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Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by stages like Early and Late Mild Cognitive Impairment (EMCI and LMCI), is a growing global concern. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for delaying its onset. Biomarkers like medical imaging and deep learning technology have been developed to address low early AD diagnosis accuracy. Deep learning algorithms can revolutionize the medical system by creating automatic diagnosis models and promoting artificial intelligence. However, existing studies have limitations, such as not considering complementarity between multiple features and ignoring spatial topological properties in the brain structure. It introduces two novel AD classification methods: Depth Double Deep Learning Method of Linear Attention Network (D3LM-LAN) based on Resnet-50, which incorporates a bilinear residual network structure, dual-channel data input, and hybrid attention module for enhanced PET and MRI multimodal data classification; and a machine learning approach using a Multi-Core Support Vector Machine (MLM-MCSVM) that improves softmax classifiers, optimizing data features and kernel functions via Particle Swarm Optimization. These models aid in effective intervention and personalized treatment planning, while the MLM-MCSVM model optimizes early detection with advanced feature selection. Together, these models enhance understanding of AD's heterogeneity, supporting evidence-based clinical practices and patient care. The study uses MRI and PET data to conduct two- and four-class experiments, testing AD vs. Normal Control (NC), MCI vs. NC, AD vs. MCI, EMCI, and LMCI. D3LM-LAN achieved accuracies of 97.74%, 95.01%, 93.82% and 95.69 % in two-class experiments. MLM-MCSVM further improved classification performance, demonstrating enhanced early diagnosis capabilities with accuracies of 98.59%, 96.53%, 95.77%, and 96.32%. • Proposes a multi-core SVM model for precise four-class AD prediction. • Optimizing metric-constrained feature selection and Kernel function. • Select features and classify AD using multimodal neuroimaging data. • Boosting accuracy and interpretability fine-tuning hyperparameters and attention mechanisms. • Analyzes optimization methods, revealing PSO's efficiency in Alzheimer's disease solution selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy sheep farming is a dynamic economic activity in the Mediterranean region, with a crucial environmental and social role. The sustainability of this productive sector is a challenge as its profitability is threatened by several different factors. Health management is one of the key technical levers to respond to these challenges, by reducing the impairment of animal performance, permitting improved feed efficiency and reduced level of veterinary and medicine inputs. The promotion of knowledge, the implementation of best practices and innovation exchange between stakeholders to enhance the willingness of sheep farmers to adopt technical solutions and practices are very important for improving the profitability of flocks. This study presents the outcomes of an extended online survey carried out with different stakeholders of the dairy sheep sector in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain. The main health and management issues for adult ewes and lambs among production systems, stakeholders' categories and countries, and the main sources of information used by stakeholders to cope with the previous mentioned challenges were included to the questionnaire. Mastitis of the adult ewes, neonatal diseases and sheep shed management were recognized as the most important issues by the participants. Furthermore, this work provides insights on how to improve the understanding between farmers, veterinarians, advisors, and researchers in the Mediterranean region. In addition, our findings highlight the gaps in knowledge and suggest new topics for research and cooperation. • Mastitis was recognized as the most important health issue of ewes from farmers & advisors. • Neonatal diseases were identified as the major health issue of lambs. • Sheep shed and outdoor welfare management, and flock health plan are the main challenges. • Advisors, and other farmers were considered as the main sources of farmers' information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mycotoxin patulin is primarily produced as a secondary metabolite by numerous fungal species and predominantly by Aspergillus , Byssochlamys , and Penicillium species. It is generally associated with fungal infected food materials. Penicillium expansum is considered the only fungal species liable for patulin contamination in pome fruits, especially in apples and apple-based products. This toxin in food poses serious health concerns and economic threat, which has aroused the need to adopt effective detection and mitigation strategies. Understanding its origin sources and biosynthetic mechanism stands essential for efficiently designing a management strategy against this fungal contamination. This review aims to present an updated outline of the sources of patulin occurrence in different foods and their biosynthetic mechanisms. It further provides information regarding the detrimental effects of patulin on human and agriculture as well as its effective detection, management, and control strategies. [Display omitted] • Patulin is mainly produced by Aspergillus , Byssochlamys , and Penicillium species. • Patulin contaminates pome fruits, especially apples and apple-based products. • Patulin contaminated products have serious human health impacts. • Management strategies are required for the safety and security of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We studied individual consistency in feeding pattern changes during welfare issues. • Almost all pigs reduced their feeding activity during heat stress. • Changes in feeding patterns during disease or damage differed largely across pigs. • Pigs with certain feeding strategies or physique had more consistent responses. • Feeding-based welfare monitoring may work for heat stress and subgroups of pigs. The feeding behaviour of individual growing-finishing pigs can be continuously monitored using sensors such as electronic feeding stations (EFS s), and this could be further used to monitor pig welfare. To make accurate conclusions about individual pig welfare, however, it is important to know whether deviations in feeding behaviour in response to welfare issues are shown only on average or by each individual pig. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to quantify the individual variation in feeding behaviour changes in response to a range of welfare issues, and (2) to explain this individual variation by quantifying the responses to welfare issues for specific subgroups of pigs. We monitored four rounds of 110 growing-finishing pigs each (3–4 months per round). We collected feeding behaviour data using IVOG® EFSs and identified health issues and heat stress using climate sensors and twice-weekly health observations. For each pig, a generalised additive model was fitted, which modelled feeding behaviour through time and estimated the effect of each welfare issue that the pig had suffered from. The range of these effect estimates was compared between pigs to study the individual variation in responses. Subsequently, pigs were repeatedly grouped using physical and feeding characteristics, and, with meta–subset analysis, it was determined for each group whether a deviation in response to the welfare issue (i.e. their combined effect estimates) was present. We found that the range in effect estimates was very large, approaching normal distributions for most combinations of welfare issues and feeding variables. This indicates that most pigs did not show feeding behaviour deviations during the welfare issue, while those that did could show both increases and reductions. One exception was heat stress, for which almost all pigs showed reductions in their feed intake, feeding duration and feeding frequency. When looking at subgroups of pigs, it was seen that especially for lameness and tail damage pigs with certain physical characteristics or feeding strategies did consistently deviate on some feeding components during welfare issues (e.g. only relatively heavier pigs reduced their feeding frequency during lameness). In conclusion, while detection of individual pigs suffering from heat stress using feeding variables should be feasible, detection of (mild) health issues would be difficult due to pigs responding differently, if at all, to a given health issue. For some pigs with specific physical or behavioural characteristics, nevertheless, detection of some health issues, such as lameness or tail damage, may be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to recognize herb and spice consumption habits as well as to explore certain factors having an influence on it in seven (Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Slovakia, the Netherlands) member states of the European Union. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in each country, comprising of 1731 European adults regularly preparing food at home. Pepper and paprika, as well as parsley and basil were found to be the most frequently consumed spices and herbs, respectively. Validation of the ‘spice consumption’ model indicated that knowledge regarding health issues of herbs and spices was of high importance, which may have had favourable effects on the consumption habits. In conclusion, this study suggests that emphasising of health issues − directly or as incorporated into gastronomic elements − can be a useful tool for the expansion of herb and spice consumption, as well as globalizing of national cuisines and the consumption of typical national spices and country specific characteristics which can be still identified in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a device that harvests waste heat and converts some of it to a useful power enough to run small electric devices. Since biomass cooking stoves are widely used in underdeveloped countries where there is no access to electricity, it is very appropriate to use TEG by attaching it to the side of the stove. This will improve the utility and efficiency of the original stove. Efficiency of operation with biomass fuels including wood, peat and manure has been studied along with the economics of the stoves. Moreover, this work studied the serious consequences of using biomass fuels on health and environment if not properly burned. This review refers to JUST multi-purpose stove which has an improved combustor aerodynamic design and unique heat transfer arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The summary of developments in partially replaced cement composite and geopolymers by industrial by-products are presented along with different nano-materials. Many significant correlations have been studied on association with the better understanding of the interfacial transition zone, microstructural performance, mix design characteristics, setting behavior, mechanical properties, durability and bond strength. The effects of various particle size and different types of nano-materials and their optimal level of replacement have been reviewed on cement composite and geopolymer products. Application of nano-materials in both partially replaced cement composite and geopolymers has significant benefits towards the performance of mortar and paste. The health related issues on using nano-materials and methods can be used to overcome the risks of exposure have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) for pest control in agriculture has caused serious environmental problems throughout the world. OPs are highly toxic with the potential to cause neurological disorders in humans. As the application of OPs has greatly increased in various agriculture activities, it has become imperative to accurately monitor their concentration levels for the protection of ecological systems and food supplies. Although there are many conventional methods available for the detection of OPs, the development of portable sensors is necessary to facilitate routine analysis with more convenience. Some of these potent alternative techniques based on functional materials include fluorescence nanomaterials based sensors, molecular imprinted (MIP) sensors, electrochemical sensors, and biosensors. This review explores the basic features of these sensing approaches through evaluation of their performance. The discussion is extended further to describe the challenges and opportunities for these unique sensing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Asylum seekers have been recognized as having unique and complex health needs which require attention upon arrival in the host country. Not much is known about what issues to address in first contacts with asylum seekers. The purpose of this study is to give insight in the specific issues that healthcare providers need to address in the first contacts with newly arrived asylum seekers. Study design: A qualitative study using different types of data in 2007 and 2008. Methods: Questionnaires (n 89) were used as input for seven group interviews with Dutch care providers (n = 46) working with asylum seekers in the Netherlands, were qualitatively analysed, using a framework method. Results: Healthcare providers identified four issues they aimed to address in first contacts with asylum seekers: (1) assessing the current health condition; (2) health risk assessment; (3) providing information about the healthcare system of the host country; and (4) health education. Conclusion: The first contacts between healthcare providers and asylum seekers serve different goals, especially assessing health problems and risks, and providing health information. These issues may, however, be addressed differently by different healthcare providers, across different host countries, dependent on the way healthcare and medical insurance for asylum seekers are organized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, it is imperative to examine potential health issues of household energy poverty, as in return, it leads to its reduction. Although extensive research has been done in other regions of the world, South Asia is overlooked in this regard. For this purpose, the study analyzes the health impacts of energy poverty in South Asia. First, it calculates the intensity and amount of energy poverty using a multidimensional index approach. Then, this study uses a one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to empirically examine the relationship between energy poverty and health problems analyzing a dataset from six South Asian countries. The results confirmed a statistically significant relationship of energy poverty with the sources of drinkable water, access to clean water, risks of mosquito bites, obesity, sterilization, marital status, literacy, occupation, and residence. After having robust findings, the study proposes effective policy measures to be taken to prevent energy poverty and control potential health consequences in South Asia. This study is an attempt to provide an empirical baseline to conduct further studies addressing a similar issue in other regions of the world. [Display omitted] • The study uses a dataset of 701,834 households from six South Asian countries. • It measures energy poverty with a multidimensional approach across South Asia. • MANOVA is used to examine the causal relationship between health issues and MEPI. • Most of the health variables have a statistically significant relationship with MEPI. • The consistent results provide an evidence-based foundation for policy formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]