Search Results (125)

Fermented foods and beverages represent a cornerstone of Nigerian food culture, yet their scientific documentation remains fragmented, and their potential within global bioeconomy frameworks is largely unrealised. This review addresses two interrelated gaps: the absence of a comprehensive ethnogeographic analysis of Nigerian fermented foods that integrates ecological, cultural, and agricultural drivers of regional diversity, and the limited examination of these foods as models for circular bioeconomy development. Using a narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature spanning 1986–2025, we systematically map the distribution of fermented tuber, cereal, legume, dairy, and fruit products across Nigeria’s major geopolitical zones, demonstrating that agroecological endowment, ethnic composition, trade routes, and cross-cultural interactions shape regional variation. Beyond their socio-cultural significance, Nigerian fermented foods contribute meaningfully to food security by extending shelf life, enhancing nutrient bioavailability, and reducing post-harvest losses. This review further positions ogi (fermented maize gruel) and garri (fermented cassava granules) as model systems for circular bioeconomy integration, demonstrating how by-product valorisation can generate value-added outputs, including animal feed, bioethanol, biodegradable packaging, and organic acids. Key challenges, including food safety deficits, absence of standardised production protocols, and limited regulatory frameworks, are critically assessed. Three priority research directions are identified: metagenomics-based microbiome profiling, development of culturally appropriate starter cultures, and formulation of gender-responsive regulatory instruments. Nigerian fermented foods, properly documented and integrated into innovation systems, represent an underutilised asset for sustainable food system transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

Judgment bias tasks are widely used to assess affective state in adult dogs but have rarely been applied before adoption age. To test whether a spatial version is viable, 82 puppies from 17 litters were tested at 60 days of age; 80 provided valid observations for analysis. After discrimination training, positive (P), negative (N) and ambiguous (A) locations were presented in up to three trials; latency to the bowl was recorded (30 s cut-off). Latencies from the first two trials (476 observations, 85 right-censored) were analyzed with mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models including puppy and litter as random intercepts. Median recorded times were 2.54 s (P), 13.25 s (N) and 3.86 s (A), with timeouts in 0%, 38.4% and 15.2%, respectively. Cue location affected approach rate (χ² = 207.03, df = 2, p < 0.001); hazard ratios were N versus P 0.11 (95% CI 0.09–0.15), A versus P 0.32 (0.25–0.41) and N versus A 0.36 (0.27–0.47), all significant (Holm-adjusted). Trial number (p = 0.076) and sex (p = 0.483) were not significant. Random-effect variances were 0.180 (puppy) and 0.261 (litter). Puppies discriminated between outcome-associated locations and approached the ambiguous location at an intermediate rate, indicating that the task is feasible at 60 days of age. Full article

This research examines the behavioral shifts within a discrete-time predator–prey framework, constructed by applying the forward Euler discretization to a continuous model. The system incorporates Smith’s growth dynamics for the prey population alongside a Holling type III functional response to characterize predator behavior. Through bifurcation analysis, it is demonstrated that the interior fixed point undergoes stability loss via Neimark–Sacker and period-doubling transitions, leading to the emergence of quasiperiodic oscillations and chaos. Furthermore, the application of normal-form theory verifies the nondegeneracy of these bifurcations and establishes the direction of the resulting orbits. We use phase portraits, Lyapunov exponents, and bifurcation diagrams to confirm the model’s rich dynamics. These numerical tools demonstrate how the system moves from stable equilibria to more intricate behaviors. The application of partial rank correlation coefficients reveals the most influential parameters governing the system’s asymptotic population levels, providing a global perspective on parameter sensitivity. The Ott–Grebogi–Yorke (OGY) chaos control strategy is employed to suppress unwanted bifurcations and stabilize chaotic oscillations within the system. These results underscore the role of nonlinear interactions and discrete-time frameworks in precipitating unpredictable population fluctuations while simultaneously offering a suite of mechanisms for enhancing the stability of ecological networks. Full article

This retrospective study is intended to contribute to the ongoing investigations of antimicrobial resistance in companion animals by specifically examining the demographics, sex, rates of resistance, and multidrug resistance of bacteria isolated from urine samples of cats and dogs suspected of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Arizona, USA, between 2018 and 2023. Escherichia coli was the most isolated bacterium with an overall frequency of 43.4%, followed by Enterococcus faecalis (11.5%), Proteus mirabilis (10.7%), Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (9.9%), Enterococcus faecium (6.9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.3%). Each year, culture-positive canine urine samples were more frequent than positive feline samples, with summer months producing the majority of suspected UTI samples for dogs and cats. Age played a role for culture-positive urine samples only in female dogs, with no association between age or sex and the number of positive feline samples. Feline Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates demonstrated more resistance to penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors than canines. The feline Enterococcus faecalis isolates also revealed significantly more resistance than canine isolates to penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors. In terms of multidrug resistance, a significant difference was found between the isolates of both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis and other bacterial species. These findings contribute to the relevant role antimicrobial surveillance plays in the prevention and control of UTI pathogens in companion animals. Because dogs and cats often are in close contact with their owners, they may be potential sources for human infection and a One Health concern. Full article

Vision-based sensing is a practical approach for real-time ore grade recognition in intelligent mineral sorting. However, graphite ore images captured in industrial environments are often affected by illumination variation, background interference, surface oxidation, and subtle visual differences among grades, limiting the reliability of existing models on edge devices. To address these issues, this study proposes OGI-RT-DETR, a lightweight real-time end-to-end vision-sensing model for graphite ore grade recognition. Based on RT-DETR-r18, a PConv-Rep backbone enhancement module is designed to reduce redundant computation and improve the extraction of ore texture, edge, and irregular shape features. A CFPT feature fusion module is constructed to strengthen multi-scale semantic interaction and spatial fusion under complex backgrounds. A Wise-Focaler-MPDIoU bounding box regression loss is further proposed to improve localization stability and regression accuracy. Experiments were conducted on a self-built augmented graphite ore image dataset collected using an industrial camera system. The proposed OGI-RT-DETR achieved a Precision of 85.6%, Recall of 87.6%, mAP50 of 86.1%, and inference speed of 84.5 FPS. Compared with the baseline RT-DETR-r18, OGI-RT-DETR improved mAP50 by 3.7 percentage points and FPS by approximately 8.2%, while reducing FLOPs and parameters by 31.8% and 38.2%, respectively. These results indicate that OGI-RT-DETR can support accurate, efficient, and lightweight visual sensing for real-time graphite ore sorting. Full article

This exploratory study investigated the relationship between demographic, biological, and management-related factors and behavioral traits in 195 terrier-type dogs using the C-BARQ questionnaire. Participation in breed-specific cynological activities (ENCI working trials and aptitude tests) emerged as the most consistent factor: non-participation was associated with higher scores in owner-directed aggression (β = 0.17, p = 0.007), non-social fear (β = 0.34, p = 0.001), dog-directed fear (β = 0.36, p = 0.015), and attachment/attention-seeking (β = 0.32, p = 0.026), whereas participation was associated with increased chasing behavior (β = −0.60, p < 0.001). Neutered dogs showed higher non-social fear (β = 0.83, p < 0.001), touch sensitivity (β = 0.34, p = 0.012), and aggression toward conspecifics (β = 0.55, p = 0.004) and strangers (β = 0.32, p = 0.034). Age primarily influenced energy level (β = −0.09, p < 0.001) and dog-directed aggression (β = 0.05, p = 0.006) after FDR correction. Sex differences were modest, with males showing higher dog-directed aggression (β = −0.42, p = 0.004). Breed contributed to variability in selected domains, with the strongest effects observed for energy level and fear-related traits. Overall, these findings highlight participation in breed-specific activities and neuter status as key factors associated with behavior in terrier-type dogs. These associations are exploratory and require confirmation in future studies. Full article

The fractional Whitham–Broer–Kaup model governs nonlinear wave propagation in memory-dependent media, including porous structures, viscoelastic fluids, and irregular seabeds, yet the full dynamical spectrum from quasi-periodicity to deterministic chaos, the role of stochastic forcing, and reliable identification from noisy data remains insufficiently explored, particularly how the fractional order $\beta$ influences these regimes. This study addresses these gaps through a comprehensive, multi-method dynamical analysis of a representative nonlinear oscillator embodying key FWBK features. Three-dimensional attractor visualizations, return maps, and surrogate data tests demonstrate a transition from quasi-periodic toroidal attractors to fully developed chaos via torus breakdown, confirming that observed complexity originates from deterministic nonlinearity. Poincaré sections reveal multistability and KAM-type structures, where coexisting attractors depend on initial conditions, while increasing noise progressively disrupts coherent dynamics. The OGY control method effectively stabilizes unstable periodic orbits across chaotic regimes with minimal perturbation, and Lyapunov analysis indicates that stochastic forcing attenuates chaos while enhancing dissipation. The Fokker–Planck framework shows that noise reshapes probability landscapes, driving transitions from unimodal to bimodal distributions. Comparative analysis of SINDy, JMAP and VBA highlights trade-offs in interpretability, computational efficiency, and uncertainty quantification, while an integrated Bayesian–PCE–Sobol approach quantifies parametric uncertainty and reveals time-dependent sensitivity variations. Additionally, the overlapping of soliton solutions extracted via the enhanced modified Sardar sub-equation method reveals structural relationships among soliton families and their stability under interaction. Soliton branches that maintain high overlap under noise correspond to stable regimes, while those losing coherence indicate the onset of chaos. Furthermore, while the reduced dynamics in $\eta$-space are independent of $\beta$, the fractional order controls spatial compression and temporal scaling in physical coordinates, directly influencing observable wave localization. These results imply that fractional effects can modify chaos transitions, support controllability through OGY, and influence noise–instability interactions depending on $\beta$. This framework provides a robust, transferable methodology for analyzing and controlling nonlinear oscillatory systems under deterministic and stochastic conditions, with direct applications to FWBK-based models in coastal engineering, fiber optics, and quantum interference systems. Full article

Assessing methane (CH₄) emissions is critical for mitigating the environmental impact of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technologies have emerged as effective tools for gas leak detection and quantification; however, their performance under varying environmental conditions and gas compositions remains insufficiently understood. In particular, previous studies have largely overlooked the combined effects of ambient temperature variations and Carbone. Dioxide (CO₂) interference on both detection sensitivity and quantification accuracy. This study addresses this gap by systematically investigating the influence of temperature and CO₂ on methane detection and quantification using an infrared OGI camera coupled with real-time analysis software. Logistic regression was employed to model detection probability under two temperature conditions at a fixed distance of 45 m. Results show that at 30 °C, the system achieved 50% and 90% detection probabilities at 5.51 and 11.30 kg/h, respectively. In contrast, at −7 °C, detection reliability decreased due to increased false positives, preventing the establishment of robust detection thresholds. However, methane quantification accuracy improved under colder conditions, with 90% of leaks correctly quantified compared to 60% in warmer environments. Furthermore, the presence of CO₂ completely inhibited methane detection and quantification. These findings demonstrate the significant and previously underexplored impact of temperature and gas composition on OGI performance, highlighting critical limitations in real-world applications and providing new insights for improving methane monitoring strategies. Full article

In a context of greenhouse-gas-reduction for climate-change mitigation, Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) is cited by US and EU regulations as a key technology for detecting methane leaks in the oil and gas industry. The paper outlines the principles of OGI, covering specificity of both high-performance cooled cameras and cost-effective thermal infrared uncooled cameras. It explains camera design, the optical-radiometric theory of contrast and sensitivity, and provides a comprehensive description of the key performance indicators (KPIs) such as NETD, NECL, and MDLR; together with parameters that influence them. These theoretical concepts are supported by measurements taken under laboratory conditions and outdoors, with wind and complex scenes. Finally, video-processing methods for visualizing gas leaks are presented, showing how they increase visual sensitivity and reduce the user’s cognitive load. Full article

French Bulldogs are one of the most popular companion dog breeds worldwide, yet breed-specific behavioral data remain limited. This study aimed to characterize the behavioral profile of French Bulldogs in Italy using the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and to explore the relationships among sex, neuter status, coat color, and behavioral traits. An online survey was completed by 206 owners of French Bulldogs aged one year or older residing in Italy. Behavioral items were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression with sex, neuter status, and coat color as simultaneous predictors. French Bulldogs showed low aggression and fear-related behaviors, high attachment and attention-seeking tendencies, and moderate excitability and trainability. Sex was the most consistently associated predictor (17 items), with females showing lower odds for sexually dimorphic, fear-related, excitability, and separation-related behaviors. Neuter status showed limited, behavior-specific associations (4 items) involving leash-pulling, separation-related behaviors, and play-related excitability. Coat color was associated with ten behavioral items, including coprophagia, food stealing, hyperactivity, and submissive urination. Most pseudo-R² values were low (range: 0.009–0.059), reflecting the multifactorial nature of canine behavior. These findings offer a preliminary behavioral characterization of French Bulldogs in Italy and suggest that sex, neuter status, and coat color represent relevant sources of within-breed variation, warranting further research. Full article

Molecular typing of enteroviruses (EVs) is essential for surveillance of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Conventional reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the VP4–VP2 region can be insufficiently sensitive, reducing the detectability of Enterovirus A (EV-A). We developed a single-round RT-PCR assay using a modified reverse primer design (C3R) for rapid EV detection and genotyping. Sensitivity was evaluated using EV-A71 and poliovirus type 1 reference strains, across 60 EV-positive clinical specimens. The C3R-based assay showed ~1000-fold higher sensitivity for EV-A71 than for conventional assays (limit of detection: 6.6 copies/reaction). The assay detected 98.3% (59/60) of clinical specimens in a single-round format, whereas the conventional assay detected only 45.0% (27/60) and showed a marked decline in detection at higher Ct values. The C3R-based assay maintained complete detection for clinical specimens with Ct values below 40. The majority of the amplified products yielded high-quality sequences suitable for genotyping. This C3R-based RT-PCR overcomes sensitivity limitations of existing protocols and provides reliable genotyping from low-viral-load specimens, supporting its use in routine diagnostics and large-scale HFMD surveillance. Full article

Monosynaptic reflexes (MSRs) elicited by constant-intensity group I afferent stimulation exhibit marked amplitude variability, commonly attributed to stochastic presynaptic modulation and dynamic postsynaptic excitability. Here, we tested whether this variability could be attenuated using the Ott–Grebogi–Yorke (OGY) chaos–control algorithm, which stabilizes unstable periodic orbits in low-dimensional nonlinear systems. In spinalized, anesthetized cats, real-time implementation of the OGY method failed to reduce MSR amplitude variability, as quantified by the coefficient of variation, and the return map structure showed no evidence of orbit stabilization. These negative results contrast with successful applications of OGY control in physical systems, cardiac tissue, hippocampal slices, and stochastic neuronal models. We interpret this failure in the context of the intense, ongoing synaptic bombardment characteristic of dorsal horn circuitry, which likely obscures or destroys the low-dimensional geometric structure required for OGY-based control. Our findings delineate a fundamental limit to classical chaos–control algorithms in intact neural circuits and highlight the need for control strategies explicitly robust to high dimensionality and physiological noise. Full article

Stochastically forced nonlinear wave systems are commonly associated with complex dynamical behavior, although little is known about the general interaction of nonlinear dispersion, irrational forcing frequencies, and multiplicative noise. To fill this gap, we consider a generalized stochastic SIdV equation and examine the effects of deterministic and stochastic influences on the long-term behavior of the equation. The PDE was modeled using a stochastic traveling-wave transformation that simplifies it into a planar system, which was studied using Darboux-seeded constructions, Poincaré maps, bifurcation patterns, Lyapunov exponents, recurrence plots, and sensitivity diagnostics. We discovered that natural, implicit, and unique seeds produce highly diverse transformed wave fields exhibiting both irrational and golden-ratio forcing, controlling the transition from quasi-periodicity to chaos. Stochastic perturbation is demonstrated to suppress as well as to amplify chaotic states, based on noise levels, altering attractor geometry, predictability, and multistability. Meanwhile, OGY control is demonstrated to be able to stabilize chosen unstable periodic orbits of the double-well regime. A stochastic bifurcation analysis was performed with respect to noise strength $\sigma$, revealing that the attractor structure of the system remains robust under stochastic excitation, with noise inducing only bounded fluctuations rather than qualitative dynamical transitions within the investigated parameter regime. These findings demonstrate that the emergence, deformation, and controllability of complex oscillatory patterns of stochastic nonlinear wave models are jointly controlled by nonlinear structure, external forcing, and noise. Full article

Active restoration structures such as microtopographic water-harvesting designs are widely implemented in dryland ecosystems to improve soil moisture, reduce erosion, and promote vegetation recovery. We assessed the combined effects of planted species identity, planting diversity (mono-, bi- and multi-species mixtures), and micro-catchment (half-moon) structures on seedling performance and spontaneous natural regeneration in a hyper-arid restoration pilot site in Sharaan National Park, northwest Saudi Arabia. Thirteen native plant species, of which four—Ochradenus baccatus, Haloxylon persicum, Haloxylon salicornicum, and Acacia gerrardii—formed the dominant planted treatments, were established in 18 half-moons and monitored for survival, growth, and natural recruitment. Seedling survival after 20 months differed significantly among planting treatments, increasing from 58% in mono-plantings to 69% in bi-plantings and 82% in multi-plantings (binomial GLMM, p < 0.001), indicating a positive effect of planting diversity on establishment. Growth traits (height, collar diameter, and crown dimensions) were synthesized into an Overall Growth Index (OGI) and an entropy-weighted OGI (EW-OGI). Mixed-effects models revealed strong species effects on both indices (F_12,369 ≈ 7.2, p < 0.001), with O. baccatus and H. persicum outperforming other taxa and cluster analysis separating “fast expanders”, “moderate growers”, and “decliners”. Trait-based modeling showed that lateral crown expansion was the main driver of overall performance, whereas stem thickening and fruit production contributed little. Between 2022 and 2024, half-moon soils exhibited reduced electrical conductivity and exchangeable Na, higher organic carbon, and doubled available P, consistent with emerging positive soil–plant feedbacks. Spontaneous recruits were dominated by perennials (≈67% of richness), with perennial dominance increasing from mono- to multi-plantings, although Shannon diversity differences among treatments were small and non-significant. The correlation between OGI and spontaneous richness was positive but weak (r = 0.29, p = 0.25), yet plots dominated by O. baccatus hosted nearly two additional spontaneous species relative to other plantings, highlighting its strong facilitative role. Overall, our results show that half-moon micro-catchments, especially when combined with functionally diverse native plantings, can simultaneously improve soil properties and promote biotic facilitation, fostering a transition from active intervention to passive, self-sustaining restoration in hyper-arid environments. Full article

In the context of intensifying global efforts to mitigate climate change, methane emissions from the oil and gas sector have emerged as a critical environmental and regulatory challenge, given methane’s high global warming potential over short timeframes. This study investigates methane emissions from representative extraction and production of oil and gas facilities in Romania, focusing on fugitive emissions from wells and associated processing infrastructure. The research is grounded in the implementation of a comprehensive Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program, aligned with OGMP 2.0 standards, and utilizes advanced detection technologies such as Flame Ionization Detectors (FID), Optical Gas Imaging (OGI), and Quantitative Optical Gas Imaging (QOGI). A systematic inventory and screening of thousands of components enabled the precise identification and quantification of methane leaks, providing actionable data for maintenance and emissions management. The findings highlight that, although the proportion of leaking components is relatively low, cumulative emissions are significant, with block valves, connectors, and compressor shaft seals identified as the most frequent sources of major leaks. The study underscores the importance of rigorous preventive and corrective maintenance, rapid leak remediation, and the adoption of modern detection and continuous monitoring technologies. The approach developed offers a robust framework for regulatory compliance and supports the transition from inventory-based to measurement-based emissions reporting, in line with recent European regulations. Ultimately, effective methane management not only fulfills environmental obligations but also delivers economic benefits by reducing product losses and enhancing operational efficiency, contributing to the decarbonization and sustainability objectives of the energy sector. Full article