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Burnishing is a cold processing process that produces a good quality of the surface by the planetary motion of rolls hardened on turned or perforated surfaces. The result is a mirror surface with high wear and corrosion resistance, the surface of the part depends on several factors such as: ductility of the material, tensile strength, roughness of the workpiece surface before rolling, diameter and shape of the rollers (https://sinotech.com/resources/). Burnishing is the most suitable process to improve the fatigue resistance of dynamically requested parts. Because cold rolling does not remove material, then only the surface roughness rolls, influences the obtained roughness. That is why the roughness of the rolls will be equal to the roughness of the part. The cold rolling finishing method does not require the use of special machines, they can be used existing machines in the production sections such as: milling machines, lathes, drilling machines, lathes with numerical control (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/).

The presence of nitrate concentration in drinking water can cause high toxicity to the human body, being considered among the most important pollutant in the environment. Among the many methods available such as biological treatment, electrodialysis, reverse osmosis, adsorption, ion exchange, adsorption is the most used technique due to its low cost and simplistic design. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to study the retention of nitrate anion from high concentration aqueous solutions on a novel magnetic adsorbent obtained by pyrolysis of de-oiled microalgal biomass. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by textural analysis (specific surface area, pore volume, average pore diameter, pore size distribution), FT-IR and TGA techniques. The influence of nitrate concentration, pH, retention time and adsorbent mass were evaluated. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to three isotherms, namely Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin. The equilibrium isotherms indicate a pH-dependent behavior, characterized by Temkin model at pH=7 and Freundlich model at pH = 9, respectively. In order to estimate the nitrate removal efficiency multiple linear regressions and artificial neural networks were investigated.

The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze, both experimentally and theoretically, the mechanical behavior of two types of composite materials used in restoring dental integrity. The samples of each composite resin, namely Filtek Supreme XT (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA) and Filtek Z250 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA), were experimentally analyzed by determining their compressive strength and fracture behavior. The fractured fragments of the samples were subjected to surface evaluation by scanning electron microscopy. The compressive stress—compressive strain dependencies revealed stronger cracking of the Filtek Supreme XT composite than Filtek Z250 prior to fracture. Theoretically, the evaluation was made by means of holographic implementations of such types of composite materials. A Hooke-type equation in a differential form is presented, which links the proposed theoretical model with the experimentally obtained data.

The aim of this research is to understand the plasma initiation process generated by metallic wires when interacting with high energy density microwaves. Lead (Pb) and molybdenum (Mo) wires of 0.5 mm diameter were investigated in this experiment. The tip of the metallic wire was placed into the nodal point of a waveguide cavity attached to a microwave generator, where it was exposed to the high energy density of the microwave field. Following the interaction between microwaves and the metallic wire, a plasma was initiated having as effect the wire vaporization. The experiments were conducted in atmospheric air at ∼1 bar pressure. From optical emission spectroscopy investigations it was observed that electronic excitation of the plasma has high values and it is in a local thermal equilibrium. The theoretical calculation of the voltages induced in the metallic wires when exposed to high energy density microwave field are similar to those measured in air breakdown experiments. The scanning electron microscopy analysis of the tips of the metallic wires showed that the field emission process is responsible for the ignition of the metallic wires and plasma generation.

Background: A bidirectional kidney–gut axis was described in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). On the one hand, gut dysbiosis could promote CKD progression, but on the other hand, studies reported specific gut microbiota alterations linked to CKD. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the literature on gut microbiota composition in CKD patients, including those with advanced CKD stages and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), possibilities to shift gut microbiota, and its impact on clinical outcomes. Materials and methods: We performed a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases to find eligible studies using pre-specified keywords. Additionally, key inclusion and exclusion criteria were pre-defined to guide the eligibility assessment. Results: We retrieved 69 eligible studies which met all inclusion criteria and were analyzed in the present systematic review. Microbiota diversity was decreased in CKD patients as compared to healthy individuals. Ruminococcus and Roseburia had good power to discriminate between CKD patients and healthy controls (AUC = 0.771 and AUC = 0.803, respectively). Roseburia abundance was consistently decreased in CKD patients, especially in those with ESKD (p < 0.001). A model based on 25 microbiota dissimilarities had an excellent predictive power for diabetic nephropathy (AUC = 0.972). Several microbiota patterns were observed in deceased ESKD patients as compared to the survivor group (increased Lactobacillus, Yersinia, and decreased Bacteroides and Phascolarctobacterium levels). Additionally, gut dysbiosis was associated with peritonitis and enhanced inflammatory activity. In addition, some studies documented a beneficial effect on gut flora composition attributed to synbiotic and probiotic therapies. Large randomized clinical trials are required to investigate the impact of different microbiota modulation strategies on gut microflora composition and subsequent clinical outcomes. Conclusions: Patients with CKD had an altered gut microbiome profile, even at early disease stages. Different abundance at genera and species levels could be used in clinical models to discriminate between healthy individuals and patients with CKD. ESKD patients with an increased mortality risk could be identified through gut microbiota analysis. Modulation therapy studies are warranted.

R is a free licensed programming language which presents a big interest as a tool for bioinformatics data analysis. It is essential in research activities related to the analysis of molecular-biological data and the identification of molecular markers. In this article we describe two simple techniquesof using FASTA type sequences and genomic data for the research of genetic markers. In order to apply the functions described below it is necessary to have installed the R language, the seqRFLP&Maftoolspackages, and optionally - the Integrated Development Environment Rstudio.

Reversing the concept of the Romanian medical system in terms of approaching patients with tuberculosis (TB) and removing them from a hospital-centred system into a more friendly outpatient system, closer to their needs, is one of its challenges. Preliminary data of this project show that through minimal and consistent investments the diagnosis, treatment and monitorisation can be made exclusively in the outpatient department for these patients.

Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a clinical term that describes erythema, desquamation and erosions of the gingiva, of various etiologies. Although the clinical aspect is not specific for a certain disease, an accurate diagnosis of the underlying disorder is necessary because the disease course, prognosis and treatment vary according to the cause. DG may inflict significant oral discomfort, which is why patients typically present to the dentist for a first consultation, rendering it important for these specialists to be informed about this condition. Our paper aims to review the ethiopatogenesis and diagnostic approach of DG, focusing on the most common underlying disorders (autoimmune bullous dermatoses and lichen planus) and on the management of these patients. Potential etiological agents leading to an inflammatory immune response in the oral mucosa and DG appearance include genetic predisposition, metabolic, neuropsychiatric, infectious factors, medication, dental materials, graft-versus-host reaction and autoimmunity. A thorough anamnesis, a careful clinical examination, paraclinical explorations including histopathological exam and direct immunofluorescence are necessary to formulate an appropriate diagnosis. Proper and prompt management of these patients lead to a better prognosis and improved quality of life, and must include management in the dental office with sanitizing the oral cavity, instructing the patient for rigorous oral hygiene, periodic follow-up for bacterial plaque detection and removal, as well as topical and systemic therapy depending on the underlying disorder, based on treatment algorithms. A multidisciplinary approach for the diagnosis and follow-up of DG in the context of pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, cicatricial pemhigoid or lichen planus is necessary, including consultations with dermatologists, oral medicine specialists and dentists.

Pathogenic variants in BRCA1 gene in heterozygous state are known to be associated with breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility; however, biallelic variants cause a phenotype recognised as Fanconi anaemia complementation group S. Due to its rarity, medical management and preventive screening measures are insufficiently understood. Here, we present nine individuals (one new and eight previously presented) with biallelic variants in BRCA1 gene, to delineate clinical features in comparison with other chromosome instability syndromes and understand the patients’ health risk. Features seen in these 9 individuals (7 females/2 males) include prenatal and postnatal growth failure (9/9), microcephaly (9/9), hypo/hyperpigmented lesions (9/9), facial dysmorphism (9/9), mild developmental delay (8/9) and early-onset solid tumours (5/9). None presented bone marrow failure or immunodeficiency. Individuals with biallelic variants in BRCA1 also showed chromosomal instability by mitomycin and diepoxybutane test. The phenotype caused by biallelic BRCA1 variants is best framed between Fanconi anaemia and Nijmegen syndrome, yet distinct due to lack of bone marrow failure and immunodeficiency. We hypothesise that disease class should be reframed and medical management in people with biallelic variants in BRCA1 should emphasise on detection of solid tumour development and avoiding exposure to ionising radiation.

Microdeletions and microduplications syndromes are a well defined group of disorders characterized by loss/ addition of less than 5 Mb of genetic material undetectable by simple karyotype and a particular phenotype. Our study presents the results of investigations of classical and molecular cytogenetic (FISH, Fluorescence in situ Hibridization) in 70 children showing different phenotypic manifestations, such as multiple congenital anomalies, dysmorphic appearance, mental retardation, obesity. After performing classical cytogenetic technique of the 70 cases, in four girls there were diagnosed two visible structural chromosomal abnormalities: DiGeorge syndrome, Distal 18q Deletion syndrome, 15q Duplication syndrome, izocromosome Xq and one boy with 11q24-qter deletion and 38 numerical aberrations were identified: 33 cases of trisomy 21, two cases of monosomy X, two cases of poly Y syndrome and one double aneuploidy, trisomy 21 and poly Y. Using FISH (Fluorescence in situ Hibridization) technique in all the 32 cases, another 5 cases were diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, one with the following: Angelman syndrome, Williams syndrome and 15q Duplication Syndrome, two DiGeorge syndrome, one Jacobsen syndrome, 11q 23-qter deletion and one double aneuploidy. In our study, the efficacy of the classical cytogenetic technique in confirmation of the cases suspected by chromosome abnormality was 61.4% and the FISH technique, was 37,5%.In our study, using both methods of diagnosis, we obtained confirmation of the genetic etiology in only 72.85% of the cases.

Cadmium (Cd) is not considered a fundamental element for plants inducing general growth disturbances and inhibition in many species of plants. The purpose of our research was to examine the ethylene (C

Sutures are classified into non-absorbable and absorbable, and mechanical properties of these materials vary by the composition. In this study we analyze four different types of sutures used commonly in surgery: silk, nylon, polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The materials were chosen to represent a wide range of suture material categories: absorbable and nonresorbable, monofilament and multifilament, natural and synthetic in order to assess their mechanical properties but also the bacterial adherence to each type. The objective of this study was to measure the total bacterial adherence by using real time PCR at 7 days postop and to analyze the antibacterial and mechanical properties comparatively depending on the type and composition of sutures. Tensile properties such as maximum tensile load, elongation rate, stiffness and energy absorbed before breakage were taken into consideration. Experimental determination pointed out that the average total bacterial load was lowest for PTFE and highest for silk. The results of the study are useful in choosing an appropriate suture wire according to the mechanical properties taking into account the bacterial load of the surgical site in order to aid in tissue repair.

In this study we evaluated the composition of seven high risk periodontitis species of microorganisms in the oral microbiome of patients with different forms of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The laboratory analyses were performed using the method of quantitative real-time amplification (qPCR) of 26 saliva and mouth swab samples collected from HNSCC patients. Laboratory data regarding the normal or pathological presence of studied species were integrated with patients clinical conditions and some lifestyle factors. The results show that the highest frequency of pathological concentration is in the case of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Tannerella forsythia, while the lowest frequency is observed for microorganisms Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Treponema denticola. &nbsp

Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath is non-invasive method and appears as a promising tool for metabolic monitoring. Diabetes is a complex syndrome, metabolic diseases that is characterized by hyperglycemia associated with major changes in lipids and proteins. The pathophysiology of the link between diabetes, hypertension, inflammatory syndrome and oxidative stress is complex. We conducted a study and applied quantitative analysis of exhaled ethylene and ammonia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and a healthy control group. For breath gas analysis, a very sensitive CO2 laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (CO2LPAS) was applied. The concentration of exhaled VOCs differed between T2DM patients and healthy group, in particular, T2DM patients exhaled significantly higher amounts of ethylene and ammonia compared to healthy control group. The data obtained by the CO2LPAS system revealing that the increased breath VOCs has a close relationship with high glucose levels and with healthy complications.

The article is based on a multinational study involving five countries (Romania, Portugal, Italy, North Macedonia, and Iceland) facing the return migration or remigration situation. Pupils (n = 1615), teachers (n = 370), future teachers (n = 166) and youth workers (n = 30) were questioned about various aspects regarding the subject. Among the matters, cultural needs appear to the most important. Based on the statistical analysis, the article describes the dynamics of the dependent variables, with highlighted interest on cultural needs. Psychological and social needs, cultural needs, and educational needs are discussed and link conclusions appear. Following the analysis, an intervention plan is built and tailored activities for teachers are proposed. Breaking stereotypes is a sensitive aspect of the intervention for the integration of remigrated children in the country of origin. The paper presents a possible intervention plan, with the elaborated activities and argues the elaborative process by calibrating each interference with the dynamics of the studied variables.

The single-pixel camera (SPC) is an application of computational imaging that uses the compressive sensing (CS) paradigm to perform image acquisition in the form of CS measurements. Multiple applications for the SPC emerged across research fields, in which the measurements are stored and distributed with the final purpose of reconstructing the original image. In this paper, we analyse a scenario in which a multi-bit reversible watermark is inserted in the measurement values, thus allowing only authorised users to reconstruct the image at its original quality. For other users, a low quality version of the image is still available. The inserted information consists of a set of encrypted measurement values. The results show that both the watermark capacity and quality of the reconstructions are affected by the number of bits used to represent the watermark and the type of matrix used for sampling.

Pemphigus represents a group of chronic inflammatory disorders characterized by autoantibodies that target components of desmosomes, leading to the loss of intercellular adhesion between keratinocytes and causing intraepithelial blistering. The pemphigus group consists of four main clinical types with several variants: pemphigus vulgaris (with pemphigus vegetans and pemphigus herpetiformis as variants), pemphigus foliaceus, paraneoplastic pemphigus and IgA pemphigus (with two clinical variants: intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis and subcorneal pustular dermatosis). Genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis, with HLA-DR4 (DRB1*0402) and HLA-DRw6 (DQB1*0503) allele more common in patients with pemphigus vulgaris, HLA class II DRB1*0344 and HLA Cw*1445 correlated with paraneoplastic pemphigus, and HLA-DRB1*04:01, HLA-DRB1*04:06, HLA-DRB1*01:01, HLA-DRB1*14, associated with a higher risk of developing pemphigus foliaceus. Autoantibodies are conducted against structural desmosomal proteins in the skin and mucous membranes, mainly desmogleins, desmocollins and plakins. Cell-mediated immunity may also play a role, especially in paraneoplastic pemphigus. Patients may present erythema, blisters, erosions, and ulcers that may affect the skin, as well as mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity, eyes, nose, leading to severe complaints including pain, dysphagia, and fetor. Oral mucosal postbullous erosive lesions are frequently the first sign of disease in pemphigus vulgaris and in paraneoplastic pemphigus, without skin involvement, making the diagnosis difficult. Treatment options classically include immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids and corticosteroid-sparing agents such as azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate or dapsone. Newer therapies focus on blocking cell signaling events induced by pathogenic autoantibodies and/or targeting specific autoantibodies. The disease evolution is conditioned by the treatment with maximum doses of corticosteroids and the side effects associated with long-term immunosuppressive therapy, which is why patients need a multidisciplinary approach in following the treatment. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical aspect, diagnosis and management of the main intraepidermal blistering diseases from the pemphigus group.

This paper presents the research regarding determination of kinetic model parameters from a catalytic cracking process. Starting from the Weekman kinetic model, the authors proposed a simplified version of this model and, based on experimental data form a catalytic cracking plant, they have numerical determined the coefficients of the new kinetic model. For this purpose, there were defined two objective functions; the first function is based on errors generated by estimation of the riser outlet temperature and the second function associated to the errors generated by the estimation of the gasoline yield. The minimization of the two objective functions has been solve by using Optimization Toolbox from MATLAB programming language. The results showed that the objective function that depends on gasoline yield allows more accurate estimation of the kinetic parameters from this model.

This paper presents the research regarding determination of kinetic model parameters from a catalytic cracking process. Starting from the Weekman kinetic model, the authors proposed a simplified version of this model and, based on experimental data form a catalytic cracking plant, they have numerical determined the coefficients of the new kinetic model. For this purpose, there were defined two objective functions; the first function is based on errors generated by estimation of the riser outlet temperature and the second function associated to the errors generated by the estimation of the gasoline yield. The minimization of the two objective functions has been solve by using Optimization Toolbox from MATLAB programming language. The results showed that the objective function that depends on gasoline yield allows more accurate estimation of the kinetic parameters from this model. Keywords: kinetic model, optimization, catalytic cracking

Inflammation is a reflex reaction of the body to the action of some harmful agents, a reaction that manifests itself as a complex of functional and structural modifications of a vasculo-tisular nature, this reaction has occurred in the process of evolution. The intensity of the inflammatory reaction depends on the reactive properties of the body, the location of the inflammatory process, the anatomo-physiological particularities of the damaged tissue, and the conditions in which the inflammation develops. As accurate as dental technique and the practitioner�s skill, if the specific conditions of each patient are not taken into account, the benefit medical cannot rise to a higher level, with the final result being compromised by complications with unpredictable risks. Actinomycosis is a specific infection with subacute or chronic evolution, common to humans or animals, caused by microorganisms of the actinomycete family. The location of the affection in the cervico-facial sphere is four times bigger than the rest of the body; the disease is manifested by rough nodules, red in the cheek or sub-maxillary region, fistulas and scars on which new lesions appear. In order to achieve the proposed objectives, we conducted a study on a representative human sample of 158 patients, from the Oral and Maxillofacial Clinic, between 1.01.2013-31.12.2017. Risk factors (gender, age, area, dental anxiety score), our findings are unlikely to define separately the potential for the risk of installing actinomycosis. The level of dental anxiety as well as the general status of the patient are the markers that require the greatest attention from the practitioner in order to prevent a dental problem.

The evolution of digital imaging since its early days has mostly been driven by hardware advancements. Computational imaging is a recent alternative to traditional imaging, that focuses on the use of digital processing algorithms.One notable example is the single pixel imaging and its recent developments in the area of lensless imaging. It uses image acquisition based on the compressive sensing (CS) theory, resulting in measurement data that use less storage space. However, it requires more computational resources in order to reconstruct the image and make it available for the end user.The CS theory also opens new research opportunities regarding the security of digital image processing, storage and distribution. This paper presents a privacy enabling architecture for a real-life scenario of image acquisition using the single pixel camera. A reversible watermark is inserted to the measurement data before storage and distribution.

Emerging multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a major global health challenge. The World Health Organization currently recommends treatment durations of 9–18 months or more for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. We identified and validated a host-RNA signature to serve as a biomarker for individualized therapy durations for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Adult patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled into 5 independent cohorts in Germany and Romania. Clinical and microbiological data, and whole-blood for RNA transcriptomic analysis were collected at pre-defined timepoints throughout therapy. Treatment outcomes were ascertained one year after end-of-therapy. A whole-blood RNA therapy end model was developed in a multi-step process involving a machine-learning algorithm to identify hypothetical individual end-of-treatment timepoints. Fifty patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis and 30 patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis were recruited in the German identification cohorts (DS- and MDR-GIC), 28 patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis and 32 patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the German validation cohorts (DS- and MDR-GVC), and 52 patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Romanian validation cohort (MDR-RVC). A 22-gene RNA model that defined cure-associated end-of-therapy timepoints was derived from the DS- and MDR-GIC data. The model accurately predicted clinical outcomes for patients in the DS-GVC (AUC=0.937 [95%CI:0.899–0.976]) and suggested that cure may be achieved with shorter treatment durations for tuberculosis patients in the MDR-GIC (mean reduction 218.0 days, 34.2%, pOne Sentence SummaryWe identified and validated a transcriptome model based on a 22-gene signature to predict individual treatment durations for patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Background and Aims In Europe, the share of the elderly (≥65 years of age) in the total population is estimated to increase from 19.2% in 2016 to 29.1% by 2080. In 2016, European Renal Best Practice (ERBP) group published a clinical practice guideline on management of older patients with CKD stage3b or higher (eGFR Method In this retrospective cohort study we included patients aged ≥65 years with CKD stage 3b-4, evaluated at the Outpatient Nephrology Department of Dr. C. I. Parhon Hospital from Iași, Romania, between October 2016 – October 2018. Individual risk for mortality was predicted using Bansal score, a nine-variable equation model. A total score of 7 (associated with a mortality risk of 53.82%) was established as cut-off value to differentiate between 2 groups: high risk of mortality (Bansal ≥ 7) and low risk of mortality (Bansal < 7), given the fact that the ERBP guidelines don’t define a threshold for high risk in respect to mortality outcome. According to the algorithm proposed by the guideline, individual risk for progression to ESRD at 5 years was calculated in the low mortality risk group, using the 4-variable Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE). Results The final cohort included 958 patients, with a mean age of 74 years (SD: 7), and with similar gender distribution (50.6% female vs. 49.4% male). Predicted trajectory in terms of reaching ESRD / death: When we applied Bansal score for mortality, the total study population (N=958) was divided in two groups: N1 with high risk of mortality, which comprised more than half of the cohort (548 patients, 57.2%) and N2 with low risk of mortality (410 patients, 42.8%). Individual risk of progression to ESRD was then estimated in N2 group, using 4-variable KFRE. Nearly ¾ of this group (75.4%, 309 subjects) presented a low-risk of progression and ¼ (24.6%, 101 subjects) had high-risk. Real-life trajectory in terms of reaching ESRD / death: From the entire cohort, 31 patients started renal replacement therapy (RRT) and 164 patients died as their first clinical event. The RRT initiation rate was 3.6% of N1 group (20 subjects) versus 2.7% of N2 group (11 subjects). The mortality rate was 15.5% of N1 group (85 deaths) versus 19.3% of N2 group (79 deaths). Figure 1 depicts the real-life trajectory of the population groups in terms of reaching ESRD / death. Conclusion In a large population from Eastern Europe, the application of the algorithm from the Clinical Practice Guideline on management of older patients with advanced CKD showed that risk prediction for death and end-stage renal disease does not parallel the real-life trajectory of the population. More than half of the subjects had a high risk of mortality, however we found similar death rates in the 2 groups (high versus low risk of mortality). Also, the RRT initiation rates were similar, irrespective of predicted mortality risk or kidney failure risk, suggesting that implementing the guideline in real-life settings is still a challenge.

Pathogenic variants in BRCA1 gene in heterozygous state are known to be associated with breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility; however, biallelic variants cause a phenotype recognised as Fanconi anaemia complementation group S. Due to its rarity, medical management and preventive screening measures are insufficiently understood. Here, we present nine individuals (one new and eight previously presented) with biallelic variants in BRCA1 gene, to delineate clinical features in comparison with other chromosome instability syndromes and understand the patients’ health risk. Features seen in these 9 individuals (7 females/2 males) include prenatal and postnatal growth failure (9/9), microcephaly (9/9), hypo/hyperpigmented lesions (9/9), facial dysmorphism (9/9), mild developmental delay (8/9) and early-onset solid tumours (5/9). None presented bone marrow failure or immunodeficiency. Individuals with biallelic variants in BRCA1 also showed chromosomal instability by mitomycin and diepoxybutane test. The phenotype caused by biallelic BRCA1 variants is best framed between Fanconi anaemia and Nijmegen syndrome, yet distinct due to lack of bone marrow failure and immunodeficiency. We hypothesise that disease class should be reframed and medical management in people with biallelic variants in BRCA1 should emphasise on detection of solid tumour development and avoiding exposure to ionising radiation.

This paper focuses on the dissociation of carbon dioxide (CO2) following the absorption processes of microwave radiation by noncontact metal wire (tungsten). Using a microwave plasma generator (MPG) with a single-mode cavity, we conducted an interaction of microwaves with a noncontact electrode in a CO2 atmosphere. High energy levels of electromagnetic radiation are generated in the focal point of the MPG&rsquo, s cylindrical cavity. The metal wires are vaporized and ionized from this area, subsequently affecting the dissociation of CO2. The CO2 dissociation is highlighted through plasma characterization and carbon monoxide (CO) quantity determination. For plasma characterization, we used an optical emission spectroscopy method (OES), and for CO quantity determination, we used a gas analyzer instrument. Using an MPG in the CO2 atmosphere, we obtained a high electron temperature of the plasma and a strong dissociation of CO2. After 20 s of the interaction between microwaves and noncontact electrodes, the quantity of CO increased from 3 ppm to 1377 ppm (0.13% CO). This method can be used in space applications to dissociate CO2 and refresh the atmosphere of closed spaces.

Lead (Pb) is the most prevalent heavy metal pollutant in the natural environment. Pb is not a fundamental element for plants, but they absorb it when it is present in their environment, having no known physiological activity. The aim of our research was to evaluate the efficacy of laser photoacoustic spectroscopy as a tool to monitor changes induced by Pb in plant respiration by highlighting two molecular markers (C2H4 and CO2). To better understand Pb phytotoxicity, we monitored the plantlets evolution as well as the morphology of the root cells. Firstly, we showed that the treatment hinders the plantlet’s development. Furthermore, using laser photoacoustic spectroscopy, we found a decrease in the concentration of C2H4 and CO2 vapors measured in the respiration of treated plants. Finally, fluorescence microscopy results showed that in Pb treated plantlets, the cell roots morphology is clearly altered as compared with the untreated ones. All the results are well correlated and can help further in understanding Pb phytotoxicity.

The main objectives of the present paper are to adaptation the five-kinetic model of the catalytic cracking process and simulation the riser to predicts the FCC products yields when one of the major input variable of the process is change. The simulation and adaptation are based on the industrial data from Romanian refinery. The adaptation is realize using a computational method from Optimization Toolbox from Matlab programming language. The new model can be used for optimization and control of FCC riser.

Mouth breathing vs. nasal breathing was investigated using a CO2 laser photoacoustic system (LPAS), a well-known method in the field of trace gas detection, used in our study for multi component determination. The mission of this research is to closely examine the respiration using the photoacoustic detection of carbon dioxide, ethylene, methanol, ethanol and ammonia, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The levels of all five trace gases are much lower for nose breathing compared with mouth breathing: for nose breathing with 8% for carbon dioxide, 6.9% for ethylene, 6.3% for methanol, 8% for ethanol and 19.5% for ammonia compared to mouth breathing. The measurements should be carried out of both nasal-breathing route and mouth-breathing route, to identify the major sources of carbon dioxide, ethylene, ammonia, ethanol and methanol compounds.

Autism is known as a complex neurodevelopmental disability that involve a combination of impairments in communication, reciprocal social interaction, and stereotypic behaviors. Many studies linked oxidative stress (OS) with the etiopathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), but the literature reports somewhat contradictory results. The aim of our study was to evaluate ethylene as a by-products of OS in human body, in people with autism. We used a laser-based spectrometer for optical trace ethylene detection. The results indicated that OS was not significantly increased in this disorder. As a by-product of OS exhaled ethylene from adults with autism presented very small concentration differences compared to healthy controls. The possible responsible factor for the normality between the concentrations of breath ethylene at young adults with autism and control adults could be explained by the antioxidants intake together with the lifestyle and dietary patterns. Additional studies are needed to determine carefully which antioxidant will have the greatest therapeutic benefit considering the importance of oxidative stress in many biological reactions.

This study used a real-time PCR analysis to determine possible correlations between periodontal presence of human cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and various putative parodontopathogenic bacteria. The study included 18 patients (aged 18-38 years) with aggressive periodontitis, 12 patients (ages 37 to 62) with chronic periodontitis and 30 periodontally healthy subjects (aged 21-54 years). Clinical periodontal evaluation included plaque index, gingival index, percentage of bleeding on probing sites, and probing depth. In each patient, a subgingival bacterial plaque sample was obtained from the deepest periodontal pocket. The real-time fluorogenic PCR detection system was used to determine the number of infectious agents. Human cytomegalovirus was detected in 17 sites with periodontal lesions and in two healthy periodontal sites, and the Epstein-Barr virus was detected in 19 sites with periodontal lesions and in 3 normal periodontal sites. Positive correlations were found between human cytomegalovirus and P. gingivalis, T. forsythia and C. rectus. The Epstein-Barr virus positively correlated with P. gingivalis and T. forsythia. Unfavorable changes in environmental exposure or alteration of the immune system genes can periodically suppress the host�s defence against periodontal aggression, which can then result in reactivation of resident herpesviruses and increased pro-inflammatory mediators followed by an increase in pathogenic bacteria.

Dementia is a general term for a series of medical conditions that affect the brain and evolve progressively. According to the literature, there are over 200 subtypes and causes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common in elderly people. AD is an irreversible progressive neurodegenerative condition that leads to a decline in mental function, enough to disrupt daily life. Thinking skills slowly deteriorate, which, in advanced stages, makes it impossible to perform simple tasks. Besides the change in the quality of life of AD patients and their families, there is a considerable alteration in the quality of life of their caregivers, whose health can be negatively affected by the development of mental and somatic disorders. This article reviews the literature in order to reveal the benefits of applying non-pharmacological interventions such as music and art therapy to improve quality of life. This article also aims to shed light on the impact of this disease on the caregiver’s life. Music and art therapy have produced reliable results in the treatment of patients with AD, and the best effects are related to increased socialization and the maintenance of social status.

Heavy metals (HM) are common pollutants and received considerable attention since they may also have impacts on human via the food chain, drinking water, air inhalation or may be absorbed through the skin when they enter into contact with humans in agriculture and in manufacturing, pharmaceutical, industrial or residential settings. In this research, the effects of some HM: Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn on common wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum), Spelt wheat (Triticum spelta), common corn (Zea mays), alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and green peas (Pisum sativum) were investigated using photoacoustics as a non-invasive analysis method, in the detection of two gaseous molecules: ethene (ethylene) and ammonia. From the point of view of toxicology and oxidation states, the determinations demonstrates that seeds/grains germinated with HM, determine a greater increase of ammonia vapors in the respiration of plants and a greater decrease of ethylene vapors in the respiration of vegetation. In the same time, the investigations presented in this paper showed that the photoacoustic technology with tunable CO2 laser, in the quantification of gaseous molecules, was able also to distinguish between seeds/grains germinated with HM and seeds/grains germinated with distilled water and can play an important role in testing the contaminated biological samples.

The theory of compressive sensing (CS) proposes an efficient method for acquiring images directly in compressed form. A reconstruction algorithm can then be used to recover the image from the compressive samples. The key in reconstruction is the signal sparsity, which in the case of images translates into compressibility. Various methods of embedding the digital watermark has been integrated with CS. This paper evaluates the role of CS parameters on a selected watermarking algorithm. We show that the watermark capacity and recovery rate are affected by the sparsifying transform and the measurement matrix used for sampling. The transparency of the watermark is assessed based on Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and tested against the two recovery algorithms. The focus of the paper is to determine if an optimal configuration of CS parameters can be chosen.

The objective of this research is to present a Multi-agent-based middleware that provides semantically-enabled information for SmES knowledge workers. Market currently offers several instruments for enabling knowledge management such as database management systems, data warehouse, intranet and extranet knowledge portals. However, these technological solutions do not take into account that knowledge management practices in small and medium companies are more congruous with apprenticeship-based learning rather than the formal training typical of big companies. This software is based on the European project E! 9770 PrEmISES and it helps small and medium enterprises to better exploit their information spaces. One central piece is the ontology component. In our days, ontologies are playing an important role. Many computer science domains, including software engineering, online learning, education and knowledge extraction are using ontologies in order to organize and share information in a semantic way. PrEmISES was the capability to couple with the existing data systems that are used by small and medium companies and in this way, to enhance them with a semantic layer/engine. The engine is used to find organizational documents within companies and make the searches more accurate by the use of ontologies. Premises is an improved software with educational purposes, based on the ubiquitous learning paradigm, that uses ontologies in order to find and organize relevant organizational documents, based on the employees work profile. In this way, employees can benefit of a fast-educational process (i.e. online learning) based on their individual work profiles The engine is semantically enriched, meaning that it is searching for the specified words/query plus for semantically related concepts. In this paper we present PrEmISES architecture. We will present the main components and the main steps that were followed in order to develop the ontologies that were used for the ontology component.

Staggered gap radial heterojunctions based on ZnO-CuxO core-shell nanowires are used as water stable photocatalysts to harvest solar energy for pollutants removal. ZnO nanowires with a wurtzite crystalline structure and a band gap of approximately 3.3 eV are obtained by thermal oxidation in air. These are covered with an amorphous CuxO layer having a band gap of 1.74 eV and subsequently form core-shell heterojunctions. The electrical characterization of the ZnO pristine and ZnO-CuxO core-shell nanowires emphasizes the charge transfer phenomena at the junction and at the interface between the nanowires and water based solutions. The methylene blue degradation mechanism is discussed taking into consideration the dissolution of ZnO in water based solutions for ZnO nanowires and ZnO-CuxO core-shell nanowires with different shell thicknesses. An optimum thickness of the CuxO layer is used to obtain water stable photocatalysts, where the ZnO-CuxO radial heterojunction enhances the separation and transport of the photogenerated charge carriers when irradiating with UV-light, leading to swift pollutant degradation.

Intellectual property biotechnology, with special emphasis on biotech patents, is considered a strong tool in the development of biotechnological R&D and biotech industry. In the European patent system, more than 50% of the granted biotech patents cover pharmaceutical products, around 40% refer to industrial processes in biotechnology, and the rest are patents granted for application of biotechnology in agriculture and environmental protection.