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Background and Objectives: Resuscitation is one of the most stressful tasks in emergency medicine. The participation of nurses in this procedure can have specific effects on them. In this research, we wanted to find out what these effects are. Materials and Methods: A qualitative approach by conducting semi-structured interviews was used, and a thematic data analysis of the recorded interviews was carried out. The collected data were transcribed verbatim, with no corrections to the audio recordings. The computer program ATLAS.ti 22 was used for the qualitative data analysis. Results: Eleven male registered nurses were interviewed, with an average of 18.5 years of experience working in a prehospital environment (max. 32/min. 9). A total of 404 min of recordings were analyzed, and 789 codes were found, which were combined into 36 patterns and 11 themes. As the most stressful situations, the interviewees pointed out the resuscitation of a child, familiar persons, conflicts with the environment, conflicts within the resuscitation team, nonfunctioning or insufficient equipment, complications during resuscitation, and resuscitating a person only for training. As positive effects, the interviewees cited successful resuscitations or their awareness that, despite an unsuccessful resuscitation, they did everything they could. Conclusions: Participation in these interventions has a specific positive or negative impact on the performers. The interviewees shared the opinion that they can cope effectively with the adverse or stressful effects of resuscitation. Yet, despite everything, they allow the possibility of subconscious influences of this intervention on themselves.

Summary: We have investigated magnetism of the Al28Co20Cr11Fe15Ni26 single-crystalline high-entropy alloy. The material is nanostructured, composed of a B2 matrix with dispersed spherical-like A2 nanoparticles of average diameter 64 nm. The magnetism was studied from 2 to 400 K via direct-current magnetization, hysteresis curves, alternating-current magnetic susceptibility, and thermoremanent magnetization time decay, to determine the magnetic state that develops in this highly structurally and chemically inhomogeneous material. The results reveal that the Cr-free B2 matrix of composition Al28Co25Fe15Ni32 forms a disordered ferromagnetic (FM) state that undergoes an FM transition at TC≈ 390 K. The Al- and Ni-free A2 nanoparticles of average composition Co19Cr56Fe25 adopt a core-shell structure, where the shells of about 2 nm thickness are CoFe enriched. While the shells are FM, the nanoparticle cores are asperomagnetic, classifying into the broad class of spin glasses. Asperomagnetism develops below 15 K and exhibits broken-ergodicity phenomena, typical of magnetically frustrated systems.

Background and Objectives: The subcutaneous (SC) formulation of vedolizumab has proven to be effective for the maintenance of remission after intravenous induction. Little is known about the efficacy of switching from intravenous maintenance treatment to SC. We aimed to assess the real-world efficacy of switching to SC treatment and to assess the impact of a baseline treatment regimen. Materials and Methods: In this observational cohort study, adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease who were switched to SC vedolizumab maintenance treatment were enrolled. Patients after intravenous induction and patients who switched from intravenous maintenance treatment (every 8 weeks or every 4 weeks) were included. The SC vedolizumab dosing was 108 mg every 2 weeks, regardless of the previous regimen. The clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic disease activity parameters and vedolizumab serum concentrations at the time of the switch and at the follow-up were assessed. Results: In total, 135 patients (38% Crohn’s disease, 62% ulcerative colitis) were switched to SC vedolizumab treatment. The median time to the first follow-up (FU) was 14.5 weeks (IQR 12–26), and the median time to the second FU was 40 weeks (IQR 36–52). Nine patients (7%) discontinued SC vedolizumab treatment, with two-thirds of them discontinuing due to active disease. In all dosing regimens, there were no significant changes in the clinical scores and CRP at the baseline and first and second FUs. Clinical and biochemical remission appeared to be maintained irrespective of the previous dosing regimen. Conclusions: The results of this real-world study suggest that the maintenance of clinical and biomarker remission can be achieved in patients who switched from intravenous to SC vedolizumab. The baseline vedolizumab dosing regimen (every 4 weeks versus every 8 weeks) did not have an impact on outcomes.

In the search for electronic phenomena in high-entropy alloys (HEAs) that go beyond the independent-electron description, we have synthesized a series of hexagonal rare earth (RE)-based HEAs: CexLaLuScY (x = 0.05–1.0). The measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat have shown that the CexLaLuScY HEAs exhibit the Kondo effect, which is of a single impurity type in the entire range of employed Ce concentrations despite the alloys being classified as dense (concentrated) Kondo systems. A comparison to other known dense Kondo systems has revealed that the Kondo effect in the CexLaLuScY HEAs behaves quite differently from the chemically ordered Kondo lattices but quite similar to the RE-containing magnetic metallic glasses and randomly chemically disordered Kondo lattices of the chemical formula RE1xRE21−xM (with RE1 being magnetic and RE2 being nonmagnetic). The main reason for the similarity between HEAs and the metallic glasses and chemically disordered Kondo lattices appears to be the absence of a periodic 4f sublattice in these systems, which prevents the formation of a coherent state between the 4f-scattering sites in the T→ 0 limit. The crystal-glass duality of HEAs does not bring conceptually new features to the Kondo effect that would not be already present in other disordered dense Kondo systems. This study broadens the classification of HEAs to correlated electron systems.

In the 13th-century French romance The Quest of the Holy Grail various interpreters appear, who—through Christian hermeneutics—explain to the knights of the quest their dreams, visions, prophecies, etc. The present article discusses the question of the source of authority of the interpreters, and analyzes in the text itself the foundations of such an authority. One of the most important starting points is the presupposition that the procedures of biblical exegesis influenced the romance and the image of the interpreter.

Izhodišča: Anatomska korekcija (ASO) je zdravljenje izbire za D-transpozicijo velikih arterij (D-TGA). Namen raziskave je bil oceniti dolgoročno uspešnost anatomske kirurške korekcije. Metode: Delno retrospektivno smo pregledali dokumentacijo ali ponovno ocenili zdravstveno stanje 38 bolnikov (30 moških, 8 žensk) v času tranzicije mladostnikov v odraslo dobo (starost ob zadnjem kliničnem pregledu 17,1 ± 1,4 let), ki so bili rojeni od leta 2000 do leta 2005 z D-TGA in so imeli ASO. Ocenili smo: funkcijski razred po NYHA, spremembe, ki so ostale, na neoaorti in neoaortni zaklopki, neopulmonalni zaklopki in pljučnih arterijah, funkcijo desnega in levega prekata, telesno zmogljivost in znake ishemije miokarda. Rezultati: Nihče v skupini ni umrl (interval zaupanja (0,00-0,09). 32 bolnikov (84,2 %) je bilo v NYHA I, 6 bolnikov (15,7 %) je bilo v NYHA II. Pri 83,3 % bolnikov se je bulbus aorte razširil (20,9 ± 2,8 mm/m2, max. 27,7 mm/m2). Pri 27 bolnikih (90 %) je bila prisotna regurgitacija neoaortne zaklopke. Med skupinami brez, z blago ali zmerno neoaortno regurgitacijo ni bilo razlik v širini bulbusa, normaliziranih na telesno površino (p = 0,6). Regurgitacija neopulmonalne zaklopke je bila prisotna pri 58,1 % bolnikov. Zaradi obstrukcije v iztoku iz desnega prekata je bila potrebna ponovna operacija v enem primeru in perkutana dilatacija neopulmonalne zaklopke v enem primeru. Zaradi zapletov na koronarnih arterijah je bil potreben le en kirurški poseg zaradi miokardnega infarkta med naporom. Zaključek: Pozni rezultati po anatomski korekciji D-TGA so dobri in primerljivi z večjimi centri. Nihče ni umrl, večina bolnikov je bila brez simptomov, z normalno sistolično funkcijo obeh prekatov in z normalno telesno zmogljivostjo. Ponovne operacije in perkutani posegi so bili dokaj redki, toda dolgoročno uspešni.

Abstract High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are characterized by a simultaneous presence of a crystal lattice and an amorphous-type chemical (substitutional) disorder. In order to unravel the effect of crystal-glass duality on the electronic transport properties of HEAs, we performed a comparative study of the electronic transport coefficients of a 6-component alloy Al0.5TiZrPdCuNi that can be prepared either as a HEA or as a metallic glass (MG) at the same chemical composition. The HEA and the MG states of the Al0.5TiZrPdCuNi alloy both show large, negative-temperature-coefficient resistivity, positive thermopower, positive Hall coefficient and small thermal conductivity. The transport coefficients were reproduced analytically by the spectral conductivity model, using the Kubo-Greenwood formalism. For both modifications of the material (HEA and MG), contribution of phonons to the transport coefficients was found small, so that their temperature dependence originates predominantly from the temperature dependence of the Fermi–Dirac function and the variation of the spectral conductivity and the related electronic density of states with energy within the Fermi-level region. The very similar electronic transport coefficients of the HEA and the MG states point towards essential role of the immense chemical disorder.

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial discordance and can be potentially associated with several other concomitant anomalies, such as ventricular septal defect or congenital complete atrioventricular block. Different surgical options are used for treating the condition. Anatomic repair yields the best long-term outcomes; however, it is technically the most challenging. We present a case of a 3-year old female patient who was electively admitted for complete repair after pulmonary artery banding and pacemaker implantation soon after birth. Subsequently, an anatomic repair (double switch) was performed with an uneventful postoperative course and excellent mid-term outcomes.

Abstract Unconventional superconductivity in non-centrosymmetric superconductors has attracted a considerable amount of attention. While several lanthanide-based materials have been reported previously, the number of actinide-based systems remains small. In this work, we present the discovery of a novel cubic complex non-centrosymmetric superconductor $${\text {Th}}_4{\text {Be}}_{{33}}{\text {Pt}}_{{16}}$$ Th 4 Be 33 Pt 16 ( $$I{\bar{4}}3d$$ I 4 ¯ 3 d space group). This intermetallic cage compound displays superconductivity below $$T_{\text {c}} = 0.90 \pm 0.04$$ T c = 0.90 ± 0.04 K, as evidenced by specific heat and resistivity data. $${\text {Th}}_4{\text {Be}}_{{33}}{\text {Pt}}_{{16}}$$ Th 4 Be 33 Pt 16 is a type-II superconductor, which has an upper critical field $${\text {H}}_{{\text {c}}2} = 0.27$$ H c 2 = 0.27 T and a moderate Sommerfeld coefficient $$\gamma _{\text {n}} = 16.3 \pm 0.8$$ γ n = 16.3 ± 0.8 mJ $${\text {mol}}^{-1}_{\text {Th}}$$ mol Th - 1 $${\text {K}}^{-2}$$ K - 2 . A non-zero density of states at the Fermi level is evident from metallic behavior in the normal state, as well as from electronic band structure calculations. The isostructural $${\text {U}}_4{\text {Be}}_{{33}}{\text {Pt}}_{{16}}$$ U 4 Be 33 Pt 16 compound is a paramagnet with a moderately enhanced electronic mass, as indicated by the electronic specific heat coefficient $$\gamma _{\text {n}} = 200$$ γ n = 200 mJ $${\text {mol}}^{-1}_{\text {U}}$$ mol U - 1 $${\text {K}}^{-2}$$ K - 2 and Kadowaki–Woods ratio $$A/\gamma ^2 = 1.1 \times 10^{-5}$$ A / γ 2 = 1.1 × 10 - 5 $$\upmu $$ μ $$\Omega $$ Ω cm $${\text {K}}^2$$ K 2 $${\text {mol}}_{\text {U}}^2$$ mol U 2 (mJ) $$^{-2}$$ - 2 . Both $${\text {Th}}_4{\text {Be}}_{{33}}{\text {Pt}}_{{16}}$$ Th 4 Be 33 Pt 16 and $${\text {U}}_4{\text {Be}}_{{33}}{\text {Pt}}_{{16}}$$ U 4 Be 33 Pt 16 are crystallographically complex, each hosting 212 atoms per unit cell.

Immunosenescence is the adverse change in the human immune function during aging, leaving older people more prone to an increased risk of infections and morbidity. Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are very common among older people, often resulting in continued morbidity and mortality. Therefore, approaches, such as consuming probiotics, that shorten the duration or even reduce the incidence of URTIs in older people are being studied. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a multi-strain probiotic OMNi-BiOTiC® Active, which contains 11 live probiotic strains, on the incidence, duration, and severity of URTIs in older people. In this randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study, 95 participants, with an average age of 70.9 years in the probiotic group and 69.6 years in the placebo group, were randomly allocated to two groups: 1010 cfu per day of the multi-strain probiotic intervention OMNi-BiOTiC® Active (49) or placebo (46). The incidence of URTIs in older people after 12 weeks supplementation with OMNi-BiOTiC® showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.5244). However, the duration of the URTI infections was statistically significantly different between the groups (p = 0.011). The participants that consumed the probiotic had an average duration of illness of 3.1 ± 1.6 days, whilst participants that received the placebo had symptoms for an average of 6.0 ± 3.8 days (p = 0.011). Statistically significant differences in lymphocyte counts in both groups after supplementation (p = 0.035 for the probiotic group and p = 0.029 for the placebo group) and between both groups were found (p = 0.009). Statistically significant differences in eosinophil (p = 0.002) and basophil counts (p = 0.001) in the probiotic groups before and after supplementation with probiotics were also found. Supplementation with the multi-strain probiotic OMNi-BiOTiC® Active may benefit older people with URTIs. Larger randomised controlled clinical trials are warranted. Clinical Trial Registration; identifier NCT05879393.

Ibogaine, administered as a single oral dose (1-25 mg/kg body weight), has been used as an addiction-interrupting agent. Its effects persist for up to 72 h. Ex vivo results showed that ibogaine induced cellular energy consumption and restitution, followed by increased reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the effect of a single oral dose of ibogaine (1 or 20 mg/kg body weight) on antioxidative defenses in rat liver and erythrocytes. Six and 24 h after ibogaine administration, histological examination showed glycogenolytic activity in hepatocytes, which was highest after 24 h in animals that received 20 mg/kg ibogaine. There were no changes in the activities of superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase in the liver and erythrocytes after ibogaine treatment, regardless of the dose. Hepatic xanthine oxidase activity was elevated in rats that received 20 mg/kg compared to the controls (p

In this study, we investigate the scandium-containing Sc-Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr system of refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Using the arc-melting method, we synthesized nine equimolar alloys (five 4-, three 5- and one 6-component), with all of them containing Sc. The alloys were characterized by XRD, electron microscopy and EDS, while superconductivity was investigated via electrical resistivity, specific heat and the Meissner effect. The results were compared to the parent Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr refractory HEAs, forming a single-phase body-centered cubic (bcc) structure and quite homogeneous microstructure. The addition of Sc produces a two-phase structure in the Sc-Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr alloys, with one phase being bcc and the other hexagonal close-packed (hcp). The hcp phase absorbs practically all Sc, whereas the Sc-poor bcc phase is identical to the bcc phase in the Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr parent system. Upon the Sc addition, the microstructure becomes very inhomogeneous. Large bcc dendrites (10–100 µm) are homogeneous in the central parts, but become a fine dispersion of sub-micron precipitates of the bcc and hcp phases close to the edges. The interdendritic regions are also a fine dispersion of the two phases. Superconductivity of the Sc-Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr alloys originates from the bcc phase fraction, which demonstrates identical superconducting parameters as the bcc Hf-Nb-Ta-Ti-Zr parent alloys, while the Sc-containing hcp phase fraction is non-superconducting.

Chemical and bacterial gradients under different hydrologi­cal conditions were studied in a well-developed underground karst system. Water samples were collected from the main un­derground drainage conduit of the Pivka River from October 2013 until June 2016. The system responds quickly to external pulses (precipitation events), and is also impacted by human interventions, as is demonstrated mainly by fluctuations of sul­phates, chlorides, and occasionally elevated concentrations of organic and faecal pollutants. Chemical and bacterial param­eters showed a monotonous trend of decreasing concentrations from the ponor towards the interior of the karst massif during stable hydrological conditions, and a significant change dur­ing high water conditions. High flow events tend to equilibrate chemical and bacterial parameters in the underground river. Concentrations of chlorides, TOC (total organic carbon) and nitrates were the most indicative parameters describing the for­mation of the gradient. Stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen in water indicated that the main karst conduit collects isotopi­cally different waters from the aquifer. The river water collected after nine kilometres of underground flow was always isotopically lighter than the waters collected from the upstream sites. Multiparameter analysis proved to be a useful tool for providing a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the underground water, which influence both the underground environment and the ecology of the biome. Key words: karst, hydrology, water chemistry, nutrients, stable isotopes, PCA, bacteria. Multiparametrska analiza okoljskih gradientov, povezanih s hidrološkimi razmerami v binarnem kraškem sistemu (podzemni tok reke Pivke, Slovenija) V dobro razvitem podzemnem kraškem sistemu smo pri različnih hidroloških pogojih preučevali kemijske in bakterijske gradiente. Vzorce vode smo odvzeli iz glavnega podzemnega toka reke Pivke med oktobrom 2013 in junijem 2016. Sistem se hitro odziva na zunanje impulze (padavinski dogodki) in je tudi podvržen človekovim posegom, kar dokazujejo predvsem nihanja v koncentraciji sulfatov in kloridov ter občasno povišane koncentracije organskih in fekalnih onesnaževal. Spremljanje kemijskih in bakterijskih parametrov v stabilnih hidroloških razmerah je pokazalo monotoni trend zniževanja koncentracij od ponora proti notranjosti kraškega masiva. Razmere se izrazito spremenijo v času visokih vod, ko pride v podzemnem vodotoku do izenačenja tako kemijskih kot bakterijskih parametrov. Kloridi, TOC (skupni organski ogljik) in nitrati so bili najbolj indikativni parametri za opis nastanka gradienta. Stabilni izotopi vodika in kisika v vodi so pokazali, da vodotok glavnega kraškega kanala zbira izotopsko različne vode iz vodonosnika. Voda podzemne reke po devetih kilometrih toka v podzemlju je bila vedno izotopsko lažja kot vode iz gorvodno vzorčevanih mest. Multiparametrska analiza se je izkazala kot uporabno orodje za celovitejše razumevanje dinamike podzemnih voda, ki vpliva tako na podzemno okolje kot ekologijo bioma. Ključne besede: kras, hidrologija, kemija vode, hranila, stabilni izotopi, PCA, bakterije.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most stressful situations in emergency medicine. Nurses involved in performing basic and advanced resuscitation procedures are therefore exposed to a certain amount of stress. The purpose of this study was to determine the stressors and the level of stress experienced by nurses during resuscitation. A cross-sectional quantitative study was done. The sample consisted of 457 nurses who worked in emergency units. First demographic data were collected, followed by a questionnaire regarding the effect of different situations that occur during and after resuscitation on nurses including Post-Code Stress Scale questionnaire. The most disturbing situations for respondents were resuscitation of young person (MV = 3.7, SD = 1.4), when they fail to establish an intravenous pathway (MV = 3.5, SD = 1.4), chaotic situation during resuscitation (MV = 3.4, SD = 1.4) and making decision about termination of resuscitation (MV = 3.1, SD = 1.5). Research has shown that nurses are exposed to a certain amount of stress during resuscitation, but most of them manage to compensate for stress effectively.

Ibogaine induces rapid changes in cellular energetics followed by the elevation of antioxidant activities. As shown earlier in male rats, ibogaine treatment with both 1 and 20 mg/kg b.w. per os led to significant glycogenolytic activity in the liver. In this work, female rats treated with the same doses of ibogaine per os displayed lower liver glycogenolytic activity relative to males, dilatation of the central vein and branches of the portal vein, and increased concentration of thiols 6 h after treatment. These changes were followed by increased catalase activity and lipid peroxidation, and decreased xanthine oxidase activity after 24 h. In kidneys, mild histopathological changes were found in all treated animals, accompanied by a decrease of glutathione reductase (after 6 and 24 h at both doses) and an increase of catalase (6 h) and xanthine oxidase activity (6 and 24 h). Ibogaine did not affect antioxidant enzymes activity in erythrocytes. Bioavailability of ibogaine was two to three times higher in females than males, with similar kinetic profiles. Compared to previous results in males, ibogaine showed sex specific effect at the level of antioxidant cellular system. Effects of ibogaine in rats are sex- and tissue-specific, and also dose- and time-dependent.

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody used in Crohn’s disease (CD). Dose optimization in case of non-response and the role of pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) monitoring remain unresolved dilemmas in clinical practice. We aimed to develop a population PK-PD model for ustekinumab in CD and simulate efficacy of alternative dosing regimens. We included 57 patients and recorded their characteristics during 32 weeks after starting with ustekinumab therapy. Serum ustekinumab concentration was prospectively measured and fecal calprotectin (FC) concentration was used to monitor the disease activity. Ustekinumab PK-PD was described by a two-compartment target-mediated drug disposition model linked to an indirect response model. Lower fat-free mass, higher serum albumin, previous non-exposure to biologics, FCGR3A-158 V/V variant and lower C-reactive protein were associated with higher ustekinumab exposure. Model-based simulation suggested that 41.9% of patients receiving standard dosing achieve biochemical remission at week 32. In patients not achieving remission with standard dosing at week 16, transition to 4-weekly subcutaneous maintenance dosing with or without intravenous reinduction resulted in comparably higher remission rates at week 32 (51.1% vs. 49.2%, respectively). Our findings could be used to guide stratified ustekinumab treatment in CD, particularly in patients with unfavorable characteristics, who might benefit from early transition to 4-weekly maintenance dosing.

In an attempt to incorporate tin (Sn) into high-entropy alloys composed of refractory metals Hf, Nb, Ti and Zr with the addition of 3d transition metals Cu, Fe, and Ni, we synthesized a series of alloys in the system HfTiZrSnM (M = Cu, Fe, Nb, Ni). The alloys were characterized crystallographically, microstructurally, and compositionally, and their physical properties were determined, with the emphasis on superconductivity. All Sn-containing alloys are multi-phase mixtures of intermetallic compounds (in most cases four). A common feature of the alloys is a microstructure of large crystalline grains of a hexagonal (Hf, Ti, Zr)5Sn3 partially ordered phase embedded in a matrix that also contains many small inclusions. In the HfTiZrSnCu alloy, some Cu is also incorporated into the grains. Based on the electrical resistivity, specific heat, and magnetization measurements, a superconducting (SC) state was observed in the HfTiZr, HfTiZrSn, HfTiZrSnNi, and HfTiZrSnNb alloys. The HfTiZrSnFe alloy shows a partial SC transition, whereas the HfTiZrSnCu alloy is non-superconducting. All SC alloys are type II superconductors and belong to the Anderson class of “dirty” superconductors.

The intoxication due to unintentional or intentional ingestion of plant material containing tropane alkaloids is quite frequent. GC-MS method is still widely used for the identification of these toxicologically important substances in human specimen. During general unknown analysis, high temperature of inlet, at least 270 °C, is commonly used for less volatile substances. Unfortunately, both tropanes are thermally unstable and could be overlooked due to their degradation. The temperature-related degradation of tropanes atropine and scopolamine was systematically studied in the inlet of a GC-MS instrument in the range 110–250 °C by increments of 20 °C, additionally also at 275 °C, and in different solvents. At inlet temperatures not higher than 250 °C, the degradation products were formed by elimination of water and cleavage of atropine’s ester bond. At higher temperatures, elimination of formaldehyde became predominant. These phenomena were less pronounced when ethyl acetate was used instead of methanol, while n-hexane proved unsuitable for several reasons. At an inlet temperature of 275 °C, tropanes were barely detectable. During systematic toxicological analysis, any tropanes’ degradation products should indicate the possible presence of atropine and/or scopolamine in the sample. It is not necessary to prepare thermally stable derivatives for confirmation. Instead, the inlet temperature can be decreased to 250 °C, which diminishes their degradation to a level where their detection and identification are possible. This was demonstrated in several case studies.

Abstract Background Aconitum species are poisonous plants that have been used in Western medicine for centuries. In the nineteenth century, these plants were part of official and folk medicine in the Slovenian territory. According to current ethnobotanical studies, folk use of Aconitum species is rarely reported in Europe. The purpose of this study was to research the folk medicinal use of Aconitum species in Solčavsko, Slovenia; to collect recipes for the preparation of Aconitum spp., indications for use, and dosing; and to investigate whether the folk use of aconite was connected to poisoning incidents. Methods In Solčavsko, a remote alpine area in northern Slovenia, we performed semi-structured interviews with 19 informants in Solčavsko, 3 informants in Luče, and two retired physicians who worked in that area. Three samples of homemade ethanolic extracts were obtained from informants, and the concentration of aconitine was measured. In addition, four extracts were prepared according to reported recipes. Results All 22 informants knew of Aconitum spp. and their therapeutic use, and 5 of them provided a detailed description of the preparation and use of “voukuc”, an ethanolic extract made from aconite roots. Seven informants were unable to describe the preparation in detail, since they knew of the extract only from the narration of others or they remembered it from childhood. Most likely, the roots of Aconitum tauricum and Aconitum napellus were used for the preparation of the extract, and the solvent was homemade spirits. Four informants kept the extract at home; two extracts were prepared recently (1998 and 2015). Three extracts were analyzed, and 2 contained aconitine. Informants reported many indications for the use of the extract; it was used internally and, in some cases, externally as well. The extract was also used in animals. The extract was measured in drops, but the number of drops differed among the informants. The informants reported nine poisonings with Aconitum spp., but none of them occurred as a result of medicinal use of the extract. Conclusions In this study, we determined that folk knowledge of the medicinal use of Aconitum spp. is still present in Solčavsko, but Aconitum preparations are used only infrequently.

V prispevku so prikazane osnovne topoklimatske značilnosti Jezerskega, ki so rezultat splošnih podnebnih potez in specifičnih lokalnih razmer. Prostorsko najbolj razširjene topoklimatske enote so posledica razlik v osončenosti ter součinkovanja lokalnih reliefnih danosti in rabe tal. Prikazane so na pregledni topoklimatski karti v merilu 1 : 25.000.

Uvod: Dobro sodelovanje med zdravniki in medicinskimi sestrami omogoča višjo kakovost zdravstvene obravnave pacientov. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, kako odnose med medicinskimi sestrami in zdravniki ocenjujejo študenti zdravstvene nege in medicine. Metode: V neeksperimentalni kvantitativni raziskavi je bila uporabljena Jeffersonova lestvica za oceno sodelovanja med zdravniki in medicinskimi sestrami. V priložnostni vzorec je bilo zajetih 428 študentov. Od tega 235 (54,9 %) študentov zdravstvene nege in 193 (45,1 %) študentov medicine. Podatki so bili analizirani z bivariatno statistiko in t-testom. Rezultati: Ugotovitve kažejo statistično pomembne razlike glede na spol anketirancev, pri nekaterih trditvah pa tudi glede na vrsto študija. Anketiranke so se v večji meri strinjale s trditvami. Največja razlika glede na spol anketiranih je bila pri trditvi, da bi morali biti študentje medicine in zdravstvene nege vključeni v timsko delo, da bi razumeli svoje vloge (t = 2,59, p = 0,010). Študentje zdravstvene nege so se večinoma bolj strinjali s trditvami kot študentje medicine. V primerjavi med vrstama študija je bila največja razlika glede strinjanja pri trditvi »Na medicinsko sestro je treba gledati kot na zdravnikovo sodelavko in kolegico in ne kot na pomočnico« (t = 15,24, p < 0,001). Diskusija in zaključek: Ugotovitve kažejo statistično pomembne razlike v oceni odnosov med medicinskimi sestrami in zdravniki glede na spol anketiranih ter vrsto študija. Razlike glede različnih pogledov študentov obeh fakultet ponujajo priložnost za načrtovanje obeh izobraževanih programov.

Hitre politične in gospodarske spremembe po padcu socializma so povzročile dinamične procese urbanega prestrukturiranja v mestih, pri čemer so stare vzorce in modele rasti zamenjali tisti, pri katerih sta bila kapital in tržno gospodarstvo ključna za rast in razvoj. Preobrazba v tržno gospodarstvo in ponovna uvedba lastništva zemljišč sta zahtevali nov, decentralizirani sistem odločanja, kar je neposredno vplivalo na zgradbo in obliko mest. Med urbanimi preobrazbami so prišle jasno do izraza spremembe v lokacijskih vzorcih trgovskih objektov v mestih, ki so ponazarjale različne vzorce prostorske organizacije postsocialističnih mest. V članku avtorja preučujeta in predstavita nekatere posebnosti te preobrazbe v Bukarešti, Budimpešti, Pragi in Sofiji pred padcem socializma in po njem. Na podlagi analize izbranih mest predstavita procese postsocialističnega prostorskega prestrukturiranja, pri čemer preučujeta spremembe njihovih središč, ki so povzročile razdrobljenost mest in razpadanje urbanega tkiva. V primerjalni študiji je poleg tega prikazano, kako se v mestih s podobno preteklostjo lahko pojavijo različni razvojni vzorci.

Rapid political and economic changes after the collapse of communism led to dynamic processes of urban restructuring in cities, replacing old patterns and models of growth with ones in which capital and the market economy were central to growth and development. The transformation towards a market economy and the reintroduction of land ownership required the establishment of a new and decentralised decision-making system, with direct consequences for cities’ structure and form. As part of these urban transformations, there were clear changes in location patterns of retail structures in cities, illustrating diverse patterns of post-communist cities’ spatial organisation. This article explores and provides insight into some special features of this transformation, both before and after the collapse of communism, in Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Sofia. Examining these cities offers an overview of post-communist spatial restructuring processes and explores their changing centralities, which ultimately led to fragmented cities and disintegrated urban fabric. This comparative study also outlines how different development patterns can arise in cities that shared a similar past.

The Bor metallogenic zone is one of the most important metallogenic units in the Republicof Serbia. Volcanic processes in this unit are characterized by the domination of extrusivevolcanic activity, and the change of depositional environment during the numerous volcaniccycles, as well as facial transitions and huge deposition of syn- and post eruptive resedimentedvolcanoclastics. The predominant metals in the Bor metallogenic zone are copperand gold, accompanied by iron, base-metals, silver, molybdenum, and minor platinumgroupelements. The most prominent morphogenetic types of deposit comprise porphyrycopper-gold, cupriferous pyrite, massive base-metal sulphides and hydrothermal veins,iron oxides skarns, carbonate replacement polymetallic deposits, volcanogenic epithermalgold mineralization of the high sulphidation type, and exceptionally rare clasts of coppersulphide ore mechanically accumulated in small sedimentary basins filled by pyroclastics.The total production of the Bor metallogenic zone since 1902 has been near 652 Mt ofore with 4.93 Mt of copper and 280 tons of gold. Mineral resources of the Bor metallogeniczone are estimated at over 20 millions of tons of copper and 1,000 tons of gold. Themain geological characteristics of selected metallic mineral deposits in this area are describedin this paper.

When considering the deployment of renewable energy sources in systems, the challenge of their utilization comes from their time instability when a mismatch between production and demand occurs. With the integration of thermal storages into systems that utilize renewable energy sources, such mismatch can be evened out. The use of phase-change materials (PCMs) as thermal storage has a theoretical advantage over the sensible one because of their high latent heat that is released or accumulated during the phase-change process. Therefore, the present paper is a review of latent thermal storages in hydronic systems for heating, cooling and domestic hot water in buildings. The work aims to offer an overview on applications of latent thermal storages coupled with heat pumps and solar collectors. The review shows that phase-change materials improve the release of heat from thermal storage and can supply heat or cold at a desired temperature level for longer time periods. The PCM review ends with the results from one of the Horizon2020 research projects, where indirect electrical storage in the form of thermal storage is considered. The review is a technological outline of the current state-of-the-art technology that could serve as a knowledge base for the practical implementation of latent thermal storages. The paper ends with an overview of energy storage maturity and the objectives from different roadmaps of European bodies.

The radioactivity workshop and hands-on demonstrations in Milan Čopič Nuclear Training Centre enable us to effectively transfer some basic information about radioactivity, radiation and radiation effects to our young visitors. This activity has been well accepted and praised by teachers, who are aware of the subject importance for education.

The Velenje Coal Mine is building a new shaft NOP II for the transportation of coal from the mine. The entrance of the shaft, which is determined on the surface, and the bottom of the shaft, which is expected in the point determined at the bottom of the shaft, must be within the same vertical and horizontal coordinate system. The starting points for the measurements are the points determined on the surface, which are stable or have a determined direction and velocity. The transfer of the coordinate system from the surface into the shaft can be carried out with the measurements using various methods. The results of the measurements and the calculations are the coordinate points in the shaft that are in the same coordinate system as those on the surface. They are very suitable for the determination of the designed NOP II shaft. At the beginning of this task, we planned to determine the coordinates of the starting points with a maximum precision. Based on the results of an analysis, we can conclude that we performed each phase of the work very well and achieved the tasks set.

Z uporabo presvetlitvene tehnike in barvanja skeleta za hrustančno in kostno tkivo smo spremljali vzorec osifikacije skeleta pri navadni krastač Bufo bufo, katerih ličinke imajo izredno hiter razvoj. Osredotočili smo se na osifikacijo hrbtenice, oplečja in okolčja ter okončin, s poudarkom na osifikaciji njihovih distalnih delov. Ugotovili smo, da so hrustančne zasnove skeleta ob koncu premetamorfoznega obdobja (faza 34) že oblikovane. Prve pokostenitve se pojavijo v prometamorfozi (faza 39) in sicer, sočasno v nevralnih lokih, v diafiznem delu proksimalnih elementov sprednjih in zadnjih okončin in v proksimalnem delu črevnic okolčja. Oplečje je v tej fazi še v celoti hrustančno. Osifikacija je med prometamorfozo bolj intenzivna in postopoma napreduje v kranio – kavdalni smeri vzdolž hrbtenice in od proksimalnih v distalne dele okončin, prav tako se širi iz osrednjega dela dolgih kosti okončin proti epifiznim koncem. Osifikacija prstov poteka v posteriorno – anteriorni smeri glede na os okončine. Tako kot pri večini brezrepcev, je skelet krastače ob zaključku metamorfoznega klimaksa (faza 46) skoraj popolnoma osificiran. Hrustančni ostajajo osrednji dorzalni del hrbtenice in distalni konci prečnih odstavkov vretenc, kavdalni del postsakralne regije, epifizni konci dolgih kosti okončin in karpus ter metakarpus, ter nadlopatici oplečja in sramnici okolčja. Rezultati raziskave so potrdili konzervativnost splošnega vzorca osifikacije skeleta dvoživk, navkljub da je razvoj ličink krastače v primerjavi z ostalimi brezrepci bistveno hitrejši.

*NO ABSTRACT

One of the great challenges in the energy sector represents retrofit of residential buildings where 3/4 of buildings in Europe are residential. To reduce energy consumption and increase the use of renewables in existing residential buildings a holistic approach of retrofit with interconnected technological system is needed. In the present paper energy toolkit based on the synergetic interaction between technologies integrated in the system for holistic retrofit of residential buildings which is under development within HEART project (HORIZON 2020) is presented. In this project step towards self-sufficient heating and cooling of building is made with an increase in on-site consumption of self-produced energy in PV from solar energy, where produced electrical energy is used also for heat pump operation. In this case thermal energy storage plays an important role for storing heat or cold for time when solar energy is not available. Improvement of sensible thermal energy storage with implemented cylindrical modules at the top of the heat storage tank and filled with phase change material is investigated experimentally. 43 litres of paraffin with phase change temperature between 27 °C and 29 °C was used in a system, what represented 15 % of total volume of heat storage tank. The results from experiment shows that thermal energy storage unit with integrated modules filled with phase change material can supply desired level of water temperature for twice as long at smaller temperature level as sensible thermal energy storage what is the consequence of higher energy density that can be stored during phase change. The advantage of phase change materials is in thermal energy storage for applications that needs narrow temperature range of supplying and storing thermal energy what is the subject matter of consideration in the case of HEART project.

Prispevek opredeljuje vlogo dejavnosti varstva dediščine v območjih zavarovane krajine oziroma parkov, ki vsekakor presega običajne delovne postopke. Izpostavlja vlogo etnologa konservatorja s poudarkom na pomenu temeljnih raziskav izbranega območja kot osnove za načrtovanje obsega vsebine, predstavitve dediščine, upravljanja, skratka celovitega razvoja zavarovanega območja. The article is defining the role of heritage - conservation activity in sites of protected landscape and parks respectively; the activity which by all means surpasses the habitual working processes. It exposes the role of ethnologist - conservationist with the stress on inevitability of basic researches on the chosen site, which should serve as grounding for planning the complex development of the protected region (i.e.: the extent of content, heritage presentation, management, ...).

Background: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an illicit drug causing unconsciousness and respiratory depression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentation and treatment in patients admitted to the University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UMCL).Methods: In this study we included all retrospectively reviewed cases of GHB-poisoning admitted to the UMCL between 2000 and 2014. We collected all the data regarding the overdose circumstances, clinical presentation, treatment and toxicological analysis of blood and urine.Results: In the previous 15 years a total of 74 patients were admitted to the UMCL due to GHB-poisoning. The first case of GHB-poisoning was observed in 2002 and the numbers have largely increased since 2012. 86% of all the patients ingested the drug intentionally, 82% were male and the median age of admitted patients was 27 years. We recorded 6 mass GHB-poisonings in which 2-4 patients were admitted simultaneously. The most common presenting symptom of GHB-poisoning was diminished level of consciousness (95%), with 53% being unresponsive to pain. Vomiting (30%), bradycardia (28%), hypotension (26%), hypoventilation with respiratory insufficiency (19%) and agittation upon awakening (31%) were common as well. Concomitant alcohol and illicit drug use was recorded in 61% of cases. 80% of all the patients were treated symptomatically, 14% were mechanically ventilated.Conclusions: The incidence of GHB-poisoning has increased in recent years. GHB-poisoned patients are predominantly male, often admitted in groups, who ingest the drug intentionally at parties during weekends. The most common presenting symptom of GHB-poisoning is unconsciousness. Treatment is symptomatic.

Makedonsko glavno mesto je tako kot številna druga mesta v sosednjih državah doživelo radikalne spremembe, ki so v zadnjih dvajsetih letih in že prej vplivale na urbanistične procese. V zadnjem stoletju se je prebivalstvo Skopja povečalo za več kot desetkrat, družbene spremembe v tem obdobju pa niso vplivale samo na načrtovalske procese, temveč tudi na grajeno tkivo mesta. Posledično so mesto preoblikovale najrazličnejše dinamike. V zadnjih dvajsetih letih je razvoj Skopja zaznamoval dolg in boleč prehod – proces, med katerim se je mesto moralo prilagoditi novim kompleksnim razmeram. Kriza, ki je zajela Skopje, je povzročila slabšo kakovost grajenega okolja in ustvarila plodna tla za špekulativno gradnjo. Postalo je jasno, da urbanistično načrtovanje ne more več delovati kot orodje nadzora in razvoja, katerega glavni cilj je varovati in spodbujati javne interese. V članku so analizirane načrtovalske pobude, sprejete pred 90. leti 20. stoletja in pozneje, pri čemer so opredeljene glavne faze preobrazbe od 90. let naprej, in sicer v skladu s ključno zakonodajo, političnimi dejavniki in z upravnimi odločitvami, ki so prispevali k urbani preobrazbi mesta.

Like many cities in neighbouring countries, the Macedonian capital Skopje has undergone radical changes that have affected urban planning processes for over twenty years. Over the past century, during which Skopje’s population has grown more than tenfold, social changes have not only affected planning processes but also impacted the built fabric of the city. As a result, the city has been transformed by a diverse set of dynamics. The last twenty years of Skopje’s development have been marked by a long and painful transition, a process through which the city has had to adjust to new complexities. The current crisis engulfing the city has led to deterioration in the quality of the built environment and has created fertile ground for speculative developments. It has become clear that urban planning is no longer able to operate as an instrument of control and development with the primary aim of protecting and promoting public interests. This article analyses the planning initiatives both before and after the 1990s, defining the main phases of transformation since the 1990s according to the key legislation, political factors and administrative decisions that have contributed to the urban transformations of the city.

The opinions and arguments, claiming that Anton Janša stayed in Carinthia from 1765 until his departure for Vienna in the year 1766, that he was a member of the Carinthian agricultural society and similar, are a novelty in the knowledge of the life and work of the first c. k. beekeeping teacher in Vienna. This statement was for the first time published in the book of Ehrenfels in 1829 and for the second time in the book of Heinrich in 1832. This notice was later reproduced in other works. The message of these publications is: Anton Janša was a Carinthian, he brought the Carinthian way of beekeeping to Vienna, he originates from the Carinthian agricultural society, which also recommended him in Vienna, so he was invited by the Empress Maria Theresia to Vienna and so on. Among Slovenian authors Perc (1925a,b) and Stabej (1955) drew attention to these records. Janša describes in his books and stresses his Carniolan origin, Carniolan way of beekeeping and Carniolan wooden hive and does not refer to his life and work in Carinthia. To confirm these records and publications on Anton Janša in Carinthia, it is necessary to find archival documents in provincial archive in Klagenfurt to confirm or to reject this hypothesis.

Background: The aim of our study was to define long-term electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes and complications after transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale in adults.Methods: The clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic follow-up of 137 consecutive patients that underwent transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (51 patients) or patent foramen ovale (86 patients) in a 10-year period was analyzed retrospectively.Results: In the patent foramen ovale group, we observed no significant postprocedural changes. There were no changes in heart rate, heart rhythm and PR or QRS duration in both groups. In the atrial septal defect group, we observed a leftward shift in the heart axis (p = 0.017), a decrease in the estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (p = 0.024), decreased tricuspid early diastolic flow velocity (p = 0.002), a decrease in the right chamber dimensions (p = 0.0004) and interventricular septal movement normalization (p Conclusions: No electrocardiographic or echocardiographic changes occurred after patent foramen ovale closure. Atrial septal defect closure is related to significant early morphological and hemodynamic improvement. Postprocedural complications are usually early and mild but serious late complications can occur. For that reason, long-term follow up is recommended in these patients.

A 52-year-old patient decades after complete correction of tetralogy of Fallot is presented. The main late complication was left ventricular failure with consequential congestive heart failure. Heart transplantation was the only therapeutic option.

Anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (aβ2GPI) represent a potential pathogenic candidate for coronary artery diseases. High avidity aβ2GPI (HAv aβ2GPI) are known to be associated with thrombotic and obstetric manifestations in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, who are also susceptible to the development of premature atherosclerosis. However, there is little information about how human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) are affected by HAv aβ2GPI. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the pathophysiological effects of HAv aβ2GPI on HCAEC and determine their influence on cytokine expression and migration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Following the two hit hypothesis, we co-stimulated HAv aβ2GPI-treated HCAEC in the presence and absence of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA). HAv aβ2GPI induced in vitro HCAEC dysfunction, through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, promoted the expression of chemokines (MCP-1, GROα and IL-8) and IL-6, which led to the attraction and migration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These effects were potentiated and intensified in conditions with SAA, indicating that HAv aβ2GPI, in the presence of physiological concentrations of acute-phase proteins represent pathogenic autoantibodies, which could lead to the development of premature atherosclerosis and/or thrombosis development.

Background: General practitioners and medical specialists are seeing adults with congenital heart disease in their everyday practice more frequently than ever. The lack of experience and knowledge in this field of cardiology often leads to mistakes in the treatment of these patients. The purpose of this article is to point out the commonest problems and mistakes in dealing with this group of patients. Conclusions: In the following article we pointed out the commonest problems and mistakes in dealing with adults with congenital heart disease, such as differing various types of atrial septal defects and differing atrial septal defect from patent foramen ovale. We also pointed out the commonest mistakes in dealing with patients with cyanotic heart disease, especially those with Eisenmenger syndrome.

Introduction: Non-compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare inborn anomaly caused by disorder of endomyocardial morphogenesis. The diagnosis is based on echocardiographic criteria. The prevalence in the adult population is not known. The symptoms are atypical. Three main groups of clinical signs exist: heart failure, thromobembolic events and arrhythmias. In the group of patients with reduced left ventricular function the prognosis is poor and the treatment options are limited. Patients and methods: In the recent 10 years, 7 patients with non-compaction cardiomyopathy were diagnosed at the Department of Cardiology of the University Medical Centre Ljubljana. Results: All seven patients were males, their mean age at the last follow-up being 39 ± 20.3 years (range 20 to 70 years). Five patients were diagnosed in adulthood. All of them fulfilled the echocardiographic diagnostic criteria of noncompaction cardiomyopathy. Five patients had depressed function of both ventricles, two patients had isolated left ventricular dysfunction. Three patients had decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, six patients showed left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Only three patients had normal physical capacity. Two patients presented with clinical signs of overt heart failure. During follow-up, one patient died from heart failure. We observed thromboembolic events in one patient. Three patients suffered from nonsustained ventricular tachycardias and two patients had rhythm conduction abnormalities. Conclusions: Non-compaction cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder. We observed all common complications in our group of patients. The majority of patients displayed dysfunction of the affected ventricle and the dysfunction was more pronounced in older patients. Treatment of complications is an important factor in long-term survival of these patients.

There is predominate opinion among physicians managing type 1 Gauchers' disease (GD) that cardiac involvement is not an issue in these patients. In order to follow this hypothesis, we prospectively investigated 15 adult imiglucerase-treated type 1 GD patients by echocardiography, Doppler, and tissue Doppler echocardiography. This was a case-controlled study with 18 matched healthy volunteers. The obtained data was correlated with the levels of NT-proBNP (brain natriuretic peptide). None of the GD patients had clinical signs of heart disease. In 3 of the 15 patients, we observed echocardiographic signs of aortic and mitral valve calcification. The left ventricular systolic function was within normal limits. Compared to the control group, there was no statistically significant difference observed in the most sensitive indices of left ventricular diastolic function, parameter Em (P=.095), and E/Em ratio (P=.097), as demonstrated by tissue Doppler echocardiography. However, there was a positive correlation between the E/Em ratio and NT-proBNP plasma levels (P=.009). In conclusion, the prospective echocardiographic study of type 1 GD patients did not validate any left ventricular dysfunction. But, the E/Em ratio showed a strong statistical correlation with the most sensitive indicators of heart failure, NT-proBNP. Research on larger groups of patients and the usage of even more sensitive methods as strain-rate imaging will be necessary to confirm eventual myocardial involvement in GD patients.