Search Results (509)

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in endemic regions. The extensive genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) complicates outbreak prediction and transmission control. One of its most polymorphic markers, merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2), presents a potential target for molecular surveillance. This cross-sectional study, conducted at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFHR) from October 2021 to June 2023, assessed MSP2′s utility in malaria prediction. PfMSP2 was sequenced, and selected amplicons were cloned, expressed in bacteria, and purified. These antigens were tested against sera from malaria patients and geographically diverse healthy individuals, with complementary surveys contextualizing serological findings. Of the 75 processed monoallelic clinical isolates, 3D7 strains predominated over FC27. Three MSP2-derived biomarkers were produced, eliciting significantly low IgG responses in malaria patients and Belgian controls, but a complex pattern emerged in healthy individuals, with significant differences between Rwandan and Cameroonian samples. IgG3 was the predominant subclass in individuals with high IgG responses. Notably, Rwandan individuals with weak humoral responses to the tested antigens but also other with high responses experienced malaria episodes in the subsequent year. These findings highlight MSP2 polymorphism as a valuable tool for malaria surveillance and outbreak prediction. Integrating genotyping and serology could enable precise, community-specific malaria risk assessments, strengthening control strategies. Full article

MSP DAGs (short for minimal series-parallel digraphs) can be defined from the single vertex graph by applying the parallel composition and series composition. We prove an upper bound of 6 for the directed clique-width of MSP DAGs and show how a directed clique-width 6-expression can be found in linear time. Our 6-expression can be used to construct an MSP DAG G from its binary decomposition tree $T\left(G\right)$ in linear time. We apply our bound on the directed clique-width to conclude a number of algorithmic consequences for MSP DAGs. Full article

Internationally, there is a modern understanding of cultural heritage, including maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MUCH)—not merely as a passive relic of the past, but as a transformative driver for sustainable growth and innovation. The paper discusses the position of maritime cultural heritage (MUCH) in relation to the smart specialization strategies (S3) and its evolving role as a driver of sustainable growth, particularly within the context of the blue economy and smart specialization strategies (S3, S4) in Europe. It then focuses on the Greek context, where UCH-driven activities, particularly soft multi-use (MU) activities that combine UCH, diving tourism, and nature conservation, are gaining momentum, especially within marine protected areas (MPAs). Despite the growing interest, there is a lack of data, regulations, and a clear strategy for such activities, although the “National (Hellenic) Spatial Strategy for the Marine Space” (issued in 2025) suggests promoting low-impact diving tourism incorporating UCH. The research paper examines the benefits and barriers to implementing UCH-driven MUs, recommending the use of maritime spatial planning (MSP) to address relevant challenges. It suggests that integrating UCH with nature conservation and diving tourism in soft MUs could support a sustainable blue economy, through balancing cultural, ecological, social, and economic goals and fostering innovation through S3/S4 on a regional level. Full article

This study was carried out at 10 randomly selected fringe villages of Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in the Terai region of West Bengal, India through personal interviews with 100 randomly selected respondents. The study documented 102 non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that were utilized throughout the year. In the local weekly market, 28 NTFPs were found to be traded by the collectors. The study shows that without proper price mechanisms and marketing channels; the residents cannot obtain fair prices for their products. The study found only nine NTFPs that were prominently traded with the involvement of middlemen and traders along with the royalty imposed by the State Forest Department. The MSPs computed for these nine NTFPs were 25–200% higher than the prices the collectors were selling to the traders. The nationalization of NTFPs through MSPs will help their effective marketing, ensuring an adequate income for the collectors, which will lead to their sustainable harvest and conservation through participatory forest management. Introducing MSPs for NTFPs with an efficient procurement network can advance the economic status of the inhabitants. We recommend increasing the inhabitants’ capacity to collect, store, process, and market NTFPs with active policy, institutional, and infrastructural support. Full article

The life-cycle economics and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions of forest biomass harvesting and utilization for value-added bioproducts were comprehensively evaluated via the development of an integrated modeling framework. Taking the eastern U.S. as the case region, the model innovatively integrated field studies, a Bayesian-based statistical learning model, techno-economic analysis, and life-cycle assessment. In specific, by investigating and summarizing the typical forest biomass harvesting systems across the region, the forest biomass harvesting costs were spatially grouped and mapped for four classified subregions across the eastern US. Overall, with 95% confidence the forest biomass harvesting cost is between USD 21.99 and USD 44.33/dry Mg, while the GHG emissions are between 14.79 and 98.80 kg CO₂ eq./dry Mg. Furthermore, for the forest biomass utilization for four alternative value-added bioproducts, the minimum selling price (MSP) is USD 177.82/Mg for pellet fuel, USD 110.24/MWh for biopower, USD 1059.4/Mg for biochar, and USD 4.98/gallon for aviation fuel. The life-cycle GHG emissions are 149.80 kg CO₂ eq./Mg pellet fuel, 52.22 kg CO₂ eq./MWh biopower, 792.12 kg CO₂ eq./Mg biochar, and 2.13 kg CO₂ eq./gallon aviation fuel, respectively. Considering the uncertainties, 95% confidence intervals of MSPs range from USD 164.77 to USD 190.97/Mg for pellet fuel with an 81.85% probability to be profitable, from USD 100.20 to USD 120.21/MWh for biopower with a 49.38% probability to be profitable, from USD 1000.91 to USD 1109.25/Mg for biochar with a 79.51% probability to be profitable, from USD 4.86 to USD 5.54/gallon for aviation fuel with an 0.03% probability to be profitable. Moreover, the MSPs of pellet fuel and biochar are much less affected by the market changes than those of biopower and aviation fuel. However, the production of biopower and aviation fuel has lower carbon intensities than that of pellet fuel and biochar. Full article

Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, is a major tick-borne disease in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, leading to significant production losses. Prolonged convalescence periods are common and surviving animals often become subclinical carriers. This study aimed to detect and characterise A. marginale in bovines in smallholder dairy farms across diverse climatic zones of Pakistan using molecular methods. In total, 321 blood DNA samples from apparently healthy cattle (n = 174) and buffaloes (n = 147) from six districts in Pakistan were tested for A. marginale using a nested PCR assay, targeting part of the major surface protein B gene (msp1β) as a genetic marker, followed by agarose gel electrophoresis and selective sequencing of amplicons from test-positive samples. Of the 321 DNA samples tested, 135 (42.1%) were test-positive for A. marginale. Prevalence was significantly higher in cattle (64.4%; 112/174) than in buffaloes (15.6%; 23/147), and female bovines (43.5%; 108/248) were more frequently infected than males (37%; 27/73). Phylogenetic analysis of the msp1β sequence data (n = 42) revealed that A. marginale from Pakistan clustered with those from Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and the USA. This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of A. marginale from bovines from diverse agroecological zones of Pakistan and will further stimulate population genetic studies of A. marginale and investigations into the economic impact of subclinical infections in bovines in smallholder farming systems. Full article

Anaplasmosis is a disease in animals that leads to significant economic losses. In addition, the zoonotic potential of vector-borne Anaplasma species is increasing its importance, both around the world and in Türkiye, in particular. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and phylogenetic profile of Anaplasma species in goats from the districts of Adana province, Türkiye, via molecular methods. For this purpose, blood samples from 364 goats of various breeds, ages, and genders were collected, and the presence of 55 Anaplasma spp. was determined through the PCR method. Anaplasma ovis was detected in 55 samples (15.1%) and A. phagocytophilum in 11 samples (3%) by Nested-PCR. However, A. capra was not detected. The phylogenetic relationships of A. ovis and A. phagocytophilum were investigated by DNA sequencing of the msp4 and 16S rRNA gene regions. Through sequence analysis in A. phagocytophilum, we identified nine isolates as A. phagocytophilum-like 1 and one isolate as A. phagocytophilum-like 2. Forty-six of the A. ovis isolates were 100% similar to each other. The other 2 isolates were also 100% similar to each other but had a single nucleotide difference from the other 46 isolates. Notably, the isolate identified as A. phagocytophilum-like 2 was detected for the first time in goats in Türkiye. Full article

The multistep phosphorelay (MSP) is a conserved signaling system that allows plants to sense and respond to a variety of cues under rapidly changing environmental conditions. The MSP system comprises three main protein types: sensor histidine kinases, phosphotransmitters, and response regulators. There are numerous signaling pathways that use, in whole or in part, this set of proteins to transduce diverse signals. Among them, the cytokinin signal transduction system is the best-studied pathway, which utilizes the entire MSP cascade. Focusing on this system, we review here protein–protein interaction of MSP components that are not directly related to cytokinin signaling. These interactions are likely to play an essential role in hormonal crosstalk and may be promising targets for fine-tuning plant development. In addition, in light of recent advances in the study of cytokinin signaling, we discuss new insights into the putative molecular mechanisms that mediate the pleiotropic action of cytokinins and provide specificity for distinct MSP signals. A detailed network of known non-canonical protein–protein interactions related to cytokinin signaling was demonstrated. Full article

In this study, a Hybrid Maritime Risk Assessment Model (HMRA) integrating automated machine learning (AML) and deep learning (DL) with hydrodynamic and Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) was developed to assess maritime accident probabilities and risks. The machine learning models of Light Gradient Boosting (LightGBM), XGBoost, Random Forest, and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) were employed. Cross-validation of model architectures, calibrated baseline configurations, and hyperparameter optimization enabled predictive precision, producing generalizability. This hybrid model establishes a robust maritime accident probability prediction framework through a multi-stage methodology that ensembles learning architecture. The model was applied to İzmit Bay (in Türkiye), a highly jammed maritime area with dense traffic patterns, providing a complete methodology to evaluate and rank risk factors. This research improves maritime safety studies by developing an integrated, simulation-based decision-making model that supports risk assessment actions for policymakers and stakeholders in marine spatial planning (MSP). The potential spill of 20 barrels (bbl) from an accident between two tankers was simulated using the developed model, which interconnects HYDROTAM-3D and the MCS. The average accident probability in İzmit Bay was estimated to be 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ in the AML based MCS, with a probability range between 2.15 × 10⁻⁴ and 7.93 × 10⁻⁴. The order of the predictions’ magnitude was consistent with the Undersecretariat of the Maritime Affairs Search and Rescue Department accident data for İzmit Bay. The spill reaches the narrow strait of the inner basin in the first six hours. This study determines areas within the bay at high risk of accidents and advocates for establishing emergency response centers in these critical areas. Full article

Eulerian observations of chemical species at fixed positions in a flow field are known to violate conservation laws, while observations tracking moving air parcels are practically unfeasible. Eulerian observations often cause positive correlations between the reactants and products in the atmosphere, which are frequently misinterpreted as evidence of the related chemical conversion. This dilemma has motivated innovative trials. The perturbation technique, widely used in mathematical and physical studies, offers a potential solution. Combining Eulerian observations with perturbation techniques may compensate for this weakness, making this approach particularly valuable for studying the gas–aerosol partitioning of semi-volatile particulate species in ambient air. As an example, we examined this combination through an adiabatic-expansion-induced perturbation study of the gas–aerosol partitioning of dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) in ambient air. Eulerian observations of chemical species in size-segregated atmospheric particles ranging from 10 μm to 0.056 μm, coupled with downstream adiabatic-expansion-induced perturbation observations, were performed in coastal and marine atmospheres using a commercial sampler (Nano-MOUDI-II, MSP, Shoreview, MN, USA), followed by an offline chemical analysis. The results revealed that particulate DMA generally tended to evaporate in ambient air during the observational periods, while enhanced adiabatic-expansion-induced perturbations occasionally led to the co-formation of DMAHNO₃ and NH₄NO₃. However, gaseous TMA apparently underwent gas–particle condensation to reach equilibrium in ambient air, with adiabatic-expansion-induced perturbation resulting in the formation of non-ionized TMA particulates. The thermodynamic analysis further supported that the observed particulate TMA was primarily determined by the equilibrium of gaseous TMA with non-ionized particulate TMA rather than ionic TMAH⁺. Full article

This study investigated specific winemaking procedures that could increase fermentation esters and volatile thiols in Chardonnay wine during fermentation. These compounds together are known to cause tropical fruit aromas. Two levels of pre-fermentative skin contact (10 °C for 18 h) (yes/no), two levels of β-lyase addition (40 μL/L) (yes/no), and three levels of fermentation gradient temperature, FG0 (constant 13 °C), FG1 (started at 20 °C and after 96 h dropped to 13 °C), and FG2 (started at 20 °C and after ~11.5 °Brix dropped to 13 °C), were evaluated using laboratory-scale ferments in a full factorial design. Esters and the volatile thiols, 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH), 3-sulfanylhexyl acetate (3SHA), and 4-methyl-4-sulfanylpentan-2-one (4MSP), were quantified using gas and liquid chromatography methods, respectively. The combination of skin contact and FG1 or FG2 resulted in the greatest levels of esters and thiols in Chardonnay wine. The fermentation gradient was shown to be efficient in reducing volatile compounds normally lost due to evaporation during fermentation. With these different processing techniques, it will be possible for winemakers to achieve different wine qualities depending on their chosen wine style. Full article

Background: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is defined as the implantation of an embryo outside the uterine cavity, which can lead to high morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and treated promptly. A rare form of EP is myomectomy scar pregnancy (MSP), where the embryo implants in a scar from a prior myomectomy. Due to its rarity, MSP presents unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on MSP to better understand the diagnostic strategies, management options, and clinical outcomes associated with this condition, and to identify gaps in current research. Methods: We conducted a scoping review by searching databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and MEDLINE for studies published between 2003 and 2023. Keywords used in combination included “myomectomy scar pregnancy”, “scar pregnancy”, “leiomyoma”, “uterine myomectomy”, “PAS disorders”, “placenta previa”, and “placenta accreta”. Studies were screened for relevance and eligibility by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted from case reports, retrospective studies, and reviews discussing MSP. Results: From an initial set of 111 studies, 28 papers met the inclusion criteria, comprising 4 retrospective studies and 24 case reports. A total of 44 cases of MSP were analyzed. The majority of diagnoses were made through ultrasound, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in more complex cases. Surgical interventions, primarily cesarean sections and myometrial repairs, were the most common treatments, while medical therapy with methotrexate was less frequently applied. Conclusions: This scoping review highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing MSP due to its rarity. Although surgical management remains the primary approach, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal treatment for different clinical scenarios. Further research is needed to establish standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for MSP and to evaluate the long-term outcomes of affected patients. Full article

Quench–polish–quench (QPQ) nitro-carburizing of AISI 4140 steel in a salt bath was performed in this study. Nitro-carburizing in a salt bath enhanced the formation of Fe-nitride on the outer surface layer. Moreover, the oxidizing treatment formed a thin oxide layer decorated on the outermost part of the QPQ-treated sample. The dense compound layer formed after nitro-carburizing in a salt bath consisted of refined granular Fe₃N and transformed to Fe₂N after post-oxidation treatment. Micro-shot peening (MSP) was adopted before QPQ treatment to increase the treated steel’s fatigue performance. The results indicated that MSP slightly increased the thickness of the compound layer and harden depth, but it had little effect on improving the fatigue strength/life of the QPQ-treated sample (SP-QPQ) compared to the non-peened one (NP-QPQ). A deep compressive residual stress (CRS) field (about 200 μm) and a hard nitrided layer showed a noticeable improvement in the fatigue performance of the QPQ-treated ones relative to the 4140 substrates tempered at 570 °C. The ease of slipping or deforming on the substrate surface was responsible for its poor resistance to fatigue failure. The cracking and spalling of the brittle surface layer were the causes for the fatigue crack initiation and growth of all of the QPQ-treated samples fatigue-loaded at/above 875 MPa. It was noticed that fatigue crack initiation at the subsurface inclusions was more likely to occur in the SP-QPQ sample fatigue-loading at 850 MPa or slightly above the fatigue limit. Full article

Colombia has the fourth largest livestock herd on the American continent. Cattle farms are expanding in Colombia, sometimes impacting traditional communities and reserves. This is especially true for the Zenú ethnic group, whose ancestral territory includes the valleys of the Sinú and San Jorge rivers, as well as the Caribbean coast around the Gulf of Morrosquillo, in the departments of Córdoba and Sucre. The present study examined the prevalence of trypanosomatids and Anaplasma spp. in zebu cattle grazing in seven Zenú communities in the Sucre department. Of the 110 cattle sampled, 56 (50.9%) tested positive for trypanosomatids. Forty 18S rRNA gene sequences generated showed >99% identity with Trypanosoma theileri, while one sequence demonstrated 99.6% identity with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; sequencing of the remaining 15 positive samples was unsuccessful. Regarding Anaplasma spp., 96 (87.3%) samples were positive, and the 14 msp4 gene sequences generated displayed >99% identity with Anaplasma marginale. Thus, T. theileri and A. marginale were prevalent in cattle from all Zenú communities, while Leishmania (Viannia) sp. was found in a cow from the community of La Gallera. Our findings indicate that these agents are common in zebu cattle from Zenú communities, underscoring the need for preventive measures to reduce the infection burden and potential implications for cattle production in these areas. Full article

Significant new progress has been made in nonlinear integrable systems with Riesz fractional-order derivative, and it is impressive that such nonlocal fractional-order integrable systems exhibit inverse scattering integrability. The focus of this article is on extending this progress to nonlocal fractional-order Schrödinger-type equations with variable coefficients. Specifically, based on the analysis of anomalous dispersion relation (ADR), a novel variable-coefficient Riesz fractional-order generalized NLS (vcRfgNLS) equation is derived. By utilizing the relevant matrix spectral problems (MSPs), the vcRfgNLS equation is solved through the inverse scattering transform (IST), and analytical solutions including n-soliton solution as a special case are obtained. In addition, an explicit form of the vcRfgNLS equation depending on the completeness of squared eigenfunctions (SEFs) is presented. In particular, the 1-soliton solution and 2-soliton solution are taken as examples to simulate their spatial structures and analyze their structural properties by selecting different variable coefficients and fractional orders. It turns out that both the variable coefficients and fractional order can influence the velocity of soliton propagation, but there is no energy dissipation throughout the entire motion process. Such soliton solutions may not only have important value for studying the super-dispersion transport of nonlinear waves in non-uniform media, but also for realizing a new generation of ultra-high-speed optical communication engineering. Full article