A study of 52 college students found that VR mindfulness meditation improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and mindful attention more than audio-only practice. The strongest results came from a self-developed EEG-interactive VR forest that changed in response to users' brain signals, while lavender scent improved relaxation but appeared to reduce concentration.

Diagnostic laboratories are central to disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness, yet poor adherence to biosafety and biosecurity protocols can put laboratory staff, communities and the environment at risk. This study assessed biosecurity and biosafety practices in 96 public and private biomedical and veterinary laboratories in Benin. Using a cross-sectional design, biomedical laboratories were evaluated with the Biosafety and Biosecurity in Laboratory Tool, while veterinary laboratories were assessed using the Laboratory Mapping Tool. Data were collected through KoBoCollect and analysed using R. Most laboratories showed poor compliance with established guidelines: 42% were classified as very high risk, 38% as high risk, 15% as moderate risk and only 5% as low risk. Strengthened policies and targeted capacity-building for laboratory staff and managers are urgently needed.

Spinal cord injury is often seen as damage to the nervous system, but a new review argues that paralysis is only the visible tip of a much larger iceberg. The authors map how spinal cord trauma can disrupt autonomic control, immunity and metabolism, triggering complications across distant organs and reshaping long-term recovery.