Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health,economic development,and environmental sustain-ability.To effectively preserve water quality and ensure a safe and stable water supply,it is essential to de...Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health,economic development,and environmental sustain-ability.To effectively preserve water quality and ensure a safe and stable water supply,it is essential to determine the priority control factors of potentially hazardous elements in water.This study focused on public drinking wa-ter fountains in Zaječar City(Serbia),examining water hydrochemistry,quality,potential sources of hazardous elements,and the health risks associated with consumption or dermal exposure.Among all potentially hazardous elements,iron showed a deviation from the limit in drinking water prescribed by the World Health Organization,reaching 631μg/L.However,all samples were categorized as excellent quality for drinking.Water composition was governed by water-rock interactions,distinguishing Na-HCO_(3)as the dominant water type.A total of 3.3%and 6.6%of samples exceeded the threshold of 1 for non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children,re-spectively,with the mean HIa value of 0.35 and the mean HIc value of 0.57.However,the carcinogenic risk was within the allowable limits for children,whereas it surpassed the threshold of 1.0×10^(–4)for adults in 10%of the samples.The positive matrix factorization model identified four sources responsible for water quality,i.e.,natural source,industrial source,sewage source,and agricultural source,with contributions of 37.1%,35.0%,17.8%,and 10.1%,respectively.The Monte Carlo simulation of source-specific health risks revealed that the industrial source was the main contributor to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks,attributed to its high arsenic load.展开更多
The Phewa watershed is under constant landslide threat because of its complicated topography,climate,and biology.The floral structure of landslide-prone areas possesses a significant impact on determining the ecologic...The Phewa watershed is under constant landslide threat because of its complicated topography,climate,and biology.The floral structure of landslide-prone areas possesses a significant impact on determining the ecological processes involved in slope stabilization.Plant roots,for example,serve as physical anchors in the soil,enhancing slope stability.Therefore,this study aims to determine appropriate plant species that can enhance soil stability in Phewa Watershed by examining their floral structure in landslide areas.Floral diversity was assessed throughout field visits.Ten of the 46 landslides were selected with 15 plots based on aspect,watershed zones,and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)value.Six plant species were selected to evaluate root traits,uprooting force,and cellulosic testing based on their Important Value Index(IVI)value,native characteristics,and regeneration.The uprooting force was calculated using a‘winch’with a force transducer,while the root characteristics were measured manually and using‘ImageJ software’.Results show that 319 species from 92 families are registered in the buffer zones and landslide scars,and the NDVI suggest that vegetation covers more than 49%of the landslide areas.The floral composition of the landslides in the 15 plots contains 140 species from 52 families,with Poaceae dominating.In six plant species,the Ochiai index suggests a significant level of association.The uprooting force is correlated to the root diameter and number but is insignificant in terms of root length and area.Saccharum spontaneum is the best option for landslide stability based on uprooting force(882.63±245.175)N,cellulose content(67.038±4.766)%and root number characteristic(69.333±24.338)whereas Themeda arundinacea is preferred due to its root diameter traits(0.054±0.022)cm.Finally,it emphasizes the significance of selecting key species in lowering the risk of landslides,strengthening soil stability,and building resilient ecosystems in susceptible watershed areas.展开更多
Additive manufacturing(AM),globally referred to as 3D printing,is a highly flexible manufacturing method that enables the design and creation of complex geometries with ease.This review article comprehensively examine...Additive manufacturing(AM),globally referred to as 3D printing,is a highly flexible manufacturing method that enables the design and creation of complex geometries with ease.This review article comprehensively examines the materials,methods,and applications of AM specifically for the space sector,while identifying current research gaps and proposing future directions.The primary advantages of AM over conventional subtractive manufacturing for space implementations include economic efficiency,unparalleled design freedom,high customizability,tailor-made production,and the ability to process a wide range of materials including metals,polymers,composites,and ceramics.The article focuses on space-grade materials such as high-performance alloys,polymers,and ceramics used in applications ranging from electronic equipment to propulsion systems.It provides a detailed analysis of prevalent metal AM techniques like powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition,as well as non-metal methods including used deposition modeling and selective laser sintering.Through specific case studies,it demonstrates how AM enables part consolidation,weight reduction,and the production of multifunctional components with integrated capabilities.This review will help readers comprehend current trends in space additive manufacturing and understand its future potential in next-generation space applications,from in-situ manufacturing to the realization of fully additively manufactured spacecraft.展开更多
Background:Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promotingwell-being.Previously,the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated,while this paper applies it to study environments,s...Background:Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promotingwell-being.Previously,the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated,while this paper applies it to study environments,standing out as pioneering research.The study consists of a systematic development of a conceptual framework based on theories of Uses and Gratification Expectancy(UGE)and perceived motivation based on music elements.Their components are observed variables influencing students’psychological well-being(as the dependent variable).Resilience is examined as a mediator,influencing the relationships of both observed and dependent variables.The main purpose of this study is to highlight the positive effects of online music consumption on the psychological well-being of students.Methods:Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen final year creative multimedia undergraduate students belonging to five central region Malaysian universities,especially on their UGE needs,and a similar concept survey instrument with two hundred participants.The interview data were analysed through thematic analysis,while the survey data through descriptive and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling(PLS-SEM).Results:The results highlight that students gain motivation from online music,which positively affects their psychological well-being(β=0.190,p=0.003,f^(2)=0.037),while resilience significantly affects this relationship(β=0.562,p<0.001,f^(2)=0.461).However,the results also predict a partial relationship between constructs based on UGE with psychological well-being,mediated by resilience,i.e.,AT-UGE(β=0.021,p=0.783,f^(2)=0.000),SIPI-UGE(β=0.228,p=0.004,f^(2)=0.044).Conclusion:The outcome of the study reflected practical,meaningful,and statistically significant results.The majority of the predictors,with the exception of one,i.e.,AT-UGE,displayed a clear positive relation of online music consumption on the Psychological Well-being of students.Future research will explore varying contextual factors impacting online music-related gratifications,motivations,and resilience,along with additional potential mediators and moderators.展开更多
Nowadays, the fast development of nanobiotechnology, has led to rapid diagnosis of important infectious diseases such as arboviruses-borne diseases, vector-borne infections and waterborne parasites diseases and others...Nowadays, the fast development of nanobiotechnology, has led to rapid diagnosis of important infectious diseases such as arboviruses-borne diseases, vector-borne infections and waterborne parasites diseases and others in order to reduce and avoid further dissemination of the infections within the general population. Furthermore, new nanomedicines based on the application of silver and gold nanoparticles which are less toxic, more effective, and that does not generate resistance could help to solve the problems of parasitic disease like leishmaniasis and chagas disease. It turns out that the combination of nanoparticles with antibiotics not only reduces the toxicity of both agents towards human cells but also enhances their ability to destroy bacteria by facilitating the binding of antibiotics to the microbes. Moreover, combining nanoparticles with antimicrobial peptides and essential oils with nanoparticles generates genuine synergy against microbial resistance.展开更多
Land suitability analysis of Moringa oleifera tree cultivation is important to enhance its product,as the demand forthis tree for medicinal values and food sources is increasing worldwide.Therefore,this study aimed to...Land suitability analysis of Moringa oleifera tree cultivation is important to enhance its product,as the demand forthis tree for medicinal values and food sources is increasing worldwide.Therefore,this study aimed to assess suitableland for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation by using the integration of multi-criteria evaluation with geospatialtechnologies in the Dhidhessa catchment,western Ethiopia.Five parameters,namely:slope,land use and landcover(LULC),soil texture,land surface temperature,and rainfall data,were used in this study.The land suitabilityevaluation of Moringa oleifera is classified into three classes as highly suitable,moderately suitable,and notsuitable.The results revealed that,about 344.4 km2(12.2%)of the area is categorized into highly suitable,and2343.7 km2(83%)is moderately suitable for Moringa tree,whereas,137.2 km2(4.9%)is categorized as notsuitable for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation.Hence,based on the finding of the study,we suggested that farmers andother stakeholders can cultivate Moringa oleifera trees in the Dhidhessa catchment.展开更多
This paper describes severe plastic deformation(SPD)procedures,which are utilized to form an ultrafine-grained structure in metallic biomaterials.During the SPD process,a solid material sample is subjected to very hig...This paper describes severe plastic deformation(SPD)procedures,which are utilized to form an ultrafine-grained structure in metallic biomaterials.During the SPD process,a solid material sample is subjected to very high loads without a significant change in sample dimensions.In the present work,the high-pressure torsion(HPT)process,as one of the SPD techniques,which achieves a high degree of deformation and ensures refinement of the microstructure,will be discussed in more detail.Considering that grain size control is accepted as a method to obtain materials with desired characteristics,an overview of the properties of ultrafine-grained titanium-based biomaterials to be used in medicine is given.Moreover,particular attention is dedicated to the influences of HPT process parameters,primarily hydrostatic pressure,and number of revolutions during torsion,on the grain size and physical and mechanical characteristics(modulus of elasticity,microhardness,and tensile properties),corrosion resistance,and biocompatibility of the titanium-based biomaterials.A review of the literature indicates that titanium-based materials obtained by the SPD process show improved mechanical and physical properties without losing biocompatibility and corrosion resistance,which suggests that these methods of obtaining implants are something that should be further developed in the future.展开更多
The protection of distribution networks is facing new challenges from an increasing amount of DG （distributed generation）. Even though current technology provides satisfactory solutions to manage this new situation,...The protection of distribution networks is facing new challenges from an increasing amount of DG （distributed generation）. Even though current technology provides satisfactory solutions to manage this new situation, LOM （loss-of-mains protection） is still considered problematic. The solution proposed in this paper focuses on the use of a line differential protection relay. It inherently contains a suitable communication channel and provides absolutely selective protection for the feeder. Furthermore, it prevents the feeder relays from false tripping for faults on the neighboring feeder. The present trend in protection communication points towards the use of fiber optics. For line differential protection, this means a fast and high-capacity communication link which enables the implementation of many advanced protection functions. In addition, a solid foundation for such a communication link is offered by the new IEC 61850 standard and Ethernet technologies. The basic functionality of the line differential protection enables the operation of both the feeder protection and the DG protection for any fault on the feeder. Furthermore, basic LOM protection methods can be applied as backup protection for failures on the communication link.展开更多
Hierarchical porous carbon(HPC)materials exhibit superior performance profiles in various applications due to their well-developed multiscale interconnected pore structures.The synthesis of HPC from natural biomass pr...Hierarchical porous carbon(HPC)materials exhibit superior performance profiles in various applications due to their well-developed multiscale interconnected pore structures.The synthesis of HPC from natural biomass precursors instead of fossil fuel-based precursors has gained considerable attention in recent decades.Rice husk,a globally abundant agricultural waste,offers a sustainable and cost-effective precursor for HPC production.The structural components and inherent silica content of rice husk act as a natural self-template for forming hierarchical pore structures with superior characteristics.In this review,recent studies on preparing rice husk-based HPC are summarized,and synthesis techniques are evaluated.In addition,recent advancements in activation methods and the effect of silica templates are reviewed while comparing these with traditional activated carbon production methods.Potential future directions for research and development activities are also discussed.Rice husk is a highly promising candidate for producing high-performance HPC materials.展开更多
Noise present in remote sensing data creates obstacles to proper land use and land cover(LULC)classification methods.Thepaper evaluates machine learning(ML)denoisingmethods that adapt Raman spectroscopy’s spectral te...Noise present in remote sensing data creates obstacles to proper land use and land cover(LULC)classification methods.Thepaper evaluates machine learning(ML)denoisingmethods that adapt Raman spectroscopy’s spectral techniques to optimise remote sensing spectra for land-use/land-cover(LULC)mapping.A basic Raman spectroscopy model demonstrates that Savitzky-Golay(SG)filtering,Wavelet denoising,and basic 1D Convolutional Autoencoder have different effects on synthetic spectral features relevant to LULCclassification.Savitzky-Golay filtering yielded the most efficient results,increasing classification accuracy from 0.71(noisy)to 1.00(denoised),resulting in perfect classification with zero errors and enhancing the Precision-Recall curve,as Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve(AUC-PR)transformed from 0.84 to 1.00.The study examined wavelet denoising in conjunction with a 1D Convolutional Autoencoder,assessing the noise reduction capability through visual evaluation.Based on Raman-based spectral analysis,a traditional method complemented with machine learning denoising provides promising fields for feature identification in remote sensing images,thereby improving the quality of LULC-related mapping outcomes.展开更多
This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blende...This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blended with bitumen at varying contents ranging from 1%to 5%by weight,prior to mixing with aggregates.The resulting mixtures were evaluated based on several key performance indicators,including Marshall stability,creep resistance,compactness,and water sensitivity.The inclusion of fibers generally enhanced mechanical properties,with optimal improvements observed at 2%to 4%fiber content.Notably,the mixture with 3%DPF content demonstrated a 35.7%increase in Marshall stability,while the lowest compactness reduction(−1.9%)occurred at 1%fiber addition.In the dry process,the effects of both fiber length(1 cm,3 cm,and 5 cm)and fiber content(0.1%to 0.5%)were examined,focusing specifically on rutting and creep resistance.The results showed that 3 cm fibers significantly improved rutting resistance,whereas the 0.1%fiber content yielded the highest enhancement in creep resistance.However,no clear correlation was established between the two performance metrics,suggesting that the mechanical response is highly deformation-dependent.Overall,the addition of DPF contributed to improved durability,strength,and resistance to deformation in asphalt mixtures.The findings underscore the potential of date palm fibers as a sustainable,low-cost,and environmentally friendly additive in pavement engineering,particularly in regions where palm waste is readily available and underutilized.展开更多
This work presents a study on the use of cathodic protection as a measure against corrosion in pipelines.The cathodic protection,compliant with the API 5L standard,is implemented here by applying an impressed current,...This work presents a study on the use of cathodic protection as a measure against corrosion in pipelines.The cathodic protection,compliant with the API 5L standard,is implemented here by applying an impressed current,while carefully considering several essential variables,such as soil characteristics,the type and color of the pipeline material,as well as the placement and size of the anode.Therefore,it is crucial to optimize the location and values of anodic overflows or ground resistances to ensure a uniform distribution of potential across the entire structure.In this method,impressed current protection uses an auxiliary anode and an external direct current source to induce a current through the electrolyte and the pipeline,thus countering the resistance of the steel.This approach is advantageous as it allows for the adjustment of electrical characteristics,particularly current levels,to meet specific needs.The factors essential to the effectiveness of cathodic protection systems,which optimize the distribution of protection potential across the structure,largely depend on the precise management of ground resistances during anodic discharge,particularly the attenuation coefficient(α).These factors were studied,and the results obtained were presented and discussed based on their influence.展开更多
Concrete pavement often experiences accelerated deterioration due to water and chemical ingress through micro-cracks and surface voids.Particularly,the ingress of aggressive agents into the concrete matrix results in ...Concrete pavement often experiences accelerated deterioration due to water and chemical ingress through micro-cracks and surface voids.Particularly,the ingress of aggressive agents into the concrete matrix results in irreversible changes and deterioration on its endurance.Numerous studies unveiled that hydrophobic surface protection could be an inexpensive and effective way of enhancing the durability of concrete.This research work aims to assess the feasibility of bio-cement posttreatment for facilitating hydrophobic surface protection,thus enhancing the performance and durability of concrete blocks.Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)is one of the promising bio-cement methods.Concrete blocks casted in four different grades were subjected to EICP treatment with different treatment schemes and recipes of cementation media.The treated blocks were tested for water absorption,ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV)measurements,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),thermal performance,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results indicated that the concrete blocks subjected to EICP posttreatment showed over a 55%reduction in water absorption,a 15%higher UCS and a 6.7%higher UPV when compared with control blocks.The SEM analysis suggested that the EICP posttreatment could enhance the durability of concrete paving blocks by enabling a layer of calcite on the surface and by plugging the transport pore channels of the concrete.Although most of the posttreatment strategies investigated herein were found to be operative,a better response was seen in the posttreatment by spraying scheme with 0.5 mol/L cementation media(CM).With the successful demonstration,the EICP treatment prior to the use of concrete blocks can be recommended to the pavement construction industry.展开更多
This study presents a comprehensive and secure architectural framework for the Internet of Medical Things(IoMT),integrating the foundational principles of the Confidentiality,Integrity,and Availability(CIA)triad along...This study presents a comprehensive and secure architectural framework for the Internet of Medical Things(IoMT),integrating the foundational principles of the Confidentiality,Integrity,and Availability(CIA)triad along with authentication mechanisms.Leveraging advanced Machine Learning(ML)and Deep Learning(DL)techniques,the proposed system is designed to safeguard Patient-Generated Health Data(PGHD)across interconnected medical devices.Given the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats in IoMT environments,the integration of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems(IDPS)with intelligent analytics is critical.Our methodology employs both standalone and hybrid ML&DL models to automate threat detection and enable real-time analysis,while ensuring rapid and accurate responses to a diverse array of attacks.Emphasis is placed on systematic model evaluation using detection metrics such as accuracy,False Alarm Rate(FAR),and False Discovery Rate(FDR),with performance validation through cross-validation and statistical significance testing.Experimental results based on the Edge-IIoTset dataset demonstrate the superior performance of ensemble-based ML models such as Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGB)and hybrid DL models such as Convolutional Neural Networks with Autoencoders(CNN+AE),which achieved detection accuracies of 96%and 98%,respectively,with notably low FARs.These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining traditional security principles with advanced AI-driven methodologies to ensure secure,resilient,and trustworthy healthcare systems within the IoMT ecosystem.展开更多
The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branche...The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branched polypropylene(LCB-PP)modified by a specificβ-nucleating agent(NA).Specimens with various LCB-PP compositions with and without NA were prepared under complex flow fields by injection molding.Wide-angle X-ray scattering was employed to capture the X-ray patterns of both the skin and core of the specimens,determining the overall crystallinity and amounts of individual polymorphs.The increasing content of LCB-PP andγ-phase,at the same time,in the blends is reflected in both increasing crystallinity and improved mechanical properties,namely,yield stress and Young’s modulus.On the other hand,the composition of the blends had no significant effect on the impact strength,except for nucleated L-PP.It has been demonstrated that adding a relatively small amount of LCB-PP is sufficient to modify the mechanical properties of linear polypropylene.Even a very small amount of LCB-PP in the L-PP suppressed the effectiveness of NA.展开更多
In recent years,cold-formed steel(CFS)built-up sections have gained a lot of attention in construction.This is mainly because of their structural efficiency and the design advantages they offer.They provide better loa...In recent years,cold-formed steel(CFS)built-up sections have gained a lot of attention in construction.This is mainly because of their structural efficiency and the design advantages they offer.They provide better loadbearing strength and show greater resistance to elastic instability.This study looks at both experimental and numerical analysis of built-up CFS columns.The columns were formed by joining two C-sections in different ways:back-to-back,face-to-face,and box arrangements.Each type was tested with different slenderness ratios.For the experiments,the back-to-back and box sections were connected using two rows of rivets.The face-to-face sections,on the other hand,were joined by welding.In order to improve axial strength and overall stability,all column samples were filled with ordinary concrete,conforming to class C25/30.The numerical modeling was done in ABAQUS to study themechanical behavior of the columns.This helped in understanding how different joining methods affect their axial compression performance.Analytical checkswere also carried out using Eurocode 3 for hollowsections and Eurocode 4 for concretefilled sections.The role of concrete confinement was examined as well,following American Concrete Institute(ACI)guidelines,for both face-to-face and box-shaped columns.Thenumerical results matched closely with the experimental findings,with variations of less than 5%.The study identified key failure modes such as local buckling and distortional buckling.It highlighted how section shape,type of connection,and concrete infill all play amajor role in improving the strength of built-up CFS columns.展开更多
This study aims to determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity(AA)of different plant parts(bulbs,stalk,leaves and flowers)of wild rosy garlic(Allium roseum)from Montenegro.The flower exhibited the...This study aims to determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity(AA)of different plant parts(bulbs,stalk,leaves and flowers)of wild rosy garlic(Allium roseum)from Montenegro.The flower exhibited the highest concentration of total phenols(55.7 GAE/g d.e.),followed by the leaf(25.6mg GAE/g d.e.).The leaf displayed the highest concentration of total flavonoids(41.48 mg RE/g d.e.),followed by the flower(36.26 mg RE/g d.e.)and top part of the stalk(26.80 mg RE/g d.e.).The AA of different parts of A.roseum after 60 min of incubation decreased in the following order:flower(0.15mg/cm^(3))>upper stalk(0.32mg/cm^(3))>leaf(0.36mg/cm^(3))>basal stalk(0.80mg/cm^(3))>bulb(1.53 mg/cm^(3)).The flowers exhibited the lowest EC_(50) values,indicating the highest antioxidant potential throughout the entire incubation period.Among all plant parts analyzed,the flowers demonstrated the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP),reaching 24.99 mg Fe^(2+)/g,thereby indicating their superior antioxidant potential.Given their edibility,pleasant flavor,and high nutritional value,A.roseum flowers may be considered a promising natural additive for functional food products or culinary applications,including dish enhancement and decoration.展开更多
Because of an unfortunate mistake during the production of this article,the Acknowledgements have been omitted.The Acknowledgements are added as follows:Sasan YAZDANI would like to thank the Scientific and Technologic...Because of an unfortunate mistake during the production of this article,the Acknowledgements have been omitted.The Acknowledgements are added as follows:Sasan YAZDANI would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey(TÜB˙ITAK)for receiving financial support for this work through the 2221 Fellowship Program for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave(Grant ID:E 21514107-115.02-228864).Sasan YAZDANI also expresses his gratitude to Sahand University of Technology for granting him sabbatical leave to facilitate the completion of this research.展开更多
The mineral composition of the sinter affects the quality of cold-bonded briquettes(CBB),which are prepared from returned sinter fines and serve as a cleaner blast furnace charge.Pulverization rate,compressive strengt...The mineral composition of the sinter affects the quality of cold-bonded briquettes(CBB),which are prepared from returned sinter fines and serve as a cleaner blast furnace charge.Pulverization rate,compressive strength,reduction disintegration index(RDI)and compressive strength after reduction experiment were tested to analyze the experimental parameters of CBB under the influence of different basicities and sintering time.The results show that when the basicity of CBB is increased from 0.5 to 1.5,the pulverization rate increases,and performance indexes such as compressive strength,RDI,and compressive strength exhibit a decreasing trend.When the basicity is increased from 1.5 to 3.0,all the aforementioned performance indexes are improved.When the sintering time is extended from 0 to 8 h,the properties mentioned above are improved.The results of X-ray diffraction,microstructure,and thermodynamic calculations confirm that the hematite in the mineral composition of CBB tends to convert into calcium ferrite,which leads to the increased compressive strength of CBB.The reasonable basicity and sintering time during sinter preparation not only form the desired mineral composition but also improve the properties of the CBB.展开更多
Objective:To confirm the presence of Culex(Cx.)(Lophoceraomyia)cinctellus in Sri Lanka using morphological and molecular evidence.Methods:From October 2019 to April 2020,mosquito surveillance was conducted fort-nightl...Objective:To confirm the presence of Culex(Cx.)(Lophoceraomyia)cinctellus in Sri Lanka using morphological and molecular evidence.Methods:From October 2019 to April 2020,mosquito surveillance was conducted fort-nightly in the Banduragoda Public Health Inspector area.Larvae were collected using standard siphoning methods,while adults were sampled using Cattle Baited Trap,Gravid Traps,Light Traps,Bird-Baited Traps,Dog Baited Traps,and diurnal human landing collections.Specimens were transported to the Entomology Laboratory at the Medical Research Institute for identification.Morphological identification was performed using standard taxonomic keys.Molecular confirmation was achieved through DNA sequencing of mosquito head and thoracic regions,followed by sequence analysis using NCBI BLAST and Geneious software(version 7.1.3).Results:Adults of Cx.cinctellus were identified in Bird-Baited Traps and human bait collections.Unique morphological characteristics,including well-developed pulvilli,wing vein 1A ending before the apex of cross vein mcu,basal transverse pale bands on abdominal terga,and two labial basal setae on the proboscis,confirmed species identity.Morphometric measurements included mean thoracic length(0.58±0.02)mm,thoracic width(0.63±0.02)mm,abdominal length(2.15±0.03)mm,abdominal width(0.61±0.01)mm,and wing length(2.91±0.02)mm.Molecular analysis corroborated the morphological identification,affirming the species as Cx.cinctellus.COI sequences of the collected specimen(452 bp)were confirmed as Cx.cinctellus for sequence identity by BLAST and BOLD analysis.These sequences were subsequently deposited in GenBank under the accession number OR225623.1.Conclusions:This study documents the first occurrence of Cx.cinctellus in Sri Lanka,highlighting the need to enhance entomological surveillance to monitor its dispersal and population dynamics.展开更多
基金supported by the Ministry of Science,Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia(No.451-03-136/2025-03/200135)。
文摘Access to clean drinking water is essential for human health,economic development,and environmental sustain-ability.To effectively preserve water quality and ensure a safe and stable water supply,it is essential to determine the priority control factors of potentially hazardous elements in water.This study focused on public drinking wa-ter fountains in Zaječar City(Serbia),examining water hydrochemistry,quality,potential sources of hazardous elements,and the health risks associated with consumption or dermal exposure.Among all potentially hazardous elements,iron showed a deviation from the limit in drinking water prescribed by the World Health Organization,reaching 631μg/L.However,all samples were categorized as excellent quality for drinking.Water composition was governed by water-rock interactions,distinguishing Na-HCO_(3)as the dominant water type.A total of 3.3%and 6.6%of samples exceeded the threshold of 1 for non-carcinogenic health risk for adults and children,re-spectively,with the mean HIa value of 0.35 and the mean HIc value of 0.57.However,the carcinogenic risk was within the allowable limits for children,whereas it surpassed the threshold of 1.0×10^(–4)for adults in 10%of the samples.The positive matrix factorization model identified four sources responsible for water quality,i.e.,natural source,industrial source,sewage source,and agricultural source,with contributions of 37.1%,35.0%,17.8%,and 10.1%,respectively.The Monte Carlo simulation of source-specific health risks revealed that the industrial source was the main contributor to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks,attributed to its high arsenic load.
文摘The Phewa watershed is under constant landslide threat because of its complicated topography,climate,and biology.The floral structure of landslide-prone areas possesses a significant impact on determining the ecological processes involved in slope stabilization.Plant roots,for example,serve as physical anchors in the soil,enhancing slope stability.Therefore,this study aims to determine appropriate plant species that can enhance soil stability in Phewa Watershed by examining their floral structure in landslide areas.Floral diversity was assessed throughout field visits.Ten of the 46 landslides were selected with 15 plots based on aspect,watershed zones,and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)value.Six plant species were selected to evaluate root traits,uprooting force,and cellulosic testing based on their Important Value Index(IVI)value,native characteristics,and regeneration.The uprooting force was calculated using a‘winch’with a force transducer,while the root characteristics were measured manually and using‘ImageJ software’.Results show that 319 species from 92 families are registered in the buffer zones and landslide scars,and the NDVI suggest that vegetation covers more than 49%of the landslide areas.The floral composition of the landslides in the 15 plots contains 140 species from 52 families,with Poaceae dominating.In six plant species,the Ochiai index suggests a significant level of association.The uprooting force is correlated to the root diameter and number but is insignificant in terms of root length and area.Saccharum spontaneum is the best option for landslide stability based on uprooting force(882.63±245.175)N,cellulose content(67.038±4.766)%and root number characteristic(69.333±24.338)whereas Themeda arundinacea is preferred due to its root diameter traits(0.054±0.022)cm.Finally,it emphasizes the significance of selecting key species in lowering the risk of landslides,strengthening soil stability,and building resilient ecosystems in susceptible watershed areas.
文摘Additive manufacturing(AM),globally referred to as 3D printing,is a highly flexible manufacturing method that enables the design and creation of complex geometries with ease.This review article comprehensively examines the materials,methods,and applications of AM specifically for the space sector,while identifying current research gaps and proposing future directions.The primary advantages of AM over conventional subtractive manufacturing for space implementations include economic efficiency,unparalleled design freedom,high customizability,tailor-made production,and the ability to process a wide range of materials including metals,polymers,composites,and ceramics.The article focuses on space-grade materials such as high-performance alloys,polymers,and ceramics used in applications ranging from electronic equipment to propulsion systems.It provides a detailed analysis of prevalent metal AM techniques like powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition,as well as non-metal methods including used deposition modeling and selective laser sintering.Through specific case studies,it demonstrates how AM enables part consolidation,weight reduction,and the production of multifunctional components with integrated capabilities.This review will help readers comprehend current trends in space additive manufacturing and understand its future potential in next-generation space applications,from in-situ manufacturing to the realization of fully additively manufactured spacecraft.
基金funded by Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education(MOHE)under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme(FRGS/1/2023/SSI07/MMU/02/3)which is awarded to the Multimedia University.The project is led by the second author.
文摘Background:Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promotingwell-being.Previously,the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated,while this paper applies it to study environments,standing out as pioneering research.The study consists of a systematic development of a conceptual framework based on theories of Uses and Gratification Expectancy(UGE)and perceived motivation based on music elements.Their components are observed variables influencing students’psychological well-being(as the dependent variable).Resilience is examined as a mediator,influencing the relationships of both observed and dependent variables.The main purpose of this study is to highlight the positive effects of online music consumption on the psychological well-being of students.Methods:Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen final year creative multimedia undergraduate students belonging to five central region Malaysian universities,especially on their UGE needs,and a similar concept survey instrument with two hundred participants.The interview data were analysed through thematic analysis,while the survey data through descriptive and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling(PLS-SEM).Results:The results highlight that students gain motivation from online music,which positively affects their psychological well-being(β=0.190,p=0.003,f^(2)=0.037),while resilience significantly affects this relationship(β=0.562,p<0.001,f^(2)=0.461).However,the results also predict a partial relationship between constructs based on UGE with psychological well-being,mediated by resilience,i.e.,AT-UGE(β=0.021,p=0.783,f^(2)=0.000),SIPI-UGE(β=0.228,p=0.004,f^(2)=0.044).Conclusion:The outcome of the study reflected practical,meaningful,and statistically significant results.The majority of the predictors,with the exception of one,i.e.,AT-UGE,displayed a clear positive relation of online music consumption on the Psychological Well-being of students.Future research will explore varying contextual factors impacting online music-related gratifications,motivations,and resilience,along with additional potential mediators and moderators.
文摘Nowadays, the fast development of nanobiotechnology, has led to rapid diagnosis of important infectious diseases such as arboviruses-borne diseases, vector-borne infections and waterborne parasites diseases and others in order to reduce and avoid further dissemination of the infections within the general population. Furthermore, new nanomedicines based on the application of silver and gold nanoparticles which are less toxic, more effective, and that does not generate resistance could help to solve the problems of parasitic disease like leishmaniasis and chagas disease. It turns out that the combination of nanoparticles with antibiotics not only reduces the toxicity of both agents towards human cells but also enhances their ability to destroy bacteria by facilitating the binding of antibiotics to the microbes. Moreover, combining nanoparticles with antimicrobial peptides and essential oils with nanoparticles generates genuine synergy against microbial resistance.
文摘Land suitability analysis of Moringa oleifera tree cultivation is important to enhance its product,as the demand forthis tree for medicinal values and food sources is increasing worldwide.Therefore,this study aimed to assess suitableland for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation by using the integration of multi-criteria evaluation with geospatialtechnologies in the Dhidhessa catchment,western Ethiopia.Five parameters,namely:slope,land use and landcover(LULC),soil texture,land surface temperature,and rainfall data,were used in this study.The land suitabilityevaluation of Moringa oleifera is classified into three classes as highly suitable,moderately suitable,and notsuitable.The results revealed that,about 344.4 km2(12.2%)of the area is categorized into highly suitable,and2343.7 km2(83%)is moderately suitable for Moringa tree,whereas,137.2 km2(4.9%)is categorized as notsuitable for Moringa oleifera tree cultivation.Hence,based on the finding of the study,we suggested that farmers andother stakeholders can cultivate Moringa oleifera trees in the Dhidhessa catchment.
基金Funded by the Ministry of Science,Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia(Nos.451-03-47/2023-01/200135,451-03-47/2023-01/200017 and 451-03-47/2023-01/200287)。
文摘This paper describes severe plastic deformation(SPD)procedures,which are utilized to form an ultrafine-grained structure in metallic biomaterials.During the SPD process,a solid material sample is subjected to very high loads without a significant change in sample dimensions.In the present work,the high-pressure torsion(HPT)process,as one of the SPD techniques,which achieves a high degree of deformation and ensures refinement of the microstructure,will be discussed in more detail.Considering that grain size control is accepted as a method to obtain materials with desired characteristics,an overview of the properties of ultrafine-grained titanium-based biomaterials to be used in medicine is given.Moreover,particular attention is dedicated to the influences of HPT process parameters,primarily hydrostatic pressure,and number of revolutions during torsion,on the grain size and physical and mechanical characteristics(modulus of elasticity,microhardness,and tensile properties),corrosion resistance,and biocompatibility of the titanium-based biomaterials.A review of the literature indicates that titanium-based materials obtained by the SPD process show improved mechanical and physical properties without losing biocompatibility and corrosion resistance,which suggests that these methods of obtaining implants are something that should be further developed in the future.
文摘The protection of distribution networks is facing new challenges from an increasing amount of DG （distributed generation）. Even though current technology provides satisfactory solutions to manage this new situation, LOM （loss-of-mains protection） is still considered problematic. The solution proposed in this paper focuses on the use of a line differential protection relay. It inherently contains a suitable communication channel and provides absolutely selective protection for the feeder. Furthermore, it prevents the feeder relays from false tripping for faults on the neighboring feeder. The present trend in protection communication points towards the use of fiber optics. For line differential protection, this means a fast and high-capacity communication link which enables the implementation of many advanced protection functions. In addition, a solid foundation for such a communication link is offered by the new IEC 61850 standard and Ethernet technologies. The basic functionality of the line differential protection enables the operation of both the feeder protection and the DG protection for any fault on the feeder. Furthermore, basic LOM protection methods can be applied as backup protection for failures on the communication link.
文摘Hierarchical porous carbon(HPC)materials exhibit superior performance profiles in various applications due to their well-developed multiscale interconnected pore structures.The synthesis of HPC from natural biomass precursors instead of fossil fuel-based precursors has gained considerable attention in recent decades.Rice husk,a globally abundant agricultural waste,offers a sustainable and cost-effective precursor for HPC production.The structural components and inherent silica content of rice husk act as a natural self-template for forming hierarchical pore structures with superior characteristics.In this review,recent studies on preparing rice husk-based HPC are summarized,and synthesis techniques are evaluated.In addition,recent advancements in activation methods and the effect of silica templates are reviewed while comparing these with traditional activated carbon production methods.Potential future directions for research and development activities are also discussed.Rice husk is a highly promising candidate for producing high-performance HPC materials.
文摘Noise present in remote sensing data creates obstacles to proper land use and land cover(LULC)classification methods.Thepaper evaluates machine learning(ML)denoisingmethods that adapt Raman spectroscopy’s spectral techniques to optimise remote sensing spectra for land-use/land-cover(LULC)mapping.A basic Raman spectroscopy model demonstrates that Savitzky-Golay(SG)filtering,Wavelet denoising,and basic 1D Convolutional Autoencoder have different effects on synthetic spectral features relevant to LULCclassification.Savitzky-Golay filtering yielded the most efficient results,increasing classification accuracy from 0.71(noisy)to 1.00(denoised),resulting in perfect classification with zero errors and enhancing the Precision-Recall curve,as Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve(AUC-PR)transformed from 0.84 to 1.00.The study examined wavelet denoising in conjunction with a 1D Convolutional Autoencoder,assessing the noise reduction capability through visual evaluation.Based on Raman-based spectral analysis,a traditional method complemented with machine learning denoising provides promising fields for feature identification in remote sensing images,thereby improving the quality of LULC-related mapping outcomes.
文摘This study investigates the influence of date palm fibers(DPF)on the mechanical performance of bituminous mixtures using two experimental methodologies:the wet and dry processes.In the wet process,DPFs were pre-blended with bitumen at varying contents ranging from 1%to 5%by weight,prior to mixing with aggregates.The resulting mixtures were evaluated based on several key performance indicators,including Marshall stability,creep resistance,compactness,and water sensitivity.The inclusion of fibers generally enhanced mechanical properties,with optimal improvements observed at 2%to 4%fiber content.Notably,the mixture with 3%DPF content demonstrated a 35.7%increase in Marshall stability,while the lowest compactness reduction(−1.9%)occurred at 1%fiber addition.In the dry process,the effects of both fiber length(1 cm,3 cm,and 5 cm)and fiber content(0.1%to 0.5%)were examined,focusing specifically on rutting and creep resistance.The results showed that 3 cm fibers significantly improved rutting resistance,whereas the 0.1%fiber content yielded the highest enhancement in creep resistance.However,no clear correlation was established between the two performance metrics,suggesting that the mechanical response is highly deformation-dependent.Overall,the addition of DPF contributed to improved durability,strength,and resistance to deformation in asphalt mixtures.The findings underscore the potential of date palm fibers as a sustainable,low-cost,and environmentally friendly additive in pavement engineering,particularly in regions where palm waste is readily available and underutilized.
文摘This work presents a study on the use of cathodic protection as a measure against corrosion in pipelines.The cathodic protection,compliant with the API 5L standard,is implemented here by applying an impressed current,while carefully considering several essential variables,such as soil characteristics,the type and color of the pipeline material,as well as the placement and size of the anode.Therefore,it is crucial to optimize the location and values of anodic overflows or ground resistances to ensure a uniform distribution of potential across the entire structure.In this method,impressed current protection uses an auxiliary anode and an external direct current source to induce a current through the electrolyte and the pipeline,thus countering the resistance of the steel.This approach is advantageous as it allows for the adjustment of electrical characteristics,particularly current levels,to meet specific needs.The factors essential to the effectiveness of cathodic protection systems,which optimize the distribution of protection potential across the structure,largely depend on the precise management of ground resistances during anodic discharge,particularly the attenuation coefficient(α).These factors were studied,and the results obtained were presented and discussed based on their influence.
基金supported by the following two grants:(i)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)KAKENHI Grant Number JP22H01581(i)National Research Counsil(NRC)of Sri Lanka Investigator Driven Grant Number 22-041.
文摘Concrete pavement often experiences accelerated deterioration due to water and chemical ingress through micro-cracks and surface voids.Particularly,the ingress of aggressive agents into the concrete matrix results in irreversible changes and deterioration on its endurance.Numerous studies unveiled that hydrophobic surface protection could be an inexpensive and effective way of enhancing the durability of concrete.This research work aims to assess the feasibility of bio-cement posttreatment for facilitating hydrophobic surface protection,thus enhancing the performance and durability of concrete blocks.Enzyme induced carbonate precipitation(EICP)is one of the promising bio-cement methods.Concrete blocks casted in four different grades were subjected to EICP treatment with different treatment schemes and recipes of cementation media.The treated blocks were tested for water absorption,ultrasonic pulse velocity(UPV)measurements,unconfined compressive strength(UCS),thermal performance,and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results indicated that the concrete blocks subjected to EICP posttreatment showed over a 55%reduction in water absorption,a 15%higher UCS and a 6.7%higher UPV when compared with control blocks.The SEM analysis suggested that the EICP posttreatment could enhance the durability of concrete paving blocks by enabling a layer of calcite on the surface and by plugging the transport pore channels of the concrete.Although most of the posttreatment strategies investigated herein were found to be operative,a better response was seen in the posttreatment by spraying scheme with 0.5 mol/L cementation media(CM).With the successful demonstration,the EICP treatment prior to the use of concrete blocks can be recommended to the pavement construction industry.
基金funded by the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at Jouf University under Grant Number(DGSSR-2023-02-02516).
文摘This study presents a comprehensive and secure architectural framework for the Internet of Medical Things(IoMT),integrating the foundational principles of the Confidentiality,Integrity,and Availability(CIA)triad along with authentication mechanisms.Leveraging advanced Machine Learning(ML)and Deep Learning(DL)techniques,the proposed system is designed to safeguard Patient-Generated Health Data(PGHD)across interconnected medical devices.Given the increasing complexity and scale of cyber threats in IoMT environments,the integration of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems(IDPS)with intelligent analytics is critical.Our methodology employs both standalone and hybrid ML&DL models to automate threat detection and enable real-time analysis,while ensuring rapid and accurate responses to a diverse array of attacks.Emphasis is placed on systematic model evaluation using detection metrics such as accuracy,False Alarm Rate(FAR),and False Discovery Rate(FDR),with performance validation through cross-validation and statistical significance testing.Experimental results based on the Edge-IIoTset dataset demonstrate the superior performance of ensemble-based ML models such as Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGB)and hybrid DL models such as Convolutional Neural Networks with Autoencoders(CNN+AE),which achieved detection accuracies of 96%and 98%,respectively,with notably low FARs.These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining traditional security principles with advanced AI-driven methodologies to ensure secure,resilient,and trustworthy healthcare systems within the IoMT ecosystem.
文摘The present study presents an assessment of the interrelations between long-chain branching,specific nucleation,and end-use properties of polypropylene blends:blends of linear polypropylene(L-PP)and long-chain branched polypropylene(LCB-PP)modified by a specificβ-nucleating agent(NA).Specimens with various LCB-PP compositions with and without NA were prepared under complex flow fields by injection molding.Wide-angle X-ray scattering was employed to capture the X-ray patterns of both the skin and core of the specimens,determining the overall crystallinity and amounts of individual polymorphs.The increasing content of LCB-PP andγ-phase,at the same time,in the blends is reflected in both increasing crystallinity and improved mechanical properties,namely,yield stress and Young’s modulus.On the other hand,the composition of the blends had no significant effect on the impact strength,except for nucleated L-PP.It has been demonstrated that adding a relatively small amount of LCB-PP is sufficient to modify the mechanical properties of linear polypropylene.Even a very small amount of LCB-PP in the L-PP suppressed the effectiveness of NA.
文摘In recent years,cold-formed steel(CFS)built-up sections have gained a lot of attention in construction.This is mainly because of their structural efficiency and the design advantages they offer.They provide better loadbearing strength and show greater resistance to elastic instability.This study looks at both experimental and numerical analysis of built-up CFS columns.The columns were formed by joining two C-sections in different ways:back-to-back,face-to-face,and box arrangements.Each type was tested with different slenderness ratios.For the experiments,the back-to-back and box sections were connected using two rows of rivets.The face-to-face sections,on the other hand,were joined by welding.In order to improve axial strength and overall stability,all column samples were filled with ordinary concrete,conforming to class C25/30.The numerical modeling was done in ABAQUS to study themechanical behavior of the columns.This helped in understanding how different joining methods affect their axial compression performance.Analytical checkswere also carried out using Eurocode 3 for hollowsections and Eurocode 4 for concretefilled sections.The role of concrete confinement was examined as well,following American Concrete Institute(ACI)guidelines,for both face-to-face and box-shaped columns.Thenumerical results matched closely with the experimental findings,with variations of less than 5%.The study identified key failure modes such as local buckling and distortional buckling.It highlighted how section shape,type of connection,and concrete infill all play amajor role in improving the strength of built-up CFS columns.
基金funded by the Ministry of Education Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia with grant numbers 451-03-47/2025-01/200133 and 451-34403-47/2025-01/200189.
文摘This study aims to determine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity(AA)of different plant parts(bulbs,stalk,leaves and flowers)of wild rosy garlic(Allium roseum)from Montenegro.The flower exhibited the highest concentration of total phenols(55.7 GAE/g d.e.),followed by the leaf(25.6mg GAE/g d.e.).The leaf displayed the highest concentration of total flavonoids(41.48 mg RE/g d.e.),followed by the flower(36.26 mg RE/g d.e.)and top part of the stalk(26.80 mg RE/g d.e.).The AA of different parts of A.roseum after 60 min of incubation decreased in the following order:flower(0.15mg/cm^(3))>upper stalk(0.32mg/cm^(3))>leaf(0.36mg/cm^(3))>basal stalk(0.80mg/cm^(3))>bulb(1.53 mg/cm^(3)).The flowers exhibited the lowest EC_(50) values,indicating the highest antioxidant potential throughout the entire incubation period.Among all plant parts analyzed,the flowers demonstrated the highest ferric reducing antioxidant power(FRAP),reaching 24.99 mg Fe^(2+)/g,thereby indicating their superior antioxidant potential.Given their edibility,pleasant flavor,and high nutritional value,A.roseum flowers may be considered a promising natural additive for functional food products or culinary applications,including dish enhancement and decoration.
文摘Because of an unfortunate mistake during the production of this article,the Acknowledgements have been omitted.The Acknowledgements are added as follows:Sasan YAZDANI would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey(TÜB˙ITAK)for receiving financial support for this work through the 2221 Fellowship Program for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave(Grant ID:E 21514107-115.02-228864).Sasan YAZDANI also expresses his gratitude to Sahand University of Technology for granting him sabbatical leave to facilitate the completion of this research.
基金supported by Distinguished Professor(Tracking Plan)of Oriental Scholars of Shanghai Universities(Grant No.GZ2020013)National 111 Project(The Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to University)(Grant No.Dl7002)+1 种基金Independent Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Advanced Special Steel Shanghai Key Laboratory of Advanced Ferrometallurgy and Shanghai University(Grant No.SKLASS 2022-Z011)Additionally,the authors are appreciative of the funding from the Academy of Finland with Grant No.349833.
文摘The mineral composition of the sinter affects the quality of cold-bonded briquettes(CBB),which are prepared from returned sinter fines and serve as a cleaner blast furnace charge.Pulverization rate,compressive strength,reduction disintegration index(RDI)and compressive strength after reduction experiment were tested to analyze the experimental parameters of CBB under the influence of different basicities and sintering time.The results show that when the basicity of CBB is increased from 0.5 to 1.5,the pulverization rate increases,and performance indexes such as compressive strength,RDI,and compressive strength exhibit a decreasing trend.When the basicity is increased from 1.5 to 3.0,all the aforementioned performance indexes are improved.When the sintering time is extended from 0 to 8 h,the properties mentioned above are improved.The results of X-ray diffraction,microstructure,and thermodynamic calculations confirm that the hematite in the mineral composition of CBB tends to convert into calcium ferrite,which leads to the increased compressive strength of CBB.The reasonable basicity and sintering time during sinter preparation not only form the desired mineral composition but also improve the properties of the CBB.
文摘Objective:To confirm the presence of Culex(Cx.)(Lophoceraomyia)cinctellus in Sri Lanka using morphological and molecular evidence.Methods:From October 2019 to April 2020,mosquito surveillance was conducted fort-nightly in the Banduragoda Public Health Inspector area.Larvae were collected using standard siphoning methods,while adults were sampled using Cattle Baited Trap,Gravid Traps,Light Traps,Bird-Baited Traps,Dog Baited Traps,and diurnal human landing collections.Specimens were transported to the Entomology Laboratory at the Medical Research Institute for identification.Morphological identification was performed using standard taxonomic keys.Molecular confirmation was achieved through DNA sequencing of mosquito head and thoracic regions,followed by sequence analysis using NCBI BLAST and Geneious software(version 7.1.3).Results:Adults of Cx.cinctellus were identified in Bird-Baited Traps and human bait collections.Unique morphological characteristics,including well-developed pulvilli,wing vein 1A ending before the apex of cross vein mcu,basal transverse pale bands on abdominal terga,and two labial basal setae on the proboscis,confirmed species identity.Morphometric measurements included mean thoracic length(0.58±0.02)mm,thoracic width(0.63±0.02)mm,abdominal length(2.15±0.03)mm,abdominal width(0.61±0.01)mm,and wing length(2.91±0.02)mm.Molecular analysis corroborated the morphological identification,affirming the species as Cx.cinctellus.COI sequences of the collected specimen(452 bp)were confirmed as Cx.cinctellus for sequence identity by BLAST and BOLD analysis.These sequences were subsequently deposited in GenBank under the accession number OR225623.1.Conclusions:This study documents the first occurrence of Cx.cinctellus in Sri Lanka,highlighting the need to enhance entomological surveillance to monitor its dispersal and population dynamics.
