Canine vector-borne parasites in the Galapagos.

Background: The extraordinary Galapagos Islands, with an impressive number of endemic and native species, maintain the interest and curiosity for researchers from all over the world. The native species are known to be vulnerable to new pathogens, cointroduced with their invasive hosts. In the case of invasive parasitic arthropods, their evolutionary success is related to the association with other invasive hosts (such as domestic animals).

A case of mortality in a re-introduced European bison associated with severe pneumonia caused by Dictyocaulus viviparus.

Background: Dictyocaulosis is a parasitic disease caused by pulmonary nematodes from genus Dictyocaulus affecting various ungulate hosts. It can cause verminous bronchopneumonia and for heavily infected individuals, fatal outcomes can occur.

Case Presentation: The study describes the case of a male European bison which died three months after relocation from Slovakia to one of the reintroduction areas in Nucșoara village, Făgăraș Mountains, Romania.

Molecular evidence of Borrelia lusitaniae from questing Ixodes ticks in Algeria.

Background: Ticks are hematophagous arthropods acting as important vectors for several microorganisms. Ticks have an important role in the epidemiology of numerous diseases from a public health standpoint. In Algeria, knowledge of tick-borne associated microorganisms is limited.

Investigation into the Acoustic Properties of Polylactic Acid Sound-Absorbing Panels Manufactured by 3D Printing Technology: The Influence of Nozzle Diameters and Internal Configurations.

Sound-absorbing panels are widely used in the acoustic design of aircraft parts, buildings and vehicles as well as in sound insulation and absorption in areas with heavy traffic. This paper studied the acoustic properties of sound-absorbing panels manufactured with three nozzle diameters (0.4 mm, 0.

Diversity of Thelazia spp. in domestic cattle from Romania: epidemiology and molecular diagnosis by a novel multiplex PCR.

Background: Thelaziosis is a neglected vector-borne disease caused by parasitic nematode worms of the genus Thelazia which affects various hosts. Limited attention has been given to ungulate-associated Thelazia species. Current diagnosis of thelaziosis and the identification/differentiation of species heavily relies on morphological features.

Apicomplexan haemoparasites in domestic cats in Romania.

Background: Apicomplexan haemoparasites are protozoans that infect a variety of domestic and wild animal species, as well as humans. Data regarding haemoprotozoans in domestic cats are limited; therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of Babesia spp., Cytauxzoon spp.

New geographical records for tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from cattle in Benin and Togo.

Background: Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods capable of transmitting a great variety of endemic and emerging pathogens causing diseases in animals and humans.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp.

Advances in Sustainable Polymeric Materials.

Sustainable polymeric materials are materials of great technological importance and are specially created to meet unique demands regarding: mechanical resistance and rigidity; corrosion resistance; resistance to the action of chemical agents; low weight; dimensional stability; resistance to variable stress, shock and wear; insulating properties; and aesthetics [...

Thelazia lacrymalis in horses from Romania: epidemiology, morphology and phylogenetic analysis.

Background: Equine thelaziosis is a neglected vector-borne parasitic disease in modern veterinary medicine, lacking recent reports. It is transmitted by Musca autumnalis, and potentially other Muscidae species, by ingesting the lachrymal secretions of its equine host. The distribution of both Thelazia lacrymalis and its intermediate hosts remains largely unknown throughout Europe, with most studies dating back 20 years.

Cerium oxide thin films: synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic activity and influence on microbial growth.

The resistance of surfaces to biofouling remains a significant advantage for optical devices working in natural conditions, increasing their lifetime and reducing maintenance costs. This paper reports on the functionalities of transparent CeO thin films with thicknesses between 25 and 600 nm deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering on the glass substrate. The CeO photocatalytic performance exhibited an efficiency of 30% on imidacloprid degradation under 6 h of UV radiation and increased linearly with the irradiation time, suggesting a complete degradation within 48 h.

Polymer Composite-Based Materials with Photocatalytic Applications in Wastewater Organic Pollutant Removal: A Mini Review.

The development of new technologies using nanomaterials has allowed scientists to design advanced processes with many applications in environmental protection, energy production and storage, and medicinal bio-mediated processes. Due to their significant potential applications in different branches of science, the development of new polymer composites represents a priority, especially for nano-technological processes. Interest in polymeric composites was outlined by the synthesis of a large number of nano- or mezzo-scale materials with targeted functional properties for polymer matrix hybridization.

The Influence of Fly Ash on the Mechanical Properties of Water Immersed All Waste Composites.

The paper presents new value-added composite materials prepared by recycling tire rubber, polyethene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethene (HDPE), wood sawdust, and fly ash. The composites were manufactured through the compression molding technique for three temperatures (150 °C, 160 °C, and 190 °C) previously optimized. The addition of fly ash as reinforcement in polymer blends is a viable route to improve the composite" properties.

Geographical distribution of hard ticks (Acari:Ixodidae) and tick-host associations in Benin, Burkina-Faso, Ivory-Coast and Togo.

Knowledge of ticks and associated pathogens is crucial to assess the risk of exposure of humans and animals to pathogens. For this review, we collected relevant data from published articles and field collections to provide an update on the biodiversity of ticks, and tick-host associations in four countries of West Africa: Benin, Burkina-Faso, Ivory-Coast, and Togo. The literature review was done according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.

What Is the Real Influence of Climatic and Environmental Factors in the Outbreaks of African Swine Fever?

African swine fever has a significant economic, social and environmental impact due to official regulation of the disease, namely the mass depopulation of all pigs in confirmed outbreaks. The main objective of the present study was to statistically analyze the possible correlation between the number of outbreaks and infected pigs from backyard farms with the altitude, seasonal average annual humidity, and average temperature during spring, summer, autumn and winter, as well as the distance from forests, rivers, and lakes in Romania. The study included all infected backyard pigs with African swine fever virus ( = 7764) and outbreaks ( = 404) that occurred in Romania between 6 February 2020 and 2 March 2021.

Genotyping of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) Isolates in Romania with the First Report of Genotype II in Symptomatic Pigs.

The World Organisation for Animal Health has listed African swine fever as the most important deadly disease in domestic swine around the world. The virus was recently brought from South-East Africa to Georgia in 2007, and it has since expanded to Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and Southeast Asia, having a devastating impact on the global swine industry and economy. In this study, we report for the first time the molecular characterization of nine African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolates obtained from domestic pigs in Mureş County, Romania.

Seasonal dynamics of Phlebotomus neglectus (Diptera: Psychodidae) in cave microhabitats in Romania and the rediscovery of Sergentomyia minuta (Rondani, 1843) after 50 years.

Background: In a countrywide study aiming to update the knowledge on diversity of sand fly species in Romania, a sand fly population was observed in an isolated system of cave microhabitats. The caves are located in the protected area of Canaraua Fetii, Dobrogea region, southeastern Romania. The highest sand fly diversity was recorded in this area between 1968 and 1970.

Sand fly fauna of South-Eastern Romania, with the description of Phlebotomus (Transphlebotomus) simonahalepae n. sp. (Diptera: Psychodidae).

Background: An entomological study was conducted in the Canaraua Fetii Special Protection Area in the Dobrogea region, South-Eastern Romania. Four sand fly species were recorded at this location between 1968 and 1970: Phlebotomus neglectus, Ph. balcanicus, Ph.

Synergic Effect of TiO Filler on the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Nanocomposites.

Nanocomposites with polymer matrix offer excellent opportunities to explore new functionalities beyond those of conventional materials. TiO, as a reinforcement agent in polymeric nanocomposites, is a viable strategy that significantly enhanced their mechanical properties. The size of the filler plays an essential role in determining the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Removal from Indoor Air by Heterostructures/Composites/Doped Photocatalysts: A Mini-Review.

The impact of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on indoor air quality and, furthermore, on human health is still a subject of research investigations considering the large increase in forms of cancer and related diseases. VOCs can be 10 times higher in indoor air concentrations then that of the outdoors, as a consequence of emissions from electronics, building materials and consumer goods. Direct transformation of VOCs in mineralization products seems to be an alternative to reduce indoor air contaminants.

All-Waste Hybrid Composites with Waste Silicon Photovoltaic Module.

Nowadays, global warming, energy issues and environmental concern have forced energy production stakeholders to find new low carbon solutions. Photovoltaic technologies as renewable energy resources represent a competitive way for the transition from conventional fossil fuels towards a renewable energy economy. The highest renewable energy systems (RES) market share is based on silicon photovoltaic (Si-PV).

Copper Sulfide Based Heterojunctions as Photocatalysts for Dyes Photodegradation.

The presence of toxic, non-biodegradable and harmful organic pollutants in soils, wastewater, and atmosphere has become an indisputable, and global fact as a significant environmental problem. The heterogeneous photocatalysis, an advanced oxidation process (AOP) using semiconductor materials as catalysts, is a topic of great interest considering the possibility of the pollutants removal from water. The photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants (i.