Search Results (2,595)

Due to the evident increase in tick-borne diseases worldwide, it is necessary to constantly update information on the distribution and zoonotic potential of hard ticks. We studied diversity, population structure, and seasonal dynamics of hard tick fauna, faunal similarity and the climate impact on tick occurrence in natural habitats (NHs) (forest communities) and anthropogenic habitats (AHs) (orchards, grasslands, degraded forests) in eastern and central parts of Continental Croatia. Host-seeking hard ticks were sampled by the flag-dragging method in lowland AHs (Bansko Hill (BH); 2023–2024 yr.) and in mountainous NHs (Medvednica Mountain (MM); 2019–2021, 2024 yr.). Overall, 2726 specimens belonging to eight hard tick species (Ixodes ricinus, I. frontalis, I. hexagonus, I. kaiseri, Haemaphysalis inermis, H. concinna, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus) were identified in AHs, while in NHs 1543 hard ticks, belonging to three species (I. ricinus, I. frontalis, D. reticulatus), were collected. The most abundant species in both habitat types (47.83% in AHs, 99.80% in NHs) was I. ricinus, showing unimodal seasonal activity within studied NHs and bimodal activity at AHs. Comparison of hard tick fauna in different habitats using the Sørenson index on BH and MM showed a high percentage of similarity (50.0–88.8). At AHs, a significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation was determined between the abundance (N) and the mean monthly air temperatures (°C) for H. inermis (r = −0.5931; p = 0.0421) and D. reticulatus (r = −0.6289; p = 0.0285), while their numbers positively correlated (r = 0.5551; p = −0.2667; r = 0.4430; p = 0.1492) with air humidity (%). In contrast, the number of sampled host-seeking I. ricinus ticks at natural forest habitats on MM was positively associated with air temperature and negatively with air humidity at elevations from 200 to 1000 m a.s.l. (r = −0.7684; p = 0.0259; at 200 m a.s.l.). Collected specimens of I. frontalis mark the first record for Osijek–Baranja County, while the sampled D. reticulatus on MM represents the first catch at 1000 m a.s.l. in Croatia. This new data on the distribution and seasonality of medically important hard tick species in Continental Croatia contributes to identifying tick-risk foci and high-risk periods. Full article

Research on Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) in Ecuador has focused on regional studies. However, it lacks a thorough and general examination of their relationship with the nation’s diverse orography and large-scale phenomena. This study conducts a climatological analysis of MCS occurrence throughout Ecuador’s natural regions. We perform this study using Sen’s Slope and the Mann–Kendall test. Teleconnections from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are studied through wavelet decomposition between time series and Pacific and Atlantic oceanic indices. The main factors that control MCS formation depend on the region. The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) at the large scale affects the entire territory. In western Ecuador, MCS formation is mostly related to the El Niño current and the Chocó Low-Level Jet (CLLJ). The Orinoco Low-Level Jet (OLLJ) and evapotranspiration and nocturnal convection display the largest roles in the east. A progressive intensification of activity from Highlands-North in SON is detected (0.143 MCSs per year). MCSs contribute 26% of total precipitation on average, with regional variations from Coast-South (16.41%) to Amazon-North (44.13%). The research confirms existing knowledge about El Niño’s strong relationship (ρ = 0.7) with MCS occurrence in coastal areas while uncovering new complex patterns. The Trans-Nino Index (TNI) functions as a critical two-sided modulator that conventional analysis methods fail to detect. It produces null correlations over conventional time series of MCS occurrence yet emerges as a primary driver of low-frequency variability in the proposed six natural zones of Ecuador. Wavelet decomposition reveals contrasting TNI responses: Amazon-North shows positive correlation (0.73) while Amazon-South exhibits negative correlation (−0.70) at low frequencies. This affects Walker circulations dynamics over the Pacific Ocean. This research establishes fundamental knowledge about MCSs in Ecuador. It builds on a database with strong methodology as a backbone. The research provides essential information about the factors leading to convection in the country. This will help improve seasonal forecast accuracy and risk management effectiveness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic complications of pregnancy and is linked to long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risks for both mother and child. Its pathophysiology includes increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or decreased antioxidant defenses; nonetheless, the redox dynamics between mother and fetus are still poorly understood. Our goal was to assess oxidative stress (via derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites, d-ROMs) and antioxidant capacity (via biological antioxidant potential, BAP) in maternal, umbilical cord, and neonatal blood from women with GDM compared to normoglycemic controls, and to investigate potential associations with clinical and neonatal outcomes. Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, 56 women with GDM and 52 matched controls provided maternal venous, umbilical cord, and neonatal blood samples at delivery. Plasma d-ROMs and BAP were measured using colorimetric assays. Clinical and neonatal outcome data were collected. Results: Women with GDM had considerably higher maternal d-ROM levels compared to both the umbilical cord and neonatal compartments. BAP measurements revealed that maternal blood had the lowest antioxidant capacity, while cord and newborn samples had higher levels. GDM mothers had significantly greater maternal d-ROMs and lower BAP compared to controls (both p < 0.05). There were no differences in cord blood d-ROMs or BAP between the GDM and the control group. The maternal BAP/d-ROM ratio decreased significantly in the GDM group (p < 0.01), but the cord ratio remained constant. Notably, neither maternal nor neonatal redox indicators were related to perinatal outcomes, indicating a limited prognostic potential for unfavorable neonatal occurrences. Conclusions: GDM is associated with increased maternal oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant capacity, with no substantial changes in newborn redox status. Redox indicators did not predict perinatal issues across this group. These findings demonstrate the need for larger prospective research to determine whether early changes in redox balance can predict the development of GDM or unfavorable outcomes. Full article

Plastic remains a cheap material for numerous uses in households, industries, and engineering; however, it disintegrates in aquatic ecosystems to form smaller particles termed microplastics. Microplastics (MPs) have become a cause for concern due to their persistence and potential effects on freshwater ecosystems. Moreover, the toxicity of microplastics can be achieved through different mechanisms, including physical blockage and additive leaching, or they can function as vectors for other chemical pollutants. Microplastics were found to provide a growing surface for microbial communities, forming a biofilm termed the plastisphere. Microplastic pollution seems to need urgent attention globally; however, the comparability of results becomes a challenge due to the different techniques employed by different researchers. Moreover, the complete removal of MPs has proven to be an impossible task. This review explored MP occurrence in freshwater ecosystems, the role of microbial communities in the dynamics of microplastics, removal techniques, strategies for reduction in the environment, and their effect on freshwater ecosystems. Moreover, techniques to reduce microplastic release, such as recycling, plastic–fuel conversion, and biodegradable plastics, are explored. The review provides recommendations for reducing microplastic release and removal in freshwater ecosystems. This review stresses existing gaps to explore going forward in addressing microplastic pollution and possible removal techniques. Full article

Halcyon days are characterized by periods of one to three or more consecutive, typically sunny and mild days, occurring during winter (from 15 December to 15 February) in Attica, the region where Athens is located. We examined meteorological data from the station of the National Observatory of Athens in Thission, over a 54-year period, applying criteria that include daily maximum temperatures equal to or greater than 12 °C, minimum temperatures equal to or greater than 4 °C, wind speeds equal to or less than 6 knots, and mean total cloudiness (between 06:00 and 18:00 GMT) equal to or less than 3.2 oktas. This analysis identified all Halcyon days that occurred during this period. Our statistical study revealed the annual evolution of these days and any possible relationship with climate change. We focused on understanding the dynamics of the atmospheric circulation processes associated with the occurrence of Halcyon days. The primary atmospheric circulation feature responsible for the generation of Halcyon days appears to be the establishment of a subtropical anticyclone over Greek territory. Full article

This study investigated the distribution of pine wood nematodes (PWNs, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and their co-occurrence with B. mucronatus in recently dead pine trees across coastal and inland regions while monitoring the seasonal emergence patterns of Monochamus alternatus from 2021 to 2023. Nematodes were extracted from felled trees and beetle bodies using the Baermann funnel method. Aggregation pheromone traps were used to monitor vector activity and to assess temperature-dependent emergence. The results showed a negative correlation between PWN and B. mucronatus density (r = −0.73, p < 0.01), which prompted tests on interspecific interactions. M. alternatus emergence was positively associated with average temperature (r = 0.74–0.78), supporting the temperature-informed surveillance timing in this dataset. These findings highlight the role of climate-driven dynamics in shaping vector behavior and nematode population structures. This study supports the development of sustainable temperature-responsive management strategies for controlling pine wilt disease. These strategies provide a foundation for climate-resilient forest health and long-term ecosystem sustainability. Full article

Entropy-based analyses have emerged as a powerful tool for quantifying the complexity, regularity, and information content of complex biological signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG). In this regard, EEG-based lie detection offers the advantage of directly providing more objective and less susceptible-to-manipulation results compared to traditional polygraph methods. To this end, this study proposes a novel multi-scale entropy approach by fusing fuzzy entropy (FE), time-shifted multi-scale fuzzy entropy (TSMFE), and hierarchical multi-band fuzzy entropy (HMFE), which enables the multidimensional characterization of EEG signals. Subsequently, using machine learning classifiers, the fused feature vector is applied to lie detection, with a focus on channel selection to investigate distinguished neural signatures across brain regions. Experiments utilize a publicly benchmarked LieWaves dataset, and two parts are performed. One is a subject-dependent experiment to identify representative channels for lie detection. Another is a cross-subject experiment to assess the generalizability of the proposed approach. In the subject-dependent experiment, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) achieves impressive accuracies of 82.74% under leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and 82.00% under 10-fold cross-validation. The cross-subject experiment yields an accuracy of 64.07% using a radial basis function (RBF) kernel support vector machine (SVM) under leave-one-subject-out cross-validation (LOSOCV). Furthermore, regarding the channel selection results, PZ (parietal midline) and T7 (left temporal) are considered the representative channels for lie detection, as they exhibit the most prominent occurrences among subjects. These findings demonstrate that the PZ and T7 play vital roles in the cognitive processes associated with lying, offering a solution for designing portable EEG-based lie detection devices with fewer channels, which also provides insights into neural dynamics by analyzing variations in multi-scale entropy. Full article

This study examines the impact of physicochemical and geological factors on radon concentrations in groundwater throughout the Mexican Altiplano. Geological diversity, uranium deposits, seismic zones, and geothermal areas with high heat flow are all potential factors contributing to the presence of radon in groundwater. To move beyond local-scale assessments, this research employs spatial prediction methodologies that incorporate geological and geochemical variables recognized for their role in radon transport and geogenic potential. Certain properties of radon enable it to serve as an ideal tracer, viz., short half-life, inertness, and higher incidence in groundwater than surface water. Twenty-five variables were analyzed in samples from 135 water wells. Geostatistical techniques, including inverse distance weighted interpolation and kriging, were used in conjunction with multivariate statistical analyses. Salinity and geothermal heat flow are key indicators for determining groundwater origin, revealing a dynamic interplay between geothermal activity and hydrogeochemical evolution, where high temperatures do not necessarily correlate with increased solute concentrations. The occurrence of toxic trace elements such as Cd, Cr, and Pb is primarily governed by lithogenic sources and proximity to mineralized zones. Radon levels in groundwater are mainly influenced by geological and structural features, notably rhyolitic formations and deep hydrothermal systems. These findings underscore the importance of site-specific groundwater examination, combined with spatiotemporal models, to account for uranium–radium dynamics and flow paths, thereby enhancing radiological risk assessment. Full article

Background: As diabetes mellitus continues to escalate into a global health crisis, particularly in China, the limitations of conventional pharmacotherapy underscore the need for complementary interventions. This study systematically reviews two decades of research progress on acupuncture for diabetes management. Methods: A total of 391 publications met the inclusion criteria from the Web of Science Core Collection (2004–2024) using the search terms “acupuncture” AND “diabetes”. These comprised 294 original studies and 97 reviews. CiteSpace 6.3.R1 was used to perform multidimensional analyses, including co-occurrence networks, centrality algorithms, and silhouette metrics across countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords. Results: The analysis shows a significant increase in publications on acupuncture for diabetes management after 2013. China and the United States lead in research output, yet collaboration between the two countries remains limited. Most researchers currently work within isolated clusters, underscoring the need for greater exchanges and cooperation. Furthermore, this study identified three key research hotspots: insulin resistance, complications, and interdisciplinary research. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis reveals dynamic growth patterns and paradigm shifts in acupuncture and diabetes research. The findings provide valuable implications for integrating acupuncture into diabetes treatment. Full article

The operational risks of equipment in coalbed methane (CBM) gathering stations exhibit dynamic characteristics. To address this, a dynamic risk assessment method based on Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBNs) is proposed for CBM station equipment. Additionally, a comprehensive safety management evaluation model is established for gathering station equipment. This approach enables accurate risk assessment and effective implementation of safety management in CBM gathering stations. This method primarily consists of three core components: risk factor identification, dynamic risk analysis, and comprehensive safety management evaluation. First, the Bow-tie model is applied to comprehensively identify risk factors associated with station equipment. Next, a DBN is constructed based on the identified risks, and Markov theory is employed to determine the state transition matrix. Finally, a Comprehensive Safety Management (CSM) evaluation model for gathering station equipment is established. The feasibility of the proposed method is validated through case study applications. The results indicate that during the operation of equipment at CBM gathering stations, priority should be given to strengthening maintenance for medium-hole and enhancing prevention and emergency measures for jet fires. Temperature-controlled spiral-wound heat exchangers, skid-mounted circulating pumps, and pipelines have been identified as critical factors affecting accident occurrence at CBM gathering stations. Enhanced daily inspection and maintenance of this equipment should be implemented. Furthermore, compared to other safety evaluation indicators, the Emergency Preparedness and Response indicator has the most significant impact on the operational safety of CBM gathering station equipment. It requires high-priority attention, thorough implementation of relevant measures, and continuous improvement through targeted actions. Full article

The study of dramatic plays has long relied on qualitative methods to analyze character interactions, making little assumption about the structural patterns of communication involved. Our approach bridges NLP and literary studies, enabling scalable, data-driven analysis of interaction patterns and power structures in drama. We propose a novel method to supplement addressee identification in tragedies using Large Language Models (LLMs). Unlike conventional Social Network Analysis (SNA) approaches, which often diminish dialogue dynamics by relying on co-occurrence or adjacency heuristics, our LLM-based method accurately records directed speech acts, joint addresses, and listener interactions. In a preliminary evaluation of an annotated multilingual dataset of 14 scenes from nine plays in four languages, our top-performing LLM (i.e., Llama3.3-70B) achieved an F1-score of $88.75\%$ (P = $94.81\%$, R = $84.72\%$), an exact match of 77.31%, and an 86.97% partial match with human annotations, where partial match indicates any overlap between predicted and annotated receiver lists. Through automatic extraction of speaker–addressee relations, our method provides preliminary evidence for the potential scalability of SNA for literary analyses, as well as insights into power relations, influence, and isolation of characters in tragedies, which we further visualize by rendering social network graphs. Full article

This paper investigates the global dynamics of a broad class of nonlinear rational difference equations given by $x_{n+1}={\displaystyle \frac{a{x}_{n+1-2k}}{b+c{x}_{n+1-k}{x}_{n+1-2k}}},n=0,1,\dots ,$ which generalizes several known models in the literature. We establish the existence of exactly three equilibrium points and show that the trivial equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable when the parameter ratio $\alpha =(b/a)$ lies in $(-1,1)$. The nontrivial equilibria are shown to be always unstable. An explicit general solution is derived, enabling a detailed analysis of solution behavior in terms of initial conditions and parameters. Furthermore, we identify and classify minimal period $2k$ and $4k$ solutions, providing necessary and sufficient conditions for the occurrence of constant and periodic behaviors. These analytical results are supported by numerical simulations, confirming the theoretical predictions. The findings generalize and refine existing results by offering a unified framework for analyzing a wide class of rational difference equations. Full article

The cultural landscape of Gubeikou, with distinct historical stratification and event-relatedness, bears unique value. Against the backdrop of increasingly prominent themes of cultural heritage development and transformation, research on Gubeikou’s cultural landscapes remains fragmented and lacking in depth. This research explores its evolution mechanism via historical events to fill gaps. This study takes Gubeikou Town as the research object, applies the text analysis method to sort and categorize 302 historical events, summarizes 12 event types, identifies 19 landscape elements, and constructs a data matrix based on co-occurrence frequencies. It performs clustering analysis on these using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC), while integrating historical and geographical data. Findings: (1) The landscape evolution of Gubeikou can be divided into four main stages: the military embryonic period, the functional expansion period, the system maturity period, and the multi-element integration period. (2) The dynamic evolutionary trajectory of the correlation between its landscapes and events shows that the core factors affecting the evolution of cultural landscapes in each period not only maintain the dominance of military elements throughout the evolutionary process but also integrate diverse elements like economy, culture, and folk customs with social development, presenting the characteristics of composite evolution. (3) The landscape evolution is driven by the “primary–secondary synergy” dynamic structure composed of four types of activities: military–political, transportation, production–trade, and construction. It is the product of the coupling effect of political goals, social operation, and geographical conditions. This study provides a basis for the sustainable protection and utilization of Gubeikou, and also offers a reference for other regions. Full article

The occurrence of pilling affects the appearance and aesthetic properties of knitwear and leads to a shortened lifespan of underwear, which is usually worn directly on the skin and under the outer layers of clothing and is exposed to direct contact with various textile materials in a dynamic microclimate. The interdependence of surface-induced pilling and electrical resistance (i.e., conductivity), which also affects wearing comfort, has not been sufficiently investigated. This paper therefore analyzes how surface-induced pilling of different intensities affects the surface resistivity and vertical resistance, physical properties and moisture content of double jersey cotton knitwear under different relative humidity conditions (25%, 40%, 65% and 80%) using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination. Pilling was induced using the modified Martindale method and two types of abrasives, with higher intensity and larger pills obtained with a rougher wool reference abrasive. It was found that the surface resistivity and vertical resistance of cotton knitwear increased after prolonged wear due to surface-induced pilling and that mass, thickness and moisture content were not directly related to changes in electrical resistivity. The results of the Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong and quantifiable correlation between the intensity of surface pilling and surface resistivity at relative humidity up to 65%, despite their high moisture absorption. This statistically confirms that the occurrence of pilling reduces the electrical conductivity of cotton knitwear, resulting in a lower wearing comfort of cotton-based underwear. This finding can be useful in the development of underwear with high durability and comfort. Full article

Background: First rib stress fractures (FRSFs) are exceptionally rare in skeletally immature athletes and are frequently overlooked because their symptoms mimic more common scapular conditions such as scapular dyskinesis or thoracic outlet syndrome. Early and accurate identification is critical to avoid delayed union, prolonged disability, and misdirected management. Case Presentation: We report a 12-year-old elite baseball pitcher with progressive scapular winging and audible snapping during pitching. Unlike typical posterior-type fractures near the costotransverse joint, imaging revealed a cortical discontinuity precisely at the serratus anterior enthesis, consistent with repetitive traction enthesopathy. High-resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) identified cortical disruption with periosteal edema, and dynamic ultrasound reproduced the patient’s snapping and pain in real time, establishing a direct clinical–imaging correlation. Conservative three-phase rehabilitation (scapular stabilization, serratus anterior activation, and structured return-to-throwing) led to complete union and pain-free return to sport within 12 weeks. Discussion: This case highlights the superior diagnostic efficacy of MSK-US for FRSFs in adolescents. The posterior scanning approach facilitated bilateral comparison and growth plate assessment. Dynamic examination provided a functional correlation beyond static imaging, identifying a novel snapping mechanism. This underscores the value of MSK-US in visualizing not just anatomy but also pathophysiology. Conclusions: This is among the youngest documented cases of first rib stress fracture diagnosed with dynamic ultrasound. Its novelty lies in the following: (1) occurrence at the serratus anterior enthesis, (2) reproduction of snapping during provocative maneuvers, and (3) expansion of the etiological spectrum of scapular dyskinesis to include rib pathology. Dynamic ultrasound should be considered a frontline modality for adolescent throwers with unexplained periscapular pain. Full article