The carriage of pathogenic Leptospira was investigated by PCR in 51 wild carnivores, 20 domestic dogs with outdoor access, and 27 free-roaming domestic cats sampled in periurban Barcelona (NE Spain). Overall prevalence was 7.7%, with DNA confirmed in 3/30 common genets (Genetta genetta) (serovars Icterohaemorraghiae and Sejröe), 1/9 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) (Canicola) and 2/27 cats (Icterohaemorraghiae). Though most of the dogs were vaccinated against Leptospira, DNA of the serovar Canicola was detected in the urine of 25% of the vaccinated animals, and the serovar Icterohaemorraghiae in one non-vaccinated dog.
Infrared (IR) science and technology has been mainly dedicated to surveillance and security: since the 70’s specialized techniques have been emerging in thermal imaging for medical and cultural heritage diagnostics, building and aeronautics structures control, energy savings and remote sensing. Most of these applications were developed thanks to IR FPAs sensors with high numbers of pixels and, actually, working at room temperatures. Besides these technological achievements in sensors/ receivers, advanced developments of IR laser sources up to far IR bands have been achieved in the form QCL (quantum cascade laser), allowing wide band TLC and high sensitivity systems for security. recently new sensors and sources with improved performances are emerging in the very far IR region up to submillimeter wavelengths, the so called terahertz (THz) region.
A survey of the historical growth and a forecast of the future developments in Devices and Systems for the new frontier of IR will be discussed, in particular for the key questions: “From where and when is IR coming?”, “Where is it now?” and “Where will it go and when?”. These questions will be treated for key systems (Military/Civil), key devices (Sensors/ Sources), and new strategic technologies (Nanotech/TeraHertz).
The paper concerns development of original method of optimal control at energy performance index and its application to dynamic processes surveillance of some mechatronic systems. The latter concerns chatter vibration surveillance during highspeed slender milling of rigid details, as well as motion control of two-wheeled mobile platform. Results of on-line computer simulations and real performance on the target objects reflect a great efficiency of the processes surveillance.
The present study attempted to elucidate possible routes leading to the achievement of sero- positive results, among young (aged ≤1 year) wild boar population. In the years 2017-2018, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for African swine fever (ASF) in Poland examined nearly 27-thousand wild boar blood samples, collected during an active surveillance of ASF risk zones, for the presence of viral DNA and anti-ASFV antibodies. Out of all the examined samples, 420 were positive. However, in more than half of them (292 samples) antibodies against African swine fever virus (ASFV) were detected, while ASFV DNA was not detected in blood. Out of all 292 seropositive/PCR-negative samples, 126 belonged to young wild boars (aged ≤1 year). For this reason, the NRL in Poland has examined 10 selected seropositive wild boar carcasses to confirm or exclude post-mortem lesions for ASF as well as to investigate the presence of viral DNA in the internal organs. Neither pathological lesions for ASF nor the presence of genetic material of ASFV were found in the examined wild boars. To elucidate this outcomes, following hypotheses about possible reasons of the obtained results were drawn: the presence of convalescent animals, infection of low-virulent ASFV isolate and the vertical transmission of antibodies through the colostrum.