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(1) Background: The aortic arch (AA) branching model is challenging, considering the multiple anatomical variations documented in existing research. The bovine aortic arch (BAA) is the most prevalent anatomical variation among these. This variant of AA branching has long been considered a nonsymptomatic malformation, having been discovered incidentally during imaging investigations for other causes. However, more recent studies have demonstrated that BAA shows a frequent association with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), thoracic aortic disease (TAD), and stroke. At the same time, given the current context of increasing activity in the fields of interventional and surgical procedures in the aorta and its branches, it is very important to know the medical–surgical implications of this anatomical variant. (2) Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review using PubMed and Embase, focusing specifically on randomized trials and cohort analyses that examined the medical–surgical implications of BAA. We assessed information related to studied groups, medical procedures, and study outcomes. Initially, we identified 8454 studies, and after rigorous evaluation, we narrowed down our review to 25 articles. (3) Discussions: The intervention consisted of assessing the risks associated with BAA through different imaging investigation methods such as computer tomographic angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasonography (US). The following results were evaluated: the prevalence of the BAA, the importance of imaging investigations in establishing the diagnosis and the therapeutic management and monitoring the evolution of patients with the BAA, the association of the BAA with CoA, TAD, and stroke, and the potential risks of interventional treatment in patients with the BAA. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of the BAA differs both between different ethnic groups and between genders. Advanced imaging methods such as CTA and 4D flow MRI allow detailed descriptions of supra-aortic vascular anatomy and information about blood flow velocities, direction, and turbulence in the AA. US remains an easy and valuable imaging investigation, with the potential to detect and correctly diagnose the BAA and its hemodynamic implications. Anatomical variations in the AA are associated with increased rates of TAD, CoA, and stroke, necessitating early diagnosis and increased supervision of patients with such incidentally observed abnormalities. In addition, there is a need to further develop and refine the surgical techniques used and personalize them to the individual characteristics of patients with the BAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is a communication between the trachea and esophagus that is acquired or congenital. Congenital TEF, without other conditions like esophageal atresia, is usually diagnosed after birth or during infancy, as the baby will develop respiratory symptomatology, mostly severe, due to fluid/food aspiration in the trachea. In adults, TEFs can be caused by malignant conditions, blunt trauma, iatrogenic injury, prolonged mechanical ventilation and excessive inflation pressure of the endotracheal tube. We report a male patient of 86 years of age who presented at the "St. Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital in January 2022, accusing breathing difficulty, productive cough and occasional stabbing pain in the posterior thorax, within the previous week. Clinical exam was typical for pneumonia, but since the patient mentioned coughing episodes during eating/drinking since December 2021, together with a history of general anesthesia for abdominal surgery in mid-November 2021, a CT scan was performed. It confirmed a TEF of 7/16 mm (transverse/cranio-caudal) in size, located at the level of T2 vertebral body. The particularity of the case resides in the uncertain etiology of the fistula. If this patient had a clear iatrogenic injury, aspiration pneumonia should have occurred within days after the intubation event. However, after the surgery the patient was fine and discharged home without any symptomatology relevant for TEF. Only after one month, he started experiencing coughing during eating, that leads us to the assumption that he might have been born with a very small and asymptomatic tracheoesophageal defect, and the intubation for general anesthesia, even if done in a correct manner, represented a trigger event which led to development of a TEF. There are very few cases reported in literature with adult patients presenting a minor structural defect that remained unnoticed for a very long time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The celiac trunk represents an unpaired visceral branch of the abdominal aorta, which detaches at the level of the 12th cervical vertebra. It has a trajectory of 1-2 cm and a caliber of 5-8 mm, having relations with the parietal peritoneum, the vestibule of the omental bursa, the diaphragmatic lymph nodes and the diaphragmatic pillar muscles, the caudate lobe of the liver, the vertical portion of the small gastric curvature and the median arcuate ligament. The celiac trunk trifurcates into three terminal branches: the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery and the splenic artery. Each of these branches has a specific trajectory and relations, vascularizing the corresponding organs. Given its importance as a source of vascularization, any anatomical variation is eloquent and necessary to be known for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions at this level. Methods: The selection of articles that were included in this paper was made using the PubMed database, where the following keywords were used: variation of celiac trunk, celiac trunk and laparoscopic surgery, clinical implications of celiac trunk, celiac trunk and oncologic extensive surgery. Entering the mentioned keywords generated an initial number of 5428 references. They were subjected to a filtering process: duplicates were removed, only free full-text articles were selected, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Subsequently, the most appropriate articles for the topic of the paper were chosen, according to the Web of Science Impact Factor and suitability criteria, resulting in a final number of 28 articles. Literature review: These 28 articles were reviewed based on the criteria: anatomical variants in the branching of the celiac trunk, implications of anatomical variations of the celiac trunk in: laparoscopic surgery - treatment of median arcuate ligament syndrome, abdominal oncological surgery, liver transplant and interventional radiology. Conclusions: The anatomical variations of the celiac trunk have a significant impact on abdominal surgery, whether oncological or not, liver transplant, as well as minimally invasive radiological procedures. A correct knowledge of the up-mentioned variations significantly decreases the rate of intra- and post-interventional complications, accompanied by a smaller recovery time in the possible event of a complication, and also the general healing time following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a randomized controlled clinical trial of 2 dressing materials, viz., Vaseline gauze and collagen sheet, after split thickness skin graft in donor site for wound comfort and pain, surgical site infection, and epithelialization. It is a randomized control study registered with CTRI registration number of CTRI/2 020/02/023207. Enrolled patients were randomized with block randomization method with 50 patients in each group. Following STSG procedure, pain score was documented using numerical pain rating score. Surgical site infection and number of days required for complete epithelialization were also documented and analyzed. The results showed that distribution of mean pain score (NPR) for Vaseline gauze group was significantly higher than collagen sheet group. Similarly, number of days required for complete epithelialization was found to be more for Vaseline gauze group than collagen sheet group and there was no significant difference in surgical site infection between the two groups. The study concluded that collagen sheet dressing is better than Vaseline gauze dressing in reducing pain in STSG donor site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic identification is the means to highlight the unique characteristics of an entity and differentiate it from any other. The term identity derives from the Latin word "idem" meaning "same" or "identical". The identification of persons (living or deceased) is a process that is ideally achieved through the interdisciplinary collaboration of forensic medicine with the anthropologist, criminologist and judicial police. Gender estimation is a topic of great interest in forensic medicine, and numerous studies in the field have given rise to a database of diagnostic traits. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the reality of sexual dysmorphism based on anthropometric measurements of the orbit and to reinforce the importance of radiology in forensic practice. The study consists in 27 computed-tomography images on which we made some measurements of orbits cavities, after which a statistical analysis was performed. Following the measurements, a comparison was made between the values obtained for males and those obtained for females, confirming the hypothesis supported by many authors that these values are generally higher in men, thus helping identify unknown persons. The development of newer and better methodologies for gender estimation, as well as the reevaluation of existing ones, will continue to emerge, and the efforts of forensic researchers will lead to much more accurate results from indirect analyses of human bone structures through digital imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive forms of aspergillosis of the nervous system are relatively rare and are usually diagnosed in immunocompromised patients. We present the case of a young female patient, treated in the last two months with corticosteroids and antifungal drug for pulmonary aspergillosis, who developed progressive paraparesis. An intramedullary abscess at the C7–D1 level was identified and the lesion was treated with a combination of surgery and antifungal therapy. Histopathologic findings of surgical specimens showed myelomalacia with Aspergillus hyphae and a peripheral rim of neutrophils. We consider that the use of multiple drugs and corticosteroids for our patient's initial community pneumonia could be the factor that transformed her into a mildly immunocompromised individual and permitted the Aspergillus spp. to disseminate through the blood and into the spinal cord. Moreover, we highlight the fact that more attention should be paid to living and working conditions of the patients, as a simple colonization of the lung with Aspergillus spp. could develop, in a short time, into an invasive disease with a high risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knee joint (Articulatio genus) is the largest joint of the body. The tibial plateaus represent the proximal, articular surface of the tibial condyles that articulate with the femoral condyles. The traumatic damage of these surfaces invariably leads to the change in the distribution of the forces of mechanical pressure, which results in uneven wear and the appearance of arthrosis. We conducted a review of the literature using the PubMed database in order to identify the optimal treatment of the tibial plateaus fractures, the evolution and the prognosis. Out of 3047 identified references, 26 articles were selected for analysis after the application of the exclusion criteria. There is a consensus among the majority of authors regarding recommended surgical treatment for displacement fractures and increased attention to frequently associated ligament and meniscal injuries. The most common surgical method chosen is open reduction and internal osteosynthesis. The complexity of these fractures sometimes makes it difficult to fit them into a classification system and the prognosis may be reserved, given the large number of immediate and late complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The vertebral column represents the axial skeleton and has an indispensable role in the protection of the spinal cord. Early identification of its pathologies and an adequate treatment are essential for a favorable outcome. Methods: For the selection of the articles included in this review work, the PubMed database was searched, using the following queries: "acute lumbar back pain, chronic lumbar disc pain, intervertebral disc disease, lumbar intervertebral disc injury, lumbar spine intervertebral disc x -ray imaging, lumbar spine intervertebral disc magnetic resonance imaging, intervertebral lumbar disc treatment options". A total of 2756 articles resulted from the search with the previously mentioned keywords, and after identifying and removing duplicates, 2063 references remained. After applying the free full-text criterion, 532 articles resulted, and the subsequent application of the novelty criterion (articles from the last 5 years, 2018-2023) led to the selection of 241 references. The inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in the present paper were applied to these 241 references, resulting in 178 articles, of which 36 articles were finally included in the paper, following an impact-factor-based quality assessment. Literature review: These 36 articles were reviewed based on the criteria: etiology and etiopathogenesis of lower back pain, classification and description of lumbar disc diseases, as well as their diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions: Lumbar disc diseases are a real burden in the lives of patients from a psychological, social and professional point of view. They limit the ability to perform the previously-carried-out activities, thus reducing the quality of life of patients. An early diagnosis, followed by the initiation of treatment, are essential in the management of these pathologies that are increasingly common nowadays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease (CD) comprises over 1% of the world's population and is a chronic multisystem immune-mediated condition manifested by digestive and/or extradigestive symptoms caused by food intake of gluten. This review looked at the risk of children diagnosed with CD developing SARS-CoV-2 infection and possible severe forms of COVID-19. A better understanding of the interaction and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in CD is very important, as is the role of environmental and genetic factors, but especially the molecular mechanisms involved in modulating intestinal permeability with impact on autoimmunity. CD inspired the testing of a zonulin antagonist for the fulminant form of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and paved the way for the discovery of new molecules to regulate the small intestine barrier function and immune responses. Original published works on COVID-19 and CD, new data and points of view have been analyzed because this dangerous virus SARS-CoV-2 is still here and yet influencing our lives. Medical science continues to focus on all uncertainties triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection and its consequences, including in CD. Although the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be gradually extinguishing, there is a wealth of information and knowledge gained over the last two years and important life lessons to analyze, as well as relevant conclusions to be drawn to deal with future pandemics. Zonulin is being studied extensively in immunoengineering as an adjuvant to improving the absorption of new drugs and oral vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-synthesis modification is a highly efficient method for the modification of Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials, which has been used to synthesize MOF materials purposefully that cannot be prepared by direct synthesis and impregnation method. In this work, amino modified ZIF8 with 5-aminotetrazole was prepared by the post synthesis modification method and was employed to reversibly remove SO2 from flue gas. Based on the characterization and analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Brunner Emmet Teller (BET), it was found that the functionalized ZIF8 (Zn(5-ATZ)1.5) was a microporous material with a two-dimensional nano-layered structure. According to the SO2 adsorption experiments, the adsorption capacity of SO2 at the concentration of 1.6% vol can reach to 122 mg/g under the optimal conditions (25 °C, 2865 h−1). Five successive adsorption-desorption experiments exhibited that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 had excellent regeneration performance. The characterization results of Raman Spectra (Raman) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as the DFT simulation calculations revealed that SO2 mainly interacted with Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 by hydrogen bonds between O of SO2 and amino H in the Zn(5-ATZ)1.5, and the interaction of SO2 with amino N and 5-aminotetrazole N by forming a non-covalent charge transfer complex. This work suggested that Zn(5-ATZ)1.5 is an excellent potential sorbent for SO2 removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The influence of the early COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID-19 emergencies is uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation, management, and prognosis of patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases from January to August 2020. A meta-analysis of studies comparing the profile, STEMI severity at presentation, reperfusion delay, and in-hospital mortality for patients presenting before and during the early COVID-19 pandemic was conducted. Fifteen cross-sectional observational studies including 20,528 STEMI patients from the pre-COVID period and 2190 patients diagnosed and treated during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic met the inclusion criteria. Results: Patients presenting with STEMI during the pandemic were younger and had a higher comorbidity burden. The time interval between symptoms and first medical contact increased from 93.22 ± 137.37 min to 142 ± 281.60 min (p < 0.001). Door-to-balloon time did not differ significantly between the two periods (p = 0.293). The pooled odds ratio (OR) for low left ventricular ejection fraction at presentation during the pandemic was 2.24 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.54–3.26) and for a presentation delay >24 h was 2.9 (95% CI 1.54–5.45) relative to before the pandemic. In-hospital mortality did not increase significantly during the outbreak (p = 0.97). Conclusion: During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, patients presenting with STEMI were addressed later in the course of the disease with more severe left ventricular impairment. In-hospital emergency circuits and care functioned properly with no increase in door-to-balloon time and early mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: reviewing data on the anatomical variations of mandible and imaging data. Material and method: 10 studies were selected over a period of eighteen years (2013-2021), which have as object of study anatomical variations of mandible. A total of 482 patients were analyzed in imaging studies of anatomical variations of mandible, of which were 170 male and 312 were female. Results: The mandibular foramen was situated in the inferior 1/3 of mandibular ramus in 30 cases.(3-6). In 20 cases (40%) the mandibular foramen was situated in the middle of the ramus. Mental foramen was located on the anterior surface of the corpus of the mandible, posterior to the mental tubercle and had a round shape in 30 cases (60%). Mental foramen had an oval shape in 20 cases (40%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to examine the status of library users' adoption of e-books in line with Rogers's Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory and Gartner's Hype Cycle (GHC) Model in the context of Fiji National University (FNU). The FNU Library introduced e-books to its user community in 2014. Purposively chosen 40 undergraduate students from the College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies were selected as the sample to conduct in-depth interviews. The study revealed that the participants' e-book adoption habits were primarily divided among early adopters, early majority, and late majority. The results disclosed many factors that influence the adoption of e-books, such as familiarity with the technology, personal taste, exposure to trial access, use of preferred access devices and enthusiasm for reading. Findings indicate that e-books adoption of university undergraduates in line with the DOI and GHC paradigms has substantiated how the underpinning theories could help interpret the adoption of e-books in teaching and learning environment. Thus, this research will help librarians and educators develop a robust mechanism for better understanding the inherent status-quo of ebook usage in higher education institutions. These research findings will also help develop strategies that can significantly enhance universities' traditional teaching and learning performance with emerging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Family Medicine / Revista Română de Medicina Familiei is the property of Media DOM Express and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The absence of the pectoralis major muscle is considered a feature of the Poland Syndrome, described as a complex disease, affecting not only muscular tissue, but also bones and various organs, both in the proximity and at distance from the muscular defect. Having no clear evidence-based etiology, partial agenesis of the pectoralis major muscle is a silent anomaly, discovered exclusively when symptomatic and during an early age. The method used in this particular case was computed tomography (CT), in the circumstances of a respiratory tract complaint. However, similarities between our case and literature databases have been outlined only regarding the prevalence in gender, type of impairment and right side localization. No anatomical, genetic or hereditary links or associations have been observed in our patient's current condition or throughout his past medical history, nor other medically proven related syndromes or diseases were noted. Consequently, our aim is to draw attention to the fact that unilateral partial agenesis of pectoralis muscle alone has been scarcely reported in recent or former research papers, alongside with stating that this discovery may be as well portrayed in the near future as an individuality itself, included or not amongst the widespread accepted and standard characteristics of a possible Poland syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human heart beats around 2.5 billion times during a normal lifetime. Responsible for this function is the cardiac conduction system (CCS). This unique system is formed by specialized cardiomyocites, in which generate the cardiac impulse and conduct it from the atrial to the ventricular chambers. The functional components of the CCS are: sinoatrial node (SAN), atrioventricular node(AVN), atrioventricular bundle (AVB or bundle of His), the right and the left bundle branches (RBB and LBB) and the Purkinje network fibers. The CCS examination is a difficult task for most practicing pathologists, because it is macroscopically identical to the surrounding cardiac structures. For this reason,detailed anatomical knowledge is required to identify it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Patients with cervical spinal injury with quadriplegia are at an increased risk of developing serious gastrointestinal complications. We report an unusual case of spontaneous rectosigmoid perforation in a quadriplegic patient. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented to the emergency department following a fall from 25 feet of height. He sustained a fifth cervical vertebral fracture with quadriplegia and neurogenic shock. One week later, he developed progressive abdominal distension with tachycardia, low blood pressure, and respiratory distress. His abdomen was soft but had impaired liver dullness. Imaging showed evidence of visceral perforation. He underwent an emergency laparotomy and was found to have a perforation of the antemesenteric border of the rectosigmoid junction with fecal contamination. The perforation was repaired primarily, and a temporary loop ileostomy was created. The patient received intensive care for 4 days, and thereafter, the recovery was uneventful. He was later transferred to the spinal unit for further management. The intraoperative findings, histology, and subsequent colonoscopy did not reveal any underlying cause for the perforation. Conclusions. Clinical signs and symptoms are generally absent in patients following spinal cord injury, and the diagnosis of serious gastrointestinal pathology can be difficult and challenging. We believe that ischemia at the rectosigmoid junction precipitated by multiple factors was the possible reason for the spontaneous perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania's mountain area constitutes a defined geographic, economic and social entity, with specific climate, relief, natural and socio-cultural heritage, an identity recognized in Europe and all over the world. The paper aims to analyze the main normative acts for the mountain area in Romania developed after 1990, focusing on the specific legislation of the last 7 years. The aim was to create the legislative framework created, starting with the delimitation of the mountain area - to which this legislation is addressed, the public institutions established for the mountain area, as well as the main provisions to support the mountain population, producers and entrepreneurs in this area. The study of documents was used as research methods: laws, government decisions, ministerial orders, as well as content observation or analysis. The data were collected and interpreted. Results obtained: The 3 official delimitations of the existing mountain area during the studied period were identified and presented, the normative acts by which they were legislated as well as the main criteria that were the basis of each of these delimitations. It should be noted that the delimitation has undergone changes over time, depending on the instruments, policies and legislation existing at each of the times when they were developed. The main public institutions, with a role in the development of mountain areas and the application of public policies, were also identified. The development of mountain areas is achieved through specific policies. The Law of the Mountain and the subsequent laws elaborated, aim to support mountain producers, entrepreneurs and implicitly to lead to the development of mountain areas. By acquiring the right to use the optional quality mention "mountain product", at the level of the mountain area in Romania a Register and a national logo were created and a number of 580 "certified" products were obtained on the end of April 2020. Another 5 laws that provide for investments in this area are being drafted and are waiting to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystal iron oxide nanorings have been proposed as a promising candidate for magnetic hyperthermia application because of their unique shape-induced vortex-domain structure, which supports good colloidal stability and enhanced magnetic properties. However, the synthesis of single crystalline iron oxide has proven to be challenging. In this article, we showed that chemically synthesized multigrain magnetite nanorings disfavor a shape-induced magnetic vortex-domain structure. Our results indicate that the multigrain Fe3O4 nanorings with an average outer diameter of ~110 nm and an inner to outer diameter ratio of ~0.5 do not show a shape-induced vortex-domain structure, which was observed in the single-crystal Fe3O4 nanorings of similar dimensions. At 300 Ks, multigrain magnetite nanorings showed an effective anisotropy field of 440 Oe, which can be attributed to its high surface area and intraparticle interaction. Both calorimetric and AC loop measurements showed a moderate inductive heating efficiency of multigrain magnetite nanorings of ~300 W/g at 800 Oe. Our results shed light on the magnetic ground states of chemically synthesized multigrain Fe3O4 nanorings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In the last years, throughout the world, the cardio-vascular pathology has a massive and continuous growth, with an increased gravity due to the lowering of the age of patients affected by this type of illness. Objectives: The main objective is reviewing the medico-legal cases with cardio-vascular pathology encountered by the authors in the 2015-2018 interval, with confirmation and positive appreciation of the growing incidence of this pathology, decreasing the age threshold and other medicolegal aspects, macroscopical and histopathological. Material and method: The following paper evaluates the cases of deaths due to myocardial fibrosis, encountered in the activity of the authors, on a 4-years period (2015-2018), at the Institute of Legal Medicine Iasi, Romania. Results: Out of a total of 374 medico-legal autopsies performed by the authors in the 2015-2018 period at the Institute of Legal Medicine Iasi, 80 deaths were attributed to myocardial fibrosis. Conclusions: Although the medical world is trying, on a global scale, to prevent cardio-vascular diseases by means of educational programs, encouraging periodic medical check-ups and innovative therapies, the incidence of this pathology is continuously growing, affecting increasingly younger patients. This review of the medico-legal cases encountered by the authors aims to confirm the ascending trend of cardio-vascular disease incidence and to raise attention to this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commissural pathways of the brain have represented a point of interest for anatomists beginning with the 19th century. However, only by mid 1950s Theodor W. Blackstad achieved the experimental analysis of their functional organisation. The canal of the anterior commissure and its lateral segment were mentioned beginning with the 18th century by Vicq D'Azyr, so that in 1983 Malcolm D. Carpenter would achieve the first anatomical description of the rostral commissure. The purpose of this study is to achieve a morphometrical analysis of the mediosagittal segment of the anterior cerebral commissure, constituting an important landmark in surgical interventions at the level of the anterior wall of the third cerebral ventricle. The anatomical material is represented by 20 adult brains in the collection of "Ion Iancu" Anatomy Institute of "Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi. The anatomical pieces were preserved through immersion into a formaldehyde solution 10% for 6 months. The images were taken with the help of a Fujifilm FinePix S3200 camera, with a resolution of 10 megapixels and processed with the ArchiCAD software. Through the measurements taken regarding the maximum and the minimum diameter, as well as through the determination of the area of the mediosagittal section, our study represents a first basis in the carrying out of an anatomical norm regarding the anterior white commissure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COMPLETE SACRAL SPINA BIFIDA OCCULTA fortuitously DISCOVERED IN A TRAUMA PATIENT (Abstract): Sacral spina bifida occulta (SSBO) is a defect occurring during embryonic life when the neural tube develops. It consists of o complete lack of the posterior wall of the sacral canal, which anatomically is represented by the median sacral crest. This condition belongs to a larger group of pathologies named spina bifida, the latter comprising also the meningocele and the myelomeningocele. In this paper we present a totally asymptomatic complete SSBO in a 47- year old patient with multiple traumas that arrived at "Sf Spiridon" Emergency County Hospital in Iasi, Romania. He experienced an accidental fall from approximately 1.5 - 2.0 metres and we managed to discover his sacral defect during the CT scans he underwent in the Radiology Department. We present the axial and the reconstructed CT images and discuss the anatomy of the sacrum in both complete and incomplete SSBO, pointing towards possible complications that might arise in case of injury at this level. We have reviewed the related literature on PubMed discovering the controversies amongst classification and the methodological approach of this condition. Several data is presented comparatively and an emphasis is done on the prevalence of this rare finding in several anthropological studies, based on archaeological sites from abroad and even located in our city, Iasi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Romania, agriculture is undergoing restructuring and economic development as a result of the changes following the 1989 Revolution. Within this background, agriculture has remained one of the priority branches of the national economy, in close correlation with the level of technical and economic performances achieved worldwide and especially within the agriculture of developed European countries, where technical, scientific and managerial progress has penetrated faster. The authors' intention is to analyse the main aspects related to the marketing actions for the main crops of grain maize, feed barley and rape, within S.C. AGRAR-M SERV S.R.L. company, based in Bordei-Verde, Lișcoteanca Village, Brăila County, for the reference period 2012-2015. In order to achieve the purpose of this paper, we started from compiling the database for the period under review, and thereafter we presented and analysed the natural conditions in the researched area that influenced the production results and, implicitly, the economic and financial ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to design a new dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) measurement system that can operate for shear tests at frequencies as high as 10 kHz with strain amplitudes sufficient for viscoelastic materials operating in high-frequency deformation applications, such as tire rubbers. The available DMA systems in market cannot effectively operate for accurate and direct measurement of viscoelastic material properties for applications dealing with high-frequency deformation of materials. Due to this, the available DMA systems are used for indirect measurements at low frequencies and low temperatures, followed by using time-temperature superposition principle to predict the properties at high frequencies. The goal of this study is to make the range of the test broad enough to eliminate the use of the time-temperature superposition principle in the determination of properties of viscoelastic materials. Direct measurement of viscoelastic material properties and increasing the accuracy of results are the main motivations to design a new DMA system. For this purpose, the state-of-the-art technologies to achieve high frequencies and strain amplitudes as well as instrumentation and control of the system are studied. The design process is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical anisotropy is an essential property for biomolecules to assume structural and functional roles in mechanobiology. However, there is insufficient information on the mechanical anisotropy of ligand–biomolecule complexes. Herein, we investigated the mechanical property of individual human telomeric G‐quadruplexes bound to telomestatin, using optical tweezers. Stacking of the ligand to the G‐tetrad planes changes the conformation of the G‐quadruplex, which resembles a balloon squeezed in certain directions. Such a squeezed balloon effect strengthens the G‐tetrad planes, but dislocates and weakens the loops in the G‐quadruplex upon ligand binding. These dynamic interactions indicate that the binding between the ligand and G‐quadruplex follows the induced‐fit model. We anticipate that the altered mechanical anisotropy of the ligand–G‐quadruplex complex can add additional level of regulations on the motor enzymes that process DNA or RNA molecules. 99 red balloons: Binding of a telomestatin analogue strengthens the mechanical stability of G‐tetrads, while weakening that of loops in a human telomeric G‐quadruplex. The mechanical anisotropy effect is sustained by the uneven structural variation of the G‐quadruplex after ligand binding, similar to a balloon squeezed in certain directions (the squeezed balloon effect). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The primary objective of our article is to emphasize a potential evolution of the Romanian literary language across the one hundred and twenty-five years of confrontation with Jules Verne's novels. The successive translations of the French author's works reflect passing from the fixation of the Romanian supradialectal literary language, to its use and emphasis in diachronic and diastratic versions corresponding to the evolution of the Romanian society. We proceed from the idea that the solutions found by the Romanian translators in the lexical-semantic field, that of morpho-syntactic structures, of the transmitted pragmatic-stylistic values, have constituted true contributions to enriching, emphasising and plasticizing the Romanian literary language. Upon carrying out this analysis, we have, of course, called upon the work principles, methods and instruments of the two sciences of the word - valorised in any such undertaking - traductology on the one hand, and diachronic linguistics, on the other hand. Obviously, in both cases, we will be starting from the contrastive-typological grammar data, with frequent references to descriptive, normative grammar, to elements of pragmatics and stylistics, to the particularities of dialectology, in certain situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania has joined the European Union on January 1st 2007. In the last 10 years, a lot of changes have taken place in the Romanian economy, including in agriculture - generated by the Common Agricultural Policy. The authors referred, on the basis of statistical information, to some changes that have taken place in Romania's agriculture, such as: changing the ownership system in favor of private property, in accordance with the Land Fund Act; reducing of employment in agriculture; increasing the number of agricultural units and their size - both in plant and animal husbandry; the use of new varieties and hybrids, having superior productivity, improved and adapted to the pedoclimatic conditions in Romania; introduction of new breeds and hybrids - in animal husbandry; the use of modern production technologies with a high level of mechanization and automation; obtaining better agricultural output than in 2017; increasing the incomes of the employed population in agriculture; rural tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability in the rural area of the Romanian economy is closely linked to the possibility of meeting the consumption needs of the population through a growing, permanent, diversified and high-quality offer, in line with current and potential consumer needs. The agrotourism offer targets a certain segment of the population (tourists), being represented by both material elements (food, non-food goods), but above all, by agrotouristic services, which comprise a wide range of activities. Agrotourism is a form of rural tourism, being closely related to the agrotouristic household, which is based on the existing resources in rural areas (agricultural, touristic, human, economic). Agrotourism includes both basic tourist activities (accommodation, tourist hiking, basic tourist services such as catering and accommodation) and additional services, plus a series of agricultural activities (plant cultivation, livestock breeding), as well as the processing of agricultural raw materials within the households (agrotourist guest houses) and the capitalization of finished products, both to the tourists accommodated in the guest house and to the markets and fairs in the area. The research was carried out in Dorna Basin and covered 35 touristic and agrotouristic guest houses, of which 11 which own agricultural land (arable, natural pastures, natural meadows) and animals (cattle, pigs, poultry) were selected. The research had an applicative character and was based on a questionnaire, which was administered to a panel of 11 boarders of agro-touristic guest houses located in the Dornelor Basin. The work has an original character, being the result of own research by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Analele Universitatii din Oradea, Fascicula Ecotoxicologie, Zootehnie si Tehnologii în Industria Alimentara is the property of Editura Universitatii din Oradea and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Advertising helps to establish a set of assumptions that the consumer will bring to all other aspects of their engagement with a given brand. Advertising provides tangible evidence of the financial credibility and competitive presence of an organization. Persuasion is becoming more important in advertising. In marketing, persuasive advertising acts to establish wants/motivations and beliefs/attitudes by helping to formulate a conception of the brand as being one which people like those in the target audience would or should prefer. Considering the changes in lifestyle and eating habits of a significant part of the population in urban areas in Romania, the paper aims to analyse how brands manage to differentiate themselves from competitors, to reposition themselves on the market and influence consumers, meeting their increasingly varied needs. Food brands on the Romanian market are trying, lately, to identify new methods of differentiation and new benefits for their buyers. Given that more and more consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about what they eat and the products' health effects, brands struggle to highlight the fact that their products offer real benefits for the body. The advertisements have become more diversified and underline the positive effects, from the health and well - being point of view, that those foods offer (no additives and preservatives, use of natural ingredients, various vitamins and minerals or the fact that they are dietary). Advertising messages' diversification is obvious on the Romanian market, in the context of an increasing concern of the population for the growing level of information of some major consumer segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Analele Universitatii din Oradea, Fascicula Ecotoxicologie, Zootehnie si Tehnologii în Industria Alimentara is the property of Editura Universitatii din Oradea and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We developed a 375-channel, whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) system ("BabyMEG") for studying the electrophysiological development of human brain during the first years of life. The helmet accommodates heads up to 95% of 36-month old boys in the USA. The unique two-layer sensor array consists of: (1) 270 magnetometers (10 mm diameter, ~15 mm coil-to-coil spacing) in the inner layer, (2) thirty-five three-axis magnetometers (20 mm × 20 mm) in the outer layer 4 cm away from the inner layer. Additionally, there are three three-axis reference magnetometers. With the help of a remotely operated position adjustment mechanism, the sensor array can be positioned to provide a uniform short spacing (mean 8.5 mm) between the sensor array and room temperature surface of the dewar. The sensors are connected to superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) operating at 4.2 K with median sensitivity levels of 7.5 fT/√Hz for the inner and 4 fT/√Hz for the outer layer sensors. SQUID outputs are digitized by a 24-bit acquisition system. A closed-cycle helium recycler provides maintenance-free continuous operation, eliminating the need for helium, with no interruption needed during MEG measurements. BabyMEG with the recycler has been fully operational from March, 2015. Ongoing spontaneous brain activity can be monitored in real time without interference from external magnetic noise sources including the recycler, using a combination of a lightly shielded two-layer magnetically shielded room, an external active shielding, a signal-space projection method, and a synthetic gradiometer approach. Evoked responses in the cortex can be clearly detected without averaging. These new design features and capabilities represent several advances in MEG, increasing the utility of this technique in basic neuroscience as well as in clinical research and patient studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head movements during sustained rotation can cause angular cross-coupling which leads to tumbling illusions. Even though angular vectors predict equal magnitude illusions for head movements in opposite directions, the magnitudes of the illusions are often surprisingly asymmetric, such as during leftward versus rightward yaw while horizontal in a centrifuge. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the angular-linear stimulus combinations from eight different published papers in which asymmetries were found. Interactions between all angular and linear vectors, including gravity, are taken into account to model the three-dimensional consequences of the stimuli. Three main results followed. First, for every pair of head yaw movements, an asymmetry was found in the stimulus itself when considered in a fully three-dimensional manner, and the direction of the asymmetry matched the subjectively reported magnitude asymmetry. Second, for pitch and roll head movements for which motion sickness was measured, the stimulus was found symmetric in every case except one, and motion sickness generally aligned with other factors such as the existence of a head rest. Third, three-dimensional modeling predicted subjective inconsistency in the direction of perceived rotation when linear and angular components were oppositely-directed, and predicted surplus illusory rotation in the direction of head movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]