug delivery. The rheological properties of the printing material have a significant impact on its behaviour throughout the 3D printing process, including its extrudability, shape retention, and response to stress and strain. Thus, understanding the rheological characteristics of hydrogels, such as shear thinning behaviour, thixotropy, viscoelasticity, and gelling mechanisms, is essential for optimising the printing process and achieving desired product quality and accuracy. This review discusses the theoretical foundations of rheology, explores different types of fluid and their properties, and discusses the essential rheological tests necessary for characterising hydrogels. The paper emphasises the importance of terminology, concepts, and the correct interpretation of results in evaluating hydrogel formulations. By presenting a detailed understanding of rheology in the context of 3D printing, this review paper aims to assist researchers, engineers, and practitioners in the field of hydrogel-based 3D printing in optimizing their printing processes and achieving desired product outcomes.

In this article, the authors discuss the problem of high prevalences of active syphilis amongst key populations (KPs) in Zimbabwe, in combination with low testing rates, partly because of a difficult legal and social environment for these populations. The article highlights the need to develop strategies to address the high prevalence of syphilis amongst KPs. The authors discuss requirements for addressing deficits in existing clinical services, predominantly primary care settings, in providing primary healthcare, including sexually transmitted infection (STI) management, to Zimbabwe’s KP communities and utility of point-of-care testing and self-testing and other innovations to improve testing uptake.

HIV and AIDS continue to be major public health concerns globally. Despite significant progress in addressing their impact on the general population and achieving epidemic control, there is a need to improve HIV testing, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study applied deep and machine learning algorithms such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), the bagging classifier, gradient boosting classifier, support vector machines, and Naïve Bayes classifier to predict HIV status among MSM using the dataset from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. RNNs performed better than the bagging classifier, gradient boosting classifier, support vector machines, and Gaussian Naïve Bayes classifier in predicting HIV status. RNNs recorded a high prediction accuracy of 0.98 as compared to the Gaussian Naïve Bayes classifier (0.84), bagging classifier (0.91), support vector machine (0.91), and gradient boosting classifier (0.91). In addition, RNNs achieved a high precision of 0.98 for predicting both HIV-positive and -negative cases, a recall of 1.00 for HIV-negative cases and 0.94 for HIV-positive cases, and an F1-score of 0.99 for HIV-negative cases and 0.96 for positive cases. HIV status prediction models can significantly improve early HIV screening and assist healthcare professionals in effectively providing healthcare services to the MSM community. The results show that integrating HIV status prediction models into clinical software systems can complement indicator condition-guided HIV testing strategies and identify individuals that may require healthcare services, particularly for hard-to-reach vulnerable populations like MSM. Future studies are necessary to optimize machine learning models further to integrate them into primary care. The significance of this manuscript is that it presents results from a study population where very little information is available in Zimbabwe due to the criminalization of MSM activities in the country. For this reason, MSM tends to be a hidden sector of the population, frequently harassed and arrested. In almost all communities in Zimbabwe, MSM issues have remained taboo, and stigma exists in all sectors of society.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an upsurge in antimicrobial use. The increase in use is multifactorial, and is particularly related to the empirical treatment of SARS-CoV-2 and suspected coinfections with antimicrobials and the limited quality of diagnostics to differentiate viral and bacterial pneumonia. The lack of clear clinical guidelines across a wide range of settings, and the inadequacy of public health sectors in many countries, have contributed to this pattern. The increased use of antimicrobials has the potential to increase incidences of antimicrobial resistance, especially in low-resource countries such as Zimbabwe already grappling with multidrug-resistant micro-organism strains. By adopting the antimicrobial stewardship principles of the correct prescription and optimised use of antimicrobials, as well as diagnostic stewardship, revamping regulatory oversight of antimicrobial surveillance may help limit the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance during this pandemic.

BackgroundNational Health Service policy suggests that increasing usage of electronic personal health records (PHR) by patients will result in cost savings and improved public health. Medication adherence means that patients take their prescribed medication as agreed with their doctors. Some of the claimed benefits of PHRs are decreasing healthcare costs and improving medication adherence and patient outcomes.MethodsThis is a mixed methods convergent study, primarily qualitative. The qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis will occur in parallel, and then be synthesised. We are interviewing and surveying adults with long-term conditions to identify what are the most important and useful features of their current PHR. The data collection comprises patient demographics, the Medication Adherence Questionnaire, the personality scale Big Five Inventory-2 Extra-Short Form and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF scale. Qualitative data will be analysed using the Framework method.EthicsWe have received a favourable ethical opinion from the Health Research Authority/Research Ethics Committee.

The production of patient-specific bone substitutes with an exact fit through 3D printing is emerging as an alternative to autologous bone grafting. To the success of tissue regeneration, the material characteristics such as porosity, stiffness, and surface topography have a strong influence on the cell–material interaction and require significant attention. Printing a soft hydrocolloid-based hydrogel reinforced with irregularly-shaped microporous biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles (150–500 µm) is an alternative strategy for the acquisition of a complex network with good mechanical properties that could fulfill the needs of cell proliferation and regeneration. Three well-known hydrocolloids (sodium alginate, xanthan gum, and gelatin) have been combined with BCP particles to generate stable, homogenous, and printable solid dispersions. Through rheological assessment, it was determined that the crosslinking time, printing process parameters (infill density percentage and infill pattern), as well as BCP particle size and concentration all influence the stiffness of the printed matrices. Additionally, the swelling behavior on fresh and dehydrated 3D-printed structures was investigated, where it was observed that the BCP particle characteristics influenced the constructs’ water absorption, particle diffusion out of the matrix and degradability.

Background: Epidemiologic research to learn the incidence, type, location, and severity of female soccer injuries and the risk factors for sustaining a sport injury is the first step in developing preventive policies. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of injuries in the population of female soccer players in Spain. Methods: The injuries incurred by 25,397 female soccer players were registered by the medical staff of the Spanish Football Federation during 1 season. A standardized medical questionnaire was used to classify the injury according to type, severity, location, and injury mechanism. A total of 2108 injuries was reported with an incidence of 0.083 injuries per player per season. Most injuries were in the lower limbs (74.0%), mainly affecting knee (30.4%) and ankle joints (17.9%). Results: The proportion of injuries derived from contact with another player was higher during matches (33.7%) than during training (11.4%; p 0.05). Conclusion: Most female soccer injuries were located at the knee and ankle; the injury mechanism determined the playing time lost; and the player's age did not affect injury characteristics. Keywords: Ankle, Epidemiology, Knee, Sport injuries, Women

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the learning of millions of children across the world. Since March 2020 when the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Zimbabwe, the country, like many others, has gone through periods of closing and re-opening of schools as part of the national COVID-19 control and mitigation measures. Schools promote the social, mental, physical, and moral development of children. With this viewpoint, the authors argue that schools should not be closed to provide a measured and efficient response to the threats posed by the COVID-19 epidemic. Rather, infection prevention and control strategies, including vaccination of learners and teachers, and surveillance in schools should be heightened. The use of multiple prevention strategies discussed in this viewpoint has shown that when outbreaks in school settings are adequately managed, the transmission usually is low. The information presented here suggests that schools should remain open due to the preponderance of evidence indicating the overriding positive impacts of this policy on the health, development, and wellbeing of children.

Patients with limited English proficiency living in the U.K. receive prescribed medication labels in English. These patients are at risk of worse health outcomes compared with the general population. This article describes a service evaluation of the use of bilingual dispensing labels to facilitate patient understanding of medicine administration instructions. Recruited patients answered two questionnaires to assess engagement with and understanding of their medicine labels. The first was completed at the point of dispensing, and the second within six weeks. Questionnaires were either self-completed or via facilitation over the telephone. A total of 151 participants completed the first questionnaire, and 130 completed the follow-up. Key findings highlighted the lack of engagement by participants with English-language labels and their reliance on asking for help from pharmacy staff, friends, or family to understand the information. However, when provided with information in their preferred language, they reported high levels of understanding and sought help less frequently from a third party. This study has shown that this service has improved understanding of labelling information in this target group.

Aspectos psicológicos de la preparación psicoprofiláctica y su relación con los resultados El autor revisó algunos trabajos sobre tipos nerviosos, rasgos de carácter y temperamento. Señala la opinión de algunos sobre las dificultades para llevar a la práctica la clasificación tipológica de Pavlov. Anota que su grupo de trabajo EMES- FAO se ha interesado por el estudio de esta correlación, pues en los resultados obtenidos con la P.P.P. hay un índice alto de fracasos (20%). Aplicando el test de la figura humana (Machover) en 109 pacientes obtuvo estos resultados:rasgos normales 17%; rasgos histéricos 45%; rasgos neuróticos 28%; rasgos psicóticos 6%; virilismo 1.8%. Encontró además que las pacientes con rasgos histéricos obtienen éxito y que las pacientes con rasgos neuróticos dan fracasos. Por la alta frecuencia de rasgos histéricos concluye que sería preferible emplear Sofronlzación únicamente o como complemento de la P.P.P. Comprueba esto con 2 experiencias: 1? en 320 pacientes de P. P.P. sofronizadas en grupos pequeños solo hubo fracasos en el 13%. 2? en 116 pacientes privadas que también seguían la P.P.P. el autor agregó sofronlzación Individual y obtuvo un 11.20% de fracasos. Finalmente por medio del "cuestionarlo Berger se estudiaron 22 embarazadas que seguían la P.P.P. y se concluyó que pacientes con "temperamento apasionado" obtienen éxito con mayor probabilidad. Los resultados se analizaron por medio del "Indice de Contingencia". Estos resultados no son más que un leve Indicio porque la muestra fué demasiado pequeña y porque faltó la observación de otros factores como conflictos Individuales y otros que pueden ejercer gran Influencia en el éxito o en el fracaso y que escapan al campo de medida del test.