Although a slightly radioactive element, thorium is considered very toxic because its various species, which reach the environment, can constitute an important problem for the health of the population. The present paper aims to expand the possibilities of using membrane processes in the removal, recovery and recycling of thorium from industrial residues reaching the municipal waste processing platforms. The paper includes a short introduction on the interest shown for this element, a weak radioactive metal, followed by highlighting of some common (domestic) uses. In a distinct but concise part, the bio-medical impact of thorium is presented. The classic technologies for obtaining thorium are concentrated in a single schema, and then the speciation of thorium is presented with an emphasis on the formation of hydroxo-complexes and complexes with common organic reagents. The determination of thorium has been highlighted both on the basis of its radioactivity, but especially through methods that call for extraction followed by an established electrochemical, spectral or chromatographic method. Membrane processes are presented based on the electrochemical potential difference, rapidly presenting barro-membrane processes, electrodialysis, liquid membranes and hybrid processes. A separate sub-chapter is devoted to proposals and recommendations for the use of membranes in order to achieve some progress in urban mining for the valorization of thorium.

This paper delves into the multifaceted domain of the aerospace industry, examining its evolution, current challenges, and imperative focus on quality management and process integration. The aerospace sector, driven by technological advancements and a burgeoning global demand for air travel and freight transport, necessitates a thorough analysis of its industrial fabric and operational intricacies. This research endeavors to analyze the dynamics of the aerospace industry, pinpoint its challenges, and propose an integrated approach to enhance efficiency, quality, and sustainability. The primary goals encompass understanding the evolving industry landscape, identifying critical challenges, and offering innovative solutions by amalgamating principles of Industry 4.0 into quality management and processes within the aerospace sector. Through an in-depth exploration of various facets, this research underscores the pivotal role of efficient processes and integrated quality management in achieving sustainable growth and competitiveness in the aerospace industry. By aligning with the paradigm of Industry 4.0, organizations can optimize their operations and contribute to the industry's advancement, delivering safer and more cost-effective aerospace products. The study adopts a multifaceted approach, incorporating extensive literature review, critical analysis of industry trends, examination of quality management frameworks, and a thorough evaluation of the integration potential of Industry 4.0 technologies. The research also involves case studies and expert insights to validate the proposed approach. The investigation reveals that by leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies and embracing an integrated approach to quality management, the aerospace industry can significantly enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and overall sustainability. The seamless integration of processes and the implementation of advanced quality frameworks pave the way for a more competitive and future-ready aerospace industry, meeting the evolving demands of a globalized world.

This research delves into the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management of hyperprolactinemia, particularly focusing on prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas, or prolactinomas, in Dolj County, a region historically underrepresented in medical literature. Hyperprolactinemia, a prevalent endocrine disorder, arises from excessive prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland's lactotrope cells and presents a diverse clinical picture. The most significant etiological contributors identified are prolactinomas, accounting for approximately 39% of all secretory pituitary tumors. In light of hyperprolactinemia's substantial morbidity and prevalence, this study underscores the necessity of comprehensive understanding of its regional epidemiology and clinical presentations. Our methodology incorporated collecting retrospective data across various medical facilities in Dolj, ensuing a meticulous analysis of clinical features, paraclinical investigation outcomes, and therapeutic responses among patients with prolactinomas. Emphasis was placed on discerning risk factors, demographic characteristics, and associated comorbidities to encapsulate the full spectrum of these tumors' impact within the community. Preliminary results suggest a nuanced incidence rate of prolactinomas within Dolj, with specific demographic and clinical trends potentially distinct from those reported in wider literature. These findings stress the critical role of localized studies in enhancing screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic protocols. Ultimately, this investigation offers critical insights into the epidemiology and symptomatology of prolactinomas in Dolj, significantly augmenting existing literature and informing regional medical practices.

The general desire of the world's population is to eat as healthily as possible, an aspect that has a direct impact on the technological complex aimed at animals raising (proper breeding systems, microclimate factors with implications for the welfare of animals, etc.), as well as on the quality of the finished products that will enter the food supply. Therefore, the authors set out to study how the growth system influences the health status of rainbow trout raised in different systems. The observed experimental factors did not undergo significant changes. However, differences were generated by the applied growth system. For the amount of glucose in the blood, no statistically significant differences were identified between the groups. In contrast, comparison of the amount of glycogen led to obtaining very distinctly significant statistical fluctuations (the mean for P-si was 2.314±0.638 and for P-i 1.980±0.822). Growth hormone varied between 0.504±0.46 in the case of P-si and 0.694±0.22 ng/ml for P-i. The values obtained for cortisol showed a significant influence of stress factors on the studied trout. The general conclusion of the present study is that various technological factors influence the health status of livestock.

Crystalline silver thin layers were obtained by high-energy pulsed laser ablation without heating of the deposition substrate. The fluid Plateau-Rayleigh (PRI), Rayleigh – Taylor (RTI) and Richtmyer – Meshkov (RMI) instabilities, as well as crown splash induced during pulsed laser deposition (PLD) in high energy regime, resulting in ring and pearl shaped structures, offer the benefit of increased sorption surface. These morphological structures obtained for the silver thin layers make them of interest for catalytic applications. The study presented with this work addresses both the fundamental and applied issues on the morphological structures obtained for the silver thin layer and their catalytic function in organic processes. In this sense, the catalytic action of the thin silver layer was highlighted by modifications of the Reactive Blue 21 dye (C.I.) in aqueous solution with sodium bicarbonate. Specific investigations and analyzes were carried out by electron microscopy and elemental analysis (SEM-EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and profilometry, mass spectrometry, ablation plasma diagnosis, diffractograms (XRD), as well as IR spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition to the experimental investigation and analyzes, simulation of the ionization energy threshold was conducted in COMSOL for complementary evaluation on the involved processes and phenomena.

The study's objective was to investigate changes in the fatty acid composition of cow milk in general and in 80 Romanian Spotted cows' husbandry and feeding systems in particular (grazing – GC group vs. stabulation – SC group). The ultimate objective was to determine if the changes that happened in the milk also transferred to the finished product. Also, the influence of the raw milk quality produced by both systems was evaluated when yogurt was made from it. The milk was gathered in May, July, and September and used for both the yogurt-making process and the study, which lasted from May to October. As comparison to milk from SC, milk from grazed caws had larger percentages of fat and dry matter throughout the summer (GC) season. Moreover, pasture-based rations (MGC) contained more PUFA than MCS did. Data research revealed that not only do factors like milk origin and initial quality have a substantial impact on yogurt quality parameters, but also technologies like milk fermentation have a considerable impact on the fatty acid profile of yogurt. As comparison to cows kept permanently in stables, grazed cows (MGC) had fat with a lower concentration of saturated fatty acids and a higher proportion of rumenic, vaccenic, and oleic acids (MSC). When fresh milk is processed into yogurt and other dairy products, the fatty acid profiles alter, with saturated fatty acids predominating over unsaturated ones. The findings show that pasture-fed cows have a positive impact on milk quality, particularly in terms of fatty acid profile, as well as on yogurt's ultimate nutritional and dietary quality.

It is widespread to examine and explain the functioning of the standard “Current Doubler Rectifier” as strictly symmetrical according to the electrical current through the two inductances. The present work challenges this consideration and proposes a new version of the electrical circuit daigram where the current symmetry is improved. The proposed circuit is called “Improved Current Doubler Rectifier”.

The Chebyshev collocation method (ChC) implemented as Chebfun is used in order to solve a class of second order one-dimensional singular and genuinely nonlinear boundary value problems. Efforts to solve these problems with conventional ChC have generally failed, and the outcomes obtained by finite differences or finite elements are seldom satisfactory. We try to fix this situation using the new Chebfun programming environment. However, for toughest problems we have to loosen the default Chebfun tolerance in Newton's solver as the ChC runs into trouble with ill-conditioning of the spectral differentiation matrices. Although in such cases the convergence is not quadratic the Newton updates decrease monotonically. This fact, along with the decreasing behaviour of Chebyshev coefficients of solutions, suggests that the outcomes are trustworthy, i.e., the collocation method has exponential (geometric) rate of convergence or at least an algebraic rate. We consider first a set of problems that have exact solutions or prime integrals and then another set of benchmark problems that do not possess these properties. Actually, for each test problem carried out we have determined how Chebfun solution converges, its length, the accuracy of the Newton method and especially how well the numerical results overlap with the analytical ones (existence and uniqueness).

The lexical analysis of seminal policy-to-diplomacy documents from the socio-environmental discourse of the last fifty year agendas allowed examining the evolution of five themes: resources/waste, pollution, social and economic development, justice, and health. Contextual affinities were strongest between resources, pollution, and health and are linked to societal trends and pressures. On those grounds, the central role of resource stewardship according to nature’s physical limits is highlighted, and dedicated concepts, analytical frameworks, and methodologies with different degrees of sustainability are analyzed. To reframe the identified social and economic problems, the work proposes criteria and choices that (1) allow to compare the dynamics of socioecological states across the planet, (2) help matching the pace of socioecological change by addressing path dependencies through participation and engagement of communities, and (3) enable stakeholders to make trade-offs and take decisions in specific social, economic, political, and cultural contexts. The prioritization of resource justice and responsibility becomes a societal project : from Wellfare State to commonfare communities.

As a service business models have been ranked by management consultants the management innovation of 2020, and yet are scarcely theorized. Therein, value stipulations in customer contracts lead to the shift from product to service. However, there is no available research about the nature, formula and decisional process about these value stipulations. The motive for this research is to fill in this gap. The goal is to provide first insight about value stipulations in as a service business models: their formula and decisional methodology. The article is a multiple theory building case study on leading platform as a service providers, which aims to contruct the paradigm of the value decision methodology to invest in this technology by purchasing it from dedicated vendors. The methodology works to identify the management instruments involved in the decisional activities to invest in digital technology, where each management instrument is assumed to match an activity at seller and buyer; the sequence of the activities using the Critical Path Method gives the decisional process. Dependent variables are the elements of the as a service business contracts: the customer offering (product-service solution) and the value created, captured and delivered by the solution. Independent variables are given by empirical data analysis. Findings show a relationship between dependent variable value in the as a service business model contracts and independent variables governance objective, strategy, as a service business model type, activity management techniques (roadmap, program, project, operations, lean start-up), capital allocation techniques (equity, debt, options, venture capital typology). If innovation is exploitative, then the customer offering is known and value is determinable via roadmap – project management techniques (program, project, an operations) and capital allocation techniques for precictable environment, If innovation is radical, then the customer offering is not known and value is a target used to architect the solution via lean start-up innovation techniques funded by venture capital. The contribution is a new theoretical construct and deep insight into the practice of digital transformation considering all inherent issues.

Background. Moral distress (MD) and Burnout of Health Care Personnel (HCP) were extensively studied during the pandemic. However, little information is available about their prevalence after its decline. This study assesses the prevalence of MD, and burnout after the decline of the pandemic. Methods. The British Medical Association questionnaire referring to MD and the Maslach Burnout questionnaire were addressed to the hospital’s personnel. Results. 516 valid questionnaires were included in the study. Nurses’ participation rate was 67% and doctors 41%. MD was identical among doctors and nurses 73,8%, and in decremental order factors contributing to MD are insufficient staff, mental fatigue, and physical fatigue. Participants believe that more staff, less bureaucracy, and greater emotional support would alleviate MD. Doctors score higher than nurses for lack of time to give sufficient support to patients and public health decisions affecting communities. To alleviate MD, doctors ask for more ethical and legal support, more funding and working fewer hours. Nurses score high on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Conclusions. MD and burnout persist among HCP after the decline of the pandemic. Participants believe that institutional and public health decisions would help alleviate MD. Leaders and institutions must provide more supportive environments to moderate MD.

We are concerned with the use of some classical spectral collocation methods as well as with the new software system Chebfun in order to compute high order (index) eigenpairs of singular as well as regular Schrodinger eigenproblems. We want to highlight both the qualities as well as the shortcomings of these methods and evaluate them vis-a-vis the usual ones. In order to resolve a boundary singularity we use Chebfun with the simple domain truncation technique. Although this method is equally easy to apply with spectral collocation, things are more nuanced in the case of these methods. A special technique to introduce boundary conditions as well as a coordinate transform which maps an unbounded domain to a nite one are the ingredients. A challenging set of "hard" benchmark problems, for which usual numerical methods (f. d., f. e. m., shooting etc.) fail, are analysed. In order to separate "good"and "bad"eigenvalues we estimate the drift of the set of eigenvalues of interest with respect to the order of approximation and/or scaling of domain parameter. It automatically provides us with a measure of the error within which the eigenvalues are computed and a hint on numerical stability. We pay a particular attention to problems with almost multiple eigenvalues as well as for problems with a mixed (continuous) spectrum. In the latter case we try to numerically highlight its existence. Special attention will be paid to the higher eigenpairs (the pair of eigenvalue and the corresponding eigenfunction approximated by an eigenvector spanning its nodal values).

The paper analyzes the phenomenon that condition the durability and reliability of a type of dental bur based on the wear of the active part and with effect on its quality. For the experimental study, a conical-cylindrical dental bur and a sample dental material in cobalt-chromium alloy, cylindrical shape, tested on a specially made experimental installation were used. The paper was limited to the consideration of a single parameter (loss of mass, mw by wear of the active part of the dental bur tested) for the establishment the durability and reliability, useful for the extension of the lifetime or even optimization of its operation. The wear phenomenon of the active part of dental bur is studied based on the results and experimental data obtained in the work process that was validated by interpolation and led to polynomial functions which approximate very well the dependent parameter, mw, considered in the experimental program. The results of the interpolation showed that in the first 11 h of work, the dental bur works with high efficiency, after which it can be easily decommissioned (optimizing operation, possibly constructive solutions); i.e., it should be replaced with a new one (criterion for replacing of worn dental bur).

Following the international trend of using hydrogen as combustible in many industry branches, this paper investigates the impact of mixing methane gas with 23% hydrogen (G222) on condensing boilers’ operation. After modeling and testing several boilers with heat exchange surface different designs, the authors gathered enough information to introduce a new concept, namely High-Performance Condensing Boiler (HPCB). All the boilers that fit into this approach have the same operational parameters at nominal heat load, including the CO2 concentrations in flue gases. After testing a flattened pipes condensing boiler, a CO2 emission reduction coefficient of 1.1 was determined, when converting from methane gas to G222 as combustible. Thus, by inserting into the national grid a G222 mixture, an important reduction in greenhouse gases can be achieved. For a 28 kW condensing boiler the annual reduction in CO2 emissions averages 1.26 tons, value which was experimentally obtained and is consistent with the theoretical evaluation.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a primary genetic disease caused by mutations of the desmosome genes. Ever since the introduction of new imaging criteria, like cardiovascular magnetic resonance, the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is more challenging as left ventricular or biventricular variants may cause resemblance with other cardiomyopathies or myocarditis. Not only this, but they may also share an acute phase that might determine even more confusion and misdiagnosis which can influence prognosis and outcome. In this case report we present a 31-year-old patient with multiple clinical pictures: acute chest pain, new onset of heart failure and arrhythmia symptoms which determined a dynamic change in clinical diagnosis and management, ultimately taking into consideration arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Through the article we try to emerge and explain common pathophysiological pathways shared by arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and other clinical entities with a special focus on inflammation. The final question remains: “If there is more than one heart disorder that eventually will lead to the same clinical picture, one could not but wonder if arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is rather a syndrome than a specific condition?”

The financial equilibrium of the enterprise is an important company function ensuring by itself the maintenance of the enterprise of the competitive market. The financial equilibrium is analysed in numerous empirical studies. In this empirical study we highlight for the first time in a research the impact that taxation has on the financial equilibrium of some companies over ten years, period that includes the pre-crisis, the financial crisis and post-crisis periods.

The Metabolic Food Waste [MFW (kg of food)], first time developed in 2016 as a new indicator by Serafini and Toti, indicates the amount of food consumed over the nutritional requirements and the impact of this overconsumption on the environment. It is necessary to identify the causes and to develop potential methods to prevent and reduce MFW, at the same time with increasing consumer awareness about unsustainable diets and changing diet habits toward more environmentally conscious consumption patterns. By analysing and corroborating external data available for food waste, nutritional requirements, environmental impact of food waste and consumer behaviour, we identified as primary causes for MFW the lack of nutritional education and little understanding of the nutritional requirements amongst all categories of consumers, no access to appropriate food resources or reduced availability of fresh produced food. We conclude that for the quantification of the negative impact of MFW on both the environment and human health, we need a decisive action to raise consumer awareness for healthy and sustainable diets, together with an uniform worldwide distribution of the nutritious food.

Windthrows in the forestry fund, which have become more frequent due to the increase in extreme weather events, have had and continue to have negative economic and ecological effects, making them a pressing issue in forestry research. Their urgency has been amplified in light of the need to develop sustainable forest management systems. The main objectives of this study are to evaluate the effects of windthrows on some microbiological properties of forest soils and to monitor the evolution of the degraded tree regeneration, 4 years after the event, for three tree species: Norway spruce (Picea abies L.), sessile oak (Quercus petraea), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The experimental plot used is arranged in dispersed blocks and subdivided plots, with three repetitions, bifactorial, factor A representing the tree species, and factor B the windthrows: in two situations: affected (AW) and not affected by felling (WW). Three representative soil profiles were studied for each tree species, including dehydrogenase activity (DA) and the number of fungi (NF) in the organic horizon at the soil surface. Dehydrogenase activity was determined by the extraction of triphenylformazan, and NF was evaluated using the Plate Count Method (Petri plates) and the Sabouraud Agar culture medium. The values of Current Dehydrogenase Activity (CDA) and Potential Dehydrogenase Activity (PDA) did not show significant statistical differences in relation to the windthrow factor, but were distinctly significant (p < 0.01) for the tree species factor. On the other hand, NF showed statistical significance for both tree species and windthrows factors, at a level of p < 0.01. Correlations were highlighted between the differences in AW and WW of CDA, PDA, and NF with the number of naturally regenerated seedlings (NRS), and the type of soil. The regressions established between NRS and the differences in CDA and PDA, the dependence of the differences in PDA on the differences in NF, and the regression between the differences in NF and the type of soil demonstrate the importance of soil characteristics in the natural regeneration process of the main tree species - Norway spruce, sessile oak, and European beech. Stimulating NRS in AW forests and increasing the volume of terrestrial organic carbon (TOC) biomass is directly dependent on soil fertility, primarily determined by soil organic carbon (SOC), which accumulates in the soil as a result of organic matter, deposited on the surface. Sustainable forest management of AW plots should stimulate the accumulation of SOC, including the partial or total preservation of dead trees, provided that the attack of specific diseases and pests is avoided.

We studied Ni2FeSi, Co2FeSi and Co2MnSi -based full Heusler alloy glass-coated microwires with the same geometric aspect ratio ρ ≈ 0.50 ± 0.01 prepared using Taylor-Ulitovsky method. The fabrication of X2YZ; (X = Co & Ni, Y = Fe & Mn and Z = Si) based glass coated microwires with fixed aspect ratio is a quite challenging due to the different samples preparation conditions. The XRD analysis shows nanocrystalline microstructure for all the samples. Space group Fm3¯m (FCC) with disordered B2 and A2-types for Ni2FeSi and Co2FeSi and ordered L21-type for Co2MnSi are observed. The change in the positions of Ni, Co and Mn, Fe in X2YSi resulted in a variation in the lattice cell parameters and the average grain size of the sample. Room temperature magnetic behavior shows a dramatic change depending on the chemical composition, where Ni2FeSi-MWs shows the highest coercivity (Hc) compared to Co2FeSi-MWS and Co2MnSi-MWs. The Hc –value of Ni2FeSi-MWs is 16 times higher than that of Co2MnSi-MWs and 3 times higher than that of Co2FeSi-MWS. Meanwhile, the highest reduced remanence is reported for Co2FeSi-MWS (Mr =0.92), , being about 0.33 and 0.22 for Ni2FeSi-MWs and Co2MnSi-MWs, respectively. From the analysis of the temperature dependence of the magnetic properties (Hc and Mr) of X2YZ-MWs we deduced that Hc shows a stable tendency for Co2MnSi-MWs and Co2FeSi-MWs, meanwhile two flipped points are observed for Ni2FeSi-MWs where the behavior of Hc changes with temperature. For Mr monotonic increase by decreasing the temperature is observed for Co2FeSi-MWs and Ni2FeSi-MWs and roughly stable for Co2MnSi-MWs. The thermomagnetic curves at low magnetic field show irreversible magnetic behavior for Co2MnSi-MWs and Co2FeSi-MWs and regular ferromagnetic behavior for Ni2FeSi-MWs. The current result illustrates the ability to tailor the structure and magnetic behavior of X2YZ-MWs at a fixed internal stresses, i.e., with fixed aspect ratio. Additionally, a different behavior was revealed in X2YZ-MWs depending on the degree of ordering and elements distribution. The tunability of magnetic properties of X2YZ-MWs makes them suitable for sensing applications.

The interaction between O2 and reduced ceria nanocubes was mainly investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Nanorods and nanoparticles were also studied for comparison. Adsorption of O2 at 100 K on unreduced ceria produces only O2 molecularly adsorbed on Ce4+ sites. The Ce3+ cations in H2-reduced ceria were monitored by the 2F5/2 → 2F7/2 electronic transition band at 2133-2095 cm-1. This band possesses a fine structure well resolved at 100 K. The positions of the individual components depend on the Ce3+ environment, including the presence of nearby species such as OH groups. Even at 100 K, the interaction of O2 with reduced ceria leads to fast oxidation of about half of the Ce3+ cations, including all Ce3+ sites bound to OH groups and carbonates, and the simultaneous formation of superoxo (O2) and peroxo (O22) species. The remaining fraction of Ce3+ sites disappears upon heating up to 348 K. At higher temperatures, the peroxo species decompose directly, yielding lattice oxygen. Superoxides are converted to hydroperoxides, which then decompose to terminal OH groups. Reduced samples evacuated at T < 773 K contain sorbed H2. Part of this hydrogen is also fast oxidized to H2O even at 100 K.

This research delves into the intricate dynamics underlying the impact of investments on global output, em-ploying the Leontief matrix as a robust analytical framework. Investments wield a profound influence on economies worldwide, with varying effects contingent upon investment types, development levels of coun-tries, and external factors such as trade conflicts and global shocks. The diverse range of investment forms, including physical capital, human capital, R&D, and technological investments, engenders distinct implica-tions for productivity, innovation, and efficiency. Developing and developed economies navigate unique tra-jectories, with investments playing a pivotal role in bridging infrastructure gaps, improving technology, and spurring growth. However, external disruptions, such as trade wars and global shocks, introduce an element of complexity, reshaping investment patterns and altering global output trajectories. This study centers on harnessing the Leontief matrix's prowess to evaluate the interplay of investments and global output, focusing on the Romanian economy. By analyzing input-output tables, encompassing 105 branches aggregated into 10 sectors, the research captures the intricate connections between economic segments. No-tably, the Romanian context reveals the volatility of the matrix coefficients', an outcome of ongoing transi-tional processes, technological advancements, and fluctuating relative prices. In unraveling the intricate threads weaving investments and global output, this study contributes to a nuanced comprehension of these multifaceted interactions. The findings underscore the significance of tailoring investment strategies to specific economic contexts and advocate for robust frameworks, such as the Leontief matrix, to inform pol-icy decisions and drive sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global economy.

COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is frequently associated with pulmonary thrombotic events, especially in hospitalised patients. Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by a proinflammatory state and an associated disbalance in hemostasis. Immune pathology analysis supports the inflammatory nature of pulmonary arterial thrombi composed by white blood cells, especially neutrophils, CD3+ and CD20+ lymphocytes, fibrin, red blood cells and platelets. Immune cells, cytokines, chemokines and the complement system are key drivers of immunothrombosis, as they induce the damage of endothelial cells and initiate pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant positive feedback loops. Neutrophil extracellular traps induced by COVID-19-associated “cytokine storm”, platelets, red blood cells, and coagulation pathways close the inflammation-endotheliopathy-thrombosis axis, contributing to SARS-CoV-2 associated pulmonary thrombotic events. The hypothesis of immunothrombosis is also supported by the minor role of venous thromboembolism, chest CT imaging data showing peripheral blood clots associated with inflammatory lesions and the high incidence of thrombotic events despite routine thromboprophylaxis. Understanding the complex mechanisms behind COVID-19-induced pulmonary thrombosis will lead to future combination therapies for hospitalised patients with severe disease, that would target the crossroads of inflammatory and coagulation pathways.

Wi-Fi fingerprinting positioning systems have been deployed for a long time in location-based services for indoor environments. Combining mobile crowdsensing and Wi-Fi fingerprinting systems could reduce the high cost for collecting the necessary data enabling the deployment of the resulting system for outdoor positioning in areas with dense Wi-Fi coverage. In this paper, we present the results attained in the designing and evaluation of an urban fingerprinting positioning system based on crowdsensed Wi-Fi measurements. We first asses the quality of the collected measurements, highlighting the influence of received signal strength on data collection. We then, evaluate the proposed system by comparing the influence of the crowdsensed fingerprints on the overall positioning accuracy for different scenarios. The evaluation helps gain valuable insight into the design and deployment of urban Wi-Fi positioning systems while also allowing the proposed system to match GPS-like accuracy in similar conditions.

Software systems are often maintained by a group of experienced software developers, in order to ensure that faults which may bring the system down are less likely. Large turnover in organizations such as CERN makes it important to think of ways of onboarding newcomers on a technical project rapidly. This paper focuses on optimizing the way that people get up-to-speed on the business logic and technologies used on the project, using a knowledge-imbued large language model that is enhanced using domain-specific knowledge from the group or team’s internal documentation.

The size of the home is considered the most critical issue affecting the quality of life. This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis level in Bistrita-Nasaud county and the impact of socioeconomic activities on the index. The Household Quality of Life Index (HQLI) was calculated based on 11 variables. Household quality of life comprises two distinctive indices: the Housing Conditions Index (HCI) and the Asset Possession Index (API). The study found a variation in the housing condition variables across the urban focus areas. The impact of the socioeconomic environments is disproportionately dependent on the social-economic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the related economic activities that take place in the area of influence in the administrative-territorial units and the variability of the Housing Conditions Index This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis level in Bistrita-Nasaud county and the impact of socioeconomic activities on this index. The study area comprises territories in the municipality of Bistrita. The socio-economic context of the area has been the basis for understanding the patterns of evolution identified in the urban landscape, and being a driver in ongoing urban transformations and processes. The impact of the socio-economic is disproportionate to the socioeconomic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the economic activities related to the economic activities taking place in the catchment area in the administrative-territorial units, hence the variability of the Housing Conditions Index which is a system Housing Quality Indicator (HQI) is a tool for measuring and evaluating housing systems based on quality and not just cost.

We give a simple proof of the Chen inequality for the Chen invariant $\underbrace{\delta (2,...,2)}_{k\mbox{ terms}}$ of submanifolds in Riemannian space forms.

This paper proposes a solution for the development of microclimate monitoring for Low Voltage / High Voltage switchgear using the PRTG Internet of Things (IoT) platform. This IoT-based real time monitoring system can enable predictive maintenance to reduce the risk of electrical station malfunctions due to unfavorable environmental conditions. The combination of humidity and dust can lead to unplanned electrical discharges along the isolators inside a low or medium voltage electric table. If no predictive measures are taken, the situation may deteriorate and lead to significant damage inside and outside the switchgear cell. Thus, the mentioned situation can lead to unprogrammed maintenance interventions that can conduct to the change of the entire affected switchgear cell. Using a low-cost and efficient system, the climate conditions inside and outside the switchgear is monitored and transmitted remotely to a monitoring center. From the results obtained using a 365-day time interval, we can conclude that the proposed system is integrated successfully in the switchgear maintaining process, having as result the reducing of maintenance costs.

This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of cylindrical capacitors utilizing magnetodielectric materials composed of magnetizable microfibers dispersed within a silicone oil matrix. The microfibers, ranging in diameter from 0.25 to 2.20 μm, comprise hematite (α-Fe2O3), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and magnetite (Fe3O4). The study investigates the electrical behavior of these capacitors under the influence of an external magnetic field superimposed on a medium-frequency alternating electric field, across four distinct volume concentrations of microfibers. Electrical capacitance and resistance measurements are conducted every second over a 60-second interval, revealing significant dependencies on both the quantity of magnetizable phase and the applied magnetic flux density. Furthermore, the temporal stability of the capacitors’ characteristics is demonstrated. The obtained data are analyzed to determine the electrical conductance and susceptance of the capacitors, elucidating their sensitivity to variations in microfiber concentration and magnetic field strength. To provide theoretical insight into the observed phenomena, a model based on dipolar approximations is proposed. This model effectively explains the underlying physical mechanisms governing the electrical properties of the capacitors. These findings offer valuable insights into the design and optimization of magnetodielectric-based capacitors for diverse applications in microelectronics and sensor technologies.

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are perceived as a first step towards the future of sustainable transport. Of course, battery electric vehicles (EVs) are currently ideal for what is wanted to stand for transport in the future. The lack of infrastructure for these vehicles makes many potential users choose hybrid vehicles in these conditions. This paper analyzes the influence of the engine and electric motor of hybrid vehicles on their performances. Three engines with slightly different power and close characteristics were considered for configured models. Also, two electric motors with very different power but having a very close maximum continuous torque have been used in models. One is an induction motor, and the other is a permanent magnet synchronous motor. ADVISOR software has been used for vehicles configuration and simulation. Series and parallel hybrid vehicles have been considered. The main dynamic performances and the fuel consumption in two driving cycles were compared for the configured models. Three conventional models with the same engines used in HEVs have also been simulated for reference. The results highlight that in the case of HEVs, the choice of combination engine/electric motor is crucial in obtaining the best report between dynamic performances and low fuel consumption, and implicitly a low negative impact on the environment.

As society becomes more reliant on Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, state-of-health (SOH) estimation will need to become more accurate and reliable. Therefore, SOH modelling is in the process of shifting from using simple and continuous charge/discharge profiles, to more dynamic profiles constructed to mimic real operation, when ageing the Li-ion batteries. However, in most cases, when ageing the batteries, the same exact profile is just repeated until the battery reaches its end-of-life. Using data from batteries aged in this fashion to build a model, there is a very real possibility that the model will rely on the built-in repetitiveness of the profile. Therefore, this work will examine the dependence of the performance of a multiple linear regression on the number of charges used to train the model, and their location within the profile used to age the batteries. The investigation shows that it is possible to build models using randomly selected partial charges while still reaching errors as low as 0.5%. Furthermore, it shows that only two randomly sampled partial charges are needed to achieve errors of less than 1%. Lastly, as the number of randomly sampled partial charges used to create the model increases, then the dependence on particular partial charges tends to decrease.

Identifying or authenticating a computer user are necessary steps to keep systems secure on the network and to prevent fraudulent users from accessing accounts. Keystroke dynamics authentication can be used as an additional authentication method. Keystroke dynamics involves in-depth analysis of how you type on the keyboard, analysis of how long a key is pressed or the time between two consecutive keys. This field has seen a continuous growth in scientific research. In the last five years alone, about 10,000 scientific researches in this field have been published. One of the main problems facing researchers is the small number of public data sets that include how users type on the keyboard. This paper aims to provide researchers with a data set that includes how to type free text on the keyboard by 80 users. The data were collected in a single session via a web platform. The dataset contains 410,633 key-events collected in a total time interval of almost 24 hours. In similar research, most datasets are with texts written by users in English. The language in which the users wrote for this research is Romanian. This paper also provides an extensive analysis of the data set collected and presents relevant information for the analysis of the data set in future research.

We used the Taylor-Ulitovsky Technique to prepare nanocrystalline Co2MnGe Heusler alloy glass-coated microwires with a metallic nucleus diameter of 18 ± 0.1 µm and a total diameter of 27.2 ± 0.1 µm. Magnetic and structural studies were carried out to determine the fundamental magneto-structural characteristics of Co2MnGe glass-coated microwires. XRD revealed a well-defined nanocrystalline structure with average grain size about 63 nm, lattice parameter a = 5.62 and a unique mixture of L21 and B2 phases. The magnetization curves for field cooling and field heating (FC-FH) demonstrate a considerable dependence on the applied magnetic field, ranging from 50 Oe to 20 kOe. Internal stresses, originated by the production process, resulted in various magnetic phases, which were responsible for the notable difference of field cooling (FC) and field heating (FH) curves on magnetization dependence versus temperature. Furthermore, the ferromagnetic behavior and expected high Curie temperature together with high degree of L21 ordered makes it a promising candidate for many applications.

This paper presents a device for measuring and maintaining the constant water level in a tank. The device uses a capacity sensor to measure the water level. The sensor has a DC voltage output proportional to the water level in the tank. This voltage can be used in other automation too. The water level, in percentages, is displayed on a vu meter with 8 LEDs. The circuit for maintaining the constant level consists in a comparator with hysteresis. The level of the water is adjustable, using a reference voltage from a potentiometer (marked in percentages). The level of the water is compared with the prescribed level and the difference between them commands the start/stop of the water pump which supplies the tank through a relay. The device is powered by 220 V and is isolated from the environment.

The research deals with the particularities of the initiation in the sport of kin ball, of 94 students (54 boys and 40 girls), without a history of practicing the sport intensively, and the measure of the influence of some components of the motor capacity. Kin ball is a sport that appeared in Canada, in an academic setting and can become an alternative sport in the common university curricula in Romania. The research was carried out in 4 research groups in 2019 and 2022, two of boys and two of girls, similarly, before and after the declaration of the acute phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic, generating physical activity constraints. The originality of the research refers to the initiation, unprecedented in Romania, in the Kin ball sport, through 20 training sessions, carried out in 10-day stages and the evaluation of some motor skills on the subjects. During the experiment, the following components were tested pre- and post-intervention Kin-Ball: palmar muscle strength using the dynamometer, general resistance by running as long as possible for 2 min and general coordination function - body balance, by the Matorin test. The statistical calculation included the application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, depending on which parametric or non-parametric statistical significance tests were applied and the estimation of the size of the intervention effect. The results highlighted particularities of initiation in Kin ball, but also significant differences (p<0.05) in all measurements performed in 2022. The tests in 2019 recorded both significant and statistically insignificant differences, also highlighted by the calculation of the d indicator of to Cohen. The lower initial level of all motor components measured in 2022 and their significant improvement represent aspects that can be understood as collateral effects of the lack of movement during the pandemic.

Introduction: Birth Asphyxia is a severe condition that includes many potential pathways of occurrence both in utero and during childbirth. We aimed to identify and describe specific macroscopic and microscopic placental injuries in birth asphyxia to serve as a quick tool to stratify a newborn’s potential further evolution, as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy can be responsible for neonatal death or severe neurologic sequelae further compromising the affected persons’ quality of life. Materials and methods: We conducted an observational prospective study over 3 years. 62 patients diagnosed with birth asphyxia which had placental histopathological examination performed were enrolled. The control group consisted of 69 term newborns that required neonatal intensive care for at least three days, in the same period, for any other reason and that also had available placental exams. In our study, placental histopathological lesions identified in birth asphyxia have been classified according to Amsterdam Criteria. Results: We analysed data gathered from both groups by applying specific statistical tests for each type of variable and hypothesis. Thus, umbilical cord abnormalities were associated with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a statistically significant manner when comparing the birth asphyxia group of newborns with the control group. Also, we identified a high statistical level of significance for maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion and the occurrence of hypoxic-ischemic syndrome when comparing the two groups (p = .00). Conclusion: The macroscopic and microscopic placental examination can provide important information on the evolution of the disease in selected newborns according to the identified lesions.

The purpose of this article is to investigate and analyze the practices of scientific management within the County Departments of Sports and Youth (CDYS) in Romania. Conducted through a comprehensive research endeavor spanning from January to June 2022, the study utilized a standardized questionnaire as its primary instrument for data collection, distributed among CDYS directors. A notable finding from the study indicates that a significant proportion of respondents (44.9%) perceive notable disparities in the normative-functional elements governing the National Sports System in Romania compared to international standards. Moreover, the majority (51%) consistently adhere to regulatory acts, while a substantial portion (69.4%) underscore the importance of strict adherence to internal regulations in strategy formulation. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority (88.9%) acknowledge the substantial influence of available resources on strategy development, with collaboration with authorities primarily occurring through direct communication channels. Respondents prioritize multiple objectives (44.9%), affirm the necessity of various competencies (53.1%), and identify a lack of human and financial resources (59.2%) as the most significant obstacle. Notable achievements highlighted in the study include the improvement of the county's sports performance (53.1%). Respondents also believe that setting clear and realistic objectives (38.8%) is pivotal to enhancing CDYS management, while considerations in formulating strategies emphasize trends in the sports domain (42.9%) and the specific needs of the local sports community (42.9%). Overall, this research contributes to the understanding and promotion of more efficient practices in managing sports and youth departments within Romania's counties.

This scientific paper explores the increasingly widespread use of collaborative robots in the industrial environment, highlighting them as a solution to challenges related to the high costs of human labour and the associated management difficulties. The authors focus on the process of defining requirements for the implementation of collaborative robots, providing strategies based on mathematical management models. This approach translates into significant benefits for companies, such as cost reduction, quality improvement, and increased operational efficiency. Additionally, the paper proposes an innovative mathematical model for assessing total costs, budgeting, profitability, and electric power consumption associated with the operation of collaborative robots. This model allows for a comparison between the costs involved in using human labour and those associated with collaborative robots, providing critical information for technological investment decisions. The efficiency of this mathematical model is demonstrated through a practical application, where collaborative robots were integrated into a production environment, and costs and efficiency were evaluated compared to the use of human labour. This scientific paper provides a systematic and efficient approach to implementing collaborative robots in industrial processes, benefiting from strategies based on mathematical management models and an original mathematical model for evaluating performance and associated costs.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA) are most common types of non-cicatricial alopecia. Both diseases have limited effective therapeutic options and affect patients' quality of life. Pharmacogenetic tests can help predict the most appropriate treatment option by evaluating the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) corresponding to genes related to alopecia. The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare selected SNPs and genes in AA and AGA patients from Romania and Brazil. Materials and methods: We investigated associations between AA and AGA and 45 tag SNPs of 13 genes in 287 Romanian and 882 Brazilian patients. The DNA samples were extracted from saliva using qPCR technique. Results: GR-alpha gene, GPR44-2 gene, SULT1A1 gene and CRABP2 gene were statistically significantly different in Brazil compared to Romania. Minoxidil may be recommended in half of the cases of AGA and AA. Patients with AGA and high expression of SRD5A1 or PTGFR-2 may benefit from Dutasteride, respectively Latanoprost treatment. Most of the studied genes showed no differences between the two population. Conclusion: The DNA analysis of the patients with alopecia may contribute to a successful treatment.

3D printing with cement-based materials is a promising manufacturing technique for civil engineering applications that already allows for the design and the construction of complex and highly customized structures using a layer-by-layer deposition approach. Usually, in this type of additive manufacturing, a mixture of cement, water, aggregate and additives is extruded through a specific print head and deposited in successive layers to form the desired shape. The extrusion mechanism is one of the most expensive parts of the 3D printer. Also, for low scale 3D printers, based on the shape of the extruder and the geometry limitation of the mixing blade, the 3D mixture is often limited to a narrow range of materials due to the risk of layer splitting or blockage. Therefore, there is a need to develop affordable and feasible alternatives to the current design-fabrication-application approach of 3D printers. In this paper, various new designed mixtures of fiber reinforced mortars that can be 3D printed using only a commercially available screw pump are analyzed based on their fresh properties and mechanical characteristics. The reduced facility requirements in this approach allow 3D-printing to be more available for civil engineering applications. With further innovation in the future, this method and mixtures can be extended for sustainable and economically feasible printing of single-family housing units.

This study explores the complexities of sport manager selection, investigating the impact of affirmative action, recruitment strategies, organizational culture, diversity initiatives in board selection, and career advancement insights from coaches' perspectives. To conduct this investigation, a purposive sampling technique was employed, selecting 65 prominent sports managers and coaches from Romania. Participants, aged between 35 to 58 years old, boasted an average of 10 to 20 years of sports experience and were chosen based on specific criteria, including academic qualifications. Data collection occurred over an extended period, spanning from fall 2022 to spring 2024, through semi-structured interviews with sport managers and coaches. The findings unveiled persistent challenges in effectively implementing affirmative action measures, as sport managers grapple with balancing the promotion of deserving candidates while maintaining continuity in board culture. Achieving meaningful diversity necessitates nuanced approaches that consider both candidate quality and cultural compatibility. Moreover, the study sheds light on coaches' perspectives when considering executive council positions, highlighting various pathways to career advancement. Recruitment practices prioritized informal methods, emphasizing board cohesion. Despite the recognized importance of diversity, challenges persist in selecting candidates solely based on demographic representation. The study provides valuable insights into promoting diversity and inclusivity within sports organizations' executive councils. Future research directions may include exploring longitudinal trends and delving into the qualitative experiences of underrepresented groups, with the aim of advancing understanding and promoting equity within sports organizations.

Essential oils (EOs) have gained economic importance due to their biological activities, and increasing amounts are demanded everywhere. However, substantial differences between the same essential oil samples from different suppliers are reported due to numerous companies involved in EOs production and the continuous development of online sales. The present study investigates the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of 2-4 samples of five commercially available essential oils (Oregano, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Clove, and Peppermint oils) from different manufacturers. Their effects were evaluated in vitro on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial efficacy (ABE%) and antibiofilm efficacy (ABfE%) were determined spectrophotometrically at 562 and 570 nm using microplate cultivation techniques. The essential oils' calculated parameters were compared with those of three standard broad-spectrum antibiotics: Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid (AMC), Gentamycin (GEN), and Streptomycin (STR), active on tested bacteria. The results showed that at the first dilution (D1 = 2.5 mg/mL), all essential oils (EOs) exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. On S. aureus and E. coli, EOs had considerable antibacterial effects (ABE = 79.70—92.80%, respectively, 71.30 ‒ 94.00%). The highest antibacterial effects of commercially available EOs were against P. aeruginosa because all exhibited a significant antibiofilm activity. Their antibiofilm efficacy intensively decreased on E. coli and S. aureus. Generally, the samples with different manufacturers of the same EO showed similar effects. Only Clove and Peppermint oils samples displayed a higher variability associated with active metabolites' different contents, maybe due to various zones of harvesting raw material, numerous technologies involved in EOs obtaining processes, and complex interactions between components.

Incisional hernias have a particular dynamic related both to the repair method and to the absence or presence of a prosthetic material. The incidence of incisional hernias is estimated at 9.8% after 21 months and increases to 18.7% after ten years. This study presents a surgical method for the repair of recurrent incisional hernias, through open surgery and the use of existing mesh. The selection criteria regarding the use of this method are: the prosthesis is well integrated, without granulomas, suppurations, defect appearing on the same prosthetic abdominal area. The analyzed factors were the location of the incisional hernias, the duration of the operation, the duration of hospitalization, identified complications, the size of the parietal defect. The retrospective study carried out focused on recurrences of incisional hernias from a group of 631 patients operated on for incisional hernias in a general surgery department of Dr. Constantin Andreoiu County Emergency Hospital, Ploiești, Romania, during January 2018 - December 2022. Of the total of 18.22% relapses, 13.6% were relapsed eventrations after prosthetic procedures. Following the application of the selection criteria, several 8 patients with recurrent eventrations were operated by the open method using the existing mesh. In the case of recurrences after prosthetic procedures of incisional hernias, the recurrence can be solved by open surgery using the existing well-integrated prosthesis, without tension, absence of suppuration in the wound, and the peritoneal cavity. For the presented case, the return to daily activities occurred after 22 hours of hospitalization.

Food security is a matter of global concern, as the supply of food is one of the basic needs, ensuring the survival of the species. The trend of globalization and development of the global economy has shifted the responsible, local consumption patterns towards an increased homogeneity of diets, with food products being disconnected from their source, leading to two major results: (1) increased global consumption, driven by the extensive availability of affordable seasonal foods throughout the year and (2) increased uncertainty in the supply chain – susceptible to disruptions, causing food insecurity. To determine what the nutritional model is in the case of the present study – Romania – we developed a questionnaire of 32 questions and distributed it to 1,053 respondents from Romania. The survey was conducted during 2021 and 2022, both in urban and rural areas with the aim of investigating the consumption pattern of the population. The analysis of the questionnaire data reveals overconsumption of animal products, starchy vegetables and bread and pastry products. This nutritional pattern with a high intake in animal protein, correlated with a lack of diversification, is extremely unsustainable, having a negative impact on human health and environmental health.behaviour towards a careful approach to food, environment and personal health, aims to identify consumption patterns that have the potential to increase the sustainability of the food system and a positive correlation with food security. Adopting sustainable dietary patters, based on short supply chains and mindful consumption, has great potential in restoring food security and resilience to adversity.

Food security is a matter of global interest, as the provision of food resources is the primary determinant of human existence. Food is one of the basic needs, ensuring the survival of the species. The trend of globalization and development of the global economy has shifted the responsible local consumption patterns to an increased homogeneity of diets, food products being disconnected from their source. This disconnection led to two major results: (1) increased global consumption, with seasonal foods now available throughout the year, and a decrease in food prices on the global market, and (2) increased uncertainty in the supply chain, susceptible to disruptions, as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic. The present study, based on the research and analysis of third-party data on food security, sustainable diets, consumption patterns and recommended actions to change the current unsustainable consumer behaviour towards a careful approach to food, environment and personal health, aims to identify consumption patterns that have the potential to increase the sustainability of the food system and a positive correlation with food security. Adopting sustainable dietary patters, based on short supply chains and mindful consumption, has great potential in restoring food security and resilience to adversity.

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of five commercially available essential oils (EOs): Lavender (LEO), Clove (CEO), Oregano (OEO), Eucalyptus (EEO), and Peppermint (PEO) against the most-known MDR Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) - alone and in various combinations. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis established their complex composition. Then, the antibacterial activity was investigated in vitro by diffusimetric antibiogram method, using sterile cellulose discs with Ø 6 mm impregnated with 10 µl of sample and sterile borosilicate glass cylinders loaded with 100 µl of sample; MIC (µg/mL) for each EO was calculated from IZD values (mm) measured after 24 hours. The following EO combinations were evaluated: OEO+CEO, CEO+EEO, CEO+PEO, LEO+EEO, and EEO+PEO. Then, the influence of each dual combination on 3 conventional antibacterial drugs – Neomycin (NEO), Tetracycline (TET), and Bacitracin (BAC) - activity was investigated. The most active EOs against S. aureus and E. coli were LEO and OEO (IZD = 40 mm). They were followed by the CEO and EEO (IZD = 20-27 mm); PEO exhibited the lowest antibacterial activity (IZD = 15-20 mm). EEO alone showed the highest inhibitory activity on P. aeruginosa (IZD = 25-35 mm). It was followed by the CEO, LEO, and EEO (IZD = 7-11 mm), while PEO proved no antibacterial action against it (IZD = 0 mm). Only one synergic action was recorded (OEO+CEO against P. aeruginosa); EEO+PEO revealed partial synergism against S. aureus and CEO+PEO additive behavior against E. coli. Two triple associations with TET showed partial synergism against E. coli, and the other 2 ones (with NEO and TET) evidenced the same behavior against S. aureus; all contained EEO+PEO or CEO+PEO. Most combinations reported indifference. However, numerous cases were of antagonism between constituents included in double and triple combinations, and EOs with the strongest antibacterial activities belong to the highest antagonistic combinations. A consistent statistical analysis supports our results, showing that EOs with moderate antibacterial activities could generate combinations with higher inhibitory effects based on synergistic or additive interactions.

Applications in security and electronic surveillance require combination of excellent magnetic softness with good mechanical and anti-corrosive properties and low dimensionality. We overviewed the properties of soft magnetic glass-coated microwires and different post-processing making them quite attractive for electronic article surveillance and security applications. We studied the magnetostatic interaction between the microwires and routes to tune the non-linear hysteresis loops by using the arrays of different types of amorphous microwires. The presence of neighbouring microwire (either Fe or Co-based) significantly affects the hysteresis loop of the whole microwires array. In a microwires array containing magnetically bistable microwires we observed splitting of the initially rectangular hysteresis loop with a number of Barkhausen jumps correlated with the number of magnetically bistable microwires. Essentially, non-linear and irregular hysteresis loops have been observed in mixed arrays containing Fe and Co-rich microwires. The observed non-linearity in hysteresis loops allowed to increase the harmonics and tune their magnetic field dependencies. Non-linear hysteresis loops have been also observed upon devitrification of amorphous microwires. On the other hand, several routes allowing to tune the switching field by either post-processing or modifying the magnetoelastic anisotropy have been reviewed. Observed unique combination of magnetic properties together with thin dimensions and excellent mechanical and anti-corrosive properties provide excellent perspectives for the use of glass-coated microwires for security and electronic surveillance applications.

In current study we have obtained Co2FeSi-glass coated microwires with different geometrical aspect ratio, ρ = d/Dtot (diameter of metallic nucleus, d and total diameter, Dtot). The structure and magnetic properties are investigated at a wide range of temperature. XRD analysis illustrates a notable changing in the microstructure by increasing the aspect ratio of Co2FeSi glass coated microwires. Amorphous structure is detected for the sample with the lowest aspect ratio (ρ = 0.23), whereas a growth of crystalline structure is observed in the other samples (aspect ratio ρ = 0.30 and 0.43). This change at the microstructure properties correlates with dramatic changing in magnetic properties. For the sample with the lowest ρ -ratio, non-perfect square loops are obtained with low normalized remanent magnetization. A notable enhancement in the squareness and coercivity are obtained by increasing ρ -ratio. Changing the internal stresses strongly affects the microstructure, resulting in a complex magnetic reversal process. The thermomagnetic curves show large irreversibility for the Co2FeSi with low ρ -ratio. Meanwhile, if we increase the ρ -ratio, the sample shows perfect ferromagnetic behavior without irreversibility. The current result illustrates the ability to control the microstructure and magnetic properties of Co2FeSi-glass-coated microwires by changing only their geometric properties without performing any addition heat treatment. The modification of geometric parameters of Co2FeSi glass-coated microwires allows to obtain microwires which exhibit an unusual magnetization behavior that offers opportunities to understand the phenomena of various types of magnetic domain structures, which is essentially helpful for designing sensing devices based on thermal magnetization switching.

The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019 reveals an increasing prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) from 1990 to 2019. This study delves into the role of dietary risk factors across different demographic and socioeconomic groups. Utilizing data from the GBD 2019, it analyzes age-adjusted T2DM metrics—death counts, Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), and Age-Standardized Rates (ASR)—stratified by age, sex, and region. The study employed Estimated Annual Percentage Changes (EAPCs) to track trends over time. Results show that in 2019, 26.07% of T2DM mortality and 27.08% of T2DM DALYs were attributable to poor diets, particularly those low in fruits and high in red and processed meats. Geographic variations in T2DM trends were significant, with regions like Southern Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia experiencing the most substantial increases in Age-Standardized Mortality Rate (ASMR) and Age-Standardized DALY Rate (ASDR). A positive correlation was noted between Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) and T2DM burden due to dietary risk factors. The study concludes that targeted public health initiatives promoting dietary changes could substantially reduce the global T2DM burden.

To get more data concerning the influence of fertilizers (organic and mineral) on different forage plants existing in North-eastern Romanian grassland, the mass fractions of 14 essential, enzymatic, or considerd toxic elements was determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis together with the amount of crude proteins, ash, fibres as well as ether fact extract. Final results showed a significant variance of the content of analysed elements on organic as well as on mineral fertilized experimental plots, i.e. the content increased in 24% of plots, decreased in 23%, and remained unchanged in 45% while in 8% of plots their content was below the detection limits, as the case of Se. At the same time, an increase content of crude protein and ether extract was evidenced in fertilized grasses for all applied fertilizers while other global indicators such as neutral and acid fibre of sufuric lignin content decreased, suggesting significant higher nutritional values of fertilized forage plant.

The present study illustrates the strong effect of geometrical parameters on the magneto-structural properties of Co2MnSi glass-coated microwires prepared using the Taylor-Ulitovsky method. Thus, two samples with different geometrical aspect ratios (ρ= d / D) have been fabricated, where d is the metallic nuclei diameter and D is the total diameter of the Co2MnSi microwire. The XRD analysis shows a significant change by modifying the aspect ratio, for ρ = 0.46 the main peak with miller indices (220) is recognized as an A2-type disordered cubic structure. Meanwhile, in the sample with a low aspect ratio, ρ = 0.31, the perfect L21 ordered cubic structure is attained. In addition, a decrease in average grain size from 36.62 nm to 28.07 nm by increasing the aspect ratio from 0.46 to 0.31 is observed. The magnetic characterization has been done in a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields. Both of Co2MnSi samples show ferromagnetic behavior in a whole measuring temperatures range. A significant increase in coercivity and normalized reduced remanence by decreasing the aspect ratio is observed. The change in the magnetic properties is attributed to the modification in the microstructure, which is induced during the fabrication process. Such a dependence on the microstructure and magnetic properties on the ρ-ratio can be associated either with the internal stresses distribution and magnitude or with different quenching rates of microwires with different aspect ratios. The current findings demonstrate the tunability of microstructure and magnetic properties of Co2MnSi-glass-coated microwires simply, by a small modification in the geometric properties during the manufacturing process and without excreting any additional post-processing. The variation in geometric parameters of Co2MnSi glass-coated microwires allows us to tune magnetic properties and structure, which is essentially advantageous for sensing devices development.

In current work, we illustrate the effect of adding small amount of Carbon to very common Co2MnSi Heusler alloy based-glass coated microwires. A significant change in the magnetic and structure structural properties has observed for the new alloy Co2MnSiC compared to the Co2MnSi alloy. The magneto-structural investigations have performed to clarify the main phys-ical parameters i.e., structural & magnetic at a wide range of measuring temperature. The XRD analysis illustrated the well-defined crystalline structure with average grain size (Dg = 29.16 nm) and a uniform cubic structure with A2-type compared to the mixed L21 and B2 cubic structures for Co2MnSi-based glass coated microwires. The magnetic behaviour has investigated at a tem-perature range (5 to 300 K) and an external applied magnetic field (50 Oe to 20 kOe). The adding of small amount of Carbon to the Co2MnSi matrix enhance the magnetic thermal stability, where the thermomagnetic behaviour of Co2MnSiC glass-coated microwires show a perfect stable be-haviour for a temperature range from 300 K to 5 k, the differences between the coercivity value is only 0.3 Oe compared to 4 Oe for Co2MnSi-sample. In addition, M-H loops measured at tempera-ture below 50 K show unsaturated loops; meanwhile the Co2MnSi loops shows a strong antifer-romagnetic coupling for the loops measured below 50 K. By studying the field cooling (FC) and field heating (FH) magnetizations curves at a wide range of external applied magnetic field we detected a critical magnetic field (H = 1 kOe) where FC and FH curves have a stable magnetic behavior for Co2MnSiC sample, such stability does not find in Co2MnSi sample. We proposed a phenomenal expression to estimate the magnetization thermal stability, ΔM (%), of FC and FH magnetization curves and the maximum value is detected at the critical magnetic field where ΔM (%) ≈ 98 %. The promising magnetic stability of Co2MnSiC glass-coated microwires with tem-perature is due to the changing of the microstructure induced by adding Carbon, as the A2-type structure show a unique stability by variation the temperature and the external magnetic field. In addition, a unique internal mechanical stress, which induced during the fabrication process and plays on controlling magnetic behavior with temperature and external magnetic field. The ob-tained results make Co2MnSiC promising candidate for magnetic sensing devices based Heusler glass-coated microwires.

We studied the effect of annealing and the applied magnetic field from 50 Oe to 20 kOe on the magneto-structural behavior of Ni2FeSi-based Heusler microwires fabricated by using Taylor-Ulitovsky technique. Using the XRD analysis, a strong effect of annealing, manifested as the development of the crystallization process, was observed. The average grain size and crystalline phase content of annealed sample increase from 21.3 nm and 34 % to 32.8 nm and 79%, respectively, as-compared to the as-prepared one. In addition, upon annealing phase transforms into a monoclinic martensitic structure with modulation 10M were observed, which cannot be found in the as-prepared sample. Concerning the magnetic properties, both samples show ferromagnetic behavior below and above the room temperature, where the Curie temperature of Ni2FeSi is higher than room temperature. The induced secondary phases have a noticeable effect on the magnetic behavior of the annealed sample, where a high normalized saturation magnetization (NMs) and low normalized reduced remenance (Mr = M/M5K), compared to the as- prepared have been detected. Additionally, the coercivity of annealed sample shows one flipping point at 155 K where it behavior with temperature is changed. Meanwhile, the as-prepared sample show two flipped point at 205 K and 55 K. A mismatch between field cooling (FC) and field heating (FH) magnetization curves with temperature has been detected for annealed sample at low applied magnetic field. In addition the FC and FH curves shows different slopes with variation the temperature and the magnetic field. By increasing the external magnetic field higher than 200 Oe and up to 20 kOe a gradual changing in the magnetic behavior has been detected, where the mismatch and different slopes disappeared at applying magnetic field about 20 kOe. The difference in magnetic and structure behavior of Ni2FeSi microwires sample is discussed considering the effect of induced internal stresses by the presence of a glass coating and the recrystallization and stresses relaxation upon annealing.

This paper investigates the possible failure modes of the product development process in production companies that are active in the B2C markets with a focus on household products. Since these cases require short lead times and are difficult to differentiate, in many instances the end result will not be the desired one and could affect profitability for a season or for good. A model of these possibilities is created and an approach to plan contingencies for their solutioning is proposed in the article. The main guideline is to switch from failure probability determination to accepting failure as inevitable and using digital solutions to reinforce the development process in order to offset its impact. For this goal, an Industry 5.0 Abatement Factor (abbreviated IFAF) is introduced in the contingency planning approach, that factors in the evaluation the low cost of digital instruments and the proper mix of Technology, Humans and AI (abbreviated THAI). The new working procedure based on these concepts and their interlinkages is discussed based on specific examples.

The processes of the sublimation and thermal decomposition of the 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid (EMImPF6) were studied by a complex approach including Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations. It was established that the vapor over liquid phase primarily consists of decomposition products under equilibrium conditions. Otherwise, the neutral ion pairs are the only vapor components under Langmuir conditions. To identify the nature of the decomposition products an experiment on the distillation of the ionic liquid was performed and the collected distillate was analyzed. It was revealed by the IR and NMR spectroscopy that EMImPF6 decomposes to substituted imidazole‐2‐ylidene (C6N2H10PF5) and HF. The measured vapor pressure of C6N2H10PF5 reveals a very low activity of the decomposition products (&lt;10–4) in the liquid phase. The absence of significant accumulation of decomposition products in the condensed phase makes it possible to determine the enthalpy of sublimation of the ionic liquid assuming its unchanged activity. The thermodynamics of the EMImPF6 sublimation was studied by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. The formation enthalpy of EMImPF6 in ideal gas state was found from combination of the sublimation enthalpy and formation enthalpy of ionic liquid in the condensed state. The obtained value is in good agreement with those calculated by quantum chemical methods.

Because of the large number of parameters that interact in their function, determining dynamic regime parameters as well as the mode of function of amplifying stages is an extremely complex problem. This paper describes a LabVIEW application for studying the functioning of an ampli-fier in various connections. The user selects the generator's parameters, the type of connection and its parameters, as well as the electric charge characteristics. The application can determine both the stage characteristics and the Bode characteristics. The amplifier's stability zone, as well as its gain and phase, are determined based on these characteristics. An important advantage of this application is that the design of the amplifier stage can be made starting from some param-eters that the amplifier can establish, from which the values of components can be determined. In order to validate the simulation results using the LabVIEW application, a specialized program Multisim was used, as well as experimental measurements using the Electronics Explorer Board. Both Multisim and Electronics Explorer Board can determine Bode characteristics. In both simu-lations and experimental amplifiers, the same schemes with the same transistor was used. The application can be used for educational purposes as well as to design the amplifier's stage to achieve specific parameters.

Background and Objectives: Stroke is a main leading cause for mortality and morbidity worldwide. Treat-ment of this pathology is still under development and its risk factors remain the main target to be reached. Therefore, we aim to determine the role of interleukin 1 beta in atheromatosis, as risk factor for stroke and the reole of this biomarker in stroke prognosis. Materials and Methods: The study conducted enrolled 56 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke in the anterior (AVT) and posterior vascular territory (PVT). All patients had venous blood collected at admission and 7 days after the onset of the cerebral ischemia in order to determine plasma concentration for interleukin 1 beta. At the same time an extracranial carotid ultrasound was performed. Results: Interleukin 1 beta collected at admission was positively correlated with NIHSS at admission (Pearson index 0,424) and both measurements were corelated with carotid stenosis (Spearmen correlation index 0,529, respectively 0,653). Conclusion: Interleukin 1 beta could be a reliable biomarker for stroke prognosis and carotid atheromatosis development.

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches the amaranth, which is a plant with high potential, highlighting the morphological growth, grain biomass pro-duction, and quantitative traits of seven varieties of amaranth cultivated in the pedoclimatic con-ditions of Somes meadow in Transylvania. A bifactorial trial was implemented with factors ama-ranth species and amaranth varieties. Two amaranth species and seven varieties were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The interrelationships between amaranth morphological traits quantified by using Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately con-tribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly con-tributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that morpho-productive, and nutritional characteristics of the seven amaranth varieties comprised by our study recommend the plans to be used in various nutritional aims, being a valuable replacer of traditional raw materials in specific food and feed industry sectors.

Lignocellulosic biomass, an abundant and renewable resource, serves as a crucial raw material for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and various value-added products. This paper aims to develop and optimize a mild alkaline treatment of sawdust assisted by ultrasound, along with enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated material. The sonochemical pretreatment with alkali emerged as the optimal approach to enhance the susceptibility of cellulose to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby increasing the yield of reducing sugars. A comparative study was performed using various ultrasonic applicators (horn and bath) and conventional assisted alkaline pretreatment. The ultrasonic assisted pretreatment revealed a higher delignification as 68% (horn) and 57% (bath) comparing with conventional pretreatment. Processes were optimized using a statistical analysis based on a 23 factorial design. The ratio between sawdust and alkanine solution (RSL = 0.5–1.5 g/100 mL), US amplitude (A = 20–60%), and working temperature (t = 30–50 °C) were selected as process factors. The optimal operating conditions to maximize the reducing sugar yield (138.15 mg GE /gsubstrate) were found as following: solid/liquid ratio RSL,opt = 1.25 g/100 mL, US amplitude Aopt = 60%, and and pretreatment temperature topt = 50 °C. The overall outcomes clearly confirmed the intensification of delignification by ultrasound assisted alkaline pretreatment

This research investigates entrepreneurial attitudes among 415 students in the academic sports domain. Utilizing a 15-item questionnaire, participants were categorized into four groups based on their sports background: individual and team sports with competitive history, amateur athletes, and non-practitioners. The questionnaire exhibited good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.755). Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square Test of Homogeneity across criteria such as gender, competitive sports involvement, type of competitive sports, and engagement in amateur sports revealed significant differences in nine out of 60 comparisons. Furthermore, this study employs an explanatory approach to elucidate the distinctions among athletes, amateur, and non-athlete students in academic sports programs regarding assumption of responsibilities, proactive initiative, determination to establish their own businesses, perception of the comfort zone, and the perception of post-sports career adaptation. Additionally, a gender comparison is conducted concerning the perception of business risk, comfort and security in a stable workplace, and the applicability of sports-oriented approaches in business. These results provide valuable insights into how sports backgrounds shape entrepreneurial perspectives, thereby contributing to the development of customized entrepreneurial programs. Moreover, the study seeks to offer a nuanced comprehension of the diverse factors influencing the entrepreneurial attitudes and perceptions of students in sports academic programs.

Monitoring the ratio of forested and deforested areas plays a key role in studying the dynamics of forest areas. Appropriate mapping of anthropogenic forest disturbances is particularly important in the context of sustainable forest management. It provides ecological, social and economic information which is crucial for forest policymakers. In the last two decades, the forest areas of the Moldo-Transylvanian Carpathians have been subject to a high rate of deforestation which at present state lacks proper quantification. We present a novel methodology for monitoring the forest disturbance dynamics in Moldo-Transylvanian Carpathians by use of fractal analysis including entropy, Fractal Fragmentation Index (FFI) and Tug-of-War lacunarity (Λ_(T-o-W)). This was necessary to quantify and identify the disorder (entropy), the fragmentation (FFI) and heterogeneity of the spatial distribution (Λ_(T-o-W)) patterns. Based on satellite images of the forest areas (annually 2000-2014), increased fragmentation was demonstrated by FFI increase, a measure of the degree of disorder (entropy) and heterogeneity (lacunarity). Our results revealed that textural and fractal analysis can be an effective tool for the extraction of quantitative information about the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest disturbance. The methods developed, and results obtained are a complementary approach to forest disturbance mapping (based on traditional image classification) for future development and adaptation of forestry management policies to ensure a sustainable management and exploitation of forest areas.

Influence of Joule heating on magnetic properties, giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and domain wall (DW) dynamics of Fe75B9Si12C4 glass-coated microwires was studied. A remarkable increase in GMI ratio is observed in Joule heated samples. The hysteresis loops of Joule heated samples maintain a rectangular shape, while a slight decrease in coercivity after Joule heating is observed. On the other hand, a modification of MOKE hysteresis loops is observed upon Joule heating. Additionally, DW dynamics improvement after Joule heating is observed. The observed GMI ratio improvement along with the change in MOKE loops and DW dynamics improvement has been discussed considering magnetic anisotropy induced by Oersted magnetic field in the surface layer during Joule heating and the internal stress relaxation. A remarkable GMI ratio im-provement observed in Fe-rich Joule-heated microwires with a rectangular hysteresis loop and fast DW propagation, together with the fact that Fe is a more common and less expensive metal than Co, makes them suitable for use in magnetic sensors.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of athletes' respiratory muscle strength, as assessed through maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressure (MEP), on aerobic endurance, as indicated by maximal oxygen consump-tion (Max VO2) kinetics. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed using a digital spirometer (Pony FX Cosmed, Italy), while maximal oxygen utilization capacity was measured using a breath-by-breath automatic portable gas analysis system (Cosmed K5, Italy). Statistical analysis was conducted utilizing SPSS 22.0. Based on the standardized regression coefficients (β), it was found that MEP (mean ± SD: 130.95 ± 42.82) and inspiratory diaphragmatic circumference values significantly influenced ventilatory equivalent (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), and carbon dioxide pro-duction (VCO2). Conversely, the remaining predictor variables did not exhibit a sig-nificant effect on VE (mean ± SD: 134.80 ± 36.69), VO2 (mean ± SD: 3877.52 ± 868.47 ml), and VCO2 (mean ± SD: 4301.27 ± 1001.07 ml). In contrast, measurements of chest circumference (mean ± SD: 91.40 ± 10.72 cm), MEP, and diaphragmatic cir-cumference during inspiration (mean ± SD: 95.20 ± 10.21 cm) were found to signifi-cantly impact Max VO2 (mean ± SD: 58.52 ± 10.74 ml/kg/min), while the other pre-dictor variables did not demonstrate a significant effect on Max VO2. Conclusively, the study revealed that measured values of diaphragmatic circumference during inspiration and MEP exerted a notable influence on Max VO2, VE, VO2, and VCO2. Our findings underscore the importance of considering respiratory muscle strength in assessing and enhancing athletes' aerobic performance. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the interplay between respiratory function and exercise capacity, offering potential avenues for optimizing training regimens and perfor-mance outcomes in athletic contexts.

The evaluation of spatial planning results, or outcomes, has been rather neglected by scholars and practitioners. The causes of this neglect are linked to the characteristics of the planning systems in use or difficulties in quantifying results. To advance the state of the art of outcome evaluation, this paper focuses on assessing the implementation of national spatial planning objectives in urban landscapes, through the use of an evaluation framework that makes use of spatially explicit information. The framework is built on four dimensions which reflect the main domains of spatial planning: efficient built-up development, conservation of agricultural land, landscape preservation, and human perception. Indicators capable of capturing landscape changes in both time and space are used to verify degree of conformance between adopted objectives and actual development patterns. We make use of spatially explicit data and assess whether and where landscape changes occurred, by integrating the framework into a multi-criteria analysis. In the present study, the framework is tested in two study areas in Switzerland and Romania, and the results are interpreted from the perspective of spatial planning approaches in the two countries. The efficiency and utility of the framework is demonstrated by its ability to provide valuable information facilitating improvement in the performance of planning processes, such as identifying where the implementation of objectives is less effective, and the domains of spatial planning that are affected. Our findings highlight that the distance between objectives and outcomes can be attributed to differences in countries’ spatial planning approaches, particularly regarding landscape preservation and management. Our study provides valuable insights for the integration of time series of spatial data into the evaluation procedure.

Background – Endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of tumors with such a location. Patients often present in advanced stages of the disease, which leads to a targeted therapeutic attitude of pneumonectomy, most of the time. Practicing a lung parenchyma-preserving surgery led us to do this review. Material and Methods - We used three search platforms SCIENCE, MEDLINE and PubMed, in order to identify studies presenting case reports, studies and reviews on endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma. We identified clinical and paraclinical features of endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma. All selected articles were in English and contained clinical criteria of endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma, autofluorescence bronchoscopy in endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma, imaging features of endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma, blood tumor markers specific for lung squamous cell carcinoma, histopathological features of endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma. Results - 73 articles were analyzed, from which 47 articles were selected as bibliographic references. We have presented the criteria found for endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma in order to highlight the main characteristics and high reliability technologies for the detection of this type of cancer. Conclusions – The current literature review highlights the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of endobronchial squamous cell carcinoma. It aims to open new horizons for research and early detection, frequent practice of lung parenchymal preservation surgery.

(1) Background: Show caves are unique natural attractions and touristic traffic can trigger their degradation within a very short time. There are no universal solutions to counter the effects of the touristic impact upon cave environment and both protection protocols and management plans have to be established on a case-by-case basis; (2) Methods: The study includes four show caves from the Romanian Carpathians, where monitoring of the number of visitors, paralleled by the monitoring of the main physico-chemical parameters of the air and water (CO2, temperature, humidity, drip rate, conductivity, and pH) was implemented; (3) Results and Conclusions: The results of the study has: (i) established a monitoring protocol to be applied to each of the four show caves; (ii) established a set of basic principles to be enforced by the management of show caves; (iii) issued a set of preventive measures and instructions to be followed by the personnel and stakeholders of the caves.

This paper aims to review the challenges, toxicity, and routes of synthesis and usage of silver nanoparticles in different applications but also highlighting their sustainability from both medical and environmental issues. Regarding their toxicity, it is known that silver nanoparticles can destroy over 650 microorganisms comparing with antibiotics. Supplementary, will be presented in a comparative manner some conventional synthesis routes (physical and chemical methods) and green synthesis routes using plant extracts. The approach using plant extracts have various advantages comparing with physical, chemical and microbial synthesis methods because there is no need to use chemicals, wasteful purifications and high energy requirements. The paper presents an overview on “green nanotechnology” focused on using either biological micro-organisms or plant extracts as an alternative to the classical chemical and physical methods. An important issue discussed in the paper is an overview of the synthesis routes of silver nanoparticles, some expected applications of silver based active agents and their toxicity and challenges that must be overcome. Also, it needs to focus our attention on the dismissal of silver nanoparticles into the environment and especially in water systems, fact which suggests that this issue must be fully understood and applied the law.

Low back pain is a common problem in the active population, and the second reason for visiting a physician. In patients with lumbar disc protrusion, the nucleus pulposus bulges against the disc and the latter protrudes into the spinal column, but the annulus fibrosus remains intact. The purpose of this study was to prove that starting an early complex rehabilitation treatment results into pain and disability reduction, and increased muscle strength and mobility in patients with lumbar disc protrusions. We performed a prospective cohort study, enrolling 60 patients (25 men and 35 women) aged between 26 to 76 years, diagnosed with lumbar disc protrusion. Patients in the experimental group registered significant improvements in all studied variables (pain, mobility, muscle strength, disability) after 6 months of treatment. The results of our study suggest that, in the lumbar disc disease, a combined rehabilitation program may be more effective in terms of pain and disability reduction, if it starts early after diagnosis. The current study proves the importance of combining electrotherapy with hydrotherapy and physical therapy. Patients who received this treatment combination showed an extremely significant improvement in pain relief, and reduction of functional disability after 6 months of treatment.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) represents an important co-monomer for obtaining polycarbonate, epoxy resins, flame retardants, in paint, and other chemicals products. Products containing BPA are widely used, and thus, we can find it in the environment: in the air, in the soil, in natural surface water and in sediments, underground water in landfills, and in wastewater. BPA disturbs human and animals’ health. This influences the enzymatic, androgenic, neurological, liver and reproductive systems at different stages of human life: like in fetal stage, children and adults’ stages. Taking these inconveniences into account, it is very important to remove BPA from water. Ultrasonic technology can be considered a verry sustainable and efficient method to remove BPA from water. The advantages of this method is easy to implement on existing water treatment and purification facilities, it does not produce residual compounds that produce sludge, the time required for degradation is of the order of 1-2 hours and the level of degradation is very high. In this work, we presented the studies on the efficiency of ultrasonics under air atmosphere on the degradation of BPA. The influence of the frequency and of some additional compounds such as carbon tetrachloride, FeSO4 7H2O (FS), and ethyl anthraquinone (EAC) was studied. Three different frequencies were used: 1146 KHz, 864 KHz, 580 KHz, at a power of 50 W. It was identified the efficiency of BPA degradation over a period of 60 minutes, with sampling every 15 minutes. Using the LC-MS/MS technique, the degradation compounds were identified that result from the application of ultrasound processes. Pathways of BPA degradation were also proposed.

The incidence and mortality of cervical cancer are high in Romania compared to other European countries, particularly for locally advanced cervical cancer cases, which are predominant at the time of diagnosis. Widely accepted therapeutic guidelines indicate that the treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer consists of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (total dose 85-90Gy at point A), with surgery not being necessary as it does not lead to improved survival and results in significant additional morbidity. In Romania, the treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer differs, involving lower-dose chemotherapy (total dose 60-65Gy at point A), followed by surgery which, under these circumstances, ensures better local control. In this regard, we attempted to evaluate the role and necessity of surgery in Romania, considering that in our study, residual lesions were found in 55.84% of cases on resected specimens, especially in cases with unfavorable histology (adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma). This type of surgery was associated with significant morbidity (28.22%) in our study. The recurrence rate was 24.21% for operated patients compared to 62% for non-operated patients receiving suboptimal concurrent chemotherapy alone. In conclusion, In Romania, surgery will continue to play a predominant role until radiotherapy achieves the desired effectiveness for local control.

Background: By 2025, road traffic injuries are projected to rank third in the global burden of disease, posing a significant challenge that affects health, social well-being, and economic aspects. According to data from the Romanian Police National Statistics Center, there has been an average of 342 traffic accidents per year involving pediatric patients over the past 10 years. Materials and Methods: A retrospective research study was conducted, encompassing 358 cases of road traffic accidents identified for the study. Data collection was conducted at "St. Mary’s" Emergency Hospital for Children in Iasi, Romania, from January 2015 to December 2022. To facilitate statistical analyses, participants were categorized into three specific age groups, correlating between the anatomical region affected and different types of accidents was examined, and the classification of injury types was determined based on the characteristics of the harm inflicted. Results: An oscillating trend is observed from 2015 to 2020, with its lowest value recorded in 2017 at around 6.8% and its peak in 2019 at 20.1%. Notably, post-pandemic (Covid-19), the cases underwent a substantial decline of approximately 50%. At least 78.7% of those who did not undergo orthopedic reduction required surgery, whereas among those who underwent orthopedic reduction, only 23.4% needed surgery. Regarding the frequency of complications 7,9% of the total cases experienced complications. Conclusion: The increased frequency of pediatric traffic accidents is attributed to the extensive services provided by "St. Mary’s" Emergency Hospital for Children, Iasi, to a significant number of patients from both rural and urban areas across the seven counties of the Moldova, Romania.

In this work, Al-Mo-B(CN) thin coatings were deposited by magnetron sputtering using composite metal-ceramic Al-Mo-B4C target. A metal-ceramic composite target for magnetron sputtering was fabricated by a robotic complex for detonation spraying of coatings equipped with a multi-chamber detonation accelerator. The powder composition (30Mo-30Al-40B4C) was sprayed onto the copper plate base of the composite target-cathode. The obtained cathode target with Al-Mo-B4C coating (thickness 280-300 μm) was used to deposit the Al-Mo-B(CN) coating (DC mode) on flat specimens of AISI 316 steels and silicon using equipment for magnetron sputtering UNICOAT 200. The Al-Mo-B4C coating has a lamella-type structure with inclusions of boron car-bide particles the elemental composition is evenly distributed in the material. The structure and morphology of coatings were studied using methods of optical, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray analysis (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectros-copy (XPS). Mechanical and tribological properties of the Al-Mo-B(CN) thin coatings were determined using methods of nanoindentation, scratch testing, and tribological testing under fluid-free friction regime at room temperature. The Al-Mo-B(CN) coating (thickness ~ 1 μm) exhibited a dense uniform fine-grained structure with no columnar elements and were well-adherent to the substrates after deposition. Al-Mo-B(CN) coating has a amorphous structure. XPS analysis confirmed the formation of the MoB2 and AlN phase with an admixture of oxygen in the form of aluminum oxide, molybdenum oxide and boron oxide. Al-Mo-B(CN) coating possess hardness of 13 GPa, elasticity modulus of 114 GPa, elastic recovery of 45%, and friction coefficient of 0.8 against steel 100 Cr6 ball. The failure mode occurring in the tested coatings was fatigue and abrasive. The adhesion strength of Al-Mo-B(CN) coating amounted to about 11 N, and the failure mode was cohesive associated with plastic deformation and formation of fatigue cracks in the coating material.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a phytosociological, ecological, cytogenetic, eco-protective and economic study of the vegetation of the wetland ecosystems in the Vlădeasa Massif built by the phytocoenoses of the association Carici echinatae-Sphagnetum (Balázs 1942) Soó 1955. In order to attain the aim and objectives put forward we carried out 10 phytocoenological surveys (surveys) in the phytocoenoses of the ecosystems during the optimal vegetation periods related to the summer-serotinal season in the timeframe 2020-2021. The taxonomically inventoried species were included in an association table by the criteria of their belonging to the basic coenotaxa of the association, alliance, order, vegetation class. The outcomes of the phytocoenosis research of the vegetation of the wetland ecosystems were processed, analysed, interpreted based on tables, histograms, diagrams, regarding the numerical and percentage weight of the species in the ecological categories of bioforms, phytogeographic elements (geoelements) and cytogenetic elements. The ecological behaviour of the species confined in ecosystems was also analysed by their relationship with ecological factors, edaphic soil moisture, air temperature and chemical reaction of the soil. The current state of ecosystems, potential threats, sustainable conservation of biodiversity, dynamics of phytocenoses, economic and scientific relevance were also subjected to research. The results obtained in the surveyed territory were analysed and compared numerically and as percentage with the data provided by two reference scientific works belonging to authors who independently carried out research with a similar topic in two different geographical regions of the Western Carpathians.

This paper presents the values of several mechanical characteristics for two blends: H (60% PP + 12% PA6 + 8% EPDM + 20% Polybond 3200) and G (20% PP + 42% PA6 + 28% EPDM + 10% Polybond 3200) (%wt), comparing them to those of PP (polypropylene) and PA6 (polyamide 6). The adding of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) and Polybond 3200 help reducing the disadvantages of simple blends made of PP+PA6, when the PA6 concentration allows for having a PA6 matrix with droplets of PP. SEM analysis helps for understanding the performance of material G as compared to the neat polymers. EDX analysis proved that there was a matrix inversion, material H having a PP matrix and material G a matrix made of PA6 with droplets of PP. Strain at break for PP and material H were proved to be insensitive to test speed, but materials G and PA6 had large value for strain at break and energy at break for v = 10 mm/min. Taking at basis the values for polyamide 6 (PA6), material G has greater values for energy at break: with 97.8% for v = 10 mm/min, with 29.5% for v= 250 mm/min and with 98% for 1000 mm/min, without exhibiting the micro and macro cavitation of PA6. This means that the recipe, the technology and the mechanical characteristics make material G a potential candidate for applications where a low and moderate impact resistant material is required.

With the rapidly increasing availability of large genetic data sets in recent years, Mendelian Randomization (MR) has quickly gained popularity as a novel secondary analysis method. Leveraging genetic variants as instrumental variables, MR can be used to estimate the causal effects of one phenotype on another even when experimental research is not feasible, and therefore has the potential to be highly informative. It is dependent on strong assumptions however, often producing strongly biased results if these are not met. It is therefore imperative that these assumptions are well-understood by researchers aiming to use MR, in order to evaluate their validity in the context of their analyses and data. The aim of this perspective is therefore to further elucidate these assumptions and the role they play in MR, as well as how different kinds of data can be used to further support them.

Orbital fractures are a common finding in facial trauma and serious complications may arise when orbital reconstruction is not done properly. The virtual planning can be used to manufacture patient-specific titanium orbital implants (PSI) through the process of selective laser melting. This method is currently considered the most accurate technique for orbital reconstruction. Even with the most accurate tehniques of bone reconstruction, there are still situations where enophthalmos is present after reconstruction which may be produced by intraorbital soft tissue atrophy. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the orbital soft tissue after postraumatic reconstruction of the orbital walls fractures. 10 patients diagnosed with unilateral orbital fractures were included in this study. A CT scan of the head region with thin slices (0.6mm) and soft and bone tissue windows was done. After data processing, the STL files were exported and the intraorbital fat tissue volume and the muscular tissue volume were masured. The volumes of affected orbit tissues were compared with the volumes of the healthy orbit tissues for each patient. Our findings conclude that a higher or a lower grade of fat and muscular tissue loss is present in all cases of reconstructed orbital fractures.

We present the case of a 35-year-old patient without pathological history who developed hemopneumothorax due to altitude barotrauma during a commercial airline flight. The computed tomography of the chest identified the presence of emphysema "blebs" and bubbles, and the histopathological examination of the lung fragment obtained during the diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy identified elements suggestive for the diagnosis of respiratory bronchiolitis associated with desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP).

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide healthcare problem. Multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO) have the ability to spread quickly owing to their resistance mechanisms. Although colonized individuals are crucial MDRO dispensers, colonizing microbes have the potential to turn pathogenic under certain conditions, leading to symptomatic infections in carriers. Carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are among the most important MDRO involved in infections and colonizations, associating with multiple resistance mechanisms and virulence factors, causing infections with severe outcomes. All research papers identified in the most comprehensive online databases which contained information related to the topic of this article were analyzed, and relevant data was extracted and included. The first information on CPE could be traced back to the mid-2000s, but pertinent data for many African countries was established in the past 5-8 years. Information is presented chronologically for each country. Although no clear conclusions could be drawn for some countries, it was observed that CPE colonizations are present in most African countries and carbapenem-resistance levels are rising. The most common CPE involved are Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, and the most prevalent carbapenemases are NDM-type and OXA-48-type enzymes. Prophylactic measures, such as screening, are required to combat this phenomenon.

(1) Background: The prediction of cervical lesions evolution is a challenge for clinicians. The prospective study aimed to determine and compare the predictive accuracy of cytology, HPV genotyping, and p16/Ki67 dual staining alone or in combination with personal risk factors for the prediction of progression, regression or persistence of cervical lesions in human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected patients; (2) Methods: This prospective study included HPV-positive patients with or without cervical lesions that underwent follow-up. Descriptive statistics and sensitivity analysis for individual or combined index tests were used for data analysis; (3) Results: The highest predictive performance for the progression of cervical lesions was achieved by a model that comprised a Pap smear suggestive of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), the presence of 16/18 HPV strains, a positive p16/Ki67 dual staining result along with the presence of at least 3 clinical risk factors, which had a sensitivity (Se) of 74.42%, a specificity of 97.92%, an area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of 0.961, and an accuracy of 90.65%. The prediction of cervical lesions regression or persistence was modest; (4) Conclusions: Multiple testing or new biomarkers should be used to improve HPV-positive patient surveillance, especially for cervical lesion regression or persistence prediction.

Background/Objectives: Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause variable symptoms, which may be irreversible if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. We aimed to develop a widely accepted expert consensus to guide the practice of diagnosing and treating B12 deficiency. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of the literature published in PubMed since January 2003. Data were used to design a two-round Delphi survey to study the level of consensus among 42 experts. Results: The panelists agreed on the need for educational and organizational changes in the current medical practices for diagnosing and treating B12 deficiency. Recognition of clinical symptoms should receive the highest priority in establishing the diagnosis. There is agreement that the serum B12 concentration is useful as a screening marker, whereas methylmalonic acid or homocysteine can support the diagnosis. Patient lifestyle, disease history and medications can provide clues to the cause of B12 deficiency. Regardless of the cause of the deficiency, initial treatment with parenteral B12 was regarded as the first choice for patients with acute and severe manifestations of B12 deficiency. The use of high-dose oral B12 at different frequencies may be considered for long-term treatment. Prophylactic B12 supplementation should be considered for specific high-risk groups. Conclusions: There is a consensus that clinical symptoms need to receive more attention in establishing a diagnosis. B12 laboratory markers can support the diagnosis. The severity of clinical symptoms, the causes of B12 deficiency and the treatment goals govern decisions regarding the route and dose of B12 therapy.

Ideas about Artificial Intelligence appeared about half a century ago, but only now is it becoming an essential element of everyday life. The data provided is getting bigger and bigger and, in this case, we need artificial intelligence that helps us with superhuman powers. The interaction with medicine is getting closer and closer, medicine being a field that continues to be perfected. Machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, computer vision are some of the mechanisms that are already applied in medicine, becoming a trend in healthcare worldwide. Artificial intelligence will be the thing that will change contemporary medicine. Developed countries such as Japan, France, Germany have already implemented artificial intelligence in their medical systems. The help is in medical diagnosis, patient monitoring, personalized therapy, and workflow optimization. Artificial intelligence will help surgeons to perfect their skills, to standardize techniques, to choose the best surgical technique. The goal is to predict complications, reduce diagnostic time, diagnose complex pathologies, guide the surgeon intraoperatively and reduce medical errors. We are at the beginning but the potential is enormous.

We studied the magnetostriction coefficients, λs, Curie temperature, Tc, and their dependence on annealing conditions in Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2 and Co67Fe3,9Ni1,5B11,5Si14,5Mo1,6 amorphous glass-coated microwires with rather different character of hysteresis loops. A positive λs≈20x10-6is observed in as-prepared Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2, while low and negative λs ≈-0.3x10-6 is ob-tained for Co67Fe3,9Ni1,5B11,5Si14,5Mo1,6 microwire. Annealing affects the magnetostriction coeffi-cients and Curie temperatures, Tc, of both Fe47Ni27Si11B13C2 and Co67Fe3,9Ni1,5B11,5Si14,5Mo1,6 glass-coated microwires in a similar way. Observed dependencies of hysteresis loops, λs and Tc on annealing conditions are discussed in terms of superposition of internal stresses relaxation and structural relaxation of studied microwires. We observed linear λs dependence on applied stress, σ, in both studied microwires. A decrease with applied stress is observed for Co-rich mi-crowires with negative magnetostriction coefficient. In contrast, a linear increase of the magne-tostriction coefficient with applied stress is observed for Fe-Ni- rich microwires with positive magnetostriction coefficient. Observed results are discussed in terms of influence of internal stresses and short range atomic rearrangements induced by annealing on hysteresis loops, magnetostriction coefficients and Curie temperatures of studied microwires.

Magnetic iron oxide particles are used for in vitro diagnostics for nearly 40 years. Due to their unique physical, chemical, thermal and mechanical properties, as well as biocompatibility and low toxicity in the human body, iron oxide nanoparticles have been used in many biomedical applications, such as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging, carriers for controlled drug delivery and immunoassays, but also in magnetic hyperthermia. Our aim is to investigate the effect of pressure and temperature on the structural, thermal and magnetic properties of iron oxide nanomaterials prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized at temperatures of 100-200°C and pressures of 20-1000 bar. It has been found that pressure influences the type of iron oxide crystalline phase. Thus, for lower pressure values (< 100 bar), iron oxide is predominantly formed as hematite, while at pressures > 100 bar, the major crystalline phase is goethite. The complex thermal analysis revealed the polymorphic changes of iron oxides at different temperatures. The existence of specific magnetite and hematite phases in all thermally treated samples are evidenced through the specific Verwey and Morin transitions highlighted by ZFC-FC (Zero Field Cooled-Field Cooled) measurements, whereas their relative content is precisely provided by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Colostrum is a natural product, issued by both mammals and humans in first week of lactation. Among different species, donkey colostrum is considered as having, besides a valuable composition in nutrients and immune factors, an outstanding similitude with human colostrum. In this context, and taking into account the scarcity of available data concerning the interaction between climate factors and colostrum quality, a trial was conducted aiming to identify the possible influence of environmental factors on donkey colostrum nutritional traits. A stock of 16 jennies from 2 farms located in the County of Cluj, during a 7 days postpartum period was analyzed. During experimental period the daily temperature, humidity, and wind velocity data were collected. Strong positive correlations may be reported between fat and lactose, and fat and protein respectively, while moderate to strong correlation is emphasized between lactose and protein content of donkey colostrum. Testing the influence of environmental temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity influence upon nutritional content of donkey colostrum, results the neglectable influence of the wind velocity, the negative influence of the heat stress upon all studied colostrum components, and complex influence of relative humidity, which has positive influence on fat and lactose increase when it increases, while its increase has negative influence on protein content of donkey colostrum.

This paper offers a theoretical and experimental examination of the concurrent production of electricity and heat using photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technology. The efficiency performance of the PV/T system is meticulously analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink software environments. Notably, the proposed PV/T system shows reliable performance, and its validity is confirmed through experimental validation on a test stand with a single PV/T panel positioned at a 45-degree angle to the horizontal and a 0-degree azimuth angle.

Job characteristics shape organizational sustainability, conferring tangible benefits to employees. Job characteristics shape attitudes toward work, such as satisfaction and engagement, and are related to the well-being and health of employees. The aim of the study was to determine and describe the role of work engagement and support at work in the relation between selected job characteristics (organizational justice, job control, and role clarity) and self-rated health. The study was conducted on a sample of 368 employees representing various industries. The study used: Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), Organizational Justice Survey, Coworker Support Scale, Supervisor Support Scale, Role Clarity Scale, Job Control Scale. Cantril ladder was used to measure self-rated health. The presented study established the importance of lower scores on the UWES subscale: dedication as a significant moderator of the examined correlations. In relation to the correlation: justice and its dimensions, and self-rated health, support from supervisors showed a greater effect than that from coworkers. The conducted study expands knowledge on the formation of employees' self-rated health through the sense of justice experienced within the organization. The results obtained are applicable to organizational practice. This finding highlights the importance of supporting organizational justice, which contributes to employee well-being (particularly when combined with high levels of work engagement and supervisor support) and ultimately increases organizational sustainability. Further research can be continued taking into account the limitations of the previous procedure of selecting people for the study and the measurement tools used.

The paper combines two new original concepts about eco-energetic systems. The first one is related to the M.E.N. (Mega-Eco-Nega-Watt) paradigm, which is based on three different but complementary ecological economic spaces: MEGAWATT, as needed energy, ECOWATT, as ecological energy, and NEGAWATT, as preserved energy, even the renewable energies and technologies, in the context of electrical energy production. The second concept presented in this paper is the eco-energetic efficiency, introduced in order to facilitate a correlation between the energetic efficiency of the system and a necessary, new defined ecological coefficient. The proposed formula for eco-energetic efficiency enables an interesting form of reporting to the different situations in which the input energy, output energy, lost energy and externalities, involved in an energetic process interact to produce energy in a specific energetic system, in connection with the circular economy model. Finally, is presented an original diagram of the energetic chains to produce electricity in a resilience regim, with high eco-energetic efficiency from originating in different primary energetic sources as external (gravitation & solar sources), fuels (classical & radioactive), internal sources and others. Even what kind of energetic sources are used to obtain electricity, as coals, gas, wood, hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, biomass, solar systems, and others, the entire process should be sustainable in what is the transdisciplinary integration of the different representative spheres as energy, socio-economy, ecology (environment), with the main core, sustainable education, inclueding the law and administrative aspects, as necessary fields of the knowledge based society/economy.

Considering the worldwide impact of heart failure, it is crucial to develop approaches that can help us comprehend its root cause and make accurate predictions about its outcome. This is essential for lowering the suffering and death rates connected with this widespread illness. Cardiomyopathies frequently result from genetic factors, and the study of heart failure genetics is advancing quickly. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent kind of cardiomyopathy, encompassing both hereditary and nongenetic abnormalities. It is distinguished by the enlargement of the left ventricle or both ventricles, accompanied by reduced contractility. The discovery of the molecular origins and subsequent awareness of the molecular mechanism is broadening our knowledge of DCM development. Additionally, it emphasizes the complicated nature of DCM and the necessity to formulate several different strategies to address the diverse underlying factors contributing to this disease. Genetic variations that can be transmitted from one generation to another can be a significant contributor to causing family or isolated DCM. Genetic variation also plays a significant role in determining susceptibility for acquired triggers for DCM. The genetic causes of DCM can have a diverse range of phenotypic expressions. It is crucial to select the most probable patients to have advantages from genetic testing. The purpose of this research is to emphasize the significance of identifying genetic DCM, the crucial relationships between genotype and phenotype, and the usefulness of genetic testing in the therapeutic care of both those affected and their relatives. This approach is expected to gain importance once treatment is guided by genotype-specific advice and disease-modifying medications.

The influence of post-processing conditions on the magnetic properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline microwires have been thoroughly analyzed, paying attention on the influence of magnetoelastic, induced and magnetocrystalline anisotropies on the hysteresis loops of Fe-, Ni- and Co-rich microwires. We showed that magnetic properties of glass-coated microwires can be tuned by the selection of appropriate chemical composition and geometry in as-prepared state or further considerably modified by appropriate post-processing, which consists of either annealing or glass-coated removal. Furthermore, stress-annealing or Joule heating can further effectively modify the magnetic properties of amorphous magnetic microwires owing to induced magnetic anisotropy. Devitrification of microwires can be useful for either magnetic softening or magnetic hardening of the microwires. Depending on the chemical composition of the metallic nucleus and on structural features (grain size, precipitating phases) nanocrystalline microwires can exhibit either soft magnetic properties or semi-hard magnetic properties. We demonstrated that the microwires with coercivities from 1 A/m to 40 kA/m can be prepared.

This research addresses a gap in the literature by conducting a comprehensive analysis of patients’ level of satisfaction with dental care. Methods: By combining quantitative and qualitative survey methods with the PSQ questionnaire this study aims to augment ongoing initiatives to enhance dental patients’ experiences by painting a more comprehensive depiction of patients' level of satisfaction; Results: When asked about their overall level of satisfaction 77,1% of the patients said they received excellent services from the office personnel and 72,2% said they trust their doctors; Conclusions: Assessing patient satisfaction in the realm of dental services quality is crucial for enhancing service quality and accuracy, benefiting both patients and dentists, and ultimately improving public health.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease that results from a combination of endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory arterial wall disorder. Stenosis of the carotid artery caused by atherosclerotic plaques is responsible for approximately 10-20% of strokes and transient ischemic attacks, and the low-grade intraplaque inflammation interferes with lesion stability and progression. Methods: In this cohort study, initially, 119 patients were enrolled who underwent carotid endarterectomy. Of these, 67 cases with active perilesional inflammatory infiltrate were chosen for further immunohistochemical examination. The CD68+ infiltrate, iNOS2+, Arg1, and CD31 expressions were quantified around the lipid core by digital morphometry. These results were correlated with the presence of morphological changes leading to plaque instability: ulceration, thrombosis, intraplaque hemorrhage, the presence of the lipid core, calcification, and neovascularization. Results: Patients with a stronger macrophage CD68+ infiltrate were associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p=0.003). In 12 cases with dominant iNOS2 positivity, the occurrence of atherothrombosis was significantly more frequent (p=0.046). Plaque neovascularization, characterized by CD31+, was correlated with atherothrombosis (p=0.02). Conclusion: The intensity of macrophage infiltration correlates with intraplaque hemorrhage, and the presence of pro-inflammatory iNOS2+ macrophages is associated with atherothrombosis in endarterectomized carotid plaques. Neovascularization also has potential thrombotic capacity.

Within an amplicon-based metagenomic study of Archaea, Fungi, and Bacteria in Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica, in many of the samples antagonisms between these three super kingdoms were observed under the form of an inversely proportional dependence of the richnesses of the three types of microorganisms. This was quantified - based on the observed numbers of the total tags and the numbers of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs), as well as based on four alpha diversity parameters – the Shannon, the Simpson, the Chao1, and the ACE indices. We found that the most discriminative results in the antagonism measuring were observed in the comparison of the numbers of the OTUs and the ACE community richness estimator. The antagonism between Archaea and Fungi was strongest, followed by that of Archaea and Bacteria. The Fungi-Bacteria antagonism was slightly detectable. Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis also showed a statistically significant negative correlation between the fungal and archaeal effective tags, while the correlation between archaeal and bacterial diversity was positive. Indications of the order of primary microbial succession in barren ecological niches were also observed, demonstrating that Archaea and Bacteria are the pioneers, followed by Fungi which in time would displace Archaea.

Aerosols play an important role in Earth’s climate system, thus long time ground based measurements of aerosol optical properties are useful in understanding this role. 10 years of quality-assured measurements between 2010 and 2020 are used to investigate the aerosol climatology in the Cluj-Napoca area, in North-Western Romania. In this study, we analyze the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Single Scattering Albedo (SSA) and Ångström exponent obtained by CIMEL sun photometer, part of the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) to extract the seasonality of aerosols in the region and investigate the aerosol climatology of the area. Higher aerosol loads are found during July and August. Ångström exponent has the lowest values in April and May and the highest in August. The classification of aerosols using AERONET data is performed to separate dust, biomass burning, polluted urban, marine and continental dominant aerosol mixtures. In addition, the study presents the validation efforts of the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) dataset against AERONET AOD over 10 years period.

This study explores religious diversity in Romania and how the trends of indices of religious fractionalization and polarization manifest at the county level in the post-communist period. The county is selected as the relevant level for analysis due to its spatial confessional dynamics being more clearly visible. Recent studies have revealed that erosion of diversity represents an important aspect for any country and needs to be considered as an important aspect of democracy. This paper highlights that religious polarization and fractionalization in Romania has been generally maintained, although the regions of Transylvania, Banat, Dobrogea and Western Moldova remain areas where there are different confessions. Besides the general aspect of religion diversity depending the ethnic trends, there is a rise of Pentecostals and Baptists at the county level. This aspect can inform policymakers to create new institutions for dialogue between majority Orthodox communities and Protestants so that potential conflicts do not appear between the Orthodox and emerging religious communities, but also to ensure objective, cultural, religious coherence.

Phytochemicals from Hedera helix L. lead to extracts with good biological properties which are beneficial to human health and can be used to protect plants against different diseases. The aim of this research was to find the most suitable extraction method and the most favorable parameters for different bioactive compounds extraction from ivy leaves. Different extraction methods, namely microwave assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE), and conventional heating extraction (CHE), were used. The most suitable method for saponins extraction is MAE with an extraction efficiency of 58%, while for carbohydrates and polyphenols the best results were achieved by UAE with an extraction efficiency of 61.7% and 63.5%, respectively. The antioxidant activity (AA) of the extracts was also determined. The highest AA was obtained by UAE (368.98±9.01 µmol TR/gDM). Better results were achieved at 50 °C for 10 min of extraction, using 80% ethanol in water as solvent. In order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity, the extracts richest in bioactive compounds were tested on NCTC fibroblasts. Their influence on the DNA content of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was also tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the extracts obtained by UAE and MAE were cytocompatible with NCTC fibroblasts at 48 h of treatment.

Introduction. Intra-abdominal cystic formations represent heterogeneous pathologies with varied localization and clinical manifestation. The first challenge of a giant intra-abdominal cystic lesion is identifying the organ of origin. The clinical presentation of intra-abdominal cystic lesions varies from acute manifestations to non-specific symptoms or accidental discovery. Case presentation: A 2-year-old girl presents to the emergency unit with a fever of 38.5 Celsius, loss of appetite, and apathy. The investigations showed a gigantic intra-abdominal mass whose organ belonging could not be specified. Postoperatively, a giant mesenteric lymphangioma was evident, which was completely excised. Discussions Giant cystic formations modify the anatomical reports and become space-replacing formations, and the starting point is even more challenging to assess preoperatively. Nevertheless, the careful evaluation of the characteristics of the formation, the effect on the adjacent organs, the age of the patient, and the clinical picture can provide elements of differential diagnosis.

Adapted and personalized motor activities prove to be effective for meeting the specific needs of children with SEN, tailoring to their unique limitations and abilities. Our focus was to craft and apply a structured program for psychomotor abilities development, targeting balance and motor-cognitive skills. The study aims to enhance the behavior and psychomotor manifestations of 28 students with SEN (aged 12-14) from two institutional centers in Romania. The "Sfântul Ștelian" Inclusive Education School Center of Costesti, Arges (CC-12 subjects), and the "Sfânta Filofteia" Inclusive Education School Center of Ștefănești (CS-16 subjects). Across a 36-week training regimen, participants engaged in sessions lasting 30 minutes, twice weekly. Evaluation of their psychomotor skills involved a battery of tests: assessing balance, both with eyes open and closed, brain processing speed, upper limb motor laterality. Initial and final data were gathered to assess their motor development and physical state. Instruments utilized included the Optojump Next optical system for movement analysis, Witty SEM intelligent semaphore, Sensamove balance miniboard. Statistical analysis compared the initial and final assessments using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Wilcoxon Z test. Out of the total comparisons made between the initial and final assessments for the evaluation of the psychomotor component, statistically significant differences were found in only 37.5% of these comparisons.

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents the most common and lethal gynecologic malignancy, due to its increased incidence and mortality rate. It is usually diagnosed in advanced stages and, even though surgery and platinum-based treatment are initially efficient, recurrences emerge in over 70% of cases. Although there are multiple options of chemotherapy drugs from which to choose, little is known regarding the best strategy for prolonged survival. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect that most frequently used chemotherapeutic regimens have upon time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) from the first line and beyond, considering clinical and biological factors which influence the treatment outcome of platinum-resistant recurrent OC. We retrospectively analyzed data from 78 patients diagnosed with platinum-resistant OC, who underwent chemotherapy-based treatment with or without anti-angiogenic therapy at OncoHelp Oncology Center, Romania (January 2016 - February 2021). Our study identified positive predictive factors for TTF related to anthropometry (age over 60 for patients treated with topotecan with or without bevacizumab), renal function (creatinine levels between 0.65 and 1 mg/dl for patients treated with regimens containing bevacizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and treatment choice (bevacizumab in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan used from the first line and beyond).

Background A diet rich in red meat, and poor in fruits and vegetables, can hinder the body's ability to detoxify, therefore, an alternative vegetarian diet maintained over a certain period, determines the elimination of excess toxins and accumulated residues, helping the body to regenerate and recharge energy. Following this simple rule, there are a multitude of benefits for our health. Significance of the autophagy process An even better regeneration of the body takes place during the black fast, in which senescent cells, (dead cells that no longer exercise any function, but instead produce inflammation in the body), are eliminated by autophagy, and in their place, the cells are stimulated stem. Aging can be associated with various pathological conditions if autophagy is not promoted by a healthy lifestyle. In elderly people, cells can show DNA mutations and accumulations of protein aggregates that impair the body's physiological processes. Several studies have shown that the activation of autophagy slows down the ageing process. Conclusions Aging, and its associated conditions of illness, are due to genomic instability caused by DNA damage, telomere shortening and epigenome changes that modulate gene expression.

In this study, the effect of ZnO nanoparticles (Zn NPs) on the performance of epoxy resin composites was investigated. The new ZnO/epoxy resin composites were synthesized using halloysite nanotubes (HNT) and different types of ZnO nanoparticles (commercial ZnO and ZnO-ODTES). These ZnO nanoparticles were utilized for intending to enhance the interfacial bonding between the epoxy resin and the reinforcement. Various methods such as FTIR, TGA, DSC, TEM-EDX, and Nanoindentation analyses were used to prove that the ZnO nanoparticles can improve the properties of epoxy resin composites. The thermal properties of the epoxy resin composites were enhanced to a greater extent by the addition of ZnO NPS. DSC testing proved that the epoxy resin composites modified with ZnO NPS are more flexible and elastic than unmodified epoxy resin. It was seen that the epoxy resin modified with ZnO-ODTES shows a much improved hardness and penetration depth compared to the other samples. These findings can pave the way for the developing of ZnO-based marine coatings with improved properties.

The aim of the study was to identify the existence of positive relationships between certain psychomotor behaviors, which we consider specific to swimming, and learning the execution technique of some styles (front crawl and backstroke). The study was carried out during 10 months, including 76 children (40 boys and 36 girls) aged between 6-9 years who practice recreational swimming in a Romanian city. Several tests were used: Tapping test for manual dexterity and laterality, the Goudenough test for body schema, the Flamingo test for static balance, the horizontal buoyancy test for body balance on the water. Results indicated better ratings on all psychomotor behaviors analyzed by gender (in favor of girls compared to boys), except for laterality. The levels of all analyzed psychomotor behaviors are directly proportional to the age of the subjects. Also, moderate positive correlations of manual dexterity (rs = 0.63 in front crawl; rs = 0.57 in backstroke) and strong correlations were identified for body scheme, laterality, static balance and buoyancy, coordination with the learning of the two styles of swimming (r or rs between 0.77 and 0.85). In conclusion, psychomotor behaviors can be predictors for learning swimming styles.