fencing

Nuclear forward scattering (NFS) is a synchrotron-based technique relying on the recoil-free nuclear resonance effect similar to Mössbauer spectroscopy. In this work, we introduce NFS for in situ and operando measurements during electrocatalytic reactions. The technique enables faster data acquisition and better discrimination of certain iron sites in comparison to Mössbauer spectroscopy. It is directly accessible at various synchrotrons to a broad community of researchers and is applicable to multiple metal isotopes...

PURPOSE: To investigate and characterize the performance of a novel orthogonal dual-layer alpha multileaf collimator (αMLC) mounted on the LinaTech VenusX linac. METHODS: We evaluated leaf positioning accuracy and reproducibility using an electronic portal imaging device through the picket fence test. The average, interleaf, intraleaf, and leaf tip transmissions of the single and dual layers were measured using an ionization chamber. Square and rhombus fields were used to evaluate the leaf penumbra of αMLC...

Virtual fencing (VF) is a modern fencing technology that requires the animal to wear a device (e.g. a collar) that emits acoustic signals to replace the visual cue of traditional physical fences (PF) and, if necessary, mild electric signals. The use of devices that provide electric signals leads to concerns regarding the welfare of virtually fenced animals. The objective of this review is to give an overview of the current state of VF research into the welfare and learning behavior of cattle. Therefore, a systematic literature search was conducted using two online databases and reference lists of relevant articles...

The distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), their potential bioavailability, extent of contamination and potential risk of dumpsite and surrounding soil samples were appraised. Three (3) soil samples were collected randomly from within the dumpsite and three (3) soil samples were also obtained 50 m away from the perimeter fence of the dumpsite. PTEs in the bulk and fractionated portion were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES)...

Biosecurity practices aim to reduce the frequency of disease outbreaks in a farm, region, or country and play a pivotal role in fortifying the country's pork industry against emerging threats, particularly foreign animal diseases (FADs). This article addresses the current biosecurity landscape of the US swine industry by summarizing the biosecurity practices reported by the producers through the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) enrollment surveys, and it provides a general assessment of practices implemented...

Due to the fencing of the Przewalski's gazelle ( Procapra przewalskii ), the microcytic anemia incidence rate continues to increase. The primary pathological symptoms include emaciation, anemia, pica, inappetence, and dyskinesia. To investigate the cause of microcytic anemia ailment in the Przewalski's gazelle, the Upper Buha River Area with an excessive incidence was chosen as the experimental pasture, and the Bird Island Area without microcytic anemia disease was chosen as the control field. Then, the mineral contents in the soil, forage, blood, and liver, as well as the blood routine parameters and biochemical indexes were measured...

The effects of NaCl-induced salinity on biomass allocation, anatomical characteristics of leaves, ion accumulation, salt repellency, and salt secretion ability were investigated in two apple rootstock cultivars ( Malus halliana '9-1-6' and Malus baccata ), which revealed the physiological adaptive mechanisms of M. halliana '9-1-6' in response to salt stress factors. This experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a nutrient solution pot. Salt stress was simulated by treating the plants with a 100 mM NaCl solution, while 1/2 Hoagland nutrient solution was used as a control (CK) instead of the NaCl solution...

BACKGROUND: Drowning is a major cause of death in Uganda, especially among young adults with water-based occupations and livelihoods. Information about drowning and other water-related deaths and injuries is limited. To address this gap in knowledge, study partners assessed knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about drowning and drowning prevention interventions in the Mayuge district of eastern Uganda. METHODS: This study consisted of a mixed-methods, cross-sectional community health assessment...

Precise spatio-temporal expression of genes in organogenesis is regulated by the coordinated interplay of DNA elements such as promoter and enhancers present in the regulatory region of a given locus. POU1F1 transcription factor plays a crucial role in the development of somatotrophs, lactotrophs and thyrotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland, and in maintaining high expression of growth hormone, prolactin and TSH. In mouse, expression of POU1F1 is controlled by a region fenced by two CTCF sites, containing 5 upstream enhancer elements, designated E-A (5' to 3')...

Sustainable and effective means to control flying insect vectors are critically needed, especially with widespread insecticide resistance and global climate change. Understanding and controlling vectors requires accurate information about their movement and activity, which is often lacking. The Photonic Fence (PF) is an optical system that uses machine vision, infrared light, and lasers to identify, track, and interdict vectors in flight. The PF examines an insect's outline, flight speed, and other flight parameters and if these match those of a targeted vector species, then a low-power, retina-safe laser kills it...

Climate change is increasing the frequency of droughts and the risk of severe wildfires, which can interact with shrub encroachment and browsing by wild ungulates. Wild ungulate populations are expanding due, among other factors, to favorable habitat changes resulting from land abandonment or land-use changes. Understanding how ungulate browsing interacts with drought to affect woody plant mortality, plant flammability, and fire hazard is especially relevant in the context of climate change and increasing frequency of wildfires...

The single-atom Fe-N-C is a prominent material with exceptional reactivity in areas of sustainable energy and catalysis research. It is challenging to obtain the dense Fe-N4 site without the Fe nanoparticle (NPs) sintering during the Fe-N-C synthesis via high-temperature pyrolysis. Thus, a novel approach is devised for the Fe-N-C synthesis at low temperatures. Taking FeCl2 as Fe source, a hydrogen environment can facilitate oxygen removal and dechlorination processes in the synthesis, efficiently favouring Fe-N4 site formation without Fe nanoparticle clustering at as low as 360 °C...

Foot-and-mouth disease is a controlled disease in accordance with the South African Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984). The country was classified by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as having a FMD free zone without vaccination in 1996. However, this status was suspended in 2019 due to a FMD outbreak outside the controlled zones. FMD control in South Africa includes animal movement restrictions placed on cloven-hoofed species and products, prophylactic vaccination of cattle, clinical surveillance of susceptible species, and disease control fencing to separate livestock from wildlife reservoirs...

FeN4 motifs, found, for instance, in bioinorganic chemistry as heme-type cofactors, play a crucial role in man-made FeNC catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Such single-atom catalysts are a potential alternative to platinum-based catalysts in fuel cells. Since FeNC catalysts are prepared via pyrolysis, the resulting materials are amorphous and contain side phases and impurities. Therefore, the geometric and electronic nature of the catalytically active FeN4 site remains to be clarified. To further understand the behavior of FeN4 centers in electrochemistry and their expected spectroscopic behavior upon reduction, we investigate two FeN4 environments (pyrrolic and pyridinic)...

A terahertz band (0.1-10 THz) has the characteristics of rich spectrum resources, high transmission speed, strong penetration, and clear directionality. However, the terahertz signal will suffer serious attenuation and absorption during transmission. Therefore, a terahertz antenna with high gain, high efficiency, and wide bandwidth is an indispensable key component of terahertz wireless systems and has become a research hotspot in the field of antennas. In this paper, a high-gain broadband antenna is presented for terahertz applications...

Knowledge of how grazing cattle utilize heterogeneous landscapes in Mediterranean silvopastoral areas is scarce. Global positioning systems (GPS) to track animals, together with geographic information systems (GIS), can relate animal distribution to landscape features. With the aim to develop a general spatial model that provides accurate prediction of cattle resource selection patterns within a Mediterranean mountainous silvopastoral area, free-roaming Sarda cows were fitted with GPS collars to track their spatial behaviors...

The decline of lions ( Panthera leo ) in Kenya has raised conservation concerns about their overall population health and long-term survival. This study aimed to assess the genetic structure, differentiation and diversity of lion populations in the country, while considering the influence of past management practices. Using a lion-specific Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) panel, we genotyped 171 individuals from 12 populations representative of areas with permanent lion presence. Our results revealed a distinct genetic pattern with pronounced population structure, confirmed a north-south split and found no indication of inbreeding in any of the tested populations...

<b/>The production effect is the finding that, relative to silent reading, producing information at study (e.g., reading aloud) leads to a benefit in memory. In most studies of this effect, individuals are presented with a set of unique items, and they produce a subset of these items (e.g., they are presented with the to-be-remembered target item TABLE and produce table ) such that the production is both unique and representative of the target. Across two preregistered experiments, we examined the influence of a production that is unique but that does not match the target (e...

BACKGROUND: Establishing reference intervals (RIs) in clinical laboratories is essential, as these can vary due to inter-individual variability as well as the analytical methods used. The purpose of this study was to determine RIs for markers and ratios biochemical in apparently healthy Chilean adults. METHODS: A sample of 1,143 data was selected from the Universidad Católica de Temuco, Clinical Laboratory database, La Araucanía Region, Chile, which were analysed by sex...

BACKGROUND: Primary health care services to promote the mental and physical health of communities include preventive, promotive, curative, general hygiene, and nutritional elements. AIM: To assess the quality of service delivery at primary healthcare settings in Punjab, Pakistan. METHODS: Quantitative surveys were conducted at 106 health facilities: 92 basic health units (BHUs) and 14 rural health centres (RHCs) across Punjab in 2020. Data from the survey were supplemented with information from observations by the researchers and all data were analysed using SPSS version 25...