Search Results (570)

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has become a significant global health concern in recent decades, particularly in Iran. This integrative review provides a comprehensive assessment of the epidemiological trends of dengue fever in Iran from its initial emergence to the present, identifying and evaluating factors contributing to both the emergence and re-emergence of the disease at national and international levels. The review highlights critical global determinants influencing dengue transmission, including climate change, environmental modifications, unplanned urbanization, increased international travel and trade, and the pivotal roles of public awareness and healthcare infrastructure. Climatic variables, such as rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, create favorable conditions for mosquito breeding, enabling vectors like Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus to expand into new regions. We also explore how environmental changes, unplanned urbanization and other factors further exacerbate the situation. Control strategies addressing these factors are presented. In Iran, the incidence of dengue fever is increasing, yet research remains limited. The highest number of local cases has been reported in Chabahar and Bandar Lengeh, Hormozgan and Sistan and Baluchestan Provinces, respectively. Eleven key factors—culminating in socio-cultural practices, climate change, unplanned urbanization, cross-border mobility, and gaps in vector control and healthcare infrastructure—have been identified as contributing to recent outbreaks in Iran. In conclusion, our review underscores that mitigating dengue vulnerability in Iran requires an urgent, multi-faceted strategy targeting improved urban water management, enhanced cross-border surveillance, and strengthened healthcare system capacity. Full article

In high-density cities, integrating photovoltaic shading devices (PVSDs) with urban block typology optimization is crucial for low-carbon development, yet the understanding of their synergistic effects remains limited. This study develops a novel multi-scale evaluation framework that bridges block-building hierarchies to address this research gap. Through parametric modeling, this study coupled 27 representative office block morphologies with 18 PVSDs in Wuhan, a prototype city for China’s hot-summer–cold-winter climate zone, systematically generating 486 scenarios for comprehensive evaluation. Using Rhino–Grasshopper (7.0) with Ladybug (1.7), Honeybee (1.6), and EnergyPlus (9.4), we then examined urban block typology-PVSDs interactions across these scenarios. Our findings demonstrate that coordinated block typology and PVSD variables serve as critical determinants of energy-performance synergy. High-Rise Hybrid blocks emerge as the superior configuration for integrated performance, achieving maximal passive energy savings, optimal renewable energy utilization, and substantial carbon reduction. PVSDs that are 0.4 m in width, with specific distance-to-width ratios, yield the highest integrated benefits. This work advances sustainable urban design by establishing a morphology–energy nexus framework, providing architects and urban planners with actionable strategies for climate-responsive design in similar regions, with direct implications for maximizing energy–PV synergy through morphology-aware design approaches. Full article

Ensuring the resilience of water distribution networks (WDNs) remains a critical challenge for utilities, as aging infrastructure and inadequate planning can compromise drinking water quality (DWQ) and increase customer dissatisfaction. This study aims to strengthen existing DWQ monitoring schemes utilized by utilities by introducing a GIS-based framework that integrates structured customer feedback into the selection of sampling locations. Using a district metering area in Jūrmala, Latvia, as a case study, consumer-reported complaints were collected through an online survey and geoprocessed to identify problem hotspots. Based on these insights, the sampling program was refined and linked with asset data to improve previously established maintenance routines. Targeted sampling confirmed elevated iron and turbidity levels in several locations, validating the reliability of customer feedback. Embedding spatial context throughout the data pipeline enables systematic evaluation and optimization of sampling locations, enhancing operational awareness and supporting informed decision-making during incidents. The proposed approach can be widely adopted by utilities to develop priority-based monitoring campaigns, particularly in regions with significant seasonal demand fluctuations, such as tourism hubs and vacation destinations. Full article

Background: The benefits of Salvadora persica L. chewing stick as an oral hygiene tool have been extensively demonstrated in clinical studies worldwide. Nonetheless, there are wide variations in knowledge, awareness, and practice of these chewing sticks across different populations. This scoping review aims to synthesize current knowledge gaps and practice patterns to inform potential standardization of S. persica use. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic literature search was conducted by using the Web of Science, Medline, and Scopus databases, covering studies published up to June 2025. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included, involving diverse populations from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Knowledge, awareness, and practice of S. persica chewing sticks varied significantly by region, demographic group, and mode of use. Most studies evaluating awareness and knowledge reported that a lack of information on proper use leads to reduced practice. There was no standardized method of use reported. Behaviors varied in terms of preparation of the stick before use, frequency and duration of use, angle or technique during brushing, and storage methods after use. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for culturally sensitive clinical guidelines and community health education programs to inform both the public and healthcare professionals about the use of S. persica chewing sticks–particularly in populations with limited access to other oral hygiene tools. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gingival recession (GR), characterized by the apical displacement of the gingival margin leading to root exposure, risk of root caries, dentine hypersensitivity (DH), and plaque accumulation. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, causes, and consequences of gingival recession among adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional self-reported survey was conducted from September 2023 to December 2024, involving 619 participants (51.53% male). Participants were recruited through dental clinics, community centers, and online platforms across multiple regions in Saudi Arabia to ensure diverse demographic and socioeconomic representation. A validated 27-question survey collected data on demographics, oral hygiene practices, and GR awareness and related factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of GR was 26.66%, dental plaque was the most frequently reported causing factor, followed by medical conditions (45.4%). Aesthetic concerns were the most recognized consequence (78.4%) followed by periodontitis and tooth mobility and tooth loss (58.5%). Medical disease (Odds Ratio OR = 2.149, p < 0.0001), trauma (OR = 1.515, p = 0.0078), and rough brushing (OR = 1.431, p = 0.0233) were identified as significant risk factors for gingival recession. The association between gingival recession (GR) and its perceived consequences was generally not statistically significant. However, a significant relationship was observed with dental caries (p = 0.0472). Conclusions: Gingival recession awareness among Saudi adults was influenced by age, gender, smoking, and oral hygiene factors. The findings emphasize the importance of raising awareness and promoting preventive strategies targeting modifiable risk factors to reduce GR prevalence and clinical impact. Full article

The Strait of Malacca faces persistent maritime safety challenges due to high vessel density and complex navigational conditions. Current risk assessment methods often lean towards treating static accident analysis and dynamic traffic modeling separately, although some nascent hybrid approaches exist. However, these hybrids frequently lack the capacity for comprehensive, real-time factor integration. This study proposes an integrated framework coupling accident hotspot identification with vessel traffic network analysis. The framework combines trajectory clustering using improved DBSCAN with directional filters, Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for accident hotspots, and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) for multi-factor risk evaluation, acknowledging its subjective and region-specific nature. The model was trained and tuned exclusively on the 2023 dataset (47 incidents), reserving the 2024 incidents (24 incidents) exclusively for independent, zero-information-leakage validation. Results demonstrate superior performance: Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) improved by 0.14 (0.78 vs. 0.64; +22% relative to KDE-only), and Precision–Recall AUC (PR-AUC) improved by 0.16 (0.65 vs. 0.49); both p < 0.001. Crucially, all model tuning and parameter finalization (including DBSCAN/Fréchet, FAHP weights, and adaptive thresholds) relied solely on 2023 data, with the 2024 incidents reserved exclusively for independent temporal validation. The model captures 75.2% of reported incidents within 20% of the study area. Cross-validation confirms stability across all folds. The framework reveals accidents concentrate at network bottlenecks where traffic centrality exceeds 0.15 and accident density surpasses 0.6. Model-based associations suggest amplification through three pathways: environmental-mediated (34%), traffic convergence (34%), and historical persistence (23%). The integrated approach enables identification of both where and why maritime accidents cluster, providing practical applications for vessel traffic services, risk-aware navigation, and evidence-based safety regulation in congested waterways. Full article

Climate change threatens global food security, highlighting the necessity for Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability. Yet low adoption among farmers highlights gaps in understanding adoption barriers. Existing models often overlook the dynamic, multi-layered nature of farmers’ decisions. This study introduces the Multidimensional Dynamic Decision Analysis Framework (MDDAF), which integrates Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, Diffusion of Innovations, and Behavioral Economics, and applies it to conservation agriculture in Northeast China’s black soil region. We conducted 125 semi-structured interviews (100 farmers, stage-mapped into six groups; 20 leaders of agricultural socialized service organizations; 5 technical experts) and analyzed transcripts in NVivo using a hybrid deductive–inductive approach. Findings show stage-specific barriers: superficial knowledge and fragmented perceptions in awareness; traditional norms and social stigmatization in evaluation; biosecurity risks, ecological mismatches, and land tenure disputes during decision-making; economic constraints and policy inconsistencies during implementation; and operational failures, incomplete practices, and climate-driven volatility at confirmation. Priority implications are as follows: professionalize service provision; safeguard bundle fidelity and manage climate risk; reduce context and tenure risks; and counter misbeliefs via complement-focused demonstrations, diverse opinion leaders, and targeted training. MDDAF thus links dynamic, stage-specific barriers to actionable interventions, supporting more effective CSA scale-up. Full article

Ancient paintings, as invaluable cultural heritage, often suffer from damages like creases, mold, and missing regions. Current restoration methods, while effective for natural images, struggle with the fine-grained control required for ancient paintings’ artistic styles and brushstroke patterns. We propose the Semantic and Sketch-Guided Restoration (SSGR) framework, which uses pixel-level semantic maps to restore missing and mold-affected areas and depth-aware sketch maps to ensure texture continuity in creased regions. The sketch maps are automatically extracted using advanced methods that preserve original brushstroke styles while conveying geometry and semantics. SSGR employs a semantic segmentation network to categorize painting regions and depth-sensitive sketch extraction to guide a diffusion model. To enhance style controllability, we cluster diverse attributes of landscape paintings and incorporate a Semantic-Sketch-Attribute-Normalization (SSAN) block that explores consistent patterns across styles through spatial semantic and attribute-adaptive normalization modules. Evaluated on the CLP-2K dataset, SSGR achieves an mIoU of 53.30%, SSIM of 0.42, and PSNR of 13.11, outperforming state-of-the-art methods. This approach not only preserves historical aesthetics but also advances digital heritage preservation with a tailored, controllable technique for ancient paintings. Full article

This research evaluates the performance of the Final Run remote sensing precipitation products from the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for GPM (IMERG-F) in complex terrain river basins (2014–2023). Utilizing decade-long daily precipitation data from 2415 manned national-level ground stations, the evaluation employs eight statistical metrics—probability of detection, false alarm ratio, accuracy, critical success index, Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), root mean square difference, mean difference, and relative difference—to analyze detection accuracy, correlation, and bias on daily, monthly, and annual scales. The main findings include the following: (1) IMERG-F’s daily precipitation detection capability follows a three-tier spatial pattern (northwest to southeast), aligning with the stepped terrain of China. (2) Stronger correlations (PCC = 0.7–0.9) with gauge data emerge in southeastern regions despite higher biases, while northwestern areas show weaker correlations but fewer deviations. (3) IMERG-F overestimates annual rainy days, but slightly underestimates precipitation intensity compared with ground observations. (4) Annual precipitation estimates exceed gauge measurements, particularly in the Songhua and Liao River Basins (18–20% overestimation). Monthly analysis shows fewer errors during rainy seasons versus winter dry periods, with pronounced seasonal variations in northwestern basins. These findings emphasize the need for terrain-aware calibration to improve satellite precipitation monitoring in hydrologically diverse basins, particularly addressing seasonal and spatial error patterns in water resource management applications in northern China. Full article

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prominent contributor to global cancer-related mortality and is characterized by unfavorable prognosis despite regional discrepancies in its occurrence. Understanding and awareness of HCC among health science students are crucial for early detection and enhanced patient outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated awareness of HCC among health science students at Jazan University and identified areas that require further education. The study included health science students enrolled in various academic programs at Jazan University. A structured online questionnaire was used to collect demographic information and assess knowledge related to HCC. The sample size was determined based on prevalence estimates, and statistical analyses were performed using the R software (version 4.3.1). Results: The study found that 61% of the health science students had good knowledge of HCC. Of the 411 participants, most were young (≤24 years), single, and enrolled in allied and health sciences programs. Although 55.20% were familiar with HCC, their awareness of screening methods and preventive measures was limited. Hepatitis B vaccination has been recognized as an effective preventive measure. A logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between age, sex, academic year, and awareness of HCC, with 1.91-, 1.94-, and 2.83-times higher odds ratios, respectively. Conclusions: This study underscores the need for targeted educational interventions and public awareness campaigns to improve understanding, early detection, and prevention of HCC among health science students. Full article

Accurate image segmentation is a fundamental requirement for fine-grained image analysis, providing critical support for applications such as medical diagnostics, remote sensing, and industrial fault detection. However, in complex industrial environments, conventional deep learning-based methods often struggle with noisy backgrounds, blurred boundaries, and highly imbalanced class distributions, which make fine-grained fault localization particularly challenging. To address these issues, this paper proposes a Defect-Aware Fine Segmentation Framework (DAFSF) that integrates three complementary components. First, a multi-scale hybrid encoder combines convolutional neural networks for capturing local texture details with Transformer-based modules for modeling global contextual dependencies. Second, a boundary-aware refinement module explicitly learns edge features to improve segmentation accuracy in damaged or ambiguous fault regions. Third, a defect-aware adaptive loss function jointly considers boundary weighting, hard-sample reweighting, and class balance, which enables the model to focus on challenging pixels while alleviating class imbalance. The proposed framework is evaluated on public benchmarks including Aeroscapes, Magnetic Tile Defect, and MVTec AD. The proposed DAFSF achieves mF1 scores of 85.3%, 85.9%, and 87.2%, and pixel accuracy (PA) of 91.5%, 91.8%, and 92.0% on the respective datasets. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed framework for advancing fine-grained fault localization in industrial applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), formerly known as primary immunodeficiency disorders, are a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases characterized by recurrent infections and multisystem involvement. Although more than 500 distinct entities have been identified, reports from Central Asia remain scarce. This study describes two rare pediatric IEI cases from Kazakhstan, highlighting the importance of genomic diagnostics in underrepresented regions. Methods: Two unrelated male patients with early-onset recurrent infections and systemic complications were evaluated at the University Medical Center, Astana. Clinical and laboratory assessments included immunophenotyping, imaging, and histopathology. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed, followed by Sanger confirmation and segregation analysis when feasible. Variants were classified according to ACMG/AMP guidelines. Results: The first case involved a child with recurrent bronchopulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and connective tissue abnormalities, found to carry a novel homozygous FBLN5:c.53del frameshift variant consistent with autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 1A. The second case concerned an adolescent with progressive neurodegeneration, granulomatous skin lesions, and chronic pancreatitis, who was identified with a heterozygous pathogenic ATM:c.4828dup variant, confirming ataxia–telangiectasia. Both patients required lifelong subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy. Consanguinity contributed to the genetic risk in the first case, while the second case demonstrated diagnostic delays that emphasized the value of genetic testing. Conclusions: These cases underscore the clinical heterogeneity of IEIs and illustrate the essential role of genomic diagnostics in elucidating atypical presentations. Documenting rare variants and unconventional phenotypes enhances global knowledge, elevates awareness in resource-limited regions, and emphasizes the necessity for early, multidisciplinary care and the enhancement of national registries for rare immunogenetic disorders. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted various aspects of daily life, including hygiene routines, dietary habits, and access to dental care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the oral health-related and dietary behaviors and dietary pattern of patients from the West Pomeranian region of Poland. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 100 healthy adult participants from the West Pomeranian region, including patients from the Pomeranian Medical University and private dental practices. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 43 items was used to assess changes in hygiene, dietary behaviors, and the frequency of dental visits during the pandemic. Results: The majority of respondents were under 30 years of age, with women representing 56% of the sample. Most participants resided in large urban areas with populations exceeding 300,000. During the pandemic, 41% of participants maintained regular dental visits, while 37% reported experiencing dental problems; all those who sought care received appropriate treatment. Nearly half of the respondents had undergone quarantine due to SARS-CoV-2 exposure, and 38% expressed fear of infection. The results revealed a notable decline in preventive dental care during the pandemic: only 41% of participants reported maintaining regular dental check-ups. Additionally, 34% reported increased consumption of snacks, while 25% indicated more frequent alcohol intake. 22% of respondents experienced involuntary teeth clenching during the day, and 13% reported teeth grinding, These findings reflect a negative shift in health behaviors during the COVID-19 period. Conclusions: The pandemic had a substantial adverse effect on oral health behaviors, dietary choices, and the use of dental services. Nevertheless, participants demonstrated awareness of these changes and, following the pandemic, expressed an increased understanding of the importance of regular dental visits. It is necessary to implement preventive measures that increase awareness of the health consequences (such as dental caries and periodontal diseases) in order to reduce the neglect of routine dental check-ups. Full article

The current transformation of global energy systems has been the subject of a multi-faceted scientific discourse for years. Researchers focus on technical and technological aspects, seeking new and improved alternatives to current solutions. They also analyse formal and legal frameworks of the changes and evaluate their economic aspects or environmental effects. The public’s attitude towards the changes in light of demanding environmental conditions is investigated the least. In particular, little heed is paid to the opinions of rural populations, especially in Poland. In light of the above, this paper aims to analyse the issue of Poland’s energy transition and the public’s perception of the challenges of environmental protection and the resulting need to improve energy solutions to promote the dissemination of renewable energy sources. The research area was Poland, and detailed research was conducted in five districts (Małopolska region), where the age of the respondents was taken as the differentiating feature. The study was based on a literature review and, at a detailed level, on a diagnostic survey among residents of Wadowicki, Miechowski, Krakowski, Limanowski, and Tarnowski Districts. The 2024 CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) survey involved 300 randomly selected interviewees. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative approach, utilising statistical tools such as Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis rank test, and the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test. The statistical analysis was supported by IBM’s SPSS v.25. The results show that the majority of the population understand and agree with the need for an energy transition in Poland towards renewable energy. Indications of no opinion or in favour of non-renewable energy in the Polish energy system are distinct. This class of indications is determined by the interviewees’ age and suggests potential for improving public awareness of the matter in the group of mature respondents. Full article

This paper evaluates botanical gardens in terms of their potential for tourist valorization, aiming to identify the garden with the highest tourist appeal and integration opportunities within the tourist market. Based on a literature review and established attractiveness criteria, a methodological framework using multi-criteria decision-making was developed to compare and rank the botanical gardens. The empirical part of the study focuses on botanical gardens in Split–Dalmatia County, including six gardens evaluated across nine criteria. Eight local tourism experts assessed the importance of these criteria and the gardens’ performance. The fuzzy SiWeC (SImple WEight Calculation) method was used to determine the importance of each criterion. The fuzzy TOPSIS method (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was used to measure the potential of botanical gardens. The main results obtained with this approach showed that the most important criteria are C4—Visitor content and C3—Biodiversity conservation. The Botanical Garden of Primary School Ostrog has the greatest potential, followed by the Botanical Garden Split. All observed botanical gardens have excellent tourist potential, with minimal differences in ranking among them. These findings demonstrate that botanical gardens play a key role in diversifying the tourist offer, reducing seasonality, and increasing the overall attractiveness of destinations. They also contribute to raising environmental awareness and emphasizing the importance of nature conservation and sustainable development, aligning with the increasing tourist interest in natural and ecologically responsible experiences. This study offers practical insights, as the results can assist garden management, tourism communities, and policymakers in developing and promoting strategies. Additionally, the framework proposed can be applied in other regional and international contexts. Full article