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Recreational water activities are widely recognized to have a positive impact on our physical and mental well-being. However, recreational water sources and their management are also a risk factor for human health due to different agents, including the overgrowth of cyanobacteria and algae. The presence of cyanobacteria and algae in recreational waters represents a One Health threat because of their potential release and the overuse of biocides. These organisms have the potential to metabolize organic matter and produce thermophilic and thermotolerant toxins. Moreover, different species of algae are involved in biofilm formation processes, thus impacting water quality and safety and also posing risks to the environment and animal and human health. Different species of algae participate in biofilm formation and have an impact on managing water and equipment maintenance. By searching literature databases, e.g., PubMed, we reviewed the state of the art, providing basic definitions, taxonomy, and epidemiological or medical issues related to the recreational uses of water. Methods of treatments and monitoring were summarized, considering both traditional and innovative strategies. Public health and surveillance approaches focus on the detection of toxins, the formation of biofilms, and the understanding of the benthonic and planktonic components as part of the larger microbial biodiversity. The review process allowed us to acknowledge that this is the first comprehensive overview of algae in recreational waters carried out within a wider One Health outlook.

Integrating modern and innovative technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning (ML) presents new opportunities in healthcare, especially in medical spa therapies. Once considered palliative, these therapies conducted using mineral/thermal water are now recognized as a targeted and specific therapeutic modality. The peculiarity of these treatments lies in their simplicity of administration, which allows for prolonged treatments, often lasting weeks, with progressive and controlled therapeutic effects. Thanks to new technologies, it will be possible to continuously monitor the patient, both on-site and remotely, increasing the effectiveness of the treatment. In this context, wearable devices, such as smartwatches, facilitate non-invasive monitoring of vital signs by collecting precise data on several key parameters, such as heart rate or blood oxygenation level, and providing a perspective of detailed treatment progress. The constant acquisition of data thanks to the IoT, combined with the advanced analytics of ML technologies, allows for data collection and precise analysis, allowing real-time monitoring and personalized treatment adaptation. This article introduces an IoT-based framework integrated with ML techniques to monitor spa treatments, providing tailored customer management and more effective results. A preliminary experimentation phase was designed and implemented to evaluate the system’s performance through evaluation questionnaires. Encouraging preliminary results have shown that the innovative approach can enhance and highlight the therapeutic value of spa therapies and their significant contribution to personalized healthcare.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia associated with high mortality. Adequate clinical treatment is impeded by increasing occurrence of antibiotic resistances. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of its virulence during infections is a prerequisite to finding alternative treatments. Here, we demonstrated that an increased nuclease activity of a S. aureus isolate from a person with cystic fibrosis confers a growth advantage in a model of acute lung infection compared to the isogenic strain with low nuclease activity. Comparing these CF-isolates with a common MRSA-USA300 strain with similarly high nuclease activity but significantly elevated levels of Staphylococcal Protein A (SpA) revealed that infection with USA300 resulted in a significantly increased bacterial burden in a model of murine lung infection. Replenishment with the cell wall-bound SpA of S. aureus, which can also be secreted into the environment and binds to tumor necrosis factor receptor -1 (TNFR-1) to the CF-isolates abrogated these differences. In vitro experiments confirmed significant differences in spa-expression between USA300 compared to CF-isolates, thereby influencing TNFR-1 shedding, L-selectin shedding, and production of reactive oxygen species through activation of ADAM17.

The European Union-Japan political and international development dialogue is resurging through the Strategic Partnership Agreement recently agreed between the two actors. The current paper argues that in order for this agreement to deliver on its promises, the EU and Japan need to build on their similarities, but more importantly on their differences and lessons learnt through their distinct international experiences. While common values and norms have helped them to agree on such document, building on their differences will help both actors to make this bilateral dialogue more productive and strategic. Through the theoretical lenses of policy entrepreneurship used to consolidate knowledge for development on horizontal cooperation, the paper questions how sharing their experiences as international donors can be of strategic relevance for both the EU and Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staphylococcus aureus, a commonly occurring pathogen, is associated with severe diseases both in community and hospital settings and has been a significant concern for public health. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections have become widespread in many regions worldwide. Objective: The objective of their study was to employ polymerase chain reaction to identify certain virulence genes and determine the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of S. aureus strains. Materials and Methods: Initially, the identification of these isolates involved culture, microscopic examination, and biochemical tests. S. aureus accounted for 36.4% of the growth observed. Results: The findings of antibiotic susceptibility testing for MRSA S. aureus indicated the highest resistance rates to cefoxitin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, followed by clindamycin and tetracycline. On the other hand, S. aureus showed maximum sensitivity to gentamicin and nitrofurantoin. It was suggested that Imipenem and nitrofurantoin exhibited the least antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infection patients. The DNA was extracted from the isolates, and the purity of the nucleic acid samples ranged from 1.8 to 2.0, while the concentration varied from 50 to 360 mg/μL. Molecular analysis of the genes showed that 33.3% of the isolates possessed the icaD gene, whereas none of the MRSA strains exhibited the presence of the icaA gene. Conclusion: The study findings indicate a relatively high prevalence of MRSA strains among S. aureus isolates in hospitals located in Wasit Province. Moreover, a significant proportion of these MRSA strains exhibit robust biofilm production capabilities.

Natural heritage (NH) possesses an outstanding universal value that can be described as “natural significance” at a national level. The ecosystems can be considered as the spatial units which represent the NH of the particular area in terms of their value to people. Recreation and tourism are amongst the important values which are strongly dependent on the NH and they have a certain impact on the ecosystems' condition and the quality of the services they provide. The efforts through the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and thier Services (MAES) process led to the development of a multi-tiered approach that considers different methods at different levels of detail and complexity and can be applied according to specific needs, data and resource availability. In this paper, we propose the development of this methodology for the specific need for mapping and assessment of the NH as a source of ecosystem services (ES) for recreation and tourism. The conceptual scheme of the study demonstrates how the MAES framework can be adapted to the specific needs of the work and arrange the methods into three tiers according to the data availability and resources. The mapping and assessment procedure is based on an algorithm for spatial data analyses which enables the evaluation of the NH potential to provide 15 ecosystem services. The results show that the NH of Bulgaria is a valuable source of ES which are well presented in most parts of the country. The areas with very high potential form several clusters that correspond to the country's tourist regions. The proposed approach is applicable on the national scale and solves the problem of data availability limitations for various ES. The algorithm ensures the optimal quality of the results using the available data and resources. Instead of an expert-based assessment for all services which is easier, but less accurate, the proposed approach provides the means how to define more precise indicators, based on statistical data or models where possible. The study provides appropriate data for analyses of the methods’ performance at different tiers.

Touristic needs are also changing, depending on the increasing elderly population in the world and in Turkey. Considering that the elderly tourist group, which is called the third age tourist group, consists of individuals over the age of 65, it can be said that they shape their travels within the scope of health tourism with quieter and natural areas. As stated in the 2023 tourism vision, diversifying tourism and spreading it over 12 months is one of the issues discussed in depth. Geriatric tourism, which is one of the types of health tourism and health tourism, is one of the important alternatives for the diversification of tourism. In this context, Akyazı district of Sakarya province, located in the Marmara Region, is seen as one of the important settlements with geriatric tourism potential. Akyazi; It is a very convenient destination for geriatric tourism with its hot springs, clean air, plateaus, forests and being close to big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa and Kocaeli. At this point, the aim of the study is to evaluate the geriatric tourism potential of Akyazı from the perspective of local governments. Within the scope of the study, interviews were conducted with 12 participants from Akyazı local governments using semi-structured interview technique. In line with the information given by these local administrators working in Akyazı about Akyazı district of Sakarya province, the geriatric tourism potential of Akyazı has been tried to be determined. According to the research findings; Kuzuluk Thermal Spring, Keremali Plateau, Sülüklü Lake and other natural beauties have been evaluated as Akyazı's strengths within the scope of geriatric tourism potential. If the deficiencies in the number of accommodation facilities and promotion are eliminated, it is thought that the geriatric tourist group of the district will visit the region more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two most likely sources of disturbances capable of triggering boundary layer turbulization over a smooth unswept wing of a supersonic airplane are considered in terms of the full Navier–Stokes equations: atmospheric turbulence and acoustic noise radiated by the turbulent boundary layer over the fuselage. The frequency wave characteristics of boundary layer disturbances over the wing are analyzed and the dominant mechanism of transition is revealed. The numerical results are compared with those of linear stability theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the functioning of modern resorts as multifunctional recreation and tourism centers. Today, maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become a trend all over the world. As a result, traditional resort establishments are being modernized and provide the latest innovative wellness and spa services. Ukraine has a rich recreational potential to support existing and develop new resorts that can offer a variety of wellness treatments and leisure activities for various market segments.

Abstract: The hot mineral spring in Serdica is of a particular importance for the Roman town. An establishment of a Roman spa complex utilising the mineral spring catchment is suggested for the early stages of the settlement development. However, the archaeological evidence is insufficient and of uncertain date. New parts of the complex, excavated between 2009 and 2015, suggest that the bath should be dated to the second quarter of the 4th c. AD. Several building phases are established during the existence of the building up to the end of the 6th c. AD. An earlier edifice from the 3rd or even late 2nd c. AD is unearthed under the Late Antique complex but its function as a bath remains uncertain. A reconstruction of the plan of the Late Antique bath is proposed based on its currently known components.

The Natura 2000 network of protected areas is the backbone of species conservation in the European Union. We investigated whether Austrian-hatched white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) make particular use of this multinational network during their natal dispersal, and what habitats were of importance to the eagles. We analyzed the utilization distribution of 907,466 GPS locations from 38 dispersing white-tailed eagles using a dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Model. Eagles ranged over a huge area of central-eastern Europe. Natura 2000 sites overlapped with 67% of the resulting 50% isopleth; i.e., a high probability of utilization of Natura 2000 areas by white-tailed eagles was found. White-tailed eagles used wetlands, waterbodies, and deciduous forests adjacent to wet habitats disproportionately often. Coniferous forests and settlements were avoided. Anthropogenically caused mortalities hardly occurred within Natura 2000 sites. Our study suggests that the Natura 2000 network is a crucial tool for conserving the white-tailed eagle. This top predator is an ambassador for the Natura 2000 idea during all life stages, and should continue to be a conservation priority of the network.

Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major concern in Jordanian hospitals in terms of infection control. The purpose of this study was to identify the resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from surfaces of critical locations within the Al-Karak Governmental Hospital in 2019. Additionally, the study aimed to conduct whole-genome sequencing on the isolates. Materials and Methods: In February 2019, fourteen S. aureus strains were isolated from surfaces in critical sites in the Al-Karak Governmental Hospital. These isolates underwent antibiogram testing to determine their resistance profile. Genome sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform was applied to the extracted DNA from these isolates. The genomic data, including coding sequences, were analyzed to identify lineage, resistance genes, and plasmids. Results: The antibiogram results revealed that 11 of the 14 isolates were resistant to oxacillin, 6 to linezolid, and 1 to rifampicin, while none showed resistance to chloramphenicol. Eleven isolates were identified as MRSA, with a novel spa type (t4407) not previously reported in Jordan. High-quality sequencing data were obtained for only one isolate, i.e., A29, the genome showed 2,789,641 bp with a 32.7% GC content and contained 2650 coding sequences. Genomic analysis indicated the ST6 lineage, mecA gene (SCCmec type IVa(2B)), and a hybrid plasmid (pJOR_blaZ) carrying the blaZ gene for β-lactam resistance. Genomic data were deposited in NCBI (CP104989). The A29 genome closely resembled an MRSA genome isolated from a Danish hospital in 2011. The SNP analysis revealed identical antimicrobial resistance genes in these two genomes. Conclusions: This study unveils the first genomic sequence of an MRSA isolate from Jordan, marked by distinctive genotypic traits. The findings enhance our understanding of the MRSA types circulating in Jordan and the region and substantiate the phenomenon of intercontinental MRSA transmission.

Citrus tangerines are famous fruits worldwide, and monitoring the water content of citrus leaves is highly important for citrus production. However, there are still challenges in quantitatively estimating the water content of citrus leaves using hyperspectral technology, and the random noise generated during spectral acquisition and the overlapping peaks in the sensitive band of the citrus leaf water content will affect estimation accuracy. To solve these problems and further explore the roles of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and fractional-order derivative (FOD) in the estimation of citrus leaf water content, this study intends to use of CWT and FOD to decompose the original spectrum, and then compare the correlation between the original spectrum and leaf water content to explore whether the decomposition treatment has improved the correlation between spectrum and leaf moisture content. Then, the successive projections algorithm (SPA) was used to select feature bands and combine spectral vegetation indices. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to construct water-content inversion models for citrus leaves, and the inversion accuracies of two commonly used spectral preprocessing methods were compared. The results indicate that (1) the CWT can improve the sensitivity of the spectrum to the citrus leaf water content to a certain extent, and the inversion accuracy of the CWT is approximately 5% greater than that of the FOD. (2) On the basis of the CWT and FOD methods, the inversion accuracy of the citrus leaf water content based on SPA screening increased by 9.61% and 9.29%, respectively, compared with the original spectrum. (3) Under CWT decomposition, Scale4 of the Gaus1 wavelet was screened by the SPA, and the inversion model of citrus leaf water content was constructed by combining the spectral vegetation index NDVI with the best results. The R-squared (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) values were 0.7491 and 0.0284, respectively, which were both 0.0138 greater than those of the best inversion model for the FOD R2. In conclusion, the CWT-SPA combined with the spectral vegetation index can improve the sensitivity of the spectrum to the citrus leaf water content, eliminate a large amount of redundant data, and enhance the prediction ability and stability of the citrus leaf water content.

Purpose - Among the five SERVQUAL dimensions, reliability is one of the most criticised dimensions because it is ambiguous and interpreted differently in the service literature. In addition, perceived hygiene, which is related to the attribute of safety, is becoming increasingly important in customer perceptions COVID -19 in the hospitality and tourism industries. In this study, three different sources of information are examined using a qualitative, exploratory methodology to gain a better understanding of the dimension of safety in the spa industry, focusing on spas in Bangkok. Design/methodology - Three different sources of information (secondary data, expert interviews, and customer interviews) are examined and interpreted through a content analysis methodology. Findings - There are two main findings. First, the assurance dimension of spa service quality can be sub-divided into four key categories: 1) product assurance 2) staff assurance 3) physical assurance and 4) process assurance. Second, perceived hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic is integrated into the assurance attributes of spa service quality. Originality - The study advances knowledge on the assurance dimension in relation to spa service quality. In addition, the assurance dimension of SERVQUAL in the spa industry has been conceptualised in regard to the current situation.

In order to solve the problem of target ID switching caused by target occlusion and insufficient ID information and location information extraction in JDE(joint detection and embedding) algorithm, an improved multi-target tracking algorithm based on JDE is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the SPA feature space pyramid attention module is used to expand the receptive field and obtain more abundant semantic information to improve the detection accuracy of the model for different scale targets. Secondly, the FCN network makes the header and ID Embedding task collaborative learning to alleviate the excessive competition and enhance the original semantic information, effectively reducing the number of ID switching. Finally, PCCs-Ma motion measurement can strengthen the connection between Kalman filtering prediction and observation, and improve the reliability of similarity discrimination of motion characteristics. In order to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, the JDE algorithm and the proposed algorithm are compared in the same experimental environment. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of model detection is improved by 3.94 %. On the MOT16 dataset, the MOTA and IDF1 indexes are increased by 6.9 %, and the number of ID switching of the improved algorithm is significantly reduced, and good tracking results are achieved.

Underwater Visible light communication (UVLC) is a network communication wirelessly where information is transmitted employing light through visible waves; in this case, the light source comes from a light-emitting diode (LED) as a transmitter underwater. VLC has several advantages over radio frequency technology, such as safer communication because light propagation cannot penetrate the wall, so it is difficult to do hacking, easy to get a license, relatively build cheap cost, and has no side effects on health. However, VLC has several limitations, one of which is the narrow bandwidth modulation. VLC undergoes a distribution of modulated bandwidth to allocate against each user. This bandwidth sharing has an impact on reduced system capacity. This study applied non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) to increase system capacity. This research analyzes the performance of the two best power allocation methods in a water medium, including gain ratio power allocation (GRPA) and static power allocation (SPA). In the results obtained in the NOMA-UVLC power allocation value, GRPA is more stable than SPA power allocation. Then applying residue in the successive interference cancellation (SIC) process will result in a decrease in system capacity compared to no residue in the SIC process. This study found that the GRPA power allocation is more stable in capacity performance compared to the application of SPA power allocation. Average capacity increase of 48.5% in GRPA power allocation

BeckgroundDespite the recent advances in the field of autoinflammatory diseases, most patients with recurrent fever episodes do not have any defined diagnosis. The present study aims at describing a cohort of patients suffering from apparently unexplained recurrent fever, in whom non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (SpA) represented the unique diagnosis identified after a complete clinical and radiologic assessment.Materials and methodsPatients’ data were obtained from the international registry on Undifferentiated Systemic AutoInflammatory Diseases (USAIDs) developed by the AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance (AIDA) network.ResultsA total of 54 patients with recurrent fever episodes were also affected by non-radiographic axial SpA according to the international classification criteria. SpA was diagnosed after the start of fever episodes in all cases; the mean age at the diagnosis of axial SpA was 39.9 ± 14.8 years with a diagnostic delay of 9.3 years. The highest body temperature reached during flares was 42°C, with a mean temperature of 38.8 ± 1.1°C. The most frequent manifestations associated to fever were: arthralgia in 33 (61.1%) cases, myalgia in 24 (44.4%) cases, arthritis in 22 (40.7%) cases, headache in 15 (27.8%) cases, diarrhea in 14 (25.9%) cases, abdominal pain in 13 (24.1%) cases, and skin rash in 12 (22.1%) cases. Twenty-four (44.4%) patients have taken daily or on-demand non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 31 (57.4%) patients have been treated with daily or on demand oral glucocorticoids. Colchicine was used in 28 (51.8%) patients, while other conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) were employed in 28 (51.8%) patients. Forty (74.1%) patients underwent anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents and 11 (20.4%) were treated with interleukin (IL)-1 inhibitors. The response to TNF inhibitors on recurrent fever episodes appeared more effective than that observed with anti-IL-1 agents; colchicine and other cDMARDs were more useful when combined with biotechnological agents.ConclusionSigns and symptoms referring to axial SpA should be inquired in patients with apparently unexplained recurrent fever episodes. The specific treatment for axial SpA may lead to a remarkable improvement in the severity and/or frequency of fever episodes in patients with unexplained fevers and concomitant axial SpA.

This article attempts to make a set of interrelated arguments. It claims that the epithet 'medical tourism', which is of recent provenance, tacitly subscribes to a particular and narrow understanding of 'medicine', namely, the Anglo-American variant of biomedicine. This variant, unlike its Continental European counterpart, does not countenance the spa (Kur, Kuur, Termas, etc.) as 'medical' therapy, a therapy that is part of orthodox biomedicine on the continent, albeit on its fringe and one where pleasure and therapy often coexist. The Anglo-American variant leads to an exclusive focus on what may be called organ-based therapy with an emphasis on surgical and technological intervention, where uninsured and under-insured 'middle-class' patients travel from the White world to wog-land. This is a reversal of older forms of medical travel where rich wogs travelled from wog-land to the White world for medical treatment. The reversal results in a binary of White vampires and wog victims and is responsible, in part, for the moral tension of the oxymoron called 'medical tourism', with the other part of the oxymoron being constituted by the contradiction between pleasure and therapy. The vampire-victim binary in turn often mutes the mediating virtuosos— doctors, hospitals, medical travel operators, firms, companies, websites and most importantly, medical expertise and technology—in the analytical and explanatory canvas. In light of this, the article not only suggests that the epithet 'medical tourism' requires careful scrutiny and needs to be situated as part of a longer genealogy and larger canvas to include all kinds of transnational, transcultural and transregional medical travel, but it also makes a plea for re-examining the kind of morality play that the epithet engenders by asking, among other things, if vampires could also be victims, and what happens to this binary when the biomedical fringe (the Continental spa/Kur/Kuur/Termas) and alternative systems of medicine (e.g., Ayurveda and host of other therapies) are brought into play, or when doctors and therapists undertake travel for medical/therapeutic expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular machines, such as polymerases, ribosomes, or proteasomes, fulfill complex tasks requiring the thermal energy of their environment. They achieve this by restricting random motion along a path of possible conformational changes. These changes are often directed through engagement with different cofactors, which can best be compared to a Brownian ratchet. Many molecular machines undergo three major steps throughout their functional cycles, including initialization, repetitive processing, and termination. Several of these major states have been elucidated by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). However, the individual steps for these machines are unique and multistep processes themselves, and their coordination in time is still elusive. To measure these short-lived intermediate events by cryo-EM, the total reaction time needs to be shortened to enrich for the respective pre-equilibrium states. This approach is termed time-resolved cryo-EM (trEM). In this review, we sum up the methodological development of trEM and its application to a range of biological questions. [Display omitted] In this review, Amann et al. discuss the state of the art in time-resolved cryo-EM and how it has advanced during the past three decades. They focus on the molecular mechanisms of processive molecular machines and how time-resolved cryo-EM can be applied for the investigation of their conformational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Considering the significant number of injured people in spas, the main goal of this research is to provide a model for measuring and managing risk in spas. Materials and Methods: To prepare the conceptual model of risk, four steps were taken, which include determining the general outline of the model, identifying the parameters, evaluating and scoring the parameters based on the questionnaire, using the hierarchical analysis method, and evaluating and determining the final risk of the pools. According to the allowed standard range of each parameter, five ranges for each parameter were obtained based on the obtained weights, health, safety and environmental risk classes. Finally, by summing up these parameters, the final score of the risk of using each pool is obtained. In order to evaluate the presented model, the risk value of hot mineral water pools in Ardabil province was obtained with the innovative method of this research. Results: According to the results, according to the risk score, Gutursoi and Gamish-Goli spas have an unacceptable risk level, while Qainarjeh, Shabil, Barjelo and Sablan spas are at a high-risk level. Conclusion: The presented model was validated with the evidence of forensic events. According to the results of the conceptual model of risk and the score obtained for each component and sub-components, appropriate solutions were presented, including the need to modify the current standards in each spa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection rapidity and model accuracy are the keys to hyperspectral nondestructive testing technology, especially for Pennisetum sinese Roxb (PsR) due to its extremely high adsorptive heavy metal content. The study of the resolution of PsR is conducive to the analysis of the accumulated heavy metal content in its different parts. In this paper, the contents of Cd, Cu and Zn accumulated in the old leaves, young leaves, upper stem, middle stem and lower stem, as well as the hyperspectral data of the corresponding parts, were measured simultaneously in both fresh and dry states. To begin, the spectral data of PsR were preprocessed by using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition-Daubechies3 (EEMD-db3), Savitzky–Golay (SG), Symlet3 (sym3), Symlet5 (sym5), and multiplicative scatter correction (MSC). The 40 samples were divided into 32 training sets and 8 validation sets. The preprocessed spectral data were transformed by the first derivative (FD) and reciprocal logarithm (log(1/R)) to highlight the singularities using binary wavelet decomposition. After screening the significant bands from the correlation curve, the competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projection algorithm (SPA) were applied to extract the spectral characteristic variables, which were used to establish the partial least-squares (PLS) regression and multiple stepwise linear regression (MSLR) inversion models of Cd, Cu, and Zn contents. Based on EEMD-db3 pretreatment, the inversion model of Zn in the dry (fresh) state had R2 values of 0.884 (0.880), NRMSE values of 0.179 (0.253) and RPD values of 3.191 (3.221), indicating excellent stability and predictive performance. The findings of this study can not only aid in the rapid nondestructive detection of heavy metal adsorption in various parts of PsR, but can also be applied to guide the development and use of animal feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - There is a scarcity of research to provide an in-depth understanding of spa service outcomes. This research note aims to examine the characteristics of spa service outcomes from three sources of information. Design/methodology - The information from past studies, online reviews, and customer interviews is analysed through a content analysis method. Findings - First, service outcomes in the spa industry involve two attributes: physical and mental outcomes. Second, the assessment of customer satisfaction on spa services includes two elements: service satisfaction and outcome satisfaction. Third, spa service outcomes may be regarded as a distinct variable as the experiences of spa service outcomes may be depended on certain factors (e.g. skills of therapists and the understanding of customer needs), meanwhile, they also have subsequent influences on post-consumption behaviours. Originality - This is an initial study to fully examine the characteristics of spa service outcomes. The study has conceptualised spa service outcomes for future investigation to strengthen knowledge development in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Memorias is the property of Fundacion Universidad del Norte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Computer Sciences Institute is the property of Lublin University of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The hot mineral spring in Serdica is of a particular importance for the Roman town. An establishment of a Roman spa complex utilising the mineral spring catchment is suggested for the early stages of the settlement development. However, the archaeological evidence is insufficient and of uncertain date. New parts of the complex, excavated between 2009 and 2015, suggest that the bath should be dated to the second quarter of the 4th c. AD. Several building phases are established during the existence of the building up to the end of the 6th c. AD. An earlier edifice from the 3rd or even late 2nd c. AD is unearthed under the Late Antique complex but its function as a bath remains uncertain. A reconstruction of the plan of the Late Antique bath is proposed based on its currently known components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the article is to identify and assess the sources of competitive advantage in selected spa companies in Slovakia. The identification of the competitive potential of selected resources of spa enterprises is determined on the basis of available information from scientific and statistical sources. The VRIO analysis was used, which focuses on the specific resources of spa companies that constitute a high competitive advantage. Through analysis, synthesis and deduction, specific sources of competitive potential were selected. The analysis of the competitive potential of the spas of Piešťany, Bojnice and Trenčianske Teplice showed that the spas of Piešťany have the greatest competitive potential within the selected resources. These are resources such as history, natural conditions, certification and use of healing waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological macromolecules and assemblies precisely rearrange their atomic 3D structures to execute cellular functions. Understanding the mechanisms by which these molecular machines operate requires insight into the ensemble of structural states they occupy during the functional cycle. Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has become the preferred method to provide near-atomic resolution, structural information about dynamic biological macromolecules elusive to other structure determination methods. Recent advances in cryo-EM methodology have allowed structural biologists not only to probe the structural intermediates of biochemical reactions, but also to resolve different compositional and conformational states present within the same dataset. This article reviews newly developed sample preparation and single-particle analysis (SPA) techniques for high-resolution structure determination of intrinsically dynamic and heterogeneous samples, shedding light upon the intricate mechanisms employed by molecular machines and helping to guide drug discovery efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives Immunomodulatory agents are safe and effective as treatment for various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), but are associated with a slightly increased infection risk. It is uncertain whether, in the event of an infection, continuation or temporary interruption of immunomodulatory agents leads to better outcomes. Owing to this uncertainty, it is of importance to explore the perspectives of health-care providers (HCPs) and patients on this topic. In this study, we set out to identify and provide an overview of reasons for both treatment strategies. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs involved in the pharmacological treatment of IMIDs and with IMID patients using one or more immunomodulatory agent. Purposive sampling was used to enrich data variation. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached and subsequently analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results In total, 13 HCPs and 19 IMID patients were interviewed. A wide range of reasons for both treatment strategies were identified, categorized into 10 overarching themes, including IMID characteristics, infection characteristics and the patient–HCP relationship. Conclusion In this interview study, we identified various reasons for continuation or temporary interruption of immunomodulatory agents during infections for both IMID patients and HCPs. We found overlapping themes, such as IMID characteristics; however, the content and interpretation of these themes might differ between HCPs and patients. Both HCPs and patients mentioned that the decision for a treatment strategy is often about weighing benefits against risks (e.g. infection severity vs disease flare). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a global challenge, with no cure available. Adherence to treatment with biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, such as the tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor etanercept, varies among patients with SpA. Inadequate or poor adherence to treatment may have a negative effect on clinical outcome and quality of life and may lead to greater health-related expense. Methods: This observational, retrospective study used real-world patient data from the Iraq National Center of Rheumatology database to retrospectively assess long-term adherence to etanercept, specifically evaluating 1- and 7-year adherence to etanercept among Iraqi patients with SpA. Results: In total, data from 763 patients were included in the analysis. The majority of patients were men (82.2%). Mean disease duration at baseline was 5.85 years; 84.0% of patients received concomitant steroids, and 14.2% were treated with concomitant methotrexate. Measures of disease activity and functional status (mean ± SD) at baseline based on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) were 8.06 ± 0.83 (range 6.0–9.5) and 7.75 ± 1.12 (range 4.1–9.7), respectively. Around 30% of patients initiated etanercept treatment within 1 year of diagnosis. After 1 and 7 years, 91.7% (700/763) and 60.6% (80/132) of patients were adherent to etanercept treatment. Mean (± SD) changes from baseline in BASDAI and BASFI scores for adherent versus non-adherent patients at 1 year were 6.73 (± 1.90) versus 4.20 (± 1.85) (p = 0.0001) and 6.43 (± 2.04) versus 4.18 (± 1.88) (p = 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: These results suggest that Iraqi patients with SpA benefit from long-term adherence to etanercept treatment; however, additional analyses are needed to further assess the reasons for treatment discontinuation, which may include disease remission. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04507776. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species composition of cyanobacteria assemblages was studied in six thermo-mineral springs of spas in Atlantic environments of Galicia (NW Spain). Two are considered hot (Ta ≥ 40 °C), two intermediate (Ta 20–40 °C) and two cold (Ta ≤ 20 °C), and four contain hydrogen sulphide. A total of 21 taxa (14 genera) have been recorded. Two diversity indices, Shannon index and Evenness were determined. The Shannon–Wiener index ranged between 0.31 and 0.73 and the Evenness index between 0.44 and 0.88. nMDS ordination showed that cyanobacteria assemblage composition was influenced mostly by temperature. Of the species identified, the most diverse genus is Leptolyngbya with four species, followed by Chroococcus with three species and Aphanocapsa, Phormidium and Lyngbya with two species. The most abundant species was Jaaginema angustissimum, followed by Leptolyngbya laminosa and Symploca thermalis. In the two cold springs, seven different species were found, and only Aphanocapsa conferta was common to both springs. Cyanobacterial species were more numerous in the four hot springs, with 15 different species and only Calothrix thermalis common to these hot springs. It is difficult to establish characteristic cyanobacterial flora for the thermo-mineral waters of the Galician springs since there are significant differences in the communities from the six sites studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most common pathogens of community- and hospital-acquired infections, and its prevalence is increasing globally. Guiyang is the capital city of Guizhou Province, Southwest China; as the transport and tourism centre of Southwest China, Guizhou Province is bordered by Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guangxi Provinces. Although MRSA prevalence is increasing, little is known about its aspects in the area. The purpose of this study was to analyse MRSA molecular characteristics, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence genes in Guiyang. Methods: In total, 209 MRSA isolates from four hospitals (2019– 2020) were collected and analysed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing and molecular classification by the MLST, spa, and SCCmec typing methods. Isolate antibiotic resistance rates were detected by a drug susceptibility assays. PCR amplification was used to detect the virulence gene-carrying status. Results: Twenty-four STs, including 4 new STs (ST7346, ST7347, ST7348, and ST7247) and 3 new allelic mutations, were identified based on MLST. The major prevalent ST type and clone complex were ST59 (49.8%) and CC59 (62.7%), respectively. Spa type t437 (42.1%) and SCCmec IV (55.5%) were identified by spa and SCCmec typing methods as the most important types. Drug sensitivity data showed that the multidrug resistance rate was 79.0%. There were significant differences in multidrug resistance rates and virulence gene-carrying rates for seb, hla, hlb, cna and bap between ST59 and non-ST59 types. Conclusion: ST59-SCCmecIV-t437 is a major epidemic clone in Guiyang that should be monitored by local medical and health institutions. The situation differs from other adjacent or middle provinces of China, which may be due to the special geographical location of the region and the trend in antibiotic use or lifestyle. This study provides empirical evidence for local medical and health departments to prevent and control the spread of MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area of Southern Serbia is the most undeveloped tourist area and is marginalized in relation to the total tourist traffic of Serbia. With the purpose of health tourism development, special attention in this paper is focused on five spas and four mountain tourist destinations of South Serbia. The interaction of climatic elements is key for outdoor tourist activities, thus the potential of health tourism is presented through the results of the tourism climate comfort index (TCCI). According to TCCI values calculated for one climatological period 1991–2020, the spa tourist destinations of South Serbia are generally favorable during May, June and September. Four studied mountain destinations have favorable TCCI values generally during June, July and August. Spatio-temporal analysis utilizing ESRI ArcMap software showed that the most favorable conditions for health tourism development occur during spring and autumn for spas (May and June) and during summer for mountain destinations (July and August), which coincides with the ideal TCCI values. MatLab software through linear regression showed that in the period of 2010–2020, a negative tendency of tourists' number in Vranjska banja spa and Niška banja spa is noticed, and a positive tendency for Prolom banja spa and Sijarinska banja spa. The paper also highlights the perspectives of other tourism forms of development in South Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The diagnosis and treatment of mecC positive methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates pose a significant problem in clinical microbiology and infectious disease practices. The studies on the frequency of mecC positive isolates in Turkey is rather scarce. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the presence of mecA, mecC, spa and pvu genes in MRSA strains isolated from various clinical specimens submitted to Clinical Microbiology Laboratories of Bezmialem Vakıf Hospital.Methods:We performed nucleic acid extraction and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to 126 MRSA strains to detect mecC, mecA, spa and pvl genes.Results:According to the multiplex PCR results of 126 MRSA strains studied, 126 (100%) had mecA, 107 (85%) had spa, and 3 (2%) had pvl genes. We performed another polymerase chain reaction protocol and spa genes were identified in 19 of specimens, which were found negative priorly.Conclusion:Considering the factors that a university medical center where the study was conducted provided a tertiary healthcare service to a large metropolitan area in Istanbul and none of the isolates carried mecC gene might indicate that mecC gene carrying MRSA isolates did not pose a significant public health threat in Turkey.

In order to quantitatively evaluate and analyze regional water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) and to describe the micro motion between connection number components, a more applicable evaluation model was sought. Firstly, an evaluation index system and grade standards for a regional WRCC were constructed. Then, a method for determining the connection number was proposed, which considered the micro motion between the connection number components in the system structure. Finally, an evaluation model based on set pair analysis (SPA) and partial connection number (PCN) that used subtraction set pair potential (SPP) to identify vulnerability factors was built, and identification results were compared with the total partial connection number (TPCN). The model was applied to Huaibei City, Anhui Province, China. The results showed that: the WRCC grade value was between 2 and 3 which was poor; the support and regulation subsystem grade value was between 2 and 3, and the pressure subsystem grade value was between 1 and 2. SPP identified that the support force and regulation force subsystem were the vulnerable subsystems. Eight indexes, including water resources per capita, rate of ecological water consumption and density of population, were the main indicators causing the poor WRCC, which were in good agreement with the local measured data. In addition, the SPP and TPCN were compared to further verify rationality of the connection number determination method and reliability of the identification results. The model established in this paper has strong applicability and can also be used for the dynamic evaluation of other resources, including the environment and ecological carrying capacity. The results in this study provide a scientific basis for water resources management and decision-making. HIGHLIGHTS Based on partial connection number, a method for calculating the connection number of a regional water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) evaluation sample was proposed.; A dynamic evaluation model of a regional WRCC was constructed based on set pair analysis and partial connection number.; Reasons for poor WRCC in Huaibei City, China are identified and results compared with local measured data.;

The pollution reduction and carbon-cutting measures of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) set a benchmark for sustainable development in China's urban agglomerations. While the automobile manufacturing industry significantly boosts the GBA's economic growth, its extensive cross-regional and cross-sector supply chains pose challenges for CO 2 and pollution emission control. Analyzing emissions characteristics and transfer paths can clarify the GBA's role and guide targeted reduction measures. According to the multi-region input-output (MRIO) model and structural path analysis (SPA), this study clarifies that the automobile manufacturing industry in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao causes more than 72% of the CO 2 and air pollutant (SO 2 , NO X , PM 10) spillover to other regions, where the energy-resource-dominant upstream regions of Hebei, Shandong, and Henan emit high levels of CO 2 and air pollutants, according for 19% of indirect supply chain emissions; the energy sector, non-metals sector, and metals sector are the key upstream, according for 59% of indirect supply chain emissions. Furthermore, our study identifies the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and neighboring regions, parts of the western region, and the GBA region and the metal products industry, automobile manufacturing industry, and water, electricity, and gas supply industry sector as the core area and key sector with significant synergistic effects on CO 2 and air pollutant emissions. Therefore, implementing emission reduction measures in the identified core areas and sectors will contribute to the achievement of synergistic enhancement. These findings can inform decision-makers to promote sustainable development in the region. Furthermore, the research perspective based on the industrial chain offers new insights into defining regional responsibility for CO 2 emissions and enhancing regional cooperation. [Display omitted] • The automoblie production of the GBA relies on regions with abundant resources. • Exports are a significant demand factor for emissions in the supply chain. • Some critical supply chain paths transferred more CO 2 and air pollutants were traced. • Certain regions in the supply chain exhibit a synergy between air pollutants and CO 2. • Synergistic emission reduction requires policy integration and regional cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]