Anolis nebulosus is widely distributed along the Pacific coast of Mexico, yet its thermal ecology has been studied only in tropical environments. Here, we provide the first evaluation of its thermal biology across contrasting thermal environments. We hypothesized populations would exhibit thermal inertia, where thermal preferences remain conserved. We contrasted this with the hypothesis that the ecological costs of continental gradients may exceed buffering capacity, driving local specialization. To test this, we evaluated thermal biology across three sites spanning a temperature gradient. We measured field body (Tb) and environmental temperatures (Te), and laboratory preferred temperatures (Tset) across dry and rainy seasons, calculating indices to assess thermoregulatory accuracy (db), thermal quality (de), and effectiveness (E). We recorded Tb from 96 lizards and estimated Tset from 90 individuals across dry and rainy seasons. Our analyses suggest thermal conservatism, where the stability of Tset clashes with environmental constraints. Thermal quality varied among sites, being lowest in high-elevation habitats. During the dry season, lizards displayed higher effectiveness, while in the rainy season, populations from thermally restrictive sites exhibited reduced accuracy and increased restriction hours (the number of hours per day when Te fell outside the Tset range). These findings highlight the capacity of A. nebulosus to persist in heterogeneous environments through thermoregulatory behavior. However, high effectiveness in warmer sites suggests limited buffering capacity against future warming scenarios. Our study underscores the importance of evaluating species' thermoregulatory behavior across its entire geographic range to accurately assess the adaptive capacity and vulnerability of widely distributed ectotherms.
Microhabitat structure and altitude influence local thermal profiles, shaping the physiological and behavioral ecology of ectotherms, particularly in challenging environments like Patagonia. We examined how habitat heterogeneity and thermal conditions influence microhabitat selection and thermal biology in two closely related lizards inhabiting contrasting altitudes: Liolaemus kolengh (≈1300 m a.s.l.) and Liolaemus zullyae (≈700 m a.s.l.). We hypothesized that microhabitat structural heterogeneity increases the availability of thermally suitable patches, thereby enabling precise thermoregulation and allowing lizards to maintain body temperatures close to their physiological optimum. We found that the low-altitude site, inhabited by L. zullyae, exhibited greater structural and thermal heterogeneity where operative temperatures deviated substantially from the species' preferred range. L. zullyae actively selected rocky microhabitats with temperatures within its optimal performance range, resulting in high thermoregulatory efficiency and a narrower performance curve with higher maximal speed. In contrast, the high-altitude habitat of L. kolengh exhibited low structural and thermal heterogeneity, but provided operative temperatures that closely matched the species' requirements. Consequently, L. kolengh used microhabitats in proportion to their availability, exhibiting thermoconformity. This broader use of temperatures aligned with a wider, flatter performance curve and lower maximal performance. Despite these divergent strategies, both species maintained field body temperatures largely within ranges that maximize locomotion. Our results underscore the critical role of fine-scale habitat features in shaping thermal biology and highlight how lizards adjust their thermoregulatory strategies based on the thermal opportunities and limitations of their environment.
As the frequency and intensity of heat extremes increases, understanding the capacity for evolution in traits such as thermal tolerance is critical for predicting biological responses to climate change. Here, we assessed the repeatability of CTmax (a common measure of acute thermal limits in ectotherms) in Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) across three acclimation temperatures (10, 18 and 26°C), because repeatability is an important determinant of a trait's ability to respond to natural selection, but the impact of thermal acclimation on CTmax repeatability remains unclear. Fish were individually marked and CTmax was assessed weekly at least 3 times at each acclimation temperature. Mean CTmax was consistent between 18°C acclimation groups at the beginning and end of the experiment (∼6 months apart) emphasizing the reliability of CTmax as an estimate of acute thermal tolerance at the group level. CTmax was highly repeatable at the two lower acclimation temperatures (R = 0.74-0.81), but not at the highest acclimation temperature (R = 0.20), resulting in moderate repeatability across the entire dataset (R = 0.42). There was little correlation of individual-level CTmax across acclimation temperatures, or in 18°C-acclimated fish at the beginning and end of the experiment. This pattern was associated with substantial inter-individual variation in acclimation response ratio (ARR), suggesting individual variation in thermal plasticity. Together, these results suggest that repeatability in acute thermal limits is strongly contingent on thermal history, and that low repeatability at high acclimation temperatures is likely to constrain the capacity for adaptation in CTmax as our climate warms.
Measuring the thermal limits of insects is crucial for understanding how thermoregulatory behavior and thermal tolerance interact with the environment. A key question is the maximal temperature terrestrial animals can endure and how plastic these limits are under extreme conditions. Lepismatids are a basal group of insects with remarkable diversity in arid habitats, making them promising candidates for extreme thermoresistance, yet their thermal ecology remains largely unexplored. We present the first experimental evaluation of acclimation effects on voluntary (VTmax), critical (CTmax), and upper lethal thermal limits (UTL) in the Mediterranean silverfish Sceletolepisma guadianicum. Individuals were acclimated for 6 day at either 25°C (n = 32) or 35°C (n = 29) and gradually heated (∼0.5°C min-1), with VTmax, CTmax, and lethal limits recorded. S. guadianicum exhibited some of the highest thermal limits reported among terrestrial arthropods: VTmax averaged 50.92°C, CTmax 54.45°C, and UTL 55.85°C, suggesting that extreme thermal resistance among terrestrial arthropods may be more widespread across diverse ecosystems than previously recognized. Thermal limits were consistent between sexes, while VTmax showed slight (1.04°C) but significant plasticity, increasing with higher acclimation temperature and heating rate, whereas CTmax and UTL remained unchanged. This decoupling of behavioral and physiological thermal limits indicates that extreme heat tolerance in terrestrial ectotherms relies on constitutive physiology, with behavioral avoidance as the main flexible buffer. Our findings underscore the importance of integrating physiological and behavioral metrics when assessing animals' heat tolerance and we provide hypotheses explaining the co-occurrence of exceptional heat tolerance with limited plasticity in this and other highly heat-tolerant species.
Early embryonic development is perhaps the most vulnerable phase in the life cycle of fish with supposedly the narrowest thermal tolerances and may represent an ontogenetic bottleneck, particularly in view of global warming. We investigated the thermal window for early embryogenesis in herring from the Baltic Sea and integrated experimental data to assess implications of warming for herring reproduction in shallow coastal waters. Eggs of six females were incubated at ∼2-20°C to determine survival rates until end of gastrulation. Using Bayesian parameter estimation, optimal temperature (Topt = 9.5°C) and thermal optimum range where survival exceeds 90% (Trange = 3.0-15.1°C) were determined and validated with literature data on viable hatch. Our results suggest that early development shows a broader temperature tolerance than subsequent stages. Maternal effects, such as body length, weight, and condition factor on embryo survival, were minimal overall but greater variations in survival were recorded at critical temperatures, suggesting that maternal traits play a more significant role under extreme conditions. Additionally, the annual dimension of the optimal spawning period was estimated along a two-decade time series of in situ data from a major spawning area. Here, results indicate a broadening of the optimal spawning period over the years correlating with increased field abundance of herring larvae. The simultaneous decline in recruitment over the same period indicates that stages after early embryogenesis are experiencing major mortality bottlenecks. Projections under future warming scenarios indicate that while lethally high temperatures are unlikely soon, the optimal spawning window may occur earlier in the season and shorten in duration, potentially increasing the risk of larval mortality e.g., due to temporal mismatch with suitable feeding conditions.
Extreme high-temperature events pose severe physiological challenges to species, with conspecific individuals experiencing divergent thermal stress across heterogeneous microhabitats. Investigating metabolomic response patterns provides critical insights into how these organisms respond to extreme heat at the microhabitat scale. In the present study, we conducted in situ measurements of substrate and body temperatures to analyze the relative importance of substrate temperature to body temperature. Additionally, we determined the metabolomic responses of intertidal snails Littorina brevicula inhabiting exposed and shaded rock microhabitats during an extreme high-temperature event in summer. Results showed that microhabitat type and substrate temperature significantly affect the body temperatures of intertidal snails. Snails inhabiting different microhabitats exhibited distinct metabolomic response patterns. On exposed rock, snails showed a metabolomic response pattern of high-energy expenditure, strong defense, and robust repair, while snails on shaded rock preferred to maintain cellular homeostasis. Variations in temperature across different microhabitats can alter the functional priorities of the snails' metabolic networks and can lead to functional differentiation in the same metabolic pathways depending on the microhabitat. These findings underscore the importance of microhabitat thermal heterogeneity and enhance our understanding of metabolomic responses to thermal stress at the microhabitat level.
The seasonal forms of the temperate butterfly Araschnia levana (Nymphalidae: Nymphalinae) differ in mass, wing area, wing loading (i.e., the ratio of mass to wing area), and colouration. Spring individuals are predominantly orange with higher wing loading while summer individuals are black with a white stripe and have lower wing loading. However, it remains unclear if and how these seasonal differences affect heating and cooling dynamics. We compared thermal responses of seasonal forms, focusing on the roles of morphology and colouration. Further, we assessed whether live butterflies heat and cool differently from dead individuals to detect the presence of physiological thermoregulation. Morphology and colouration influenced the thermal dynamics of the thorax and wings as expected from heat-transfer principles, but we found no evidence of physiological thermoregulation on the thorax. Based on aligned temperature curves, seasonal forms of A. levana showed similar thermal dynamics driven by counteracting differences in morphology and colouration: lower wing loading and darker colouration in the summer form compared to spring individuals. After accounting for significant morphological differences between forms, the thorax of spring individuals heated and cooled faster than that of summer ones, despite higher wing loading and lighter wings. This trend suggests form-specific optimisation of thermal performance, likely as a response to temperate climates. Thermal responses differ between forms in ways not directly explained by the polyphenism itself, potentially reflecting a broader trait of multivoltine ectotherms to cope with seasonal temperature changes.
The present review aims to discuss the application of infrared thermography as a non-invasive tool in wildlife species under human care to determine the role of uninsulated appendages such as horns, antlers, ossicones, casques, beak/bill, proboscis, and legs in animals' thermoregulation. Currently, thermal imaging in the ocular and auricular surfaces of zoo-housed species is used to evaluate the physical and mental state of animals. However, zoos house a wide diversity of animals with highly vascularized appendages, for which infrared thermography research is limited. This review will also describe and analyze the anatomical characteristics of each appendage to establish if they can serve as thermal windows according to the species. For example, bovid horns, antlers, ossicones, beaks/bills, and elephant tusks might be considered thermal windows that reflect vasomotor changes. In contrast, the rhinoceros horn is devoid of blood vessels, where vasodilation or vasoconstriction cannot be evaluated using infrared thermography. Moreover, structures such as the elephant trunk and pinna, and avian and mammal legs have shown environmental influences on the surface temperature. Future studies on zoo-housed animals are required to accurately determine their association with the thermal state and even with clinical conditions in wildlife under human care.
The thermal effects of a mobile phone emitting radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) are well known, but the in vivo impact of different exposure patterns has not been directly demonstrated. This study aimed to compare the in vivo effects of continuous and intermittent exposure to 915 MHz LTE-modulated mobile phone signals under conditions that simulate typical mobile phone use. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed either continuously at whole-body averaged specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0, 4, 6, or 8 W/kg, or intermittently at 0 or 8 W/kg using 10-min on/off cycles. Rectal and interscapular temperatures were recorded during 9 h of continuous exposure or 10 h of intermittent exposure. Comparisons were made under two matched conditions: continuous exposure at 8 W/kg for 5 h versus intermittent exposure at 8 W/kg for 10 h (equal RF-on time), and continuous 4 W/kg versus intermittent 8 W/kg (50% duty cycle; equal time-averaged SAR). Under equal cumulative RF-on time, intermittent 8 W/kg exposure caused only a brief temperature increase, whereas continuous 8 W/kg exposure resulted in a gradual and sustained rise. Under equal time-averaged SAR, continuous 4 W/kg showed no temperature change, whereas intermittent 8 W/kg caused a transient rise. No significant effects were observed at 6 W/kg continuous exposure, and sham groups remained stable. These findings provide direct, comparative in vivo evidence that both SAR level and exposure pattern significantly influence thermal outcomes during exposure to mobile phone RF signals.
Preserving DNA integrity, defined as intact strands and correct sequence context, is crucial to the reliability of measurements and interpretations in molecular methods. The denaturation temperature of genomic DNA is influenced by several factors, including GC content, ionic strength, and the presence of stabilizing or destabilizing agents. In this work, we report the investigation of human genomic DNA denaturation behavior under low salt and high temperature conditions. We used digital PCR as the primary analytical tool for DNA stability which could quantify the extent of DNA strand separation. To ensure that observed changes reflected structural alterations rather than DNA degradation or evaporation, we employed complementary analytical approaches including quantitative PCR and isotope dilution liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Despite the widespread use of heat inactivation protocols in restriction enzyme workflows, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of how these treatments affect genomic DNA structure. Our findings have important implications for the reliability and reproducibility of molecular biology procedures, particularly those that depend on precise DNA quantification or structural integrity.
Laser-induced thermal treatment (LITT) is a minimally invasive method that has shown significant potential for tumor ablation. To achieve maximum treatment results, it is essential to enhance tumor tissue ablation while protecting surrounding healthy tissues from thermal injury. Formulating an efficient thermal therapy regimen is essential for achieving therapeutic success. This paper proposes an optimization scheme for the temperature distribution in biological tissues during LITT, based on step response model and particle swarm optimization algorithm. The proposed scheme addresses the high computational cost associated with optimizing the LITT process using tissue heat transfer mechanism models. First, the step response matrix of the tissue temperature field is determined offline based on the fundamental equations of biological tissue heat transfer during LITT. Subsequently, the step response model for tumor boundary temperature is established using the superposition principle. Furthermore, the particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to optimize multiple laser heating parameters for continuous and periodic heating processes. Numerical test results show that the proposed method increases LITT process optimization design and assessment efficiency compared to biological tissue heat transfer mechanism models: The error of the optimized final objective function values between the step response model-based method and the bioheat transfer model-based method is less than 1%, and the total computation time for optimization based on the step response model is less than 6% of existing methods. The optimized tumor thermal therapy scheme incorporating a maintenance phase achieves stable therapeutic temperatures, better aligning with actual clinical treatment scenarios.
This paper deals with the simulation of the selective laser hyperthermia treatment of breast cancer. The physical model refers to a 2-D axi-symmetric (r-z) bio-heat transfer process due to a laser radiation that propagates inside breast tissues containing a spherical tumor loaded with gold nanoparticles. The corresponding bio-heat transfer process is governed by the equation of Pennes, while the laser light propagation is modeled with the diffusion approximation. The solution of this opto-thermal problem was obtained using the Finite Element Method (FEM), whereas the thermal damage that occurs in tissues was calculated from the Arrhenius equation. First simulation results show thermal effects related to the use of three boundary conditions based on tissue-air convection and interfaces with prescribed temperatures. They highlight the interest of using a reflecting interface which allows to maintain the tissue surface temperature at a prescribed (and bearable) value, while reducing the laser power owing to a possible redistribution of light in front and within the tumor. Other results show that the thermal field profiles better fit the boundaries of the tumor when it is surrounded by a fat-engineered layer with a reduced thermal conductivity. For this given tissue configuration featured with a reflecting interface, tissue damage more localized in the tumor was observed with a less laser power required for the thermal treatment. These results provide a theoretical basis for future investigations.
Accidental contact between human skin and heated solid surfaces can rapidly elevate local skin temperature, leading to thermal discomfort or burn injury. In electric vehicles, radiant heaters (RHs) are increasingly used for efficient localized heating; however, their proximity to occupants raises potential safety concerns during unintended contact. This study experimentally investigates how skin contact pressure, heater surface temperature, and heater-cover materials influence skin contact temperature evolution and thermal injury thresholds under controlled contact scenarios representative of driving postures. Human-subject tests using a pressure-sensitive mat identified posture-specific contact pressures up to 3.4 N cm-2 during simulated driving postures. These forces were reproduced in thermesthesiometer experiments across four heater-cover materials-natural leather, fabric, perforated natural leather, and perforated artificial leather-at surface temperatures between 70 °C and 120 °C. Burn onset, evaluated using the Arrhenius damage integral, occurred within 30 s at 100 °C for natural leather, whereas perforated artificial leather extended second-degree burn thresholds by approximately 75%. A contact-triggered heater-off control further delayed injury onset by more than 50%. To facilitate comparative evaluation of material and control effects, two dimensionless, experimentally derived performance indices were introduced: a thermal-lag index (TLI), describing material-induced delay in skin heating, and a burn-delay index (BDI), quantifying the relative effectiveness of heater deactivation. These indices are intended as comparative reference metrics within the scope of the present experimental framework. Overall, the results elucidate how mechanical loading and surface architecture jointly regulate interfacial heat transfer and tissue damage kinetics, providing controlled experimental insight to inform safer design strategies for human-heater interfaces.
Environmental temperature is a key determinant of animal welfare, and rising global temperatures increase the risk of heat stress. While thermal tolerance is critical for predicting wildlife vulnerability to climate change, physiological responses in South American wild rodents remain understudied. Here, we assessed heat stress responses in the plains vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus), a semi-fossorial rodent with key ecological functions, to establish upper critical Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) thresholds. Within an observed THI range of 18.5 to 30.7, non-invasive longitudinal monitoring and terminal metabolic indicators were utilized to identify critical shifts in thermoregulatory strategy. Fourteen adults were randomly assigned to either a Control (n = 6) or Heat Stress group (n = 8). All animals were housed at 22 ± 1 °C for 7 days, while Heat-Stress animals experienced a daily 8-h thermal wave peaking at 32 °C. At thermal peak, nasal surface temperature (Tnose) was significantly higher in Heat Stress animals (37.6 ± 0.09 °C) compared to Controls (35.1 ± 0.08 °C; P < 0.001) but consistently returned to baseline after exposure. Tnose plotted against THI revealed a marked slope increase above THI = 25, indicating the transition from comfort to mild stress, with overt signs of exhaustion emerging above THI = 30. Despite this, no cumulative effects were detected: hematocrit, cortisol, kidney function, body weight gain, and total activity remained unchanged. Heat exposure did, however, shift resting behavior toward recumbency and modestly increased feeding, consistent with energy allocation to thermoregulation. Based on these findings and within the observed range, we propose species-specific thresholds for vizcachas: comfort (<25), mild stress (25-30), and moderate stress (30-30.7). This profile, early sensitivity but resilience to moderate heat, likely reflects adaptation to their wide geographic distribution, though long-term resilience under intensifying climate conditions remains uncertain.
Phenotypic plasticity is assumed to play crucial role under climate change, as it enables organisms to cope with rapidly increasing environmental pressures. We investigated the effect of water temperature on head and tail morphology in larvae of two crested newt species (Triturus ivanbureschi and T. macedonicus) and their reciprocal F1 hybrids. Larvae were raised under experimental conditions at 19 °C and, from the late larval phase (stage 62), were exposed to either 19 °C or 24 °C. Geometric morphometrics was applied to quantify and analyse size and shape variation and its relationship with the rate of metamorphosis. Our results revealed that the four analysed genotypes (two species and two reciprocal hybrids) displayed divergent responses to elevated temperature. Triturus ivanbureschi and hybrids with T. macedonicus mitochondrial DNA were the most thermally sensitive, showing the fastest metamorphosis and marked shape plasticity in both body regions. In contrast, T. macedonicus exhibited the slowest metamorphosis but increased growth. Temperature-induced allometric changes had genotypic-specific patterns. Plastic response was partially explained by a change in allometric trajectories only for head shape. Generally, changes in head shape were more pronounced than those in tail shape. Overall, our findings indicate that accelerated metamorphosis is the main factor contributing to a plastic response. Hybridization contributes to the level of plasticity, shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying the dynamic interaction between species within their natural hybrid zone, and highlighting the possible impact of rising temperatures on species distribution and interactions.
In recent years, the automatic identification of stress and relaxation has gained attention due to the substantial impact these states have on physical and mental well-being. While incorporating physiological responses that accurately reflect emotional behavior improves the efficiency of classification models, identifying this relationship is challenging. This often leads to the use of black-box approaches that complicate physiological interpretation. This study aims to characterize the thermal behavior of fingertips in female and male participants during psychological stress and relaxation using statistical features, and to classify these states based on the most significant features. The study also evaluates virtual reality as a relaxation tool by comparing it with mindfulness-based relaxation. To this end, a virtual reality environment was developed based on scientific recommendations to support relaxation processes. The results show that automatic feature selection through linear discriminant analysis can highlight thermographic correlates of peripheral thermoregulation associated with emotional states. Findings indicate that a reduced subset of highly relevant features is sufficient for high performance, achieving high classification accuracy with the 45, 19, and 55 most relevant features for the female, male, and global datasets, respectively. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited sample size and the exploratory nature of the study. Additionally, the study demonstrates that virtual reality is associated with relaxation-like thermal responses, supporting its potential as a complementary tool in psychological interventions. Overall, the results may contribute to improving classification performance, furthering our understanding of psychophysiological mechanisms and aiding in the development of effective systems for identifying emotional states automatically.
With growing concerns over climate change, assessing the thermal tolerance of organisms, especially ectotherms which are most at risk, is becoming increasingly needed. One widely used approach is the Critical Thermal maximum (CTmax), which involves subjecting organisms to a rapid temperature increase until they lose equilibrium. The physiological mechanisms underlying CTmax endpoints remain debated, with discussions spanning the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Here, we focused on the cellular level by examining skeletal muscle mitochondria of a small, pelagic, and little-known fish from the Rhône River, the spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus). Fish acclimated to 20 °C were tested at both their acclimation temperature and their CTmax (34 °C). We measured mitochondrial respiration in complexes I, II and I + II as well as coupling efficiency (ATP/O for complex I) and OXPHOS Control Efficiency (OxCE) for complexes I and II in isolated muscle mitochondria. Our results indicate that mitochondrial OXPHOS and LEAK respirations was higher at CTmax; however, ATP/O and OxCE were reduced, suggesting impaired mitochondrial function at high temperatures. In essence, muscle mitochondria sustained robust oxidative capacity and ATP synthesis at CTmax, but the oxygen demand for ATP production escalated more rapidly than the mitochondria's capacity to supply oxygen. Moreover, we showed that CI was more temperature sensitive than CII and interestingly, the spirlin maintained a high ATP synthesis capacity in the presence of oligomycin, indicating the use of anaerobic pathways. Hence, muscle mitochondrial dysfunction occurs at high temperatures so this could compromise fish locomotion in the wild, subsequently affecting their life strategies.
Heat stress (HS) is a major environmental challenge in modern poultry production, where high metabolic heat output and intensive genetic selection increase vulnerability to thermal load. Beyond impairing thermoregulation and feed intake, HS disrupts intestinal barrier integrity, induces oxidative stress and inflammation, and promotes systemic metabolic dysregulation. The gastrointestinal tract has therefore emerged as a central target and amplifier of HS-induced pathology, highlighting the importance of gut-focused nutritional interventions. Zinc (Zn), an essential trace element with broad catalytic and regulatory functions, has gained attention as a key modulator of intestinal and systemic resilience under HS conditions. Accumulating evidence indicates that Zn not only supports antioxidant defenses and immune regulation but also preserves epithelial architecture by stabilizing tight junctions (TJ), modulating heat shock responses, suppressing inflammatory signaling, and promoting epithelial renewal. At the molecular level, Zn acts as a signaling ion through activation of the Zn-sensing receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 39 (GPR39) and downstream phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, thereby facilitating epithelial repair and barrier restoration. Recent avian intestinal organoid studies provide direct mechanistic evidence that organic and moderately chelated Zn sources, such as Zn proteinate, more effectively alleviate HS-induced epithelial injury than inorganic forms. Complementary in vivo data further demonstrate HS-induced redistribution of Zn via coordinated regulation of Zn transporters and metallothionein, linking local intestinal protection with systemic Zn homeostasis. In conclusion, current evidence positions Zn as a central nutritional regulator of HS resilience and supports the development of precision Zn supplementation strategies for sustainable poultry production under increasing thermal stress.
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality among Ghanaian women, yet screening uptake is under 5%. The Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Centre (CCPTC) partnered with Rotary Clubs across the country to implement the first-ever nationally representative cervical precancer screening project and to demonstrate the feasibility of an integrated nationwide screening program. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1,636 asymptomatic women aged 25 years and above screened at 29 government and private facilities across all 16 regions of Ghana (January-February 2025). Eligible women underwent concurrent hr-HPV genotyping (Sansure MA-6000 platform) and VIA by CCPTC-trained alumni, with immediate thermal ablation for eligible VIA-positive lesions (TZ type 1 or 2). Multivariable logistic regression (backward stepwise elimination, P < 0.25 retention threshold) identified factors associated with hr-HPV positivity and VIA positivity. Analyses were performed in Stata v17.0. Among 1,636 women, the overall hr-HPV prevalence was 26·6% (95% CI, 24·5-28·8) and the VIA 'positivity' was 4·0% (95% CI, 3·1-5·0). Predominant genotypes were HPV52 (5·3%), HPV58 (4·4%), and HPV51 (3·6%); HPV16 and HPV18 together accounted for <5% of infections. Independent factors associated with hr-HPV infection were HIV infection (aOR=5·77; 95% CI, 2·07-16·13, P = 0.001) and having a steady partner (aOR=2·02; 95% CI, 1·22-3·36, P = 0.006); being married/cohabiting (aOR=0·51; 95% CI, 0·38-0·69, P < 0.001) or widowed (aOR=0·43; 95% CI, 0·23-0·82, P = 0.011), and prior screening (aOR=0·67; 95% CI, 0·48-0·92, P = 0.014) were protective. VIA 'positivity' was independently associated with HIV infection (aOR 7.49, 95% CI 1.99-28.19, P = 0.003). Regional hr-HPV prevalence varied from 10·0% to 39·2%. Thirty-five percent of VIA-positive women received same-visit thermal ablation. This decentralized alumni-driven model integrating off-site HPV testing, task-shifted VIA, and immediate thermal ablation proved operationally feasible across Ghana's diverse health system and revealed a substantial hr-HPV burden. The approach offers a scalable blueprint for national cervical cancer control and informs Ghana's transition toward HPV-based screening.
Meteorological variations can impact body condition of ungulates over different timescales and populations. The impacts of heat and humidity on body condition, inherent to tropical and subtropical climates, are largely understudied in unmanaged ungulates. In feral ungulates, body condition assessment can help evaluate adaptation to ecological pressures, with some ungulates declining in condition, while other populations thrive in natural habitats. We quantified the impact of weather, seasonality and provisioning on body condition in a feral population of cattle (Bos taurus) in Hong Kong. We used an inference method to identify the exact lag between meteorological variations and biological changes (Sliding Windows Analysis). Our study population does not receive routine care but some cattle are provisioned by local people. We found that cattle maintained good condition (median score of five on a nine-point scale) throughout our two-year study period, with extreme scores never observed. Cloud cover, humidity, sunshine, wind speed and flooding three to four months prior to scoring predicted body condition, suggesting seasonality in body condition fluctuations. Sex, herd size and provisioning were also important drivers of body condition fluctuations in feral cattle. Provisioning mitigated the effects of cloud cover, wind speed and drought. Specifically, identified sliding windows differed between non-provisioned and provisioned herds and between females and males. Our findings highlight the ability of feral cattle in subtropics to maintain optimal body condition despite thermal constraints associated with subtropical seasonality. The delayed impacts we identified can inform the management of subtropical livestock, and the conservation of wild Asian bovids.