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The purpose of this study was to assess the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the White Drin River, Kosovo region. The study focused on organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. The White Drin River originates from Peja, Kosovo, and extends to the Albanian border near Kukesi, making it a significant water body. It is potentially affected by anthropogenic pollution due to its passage through Kosovo’s urban areas, villages, farms, and industries. Sampling was conducted at 15 stations along the river, from the river waterfall to the Albanian border, during two distinct periods in 2023 (January – February and August – September). Organochlorine pollutants were concurrently extracted using liquid-liquid extraction followed by analysis using capillary gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were isolated through a two-step liquid-liquid extraction, with dichloromethane and hexane. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were isolated using headspace solid – phase microextraction assisted by polydimethylsiloxane fibre. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, were conducted via gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. The analyses showed the presence of persistent organic pollutants in the river water samples during both sampling periods. Elevated concentrations of volatile polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were observed in the water samples during both periods. This study underscores the significance of investigating organic pollutants in Kosovo’s water systems, considering both local geographic concerns and the broader global issue of environmental pollution

The idea for movement of blood feud reconciliation was one of the most important humanitarian missions in the Albanian society in Kosovo during the 1990s. The act of forgiveness of blood feud was a humane act that reconciled families and had a positive impact on Albanian society in Kosovo. During 1990, Albanians in Kosovo started to face a dire situation in all aspects. The year 1990 marks many momentous events in the history of Kosovo, and many of these events were difficult ones since most Albanians left their jobs by force, and as a result, the economic situation of Albanian society became very dire. During the year 1990, most of the professors, doctors, police officers, judges, journalists, etc., were forcibly removed from work by the Serbian authorities, as a result many families were struggling for economic survival. The life of the Albanian population was endangered not only by the political situation as well as by the economic difficulties. Life in many Albanian families became difficult and almost unbearable, many families took the path of exile and left Kosovo. In this study, the difficulties and the political and economic situation of Albanian society will be mentioned only indirectly, in short points. This study aims to highlight a very humane event that began in Albanian families and society, and it all started in 1990. In this difficult and dark year for the Albanians in Kosovo, „a light began to shine in many families”, and the movement for the suppression of blood feuds and the reconciliation of Albanian families began. Blood feuds mostly happened between families, but they could also happen between entire tribes and could last for several decades. Despite the difficult circumstances, what makes 1990 more remarkable is the movement for social and spiritual liberation. This movement has historical importance for society in Kosovo because it broke „chains” of murders in Kosovo, reconciling thousands of people for a short historical period. Despite the extremely hard historical circumstances in which the society in Kosovo was during the 1990s, it was the movement for reconciliation that brought about a revival of Albanian society in Kosovo. The reconciliation movement led by Anton Çetta had an incredibly positive impact to the Albanian society. In addition to the fact that thousands of people agreed with this movement, what makes it even more remarkable is that it brought a positive effect to every family to the extent that many children born in the 1990s bear the names: Pajtim and Pajtime (reconciliation), as well as many places in which the reconciliations were being held in, calling them: Meadow of Reconciliation, Hill of Reconciliation, etc. This humanitarian event brought a positive impact to the entire Albanian society Anton Çetta became a symbol of reconciliation.

Environmental pollution is a global issue, and Kosovo is no exception, grappling with extensive mining activities. The research aims to assess the influence of industrial pollution in Drenas and Mitrovica using oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde MDA and the amount of glutathione transferase GST) and biochemical indicators (total proteins) in three plant species (Achillea millefolium, Hypericum perforatum and Plantago lanceolata). Plants were collected within a one-kilometer radius around industrial complexes in Drenas and Mitrovica, with Peja serving as a control point. In the homogenate of plant leaves, total proteins were determined using the Lowry method, MDA levels were determined using the Health Packer method, and GST activity was assessed using Habig method. GST activity was higher in the three plant species collected in Drenas and Mitrovica compared to those in Peje, the control point. Apart from Hypericum perforatoum in Mitrovica, the study revealed a significant increase in MDA levels in the three plant species from industrial areas compared to those in the control point. Generally, plants collected in industrial areas exhibited lower total protein levels than those in Peja. A negative correlation was observed between MDA levels and total proteins of Achillea millefolium and Plantago lanceolata, but not in Hypericum perforatum. The findings underscore the impact of pollution on the three plant species investigated in the study.

University of Prishtina, serving as an institution of education and science and as a centre of Albanian democratic and cultural movements, since its foundation was amongst the institutions on the target of Serbian regime. Upon abolition of the autonomy of Kosovo in 1989, the Serbian regime started the discriminatory policies against the Albanian population, the overwhelming majority population in Kosovo, including the expulsion of the Albanian pupils and students from the schools and university premises, massive dismissals from work, etc. It was the academic year 1991/1992 when the doors of the University of Prishtina were closed to Albanian students and teachers. The University of Prishtina and its campus in the center of the capital Prishtina, libraries, institutes and student dormitories all remained available to Serbian and other non-Albanian teachers and students. The Albanian population created a parallel state, a unique example in the world, and such state created the parallel institutions in various fields of life, such as health, culture and education, including also the parallel University of Prishtina. This paper, in light of the sources of the time (documents in the Archive of the Rectorate of University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, published reports of the international organisations, press of the time) and the relevant historiography aims at elaborating: the initial protests and resistance of Albanian professors and students against the violent measures imposed by the Serbian regime; how the students and teachers were expelled from the facilities of the University of Prishtina; the procedures and the circumstances under which was established the Parallel University of Prishtina; how this parallel university functioned in the situation of pressure and continuous violence from the Serbian regime, at private facilities in the suburbs of the city; how the entire Albanian population from Kosovo was mobilized to support this university. The paper offers data from the unpublished documents which are stored at the Archive of the Rectorate of the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, regarding the number of planned and enrolled students, which indicates how the political situation was reflected on the number of students who attended the university studies. Particular attention in the paper was paid to the students’ protests of 1997 by elaborating how this Parallel University, through the peaceful student protests, influenced the sensitizing of the international institutions and media on the question of the Albanian people in Kosovo. It emphasizes the important role of students represented by Independent Union of Students of the University of Prishtina (Unioni i Pavarur i Studentëve i Universitetit të Prishtinës - UPSUP), who gained the support and encouragement of international political personalities of the time for the continuation of peaceful student activism. Despite all the drastic challenges the Parallel University of Prishtina functioned in all the segments that characterize a university. All managerial mechanisms were developed, teaching was held in three cycles of study, even though only private premises were available but no laboratories, libraries and dormitories, new students were enrolled, staff were continuously recruited and promoted, and university textbooks were prepared. However, due to many factors, including the emigration of the Albanian population, the continuous violence by the Serbian police, and the financial difficulties of Albanian families, the number of students was constantly decreasing. In addition, this situation impacted their learning. The lack of literature and laboratories, teaching and learning in private premises and homes, the constant dangers and mistreatment by the Serbian regime, were making university studies a very difficult mission. However, the Parallel University of Prishtina turned into a centre of peaceful resistance and a symbol of determination to continue studies and advancement in the Albanian language regardless of the extreme political and social situation. The University did not interrupt the work even in the state of war, until 21 March 1999. All this readiness, will and peaceful resistance had gained the attention and respect of international opinion.

The purpose of this study was to assess the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in the White Drin River, Kosovo region. The study focused on organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. The White Drin River originates from Peja, Kosovo, and extends to the Albanian border near Kukesi, making it a significant water body. It is potentially affected by anthropogenic pollution due to its passage through Kosovo's urban areas, villages, farms, and industries. Sampling was conducted at 15 stations along the river, from the river waterfall to the Albanian border, during two distinct periods in 2023 (January - February and August - September). Organochlorine pollutants were concurrently extracted using liquid-liquid extraction followed by analysis using capillary gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were isolated through a two-step liquid-liquid extraction, with dichloromethane and hexane. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes were isolated using headspace solid - phase microextraction assisted by polydimethylsiloxane fibre. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, were conducted via gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. The analyses showed the presence of persistent organic pollutants in the river water samples during both sampling periods. Elevated concentrations of volatile polychlorinated biphenyls, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were observed in the water samples during both periods. This study underscores the significance of investigating organic pollutants in Kosovo's water systems, considering both local geographic concerns and the broader global issue of environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Teledermoscopy, or the utilization of dermatoscopic images in telemedicine, can help diagnose dermatologic disease remotely, triage lesions of concern (i.e., determine whether in-person consultation with a dermatologist is necessary, biopsy, or reassure the patient), and monitor dermatologic lesions over time. Handheld dermatoscopes, a magnifying apparatus, have become a commonly utilized tool for providers in many healthcare settings and professions and allows users to view microstructures of the epidermis and dermis. This Dermoscopy Practice Guideline reflects current knowledge in the field of telemedicine to demonstrate the correct capture, usage, and incorporation of dermoscopic images into everyday practice.

Bicuspid aortic stenosis is a common pathology, typically seen in patients a decade younger than those with tricuspid valves. Surgical aortic valve replacement has been the mainstay treatment for bicuspid disease, especially considering the prevalence of concomitant aortic aneurysmal pathology. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement has shown equivalent results in bicuspid compared to tricuspid pathology in highly selected patient populations in single-arm registries and observational studies. For older patients with favorable bicuspid pathology, TAVR is reasonable. However, as younger patients with longer life expectancy are now being treated with TAVR, what is "best" is a question only answered by a well-designed randomized controlled trial. Herein, we describe the current evidence for treating bicuspid aortic stenosis and provide a framework for future trials. Yet, the question of equipoise remains, and who will we enroll? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A 56-year-old man underwent cardiac transplantation in April 2018. His post-operative course was uncomplicated and he had normal allograft function. On December 2019 he was admitted for fever and diarrhea and was found to have cytomegalovirus infection. A few weeks later, he presented with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

This study explores what motivates data journalists to engage with audiences and their strategies for incorporating audiences into their work. Building on scholarship on audience engagement and participatory journalism, we investigate how data journalists perceive the role of audience; the stage of the reporting process at which the audience is engaged; and how optimistically or sceptically data journalists view the audience's capacity to contribute to the data journalism reporting process. Using a news media logics theoretical framework, we find data journalists are primarily motivated by a mixture of professional and audience logics The mixture of these logics aligns with their goals to establish institutional identity and legitimization in society, but increasingly data journalists also emphasise hopes for greater authentic participation from their audiences across the reporting process. Analysis of data gathered from in-depth interviews with data journalists from 34 countries provides a better and broader empirical context for explanation of data journalists' goals for audience engagement, the tools they use to connect with audiences, and the degree to which those goals are met. Our findings contribute to a clearer explanation of audience engagement motivations and strategies in data journalism and the similarities that emerge across a broad geographic array of data journalism work. With a focus on crowdsourcing, data disclosure, interactivity, and news dissemination as forms of audience engagement, we synthesise a portrait of attitudes about audience engagement from the data journalist's perspective and highlight global similarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores discourse features on Facebook pages of news organizations during the 2020 U.S. primary debates using a state-of-the-art machine-learning model. Informing the scholarly debate about the implications of strategic game reporting in online spaces, we find that it is not necessarily linked to uncivil discourse, yet it might deter from relevant conversations. Second, addressing fears about the undesired outcomes of uncivil talk, our data suggest that incivility can coexist with rational discourse in user comments, although this relationship is not pervasive. Implications of these results are discussed in the context of the role of hybrid media for political engagement during electoral campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although population-based studies have demonstrated racial heterogeneity in coronary artery calcium (CAC) burden, the degree to which such associations extend to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) cohorts remains poorly characterized. We sought to evaluate the associations between race/ethnicity and CAC in a PCI population. Methods: This single center retrospective study analyzed 1025 patients with prior CAC who underwent PCI between January 1, 2012 and May 15, 2020. Patients were grouped as non-Hispanic White (NHW, N = 779), non-Hispanic Black (NHB, N = 81) and Hispanic (H, N = 165). Associations between race and CAC (Agatston units) were examined using negative binomial regression while adjusting for baseline parameters. Results: Among the 1025 patients (mean age 65.8, 70% male) who underwent PCI, NHW, NHB, and H populations had median CAC scores of 760, 500, and 462 Agatston units, respectively (p

Literature suggests that while without doubt people engage in selective exposure to information, this does not entail that they also engage in selective avoidance of opinion-challenging information. However, cross-cutting exposure does not always lead to dispassionate deliberation. In this commentary I explore psychological conditions as they apply to attitude-based selection and make an argument that selectivity does not stop at exposure but continues as audiences engage with information they encounter and incorporate in their decision-making. I propose the theory of motivated reasoning as a rich theoretical underpinning that helps us understand selective exposure and selective information processing.

Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) courses incorporate high-impact pedagogies that have been shown to increase undergraduate retention among underrepresented minorities and women. As part of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity program at the University of Detroit Mercy, a CURE metagenomics course was established in the winter of 2019. Students investigated the bacterial community composition in a eutrophic cove in Lake Saint Clair (Harrison Township, MI, United States) from water samples taken in the summer and winter. The students created 16S rRNA libraries that were sequenced using next-generation sequencing technology. They used a public web-based supercomputing resource to process their raw sequencing data and web-based tools to perform advanced statistical analysis. The students discovered that the most common operational taxonomic unit, representing 31% of the prokaryotic sequences in both summer and winter samples, corresponded to an organism that belongs to a previously unidentified phylum. This result showed the students the power of metagenomics because the approach was able to detect unclassified organisms. Principal Coordinates Analysis of Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index data showed that the winter community was distinct from the summer community [Analysis of Similarities (ANOSIM) r = 0.59829, n = 18, and p < 0.001]. Dendrograms based on hierarchically clustered Pearson correlation coefficients of phyla were divided into a winter clade and a summer clade. The conclusion is that the winter bacterial population was fundamentally different from the summer population, even though the samples were taken from the same locations in a protected cove. Because of the small class sizes, qualitative as well as statistical methods were used to evaluate the course’s impact on student attitudes. Results from the Laboratory Course Assessment Survey showed that most of the respondents felt they were contributing to scientific knowledge and the course fostered student collaboration. The majority of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the course incorporated iteration aspects of scientific investigations, such as repeating procedures to fix problems. In summary, the metagenomics CURE course was able to add to scientific knowledge and allowed students to participate in authentic research.

The U.S. government forcibly separated more than 5,000 children from their parents between 2017 and 2018 through its "Zero Tolerance" policy. It is unknown how many of the children have since been reunited with their parents. As of August 1, 2021, however, at least 1,841 children are still separated from their parents. This study systematically examined narratives obtained as part of a medico-legal process by trained clinical experts who interviewed and evaluated parents and children who had been forcibly separated. The data analysis demonstrated that 1) parents and children shared similar pre-migration traumas and the event of forced family separation in the U.S.; 2) they reported signs and symptoms of trauma following reunification; 3) almost all individuals met criteria for DSM diagnoses, even after reunification; 4) evaluating clinicians consistently concluded that mental health treatment was indicated for both parents and children; and 5) signs of malingering were absent in all cases.

Intracoronary imaging (ICI) use during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to effectively improve cardiovascular outcomes, particularly for high-risk subgroups. However, data from randomized controlled trials are limited and the overall utilization rate of ICI remains variable between different countries and centers. Potential benefits of ICI include identification of appropriate lesions for PCI, improved characterization of lesions, and optimization of stent placement. Currently available modalities of ICI include intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and near infrared spectroscopy. Within this review, we summarize the contemporary evidence surrounding ICI and discuss its application in clinical practice.