Search Results (9,240)

Background/Objectives: Ustekinumab, targeting the shared p40 subunit of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, is an effective therapy for Crohn’s disease (CD), yet reliable predictors of response remain lacking. Given the central role of the IL-12/IL-23 axis in intestinal inflammation, we aimed to characterize the baseline mucosal expression of IL-12/IL-23 pathway components in lamina propria immune cells, and to explore their association with clinical response and remission following ustekinumab therapy. Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, biopsy-derived lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) were obtained from patients with CD prior to ustekinumab initiation. Gene expression of IL-12/IL-23 cytokine subunits and receptors was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the distribution of T helper and innate lymphoid cell subsets and the expression of IL-23R and IL-12Rβ2. Clinical outcomes were assessed at week 16. Results: Fifteen consecutive patients were enrolled and included in the study. At week 16, 14/15 (93.3%) and 9/15 (60.0%) of patients reached clinical response and remission, respectively. No statistically significant differences in baseline mucosal gene expression of IL-12/IL-23 pathway components were observed between remitters and non-remitters. A trend toward higher expression of receptor subunits (IL23R, IL12RB1, IL12RB2) was observed in remitters, albeit with high variability and overlapping distributions. Similarly, cytokine subunits (IL23p19, IL12/IL23p40, IL12p35) showed no consistent differential expression pattern between the groups. In contrast, flow cytometry revealed a significantly higher frequency of IL-23R-expressing Th1 cells in remitters compared with non-remitters (20.6% vs. 6.8%, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Baseline transcriptional profiling of IL-12/IL-23 pathway components was not associated with remission following ustekinumab therapy. However, increased expression of IL-23R on mucosal Th1 cells identified a distinct immunological signature associated with clinical remission, suggesting that IL-23R expression on mucosal Th1 cells may represent a promising candidate biomarker that requires validation in larger independent cohorts. Full article

To address the difficulty of accurately capturing the dynamic patterns of carbon emission time series—characterized by nonlinearity, non-stationarity, and complex fluctuations—this paper proposes a carbon emission prediction model based on an elite-guided collaborative social spider learning optimization algorithm (EGC-SSLO) integrated with a Long short-term memory (LSTM) network. First, considering the limitations of the standard stochastic social learning optimization (SSLO) algorithm in complex high-dimensional optimization problems, such as insufficient elite information guidance, weak local exploitation in the later stages, and a tendency to become trapped in local optima, three complementary improvement strategies are introduced. The adaptive elite mean-guided search strategy enhances the search directionality by incorporating the cooperative information of the best individual and the elite mean. The worst-individual hybrid Cauchy–Lévy search mechanism achieves a dynamic balance between early-stage global exploration and late-stage local exploitation through long-range Lévy flights and fine-grained Cauchy perturbations. The quadratic directional exploitation strategy further refines the search trajectory of candidate solutions, thereby improving convergence accuracy. These three strategies significantly enhance the optimization performance without increasing the time complexity order of the algorithm. Experimental results on the CEC2017 (30-dimensional), CEC2020 (20-dimensional), and CEC2022 (20-dimensional) benchmark suites demonstrate that EGC-SSLO consistently outperforms classical algorithms such as PSO, GWO, and HHO, as well as their improved variants, in terms of convergence accuracy, convergence speed, and robustness. Furthermore, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Friedman test confirm that the observed improvements are statistically significant. Finally, an EGC-SSLO-LSTM carbon emission prediction model is constructed and applied to daily carbon emission data in China from 2019 to 2025 for empirical analysis. The experimental findings show that the EGC-SSLO-LSTM model markedly outperforms both the standard LSTM and SSLO-LSTM approaches across key evaluation metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the coefficient of determination (R²). In particular, the MAE is decreased by 39.9% and 4.64% compared with the two benchmark models, respectively, which highlights the strong effectiveness and practical potential of the proposed method in real-world carbon emission forecasting applications. Full article

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer, particularly in settings with high-risk sexual behaviours and limited preventive care. HPV prevalence peaks in adolescence and early adulthood due to early sexual initiation, multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, anal intercourse, and oral–genital contact. To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors for high-risk HPV infections among female students in Benin City, Nigeria. A faith-based college in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 female nursing students. Self-collected genital swabs were analysed using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR to detect 14 high-risk HPV types. Participants completed a structured questionnaire on sexual behaviour, contraceptive use, and HPV knowledge. Results: The overall high-risk HPV prevalence was 45/133 (33.8%), with 39 (29.3%) presenting multiple infections. HPV66, 58, and 56 were the most common types detected. Significant associations were observed with oral contraceptive use (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.01–9.97) and abnormal vaginal discharge (p = 0.028). Conclusions: The predominance of HPV66, HPV58, and HPV56 highlights the increasing importance of non-vaccine HPV genotypes and shows the need for targeted screening and vaccination. Associations with abnormal vaginal discharge and oral contraceptive use emphasize the importance of sexual health education and routine gynaecological care among young women. This study underscores the need for targeted HPV screening, vaccination, and sexual health education to reduce cervical cancer risk among young women in Nigeria. Full article

Modeling and predicting extreme observations in network latency data is an important task for monitoring the performance and reliability of communication systems. In this paper, we develop a comprehensive inferential and predictive framework for network latency times using upper and lower current record values from the two-parameter exponential distribution. First, explicit expressions for the probability density functions and cumulative distribution functions of the lower and upper current records are derived. Closed-form expressions for the r-th moments of these records are also obtained. Parameter estimation for the location and scale parameters is then investigated using both maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation. Because the Bayesian estimators do not admit closed-form solutions, a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach based on the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm is employed to compute the posterior summaries. To forecast future latency behavior, classical predictive intervals and Bayesian predictive procedures are developed for future upper and lower current records as well as for future record ranges. The Bayesian framework additionally provides Bayesian predictive values and Bayesian predictive intervals that incorporate parameter uncertainty. The performance of the proposed procedures is evaluated through a simulation study. Finally, the methodology is applied to real network latency time data from Saudi Arabia. The results demonstrate that record-based inference combined with Bayesian prediction provides effective tools for modeling and forecasting extreme latency observations in modern communication networks. Full article

The rapid growth of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) has intensified information disorder, highlighting the need for comprehensive Media and Information Literacy (MIL) education. While game-based approaches are increasingly explored in MIL, research has largely focused on student outcomes, with limited attention to teachers’ and facilitators’ experiences of implementing non-digital experiential learning interventions, despite the critical role of facilitation and reflection helping learners navigate information environments. This study adopts a qualitative exploratory design to explore teachers’ and facilitators’ perspectives on a board game-based experiential learning intervention for MIL in Malaysian educational settings. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and social constructivist principles, the board game was designed to simulate real-world media dynamics, such as information circulation, audience influence, and ethical decision-making. Data were collected through four open-ended teacher feedback forms and one face-to-face semi-structured reflective group interview involving eight facilitators, and analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (1) perceived pedagogical value for supporting learner engagement, critical discussion, and applied understanding of MIL concepts; (2) observed experiential and social learning processes characterised by peer interaction, negotiation, and reflection; and (3) implementation challenges related to facilitation demands, time constraints, and balancing competition with learning objectives and (4) recommendations for enhancing implementation. Findings highlight the importance of teacher facilitation and reflective debriefing in transforming gameplay into meaningful MIL learning experiences and reveal key implementation challenges. Full article

Commercial age-friendly modes are increasingly embedded in smartphone applications, yet their task-performance implications for older adults remain uncertain. This two-stage study used a cognitively informed ecological-to-controlled strategy linking evaluation of commercial age-friendly versions with controlled testing of specified interface components while modeling older adults’ task-relevant cognitive ability. In Experiment 1 (n = 22), older adults completed ten tasks in standard and age-friendly versions of WeChat and Pinduoduo. The age-friendly versions showed no overall advantage in clicks, completion time, or erroneous clicks (all ps ≥ 0.548). Activity Theory-informed video coding identified recurrent task-to-interface mismatches, including insufficiently salient feedback. The exploratory Task 8 product-search observations, together with these coded interaction problems, indicated that product search was a relevant context in which menu configuration, action confirmation, and cognitive demands could be examined together. Because the commercial app versions differed across content and interface features, Experiment 2 (n = 30) used a custom Android product-search task to manipulate menu configuration and vibration feedback while modeling delayed recall continuously as an indicator of task-relevant cognitive ability. Relative to the flat configuration, the two-level menu was associated with 56.7% fewer clicks and 30.7% shorter completion time, whereas vibration feedback was associated with 20.2% fewer ineffective clicks. Delayed recall was associated with completion time in the primary model, but this association was attenuated after adjustment for age and sex. Together, the findings show that a commercial age-friendly label should not be treated as evidence of performance benefit. By separating ecological diagnosis from controlled component testing, the study provides an evidence pathway for translating real-world human–computer interaction problems into testable, task-specific interface components and supports a cognitively informed, information-structure-prioritized, and multisensory approach to smartphone-based product-search design for older adults. Full article

Introduction: Delayed initiation of mepolizumab may influence long-term disease control and the achievement of clinical and functional outcomes in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma (SUA), but no definitive conclusions have yet been established regarding the optimal timing for biologic initiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a real-world clinical setting, the effect of delayed mepolizumab initiation—from the moment patients first met EMA eligibility criteria—on the treatment response (using the EXACTO scale), clinical remission (according to SEPAR-REMAS criteria) and lung function at 12 months and 3 years after treatment initiation. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study including 148 patients with SUA treated with mepolizumab from January 2017 to November 2024 in our hospital. Patients were stratified into tertiles according to delay: ≤5 months, 6–19 months, and >19 months. Baseline demographic, clinical, and lung function characteristics were analyzed. Results: Patients with shorter delay exhibited distinct significance baseline profiles, including higher eosinophil counts, lower BMI and current smoker, and better pre-treatment lung function (p < 0.05). Shorter delay was significantly associated with higher rates of good/complete response according to the EXACTO scale at both 12 months and 3 years (p < 0.05). Clinical remission rates were numerically higher in the early-treatment group, although differences did not reach statistical significance. No significant differences in lung function outcomes were observed between delay groups at either 12 months or 3 years. Conclusions: In conclusion, earlier initiation of mepolizumab after meeting EMA criteria is associated with improved clinical response, although it does not significantly influence remission rates or lung function recovery. These findings underscore the importance of timely treatment initiation and reinforce the relevance of accurate phenotypic and endotypic characterization to optimize biologic selection in SUA. Full article

Background: Apixaban and rivaroxaban are commonly used direct oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but comparative real-world effectiveness and safety data remain limited. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX database. Adults with VTE were stratified into apixaban and rivaroxaban treatment groups. Propensity score matching balanced baseline characteristics. Time-to-event outcomes up to 2 years were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Following propensity score matching, well-balanced cohorts (8247) were obtained, with a mean age of 58.3 ± 18.0 versus 57.3 ± 18.1 years. Recurrent VTE rates were broadly comparable at 3 months (22.14% vs. 22.26%; HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95–1.09; p = 0.6, ARD −0.001, 95% CI: −0.014 to 0.011), with small but statistically significant increases observed with apixaban at 6-month (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13; p = 0.016, ARD 0.009, 95% CI: −0.005 to 0.023), 1-year (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.12; p = 0.019, ARD 0.004, 95% CI: −0.010 to 0.019), and 2-year follow-ups (HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.13; p = 0.000, ARD −0.001, 95% CI: −0.013 to 0.011). All-cause mortality was comparable through 1 year; however, a statistically significant increase was observed at the 2-year follow-up for apixaban (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06–1.37; p = 0.005, ARD 0.005, 95% CI: −0.002 to 0.013). Bleeding outcomes were largely comparable in the overall cohort, with no statistically significant differences in composite major bleeding (2-year ARD: −0.004, 95% CI: −0.012–0.004), major bleeding (2-year ARD: 0.002, 95% CI: −0.004 to 0.007), gastrointestinal bleeding (2-year ARD: −0.001, 95% CI: −0.004–0.003), or intracerebral hemorrhage (2-year ARD: 0.000, 95% CI: −0.002–0.003) across follow-up periods. A statistically significant reduction in non-major bleeding with regard to apixaban was observed at the 6-month follow-up only (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63–0.98; p = 0.033) (2-year ARD: −0.004, 95% CI: −0.010–0.002). Subgroup analyses revealed important heterogeneity: among patients with obesity, composite major bleeding was significantly lower with respect to apixaban at the 2-year follow-up (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20–0.76; p = 0.004), whereas among patients with cancer, composite major bleeding was significantly higher with apixaban at the 1-year (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02–1.70; p = 0.037) and 2-year follow-ups (HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04–1.68; p = 0.023). Conclusions: In this real-world propensity-matched analysis, apixaban and rivaroxaban demonstrated broadly comparable effectiveness and safety for VTE treatment, with largely similar bleeding outcomes in the overall cohort. Small but statistically significant increases in recurrent VTE and 2-year mortality with apixaban, alongside subgroup-specific bleeding differences, underscore the importance of individualized treatment selection based on patient-specific risk factors. Full article

Surface deformation monitoring is essential for preventing geological hazards, safeguarding major engineering projects, and extracting mineral resources. Due to its all-weather, continuous, wide-coverage observation capabilities and millimeter-level accuracy, InSAR technology has emerged as an indispensable tool for monitoring surface deformation in mining regions. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in InSAR technology for monitoring surface subsidence and horizontal displacement. It evaluates both fundamental D-InSAR techniques and advanced time-series analysis frameworks, such as PS-InSAR, SBAS-InSAR, and DS-InSAR. The review details the methodologies for extracting LOS deformation, multi-track combined horizontal displacement retrieval, and 3D deformation reconstruction. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the causal mechanisms, correction strategies, impacts on deformation retrieval results, and developmental trends regarding major error sources such as decorrelation noise, residual orbital errors, and atmospheric delay. Drawing on typical case studies of large-gradient subsidence and landslide monitoring, this paper evaluates the efficacy and limitations of time-series InSAR in complex mining environments. Our analysis indicates that the InSAR monitoring system for mining areas is transitioning from single-dimensional deformation detection to multi-dimensional deformation analysis and intelligent dynamic monitoring. However, significant challenges remain regarding phase decorrelation in rapid deformation areas, the complete reconstruction of 3D displacements, the suppression of atmospheric errors under complex meteorological conditions, and real-time processing capabilities. Concurrently, this paper identifies multi-source data fusion, artificial intelligence-assisted retrieval, and cloud-based real-time processing as crucial future directions. These advancements will provide robust technical support for safe production and the early warning of geological hazards in mining regions. Full article

With the rapid development of offshore engineering, marine cranes are widely deployed in critical maritime operations, such as the precision installation of wind turbine blades. However, their highly coupled three-dimensional spatial dynamics, uncertain payload mass, and susceptibility to severe external sea wave disturbances pose significant challenges in achieving fast, accurate payload transportation and rapid anti-swing performance. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel energy-based intelligent coupling control strategy utilizing fuzzy logic and adaptive gravity compensation for 5-DOF (5-Degrees of Freedom) marine cranes. Firstly, to handle the severe underactuation and facilitate natural energy dissipation, a novel set of error coupling variables is constructed, organically linking the actuated crane structure with the unactuated payload swing dynamics. Then, an adaptive gravity compensation mechanism is designed to dynamically estimate the uncertain payload mass in real time, eliminating the need for precise prior mathematical models. Subsequently, to counteract complex external environmental disturbances and unmodeled internal dynamics, a targeted fuzzy observer is developed based on the universal approximation theorem, providing robust, real-time perturbation compensation. The sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system are rigorously proven based on the Lyapunov method and LaSalle’s invariance principle. Finally, extensive comparative simulations are conducted, demonstrating that the proposed method significantly improves the operational accuracy, anti-swing capability, and safety of marine cranes under varying load conditions and persistent wave disturbances. Full article

Satellite-based precipitation products such as the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG, V07) provide global coverage but exhibit systematic biases in daily accumulations, particularly for extreme events. This study presents a hybrid bias-correction framework (LSEQM+DL) for daily satellite precipitation that sequentially integrates Linear Scaling (LS) for mean bias, Empirical Quantile Mapping (EQM) with a Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) tail adjustment for distributional alignment, and a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) refinement that targets extreme-precipitation pixels. A station-density confidence mask scales the deep-learning influence with gauge density, so the CNN refinement is strongest where the reference, the CPC Unified Gauge-Based Analysis of Daily Precipitation (CPC-UNI), is best constrained. The framework targets the IMERG Late Run (IMERG-L), whose roughly 14 h latency suits near-real-time flood monitoring. It is applied over Indonesia (2001–2025) and evaluated against CPC-UNI and 171 independent stations of the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) through three pillars: adjusting values, aligning distributions, and preserving extremes. At independent stations, the correction brings the standard deviation ratio from 0.71 (LS) to 1.00, the relative bias from $-$11.4% to $-$0.6%, and the 99th-percentile ratio from 0.71 to 1.01, and reduces a 21% over-estimation of wet-day frequency to within 5% of that observed. These gains carry a designed cost: the probability of detection falls from 0.78 to 0.65, while pixel-level temporal metrics (correlation, root-mean-square error, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency) remain largely unchanged, confirming that the framework improves statistical properties rather than day-to-day timing. Relying only on globally available satellite and gauge-analysis data, and degrading gracefully where gauges are sparse, the framework is portable in principle with regional recalibration of its three tuning parameters. The corrected near-real-time product, with its station-density mask as a spatially explicit quality indicator, is intended to support flood monitoring, water resource management, and climate risk assessment in Indonesia and other gauge-sparse tropical regions. Full article

Joint statistical learning enables interacting individuals to form shared representations, but prior research has primarily focused on homogeneous dyads with equivalent expertise. Real-world interactions often involve knowledge asymmetries, yet it remains unclear how novices implicitly acquire statistical regularities from expert partners via sensorimotor signals. This study investigated whether novices can implicitly extract sequence regularities to enhance joint statistical learning and compared two candidate mechanisms, action feedback versus action visibility. Using a modified serial reaction time task across three experiments, we found that novices paired with trained experts exhibited significantly steeper declines in reaction time compared to those paired with pseudo-experts. Moreover, expert-paired novices demonstrated a pronounced quadratic trajectory, indicating sequence-specific learning. Experiment 2 revealed that the absence of immediate action feedback eliminated this sequence-specific interference effect in novices, highlighting the critical role of shared perceptual outcomes in the implicit transmission of task regularities. Conversely, Experiment 3 showed that the absence of visual access to the expert’s physical movements attenuated neither the novices’ general sequence acquisition nor their sequence-specific interference effect. These findings extend the Theory of Event Coding framework to asymmetric social contexts by demonstrating that effect-based coding, rather than direct kinematic observation, drives implicit behavioral facilitation in joint action. Full article

Background: Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a multifactorial condition with an impact on quality of life and an often suboptimal response to conventional lubricants. This study aimed at evaluating the real-world efficacy, tolerability, and patient adherence of a therapy with a novel ophthalmic solution containing Ribohyal, a riboflavin–hyaluronic acid complex, used in patients with DED. Methods: This national survey included data from adult patients with clinically diagnosed DED treated with Lacrinova eye drops (4 times/day for 3 months) whose data were collected from 82 Italian ophthalmologists. Patients were assessed before (T0) and after treatment (T1). Outcomes included patient-reported symptoms for 9 domains (0–10 numerical rating scale), objective clinical parameters (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA], break-up time [BUT], and corneal fluorescein staining [CFS]), and treatment acceptability. Results: Data from 2993 patients (5986 eyes) were analyzed. Improvements were observed across all 9 symptom domains, with reductions ranging from 53% to 60% (all p < 0.001). BCVA and BUT significantly improved (from 0.08 ± 0.22 at T0 to 0.06 ± 0.19 logMAR at T1 and from 9.20 ± 4.49 to 11.85 ± 4.66 s at T1, respectively, both p < 0.001). The prevalence of CFS decreased from 42.0% to 23.4% (p < 0.001). Treatment acceptability was high, with mean scores of 8.88± 1.49 for tolerability, 8.55 ± 1.63 for adherence, and 8.62 ± 1.55 for perceived efficacy. No relevant adverse events were reported. Conclusions: Lacrinova eye drops demonstrated significant improvements in both symptoms and clinical signs of DED, with excellent tolerability and adherence. These findings support its use as an effective therapeutic option in routine clinical practice, although controlled studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy. Full article

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is increasingly used in pediatric neuroimmunological disorders; however, evidence remains limited, particularly for rare neuroinflammatory and infection-triggered encephalopathy syndromes. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of critically ill children who underwent TPE for neuroimmunological disorders in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: This retrospective observational study included consecutive patients younger than 18 years who received TPE for neuroimmunological disorders between September 2020 and December 2025. Demographic characteristics, disease spectrum, TPE indications, treatment details, neuroimaging findings, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) characteristics, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Neurological outcome at hospital discharge was assessed using the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) score. Results: Twenty-two patients were included. The median age was 104 months (IQR, 62.3–151.8), and 50% were female. Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) was the most common diagnosis (n = 6), followed by autoimmune encephalitis (n = 6), infection-triggered encephalopathy syndrome (ITES)/acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) spectrum disorders (n = 4), myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) (n = 3), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) (n = 2), and mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) (n = 1). The median interval from symptom onset to TPE initiation was 9 days (IQR, 6–13), and patients underwent a median of 7 TPE sessions (IQR, 5–10.5). Nine patients (40.9%) required invasive mechanical ventilation and four (18.1%) required vasoactive support. Favorable neurological outcomes at hospital discharge were observed in 63.6% of patients, whereas 36.4% had unfavorable neurological outcomes. Mortality occurred in 13.6% of patients and was confined to severe encephalopathic syndromes. No major TPE-related complications were observed. Conclusions: TPE was used across a heterogeneous spectrum of pediatric neuroimmunological disorders, including both guideline-supported and non-standard indications. Approximately one-quarter of patients had conditions not specifically addressed in current ASFA recommendations, highlighting the gap between real-world clinical practice and the available evidence base. Multicenter studies are needed to better define the optimal role, timing, and patient selection criteria for TPE in pediatric neuroimmunology. Full article

Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of numerous tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in Europe and is typically associated with forest sites that provide favorable microclimatic conditions. However, this species may also occur in meadow ecosystems, which are generally regarded as suboptimal environments and remain insufficiently studied from an epidemiological perspective. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the prevalence of Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in adult I. ricinus occurring in urban and rural meadow sites in eastern Poland. Ticks collected between June 2023 and May 2024 were screened for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. using high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR targeting the 23S rRNA and ITS regions, respectively. The DNA of Borrelia spp. was detected in 14.8% of ticks from the urban site and 10.7% from the rural site, whereas Rickettsia spp. were detected in 5.6% and 8.9% of specimens, respectively. No significant differences in pathogen prevalence were observed between sites. The results confirmed the presence of Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in adult I. ricinus collected in urban and rural meadow sites. Full article