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Forcibly displaced people in Scotland face multiple barriers in accessing health, social care, and policing services. This paper explores how social connections shape engagement with these services, particularly the role of police in community safety and wellbeing. Drawing on qualitative interviews and social connections mapping workshops, this study examines how third-sector organisations act as key intermediaries, shaping how people access statutory services. The findings show that while community policing and partnerships with trusted organisations can improve accessibility, concerns about racial discrimination, the underreporting of hate crime, and the lack of language support continue to undermine confidence in policing. Additionally, the growing reliance on police officers to respond to mental health crises reflects wider gaps in specialist service provision. This paper argues for a shift towards a cross-sector approach that strengthens community-led safety strategies, reduces police involvement in non-criminal matters, and improves language and cultural competency within public services. Strengthening institutional accessibility and trust-building initiatives is key to improving engagement with policing and health and social care services for forcibly displaced communities.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the retail food environment (FE) around early childhood education centers (ECEC) in Rio Largo/AL, Brazil. Food retail outlets (FRO) were identified through a city street survey and audited using the Brazilian version of the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores (NEMS-S). The Department of Education provided the ECEC’s addresses, which were validated and geocoded (n=21). Schools’ surroundings were defined by 400- and 800-meter buffers. The FE was analyzed using the healthy food availability index (HFAI), average distance between FRO and ECEC, and distribution and density of FRO according to the predominant type of food marketed (healthy, mixed, and unhealthy). Respectively, 332 (57.7%) and 505 (87.8%) FRO were identified in the 400- and 800-meter buffers. On average, 23 (400 m) and 54 (800 m) FRO were around schools, where ~60% were unhealthy (clustered throughout the city). The HFAI was very low for both buffers (400m: -1 points [IQR -6; 10]; 800m: -2 points [IQR -6; 10]). In conclusion, the city does not offer a supportive community food environment for children to develop and maintain healthy eating patterns.

Antiretroviral treatment increases the risk of accumulation of resistance mutations that negatively impact the possibilities of future treatment. This study aimed to present the frequency of HIV-1 antiretroviral resistance mutations and the genetic diversity among children with virological failure in five pediatric care facilities in Benin. A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 20, 2020, to November 30, 2022, in children under 15 years of age who failed ongoing antiretroviral treatment at five facilities care in Benin (VL > 3log10 on two consecutive realizations three months apart). Viral loads were measured using the m2000 RealTime Abbott platform. Genotyping was carried out with the commercial Viroseq kit. Sequences were read on the ABI 3500 sequencer and then edited with ViroSeqHIVv3.0 software. The HIV drug resistance database at Stanford University was used to identify mutations and viral subtypes were assigned by phylogenetic analyses. The HIV-1 pol gene was sequenced in 47 participants with virological failure of antiretroviral treatment. The median age was 120 [Interquartile Range 90-144] months. The prevalent treatment was EFV base regimen (22/47; 46.8%). Median viral load was 4.39 log10 [IQR 3.81-4.86 log10] respectively. Resistance testing was successful among (37/47; 78.72%) children, resistance mutations were detected in (32/37; 86.48%) children, and (29/32; 90.62%) had at least one surveillance drug resistance mutation. Respectively (25/32; 78.12%), (28/32; 87.5%), (4/32; 12.90%), (22/32; 68.75%) had at least one resistance mutation associated with NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs and NNRTIs+NRTIs. (12/32; 37.5%) of children carried mutations related to TAMs. the most frequently NRTIs identified were M184V (21/62; 33.9%) followed by TAMs (20/62; 32.2%) and T69G/D (2/62; 3.2%)s. Among mutations associated with NNRTIs K103N represented (18/64; 28.1%) followed by P225H (7/64; 10.9%). The I54V (3/6; 50%) mutation is the major PI observed. Genetic diversity is characterized by a preponderance of CRF02_AG (72%, 23/32), followed by unique recombinant forms (URFs) (25%, 8/32) and one subtype G. A high rate of mutations has been observed in children. These data underline the importance of implementing routine genotypic testing in the biological monitoring of infected children to anticipate the accumulation of resistance mutations and thus compromise the treatment options available in Benin.

Although hempcrete is a more sustainable alternative to most conventional thermal insulation materials, it still requires virgin hemp for its production. In this context, lignocellulosic industrial waste emerges as an attractive alternative to replace the virgin hemp. Accordingly, this work analyzed the use of eucalyptus pinchips and hemp waste as a replacement for virgin hemp in the production of hempcrete. For this, an integral methodology is applied to evaluate not only the technical properties of the mixtures but also to assess the corresponding environmental impacts. In particular, the mechanical properties of the mixtures were analyzed with percentages of replacement between 40% and 100% of virgin hemp by eucalyptus pinchips and/or hemp waste. The density of the mixtures was measured in a time frame between 0 and 28 days, and their compressive strength at 28 days of curing. Finally, life cycle assessments were performed for each mixture. As all mixes reached higher values of compressive strength than the ones with virgin hemp, basically, the differences are concentrated in the environmental impacts. From that perspective, the lime-based mixture with 100% hemp waste reduces the environmental impacts, particularly the emissions for respiratory and carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic effects, which are 10% and 20%, respectively.

Ten days after the declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rapid identification of the species Zaire Ebola virus using partial gene amplification and nanopore sequencing backed up the use of the recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus–Zaire Ebola virus vaccine in the recommended ring vaccination strategy.

Since the ignition of the HIV-1 group M pandemic in the beginning of the 20th century, group M lineages have spread heterogeneously throughout the world. Subtype C spread rapidly through sub-Saharan Africa and is currently the dominant HIV lineage worldwide. Yet the epidemiological and evolutionary circumstances that contributed to its epidemiological expansion remain poorly understood. Here, we analyse 346 novel pol sequences from the DRC to compare the evolutionary dynamics of the main HIV-1 lineages, subtypes A1, C and D. Our results place the origins of subtype C in the 1950s in Mbuji-Mayi, the mining city of southern DRC, while subtypes A1 and D emerged in the capital city of Kinshasa, and subtypes H and J in the less accessible port city of Matadi. Following a 15-year period of local transmission in southern DRC, we find that subtype C spread at least three-fold faster than other subtypes circulating in Central and East Africa. In conclusion, our results shed light on the origins of HIV-1 main lineages and suggest that socio-historical rather than evolutionary factors may have determined the epidemiological fate of subtype C in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background Several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have a demonstrated impact on public health, including high and increased transmissibility, severity of infection, and immune escape. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the SARS-CoV-2 lineages and better characterize the dynamics of the pandemic during the different waves in Guinea. Methods Whole genome sequencing of 363 samples with PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values under thirty was undertaken between May 2020 and May 2023. The Illumina iSeq 100 technology was used. The sequences were then analyzed using the GeVarli pipeline to generate consensus sequences and variant calling. All sequences isolated in Guinea and available on GISAID were included in the analysis for phylogenetic tree and phylodynamic determination. Nextstain tools were used for these analyses. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism version 10. Results The circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Guinea can be distributed in three different periods. The first, lasting from May to June 2020, was characterized by lineages B1 and B.1.1. The second period, from January 2021 to July 2021, was characterized by the lineages B.1.1.7 (Alpha), AY.122, B.1.1.318, R1, B.1.525 and B.1.629. The third period, between December 2021 and May 2023, was characterized by the Omicron variant, with nine subvariant majorities found. In addition, detecting variants in the period out of their circulation was documented. The importation and exportation investigation showed the strong movement viral association between Guinea and Senegal on the one hand and Guinea and Nigeria on the other. Conclusion In summary, this study contributes to understanding the epidemic dynamics of the disease by describing the significant variants that circulated in Guinee and the distribution of this variant in the population. It also shows the importation and exportation of the virus during the pandemic. Sub-sampling and degradation of samples for sequences were observed. Organization and collaboration between laboratories are needed for a good sample-collecting and storage system for future direction.

Vulnerable individuals with tuberculosis (TB) struggle to access and stay on treatment. While patient-related and social barriers to TB treatment adherence are well documented, less is known about how the organisation and delivery of TB care influences adherence behaviour. To examine the influence of TB service organisation and culture on patients' experience of starting and staying on treatment in Riga, Latvia. An intervention package to support adherence to TB treatment amongst vulnerable patients in Riga, Latvia was piloted between August 2016 and March 2017. Qualitative observations (5), interviews with staff (20) and with TB patients (10) were conducted mid-way and at the end of the intervention to understand perceptions, processes, and experiences of TB care. The organisation of TB services is strongly influenced by a divide between medical and social aspects of TB care. Communication and care practices are geared towards addressing individual risk factors for non-adherence rather than the structural vulnerabilities that patients experience in accessing care. Support for vulnerable patients is limited because of standardised programmatic approaches, resource constraints and restricted job descriptions for non-medical staff. Providing support for vulnerable patients is challenged in this setting by the strict division between medical and social aspects of TB care, and the organisational focus on patient-related rather than systems-related barriers to access and adherence. Potential systems interventions include the introduction of multi-disciplinary approaches and teams in TB care, strengthening patient literacy at the point of treatment initiation, as well as stronger linkages with social care organisations.

In Guinea, genomic surveillance has been established to generate sequences of and to identify locally circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. This study aims to describe the distributions, genetic diversity, and origins of SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating in Guinea during the COVID-19 pandemic. A migration analysis was performed by selecting all sequences generated in Guinea for variants of concern and interest. From March 2020 to December 2023, 1038 sequences were generated in Guinea and submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database. Of these, 73.1% corresponded to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, which were further grouped into Omicron (69.4%), Delta (21.9%), Alpha (6.6%), and Eta (2.1%). Other variants accounted for 26.9% of the total. Among the total variants analyzed, 75 importations into Guinea from various countries worldwide were identified. Most of the importations (40%) originated from African countries, followed in significance by those from European countries (25.3%) and Asia (18.6%). A significant migratory flow was observed within Guinea. The genomic surveillance reported in this study revealed the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Guinea, emphasizing the importance of large-scale sequencing analyses in understanding the dynamics of the pandemic.

Background This study aimed to demonstrate that the genomic material of SARS-CoV-2 can be isolated from strips of COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test cassettes. Method It was a prospective cross-sectional study involving patients admitted to treatment centers and sampling sites in the city of Conakry, Guinea. A total of 121 patients were double sampled, and 9 more patients were tested only for RDT. PCR was conducted according to the protocol of the RunMei kit. Sequencing was performed by using the illumina COVIDSeq protocol. Nine COVID-19 RDTs without nasopharyngeal swabs were in addition tested. Result Among the 130 COVID-19 RDTs, forty-seven were macroscopically positive, whereas seventy-two were positive according to PCR using RDT strip, while among the 121 VTM swabs, sixty-four were positive. Among eighty-three negative COVID-19 RDTs, twenty-seven were positive by PCR using RDT strip with a geometric mean Ct value of 32.49 cycles. Compared to those of PCR using VTM, the sensitivity and specificity of PCR using RDT strip were estimated to be 100% and 85.96%, respectively, with 93.39% test accuracy. Among the fifteen COVID-19 RDT extracts eligible for sequencing, eleven had sequences identical to those obtained via the standard method, with coverage between 75 and 99.6%. Conclusion These results show that COVID-19 RDTs can be used as biological material for the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 .