Search

Contributions: This article presents the results of a study carried out as part of two large-scale pilots and analyzes the impact of the use of modern technologies in education in term of knowledge acquisition in case of students with hearing disabilities. Background: Teaching topics from STEM area is a challenging task for all teachers who have students with hearing disabilities in their class. On the one hand, because of the high degree of difficulty of the information in this field and on the other hand, because of the difficulties that students with hearing disabilities face in understanding this information. In this context, the use of modern technologies in education, but especially the way they are used together with traditional ones, can provide great support for teachers of students with special needs. Intended Outcomes: A set of modern technologies, i.e., virtual lab, virtual reality (VR), in the game-based learning context of the EU-funded NEWTON project, were employed in education as part of the Earth Course. The goal was to increase the accessibility of STEM information in the area of natural sciences for the benefit of students, especially those with hearing disabilities. Application Design: The study targeted secondary school students with hearing disabilities. Content related to natural sciences (i.e., wildlife and sealife) was presented as part of the Earth Course via innovative applications that included virtual laboratories and VR. Avatars were used to support the students with special needs (sign-language translation). Findings: The results of this study demonstrate that the use of modern technologies, combined with game-based learning in science lessons for students with hearing disabilities, contribute to increasing their knowledge level. The best results were obtained when these technologies were used in mixed lessons, alongside the traditional teaching methods.

The number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-related jobs is increasing all around the world and especially in Europe. However, teachers face many difficulties in making STEM related classes more attractive and motivating the students to learn. This paper presents two case studies involving 116 students from two European countries (Slovakia and Ireland). The studies investigated the impact of a new educational computer game called Final Frontier on learning process and students' motivation. We found that there are no significant differences between the two countries in terms of students' interest in STEM, although the students in Slovakia achieved slightly better grades than those in Ireland. We also found that in both countries, the students using the Final Frontier game outperformed those not using the game in improving their subject knowledge after the study. Furthermore, the impact of game-based learning on students' motivation for STEM differed in the two countries.

Sepsis is a global health challenge that causes more than 11 million deaths annually and represents a substantial medical and economic burden. With rising treatment costs and significant mortality rates associated with organ dysfunction and septic shock, research efforts have focused on investigating the mechanism of glycocalyx (GCX) degradation as well as its regenerative capacity. Therefore, GCX has become a target in therapeutic strategies.

Emotional intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy and social skills, holds pivotal importance in the pursuit of excellence for athletes. Meditation, represented by various forms such as mindfulness, loving-kindness, visualization, breath control and relaxation exercises, offers athletes a structured pathway to deepen self-awareness, enhance emotional regulation and foster empathy. In conclusion, meditation emerges not merely as a relaxation technique but as a transformative journey that empowers athletes to master their emotions, excel in sports, and enhance their overall well-being. This narrative literature review highlights the profound impact of meditation on athletes’ emotional intelligence, encouraging further exploration in this evolving intersection of sports and mindfulness. In the demanding world of sports, emotional intelligence (EI) is a critical factor for athletes’ success, encompassing self-regulation, empathy, communication and composure under pressure. Meditation, a transformative tool for deepening self-awareness, emotional regulation and mental resilience, has emerged as a promising avenue for cultivating EI in athletes. This narrative review synthesizes existing research and personal narratives to explore the interplay between meditation and EI in the context of sports. Evidence suggests that meditation can enhance EI through mindfulness, loving-kindness and visualization practices, promoting focus, stress management and emotional resilience. Integration of meditation into athletic training regimens offers athletes a competitive edge, sharpening their mental acuity and fostering supportive team dynamics. While the transformative potential of meditation for EI is substantiated by research, limitations such as the predominance of qualitative studies and case reports warrant further empirical investigations. Overall, this narrative review highlights the promising relationship between meditation, EI, and athletic performance, paving the way for future research and practical applications of mindfulness practices in the sports world.

Calin Muntean,1 Andiana Roxana Blidari,2 Alaviana Monique Faur,3 Razvan Ovidiu Curca,4 Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier5,6 1Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Department III-Functional Sciences, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; 2Oncology Unit, Department IX-Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; 3Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; 4Department of Oncology, “Elysee Hospital”, Alba Iulia, Romania; 5First Discipline of Surgery, Department X-Surgery, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; 6First Surgery Clinic, “Pius Brinzeu” Clinical Emergency Hospital, Timisoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Andiana Roxana Blidari, Email andiana.blidari@umft.roBackground: The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) for its effectiveness in determining patient outcomes (length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, infection rates, and survival) for colorectal cancer.Methods: Utilizing a comprehensive search strategy, this review mined literature up to December 2023 from the PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. The focus was on identifying studies that scrutinize the prognostic value of MUST in relation to hospital outcomes in colorectal cancer contexts. Adherence to PRISMA guidelines ensured a systematic approach, encompassing various study designs and outcome measures.Results: Among the seven studies incorporating 1950 patients, a significant correlation emerged between MUST scores and key hospital outcomes. Specifically, patients categorized as high MUST risk faced longer hospital stays, with a mean length of stay for high-risk patients extending up to 26.6 days compared to 14 days for those at lower risk. The prevalence of postoperative complications was substantially higher in the high-risk group, with up to 41.4% of high MUST risk patients experiencing severe complications (Clavien-Dindo 3– 5) compared to 8.5% in the low-risk category. Notably, the review found that high MUST scores were strongly predictive of increased postoperative complications and a prolonged hospital stay, underscoring the tool’s critical predictive utility for quality of life and use in clinical settings.Conclusions: Therefore, MUST’s capability to predict longer hospital stays and a higher incidence of postoperative complications among high-risk patients highlights its essential function in preoperative evaluations and supports the integration of MUST into routine clinical assessments.Keywords: cancer, oncology, colorectal cancer, quality of life

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) can cause asymptomatic infections and acute, chronic, or localized manifestations affecting multiple organs. Doxycycline is the most effective treatment for Q fever. We report two cases of localized C. burnetii infections with no evident epidemiological link. Case reports: We present the case of a 51-year-old male patient admitted for low fever, dry cough, and malaise. The physical examination was unremarkable except for painful hepatomegaly. He was diagnosed with a liver abscess based on inflammatory markers, positive serology for C. burnetii, and abdominal computed tomography (CT) showing a large lesion (112/86/93 mm) within the right liver lobe. Blood cultures and the fluid obtained by percutaneous catheter drainage were negative. After 28 days of treatment with doxycycline, he was discharged well. At the three-month reevaluation, blood tests were normal, and a CT scan showed a minimal residual lesion. The second case was an 81-year-old female with many comorbidities, almost simultaneous acute ischemic stroke, and double-valve (native and prosthetic) infective endocarditis (IE). C. burnetii infection was confirmed by high titers of antibodies (phase I and II IgG), most probably the direct cause of both manifestations. These two cases presented with very rare manifestations of C. burnetii infections, highlighting its diagnostic difficulties. Conclusions: A clear distinction between acute and chronic Q fever is difficult in rare localized infections, as are organ abscesses. Coxiella burnetii may cause stroke and infective endocarditis, especially in the elderly. Even in the absence of epidemiological clues, in patients with localized infections, the C. burnetii etiology should be considered.

This article delves into the structure of Iupiter Dolichenus temples, focusing on its sanctuaries in the Danubian Provinces of Dacia, Pannonia Inferior, Pannonia Superior, Raetia, and Noricum. It emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the cult’s role in the religious landscape, cautioning against oversimplified theoretical approaches. Eight Dolichenus cult structures had archaeologically been identified in these provinces (Mehadia, Porolissum, Brigetio, Vetus Salina, Carnuntum I, Carnuntum II, Virunum, Vetoniana), showcasing the cult’s manifestation on a broader scale. The study focuses on analyzing these temples’ architectural features and functionalities, highlighting both differences and similarities. The article aims to provide a detailed examination of each sanctuary, considering phases of construction, alterations, and factors contributing to variations, through the analysis of archaeological finds and architectural characteristics related to the sanctuaries, it seeks to establish patterns and understand the role of specific chambers within these sacred precincts.

We assessed depression, anxiety, and stress in healthcare workers (HCWs) in 2023 and the evolution of depression in 2023 compared with 2022. In September–November 2023, 181 HCWs from the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress 21 Scale (DASS-21 R), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The prevalence of moderate-to-severe levels was 13.8% for DASS-Depression, 18.8% for DASS-Anxiety, 16.1% for DASS-Stress, 19.9% for PHQ-9, and 18.2% for HAM-A. Moderate-to-severe PHQ-9 depression was significantly lower in the 2023 study group (19.9%, N = 181) compared with 2022 (30.6%, N = 114) (p = 0.04), also within the 2022–2023 follow-up participants (N = 88) (p = 0.03). We did not find significant statistical differences between those infected vs. non-infected, vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated, or working with vs. not working with SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Males were significantly more stressed (p = 0.02) and anxious (p = 0.03), and physicians in training had the highest prevalence of moderate-to-severe depression (31.6%), followed by physicians (25.6%). In 2023, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms decreased but remained within a concerning range. By addressing these psychological issues, we may reduce the possibility of medical errors and prevent professional crises in the healthcare system.

Introduction: Finding complex and relevant information in the specialty literature is a very important aspect for researchers, this representing the first step in designing and starting a new research. Aim: This study aimed to test four different search strategies within three databases to get a higher number of valid and reliable articles able to reflect the state of the art. Methods: We performed a literature search on 25 May 2024, in PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect scientific databases. We used four Boolean search strings (one sort and one long with quotation mark and one short and one long with parentheses) that combined relevant keywords related to hormonal therapy, cancer treatment, and red clover. The article types targeted were open and non-open access articles and also review and research articles. Filters as publishing year, text availability, article type and additionally subject area - for Science Direct, were applied. Results: The 1st short Boolean search strategy with quotation marks identified 1369 articles, and the 2nd short search strategy with parentheses identified 2734 potentially relevant articles. The 1st long Boolean search strategy with quotation marks identified 112 articles, and the 2nd long search strategy with parentheses identified 185 potentially relevant articles. The highest number of open access articles (106) and the highest number of review articles (253) was retrieved by ScienceDirect. Most of the determined articles classified as irrelevant were retrieved from ScienceDirect for all the 4-search strategy, compared to WoS and PubMed, and were excluded after filtering process, since they did not present related characteristics to the subject of interest. A significant association between article type and the 4 strategies for ScienceDirect had been identified. Conclusions: The short search strategy with parentheses returned a higher number of articles than the short strategy with quotation marks and the long strategies with quotes and parentheses. ScienceDirect returned the largest number of articles, but upon verification, the most irrelevant articles were also observed within this database. Regarding open access and review articles type, the short strategy with parentheses returned the highest number for PubMed and ScienceDirect, and for WoS, the highest number of such articles was obtained following the use of the short strategy with quotation marks.

Subject and Purpose. Currently, numerous ideas and different methods have been in growth for generating vortex beams — areas of the circular motion of the electromagnetic wave energy flow around the so-called phase singularity points caused by a violation of the wave front topological structure. The purpose of this work is to obtain analytical expressions describing the nonparaxial diffraction of wave modes of the waveguide resonator of a terahertz laser during the wave mode interaction with a spiral phase plate. The resulting vortex beams are examined for their physical features in free space propagation. Methods and Methodology. The Rayleigh-Sommerfeld vector theory is adopted to consider the propagation of vortex laser beams generated by wave modes of the quasi-optical waveguide cavity when interacting with a spiral phase plate in different diffraction zones. Results. For the first time, analytical expressions have been obtained to describe the nonparaxial diffraction of wave modes of the waveguide resonator of a terahertz laser, when resonator modes interact with a spiral phase plate at different topological charges, n. The physical features of the resulting vortex beams were studied in their free space propagation. It has been shown that a spiral phase plate modifies the structure of the linearly polarized EH₁₁ mode so that the original (n=0) intensity profile with the maximum energy at the center turns at n=1 and 2 into a ring-like donut shape with an energy hole in the center. The azimuthally polarized TE₀₁ mode has originally (n=0) a ring-shaped intensity. At n=1, this configuration changes to have the maximum intensity in the center. At n=2, it becomes annular again. In the process, the spherical phase front of the beam of the linearly polarized EH₁₁ mode becomes spiral and have one singularity point on the axis, whereas the phase structure of the azimuthally polarized TE₀₁ mode gains a region with two phase singularity points off the axis. Conclusions. The results of the study can effectively facilitate information transfer in high-speed THz communication systems. They can provide a real platform to perform tasks related to tomography, exploring properties of materials, detecting astrophysical sources, which makes them very promising in modern technologies.

Adela Voinescu,1– 3 Monica Licker,2,3 Delia Muntean,2,3 Corina Musuroi,2,3 Silvia Ioana Musuroi,1 Oana Izmendi,1,2 Silvana Vulpie,1,2 Romanita Jumanca,4 Mihnea Munteanu,5 Andrei Cosnita5 1Doctoral School “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 2Department of Microbiology, Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 3Clinical Laboratory, “Pius Brinzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania; 4Romanian and Foreign Languages Department, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania; 5Department IX, Surgery and Ophthalmology “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, RomaniaCorrespondence: Monica Licker, Department of Microbiology, Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania, Email licker.monica@umft.roAbstract: Contact lenses (CL) have become an immensely popular means of vision correction, offering comfort to millions worldwide. However, the persistent issue of biofilm formation on lenses raises significant problems, leading to various ocular complications and discomfort. The aim of this review is to develop safer and more effective strategies for preventing and managing microbial biofilms on CL, improving the eye health and comfort of wearers. Taking these into consideration, the present study investigates the intricate mechanisms of biofilm formation, by exploring the interplay between microbial adhesion, the production of extracellular polymeric substances, and the properties of the lens material itself. Moreover, it emphasizes the diverse range of microorganisms involved, encompassing bacteria, fungi, and other opportunistic pathogens, elucidating their implications within lenses and other medical device-related infections and inflammatory responses. Going beyond the challenges posed by biofilms on CL, this work explores the advancements in biofilm detection techniques and their clinical relevance. It discusses diagnostic tools like confocal microscopy, genetic assays, and emerging technologies, assessing their capacity to identify and quantify biofilm-related infections. Finally, the paper delves into contemporary strategies and innovative approaches for managing and preventing biofilms development on CL. In Conclusion, this review provides insights for eye care practitioners, lens manufacturers, and microbiology researchers. It highlights the intricate interactions between biofilms and CL, serving as a foundation for the development of effective preventive measures and innovative solutions to enhance CL safety, comfort, and overall ocular health. Research into microbial biofilms on CL is continuously evolving, with several future directions being explored to address challenges and improve eye health outcomes as far as CL wearers are concerned.Keywords: Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, microscopy, genetic, microbial keratitis

Abstract Parkinson’s disease is increasingly prevalent. It progresses from the pre-motor stage (characterised by non-motor symptoms like REM sleep behaviour disorder), to the disabling motor stage. We need objective biomarkers for early/pre-motor disease stages to be able to intervene and slow the underlying neurodegenerative process. Here, we validate a targeted multiplexed mass spectrometry assay for blood samples from recently diagnosed motor Parkinson’s patients (n = 99), pre-motor individuals with isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (two cohorts: n = 18 and n = 54 longitudinally), and healthy controls (n = 36). Our machine-learning model accurately identifies all Parkinson patients and classifies 79% of the pre-motor individuals up to 7 years before motor onset by analysing the expression of eight proteins—Granulin precursor, Mannan-binding-lectin-serine-peptidase-2, Endoplasmatic-reticulum-chaperone-BiP, Prostaglaindin-H2-D-isomaerase, Interceullular-adhesion-molecule-1, Complement C3, Dickkopf-WNT-signalling pathway-inhibitor-3, and Plasma-protease-C1-inhibitor. Many of these biomarkers correlate with symptom severity. This specific blood panel indicates molecular events in early stages and could help identify at-risk participants for clinical trials aimed at slowing/preventing motor Parkinson’s disease.

Aim of study: This study aimed to use EDS (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry) in order to quantitatively and qualitatively assess secondary retention (osseointegration) by evaluating the elemental composition of the mini-implants (MIs) surface after their use as anchorage in orthodontic treatment, which could highlight possible osseointegration. Materials and methods: A total of 30 Infinitas™ mini-implants obtained from patients with an average age of 21.93 years, were analyzed using EDS. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also performed to asses the mini-implants. Results: In all groups, new bone formation occurred between the threads of the MIs and the bone surface, partially extending along the thread. Fibroblast-like structures were observed using SEM. The Pearson correlation coefficient indicates that there is no significant correlation between %Ca and duration (coefficient = -0.085; p-value = 0.655). The atomic percentages of the elements on the MI surface, revealed from EDS analysis and also present in bone composition, are comparable to the percentages of elements in the alveolar bone from the study, according to Dunn’s Multiple Comparison test. Conclusions: The results suggest the presence of newly formed bone on the MIs surface

To mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions, it is of utmost importance to understand where emissions occur. In the real world, atmospheric pollutants are produced by various human activities from point sources (e.g. power plants and industrial facilities) but also from diffuse sources (e.g. residential activities and agriculture). However, as tracking all these single sources of emissions is practically impossible, emission inventories are typically compiled using national-level statistics by sector, which are then downscaled at the grid-cell level using spatial information. In this work, we develop high-spatial-resolution proxies for use in downscaling the national emission totals for all world countries provided by the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR). In particular, in this paper, we present the latest EDGAR v8.0 GHG, which provides readily available emission data at different levels of spatial granularity, obtained from a consistently developed GHG emission database. This has been achieved through the improvement and development of high-resolution spatial proxies that allow for a more precise allocation of emissions over the globe. A key novelty of this work is the potential to analyse subnational GHG emissions over the European territory and also over the United States, China, India, and other high-emitting countries. These data not only meet the needs of atmospheric modellers but can also inform policymakers working in the field of climate change mitigation. For example, the EDGAR GHG emissions at the NUTS 2 level (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2) over Europe contribute to the development of EU cohesion policies, identifying the progress of each region towards achieving the carbon neutrality target and providing insights into the highest-emitting sectors. The data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.2905/b54d8149-2864-4fb9-96b9-5fd3a020c224 specifically for EDGAR v8.0 (Crippa et al., 2023a) and https://doi.org/10.2905/D67EEDA8-C03E-4421-95D0-0ADC460B9658 for the subnational dataset (Crippa et al., 2023b).

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a long-lived potent greenhouse gas and stratospheric ozone-depleting substance that has been accumulating in the atmosphere since the preindustrial period. The mole fraction of atmospheric N2O has increased by nearly 25 % from 270 ppb (parts per billion) in 1750 to 336 ppb in 2022, with the fastest annual growth rate since 1980 of more than 1.3 ppb yr−1 in both 2020 and 2021. According to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC AR6), the relative contribution of N2O to the total enhanced effective radiative forcing of greenhouse gases was 6.4 % for 1750–2022. As a core component of our global greenhouse gas assessments coordinated by the Global Carbon Project (GCP), our global N2O budget incorporates both natural and anthropogenic sources and sinks and accounts for the interactions between nitrogen additions and the biogeochemical processes that control N2O emissions. We use bottom-up (BU: inventory, statistical extrapolation of flux measurements, and process-based land and ocean modeling) and top-down (TD: atmospheric measurement-based inversion) approaches. We provide a comprehensive quantification of global N2O sources and sinks in 21 natural and anthropogenic categories in 18 regions between 1980 and 2020. We estimate that total annual anthropogenic N2O emissions have increased 40 % (or 1.9 Tg N yr−1) in the past 4 decades (1980–2020). Direct agricultural emissions in 2020 (3.9 Tg N yr−1, best estimate) represent the large majority of anthropogenic emissions, followed by other direct anthropogenic sources, including fossil fuel and industry, waste and wastewater, and biomass burning (2.1 Tg N yr−1), and indirect anthropogenic sources (1.3 Tg N yr−1) . For the year 2020, our best estimate of total BU emissions for natural and anthropogenic sources was 18.5 (lower–upper bounds: 10.6–27.0) Tg N yr−1, close to our TD estimate of 17.0 (16.6–17.4) Tg N yr−1. For the 2010–2019 period, the annual BU decadal-average emissions for both natural and anthropogenic sources were 18.2 (10.6–25.9) Tg N yr−1 and TD emissions were 17.4 (15.8–19.20) Tg N yr−1. The once top emitter Europe has reduced its emissions by 31 % since the 1980s, while those of emerging economies have grown, making China the top emitter since the 2010s. The observed atmospheric N2O concentrations in recent years have exceeded projected levels under all scenarios in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), underscoring the importance of reducing anthropogenic N2O emissions. To evaluate mitigation efforts and contribute to the Global Stocktake of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, we propose the establishment of a global network for monitoring and modeling N2O from the surface through to the stratosphere. The data presented in this work can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.18160/RQ8P-2Z4R (Tian et al., 2023).