Search Results (12,303)

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are a threat to human and animal health worldwide. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitudes/practices, and perceptions (KAP) of 86 farmers of extensive sheep farming systems across different agro-ecological areas in Tunisia. The response rate was about 91.3%. Overall, 68.5% of the questions referring to knowledge and perceptions were answered correctly. Indeed, about half of the respondents were aware that ticks infest animals, with weight loss given as the major consequence. However, more than half of the farmers were unaware of the transmission and vectorial role of ticks. Those who knew that ticks are vectors cited microbes and icterus as the main concerns. A broad majority of farmers (70.9%) stated that they removed the attached ticks manually and 45.3% crushed them. As acaricides were perceived to be efficient for fighting ticks, according to 97.7% of the sheep farmers, they were used for both the animals and their sleeping areas. Although the toxicity of acaricides is known, 59.3% of the respondents did not use personal protection equipment when applying these products. Taken together, gaps in KAP among sheep farmers were identified. It can be used to better design awareness communication tools for TBPs. Full article

The accuracy and stability of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) systems are essential for maintaining global geodetic reference frames such as the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). This study focuses on the precise determination of the VLBI Invariant Point (IVP) and the detection of antenna axis offset. Ground-based surveys were conducted at the Sejong Space Geodetic Observatory using high-precision instruments, including total station, to measure slant distances, as well as horizontal and vertical angles from fixed pillars to reflectors attached to the VLBI instrument. The reflectors comprised both prisms and reflective sheets to enhance redundancy and data reliability. A detailed stochastic model incorporating variance component estimation was employed to manage the varying precision of the observations. The analysis revealed significant measurement variability, particularly in slant distance measurements involving prisms. Iterative refinement of the variance components improved the reliability of the IVP and antenna axis offset estimates. The study identified an antenna axis offset of 5.6 mm, which was statistically validated through hypothesis testing, confirming its significance at a 0.01 significance level. This is a significance level corresponding to approximately a 2.576 sigma threshold, which represents a 99% confidence level. This study highlights the importance of accurate stochastic modeling in ensuring the precision and reliability of the estimated VLBI IVP and antenna axis offset. Additionally, the results can serve as a priori information for VLBI data analysis. Full article

The octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) is a circulating hormone as well as a locally formed agonist synthesized by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) of endothelial cells. It forms a powerful mechanism to control the amount and pressure of body fluids. All main effects are directed to save body salt and water and ensure blood pressure under basic conditions and in emergencies. All blood vessels respond to stimulation by Ang II; the immediate response is smooth muscle contraction, increasing vascular resistance, and elevating blood pressure. Such effects are conveyed by type 1 angiotensin receptors (AT₁Rs) located in the plasma membrane of both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. AT₁Rs are heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), but their signal pathways are much more complicated than other GPCRs. In addition to G_q/11, the G_12/13, JAK/STAT, Jnk, MAPK, and ERK 1/2, and arrestin-dependent and -independent pathways are activated because of the promiscuous attachment of different signal proteins to the intracellular G protein binding site and to the intracellular C terminal loop. Substantial changes in protein expression follow, including the intracellular inflammation signal protein NF-κB, endothelial contact proteins, cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and type I protocollagen, eliciting the inflammatory transformation of endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells and fibrosis. Ang II is an important contributor to vascular pathologies in hypertensive, atherosclerotic, and aneurysmal vascular wall remodeling. Such direct vascular effects are reviewed. In addition to reducing blood pressure, AT₁R antagonists and ACE inhibitors have a beneficial effect on the vascular wall by inhibiting pathological wall remodeling. Full article

Air pollution caused by fine particles known as PM2.5 is a significant health concern worldwide, contributing to illnesses like asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer. To address this issue, this study focused on improving air purification systems using negative ions, which can attach to these harmful particles and help remove them from the air. This paper developed a novel mathematical model based on linear differential equations to study how PM2.5 particles interact with negative ions, making it easier to design more effective purification systems. The proposed model was validated in a small, controlled space, using common urban pollutants such as cigarette smoke, incense, coal, and gasoline. These tests were conducted at different temperatures and under two levels of ion generation. The results showed that the system could remove over $99\%$ of PM2.5 particles in five minutes when temperatures were low or moderate. However, at higher temperatures, the system’s performance dropped significantly. This research goes beyond earlier studies by examining how temperature affects the process, which had not been fully explored before. Furthermore, this approach aligns with global sustainability goals by promoting public health, reducing healthcare costs, and providing scalable solutions for sustainable urban living. Full article

Environmental education is one of the main functions of China’s national parks, and it also plays a crucial role in the construction of an ecological civilization. Compared with the rest of Asia, the inception of national parks in China occurred relatively late, and fostering tourists’ pro-environmental behavior is a challenging endeavor. According to the theoretical paradigm of stimulus–organism–response (SOR), in this study, we selected place attachment, environmental attitude, and environmental quality to construct a theoretical model of the relationship between the perception of environmental education and pro-environmental behavior. We conducted a sample survey of 728 tourists who had been to Wuyishan National Park and constructed a structural equation model. Our findings indicate the following: (1) pro-environmental behavior is directly and significantly promoted by one’s perception of environmental education, place attachment, and environmental attitude; (2) place attachment and environmental attitude play an intermediary role between one’s perception of environmental education and pro-environmental behavior; and (3) the quality of the external environment positively influences the correlation between one’s perception of environmental education and place attachment. This study provides solutions and suggestions for Wuyishan National Park to improve the effectiveness of environmental education regarding tourists’ pro-environmental behavior. Full article

The morphology of wheat starch granules with different damaged starch (DS) content was analyzed using a particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the granular structure was studied using FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD); and the granule–water interaction was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic vapor sorption (DVS). The increase in the level of DS shifted the population of B-type granules towards larger particle diameters and shifted the population of A-type granules towards smaller particle diameters. The appearance of the surface of the starch-damaged granules was rough and flaky (SEM images). Crystallinity reductions were related to higher mechanical damage levels of the granular structure (FT-IR and XRD). Higher DS increased the liquid-water absorption capacity of the granules. Higher DS was associated with increments in less-bound water proportions and reductions in more strongly bound water proportions and related to reductions in the evaporation temperature of these water populations (TGA analyses). Concerning DVS data, the results suggested that the driving force for water–monolayer attachment to the starch granules decreased as DS increased. Therefore, it was suggested that the changes in granule structure led to a weaker water–starch polymer chain interactions due to the increase in DS. The results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of mechanical damage on the starch granular structure, which could be related to the rheological and thermal behavior of starch-based systems with different DS. Full article

Background: The present article describes a step-by-step maximally digitalized workflow protocol with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in partial-arch edentulous patients rehabilitated with fixed dental prostheses and removable partial dentures (FDPs and RPDs). Methods: Facial digitalization, intraoral scans, and functional mandibular movement recordings were used to create a 4D virtual patient on commercially available CAD software. The fixed components including post-and-cores, both metal–ceramic with extra-coronal attachment and monolithic zirconia crowns, and the RPDs were manufactured by computer numerical controlled direct milling. Results: This innovative digital approach using the virtual patient and the superimposition of interim RPDs fitted in the mouth has been used to provide fixed and removable rehabilitation to the patient without clinical complications with 2 years of follow-up. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this report, the developed combined prosthesis fabrication technique allowed optimization of the production by decreasing the clinical steps and laboratory procedures in partial-arch edentulous rehabilitated with FDPs and RPDs. Full article

Background/Objectives: The escalating global demand for meat, as a sequela of population growth, has led to unsustainable livestock production, resulting in a host of environmental and food security concerns. Various strategies have been explored to mitigate these issues, including the introduction of a novel food product, cultured meat. Cultured meat is not yet commercially available, yet public perceptions are already taking shape. To better understand the factors influencing its adoption by consumers, a cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted to examine consumer attitudes toward conventional meat and cultured meat among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: The survey was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 and used a convenience snowball sampling method. The questionnaire focused on current meat consumption patterns, meat attachment, and willingness to consume cultured meat. Sociodemographic data, including age, sex, education, and self-reported weight and height, were also collected. Results: Results showed that the vast majority (86%) of participants consumed all types of meats, while more than half (59.3%) were unfamiliar with the term “cultured meat”. Despite this unfamiliarity, about one-third (35%) were somewhat willing to try cultured meat, though more than two-thirds (69%) were reluctant to replace conventional meat with cultured meat in their diet. Male participants and those with higher BMIs showed a significantly stronger attachment to conventional meat. Willingness to consume cultured meat was notably higher among participants aged less than 30 years, those having less formal education, and those who are Arabic. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while interest in cultured meat exists, significant barriers remain, particularly regarding consumer education and cultural acceptance. Full article

The primary objective of this short-term longitudinal study was to investigate how age groups affect the relationships between cyberbullying victimization, bystanding, and depression among a convenience sample of students across different educational levels; there was a total of 234 elementary school students (fourth and fifth graders), 363 middle school students (sixth to eighth graders), and 341 high school students (ninth to twelfth graders) from the United States who completed self-reported questionnaires on cyberbullying, depression, and peer attachment during 2020. Additionally, this study examined whether peer attachment acted as a moderator in these relationships. The results revealed that strong peer attachment significantly moderated the connections between cyberbullying involvement and depression, as measured six months later, with particularly pronounced effects among middle school students. In contrast, weaker peer attachment intensified the positive correlations between cyberbullying victimization, bystanding, and subsequent depression. These findings highlight the crucial role of cultivating strong peer relationships, especially during pivotal developmental phases such as middle school. Implementing programs that promote positive peer interactions and supportive networks can be effective at alleviating the psychological effects of cyberbullying. Full article

Background/Objectives: African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), poses a significant threat to the global swine industry. This underscores the urgent need for safe and effective ASF vaccines. Methods: Here, we constructed five bacterium-like particles (BLPs) that each display one of the five ASFV antigens (F317L, H171R, D117L, B602L, and p54) based on the Gram-positive enhancer matrix-protein anchor (GEM-PA) system. GEM is a bacterial particle that contains only peptidoglycan, while PA is composed of three lysin motifs (Lysm) derived from the C-terminus of the AcmA protein, capable of non-covalently binding to GEM. By fusing the ASFV antigens with PA, the ASFV antigens can be firmly attached to the surface of GEM. Subsequently, the piglets were immunized via intramuscular injection with a mixture of BLPs-F317L, BLPs-H171R, BLPs-D117L, BLPs-B602L, and BLPs-p54. Results: The results showed that the piglets developed detectable serum IgG antibodies 2 weeks after the first immunization, and these high antibody levels were maintained 4 weeks after the booster immunization. Moreover, these piglets produced more IFN-γ-producing lymphocytes than the control piglets. Conclusions: The data indicate that the generated BLPs mixture can stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses in piglets, these five ASFV proteins are promising antigens, and the BLPs generated represent candidate ASF vaccines. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the association between rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis of the scientific literature was carried out based on the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We analyzed all studies that evaluated the relationship between the chronic inflammatory diseases through the response to non-surgical periodontal treatment, comparing the values of CAL (Clinical Attachment Level) for PD (periodontal disease) and DAS28 for RA. A total of three databases were searched in the literature search: Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science. After eliminating duplicate articles and applying certain inclusion criteria, of the 29 articles found, a total of 6 were included in the present study. Results: A statistically significant difference in mean reduction of −0.56 mm was obtained for CAL, with a 95% confidence interval of the difference between −0.82 and −0.31 (z-test = −4.33; p-value = 0.001) in favor of the periodontal treatment group. The heterogeneity of the meta-analysis was slight (I2 = 39% and Q = 8.19; p-value = 0.146). For DAS28, treatment showed a mean reduction of −0.39 DAS points, with a 95% CI between −0.46 and −0.31 (z-test = −10.3; p-value < 0.001) among patients with PD and RA. Conclusions: The present study shows how the control of periodontal disease through non-surgical periodontal treatment can reduce the severity of RA. This finding consistently supports the idea that there is a pathogenic association between these two chronic inflammatory diseases. Full article

Despite technological advancements in various industries, the equine sector still relies on old methods like horseshoeing. Although traditional, the industry is dynamic and well-funded. Therefore, there is a need to modernize these methods with more reliable and less invasive solutions for attaching horseshoes to horse hooves. There are currently several commercial adhesive solutions in the market specifically tailored to this application. In this work, the mechanical properties of two acrylic adhesives were characterized under quasi-static conditions. In the characterization process, tensile, shear, and fracture properties were determined. Subsequently, in-joint behavior was assessed using single-lap joints (SLJ) for both similar and dissimilar adherends. The adherends’ materials included steel (St), aluminum (Al), and horse hoof wall (HW), and the following adherend combinations were tested: St–St, Al–Al, and St–HW. A numerical model of similar joints was developed and validated based on experimental results. After its validation, the next steps are the modelling of the real joint and its simulation by considering realistic loading conditions in order to determine the weakest points of the joint. This exploratory study seeks to establish a foundation for investigating alternative adhesive solutions that could address the limitations identified in the solutions studied in this paper. Full article

Background/Objectives: Averrhoa carambola, or star fruit, is a shrub known for its medicinal properties, especially due to bioactive metabolites identified in its roots and fruit with anti-cancer activity. However, the biological effects of its leaves remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the effects of ethanolic extract from A. carambola leaves on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype lacking specific therapy. Methods: Phytochemical analysis and HPLC profile and additional cell line evaluation employing MDA-MB-231 were carried out. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in flavonoids, saponins, and steroids, demonstrating an antioxidant capacity of 45%. ¹H NMR analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, and glycoside-like compounds. Cell viability assays showed a concentration-dependent decrease in viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 20.89 μg/mL at 48 h. Clonogenic assays indicated significant inhibition of replicative immortality, with only 2.63% survival at 15 μg/mL. Migration, assessed through a wound healing assay, was reduced to 3.06% at 100 μg/mL, with only 16.23% of cells remaining attached. An additive effect was observed when combining lower concentrations of the extract with doxorubicin, indicating potential synergy. Conclusions: These results suggest that the ethanolic extract of A. carambola leaves contains metabolites with anti-cancer activity against TNBC cells, supporting further research into their bioactive compounds and therapeutic potential. Full article

Azo-containing liquid crystal elastomers are photomechanical materials that can be actuated via illumination. The photomechanical response is a result of the photoisomerization of the azo moiety, which produces bulk stresses in the material. These stresses arise via two distinct and competing mechanisms: order parameter change induced stress and direct contractile stress. We describe thermomechanical and photomechanical experiments aimed at assessing the relative contributions of these. We show that the details of the attachment of azo dyes to the network can greatly influence the photoresponse. We discuss our results and summarize our findings. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive method for detecting debonding defects in concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) structures using wave propagation analysis with externally attached piezoelectric ceramic sensors. Experimental tests and numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of two measurement techniques—the flat and oblique measurement methods—in detecting debonding defects of varying lengths and heights. The results demonstrate that the flat measurement method excels in detecting debonding height, while the oblique method is more effective for detecting debonding length. A normalized judgment index (DI) was introduced to quantify the correlation between debonding characteristics and the detected signal amplitude, revealing the significant influence of sensor spacing on detection accuracy. Furthermore, a mathematical model based on wavelet packet energy analysis was developed to establish a linear relationship between wavelet packet energy and debonding size. This model offers a scientific foundation for the quantitative detection of debonding defects and provides a new approach to the health monitoring of CFST structures. The integrated use of both measurement techniques enhances detection precision, enabling both qualitative and quantitative defect analysis, which can significantly guide the maintenance and repair of CFST structures. Full article