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Geophilus zagreussp. nov., a troglomorphic geophilid endemic to the Movile Cave sulfidic groundwater ecosystem, is described and illustrated. It is distinguished from other European Geophilus species by a high number of coxal pores on the ventral side of the coxa of the last pair of legs. Its affinities with the other two troglobitic species of the genus are discussed. The mitochondrial COI barcode is sequenced for the new species and phylogenetic analysis is carried out to elucidate its placement within Geophilus. Other syntopic Chilopoda from Movile cave are listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into building structures has become a focal point for researchers aiming to enhance thermal comfort and energy efficiency in buildings. This comprehensive article delves into the analysis of PCMs embedded in room walls, emphasizing their role in thermal regulation and the innovative application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in evaluating their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread of the different Plasmodium species able to infect humans and is responsible for most malaria cases outside Africa. An effective, strain-transcending vaccine that alleviates or suppresses erythrocyte invasion would be a game-changer in eliminating vivax malaria. Recently, the binding of P. vivax Reticulocyte Binding Protein 2b (PvRBP2b) to human Transferrin receptor (TfR1) has been described as essential for reticulocyte invasion, making this parasite protein an appealing vaccine candidate. Here, using P. vivax Cambodian clinical isolates in robust ex vivo invasion assays, we show that anti-PvRBP2b polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies that inhibit binding of PvRBP2b to TfR1 do not block P. vivax invasion into reticulocytes even at high concentrations. Anti-TfR1 antibodies do not inhibit P. vivax invasion either. Combinations at high concentrations of human monoclonal antibodies targeting different PvRBP2b epitopes do not inhibit invasion. Combinations of anti-PvRBP2b with anti-PvDBP do not enhance invasion inhibition caused by anti-PvDBP alone. We also show that the invasion of Cambodian P. vivax is trypsin-resistant while TfR1 is trypsin-sensitive, and we demonstrate that TfR1 is not recycled following trypsin treatment. We determined the PvRBP2b sequence of all isolates used in the invasion assays and analyzed polymorphism within epitopes recognized by anti-PvRBP2b antibodies. We show that polymorphism does not explain the absence of neutralization. Anti-PvRBP2b polyclonal antibodies recognized all four isolates tested in immunofluorescence assays while not inhibiting P. vivax invasion. Overall, our results demonstrate that PvRBP2b binding to TfR1 is not essential for invasion into reticulocytes of P. vivax Cambodian strains questioning the relevance of PvRBP2b as vaccine candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency constitutes a pivotal performance indicator for 5G New Radio (NR) networks and beyond, and achieving optimal efficiency necessitates the meticulous consideration of trade-offs against other performance parameters, including latency, throughput, connection densities, and reliability. Energy efficiency assumes it is of paramount importance for both User Equipment (UE) to achieve battery prologue and base stations to achieve savings in power and operation cost. This paper presents an exhaustive review of power-saving research conducted for 5G and beyond 5G networks in recent years, elucidating the advantages, disadvantages, and key characteristics of each technique. Reinforcement learning, heuristic algorithms, genetic algorithms, Markov Decision Processes, and the hybridization of various standard algorithms inherent to 5G and 5G NR represent a subset of the available solutions that shall undergo scrutiny. In the final chapters, this work identifies key limitations, namely, computational expense, deployment complexity, and scalability constraints, and proposes a future research direction by theoretically exploring online learning, the clustering of the network base station, and hard HO to lower the consumption of networks like 2G or 4G. In lowering carbon emissions and lowering OPEX, these three additional features could help mobile network operators achieve their targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental adhesives play a crucial role in modern dentistry by enabling the bonding of diverse restorative materials to tooth surfaces. These systems have evolved through seven generations, each characterized by unique chemical compositions and application techniques. The advancements in dental adhesives have significantly impacted restorative dentistry by preserving tooth structure, enhancing aesthetics, and ultimately improving patient outcomes and treatment options. The choice of adhesive system depends on various factors, including the clinical scenario, material compatibility, and dentist preference. Ongoing advancements in adhesive technology continue to enhance treatment outcomes and streamline procedures for dental practitioners. The development of universal adhesives capable of functioning in both etch-and-rinse and self-etch modes has further simplified clinical protocols. This study is an observational cross-sectional study conducted among Romanian dentists. A questionnaire was distributed via email to Romanian dentists, encompassing seven questions that explored the predominant use of etch-and-rinse or self-etch adhesive systems, preferred adhesive types, and commonly encountered challenges in direct restorations. Statistical analyses were conducted using DATAtab version (2024). The study highlighted the varying preferences among Romanian dentists in selecting suitable adhesive agents. Etch-and-rinse (ER) techniques predominated in direct restorations, with universal adhesives being the most frequently used. Further investigation is warranted to delve into the preferences of Romanian dentists regarding the utilization of self-etch (SE), etch-and-rinse (ER), and universal adhesives (UAs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2022, OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT – a chatbot based on supervised and reinforcement learning. Not only can it answer questions emulating human-like responses, but it can also generate code from scratch or complete coding templates provided by the user. ChatGPT can generate unique responses which render any traditional anti-plagiarism tool useless. Its release has ignited a heated debate about its usage in academia, especially by students. We have found, to our surprise, that our students at POLITEHNICA University of Bucharest (UPB) have been using generative AI tools (ChatGPT and its predecessors) for solving homework, for at least 6 months. We therefore set out to explore the capabilities of ChatGPT and assess its value for educational purposes. We used ChatGPT to solve all our coding assignments for the semester from our UPB Functional Programming course. We discovered that, although ChatGPT provides correct answers in 68% of the cases, only around half of those are legible solutions which can benefit students in some form. On the other hand, ChatGPT has a very good ability to perform code review on student programming homework. Based on these findings, we discuss the pros and cons of ChatGPT in a teaching environment, as well as means for integrating GPT models for generating code reviews, in order to improve the code-writing skills of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: HMG-CoA reductase is an enzyme that regulates the initial stage of cholesterol synthesis, and its inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: We have created a set of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for human HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors using nested cross-validation as the primary validation method. To develop the QSAR models, we employed various machine learning regression algorithms, feature selection methods, and fingerprints or descriptor datasets. Results: We built and evaluated a total of 300 models, selecting 21 that demonstrated good performance (coefficient of determination, R2 ≥ 0.70 or concordance correlation coefficient, CCC ≥ 0.85). Six of these top-performing models met both performance criteria and were used to construct five ensemble models. We identified the descriptors most important in explaining HMG-CoA inhibition for each of the six best-performing models. We used the top models to search through over 220,000 chemical compounds from a large database (ZINC 15) for potential new inhibitors. Only a small fraction (237 out of approximately 220,000 compounds) had reliable predictions with mean pIC50 values ≥ 8 (IC50 values ≤ 10 nM). Our svm-based ensemble model predicted IC50 values < 10 nM for roughly 0.08% of the screened compounds. We have also illustrated the potential applications of these QSAR models in understanding the cholesterol-lowering activities of herbal extracts, such as those reported for an extract prepared from the Iris × germanica rhizome. Conclusions: Our QSAR models can accurately predict human HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, having the potential to accelerate the discovery of novel cholesterol-lowering agents and may also be applied to understand the mechanisms underlying the reported cholesterol-lowering activities of herbal extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the pyrolytic decomposition of apple and potato peel waste using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In addition, using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical characteristics and structural properties of biochar was studied. The degradation of biomass samples was studied between 25 °C and 800 °C. Although apple and potato peel decomposition present similar thermogravimetric profiles, there are some differences that can be evidenced from DTG curves. Potato peel showed one degradation peak in the range 205–375 °C with 50% weight loss; meanwhile, the apple peel exhibited two stages: one with a maximum at around 220 °C and about 38% weight loss caused by degradation of simple carbohydrates and a second peak between 280 °C and 380 °C with a maximum at 330 °C, having a weight loss of approximately 24%, attributed to cellulose degradation. To gain more insight into the phenomena involved in biomass conversion, the kinetics of the reaction were analyzed using thermal data collected in non-isothermal conditions with a constant heating rate of 5, 10, 20, or 30 °C /min. The kinetic analysis for each decomposed biomass (apple and potato) was carried out based on single-step and multi-step type techniques by combining the Arrhenius form of the decomposition rate constant with the mass action law. The multi-step approaches provided further insight into the degradation mechanisms for the whole range of the decomposition temperatures. The effect of temperature on biomass waste structure showed that the surface morphologies and surface functional groups of both samples are influenced by the pyrolysis temperature. A higher pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C results in the disappearance of the bands characteristic of the hydroxyl, aliphatic, ether, and ester functional groups, characteristic of a porous surface with increased adsorption capacity. Therefore, this study concludes that biomass waste samples (apple and potato) can produce high yields of biochar and are a potential ecological basis for a sustainable approach. The preliminary adsorption tests show a reasonably good nitrate removal capacity for our biochar samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The single published record of centipedes from the Chagos Archipelago, British Indian Ocean Territory, is for the scolopendrid Rhysida longipes Newport, 1845, from Eagle Island. Recent collections from Diego Garcia atoll include new records of R. longipes as well as four other centipede species, including the first records of the orders Lithobiomorpha and Geophilomorpha. A new species of the lithobiid Australobius Chamberlin, 1920, A. chagosensissp. n., is closely allied to species described from southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The henicopid Lamyctes is represented by two geographically widespread species, L. mauriesi Demange, 1981 and L. tristani (Pocock, 1893), from which sequence data for the COI barcode marker are presented and analysed phylogenetically. The types of Lamyctes albipes (Pocock, 1894), and L. tristani, from Java and Tristan da Cunha, respectively, are illustrated for the first time to facilitate taxonomic comparisons with Chagos material. Specimens of Mecistocephalus are identified as Mecistocephalus lohmanderi Verhoeff, 1939, closely resembling specimens from the Seychelles. Collections from the archipelago in 1971–1972 also included Mecistocephalus angusticeps (Ribaut, 1914), and Nycternyssa dekania dekania (Verhoeff, 1938). The Chagos centipede fauna reveals affinities to those of the southern Indian Subcontinent, East Africa, Madagascar, the Maldives, the Seychelles, and Java. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algorithms for noise reduction that use the translation invariant wavelet transform indirectly are spatially selective filtering algorithms in the wavelet domain. These algorithms use the undecimated wavelet transform to accurately determine the coefficients corresponding to the contours in the images, these being processed differently from the other wavelet coefficients. The use of the undecimated wavelet transform in image noise reduction applications leads not only to an improvement in terms of Mean Square Error (MSE), but also in terms of the content quality of the processed images. In the case of noise reduction procedures by truncation of wavelet coefficients, artifacts appear, especially in the approximation of singularities, due to some pseudo-Gibbs phenomena. These artifacts, which appear locally, are troublesome in the case of object recognition applications from images acquired in conditions of nonuniform illumination and low contrast. In this work we propose a method of feature extractor based on undecimated wavelet transform (UWT) and local binary pattern (LBP). The results obtained on images acquired from drones in adverse conditions show promising results in terms of accuracy. The authors show that the displacement-invariant wavelet transform is an very good method of compression and noise reduction in signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence challenges the belief that individuals who are Duffy-negative are resistant to Plasmodium vivax due to lacking the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines. Erythrocyte-binding protein (EBP/DBP2) has shown moderate binding to Duffy-negative erythrocytes in vitro. Reticulocyte-binding protein 2b (RBP2b) interactions with transferrin receptor 1 suggest involvement in Duffy-negative infections. Gene copy number variations in PvDBP1 , PvEBP / DBP2 , and PvRBP2b were investigated in Duffy-positive and Duffy-negative P vivax infections from Ethiopia. Among Duffy-positive samples, 34% displayed PvDBP1 duplications (Cambodian type). In Duffy-negative infections, 30% showed duplications, mostly Cambodian type. For PvEBP / DBP2 and PvRBP2b , Duffy-positive samples exhibited higher duplication rates (1–8 copies for PvEBP / DBP2 , 46%; 1–5 copies for PvRBP2b , 43%) as compared with Duffy-negative samples (20.8% and 26%, respectively). The range of copy number variations was lower in Duffy-negative infections. Demographic and clinical factors associated with gene multiplications in both Duffy types were explored, enhancing understanding of P vivax evolution in Africans who are Duffy negative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 and influenza are highly contagious respiratory viral diseases and priority global public health concerns. We conducted a retrospective observational study of COVID-19 and/or influenza hospitalized cases, during 2023. We identified 170 influenza cases, 150 COVID-19 cases and 3 co-infections. Overall, 29.10% of patients had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 4.6% received the seasonal Flu vaccine. The demographic data found older patients in the COVID-19 group and a higher index of the comorbidities, mainly due to chronic heart diseases, hypertension, and diabetes. Fever, chills, and rhinorrhea were more frequently related to influenza, while cough was prevalent in COVID-19. Antibiotics were more used in influenza than COVID-19, either pre-hospital or in-hospital. The mortality rate within the first 30 days from the onset of the respiratory infection was higher in influenza compared to COVID-19. We concluded that the COVID-19 clinical picture in hospitalized patients is changing to influenza-like symptoms. The evolution is variable, related to chronic comorbidities, but influenza had more frequent severe forms. All through 2023, due to poor vaccination rates, COVID-19 and influenza have continued to cause numerous hospitalizations, and a new strategy for efficient vaccinations is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The second victim phenomenon refers to the emotional trauma healthcare professionals experience following adverse events (AEs) in patient care, which can compromise their ability to provide safe care. This issue has significant implications for patient safety, with AEs leading to substantial human and economic costs. Analysis: Current evidence indicates that AEs often result from systemic failures, profoundly affecting healthcare workers. While patient safety initiatives are in place, the psychological impact on healthcare professionals remains inadequately addressed. The European Researchers' Network Working on Second Victims (ERNST) emphasizes the need to support these professionals through peer support programs, systemic changes, and a shift toward a just culture in healthcare settings. Policy Options: Key options include implementing peer support programs, revising the legal framework to decriminalize honest errors, and promoting just culture principles. These initiatives aim to mitigate the second victim phenomenon, enhance patient safety, and reduce healthcare costs. Conclusion: Addressing the second victim phenomenon is essential for ensuring patient safety. By implementing supportive policies and fostering a just culture, healthcare systems can better manage the repercussions of AEs and support the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing reliance of modern supercomputers on accelerator-based architecture such a graphics processing units (GPUs), the development and optimization of electronic structure methods to exploit these massively parallel resources has become a recent priority. While significant strides have been made in the development GPU accelerated, distributed memory algorithms for many modern electronic structure methods, the primary focus of GPU development for Gaussian basis atomic orbital methods has been for shared memory systems with only a handful of examples pursing massive parallelism. In the present work, we present a set of distributed memory algorithms for the evaluation of the Coulomb and exact exchange matrices for hybrid Kohn–Sham DFT with Gaussian basis sets via direct density-fitted (DF-J-Engine) and seminumerical (sn-K) methods, respectively. The absolute performance and strong scalability of the developed methods are demonstrated on systems ranging from a few hundred to over one thousand atoms using up to 128 NVIDIA A100 GPUs on the Perlmutter supercomputer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was carried out in stands of Scots pine and black pine, pure or mixed with deciduous trees, installed on degraded lands from the Curvature Subcarpathian area, Romania, in a representative network of permanent research plots and followed the analysis of the structural diversity and stability indicators of these stands at different ages and in different conditions of degraded lands. The relationships between the quantitative variables with reference to the structure were established by analyzing the significance of the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and also including datasets of slenderness indexes, which were classed into three domains of vulnerability to abiotic factors (like wind and snow). The compositional diversity of pine stands (pure or mixed with deciduous ones) is different in relation to age and is correlated with the structural diversity. The obtained correlation coefficients (r Pearson) express very strong and significant relationships between biometric parameters (h x Dbh, h x Lc%, Dc x Dbh, and Lc% x Dbh) of the structural diversity (r = 0.800–0.930), which is important for the analysis of the stability and vulnerability of pine forests. The strong correlation between the analyzed variables expresses a weak vulnerability to the action of harmful abiotic factors and the increase in the stability and resilience of the studied stands, especially of over 50 years old. In the old pine stands, the low-vulnerability domain (I < 0.80) is the best represented one, with an average of 64.01% from the total number of trees. At this age, trees with DBH > 22 cm fall into the low-vulnerability category. The explanation is that the stands were affected in their youth by the action of snow and wind, which, combined with the silvotechnical works performed, led to their compositional and structural diversification and increased stability. The young (<45 years) and pure-pine stands with higher consistency (>0.8) and even-aged structure are the most vulnerable to abiotic factors due to the fact that a large number of trees are passing gradually into the higher cenotic classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are myeloid malignancies with heterogeneous genotypes and phenotypes, characterized by ineffective haematopoiesis and a high risk of progression towards acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). Prognosis for patients treated with hypomethylating agents (HMAs), as is azacytidine, the main drug used as frontline therapy for MDS is mostly based on cytogenetics and next generation sequencing (NGS) of the initial myeloid clone. Although the critical influence of the epigenetic landscape upon cancer cells survival and development as well on tumour environment establishment is currently recognized and approached within current clinical practice in MDS, the heterogenous response of the patients to epigenetic therapy is suggesting a more complex mechanism of action, as is the case of RNA methylation. In this sense, the newly emerging field of epitranscriptomics could provide a more comprehensive perspective upon the modulation of gene expression in malignancies, as is the proof‐of‐concept of MDS. We initially did RNA methylation sequencing on MDS patients (n = 6) treated with azacytidine and compared responders with non‐responders. Afterwards, the genes identified were assessed in vitro and afterwards validated on a larger cohort of MDS patients treated with azacytidine (n = 58). Our data show that a more accurate prognosis could be based on analysing the methylome and thus we used methylation sequencing to differentially split high‐grade MDS patients with identical demographical and cytogenetic features, between azacytidine responders and non‐responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Esophageal varices, dilated submucosal veins in the lower esophagus, are commonly associated with portal hypertension, particularly due to liver cirrhosis. The high morbidity and mortality linked to variceal hemorrhage underscore the need for accurate diagnosis and effective management. The traditional method of assessing esophageal varices is esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which, despite its diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, presents limitations such as interobserver variability and invasiveness. This review aims to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the management of esophageal varices, focusing on its applications in diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment optimization. Methods: This systematic review focuses on the capabilities of AI algorithms to analyze clinical scores, laboratory data, endoscopic images, and imaging modalities like CT scans. Results: AI-based systems, particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms, have demonstrated the ability to improve risk stratification and diagnosis of esophageal varices, analyzing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns, and providing individualized recommendations. However, despite these advancements, clinical scores based on laboratory data still show low specificity for esophageal varices, often requiring confirmatory endoscopic or imaging studies. Conclusions: AI integration in managing esophageal varices offers significant potential for advancing diagnosis, risk assessment, and treatment strategies. While promising, AI systems should complement rather than replace traditional methods, ensuring comprehensive patient evaluation. Further research is needed to refine these technologies and validate their efficacy in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of our study was to evaluate the changes in cardiovascular parameters in patients with hypertension who completed a 3-month physical exercise program. 229 subjects with high normal values of blood pressure and stage 1 hypertension (group 1) and 120 patients with stage 2 hypertension (group 2) followed a 3-month physical exercise program. The following parameters were measured: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate, pulse wave velocity. For group 1 there were statistically significant differences for all the tested parameters after the 3-month program (decreased systolic blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure and pulse wave velocity, p< 0.0001; lower diastolic blood pressure, p=0.018)). In group 2 all the tested parameters had decreased values after the 3-month rehabilitation program. However, only for the pulse wave velocity there was recorded a statistically significant reduction after the exercise program (p< 0.001). There were significant direct correlations between total cholesterol and pulse wave velocity for group 1 at both initial (p=0.024) and final assessments (p=0.03), and for group 2 patients at the 3-month assessment (p=0.001). A medium-term physical exercise program improved the cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, arterial stiffness) in hypertensive patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, synthetic compounds are used for both in-office and at-home dental care. They are a valuable resource for both prophylactic and curative treatments for various dental problems, such as tooth decay, periodontal diseases, and many more. They are typically preferred due to their broad range of actions and ability to produce targeted, rapid, and long-lasting effects. Using a 0.12% chlorhexidine mouthwash is capable of reducing the plaque index from 47.69% to 2.37% and the bleeding index from 32.93% to 6.28% after just 2 weeks. Mouthwash with 0.1% OCT is also highly effective, as it significantly lowered the median plaque index and salivary bacterial counts in 152 patients in 5 days compared to a control group (p < 0.0001), while also reducing the gingival index (p < 0.001). When povidone-iodine was used as an irrigant during the surgical removal of mandibular third molars in 105 patients, it resulted in notably lower pain scores after 2 days compared to a control group (4.57 ± 0.60 vs. 5.71 ± 0.45). Sodium hypochlorite is excellent for root canal disinfection, as irrigating with 1% NaOCl completely eliminated the bacteria from canals in 65% patients. A 0.05% CPC mouthwash proved effective for perioperative patient care, significantly decreasing gingival bleeding (p < 0.001) and suppressing Streptococcus levels even one week post-surgery. Lastly, a 6% H2O2 paint-on varnish and 6% H2O2 tray formulations successfully bleached the teeth of 40 patients, maintaining a noticeably whiter appearance up to the 6-month follow-up, with significant color differences from the baseline (p < 0.005). Synthetic compounds have a large research base, which also provides a greater awareness of their mechanism of action and potential adverse effects. For a better understanding of how they work, several methods and assays are performed. These are protocolary techniques through which a compound's efficacy and toxicity are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Food waste (FW) in Romania is 70 Kg/capita/year, while 70% of food waste comes from public catering, retail services, and households (over 50%–47 million tons). The present study investigates the socio-demographic factors, behaviors, motivations, and attitudes related to food waste management in Romanian households. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using an online questionnaire via the Google Forms platform from 15 April 2023 to 15 May 2023. The questionnaire was designed to assess various aspects, such as some socio-demographic information (age, sex, occupation, area of residence, study level, household members number, children <18 years of age); the personal involvement and frequency of food purchases and homemade food cooking; the main sources that generate food waste; the motivation and frequency with which food waste occurs; the level of awareness regarding the impact of food waste; the respondents' intentions regarding sustainable behaviors and practices for food management; the level of information and familiarity of the respondents with the notions of validity and how these may influence their food consumption decisions. (3) Results: The results show that FW incidence is occasionally (42%), very rarely (43.33%), frequently (15%), and no food waste was reported by 2.66% of respondents. The 35–44 age category records the highest FW frequency, followed by 18–24. The most wasted are homemade food (29.67%), bread and bakery products (27.00%), and fruits and vegetables (14.33%). High involvement in purchasing and buying food following a previously established list reduces FW frequency. The same is valid for high daily involvement in food and homemade cooking. High interest in the FW problem and its perception as a waste of money leads to diminishing it, while guilty feelings increase the FW level (37.50% to 73.33%). (4) Conclusions: The present study shows that household food waste management is a multifactorial process that involves numerous socio-demographic, behavioral, and emotional aspects. Extensive data analysis supports our results, revealing deep self-reported information details and confirming its complex approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In financial computation, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have emerged as a transformative technology, particularly in the domain of option pricing. This study presents the impact of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) on computational methods in finance, with an emphasis on option pricing. Our review examined 99 selected studies from an initial pool of 131, revealing how FPGAs substantially enhance both the speed and energy efficiency of various financial models, particularly Black–Scholes and Monte Carlo simulations. Notably, the performance gains—ranging from 270- to 5400-times faster than conventional CPU implementations—are highly dependent on the specific option pricing model employed. These findings illustrate FPGAs' capability to efficiently process complex financial computations while consuming less energy. Despite these benefits, this paper highlights persistent challenges in FPGA design optimization and programming complexity. This study not only emphasises the potential of FPGAs to further innovate financial computing but also outlines the critical areas for future research to overcome existing barriers and fully leverage FPGA technology in future financial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glass is currently considered a material with a high biocompatibility and has been used both in the field of bone regeneration and in the preparation of cosmetic products with the controlled release of active compounds. The present work involved a study on the synthesis of bioglass using the sol–gel process. The study aims to evaluate the influence of the treatment of bioglass with Polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG 4000) on its main characteristics. The surface characteristics of this material were obtained by nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, using the standard BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) equation, the crystallinity by XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis, the surface structure by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), thermal stability by TGA (ThermoGravimetric Analyses), and chemical bonds changes by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy. After treatment with PEG 4000, the average diameter of the pores increased insignificantly, the crystallinity peak disappeared, and the SEM analysis highlighted several clusters of very small sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the impact of the encapsulation of sea buckthorn and grape pomace extracts in liposomal formulations on the retention and release of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant activity. The profile and composition of lipophilic extracts of sea buckthorn and hydrophilic extracts of grape pomace were analyzed. Encapsulation efficiency, retention rate, and the content of bioactive compounds encapsulated in liposomal formulations prepared in two media—water and ethanol—were evaluated. The encapsulation efficiency varied between 84 and 90%, indicating the superior encapsulation of the bioactive compounds. The retention rate varied between 79 and 86%, which indicated the stability of the liposome-encapsulated compounds over time. The antioxidant activity of the encapsulated samples was determined in vitro, under the conditions of gastric (pH 1.8) and intestinal (pH 8.2) digestion, in relation to the non-encapsulated extracts. The antioxidant activity of both liposomal formulations was higher than that of the nonencapsulated extracts during gastric digestion. Moreover, an increase over time in the antioxidant activity, expressed as % DPPH inhibition, was observed for all samples, with around 90% DPPH inhibition for non-encapsulated extracts and 92% for the encapsulated extracts, demonstrating the stability of bioactive compounds in acidic pH. Oppositely, when exposed to intestinal simulated digestion (alkaline pH), the antioxidant activity decreased over time to around 24% DPPH inhibition for both encapsulated and nonencapsulated extracts. These results provide a foundation for the further development and application of liposomal delivery systems in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xerosis cutis represents one of the most common dermatological diagnoses, which, when untreated, can be the trigger for open wounds, infections, and other skin diseases. Plant extracts are a valuable option for long-term treatments for xerosis due to their phytocompounds, especially polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenes, and polysaccharides, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, moisturizing, and reparatory effects. Active substances have different mechanisms; therefore, evaluating the effects on the cells can be a key indicator, providing valuable information in terms of both cytotoxicity and efficacy. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity tests performed for Betulae extractum, Liquiritiae extractum, and Avenae extractum highlighted potential toxic effects at higher concentrations in a dose-dependent relationship, but at lower levels they can be considered safe (12.5 µg/mL for birch and licorice extracts, 50 µg/mL for oat extract). Concerning the re-epithelialization process, the results revealed that all three dry extracts effectively stimulate skin cell migration, highlighting a potential anti-inflammatory effect by increasing the cell migration rate in conditions of induced inflammation associated with oxidative stress. Among the tested concentrations with a potential contribution to wound healing, the following standout: are birch bark extract 3 μg/mL, licorice root extract 7.5 µg/mL, and oat herb (harvested before flowering) extract 7.5 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective design of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems requires accurate meteorological data for solar irradiance, ambient temperature, and wind speed. In this study, we aim to assess the reliability of satellite-based solar resource databases such as NASA, Solcast, and PVGIS by comparing them with ground-based measurements of global horizontal irradiance (GHI) from six locations in the Republic of Ireland. We compared satellite- and ground-based GHI data recorded between 2011 and 2012 and used Python-based packages to simulate solar power output for the six locations using both data types. The simulated outputs were then compared against metered power output from PV arrays at the sites. Ground-based GHI measurements demonstrate superior accuracy due to their acquisition at specific locations, offering increased spatial representativity. On the other hand, satellite GHI measurements, although reasonably accurate for many applications, cover broader regions with lower spatial resolution, leading to averaging effects that may not fully capture localized variations. This difference is reflected in the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values, with ground-simulated data showing low MAPE values, indicating strong alignment with reference observations, while satellite-simulated data exhibit a slightly higher MAPE, suggesting less precise estimates despite a strong correlation with ground-based measurements. This study demonstrates the relative reliability of satellite- and ground-based GHI data for accurate solar PV system design, emphasizing the practical implications for energy planners and engineers, and providing a strong enhancement for researchers working on forecasting solar energy yields using satellite databases. The Python-based PVLib package was utilized for the simulation, offering a robust framework for modeling and analyzing solar power systems, and its effectiveness in this context is discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronaviruses are widespread in mammals and birds, causing mostly digestive and respiratory problems. In cats, feline coronaviruses undergo mutations while replicating, giving rise to the fatal coronavirus causing the feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) disease. Several mutations in viral genes, among them 3c and M, are involved in the development of FIP. In order to study these viral shifts, samples of 43 organs, feces, and ascites collected from cats showing clinical signs of feline infectious peritonitis were tested, and the sequences obtained for the 3c and M genes were analyzed. The 3c gene nucleotides showed truncations commonly observed in feline infectious peritonitis virus. Additionally, the sequences corresponding to the 3c genes obtained from different organs of the same individual displayed high similarities, supporting the internal mutation theory. The analyses of the M gene and putative polypeptides showed similarities with canine coronaviruses, supporting the recombination theory between feline and canine coronaviruses. Infectious coronaviral strains are still challenging because of the difficulty in obtaining an effective vaccine for their prevention, and also because of the limited alternatives for therapy of FIP in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk factors of hospitalized COVID-19 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) overlap. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of post-COVID-19 OSA in hospitalized adult patients from southeastern Romania. A follow-up study was conducted on patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at the Pneumology Hospital in Galati, Romania, between 2021 and 2022. OSA was evaluated using the Epworth and STOP-BANG questionnaires and nocturnal polygraphy monitoring. Out of 331 patients, 257 were evaluated for sleep apnea in the 12th week. The prevalence of severe OSA was 57.97%. Significant associations were found with male gender, an age over 60, obesity, and cardiovascular co-morbidities. Non-invasive ventilatory therapy (NIV) and a hygienic–dietary regimen were recommended based on severity following a control visit after a month. Developing strategies for diagnosing and monitoring sleep disorders, including home sleep apnea tests and patient education, are the next directions for post-COVID-19 management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural compounds have been used since the earliest civilizations and remain, to this day, a safer alternative for treating various dental problems. These present antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and antimutagenic effects, making them useful in the prophylactic and curative treatment of various oral diseases such as infections, gingivitis, periodontitis, and even cancer. Due to the high incidence of unpleasant adverse reactions to synthetic compounds, natural products tend to gradually replace conventional treatment, as they can be just as potent and cause fewer, milder adverse effects. Researchers use several methods to measure the effectiveness and safety profile of these compounds, and employing standard techniques also contributes to progress across all medical disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, transformers, initially developed for language, have been successfully applied to visual tasks. Vision transformers have been shown to push the state of the art in a wide range of tasks, including image classification, object detection, and semantic segmentation. While ample research has shown promising results in art attribution and art authentication tasks using convolutional neural networks, this paper examines whether the superiority of vision transformers extends to art authentication, improving, thus, the reliability of computer-based authentication of artworks. Using a carefully compiled dataset of authentic paintings by Vincent van Gogh and two contrast datasets, we compare the art authentication performances of Swin transformers with those of EfficientNet. Using a standard contrast set containing imitations and proxies (works by painters with styles closely related to van Gogh), we find that EfficientNet achieves the best performance overall. With a contrast set that only consists of imitations, we find the Swin transformer to be superior to EfficientNet by achieving an authentication accuracy of over 85%. These results lead us to conclude that vision transformers represent a strong and promising contender in art authentication, particularly in enhancing the computer-based ability to detect artistic imitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is a textile material frequently used in the medical system. The possibility of using natural extracts for coloring biotextiles is a current way of giving sustainability attributes to articles used in medicine. The influence of five different classical mordants and biomordants (citric acid, tannic acid, ferrous sulfate II, copper sulfate and ferrous sulfate with oxalic acid), by meta-mordanting and dyeing by exhaustion and sonication methods with Rhus typhina L. fruit extract, was evaluated. The investigation was carried out by measuring the chromatic coordinates, water and dry rubbing resistance, as well as measuring the FT-IR absorption spectra. The mixture between ferrous sulfate and 4% oxalic acid produced, according to the ATRFTIR analysis, the greatest changes in the cotton structure, but significantly reduces the color changes resulting from the simple use of sulfate. The promising obtained results such as low color changes when using biomordants, good resistance to water and friction, encourage to continue the research regarding the application of this extract in the friendly technology of cotton dyeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy is an essential diagnostics method that can increase the accuracy of the differential diagnosis between acute and chronic nephropathies. In addition, it will help clinicians perform an etiologic diagnosis, issue a prognosis, and orient therapy for the majority of parenchymal nephropathies. Due to the relative invasiveness and potential adverse effects, the use of kidney biopsies is limited among practitioners. Results: Twenty-eight dogs, of mixed breed and variable ages, of which 11 (39, 29%) were males and 17 (60, 71%) were females, were examined and underwent an ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy to establish a definitive diagnosis. The patients were presented with a variety of diffuse nephropathies, such as kidney lymphoma: 1 (3.57%), glomerulonephritis: 13 (46.43%), tubulointerstitial nephritis: 11 (39.29%), and nephrocalcinosis. A total of 3 (10.71%) of 18 (64.29%) were in acute kidney injury, and 10 (35.71%) were CKD patients. The type and the severity of the kidney lesions were correlated with changes in the urinary n-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase index (iNAG. To quantify the side effects of percutaneous kidney biopsy, the magnitude of post-biopsy hematuria and changes in urinary iNAG activity were evaluated. The results indicate a significant post-biopsy increase in the urinary iNAG activity in all the patients that underwent this procedure (100.08 ± 34.45 U/g), with a pre-biopsy iNAG vs. 147.65 ± 33.26 U/g post-biopsy iNAG (p < 0.001), suggesting an intensification in the kidney tubular damage that comes consecutives to kidney puncture and sampling. Transitory macro- or microhematuria were constant findings in all the dogs that underwent ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy, but the magnitude and extent could not be associated with the platelet count (PLT 109/L), aPTT (s), and PT (s) levels in our patients, and they were also resolved after 12–24 h without therapeutic interventions. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided renal biopsy was shown to be a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that causes transient and limited effects on kidney structures. Although these effects were minor and resolved without intervention, we feel that the benefit of obtaining higher-quality biopsied tissue outweighs the higher risks associated with this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease (SOS/VOD) is a rare liver vascular condition, potentially life-threatening, with clinical signs of portal hypertension, frequently reported in relation to bone marrow transplantation and possibly in non-transplantation-related chemotherapy. We report the case of a 65-year-old female patient who insidiously developed fatigue, mild tenderness of the right upper abdominal quadrant, hepato-splenomegaly and slight weight gain consecutive to ascites development, as well as persistent elevation of transaminases and mild thrombocytopenia. To note, she had a previous history of colorectal cancer (CRC) with liver metastases and several courses of chemotherapy. Abdominal duplex and elastography measurements made the diagnosis of cirrhosis improbable. A lot of lab work-ups were performed in order to rule out several diseases and conditions. Further, transjugular access was used to perform the measurement of the hepatic venous pressure gradient and liver biopsy that confirmed SOS/VOD. In late 2023, she was diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma, requiring chemotherapy again. At present, the liver condition is stationary, but the prognosis is, however, uncertain. In conclusion, we presented the atypical case of a female patient who developed portal hypertension syndrome associated with the late onset of SOS/VOD, after 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin chemotherapy for CRC and liver metastases, subsequently diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma, which posed many diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Given the potentially bad outcome, an early diagnosis of SOS/VOD in patients receiving drugs of risk is important not only to stratify further risk, but also to initiate an appropriate therapy in order to improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test guides dentists in the suspicion of inflammatory reactions or infections of the dental focus. In 1981, Kondi mentioned that any delay after blood sampling for the purpose of determining the ESR can lead to a false shortening of the result. The literature indicates that failure to determine within 1 hour and remixing of blood are not recommended. The objectives of our study were to verify the stability of the determinations within 4 hours after storage at room temperature and after 12 hours of refrigeration, involving also the remixing manoeuvre. Materials and Methods:The study was performed in the “St. SpiridonˮHospital of Iași, Romania, on 75 samples, taking also into account the rejected samples presenting source of error. Results: The study showed that 4 (5.33%) samples had an inadequate volume, 3 (4%) showed erythrocyte and fibrin in suspension, preventing the interpretation of the result, whereas the clot was identified in 4 (5.33%) samples. Following 4 hours after the first determination, respectively after 12 hours of refrigeration, rebalancing at room temperature and remixing, forout of the 64 (85.33%) determinations the results were comparable showing a close correlation (r = 0.988 / 0.993 / 0.990, p <0.001) with the first determination. Conclusions: The study showed that performing the test 4 hours after sampling, refrigerating and remixing the sample does not influence the stability of the determination, so that, also in the case of dental patients, the moment of sampling and the time elapsed until the determination of the test, do not influence the therapeutic conduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombocytopenia represents one of the most frequent causes of addressability for a hematological consultation. The purpose of the study is to establish a correlation between the degree of thrombocytopenia and the appearance of the mucocutaneous bleeding, with a therapeutic purpose. Materials and method: Our study is a retrospective observational study and was carried out on a group of 100 patients who were referred to the Hematology Clinic of Sp. St. Spiridon, Iași for a period of 12 months and who presented with isolated thrombocytopenia on admission. Other coagulopathy evolving with thrombocytopenia were excluded. To establish the correlation between the decrease in the number of platelets and the appearance of the hemorrhagic skin-mucosal syndrome, statistical methods were used - F Test - Two sample for Variance. Results and discussions: Thrombocytopenia was defined as the value of platelets below 150,000\mmc. 5 grades of thrombocytopenia were established: grade I (TR=150,000-100,000/mmc), grade II (TR= 100,000-50,000/mmc), grade III (TR=50,000-20,000/mmc), grade IV (TR= 20,000 -10,000/mmc), grade V (TR below 10,000/mmc)40% of the patients included in the study presented thrombocytopenia gr. I, 24% - grade II, 15% - grade III, 6% - grade IV and 15% presented severe thrombocytopenia (grade V). The mucocutaneous bleeding was manifested by: petechiae and ecchymosis, epistaxis, bleeding in the oral cavity (gingival bleeding, hemorrhagic bullae), menometrorrhagia, hematuria, melena. There is a statistical correlation between the number of platelets and the occurrence of mucocutaneous bleeding: p=0.000121 (p less than 0.001). The first clinical manifestations of the mucocutaneous bleeding appeared at the value of 70,000/mmc. No statistical correlation was obtained between the age of the patients and the number of platelets (p=0.0352). Conclusions: The occurrence of mucocutaneous bleeding is directly related to the decrease in the number of platelets. The oral cavity usually is involved in bleeding caused by the decrease in the number of platelets and requires a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study Eugenol, a phenolic compound commonly found in plants like clove and bay leaves, has garnered significant attention in the field of dentistry due to its diverse pharmacological properties. In dentistry, eugenol is frequently employed in various forms, such as in polymerized cement with zinc oxide for restorative purposes. Its applications extend to endodontic cements like zinc oxide-eugenol formulations, which are commonly used in dental procedures. So far, according to our knowledge, no study in the literature has approached formulations based on iron oxide nanoparticles and eugenol, this study being the first. Materials and methods In the present study, it was developed for the first time a formulation based on iron oxide nanoparticles obtained through the combustion method, embedded on its surface with eugenol. The prepared formulation was characterized through electron microscopy investigations, followed by further in vitro evaluation as concerned with their biosafety use on a healthy murine epidermal cell line. Results The results obtained showed that the naked iron oxide nanoparticles are biocompatible and safe to use on the healthy murine epidermal cell line, while the eugenol compound exhibits a dose-dependent cytotoxicity reaching until a value of ~17% at the highest tested dose (100 μg/mL). In addition, the cytotoxicity of eugenol decreased when this was embedded on the iron oxide nanoparticles surface, recording a value of 11% at the highest concentration tested. Conclusions In conclusion, the in vitro studies on such type of formulation in dentistry and dental medicine highlight their multifaceted applications of iron oxide nanoparticles as well as eugenol, emphasizing their potential for advancing dental treatments and diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate whether state health insurance parity laws adopted in the 1990s and 2000s for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment reduce traffic fatalities in the United States. Impaired driving is a major contributing factor to US traffic fatalities. State health insurance parity laws compel private insurers to cover SUD treatment more generously—on par with physical health services. We employ 21 years of administrative data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System. We estimate both two-way fixed-effects regressions and an interaction-weighted estimator that is robust to potential bias attributable to heterogenous and dynamic treatment effects with staggered policy adoption. Our findings indicate that state parity law passage reduces overall traffic fatality rates by 2.8 percent, with larger effects for fatalities that involve alcohol. These findings suggest that state regulations requiring private insurers to equitably cover SUD treatment can improve traffic safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted an epidemiological non-interventional cross-sectional and case-control study from 1 January 2023 until 26 May 2023 in Oltenia region, southwestern Romania. Throughout the research, 160 consecutive patients were included from two different clinical departments (1—Pneumology; 2—Diabetes and Nutritional Diseases). Subjects were voluntary adult individuals of any gender who expressed their written consent. The clinical data of the patients were correlated with the exposure to behavioral risk factors (diet, lifestyle, exposure to pollutants) to identify some negative implications that could be corrected to improve the quality of life of patients with simple chronic obstructive airway diseases of the lung or associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). In the first group of patients with respiratory diseases, there was a higher degree of exposure to toxic substances (43.75%) compared to the second group of patients with diabetes (18.75%); it is also noticeable that in the first group, there were noticeably fewer individuals who have never smoked (25%) compared to the second group (50%). Respiratory function impairment was observed to be more severe in overweight individuals. In the group of patients with known lung diseases, a positive correlation was noted between the presence of MS and respiratory dysfunctions of greater severity. Additionally, potential exacerbating factors affecting lung function, such as direct exposure to toxins and smoking, were considered. Potential secondary factors exacerbating respiratory dysfunction were considered by correlating biochemical parameters with dietary habits. These included reduced consumption of vegetables, inadequate hydration, and increased intake of sweets and products high in saturated or trans fats (commonly found in junk food), primarily due to their potential contribution to excess weight. Compared to patients without MS, the severity of the pulmonary function impairment correlated with the number of criteria met for MS and, independently, with an increase in weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The current paper summarizes the health status correlated with physical fitness of students from the University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and technology "George Emil Palade" from Targu Mures. A total of 301 university students aged between 18-24 years old voluntarily participated in the research. Health status and physical fitness level were investigated based on (1) anthropometric measurements (height, waist girth and hip girth); (2) bioelectrical impedance (body mass index, weight and body fat percentage); (3) fitness level (30m running speed, standing long jump, sit up, trunk extension). The data were processed with SPSS 22.0 for windows. Descriptive statistics, Independent Samples T Test and bivariate correlations were performed. Findings demonstrate normal limits in terms of BDI for 71.79% and 61.79% normal limits for body fat percentage according to age. Additionally, it was found associations between health indicators and physical fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical compounds, such as the CS gas employed in military operations, have a number of characteristics that impact the ecosystem by upsetting its natural balance. In this work, the toxicity limit and microorganism's reaction to the oxidative stress induced by O-chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile, a chemical found in CS gas, were assessed in relation to the green algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. A number of parameters, including the cell growth curve, the percent inhibition in yield, the dry cell weight, the percentage viability and productivity of algal biomass flocculation activity, and the change in oxygen production, were analyzed in order to comprehend the toxicological mechanisms of O-chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile on algal culture. Using fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the content of chlorophyll pigments was determined. The values obtained for pH during the adaptation period of the C. pyrenoidosa culture were between 6.0 and 6.8, O2 had values between 6.5 and 7.0 mg/L, and the conductivity was 165–210 µS/cm. For the 20 µg/mL O-chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile concentration, the cell viability percentage was over 97.4%, and for the 150 µg/mL O-chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile concentration was 74%. The ECb50 value for C. pyrenoidosa was determined from the slope of the calibration curve; it was estimated by extrapolation to the value of 298.24 µg/mL. With the help of this study, basic information on the toxicity of O-chlorobenzylidenemalonitrile to aquatic creatures will be available, which will serve as a foundation for evaluating the possible effects on aquatic ecosystems. The management of the decontamination of the impacted areas could take the results into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

In this paper, we give some characterizations of a special class of fractional-type set-valued functions in terms of convexity-preserving properties of sets by direct and inverse images. We begin by generalizing the so-called ratios of affine functions, initially introduced by Rothblum, to set-valued functions by using an affinity concept introduced in the literature by Gorokhovik. Next, we investigate some convexity properties for general fractional-type set-valued functions and provide a series of convexity-preserving results of sets under set-valued ratios of affine functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misophonia is a neurophysiological disorder with behavioral implications, is complex and multifactorial in origin, and is characterized by an atypical and disproportionate emotional response to specific sounds or associated visual stimuli. Triggers include human-generated sounds, mainly sounds related to feeding and breathing processes, and repetitive mechanical sounds. In response to the triggering stimulus, the patient experiences immediate, high-intensity, disproportionate physical and emotional reactions that affect their quality of life and social functioning. The symptoms of misophonia can occur at any age, but onset in childhood or adolescence is most common. Affected children live in a constant state of anxiety, suffer continuous physical and emotional discomfort, and are thus exposed to significant chronic stress. Chronic stress, especially during childhood, has consequences on the main biological systems through the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, including the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we provide arguments for a positive correlation between misophonic pathology and gastrointestinal symptoms, and this hypothesis may be the starting point for further longitudinal studies that could investigate the correlations between these childhood vulnerabilities caused by misophonia and their effect on the gastrointestinal system. Further research to study this hypothesis is essential to ensure correct and timely diagnosis and optimal psychological and pharmacological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Colorectal cancer is a major global health concern, with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rates associated with metastatic stages. This study investigates the prognostic significance of various clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with metastatic CRC. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of 188 CRC patients with hepatic metastasis from the OncoHelp Association in Timisoara was analyzed from January 2016 to March 2023. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and biomarkers, such as lymphocyte counts, as well as various inflammation indices, were examined. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and ROC curve assessments. Results: Our findings indicate significant associations between survival outcomes and several biomarkers. Higher BMI and lymphocyte counts were linked with better survival rates, while higher values of Neutrophil-Hemoglobin-Lymphocyte (NHL) score, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) were predictors of poorer outcomes. Notably, the presence of hepatic metastasis at diagnosis was a critical factor, significantly reducing overall survival. Conclusions: The study has expanded the current understanding of prognostic factors in CRC, advocating for a multi-dimensional approach to prognostic evaluations. This approach should consider not only the traditional metrics such as tumor stage and histological grading but also incorporate a broader spectrum of biomarkers. Future studies should aim to validate these findings and explore the integration of these biomarkers into routine clinical practice, enhancing the precision of prognostic assessments and ultimately guiding more personalized treatment strategies for CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies indicate that human spleen contains over 95% of the total parasite biomass during chronic asymptomatic infections caused by Plasmodium vivax. Previous studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from infected reticulocytes facilitate binding to human spleen fibroblasts (hSFs) and identified parasite genes whose expression was dependent on an intact spleen. Here, we characterize the P. vivax spleen-dependent hypothetical gene (PVX_114580). Using CRISPR/Cas9, PVX_114580 was integrated into P. falciparum 3D7 genome and expressed during asexual stages. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that the protein, which we named P. vivax Spleen-Dependent Protein 1 (PvSDP1), was located at the surface of infected red blood cells in the transgenic line and this localization was later confirmed in natural infections. Plasma-derived EVs fromP. vivax-infected individuals (PvEVs) significantly increased cytoadherence of 3D7_PvSDP1 transgenic line to hSFs and this binding was inhibited by anti-PvSDP1 antibodies. Single-cell RNAseq of PvEVs-treated hSFs revealed increased expression of adhesion-related genes. These findings demonstrate the importance of parasite spleen-dependent genes and EVs from natural infections in the formation of intrasplenic niches in P. vivax, a major challenge formalaria elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the cement concrete manufacturing industry, mixers are critical pieces of equipment that play an essential role. Mixers ensure, by mechanically mixing the materials that make up the concrete, the homogeneity of the mixture. Since the active elements of the mixer in the concrete industry—the mixing blades—come into permanent contact with the mineral aggregates in the mixture formed by water and cement, they are permanently subjected to a strong abrasive–erosive wear process. The authors of this article were concerned with the establishment of tribological models for studying the wear of mixing blades, in order to identify the influence of their constructive parameters on the wear intensity. A complex model (Kraghelsky–Nepomnyashchi model) was adopted for the study. The modeling results revealed that the wear intensity decreases with an increasing blade angle of attack and increases linearly with increasing speed, as well as with an increasing friction coefficient. The modeling results confirm that the wear intensity is lowest when the mixing blade is inclined at a 60° angle, while the highest value is recorded for 30°. By identifying the angle at which the greatest wear of blades occurs, interventions can be made in the design of a more durable mixer (with the optimal installation angle of the mixer blades), thus requiring fewer corrective maintenance interventions. Based on these findings, we conclude that the complex model used in the experiment can provide a convenient and efficient tool for the study of erosive–abrasive phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]