3 research outputs found
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of sheep owners regarding abortion in Northern Tunisia
No full textAbstract Background Abortion in ewes causes high economic losses and represents a threat for human health due to abortive zoonotic pathogens. Objective The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among sheep owners in the northern Tunisia regarding ewes’ abortions. Methods Between February 2021 and May 2022, a structured questionnaire containing both close and open‐ended questions was applied to 120 sheep owners in northern Tunisia. The data collected were analysed by chi‐square test using Epi info 6 software. Results The majority (75%) of participants reported a history of abortion in their sheep flocks. Sheep owners thought that the most frequent cause of abortion was physical factors, such as trauma, climate and stress (60% ± 5.5%; 48/80), followed by toxicity (15% ± 4%; 12/80), metabolic and nutritional conditions (12.5% ± 3.7%; 10/80), vaccination (5% ± 2.4%; 4/80) and infectious causes (7.5% ± 2.9%; 6/80) (p < 0.001). The majority of animal owners reported that abortions occurred mainly during autumn (39.6% ± 5%; 38/96), followed by summer (27% ± 4.5%; 26/96), winter (23% ± 4.3%; 22/96) and spring (10.4% ± 3.1%; 10/96) (p < 0.001). Approximately, half (45.8% ± 5%; 55/120) of interviewed farmers would not take any action if an abortion occurred. Half of the interviewed farmers (50.5% ± 5.1%; 48/95) did not apply any preventive measures when manipulating aborted ewes, and most of the sheep owners (77.3% ± 3.8%; 92/119) did not know that aborted ewes could transmit zoonotic pathogens. Conclusions Our survey concluded that sheep owners in Northern Tunisia had poor knowledge and attitudes as well as applied limited actions concerning several health aspects related to abortion. Education programmes should be established in order to improve Tunisian sheep owners’ KAP regarding abortion
Anti-corrosive and oil sensitive coatings based on epoxy/polyaniline/magnetite-clay composites through diazonium interfacial chemistry
No full textEpoxy polymer nanocomposites filled with magnetite (Fe3O4) clay (B), named (B-DPA-PANI@Fe3O4) have been prepared at different filler loading (0.1, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 wt. %). The surface modification of clay by polyaniline (PANI) is achieved in the presence of 4-diphenylamine diazonium salt (DPA). The effects of the nanofiller loading on Tensile, mechanical and dielectric properties were systematically studied. Improved properties was highlighted for all reinforced samples. The addition of only 3 wt. % of the filler enhanced the tensile strength of the composites by 256%, and the glass transition temperature Tg by 37%. The dielectric spectra over a broad frequency showed a robust interface between the hybrid (B-DPA-PANI@Fe3O4) fillers and epoxy matrix. The results showed most significant improvement in corrosion inhibition using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5 wt % NaCl, as well as a significant response in oil sensing test. High charge transfer resistance of 110 × 106 Ω.cm2 using 3-wt % of filler was noted compared to 0.35 × 106 Ω.cm2 for the pure epoxy. The results obtained herein will open new routes for the preparation of efficient anticorrosion sensor coatings. © 2018, The Author(s).NPRP Award from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) [8-878-1-172
Effect of ZnO on spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ doped zinc phosphate glasses
No full textCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOSpectroscopic properties of Sm3+ containing zinc oxide based phosphate glasses in the chemical composition (50 - x)P2O5 + 20Na2HPO4 + 9AlF3 + xZnO + 1Sm2O3 (where x = 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) have been studied. Raman, optical absorption, emission spectra and luminescence decay profiles were recorded and systematically analyzed. Using Judd-Ofelt theory, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters Ωλ (λ = 2, 4 and 6), spontaneous radiative transition probabilities (Arad), radiative lifetimes (τR), branching ratios (β) were calculated and discussed. With 400 nmwavelength excitation, the emission spectra and decay lifetime of 4G52 level of Sm3+ doped zinc-phosphate glasses were studied. The branching ratios and emission cross-sections for the transition, 4G5/2→6H7/2 are found to be higher for x = 25 mol% of zinc-phosphate glass matrix. The observed decay profiles were found to be exhibiting non-exponential behavior for all zinc-phosphate glasses, due to non-radiative energy transfer among the excited Sm3+ ions.Spectroscopic properties of Sm3+ containing zinc oxide based phosphate glasses in the chemical composition (50−x)P2O5+20Na2HPO4+9AlF3+xZnO+1Sm2O3 (where x=5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) have been studied. Raman, optical absorption, emission spectra and luminescence decay profiles were recorded and systematically analyzed. Using Judd–Ofelt theory, Judd–Ofelt intensity parameters Ωλ (λ=2, 4 and 6), spontaneous radiative transition probabilities (Arad), radiative lifetimes (τR), branching ratios (β) were calculated and discussed. With 400 nm wavelength excitation, the emission spectra and decay lifetime of 4G52 level of Sm3+ doped zinc-phosphate glasses were studied. The branching ratios and emission cross-sections for the transition, 4G5/2→6H7/2 are found to be higher for x=25 mol% of zinc-phosphate glass matrix. 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Acta A, 60, p. 637Jamalaiah, B.C., Suresh Kumar, J., Mohan Babu, A., Suhasini, T., Rama Moorthy, L., (2009) J. Lumin, 129, p. 363The author Y.C. Rathnakaram would like to thank the University Grants Commission (UGC) (No. F.40-443/2011(SR)), Delhi for financial support and M. Radha is greatful to TWAS-CNPq (No. 190077/2013-1)
