This article aims to review the screening and diagnostic tools for eating disorders (ED). Eating disorders represent a complex pathology defined by an imbalance between hunger and satiety, installed in an emotional, traumatic, or conflictive context. Recently, the emphasis regarding ED is focused on the link between genetics, mental pathology, and the somatic and metabolic phenotype and early detection. Early detection and intervention can assure a better recovery and can improve a lot the quality of life of these patients. Methods: We selected ten articles of central importance on the topic in a systematic search on eight databases, articles selected on the type of scales, and size of the study. Results: We identified eight questionnaire scales used in large trials in ED disorders in the scanned literature, choose because we consider it the most accurate and the ones that evaluate best the pathology and the elements that are important as specific traits in ED. There are interview-type scales and self-administered scales. Interview scales are characterized by assessments of symptoms and diagnosis, while self-administered assess particular traits and the possibility of further development of eating disorders. The majority of the scales evaluated were described and used in adult populations. From all the scales assessed and analyzed, only three are described at the child population – it is EAT-26 (> 16 years), EDI-3 (>13 years), and ANSOCQ (> 13 years). Conclusions: It is essential to develop specific scales for people under 18 years of age, given the increasing incidence of ED among children and the need for early detection and appropriate intervention. Early detection of ED in children implies a simple and accurate evaluation at the primary care level or in schools, as the course of the disease can be subclinical for several years. Moreover, the need for accurate scales and telemedicine testing and diagnosis is of high importance during the COVID-19 pandemic as youth are at particular risk being psychologically affected due to disrupted education and social interactions - at a critical time.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the two disorders known as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) along with Crohn’s disease (CD), with complex pathogenesis, requiring costly invasive investigations. Objective: to examine the most recent biomarkers proposed for UC diagnosis; to establish the strategy used to make the differential diagnosis between UC and CD relying on these biomarkers, also adding the benefit of finding new non-invasive tools in managing this condition. The search was performed in a single database (Web of Science) using the specific keywords „ulcerative colitis”, „biomarkers” and „diagnosis” for the last five years. Study eligibility criteria: clinical trials on adults and pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis compared with Crohn’s disease. Results: We selected 57 studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical case series (CCS), summarizing the latest most specific biomarkers in diagnosis of UC. Limitations: we considered RCTs and CCS from one database, limited to the search topics. Our findings indicate a important number of potential biomarkers with diagnostic value, which bring the advantage of a non-invasive method to approach this challenging disorder.

Background and objectives: Induction of labor (IOL) is an event that occurs in up to one-quarter of pregnancies; less is known about the outcomes and safety of IOL in obese pregnant woman; no data is available on misoprostol vaginal insert (MVI) IOL in high-risk pregnancy obese women. Objectives: (1) to evaluate the rate of successful IOL with 200 μg MVI in obese (Body Mass Index - BMI over 30 kg/m2) high-risk pregnant women: late-term pregnancy, hypertension or diabetes, compared to obese non-high-risk ones; (2) to evaluate the safety profile of MVI in high-risk pregnancy obese patients. Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional study in "Filantropia" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, from June 2017 to September 2019 (28 months). From a total of 11,096 registered live births, IOL was performed in 206 obese patients; 74 obese high-risk pregnant patients matched the inclusion criteria; of these, 33.8% pregnancies (n=25) were late-term (41 – 41+6 weeks), 43.2% (n=32) had associated pathologies (hypertension and diabetes); labor induction was guided using a standardized protocol. We evaluated the maternal and gestational age, parity, fetal tachysystole, hyper-stimulation, initial cervical status, time from induction to delivery, drug side effects, mode of delivery, and neonatal outcomes. Results: (a) The overall successful labor induction rate, evaluated by the vaginal delivery rate, was 71.6% (n=53), spontaneously or instrumentally assisted; 28.4% (n=21) births were unsuccessful MVI IOL, converted into caesareans. (b) No significant differences were found regarding the maternal outcomes; in terms of perinatal outcomes of safety, four cases of high-risk pregnancies vaginally delivered were associated with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and a one-minute Apgar score under seven (5.4%). Most cases with adverse effects of misoprostol have been managed conservatively, except for three emergency C-section cases. Conclusions: Misoprostol vaginal insert is a safe choice in IOL in obese high-risk pregnancies with good maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Background: Clozapine (CLZ) use is precarious due to its neurological, cardiovascular, and hematological side effects; however, it is the gold standard in therapy-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) in adults and is underused. Objective: to examine the most recent CLZ data on (a) side effects concerning (b) recent pharmacological mechanisms, (c) therapy benefits, and (d) the particularities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data sources: a search was performed in two databases (PubMed and Web of Science) using the specific keywords "clozapine" and "schizophrenia," "side effects," "agranulocytosis," "TRS," or "bipolar affective disorder (BAF)" for the last ten years. Study eligibility criteria: clinical trials on adults with acute symptoms of schizophrenia or related disorders. Results: We selected 37 studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and clinical case series (CCS), centered on six main topics in the search area: (a) CLZ in schizophrenia, (b) CLZ in bipolar disorder, (c) side effects during the clozapine therapy, (d) CLZ in pregnancy, (e) CLZ in early-onset schizophrenia, and (f) CLZ therapy and COVID-19 infection. Limitations: We considered RCTs and CCS from two databases, limited to the search topics. Conclusions and implications of key findings: (a) Clozapine doses should be personalized for each patient based on pharmacogenetics testing when available; the genetic vulnerability postulates predictors of adverse reactions' severity; patients with a lower genetic risk could have less frequent hematological monitoring; (b) CLZ-associated risk of pulmonary embolism imposes prophylactic measures for venous thromboembolism; (c) convulsive episodes are not an indication for stopping treatment; the plasma concentration of clozapine is a better side effect predictor than the dosage; (d) COVID-19 infection may enhance clozapine toxicity, generating an increased risk of pneumonia. Therapy must be continued with proper monitoring of the white blood count, and the clozapine dose decreased by half until three days after the fever breaks; psychiatrists and healthcare providers must act together. Background: Clozapine (CLZ) use is precarious due to its neurological, cardiovascular, and hematological side effects; however, it is the gold standard in therapy-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) in adults and is underused. Objective: to examine the most recent CLZ data on (a) side effects concerning (b) recent pharmacological mechanisms, (c) therapy benefits, and (d) the particularities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data sources: a search was performed in two databases (PubMed and Web of Science) using the specific keywords "clozapine" and "schizophrenia," "side effects," "agranulocytosis," "TRS," or "bipolar affective disorder (BAF)" for the last ten years. Study eligibility criteria: clinical trials on adults with acute symptoms of schizophrenia or related disorders. Results: We selected 37 studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and clinical case series (CCS), centered on six main topics in the search area: (a) CLZ in schizophrenia, (b) CLZ in bipolar disorder, (c) side effects during the clozapine therapy, (d) CLZ in pregnancy, (e) CLZ in early-onset schizophrenia, and (f) CLZ therapy and COVID-19 infection. Limitations: We considered RCTs and CCS from two databases, limited to the search topics. Conclusions and implications of key findings: (a) Clozapine doses should be personalized for each patient based on pharmacogenetics testing when available; the genetic vulnerability postulates predictors of adverse reactions' severity; patients with a lower genetic risk could have less frequent hematological monitoring; (b) CLZ-associated risk of pulmonary embolism imposes prophylactic measures for venous thromboembolism; (c) convulsive episodes are not an indication for stopping treatment; the plasma concentration of clozapine is a better side effect predictor than the dosage; (d) COVID-19 infection may enhance clozapine toxicity, generating an increased risk of pneumonia. Therapy must be continued with proper monitoring of the white blood count, and the clozapine dose decreased by half until three days after the fever breaks; psychiatrists and healthcare providers must act together.

Recently, 3D printing techniques gained much attention in solid dosage form production. Even though the methods are increasingly studied, there are still many challenges in establishing an accurate content of active ingredients in the final products. In the present study, new experimental design techniques and statistical software were developed to identify and optimize a formula to predict the mass of the tablet to be 3D printed before it actually is. The first step was to develop a virtual 3D object in the FreeCad Software, then, using a CURA slicer software, the G-code Format was obtained. The tablets were printed using a Cartesian 3D printer based on the generated data. Finally, adapting the object sequencing mode, a predicted drug mass value was obtained. As expected, the oblong tablet's scaling directly influences its mass. The software generates a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.84, confirming the directly proportional relationship between scaling and tablet weight. However, the r values progressively decreased, indicating a poor correlation between tablet weight and other factors: infill density percent (r = 0.403) and wall thickness (r = 0.185). After repeating the 3D printing with the values ​​suggested by the software, tablets with a practical value of 1066 mg were obtained. Considering that the confidence interval calculated is [834.95—1165.05] and the experimental value is 1066 mg, it can be certified that the proposed model is valid.

Overt hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is associated with risk of maternal-fetal complications. The antithyroid drugs (ATD) have a potential risk for teratogenic effects and fetal–neonatal hy-pothyroidism. This study evaluated ATD treatment and thyroid function control during preg-nancy, and pregnancy outcome in women with hyperthyroidism. Patients and methods: retro-spective analysis of 36 single fetus pregnancies in 29 consecutive women (median age 30.3 ± 4.7 years) with hyperthyroidism diagnosed before or during pregnancy; a control group of 39 healthy euthyroid pregnant women was used. Results: 26 women had Graves’ disease (GD, 33 pregnan-cies), 1 had a hyperfunctioning autonomous nodule, 2 had gestational transient thyrotoxicosis (GTT). Methimazole (MMI) was administered in 22 pregnancies (78.5%), Propylthiouracil (PTU) in 2 (7.1%), switch from MMI to PTU in 4 (14.2%), no treatment in 8 pregnancies (3 with subclinical hyperthyroidism, 5 euthyroid with previous GD remission before conception). One spontaneous abortion at 5 weeks (3.4% of pregnancies) and 1 premature delivery at 32 weeks with perinatal death in 24h (3.4%) were recorded in 2 of the 8 pregnancies of GD patients diagnosed shortly before (< 6 weeks) or during gestation. In women treated more than 6 months until conception (20 pregnancies): a) median ATD doses were lower than those in women diagnosed shortly before or during pregnancy; b) ATD was withdrawn in 40% of pregnancies in trimester (T) I, all on MMI < 10 mg/day (relapse in 14.2%), and in up to 55% in TIII; c) TSH level was below normal in 37%, 35% and 22% of pregnancies in T I, II and III respectively; FT4 was increased in 5.8% (T I) and sub-normal in 11.75% in TII and III; d) one fetal death due to a true umbilical cord knot was recorded. Hyperthyroidism relapsed postpartum in 83% of GD patients (at median 3 ± 2.6 months). One child had neonatal hyperthyroidism (3.3% of live children in GD women) and a small atrial sept defect (4% of live children in ATD treated women). Mean birth weight did not differ from that of the control group. Conclusion. In hyperthyroid women with long-term ATD control before con-ception, drugs could be withdrawn in TI in a third of them, and fetal complications were rare. Frequent serum TSH and FT4 monitoring is needed in order to maintain optimal thyroid function during pregnancy.

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 traditional nomenclature system for classifying Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV), based on clinical phenotype, described Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) and Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) as distinct clinical entities. This classification has proved its expedience in clinical trials and every day clinical practice, yet, a substantial overlap in clinical presentation still exists, and often causes difficulties in prompt definition and clinical distinction. Additionally, new insights into the AAV pathogenesis point out that PR3 and MPO-AAV may not represent expressions of the same disease spectrum but rather two distinct disorders, as they display significant differences. Thus, it is supported that a classification based on ANCA serotype (PR3-ANCA, MPO-ANCA or ANCA-negative), could be more accurate and also closer to the nature of the disease, instead of the phenotype-based one. This review aims to elucidate the major differences between PR3 and MPO-AAV, in terms of epidemiology, pathogenesis, histological and clinical manifestations, and response to therapeutic approaches.

The COVID-19 pandemic had profound negative effects on millions of couples affected by infertility and in need to resort to assisted reproductive technologies. There is no consensus over the optimal way and moment of screening triage-negative asymptomatic patients and staff. We present SARS-CoV-2 antibodies’ (IgM, IgG) seroprevalence in 516 triage-negative patients and 30 fertility care providers. The sampling for SARS-CoV-2 serological assays took place from the lockdown release throughout the second half of 2020 (17.05 - 01.12.2020). It revealed an increased seroprevalence of antibodies that closely followed the local epidemiology of COVID-19, with the highest rate of seropositivity coincident with the peak of the second wave. From 546 triage-negative individuals whose blood samples were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 6% yielded positive results. The overall seroconversion rate was 2.8% for IgG and 5.1% for IgM. In the group with positive IgM, we observed a negative predictive value for IgM of 98.36% (95% CI: 88.79 – 99.78%), which is clinically meaningful. Serological testing of triage-negative patients up to seven days prior to the actual fertility procedure might avoid the more expensive and not more sensitive molecular testing currently being used for patient screening in most fertility units.

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.

The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome in children involves multiple factors. Thus, treatment options are variable, targeting diet and the child’s and parents’ behav-ior, involving pharmacological and psychological interventions or neuromodulation. Parents are increasingly interested in complementary and alternative therapies for children with irritable bowel syndrome, especially when other treatments have been tried without relieving the child’s symptoms. This paper looks into current evidence for the benefits and side effects of herbal remedies and spices in pediatric patients with IBS. The benefits of peppermint oil, STW5, Psyllium fiber, Curcuma, ginger, and other herbal medicines are discussed based on findings in the current literature.

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) pose a significant risk of kidney failure, kidney biopsy remains a key prognostic tool. Pathology classification of the AAV glomerulonephritis (GN) developed by Berden et al showed correlation between GN classes and kidney outcomes; ANCA Renal Risk Score (ARRS) included tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis (TA/IF) as an additional parameter for risk assessment. We aimed to evaluate kidney survival across AAV GN classes and ARRS groups. A single-center retrospective study included 85 adult patients with biopsy-proven AAV kidney disease followed in 2000-2020. Primary outcome was kidney survival at the end of 18 [5; 66] months follow-up, kidney death considered as CKD stage 5. We found significant difference in the kidney survival for sclerotic, mixed, crescentic and focal AAV GN classes: 19%, 76.2%, 91.7% and 100% respectively (p=0.009). Kidney survival was 0%, 75.6% and 100% for the high, median and low risk ARRS groups respectively (p&lt;0.001); TA/IF analysis showed kidney survival 49.6% vs 87.7% for widespread and mild TA/IF respectively (р=0.003). Kidney survival was significantly lower in anti-MPO-ANCA versus anti-PR3-ANCA carriers (50.3% and 78.1% respectively, р=0.045). We conclude that unfavorable AAV kidney outcomes associated with sclerotic GN class by Berden’s classification, ARRS high risk group, and anti-MPO-ANCA subtype.

HU is the Hypergeometrical Universe Theory (HU)[1-8], proposed in 2006, where the Universe is a Lightspeed Expanding Hyperspherical Hypersurface and Gravitation is an absolute-velocity-dependent, epoch-dependent force. Here we introduce the Big Pop Cosmogenesis and show our calculations associated with the Equation of State of the Universe. This article is the first in a series of articles[9-22] supporting the paradigm shift.

In an increasingly resource-constrained era, the utilization approach of waste and by-products from grain processing, is attractive widely, considering both nutritive value and economic aspects and move towards more sustainable food systems. Following the fundamentals of a circular economy, the need of the hour lies in its effective utilization as a grain waste and by-products conversion into value-added products in food industry. The aim of this study is twofold: 1. Understanding the progress of grain waste and by-products to valorization in human nutrition, using bibliometrics; different literature databases namely Google Scholar, Web of Science and Elsevier Scopus have been evaluated for their merits and values; 2. Exploration of knowledge-based strategies, by reviewing the literature concerning the possible use of grain waste and by-products for food processing industry, reducing burden on virgin raw materials. The review allowed to unlock the latest-advances of upcycling side streams and waste from grain processing industry.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have successfully revealed numerous susceptibility loci for obesity. PREDATORR study (2014) shows that in Romania, 34,6% of adults aged 20-79 y/o are overweight, 31,4% are obese with a high risk of cardiometabolic complications, a number that puts almost 67% of Romania's population in the abnormal weight group. Our study aims to investigate the current staus of genetic foundation in metabolic disease associated with obesity, applied to a pilot group of patients specifically examining the impact of known polymorphisms and their haplotype of six food intake-regulating genes: leptin (LEP), leptin receptor (LEP-R), serotonin receptor (5HTR2A), ghrelin (GHRL), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and fat-mass and obesity-associated (FTO) with the following polymorphisms: LEP A-2548G, LEPR A-223G, 5HTR2A G-1439A, GHRL G-72T, NPY T-29063C, FTO A-T and body mass index (BMI). A notable link between the LEP-2548 rs7799039 gene's AG genotype and the risk of obesity was observed, particularly pronounced in males aged 40-49, with an approximately sevenfold increased likelihood of obesity. The 5HTR2A rs6311 AA genotype was associated with a higher BMI, not statistically significant. The FTO rs9939609 gene's AA genotype emerged as a significant predictor of obesity risk. Besides these significant findings, no substantial associations were observed with the LEPR, 5HTR2A, GHRL and NPY genes. Haplotype association analysis showed a suggestive indication of GRGMLA (rs7799039, rs1137101, rs6311, rs696217, rs16139, rs9939609 sequence) haplotype with susceptibility effect towards obesity predisposition. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed statistically significant associations between LEP and LEPR gene (p = 1e-04), LEP and GHRL gene (p = 0.0047), GHRL and FTO gene (p=0.03). The outcomes of this study, to our knowledge, one of the very few on the Romanian population, aimed to be a starting point for further research on the targeted interventional strategies to reduce cardiometabolic risks.

The aim of the paper is to analyze the experimental results of the influence of elevated temperatures and strain rate on the mechanical and structural properties of steel 42CrMo4. The experiments were based on uniaxial tension and compression tests at high temperatures between 700 °C and 1000 °C and strain rates range 0.0018 - 0.1 s^-1. The influence of temperature and strain rate on yield stress, strain to fracture, hardness, structural changes, and fracture characteristics were analyzed. Due to the dynamic recrystallization phenomenon present during the hot tensile tests, an increase in the flow stress is observed at the beginning of the deformation, after which it decreases until the fracture. By increasing the deformation temperature from 700 °C to 1000 °C, the tensile stress decreases significantly for all strain rates. The increase in the strain rate leads to the increase in the tensile stress. In compression tests by increasing the strain rate, the true strain is slightly increasing, but this depends on the temperature. The non-uniformity of deformations obtained at different values of the strain rate and temperature were also analyzed. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed the ductile behavior of the material. The degree of damage of the material caused by the presence of cavities increases by increasing the deformation temperature. For all the presented deformation conditions, the presence of the fracture through the ductile fracture mechanism was produced by the localized of necking and the coalescence of microvoids. By increasing the deformation temperature and reducing the strain rate, the fracture behavior of 42CrMo4 steel can be improved.

This paper exposes the initial part of a research consisting in a need analysis carried out by the Romanian partner in the Erasmus+ "Media Education for Aware Adults" project, regarding digital competences and media education of adult educators or trainers. After a short introduction on the subject, in the paper are presented the main findings of the desk research, and two focus group sessions, first one for identifying the necessary digital competences of adult educators, and second one for identifying the elements that educators need in order to adequately support adults in their learning process, especially in relation to the digital environment. The results of the initial research will lead to the development of the main intellectual outputs, namely the digital competences framework, handbook, online platform and training material on digital and media education. In their development will be taken into account, on the one hand, the needs identified in the initial research, and, on the other hand, the need for a sustainable approach to all activities, resources and outputs produced, as well as education itself, this goal being assumed through the project.

Based on some geometrical properties of the Rabinovich system the closed-form solutions of the equations has been established. Moreover the Rabinovich system is reduced to a nonlinear differential equation depending on an auxiliary unknown function. The approximate analytical solutions are built using the Optimal Auxiliary Functions Method (OAFM). A good agreement between the analytical and corresponding numerical results has been performed. The accuracy of the obtained results emphasizes that this procedure could be successfully applied for more dynamical systems with these geometrical properties.

Given the contradiction between the current demands for sustainability and the way the financial system works, this paper explores in a retrospective and a prospective view the Romanian Public Finance Sustainability, highlighting the major challenges and vulnerabilities. For the retrospective part, we concentrate mainly on empirical tests on Romanian government solvency between the period 1986- 2016, by applying unit root and co-integration tests. To gain a better, general understanding of the behavior of policy-makers, in the second part we use a scenario analysis of budgetary adjustment in the short and medium run under alternative hypotheses. The results provide a formal proof that policy makers decisions face critical and complex questions and the way in which they manage fiscal stimuli have a direct implication on the sustainability of the country and on the lax implementation of fiscal policy.

Background: Removable prostheses have seen a fundamental change recently because of advances in polymer materials, allowing improved durability and performance. Despite these advancements, notable differences still occur amongst various polymer materials and processing technologies, requiring a thorough grasp of their mechanical, physical, and therapeutic implications. Methods: Fours different processing techniques, all utilizing Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as the main material, were used to construct complete dentures. The specimens underwent a mechanical test. Results: All the specimens broke under the influence of a certain force, rather than yielding through flow, as is characteristic for plastic materials. For each specimen, the maximum force (N) was recorded (figure 4), as well as the breaking energy, Conclusions: The best results were obtained in the case of the thermoplastic injection system and, surprisingly and contrary to those in the specialized literature, the worst results were recorded in the case of 3D printed samples.

Dental agenesis is one of the most common developmental anomaly in humans and it is frequently as-sociated with several other oral abnormalities. The present case describes nonfamilial agenesis of per-manent teeth in a twenty-one-year-old boy, with no apparent systemic abnormalities. The treatment in-cluded a personalized and interdisciplinary approach by the means of endodontics, orthodontics, im-plants supported restorations and prosthetic treatments. The treatment plan was thoroughly elaborated using photographic analysis, study models, orthopantomogram, CBCT and cephalograms. Virtual smile design, diagnostic waxing, and mock-up previsualized the treatment objectives. The edentulous spaces were reconstructed by inserting dental implants, and monolithic Zirconia implant supported restorations. The final results showed a highly aesthetic and functional rehabilitation. Periodic checkups have shown that the stability of the result is well maintained and that the implant supported restorations are an op-timal solution for patients with multiple anodontia.

The study carried out by simulation, concerns the thermal behavior of an office building’s solar fresh air cooling system, based on a LiBr-H₂O absorption chiller in different climatic conditions. The coefficient of performance (COP) and the solar fraction were considered performance parameters and were analyzed with respect to the operating limits: risk of crystallization and maintaining at least a minimum degassing zone. A new correlation between the required solar hot temperature and the cooling water temperature was established and then embedded in another new correlation between the COP and the cooling water temperature that was used in simulations during the whole cooling season corresponding to each location. It was found that: the solar hot water should be maintained in the range of (80-100) °C depending on the cooling water temperature, the COP of the solar LiBr-H₂O absorption chiller with or without cold storage tank can reach (76.5-82.4) % depending on the location, and the solar fraction can reach (29.5-62.0) % without cold storage tank and can exceed 100 % with cold storage tank, the excess cooling power being available to cover other types of cooling loads: through the building envelope, from lighting, from occupants, etc.

In this paper, based on our previous expertise on ceramic artifacts, several archaeometric methods applied to some samples collected from the Dudești archaeological site (Oltenia region, Romania) are reported for the first time in the literature. The chemical composition and microstructural and morphological characterization of these samples offer important conclusions about the processing conditions. Some specific techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wave-length-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), Optical microscopy (OM), stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, provide composition information about pigments and their decay processes. Additionally, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method helps to estimate pore sizes and specific surface areas. Thermal analysis (TGA) was used to establish details regarding the production technology and the raw materials source used to make the ceramics, too. The obtained results indicated that the ceramics are based on a paste of muscovite, feldspar, with high plasticity, quartz, melanterite, and calcite, the latter in very low concentrations. According to the obtained results, we could assume that non-calcareous clays are present in the investigated samples because calcium exists in low concentrations. Gypsum is present, too, in very low concentration, identified by the presence of sulfate group in WDXRF. In the same context, iron oxides significantly impact the firing atmosphere of iron-rich clay, resulting in blackening under reducing conditions and reddish coloration under oxidative conditions. Using hematite and gypsum as pigments further contributes to the color variations in the pottery. The consistent firing temperature range of 200-600 °C in Dudești pottery implies a standardized production process, the variation in color being dependent on the specific reducing/oxidative regime conditions. This relationship between clay composition and local sources suggests a connection to Neolithic pottery production in the region and their color depending on the reducing/oxidative regime conditions.

Neonatal mortality remains a public health concern and timely identification and prompt intervention in the delivery room could improve the outcome in neonatal morbidity and mortality. We performed a retrospective study to help us finding the profile of the high-risk newborn regarding the need for NICU admission, necessary to establish a protocol regarding the mobilization of human and material resources for the urgent management of these situations. All deliveries and neonates born in Maternity of Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital from Romania were reviewed, including relevant maternal, foetal and perinatal data to identify risk factors that result in birth of newborns needing resuscitation at birth between 2012-2019. The number of births showed a downward trend but around 90% of the births were on term. The incidence of neonatal emergencies is increasing, the most frequently were respiratory, sepsis and other infections, cardiovascular emergencies, and extreme prematurity. It is noted that in 2021 the incidence of these neurological emergencies increased by three times compared to previous years. The neonatal and maternal risk factors associated with admission to the NICU were mother's age over 35 years, low level of education, second/more gestation, weight under 2500 g, Apgar score under 7, premature rupture of membranes, macrosomia and mother's infectious pathology. Accurate identification of risk factors and anticipation at the birth of a high-risk neonate would result in adequate preparation and prompt resuscitation of neonates who need some level of intervention and thus, reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Whistler mode waves play a major role in regulating the lifetime of trapped electrons in the Earth's radiation belts. Specifically, whistler mode hiss waves are one of the mechanisms that maintains the slot region between the inner and outer radiation belts. The generation mechanism of hiss is a topic still under debate with at least three prominent theories present in the literature. Lightning generated whistlers in their ducted or non-ducted modes, are considered to be one of the possible sources of hiss. We present a study of new observations from the Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI) on the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (ePOP: currently known as SWARM-E). RRI consists of two orthogonal dipole antennas, which enables polarization measurements, when the satellite boresight is parallel to the geomagnetic field. Here we present 75 passes of ePOP - RRI from 2014 - 2018, in which lightning whistlers and hiss waves were observed. In more than 50% of those passes hiss is found to co-exist with the lightning whistlers. Moreover, the whistler observations are correlated with observations of wave power at the lower-hybrid resonance. The observations and a whistler mode ray-tracing study suggest that multiple-hop lightning induced whistlers can be a source of hiss and plasma instabilities in the magnetosphere.

Background: The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) combines standardized terminology with a classification system for imaging findings in patients with HCC, therefore rendering diagnostic biopsy unnecessary in many cases. This retrospective study included 23 patients with a biopsy diagnosis of HCC, performed either before or after local interventional procedures, in order to evaluate the histopathologic changes induced by previous procedures and their potential influence on the response to immune therapy. Material and Methods: The study encompassed a cohort of patients diagnosed with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Diagnosis was established through contrast-enhanced computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging that identified LI-RADS-5 nodules in conjunction with historical liver disease and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, or through histological examination confirming positivity for glypican3, heat shock protein70, and glutamine synthetase. The study detailed the liver disease etiology, LI-RADS scores, characteristics and dimensions of HCC nodules, serum AFP concentrations, Edmondson-Steiner grading, and the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the tumor cells. Results: Among the study's cohort of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) patients, a portion had not received any prior treatments, while the remainder experienced local HCC recurrence following trans-arterial chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation. Observations indicated elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in those who had not undergone any previous interventions, showing statistical significance. The Edmondson-Steiner classification predominantly identified grade III differentiation across patients, irrespective of their treatment history. Furthermore, an increase in intra-tumoral programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was noted in patients who had not been subjected to previous therapies. Conclusion: Liver biopsy offers valuable insights for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), assisting in the tailoring of immune therapy strategies, particularly in cases of recurrence following prior local interventions.

Hallyu or the Korean wave has sweeped through nations especially the Philippines. This exploratory study offers a dip into the effects of the Hallyu wave on a Filipino speaker through ambient exposure, consequently on the development of a Korean proto-lexicon through indirect vocabulary acquisition. Finally, a focus group discussion and a preliminary assessment tested out the waters of the effects of Hallyu on casual Filipino speakers. A thorough statistically comprehensive qualitative study on the acquisition framework is recommended to provide substantial evidence to support the framework.

POH (Peri Orbital Hyperpigmentation) represents a minor clinical entity that attracts immense aesthetic damages and it generates social integration difficulties. This review focuses on the etiopathogenic causes of this entity, differentiating and reclassifying this defect as having, on the one hand, genetic causes of melanic hyperproduction – for Fitzpatrick cutaneous phototypes IV and V – and, on the other hand, both genetic and acquired vascular causes, in individuals with light-coloured skin phototypes. Hence, there is a big difference in the field of pathogenic treatment, for the two entities. In addition, this study notes the direct relationship between skin aging and POH, especially for aquired vascular causes. In this reasoning, other aesthetic deficiencies of the skin in the palpebral area should be also considered, like: blepharochalasis, wrinkles, the anatomical causes of the lower eyelid shading, symmetrical or asymmetric suborbital oedema. All of these issues will complicate the therapeutic decision and subsidiary, the pharmaceutical advice. In this context, the review shows the guidelines for a honest councelling of the patients, pointing the efficiency limit for the topical pharmaceutical medication (depigmentants, exfoliants) versus the necessity of minimally invasive or/ and surgical treatments (in blefarochalasis).

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.

Water and water habitats are essential to life and to the wellness of the communities that rely on them, as the Danube river is subject to human impact and vice versa, periodic surveys are required to determine the status of its pollution levels. In this work we used known microbiological indicators as well as physico-chemical ones to assess the ecotoxicological status of the Danube river from eleven locations partially forming the “Romanian–Bulgarian Danube Sector”. Most of the microbial communities found, and their densities, could be explained by point and diffuse sources scattered along the sector such as discharged household and farm wastewater, as well as nearby agricultural areas where fertilizers have been used and then leaked in the water stream during rainfalls. However, microbial data on non-point sources that lead to diffuse pollution of surface waters could be linked to such parameters and furthermore shown a slight correlation with the current status of fish communities.

This work emphasizes some geometrical properties of the Maxwell--Bloch equations. Based on these properties the closed-form solutions of their equations are established. Thus, the Maxwell-Bloch equations are reduced to a nonlinear differential equation depending on an auxiliary unknown function. The approximate analytical solutions were built using the Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM). A good agreement between the analytical and corresponding numerical results was found. The accuracy of the obtained results is validated through the representative figures. This procedure could be successfully applied for more dynamical systems with geometrical properties.

Early discharge after childbirth has led to a rise in neonatal readmission, becoming a major concern in recent decades. Our research aimed to identify the risk factors and incidence of neonatal readmission, as well as explore preventive measures. Our study at the Clinical Hospital of Pediatrics in Ploiești, Romania included 108 neonates admitted during the neonatal period. This accounted for 2.06% of all admissions (5226). The most prevalent cases were malnutrition (25%), fever (20.3%) and bronchiolitis (17.5%). Diarrhea and infectious gastroenteritis were also observed (14.8%), along with acute rhinoconjunctivitis (9.2%) and late onset sepsis (3.7%). No deaths were recorded. The most significant characteristics identified were number of children (p&lt;0.001) and age at maternity discharge (p&lt;0.001). By following the prevention rules, malnutrition, feeding errors, and infections can be avoided. This includes practicing proper hand hygiene for both mothers and medical staff, as well as educating and demonstrating to mothers the benefits of breastfeeding. In addition, all newborns discharged from the maternity ward should benefit from follow-up at 7-10 days of life. Our results confirm the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team and endorse promoting breastfeeding. Implementing quality control measures and regularly evaluating the surveillance program will help improve its effectiveness.

The dominant paradigm holds that spontaneous and therapeutically induced anti-tumor responses are mediated mainly by CD8 T cells and directed against tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). The presence of specific TSAs on cancer cells can only be proven by mass spectrometry analyses. Bioinformatic predictions and reverse immunology studies cannot provide this type of conclusive evidence. Most TSAs are coded by unmutated non-canonical transcripts that arise from cancer-specific epigenetic and splicing aberrations. When searching for TSAs, mass spectrometry analyses must therefore interrogate not only the canonical reading frame of annotated exome but all reading frames of the entire translatome. The majority of aberrantly expressed TSAs (aeTSAs) derive from unstable short-lived proteins that are good substrates for direct MHC I presentation but poor substrates for cross-presentation. This is an important caveat because cancer cells are poor antigen-presenting cells and the immune system therefore depends on cross-presentation by dendritic cells (DCs) to detect the presence of TSAs. We therefore postulate that, in the untreated host, most aeTSAs are undetected by the immune system. We present evidence suggesting that vaccines inducing direct aeTSA presentation by DCs represent an attractive strategy for cancer treatment.

Congestion not only represents a cardinal sign of heart failure but is also now recognized as the primary cause for hospital admissions, rehospitalizations, and mortality among patients with acute heart failure. Congestion can manifest through various heart failure phenotypes in acute settings: volume overload, volume redistribution, or both. Recognizing the congestion phenotype is paramount, as it implies different therapeutic strategies for decongestion. Complete decongestion is hardly achieved among patients with acute heart failure, as more than half still have residual congestion at discharge. Residual congestion is one of the strongest predictors of future cardiovascular events and poor outcomes. Through this review, we try to provide a better understanding of the congestion phenomenon among patients with acute heart failure by highlighting insights into the pathophysiology mechanisms behind congestion and new diagnostic and management tools to achieve and maintain efficient decongestion.

The current paper is based on a survey conducted on 321 engineering students studying at University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest and University POLITEHNICA of Timişoara. The research aims at outlining the profile of the teacher in technical higher education as depicted by engineering students. The results of the study highlight the importance of the student-teacher relationship and of the teacher’s roles as evaluator and examiner. Moreover, the test data show significant statistical differences between the real and ideal teacher in technical higher education from a student perspective. Regarding the dimensions of the teacher in technical higher education, based on the statistics, on a 1 to 5 scale, the results show similarities of the two models. For instance, students rank first intelligence and last elitism and competitiveness as teacher attributes.

The research presented in this article is based on a strategic approach to a rural area in the mountainous region of Romania and is underwritten by specialists in the economy of mountainous regions in order to elaborate relevant solutions to complex problems relating to sustainable development. In essence, the research underlines and promotes the particularities of performing research for the identification and valuation of endogenous resources, that is, creating relevant strategic options for the durable development of the mountainous region, centered on the renewal of economic activities related to the existent endogenous resources, by using methods, work techniques, and instruments of strategic analysis. These factors are subordinate to the process of harmonization to the requirements of community development and environmental protection according to the new strategy for the development of the European Union 2020 (European Green Pact). This pact also emphasizes the necessity of involving the different factor categories of local accountability, promotion, activation, and the development of specific economic activities of different local contexts of sustainability. The research methodology used involves a case study whose complexity necessitated the use of quality and quantity research methods in order to underline specific elements of the rural area in the Romanian mountainous region. Specifically, we used a strategic diagnosis of the Romanian mountainous region using the PESTEL and SWOT models. In order to have relevant strategic options available, the continuity of research was achieved through the use of SOR analysis, creating a problem tree and an objectives tree.

Some glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), first used in the treat-ment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), have been approved for the treatment of obe-sity in patients with or without T2DM (liraglutide – LIR, semaglutide - SEM, and tir-zepatide - TIR). Social media had an important influence on the off-label use of GLP-1 RAs for obesity, especially for SEM. We analysed the Google queries related to SEM to assess people's interest in this drug. We also investigated the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by searching the EudraVigilance database (EV) for Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) that reported SEM as the suspected drug and performed a descriptive and a disproportionality analysis. Data obtained for SEM were compared to other GLP-1 RAs. SEM had the highest proportions of searches on Google associated with the term “weight loss” and presented the lowest number of severe ADRs, but it also had the highest number of ICSRs reported in EV. Even though no unexpected safety issues have been reported for it until now, SEM has a high tendency for overdose reports. The most frequent off-label use was reported for SEM and TIR. In order to lower the ADRs’ risks, the off-label use should be reduced and carefully monitored.

Abstract:The Schiff bases obtained from formylmenthone and o-, m-, p-toluidine behave as bidentate ligands with O and N donor atoms in Ni(ll) and Cu(II) complexes by the type NiL2 and CuL2.(H2O)2. The donor atoms and the possible geometry for the complexes were assigned by means of chemical, thermodifferential analyses and electronic, EPR and IR spectra.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as a component of metabolic syndrome, which has insulin resistance (IR) as the primary physiopathological event. The aim of study was to establish the association between IR, assessed using triglyceride and glucose index (TyG), and histopathological features of NAFLD lesions. Methods: The study included patients with metabolic syndrome. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting lipid profiles and liver enzymes were measured. IR was assessed by TyG index. Liver biopsy was performed for assessment steatosis and fibrosis. Results: TyG index had a mean value of 8.93 ± 1.45, with a higher value in the patients with overweight (p=0.002) and obesity (p=0.004) than in the patients with normal weight. TyG index mean value of 8.78 ± 0.65 in subjects without NASH, 8.91 ± 0.57 in patients with borderline NASH and 9.13 ± 0.55 in patients with definite NASH. Significant difference was found between subjects without NASH and the ones with definite NASH (p=0.004). The analysis of the area under the ROC curve proved that TyG index is a predictor for NASH (p=0.043). Conclusion: TyG index is a facile tool used to identify individuals at risk for NAFLD, but not for the progression of liver lesions.

The pop-in effect in nanoindentation of metals represents a major collective dislocation phenome-non that displays sensitivity in the local surface microstructure and residual stresses. To under-stand the deformation mechanisms behind pop-ins in metals, large scale molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to investigate the pop-in behavior and indentation size effect in unde-formed and deformed Cu single crystals. Tensile loading, unloading and reloading simulations are performed to create a series of samples subjected to a broad range of tensile strains with/without pre-existing dislocations. The subsequent nanoindentation simulations are con-ducted to study the coupled effects of pre-strain, the presence of resulting dislocations and surface morphology, as well as indenter size effects on the mechanical response in indentation processes. Our work provides detailed insights into the deformation mechanisms and microstruc-ture-property relationships of nanoindentation in the presence of residual stresses and strains.

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.

There are many welded structures in the world such as bridges and viaducts that are subject to fatigue. These structures, generally made of non-alloy or low-alloy steels, have been put into operation some of them with many years ago and have accumulated a large number of variable load cycles over the time. For this reason the occurrence of fatigue phenomenon is inevitable and consists in the occurrence of failures at stresses applied to the structure, below the yield limit of the material. These stresses under the static loads would not cause the failures to appear..This paper will investigate whether two reconditioning techniques “weld toe grinding” and “WIG remelting weld toe”, influences favorably the behavior of welded structures made from HSLA steel, in static and variable loads and therefore if the application of these techniques is justified in both cases. In the paper will be presented the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the base and filler materials, micro and macrostructures, graphics with the variation of microhardness, static and fatigue tensile tests will be performed, and it will be rised durability curve in case of fatigue tests.

In 2015, Romania was the first country in Europe that achieved EU targets regarding the share of renewables in the generation mix, far ahead of the 2020 deadline. Starting with the energy structure in Romania, the paper: (1) analyses the evolution of the main indicators in the renewable energy sector, (2) discloses the perspectives of renewable energy in Romania synthesizing the main trends of development in the field and (3) analyses the challenges facing with the development of renewable energy in Romania. Based on analyzing the exploratory data, the paper makes a preliminary prediction of the development of the sector for the future decades and proposes targeted countermeasures and suggestions. Romania still has unexploited potential concerning renewable energy sources. Because Romania registered a continuous economic growth, the demand for electricity is steadily growing, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, Romania could introduce a support mechanism for developing the potential of unexploited potential. The results of the present study may be useful for further research regarding public policies for the development of renewable energy. Also, it can represent a useful analysis in order to identify the future trends of renewable energy in Romania.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) currently represents one of the malignant hemopathies with the best therapeutic responses following the introduction of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and later of arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment. As a result, patients with APL achieve long-term responses in a large proportion after first-line therapy, so that performing hematopoietic stem cell transplant as consolidation of first complete remission is no longer necessary. Even in the case of relapses, most patients obtain a new remission thanks to the therapy with ATO and ATRA, but to maintain it, a consolidation treatment as effective as possible is necessary. The experience accumulated from studies published in the last two decades shows the effectiveness of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in improving the evolution of patients who achieve a new complete re-mission. Thus, the recommendations of expert groups indicate transplantation as consolidation therapy in patients with a second complete remission with the mention of the use of autologous HSCT in cases with complete molecular remission and allogeneic HSCT for patients with the persistence of minimal residual disease or early relapse. However, there is a variety of contro-versial aspects related to the role of HSCT in APL, from obtaining outcome data almost exclusively from retrospective studies and historical analyzes to questions related to the type of transplanta-tion, the impact of minimal residual disease, conditioning regimens, or the role of other thera-peutic options. All these questions justify the performance of controlled prospective studies in the following years.

Evaluating the integrity of structures is an important issue in engineering applications. The use of vibration-based techniques has become a common approach to assessing cracks, which are the most often occurring damage in structural elements. When involving an inverse method, it is necessary to know the influence of the position and the geometry of the crack on the modal parameter changes. The geometry of the crack, both in size and shape, defines the damage severity (DS). In this study, we present a method (DS-SHC) used for estimating the DS for closed and open transverse cracks in beam-like structures by using the intact and damaged beam deflections under its weight and a Stochastic Hill Climbing (SHC) algorithm. After describing the procedure of applying DS-SHC, we calculate for a prismatic cantilever beam the severities for different crack types and depths. The results are tested by comparing the DS obtained with DS-SHC with those acquired from dynamic tests made using professional simulation software. We obtained a good fit between the severities determined in these two ways. Afterward, we performed laboratory experiments and find out that the severities obtained with the DS-SHC method can accurately predict the frequency changes due to the crack. Hence, these severities are a valuable tool for damage detection.

Abstract: The Willows, belonging to the genus Salix, encompass a vast array of species and hybrids, totaling between 330 to 500 species along with approximately 200 hybrids. These plants are found across continents such as Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia, exhibiting diverse forms ranging from trees to shrubs and prostrate plants. Traditionally, Willows have been utilized in folk medicine due to their rich reservoir of biologically active compounds, with salicin being a notable example, serving as a prodrug for salicylic acid.The chemical composition of Willows is highly diverse, with 322 secondary metabolites identified thus far. These include various classes such as flavonoids (94 types encompassing flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, flavan-3-ols like catechins and procyanidins, chalcones, dihydrochalcone, anthocyanins, and dihydroflavonols), phenolic glycosides (76), organic acids (28), non-phenolic glycosides (17), sterols, and terpenes (17), simple phenolics (13), lignans (7), as well as volatiles and fatty acids (69). This rich chemical di-versity underpins the various pharmacological activities exhibited by Willows. The pharmacological properties attributed to Willows are extensive and include analgesic, an-ti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antiobesity, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. These properties make Willows a subject of con-siderable interest in the fields of medicine and pharmacology. In summary, Willows represent a valuable natural resource with a diverse chemical composition and a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study aimed to enhance our comprehension of the medicinal characteristics of willow bark extract, focusing on its antimicrobial properties. This investigation holds significance in validating the traditional usage of willow bark and investi-gating its potential utility in contemporary medicine.

Distinctive strains of Pantoea are used as soil inoculants for their ability to promote plant growth. Pantoea agglomerans strain C1, previously isolated from the phyllosphere of lettuce, can produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), solubilize phosphate, and inhibit plant pathogens, such as Erwinia amylovora. In this paper, the complete genome sequence of strain C1 is reported. In addition, experimental evidence is provided on how the strain tolerates arseniate up to 100 mM, and on how secreted metabolites like IAA and siderophores act as biostimulants in tomato cuttings. The strain has a circular chromosome and two prophages for a total genome of 4,846,925-bp, with a GC content of 55.2%. Genes related to plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity, such as those associated with IAA and spermidine synthesis, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, acquisition of ferrous iron, and production of volatile organic compounds, siderophores and GABA, were found in the genome of strain C1. Genome analysis also provided better understanding of the mechanisms underlying strain resistance to multiple toxic heavy metals and transmission of these genes by horizontal gene transfer. Findings suggested that strain C1 exhibits high biotechnological potential as plant growth-promoting bacterium in heavy metal polluted soils.

Backround Cochlear implant is the first approved cranial nerve stimulator that works by directly stimulating the cochlear nerve. Various attempts have been made to evaluate the dimensions of the cochlea related to cochlear implantationThe preoperative computed tomographic examination is essential in assessing the anatomical aspect of the cochlea, but also in determining its dimensions, in order to choose an appropriate electrode, in order to obtain the best possible audiological performance. Method In the present paper, we aimed to carry out an observational study, regarding the role of cochlear measurements in the preoperative evaluation of patients proposed for cochlear implant. The purpose of the study was to measure the cochlea and to establish the existence of a correlation between the size of the cochlea and the age and gender of the patients. Results From the group of 35 examined patients, 54% (n= 19) were male and 46% (n=16) female. The average length of the cochlea in the age group 0-4 years is 7.82 mm in the left ear and 7.86 in the right ear, in the age group 4-7 years it is 7.82 mm and 7.94 mm respectively, for the age group 7-14 years the dimensions increase to 8.48 and 8.77 mm respectively, and after 14 years these dimensions reach 9.12, respectively 9.18 mm. Comparative measurements of the length of the cochlea by age groups show an increase in length with the patient's age, but this increase does not exceed 1.5 mm for both the right and left ears. The measurements of the width of the cochlea, by age group, start from 6.84 mm left ear and 6.81 mm right ear at 0-4 years, 6.94 mm and respective 6.97 mm at the group 4-7 years, 7.71 mm and respective 7.55 mm at 7-14 years , and reaching 8.19 mmm and 8.12 mm at the age of over 14 years. Conclusions From the study carried out it can be concluded that the evaluation of the dimensions of the cochlea is important for cochlear implantation, the size variables, although small, are still an element to be considered in correlation with the age of the patient and the implanted ear. This increase is statistically insignificant, but it still exists, even if from a theoretical point of view, it is considered that the dimensions of the cochlea remain constant.

Oil pollution of extraction areas is an undesirable phenomenon, but very present, es-pecially in old farms. In the context in which the depollution of these areas, in Roma-nia, is carried out from public funds, this fact is more and more difficult to achieve. That is why the effect of pollutants on the environment is being analyzed more and more, it often remains that the depollution is done naturally. This material analyzes the effect of metals present in crude oil (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Ni, Mn, As, Cd, V, Cr, S), on the soil affected by a historical accidental pollution in the Moinesti area, Romania. This article presents the results of analyzes performed by metal detection techniques, namely optical emission spectrophotometry with inductive coupled plasma and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metals determined in the polluted soil were statis-tically analyzed regarding the dispersion, standard deviation and coefficient of varia-tion compared to the control sample and compared with the results from two areas in Romania. The risk of exploitation of polluted areas was also analyzed, namely the method of pollution indices and the method of combining the effects of pollutants

The design of randomized controlled trials for low-resource settings has unique challenges. One challenge is ensuring recruitment success in the face of a lack of information about prevalence of disease in the population. What disease burden data may exist is old and from distant regions, adding guesswork into site design. This leads to a high chance that the sample size will not be recruited in any reasonable timeframe—a challenge even in high-resource settings. While cross-sectional prevalence studies could be used as a type of feasibility study informing trials by generating near real-time prevalence estimates for the future trial site, such studies take years to complete. This duration makes insertion of such a study in trial design impossible. An empirically supported combination of new approaches that sidesteps unnecessary hurdles is presented, the Pop-Up Prevalence with Private Ethics (PUPPE) design. PUPPE includes using a COVID-validated, more targeted method of data collection, use of accepted ethics review from universities or hospitals to avoid lengthy public ethics review, and—if needed—post-study in silico participant randomization. Only this design would enable clinical trial designers to insert fit-for-purpose prevalence studies within the design phase of their trials, leading to informative outcomes.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine act as inhibitory neurotransmitters. Three types of inhibitory neurons and terminals, GABAergic, GABA/glycine co-releasing, and glycinergic, are orchestrated in the spinal cord neural circuits and play key roles in the regulation of pain, locomotive movement, and respiratory rhythms. Herein, we first describe GABAergic and glycinergic transmission and inhibitory networks, which consist of three types of terminals, in the mature mouse spinal cord. Second, we describe the developmental formation of GABAergic and glycinergic networks, with specific focus on the differentiation of neurons, formation of synapses, maturation of removal systems, and changes in their action. GABAergic and glycinergic neurons are derived from the same domains of the ventricular zone. Initially, GABAergic neurons are differentiated and their axons form synapses. Some of these neurons remain GABAergic in lamina I and II. Many of GABAergic neurons convert to co-releasing state. The co-releasing neurons and terminals remain in the dorsal horn, whereas many of co-releasing ones ultimately become glycinergic in the ventral horn. During the development of terminals and the transformation from radial glia to astrocytes, GABA and glycine receptor subunit compositions markedly change, removal systems mature, and GABAergic and glycinergic action shifts from excitatory to inhibitory.

After globalization, South Korea’s retail landscape has been saturated with large-scale, corporate type retails. However, recently new commercial districts composed of small retail units are returning and bringing about a change. This study sought to take note of this phenomenon and identify its features and meanings from the perspective of urban ecology. A density-distribution analysis was conducted to investigate how they were forms, and an analysis of traces on the Internet and an analysis on the types of businesses were done to identify sociocultural characteristics. Results showed that they had similar type of locations and growth patterns, that they harmoniously congregated in a form of smaller-individual stores, and that their use of similar names for their stores had an impact of branding their entire districts. It was also noted that a shared culture through social networking services served as a growth boost for their unfavorable location. The spontaneous formation of such commercial districts can be an outcome of an urban ecological process geared toward blank niches burgeoning in the current retail structure of Korea. The causes and conditions found in the cases reveal meaningful policy implications for cities facing the same urban crisis diversity.

(1) Background: Globally, about 600 million people are afflicted with diabetes, and one of its most prevalent complications is neuropathy, a debilitating condition. At present, the exploration of novel therapies for alleviating diabetic neuropathy-associated pain is genuinely captivating, considering that current therapeutic options are characterized by poor efficacy and significant risk of side effects. In the current research, we evaluated the antihyperalgesic effect of sildenafil (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor) – metformin (antihyperglycemic agent) combination and its impact on biochemical markers in alloxan-induced diabetic neuropathy in rats; (2) Methods: The study comprised a cohort of 70 diabetic rats and 10 non-diabetic rats which were submitted to hot, cold, and tactile stimulus tests. Morover, we investigated the influence of this combination on TNF-α, IL-6 nitrites and thiols levels in brain and liver tissues; (3) Results: The results demonstrated that all sildenafil-metformin combinations decreased the pain sensitivity in von Frey test, Hot-plate test and Cold-plate test. Furthermore, alterations in nitrites and thiols concentrations and pro-inflammatory cytokines (specifically TNF-α and IL-6) were noted following a 15-day regimen of various sildenafil-metformin combinations. (4) Conclusions: The combination of sildenafil and metformin has a synergistic effect in alleviating pain in alloxan-induced diabetic neuropathy rats. Additionally, the combination effectively decreased inflammation, inhibited the rise in NOS activity, and provided protection against glutathione depletion.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is one of the most prevalent endocrinological diseases among children and young adults, with a growing incidence rate reaching up to 2.9 new cases per year per 100 000 persons below 15 years of age. We report the rare case of a 20-year-old female patient with T1D, hemoglobin D (HbD) heterozygote variant and high myopia of -10,00 spheric diopters and describe the retinal microvascular alterations visible on OCT angiography (angio-OCT). The patient also presented severe stature deficit (less than 3 standard deviations) and delayed puberty, which could not be explained only by suboptimal glycemic control, indicated a possible hypopituitarism. The HbA1c level evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was 6.5%, a falsely low value due to the HbD hemoglobinopathy. On ophthalmic evaluation the angio-OCT scan showed the following retinal microvascular alterations for the RE: the FAZ area vas 0.39 mm2, the FAZ perimeter was 2.88 mm and the circularity index was 0.58; for the LE: the FAZ area vas 0.34 mm2, the FAZ perimeter was 3.21 mm and the circularity index was 0.41. Clinicians should consider high performance retinal screening methods such angio-OCT evaluation for young T1D patients, especially for those with associated pathologies like high myopia and hemoglobinopathies. Moreover, multiple evaluation methods of the HbA1c values are mandatory as hemoglobinopathies can interfere with HbA1c assay methods accuracy.

This study aimed to obtain and characterize extracted hemp oil enriched in cannabidiol (CBD) by decarboxylation of cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and to give new insights into its antioxidant and anticancer effects. Optimization of CBDA decarboxylation in hemp oil was performed, and CBD and CBDA contents and purities were determined by “flash chromatography”, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The antioxidant properties of CBD-enriched oil were investigated by Fe2+ chelating activity, Fe3+ reducing antioxidant power assay, O2− scavenging activity, HO− scavenging ability and lipid peroxidation inhibitory assay and its cytotoxicity, apoptosis- and oxidative stress-inducing effects on NHDF, MeWo, HeLa, HepG2 and HOS cells were determined. The CBD concentration in hemp oil was increased by CBDA soft decarboxylation optimized at 90°C, for 1 h and resulted oil was capable of reducing iron, scavenging free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in cell-free oxidative conditions. CBD-enriched oil promoted NHDF proliferation at up to 15 µg CBD/mL, while inducing apoptosis and ROS production and modulating antioxidant enzymes’ gene expression in cancer cells, being selective for osteosarcoma cells and induced apoptosis by p53- and ROS-independent mechanisms. CBD-enriched hemp oil demonstrated antioxidant properties in oxidative conditions and promoted normal fibroblasts’ proliferation, while inducing apoptosis and ROS production in cancer cells.

We report on the successful preparation of wet dressings hydrogels based on Chitosan-Poly(N-Vinyl-Pyrrolidone)-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(acrylic acid) and Poly(ethylene oxide) by e-beam cross-linking in weakly acidic media, to be used for rapid healing and pain release of infected skin wounds. The structure and compositions of hydrogels investigated according to sol-gel and swelling studies, network parameters, as well as FTIR and XPS analyses showed the efficient interaction of the hydrogel components upon irradiation, maintaining the bonding environment while the cross-linking degree increasing with the irradiation dose and the formation of a structure with the mesh size in the range 11-67 nm. Hydrogels with gel fraction above 85% and the best-swelling properties in different pH solutions were obtained for hydrogels produced with 15 kGy. The hydrogels are stable in the simulated physiological condition of an infected wound and show appropriate moisture retention capability and the water vapor transmission rate up to 272.67 g m-2 day-1, to ensure fast healing. The hydrogels proved to have a significant loading capacity of ibuprofen (IBU), being able to incorporate a therapeutic dose for the treatment of severe pains. Simultaneously, IBU was released up to 25% in the first 2h, having a release maximum after 8h.

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.

Abstract: Autoimmune encephalitis is a complex and multifaceted pathology that involves the immune-mediated inflammation of the brain. It is characterized by the body's immune system mistakenly attacking the brain tissue, leading to a cascade of inflammatory processes. What makes autoimmune encephalitis vast is the wide range of causes, mechanisms, clinical presentations, and diagnostic challenges associated with the condition. The clinical presentations of autoimmune encephalitis are broad and can mimic other neurological disorders, making it a challenging differential diagnosis. This diverse clinical presentation can overlap with other conditions, making it crucial for healthcare professionals to maintain a high level of suspicion for autoimmune encephalitis when evaluating patients. The diagnostic challenges associated with autoimmune encephalitis further contribute to its vastness. Due to the variable nature of the condition, there is no definitive diagnostic test that can confirm autoimmune encephalitis in all cases. In this context, personalized patient management is crucial for achieving favorable outcomes. Each patient's treatment plan should be tailored to their specific clinical presentation, underlying cause, and immune response. Our objective is to raise awareness about the frequent yet under-diagnosed nature of autoimmune encephalitis by sharing five cases we encountered, along with a brief literature review.

A modern binary executable is a composition of various networks. Control flow graphs are commonly used to represent an executable program in labeled datasets used for classification tasks. Control flow and term representations are widely adopted, but provide only a partial view of program semantics. This study is an empirical analysis of the networks composing malicious binaries in order to provide a complete representation of the structural properties of a program. This is accomplished by the measurement of structural properties of program networks in a malicious binary executable dataset. We demonstrate the presence of Scale-Free properties of network structure for program data dependency and control flow graphs, and show that data dependency graphs also have Small-World structural properties. We show that program data dependency graphs have a degree correlation that is structurally disassortative, and that control flow graphs have a neutral degree assortativity, indicating the use of random graphs to model the structural properties of program control flow graphs would show increased accuracy. By providing an increase in feature resolution within labeled datasets of executable programs we provide a quantitative basis to interpret the results of classifiers trained on CFG graph features. An increase in feature resolution allows for the structural properties of program classes to be analyzed for patterns as well as their component parts. By capturing a complete picture of program graphs we can enable theoretical solutions for the mapping a program's operational semantics to its structure.

Background: The potential impact of the pandemic on mental health should not be overlooked, especially among vulnerable populations such as women who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to assess the mental health status of women who gave birth during a pandemic and to examine the possible links between the onset of depressive disorder symptoms in close proximity to the time of delivery and the socio-demographic conditions, health status and obstetric circumstances of the patients. Materials and Methods: The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted from 01.03.2020 to 01.03.2023, during the period of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic, based on a retrospective evaluation of 860 postpartum women. The screening tool used to assess symptoms of postpartum depression was the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Rating Scale (EPDS) questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed both in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinical Sections I and II of the "Pius Brînzeu" County Emergency Hospital from Timisoara, Romania and online using Google Forms. Results: The highest severity of postpartum depression symptoms was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study conducted during the period of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) showed that the prevalence of major postpartum depressive disorder (EPDS ≥ 13) was 54.2% (466 patients), while 15.6% (134) had minor depressive disorder (10 &lt; EPDS ≤ 12) in the first year after delivery. Comparing these results with those obtained in research conducted before the onset of the pandemic period shows an alarming increase in the prevalence of postpartum depression. Risk factors associated with postpartum depression included type of delivery, level of education, socio-economic conditions, health status, age, background, personal obstetric history (number of abortions on demand, parity). Conclusions: The effects of the pandemic on mental health are of particular concern for women in the first year after childbirth. Observing these challenges and developing effective measures to prepare our health system early can help and facilitate effective mental health screening for postpartum women, promoting maternal and child health.

Due to its similarity with human milk and its low allergenic properties, donkey milk has long been used as an alternative for infants and patients with cow's milk protein allergy. In addition, this milk is attracting growing interest in human nutrition because of presumed health benefits. It has antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumoral, antiproliferative, and antidiabetic activity. Also, it stimulates the immune system, regulates the gastrointestinal flora, and prevents inflammatory diseases. Although all components of donkey milk can contribute to functional and nutritional effects, it is generally accepted that the whey protein fraction plays a major role. The purpose of this review is to highlight the active proteins and peptides of donkey milk in comparison with other types of milk, emphasizing their properties and their roles in different fields.

Mining activities often generate important amounts of extractive waste, and as a consequence, environmental impacts that affects all factors to a greater or lesser extent. Depending on a variety of variables, the impact can be permanent or temporary, reversible or irreversible, negative or positive. This study conducted research on the status of closure and remediation processes of mining areas in Romania, specifically in the counties of Maramureș, Suceava, Harghita, Alba, Hunedoara, and Caraș-Severin. Furthermore, based on the type and level of pollution, the degree of application of remediation techniques for water and soil pollution in the investigated mining areas was studied. From the analysed information, it is evident that although the closure and remediation process started in Romania over 20 years ago, unfortunately, to this day, the technical projects, technical assistance, and execution of closure and remediation works have not yet completely solved the complex environmental issues in the mining sector. Most of the tailing ponds and waste piles of former mines continue to pose permanent specific risk to the environment and the population. This study concludes that the mining sector in Romania, although it has the necessary techniques and technologies for the ecological rehabilitation of degraded lands related to the Extractive Waste Facilities and the elimination of negative impacts on the environment and public health, has not yet been able to fully concretize its remediation efforts.

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.

Research indicates compelling evidence of SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission as a result of placental pathology. Background: This study offers an approach on histopathological and immunohistochemical placental observations from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers compared negative ones. Methods: Out of 44 examined placentas, 24 were collected from patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and 20 without infection. Results: The disease group showed strong SARS-CoV-2 positivity of the membranes, trophoblast and fetal villous macrophages. Most infections occurred during the third trimester of pregnancy (66.6%). Pathology revealed areas consistent with avascular villi (AV), thrombi in the chorionic vessels and umbilical cord in the positive group, suggesting fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM). Other observed features included infarction (17%), perivillous fibrin deposition (29%), intervillous fibrin (25%), delayed placental maturation (8.3%), chorangiosis (13%), chorioamnionitis (8.3%) and meconium (21%). The negative control group revealed only one case of placental infarction (5%), intervillous fibrin (5%), delayed placental maturation (5%), chorioamnionitis (5%) and two cases of meconium (19%). Our results were consistent with literature. Conclusions: This study shows SARS-CoV-2 has an impact on coagulation, demonstrated by fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (p=0.01) and fibrin deposition (p=0.01). Further research is necessary to establish whether SARS-CoV-2 is the cause of vascular pathologies during pregnancy.

According to cancer death rates for women worldwide, this form of cancer ranks fourth after breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancer, affecting around 570,000 women annually. About 270,000 women each year pass away from this illness, 85% of them are from underdeveloped nations where cervical cancer claims more lives than any other kind of cancer. In Romania, cervical cancer ranks fourth in terms of death, behind breast, bronchopulmonary, and colorectal cancers, and second in terms of incidence, behind breast cancer. Endometriosis in the cervical region is quite uncommon. Only a tiny fraction of women had the condition upon diagnosis. It might be challenging to detect cervical endometriosis since it rarely manifests any symptoms or markers. Women who are asymptomatic can manage the condition expectantly; however, if the symptoms return often, surgery may be required. As many patients have concurrent diseases such fibroids, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, and pelvic endometriosis, cervical endometriosis therapy appears to be straightforward. There ought to be surgical intervention. Symptomatic cervical endometriosis, such as irregular or post-coital bleeding, may be treated surgically using the LLETZ surgery or another cervical ablation approach. Background and Objectives: (1) To assess one's degree of knowledge on the signs, causes, and methods of preventing cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis, as well as screening for these conditions. (2) To ascertain how the responder behaves about cervical cancer screening and prevention, as well as endometriosis in the cervical region. Materials and Methods: A case report about cervical cancer or cervical endometriosis was conducted among a patient from Romania, Timisoara. Results: In this study, we report the patient with cervical endometriosis, although he was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer. Conclusions: Cervical cancer, a condition that can have serious repercussions on the patient's health, even if there is no clear picture of paraclinical investigations, to raise the suspicion of cervical endometriosis and not cervical cancer.

Identifying cracks in the incipient state is essential to prevent the failure of engineering structures. Detection methods relying on the analysis of the changes in modal parameters are widely used because of the advantages they present. In our previous research, we have found that eigenfrequencies were capable of indicating the position and depth of damage when sufficient vibration modes were considered. The damage indicator we developed was based on the relative frequency shifts (RFS). To calculate the RFSs for various positions and depths of a crack, we established a mathematical relation that involved the squared modal curvatures in the healthy state and the deflection of the healthy and damaged beam under dead mass, respectively. In this study, we propose to calculate the RFS for beams with several cracks by applying the superposition principle. We demonstrate that this is possible if the cracks are far enough from each other. In fact, if the cracks are close to each other, the superposition method does not work and we distinguish two cases: (i) when the cracks affect the same beam face, the frequency drop is less than the sum of the individual frequency drops, and (ii) on the contrary, cracks on opposite sides cause a decrease in frequency, which is greater than the sum of the frequency drop due to individual damage. When the RFS curves are known, crack assessment becomes an optimization problem, the cost function being the distance between the measured RFSs and all possible RFSs for several vibration modes. Thus, the RFS constitutes a benchmark that characterizes damage using only the eigenfrequencies. We can accurately locate multiple cracks and estimate their severity trough experiments and thus prove the reliability of the proposed method.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease. Contributing pathophysiologic factors include endothelial dysfunction caused by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased activity of nuclear factor kB (NFkB), altered macrophage polarization, and reduced synthesis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). Consequently, there can be a potentially rapid progression of the atherosclerotic disease with a higher propensity to unstable plaque, leading to increased cardiovascular mortality. Management is aimed at prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of hyperglycemia and vascular complications. Innovative therapeutic approaches for T2DM seek to customize the antidiabetic treatment to each patient in order to optimize glucose-lowering effects, minimize hypoglycemia and adverse effects, and prevent cardiovascular events. The newer drugs (Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists, GLP-1 RAs; Sodium GLucose coTransporter-2 inhibitors, SGLT2is; DiPeptidyl Peptidase-4 inhibitors, DPP4is) impact body weight, lipid parameters, and blood pressure, as well as endothelial function, inflammatory markers, markers of oxidative stress, and subclinical atherosclerosis. The present review summarizes the results of trials that evaluated the cardiovascular safety of these drugs and found them to be safe from the CV standpoint.

How the subculture and marginalized community have become the leading sectors in the egalitarian and inclusive creative economy is a growing issue and still needs elaboration. One of the subculture phenomena that happened recently in one of Southeast Asia's countries is known as Citayam Pop-up and Makeshift Fashion Week (CFW). Then this paper aims to elaborate on how the CFW can contribute and play a significant role in the development of an egalitarian and inclusive creative economy. The current CFW was not developed instantly, yet it is through the complexities of push and pull factors that are very typical among SE Asian marginalized people that led to the onset of SE Asian subculture, particularly among the youth. Driven by finding their self-identity, wanting to belong, and combined with economic, family, and peer pressures, this group of suburban youth, at the beginning, find a corner of a city in the middle of the business district as a medium to express their identity in the form of CFW. As a result and in lieu of growing discourses, the CFW has boosted local economic growth, and the adolescents who participated in the CFW have also received endorsement from a startup business for marketing certain teen products. In the long term, the mutual relationships created can lead to job opportunities

(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.

Although the beneficial health effects of prebiotics have been demonstrated in numerous research papers, its incorporation into daily food remains unfamiliar to consumers. This work evaluates the resistant maltodextrin (RMD) addition in the sensory attributes of pasteurized orange juice, together with the physico-chemical properties and the aromatic profile. RMD addition moderately improved almost all sensory attributes evaluated by panellists. It also proportionally increased °Brix together with density and decreased acidity. Colour changes were registered with higher RMD concentrations. Orange pulp presence affected the volume particle size distribution analysis while RMD addition did not exercised any effect. The aroma volatile compounds were also analysed. Pulp-added samples marked higher alcohol and aldehydes quantity, whereas pulp-free samples registered higher terpenes and terpenoids values. Ketones and acids were also quantified. RMD had a moderate impact on volatile compounds quantifications, playing the orange pulp presence a much more decisive role. A correlation analysis was also performed to relate instrumental and sensorial determinations for all samples. This work proves that the addition of RMD to orange juice is technologically feasible while also achieving a good response at the sensory level.

Background: The enduring psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to affect individuals long after the immediate health concerns have subsided. This research aims to identify specific groups within the Romanian population who are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health challenges that can interfere with everyday life and may lead to more serious mental health disorders. Methods: Conducted as a cross-sectional survey, this study evaluated the prevalence and intensity of psychological distress using the DASS-21 questionnaire. An online survey distributed via Google Forms also gathered socio-demographic data and COVID-19-specific information. Statistical analyses included the Shapiro-Wilk test, Fisher's exact test, and Z-tests with Bonferroni correction. Quantitative independent variables that lacked a normal distribution were compared between groups using either the Mann-Whitney U test or the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: Analysis of 521 questionnaires, filled out by a predominantly middle-aged cohort of 320 women and 201 men, revealed that 63.72% of participants worked outside the healthcare field. Those unemployed or retired reported significantly higher anxiety levels than individuals in other sectors. Moreover, living alone, experiencing the loss of close relatives (6.14%) or friends (33.59%), and undergoing hospitalization or reinfection due to COVID-19 were linked to significantly elevated distress scores. Conclusion. By identifying the segments of the population most vulnerable to psychological distress, as evidenced by higher scores among the unemployed, retirees, individuals living alone, and those directly affected by COVID-19 through personal health or loss, targeted initiatives for psychological screening and therapy can be established. Such measures are essential for enhancing the post-pandemic mental well-being of Romanians, addressing the specific needs uncovered in this study.

Background: Neonatal sepsis associated with severe morbidity and mortality defines the systemic condition arising from the bacterial, viral, fungal origin associated with hemodynamic and clinical alterations. Symptomatology can be different, from subclinical to severe, focal or systemic disease. The causal agent comes from maternal flora or can be of community/hospital origin. Material and method: Our retrospective study evaluated 121 newborns (both preterm and term), divided into three groups: early onset sepsis (35), late onset sepsis (39), and control group (47), from 0 to 28 days old. Blood samples and cultures were collected at admission, after 24 hours, and 72 hours. Results: The two-sample Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed a statistically significant difference between the initial and final measures of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin within the early onset sepsis (EOS) and late onset sepsis (LOS) groups. No significant differences were observed for those two variables within the control group. There were significant differences for first and last measurements of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) (p = 0.029), leukocyte count (p = 0.002), and platelets (TR) (p = 0.00001). Conclusions: Ferritin is a potential biomarker that can be associated with systemic response and sepsis in both cases of early and late onset sepsis.

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.

Background and aims. Clinically significant delayed bleeding (CSDB) may complicate endoscopic colorectal submucosal dissection (ESD). Methods. We assessed the results of a prospective registry of colorectal ESD. We evaluated the effect of clip closure and PuraStat application for prevention of CSDB. Results. 40 patients with 41 colorectal ESD were included. ESD was successful in 38 lesions (92.7%), 35 with R0 resection (92.1%) and 33 with curative resection (86.8%). CSDB occurred in 3 out 38 lesions (7.9%, 95% CI [1.7 – 21.4%]), exclusively after rectal ESD (3 of 22 rectal lesions vs. 0 of 16 colonic lesions, p = 0.249). Clip closure was more frequently used after colonic ESD (12 of 16 colonic lesions vs. 2 of 22 rectal lesions, p < 0.001) and was not protective for CSDB in univariate analysis, even though no events occurred after clip closure (0 of 14 lesions with clip closure vs. 3 of 27 lesions without, p = 0.283). PuraStat was more frequently applied after ESD for rectal lesions (16 of 22 rectal lesions vs. 2 of 16 colonic le-sions, p < 0.001) and was not protective for CSDB, all three events occurring after PuraStat application (3 of 21 lesions with PuraStat application vs. 0 of 20 lesions without, p = 0.097). Conclusions. CSDB occurred exclusively after rectal ESD, and no predictive factors were identified in uni-variate analysis. Clip closure and PuraStat application were not protective for CSDB.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on health systems around the globe and Romania is no exception. The impact on healthcare expense for pregnant women has been considerable, especially in COVID-only tertiary centers, where specialized care is being provided .The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on healthcare costs, in particular by managing cases in COVID-only maternity. Material and Methods: The objective of the study was to analyze if the model adopted by the health system consisting in complete separation of delivering obstetrical care for covid and non-covid patients was efficient. We conducted an observational study in which we compared a group of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 (study group) with a control group in which we included uninfected pregnant women. The patients were recruited from Bucur Maternity Hospital, declared a COVID-only center in march 2020. We compared the two groups in terms of expenses over the entire period of hospitalization, i.e. expense on hospitalization, medicines, medical supplies, and medical investigations.

Hemorrhagic complications arising from ventricular drainage procedures are typically asymptomatic and of low volume. A particular subset of these complications known as Delayed Intracranial Hemorrhage (DICH) is however recognized for its particularly poor prognosis. We primarily aimed to identify epidemiological characteristics associated with DICH, to shed light on its occurrence and potential risk factors. To do so, we performed a retrospective analysis of a series of ten patients who presented with DICH in the context of a ruptured brain Arteriovenous Malformation (bAVM), and a systematic literature review of all DICH cases reported in the literature. Our ten patients showed delayed neurological deterioration after Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt (VPS) procedure, with a computed tomography (CT) scan revealing a DICH surrounding the ventricular catheter, distinct and away from the nidus of their previously ruptured bAVM. Four patients (40%) rapidly declined and passed away, three (30%) required surgical management and the remaining three (30%) demonstrated gradual clinical improvement with conservative management. In the literature, most patients presenting with DICH had hydrocephalus associated with neurovascular disorders (47% of cases), such as bAVM rupture in our present series. These constatations point out the significance of underlying pathologies potentially predisposing to these unusual complications.

Objective: The aim of our study was to perform a retrospective analysis of the volume of cervical screening tests, the number of patients treated with an excision method, and the incidence of invasive and non-invasive cervical during a pandemic and pre-pandemic period of 24 months. Results: There was a statistically significant age difference between the two study periods, both by the average age of patients and by age group. The mean difference was 32 years before the pan-demic and 35 years during the pandemic (p-value >0.05). The majority of patients presenting for investigations before and during the pandemic were in the 30-39-year-old age group (31.95%, respectively; 34.2% (p-value = 0.003). The biggest patient loss ratio identified by age group was in the 50–59 years: 14,53% in the pre-pandemic period and 9,1% in the pandemic period. In the pan-demic period, patients from rural areas presented in the clinical trial with a lower rate of 39.52% (83 patients) vs. 60.47% (127 patients) in urban areas. A higher percentage of patients experiencing cervicorrhagia as a clinical manifestation in the pandemic period vs. the prepandemic period, with an increase in more severe lesions in the pandemic period, has a statistical significance of 8% more newly diagnosed compared to the pre-pandemic period. Conclusion: The addressability of the patients during the COVID period was not affected in a drastic way in our study. We encountered a decrease in appointments in the age group 50–59 years and a decrease in patients with rural residence. In our study, we found an increase in cervicorrhagia as a reason for consultation in the pandemic period with a higher lesion degree, both on a pap smear and on a cervical biopsy.

Nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (nHFOV) has emerged as an effective initial and rescue noninvasive respiratory support mode for preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Multiple noninvasive respiratory support modes are currently available in Romania, but little is known about nHFOV use in Romanian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). We aimed to identify the usage extent and clinical application of nHFOV in Romania. A structured web-based questionnaire was designed to find the rate of nHFOV use and knowledge of this new method of noninvasive respiratory support in Romanian level III NICUs. The questionnaire was addressed to the leaders of all level III Romanian NICUs. Using multiple-choice, open-ended, and yes/no questions, we collected information on the NICU’s size, noninvasive respiratory support modes used, nHFOV use, indications, settings, nasal interfaces, secondary effects, and equipment used. Descriptive statistics and comparisons were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. A total of 21/23 (91.3%) leaders from level III NICUs (median [IQR] number of beds of 10 [10-17.5]) responded to the survey. The most frequently used noninvasive ventilation modes were CPAP mode on mechanical ventilators (76.2%), followed by NIPPV (76.2%), heated, humidified high flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) (61.9%), and nHFOV (11/21 units; 52.4%); 5/11 units reported frequent nHFOV use (in 2 or more newborns/month) in both term and preterm infants. The main indications reported for nHFOV use were CPAP failure (90.9%), hypercapnia (81.8%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (72.7%). 10/11 units reported setting a mean airway pressure (MAP) equal to the CPAP level plus 1-2 cmH₂O on rescue nHFOV after CPAP failure. Both dedicated equipment (45.5%) and hybrid ventilators (63.6%) were used for nHFOV delivery, with face/nasal masks and short binasal prongs being the most commonly used nasal interfaces (90.9% and 72.7%, respectively). Air leaks at the interface level (90.9%), thick secretions (81.8%), and airway obstruction (63.6%) were the most frequently mentioned adverse effects of nHFOV; none of the units mentioned pneumothorax as an adverse effect. Only 3 of the NICUs had a written protocol for nHFOV use. Initial, minimum, and maximum amplitude and initial and minimum MAP settings used were significantly higher with hybrid ventilators as compared to dedicated equipment (p<0.05). Most units not yet using nHFOV cited lack of equipment, experience, training, or insufficient information and evidence for the clinical use and outcome of nHFOV use in neonates as the main reasons for not implementing this noninvasive respiratory mode. Our survey showed that nHFOV is already used in more than half of the Romanian level III NICUs to support term and preterm infants with respiratory distress despite a lack of consensus regarding indications and settings during nHFOV. A need for training for nHFOV use was identified, and efforts are needed at the national level to develop courses and training sessions, including using simulation workshops, to offer more information on optimal nHFOV use in clinical practice.

Several strategies promote phyllosphere colonization by soil-born Trichoderma plant-beneficial strains. One of these is foliar spraying with suspensions containing large amounts of chlamydospores – spores with a thick cell wall structure that makes them highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Trichoderma biomass was produced by cultivation on cornmeal medium and compared by microscopic and thermogravimetric analysis with the biomass produced in potato dextrose broth. Both analyses revealed higher chlamydospores content and thicker mycelium in the fungal biomass produced on cornmeal medium. The Trichoderma suspension rich in chlamydospores was sprayed on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) leaves at two concentration levels, 106 and 108 ufc/ml. The effect of these treatments on plant physiological parameters, leaf photosynthetic pigments, polyphenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity of leaves and fruits and yield was compared to the control (plants sprayed with water) and to the experimental treatment sprayed with 108 ufc propagules produced in potato dextrose broth. The effect of chlamydospore-rich suspensions on plant physiological parameters was more pronounced and long-lasting compared with the other treatments. The treatment with chlamydospore-rich suspension enhanced the accumulation of polyphenols and flavonoids in the leaves and fruits and increased the antioxidant activity. The application of the foliar treatment with Trichoderma suspensions did not modify the cytocompatibility of the extracts from fruits determined on L929 cells.

Background and Objectives: Since the protective role of ghrelin against high glucose-induced retinal damage was not yet explored, we aimed to investigate the serum levels of total ghrelin (TG), its acylated (AG) and des-acylated (DAG) forms in diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients. Moreover, the correlation between serum ghrelin and neutrophil elastase (NE) levels, enhancing the risk of microhemorrhages, was investigated; Materials and Methods: Serum markers were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays in 12 non-diabetic subjects (CTRL), 15 diabetic patients without DR (Diabetic), 15 patients with non-proliferative (NPDR) and 15 patients with proliferative DR (PDR); Results: TG and AG serum levels were significantly decreased in NPDR (P &lt; 0.01 vs Diabetic) and in PDR patients (P &lt; 0.01 vs NPDR). AG serum levels were inversely associated with DR progression (r = -0.83,P &lt; 0.01), serum neutrophils percentage (r = -0.74, P &lt; 0.01) and serum NE levels (r = -0.73, P &lt; 0.01). These were significantly increased in NPDR (P &lt; 0.01 vs Diabetic) and PDR (P &lt; 0.01 vs PDR) groups, positively correlating with DR progression (r = 0.86, P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: The reduction of circulating AG and its association with the increased risk of microhemorrhages could be considered a novel marker for DR progression.

Background: Laparoscopy for benign ovarian pathology is the appropriate surgical approach and it has a lot of well-known advantages. Minimal invasive gynecological surgery increases the quality of life for the patient. The learning process of laparoscopy is difficult and re-quires many interventions to acquire manual skills. The objectives of the study were to assess the learning process of laparoscopy for adnexal pathology surgery performed by beginner laparoscopists. Materials and Methods: This study included three gynecological surgeons who were beginners in laparoscopy and who were named A, B and C. We collected information about patients, diagnosis, surgical technique and complications. Results: We have analyzed the data from 159 patients. The most frequent primary diagnosis was functional ovarian cyst, and the laparoscopic cystectomy was performed in 49.1% of intervention. The need to convert a laparoscopy into laparotomy was necessary in 1.3% of patients. There were no cases of reintervention, blood transfusion or ureteral lesions. The duration of the surgical intervention varied statistically significantly according to patient's BMI and to the surgeon. After 20 laparoscopic interventions, a significant improvement was found in the time needed to perform ovarian cystectomy (operator A and B) and salpingectomy (operator C). Conclusions: The process of learning laparoscopy is laborious and difficult. We found a significant decrease in operating time after a number of twenty laparoscopic interventions.

Microplastics (plastic particles &lt; 5 mm) are ubiquitous pollutants that pose the ability to carry microbiota, including pathogens. Microbial adhesion is usually a sign of pathogenicity, thus we investigated the adherent strains found on 4 mm nylon strips, which were ingested and excreted by wild fish specimens. Polymer analysis of the excreted samples shown no signs of degradation, nor have their controls, represented by the nylon strips submerged in the same water tanks. Both the ingested samples and controls presented pathogens in large numbers, revealing the fact that nylon microplastics can be physical carriers for pathogens in the aquatic environment.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a persisting problem over the last decades and a critical issue for environmental protection and human health. In this context any scientific data able to reveal the MPs presence and to improve the characterization and identification in different systems is valuable. The aim of this paper was to assess available techniques for determining MPs in real freshwater samples and subsequently to highlight the occurrence and type of MPs in the study case area (Somesul Mic River). The specific objectives of the study were: i) MPs separation and visual characterization; ii) microscopic analyses and morphological characterization of MPs; iii) Raman and FT-IR spectroscopic identification of MPs. MPs sampling was performed from the fresh water and sediment using planktonic nets and sieves with different mesh sizes (20 to 500µm). After digestion with hydrogen peroxide, the MPs characterization was performed using both classical microscopic techniques as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the MPs identification, Raman and FT-IR spectrometry techniques were used. Large (1-5 mm) and small (1 µm to 1 mm) MPs were observed in the shape of fibers, fragments, foam, foils and spheres in various colors (red, green, blue, purple, pink, white, black, transparent, opaque). Polymers were identified related to scientific literature and reference spectra. The presence of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS) was registered for all sampling point. The MPs laboratory investigations have raised some issues regarding the identification of MPs particles with the size smaller than 500µm, being characterized especially under microscope. Small MPs particle dispersed on cellulose filter were identified using micro-Raman spectroscopy highlighting the same type of polymers. The results showed that both spectrometric methods Raman or FT-IR confirm the identification of the same type of polymers. No differences were registered between the sampling points due to the widespread presence of MPs. The sediments samples presented a greater abundance compared to the water samples. Overall, it is necessary to continue the optimization of the MPs separation protocol and identification according to the complexity of samples, mainly due to the limitation and lack of spectral databases.

Bee products have a millennial tradition in human use due to their numerous heal-ing properties. The paper presents the chemical characterization, antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory potential of royal jelly, apilarnil and propolis. These were obtained in the Banat area, Romania, in 2022. Royal jelly and apilarnil were analyzed in pure and lyophilized form and propolis in pure form and tincture. The percentage of moisture, dry matter, pH, acidity, content of impurities, sugars, proteins, ash, macro and micro minerals, total amino acids, polyphenols and flavo-noids were studied. The samples analyzed by us have a very well developed antiox-idant and according to the analysis of the mineral content of beekeeping products, an increased variability of macro and microminerals was determined, but also the lack of Pb in their composition. The flavonoid content of the samples was between 2.61519 mg QE/g sample for commercial pure apilarnil and 279.56115 mg QE/g sample for propolis harvested in 2021, and that of polyphenols between 0.63507 mg QE/g sample for natural royal jelly and 42.82186 mg QE/g sample in propolis with harvest in 2021. Propolis acts as a good antimicrobial and antiinflammatory agent, a fact that deserves to be researched in detail and exploited as a product with an ap-itherapeutic role for various microbial and inflammatory conditions.

Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research pro-gresses in the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the bio-chemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with an-ti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyun-saturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate. Omega-3 PUFAs have been proposed as a treatment to prevent gut microbiota dysregulation and lower the risk or progression of CRC.

Background and Objectives: Renal cell carcinomas and upper tract urothelial carcinomas are types of malignancies that originate in the kidneys. Each of these examples shows an increasing trend in the frequency and the mortality rate. This study aims to comprehensively define carcinomas by analysing clinical, paraclinical, and histological aspects to predict aggressiveness and mortality. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective investigation on a group of patients suspected with kidney cancers. Results: We identified 188 cases. We observed a higher mortality rate and older age in individuals with urothelial carcinomas. Anemia, acute kidney injury, hematuria and perineural invasion were the main risk factors that predicted their mortality. Tumour size in renal cell carcinomas correlates with the presence of necrosis and sarcomatoid areas. Factors that indicate a higher rate of death are older age, exceeding of the renal capsule, the lesion that includes the entire kidney, lymphovascular invasion, acute kidney injury, and anemia. Conclusions: Even if they originate at the renal level, and the clinical-paraclinical picture is similar, the histopathological characteristics make the difference. In addition, to these are added the previously mentioned common parameters that can represent important prognostic factors. In conclusion, the characteristics commonly identified in one type of cancer may act as risk factors for the other tumor. The detected data include threshold values and risk factors, making a significant contribution to the existing literature.

The present study focused on the development of gel-based capsules from sodium alginate and different berries fresh juice: chokeberry, sea buckthorn, and blueberry. Obtained through extrusion method, the macrocapsules were added into yoghurt, a well-known and consumed dairy product. In order to establish the changes that can occur into the food product, the samples were tested during 7, respectively 15 days storage in refrigeration conditions. According to the results, the antioxidant activity increased during storage and gels can represent a good option for bioactive substances’ encapsulation. Sensorial analysis performed indicated that consumers are open to consuming yoghurt berries capsules and, according to the results observed into scientific literature, they no longer rejected the product due to bitterness and sourness of sea buckthorn or aronia.

Background and objectives: Although intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) only a small proportion of stroke patients receive this drug. Low administration rate is mainly due to delayed presentation of patients to the emergency department (ED) or lack of a stroke team/unit in most of the hospitals. So, the aim of this study is to analyze ED time targets and the rate of rt-PA intravenous administration after the initial admission of patients with AIS in an ED from a traditional healthcare center (without a neurologist or stroke team/unit). Methods: To analyze which factors, influence administration of rt-PA we split the general sample (n=202) in two groups: group No rt-PA (n=137) and group rt-PA (n=65) based on performing or no intravenous thrombolysis. Results: Analyzing ED time targets for all sample we found that the median onset-to-ED door time was 180 minutes (IQR, 120-217.5 minutes), door-to-physician time was 4 minutes (IQR, 3-7 minutes), door-to-CT time was 52 minutes (IQR, 48-55 minutes), and door-in-door-out time was 61 minutes (IQR, 59-65 minutes). ED time targets such as door-to physician time (p=0.245), door-to-CT time (p=0.219), door-to-door-out time (p=0.24), or NIHSS at admission to Neurology department (p=0.405), or NIHSS after 24 h (p=0.9) did not have a statistically significant effect on administration or no rt-PA treatment in patients included in our study. Only highest Door-to-CT time was statistically significantly correlated with death outcome. Conclusion: In our study, rt-PA administration rate was higher than expected. Statistically significant correlation between ED time targets was found between lower Onset-to-ED door time with administration of rt-PA treatment (p<0.001) and between highest Door-to-CT time and death outcome.

(1) Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive tumor located at the skin level and the man-agement of this pathology requires a correct staging as well as a modern oncological treatment, adapted to each patient. The main objective of the study is to determine the variability of lymphatic drainage in the case of melanomas located on the trunk; (2) Methods: This retrospective study in-cluded 62 cases of melanoma located on the trunk operated between July 2019 and March 2023 in which SLNB was performed and a total of 84 lymph node were excised; (3) Results: Patients had an average age of 54.5 years old, while melanomas had a mean Breslow index of 2.3 mm. The distri-bution of trunk melanomas was: upper trunk 54 cases, lower trunk 30 cases (64.3 % vs. 35.7%). The type of anesthesia chosen was general anesthesia in 53 cases, respectively spinal anesthesia in 9 cases (85.5% vs. 14.5%, p<0.001). The number of sentinel lymph nodes was 54 for melanomas lo-cated on the upper trunk, 8 cervical and 46 axillary, respectively 30 sentinel lymph nodes in cases of melanomas of the lower trunk, 16 at the axillary level and 14 at the inguinal level; (4) Conclusions: Lymph node involvement in melanoma represents an important prognostic factor and the different lymphatic drainage pathways in relation to the location of the primary tumor represents an im-portant objective in the management of this pathology.

The paper focuses on the application of a multilevel, integrative and territorial approach to the protection of cultural heritage through planning instruments in Serbia. It points out the problems of the sectoral approach and discusses international recommendations that can be integrated into the planning methodology. The case study is the area of Djerdap National Park, which has an already established international and national importance. The research suggests that the cultural heritage in the area, with the exception of the Roman limes, is still recognized at the level of individual localities. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning all levels of governance to safeguard the whole spatial entity rather than focusing solely on its particular areas. The interna-tional and national importance of the planning area contributes to the strengthening of awareness of heritage and its institutional protection. However, the vitality of the area, which is key to its sustainable development, comes from the local level. Planning documents contribute to the inte-gration of local values and local communities into development programs and projects.

Glycosidic linkage analysis was conducted on the unfractionated polysaccharides in the alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs) prepared from six red seaweeds (Gracilariopsis sp., Prionitis sp., Mastocarpus papillatus, Callophyllis sp., Mazzaella splendens, and Palmaria palmata) using GC-MS/FID analysis of partially methylated alditol acetates (PMAAs). The cell walls of P. palmata primarily contained mixed-linkage xylans and small amounts of sulfated galactans and cellulose. In contrast, the unfractionated polysaccharides of the other five species were rich in galactans displaying diverse 3,6-anhydro-galactose and galactose linkages with varied sulfation patterns. Different levels of cellulose were also observed. This glycosidic linkage method offers advantages for cellulose analysis over traditional monosaccharide analysis that is known for underrepresenting glucose in crystalline cellulose. Relative linkage compositions calculated from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements showed that anhydro sugar linkages generated more response in the latter detection method. This improved linkage workflow presents a useful tool for studying polysaccharide structural variations across red seaweed species. Furthermore, for the first time, relative linkage compositions from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements, along with normalized FID and total ion current (TIC) chromatograms without peak assignments, were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) as a proof-of-concept demonstration of the technique's potential to differentiate various red seaweed species.

Background: Educating college students about the importance of good sleep habits could lead to the adoption of healthier sleep routines, including sufficient sleep duration and sleep quality. The current pre-post study examines the impact of completing a sleep education program called “Sleep 101” on (1) sleep hygiene practices, (2) sleep quality, and (3) weekday and weekend sleep behaviors among college students. “Sleep 101” is an interactive online course developed to educate college students about the importance of sleep by addressing basic sleep physiology, the impact of sleep on mood, academic and physical performance, the interactions between sleep and various substances, and common sleep disorders. Methods: 338 college students were recruited from a midsized public university in the US and invited to participate in “Sleep 101”, of which 25 participants completed the baseline and post-intervention questionnaire. The Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) was utilized to evaluate sleep hygiene practices, while standard questions were employed to assess weekday and weekend sleep behaviors and overall sleep quality. Results: Those who completed the study demonstrated a significant increase in weekday sleep duration and were less likely to engage in negative prior bedtime activities. In addition, 40% of those who completed baseline and post-intervention assessments noticed improvements in their sleep quality. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a brief online program is beneficial in improving sleep behaviors among college and could be a scalable approach to addressing current sleep issues and preventing future sleep problems in college students.

The profile of secondary metabolites occurring in apple cuticular layer is not only characteristic for particular apple cultivar, but also dynamically reflects various external factors in growing environment. In this study, the possibility to authenticate apple samples based on analysis of their cuticular layer extracts was investigated. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) was employed for obtaining metabolomic fingerprints. In total, 274 authentic apple samples, four cultivars harvested within the seasons 2020 to 2022 in the Czech Republic and Poland were analysed. The generated complex data processed by univariate and multivariate statistical methods enabled to build classification models for discrimination of apple cultivars as well as their geographical origin. The models showed very good performance in differentiation of Czech and Polish samples for three of four cultivars: ‘Gala’, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Idared’, moreover, the validity of the models was verified over harvest seasons. The diagnostic markers, besides metabolites of triterpene biosynthetic pathway, mainly represented wax esters. ‘Jonagold’, which is known to be susceptible to mutations, was the only cultivar for which the unambiguous classification of geographical origin was not possible.

Strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora is one of the main diseases of strawberry and significantly impacts the yield and quality of strawberry fruit. There are now no effective control techniques available except for fungicide sprays, which may directly impact consumers. Biological control is becoming an alternative method for the control of plant diseases to replace or decrease the application of traditional synthetic chemical fungicides. Trichoderma is widely used as a biological agent for controlling strawberry root rot. In order to provide resources for screening the highly effective biocontrol fungus for controlling strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora, the biocontrol mechanism,the control effects of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 against strawberry root rot and growth-promoting effects on strawberry seedlings were investigated by plate culture, microscopy observation and root drenching methods.The results showed that CMT10 had obvious competitive, antibiotic and hyperparasitism effects on Neopestalotiopsis clavispora CMGF3. The CMT10 could quickly occupy nutritional space, and the inhibition rates of CMT10 against CMGF3 in confrontation culture on 7 d was 65.49%. The inhibition rates of volatile metabolite and fermentation metabolite produced by CMT10 against CMGF3 were 79.67% and 69.84%, respectively. The mycelium of strain CMT10 can act as hyperparasites by making contacting, winding and penetrating hyphae of CMGF3. Pot experiment showed that the biocontrol efficacy of CMT10 on strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora was 63.00%. CMT10 had obvious promotion effect on strawberry growth, the plant height, root length, total fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight and root dry weight, with the promotion rates were 20.09%, 22.39%, 87.11%, 101.58%, 79.82% and 72.33%, respectively. Overall, this study showed the ability of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 to control strawberry root rot and their potential to develop as novel biocontrol agents to replace chemical fungicides for eco-friendly, sustainable agriculture.

Apis mellifera, especially weak ones, are highly vulnerable to Carpoglyphus lactis mites, which can rapidly infest and consume stored pollen, leading to weakened colonies and potentially colony collapse. This study aimed to ascertain and investigate the prevalence of this mite in honeybee colonies across 9 provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). A total of 615 honeybee colonies were collected, from 66 apiaries during the spring and 58 apiaries during the summer of 2023. A 1,242 bp segment of the the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction method. The detection levels of C. lactis in the honeybees were compared between winter and summer. Based on the COI sequence analysis, the nucleotide sequence similarity of C. lactis mites isolated in the ROK with those from China (NC048990.1) was found to be 99.5%, and with those from the United Kingdom (KY922482.1) was 99.3%. This study is the first report of C. lactis in Korean apiaries. The findings in this study demonstrate a significantly higher detection rate in winter, which is 4.1 times greater than that in summer (p &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, the results underscore the usefulness of molecular diagnostic techniques for detecting C. lactis mites.

COX II containing a dual core CuA active site is one of the three core subunits of mitochondrial Cco, which plays a significant role in the physiological process. In this report, the full-length cDNA of COXⅡ gene was cloned from Sitophilus zeamais, which had an ORF of 684 bp encoding 227 amino acids residues. The predicted COXⅡ protein had a molecular mass of 26.2 kDa with pI value of 6.37, and multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sitophilus zeamais COXⅡ had high sequence identity 78.51% with the COXⅡ of other insect species, especially similarity to sitophilus oryzae. This gene was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a, and induced by IPTG in E.coli Transetta (DE3) expression system. Finally the COXⅡ with 6-His tag was purified using affinity chromatography with Ni²⁺-NTA agarose. WB showed the recombinant COXⅡ was about 44 kD, and the concentration of fusion protein was 50μg/mL. UV-spectrophotometer and infrared spectrometer analysis showed that recombinant COXⅡ could catalyze the oxidation of substrate Cytc, and influenced by AITC. It was found that AITC could form a hydrophobic region with COXⅡ protein via molecular docking, besides, a sulfur atom of AITC structure could form a length of 2.9 Å hydrogen bond with Leu-31. These results will provide valuable information for elucidating the role of COXⅡ in Sitophilus zeamais responses to AITC, meanwhile, it will helpful to carry out a point mutation in AITC binding sites for the future research.

The properties of the annual, semiannual and triennial oscillations (AO, SAO and TO) in the middle atmosphere have been investigated using the TIMED/SABER temperature data. The Lomb-Scargle and wavelet spectra were used to determine the dominant oscillations in the background temperature field. The AO is prominent at the mid-latitudes. The AO amplitudes present an asymmetry between the two Hemispheres, being larger in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere. The SAO dominates the tropical regions, with three amplitude maxima at altitudes of 45, 75, and 85 km. The SAOs in the upper mesosphere (75 km) are out of phase with those in the mesopause (85 km) in the tropical regions, which can generate an enhancement of 11 K at each equinox, contributing to the lower mesospheric inversion layer. The TO is significant in the tropical region, with amplitude being maximum at 35, 45 and 85 km. Result shows that there may be potential interaction by the TO with SAO at 85km at the equator. The relation between ENSO and TO has also been discussed. The ENSO signal may modulate the amplitude of the TO, mainly in the lower stratosphere. The real origin of the TO may lie in the wave-mean-flow interaction.

This paper is focused on typical rural settlements in the Stara Planina Mountain area in Serbia. They are distinguished by their authenticity, identity and character, and they have still not been destroyed by inappropriate development as is the case in some other mountain areas in Serbia, where the effects of urbanization, globalization and homogenization are obvious. Consequently, there is a need to prevent these effects in mountain areas where there is a threat of disbalance between development and the inherited natural and cultural values. The paper starts from several important concepts that relate contemporary approaches to cultural heritage preservation, place morphology and planning future development. The concept definitions from recent documents from related fields are used. These concepts are then applied to the area of Stara Planina Mountain and its rural settlements. The necessity for an integrative approach to planning this area with significant natural and anthropogenic potential is pointed out, including its integration into international programs of sustainable development.

The research reported on this paper was aimed at improving the overall efficiency of a PDO certified artisanal cheese production process. Being a PDO certified foodstuff by the EU, it is considered to have properties and qualities determined by the geographical environment in which is made, with its production taking place in a specific and determined geographical location, in this case the Serra da Estrela region. In that sense, the authors conducted a mapping according to a systemic perspective of the processes involved in the context of manufacturing and distribution of certified Serra da Estrela cheese. Numerous methods were used throughout the process, such as a systemic design analysis, and techniques derived from ethnographic methods, which led to the collection of data in the field and consequently provided the immersion of the researcher in genuine work situations. Critical points were identified and emphasized in the systemic map with the purpose of encouraging initiatives to address and overcome the gaps and inefficiencies detected. The systemic design analysis triggered the development of design work. Observations following an ethnographic approach identified ergonomic risks in cheese making during the process of cutting excess chips, fostering the emergence of musculoskeletal disorders at the wrist. A tool that fits best to the task at hand was developed. A prototype of the new tool enabled collecting feedback from use in the work context, in order to inform product development. The domains of agricultural production and microbiology, considering the specific microorganisms developed trough the ripening process of the cheese, turned out to be aspects of high importance for the issue under focus, contributing to a broader understanding of the ripening process and its risks, simultaneously improving the efficiency and success of cheese production. If it were not for the systemic analysis, which served as a link between the boundaries of distinct domains such as the risk of microorganism contamination, ergonomics, energy efficiency, legislation and regulation policies, transportation challenges and economic viability, approached throughout the research. Simultaneously creating bridges between them, the various problems might not have been detected in the first place, as they are usually addressed in specialized disciplines, predetermined by the restrictions of each specific area of knowledge. As a consequence of the development of this research, which was based on an analysis that sought to establish possible connections between various disciplines and tried to constantly maintain a holistic perspective, making new connections and observing the issues from a new angle, apart from the already established methodologies. All this allowed to lay out the seeds for the development of a plan to tackle the critical points identified by the systemic analysis reported in this paper.

(1) Background: COVID-19 was responsible for the latest pandemic, shaking and reshaping healthcare systems worldwide. Its late clinical manifestations make it linger in medical memory as a debilitating illness over extended periods. (2) Methods: Recent literature was systematically analyzed to categorize and examine the symptomatology and pathophysiology of Long COVID across various bodily systems, including pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuropsychiatric, dermatological, renal, hematological, and endocrinological aspects. (3) Results: The review outlines the diverse clinical manifestations of Long COVID across multiple systems, emphasizing its complexity and challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Factors such as pre-existing conditions, initial COVID-19 severity, vaccination status, gender, and age were identified as influential in the manifestation and persistence of Long COVID symptoms. This condition is highlighted as a debilitating disease capable of enduring over an extended period and presenting new symptoms over time. (4) Conclusions: Long COVID emerges as a condition with intricate multi-systemic involvement, complicating its diagnosis and treatment. The findings underscore the necessity for a nuanced understanding of its diverse manifestations to effectively manage and address the evolving nature of this condition over time.