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A hemipelagic succession 29m thick, situated in South Tibet within the Tethyan Himalaya tectonic unit, has been investigated for its calcareous nannofossil content. A total of 17 samples were subject to qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis. The studied interval belongs to the upper Albian-lowermost Cenomanian and extends into the UC0 nannofossil zone; based on the last occurrence of Hayesites albiensis, the UC0a and UC0b-c subzones were recognized. The most abundant nannofossil of the Youxia section is Watznaueria barnesiae. Other common taxa are Eiffellithus turriseiffelii, Eprolithus floralis, Rhagodiscus spp., and Zeugrhabdotus spp. In the lowermost part of the studied section, below the beginning of the Albian-Cenomanian Boundary Event (ACBE), i.e., prior to the δ13C positive excursion related to OAE1d, the nannofossils confined to high paleolatitudes, namely Repagulum parvidentatum, Seribiscutum primitivum, and Sollasites horticus, are present with a low abundance. This occurrence is believed to be evidence of a short episode of cooler surface waters linked to a transgressive event. The nannofossil abundance and diversity, along with the fluctuation patterns of the nutrient and temperature indices throughout the section, reflects a primary signal of mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions from the base of the succession up to the two oldest δ13C peaks of ACBE, both late Albian in age and within the OAE1d. By contrast, the dominance of Watznaueria barnesiae, representing more than 80% of the total assemblages, along with the significant drop in abundance and diversity shown by nannofossils within late phases of ACBE, are interpreted as a diagenetic signal. Mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions returned towards the top of the studied succession, where Biscutum constans and Zeugrhabdotus erectus again show a higher abundance.

The utilization of evolutive models and algorithms for predicting the evolution of hepatic steatosis holds immense potential benefits. These computational approaches enable the analysis of complex datasets, capturing temporal dynamics and providing personalized prognostic insights. By optimizing intervention planning and identifying critical transition points, they promise to revolutionize our approach to understanding and managing hepatic steatosis progression, ultimately leading to enhanced patient care and outcomes in clinical settings. This paradigm shift towards a more dynamic, personalized, and comprehensive approach to hepatic steatosis progression signifies a significant advancement in healthcare. The application of evolutive models and algorithms allows for a nuanced characterization of disease trajectories, facilitating tailored interventions and optimizing clinical decision-making. Furthermore, these computational tools offer a framework for integrating diverse data sources, creating a more holistic understanding of hepatic steatosis progression. In summary, the potential benefits encompass the ability to analyze complex datasets, capture temporal dynamics, provide personalized prognostic insights, optimize intervention planning, identify critical transition points, and integrate diverse data sources. The application of evolutive models and algorithms has the potential to revolutionize our understanding and management of hepatic steatosis, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes in clinical settings.

Constantine the Great inaugurated his bridge across the Danube between Oescus (Ghighen) and Sucidava (Celei) on July 5, 328. It was first mentioned by Sextus Aurelius Victor, in Liber de Caesaribus, 41.18, and then by late chronographers during the VII th – IX th centuries (Chronicon Pascale, I, 526, 16-17 (P 284) and Theophanes Confessor in Chronographia, a. 5820 (328), p. 28, (19-20 De Boor). The great constructive moment also appears during the 11th century in the chronicle compiled by the Byzantine monk Georgios Kedrenos, Synopsis historion (Synoptic History, also commonly rendered as A Concise History of the World). The bridge was subsequently suggested or explicitly rendered in the Index Geographicus Celsissimi Principatus Wallachiae – Map of Wallachia of vel Stolnic [High Steward] Constantin Cantacuzino by the end of the 17th century, and shortly after that in the „Istoria delle moderne rivoluzioni della Valachia” (1718, Venice). The latter was written by Anton Maria Del Chiaro, who was Constantin Brâncoveanu`s, Prince of Wallachia (1688-1714), personal secretary. Called „the brass bridge” by the local people on both banks of the Danube, according to a popular belief that its legs would have been cast from metal, the bridge was in olden times attributed to Trajan. In local folklore, the ”Domnul de Rouă” (Lord of Dew) would have passed on its wooden platform during the night, toward the Romanați Plain, heading to the courts of Ler Împărat from the fortress of Antina (Romula/ Reșca). The bridge of Constantine the Great is also mentioned in the second half of the 19th century in the monograph of Felix Kanitz, based upon information collected from the locals and from the pilots of the Vienna Danube Steam Navigation Society (Erste Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft – the DDSG). One of the masonry pillars of the bridge on the fairway close to the Romanian shore was mentioned in July 1869 by passionate journalist and amateur archaeologist Cezar Bolliac; a mere four years later, his archaeological sleuthing culminated in the discovery of the bridge’s northern portal. Quickly covered with soil and waste discharged from the hillside of Celei village, the portal was reinvestigated by Pamfil Polonic and Grigore Tocilescu during a two-month campaign, between June 16 and August 15, 1898. We owe the 1902 publication of those results to the latter, based on the rigorous observations and detailed drawings of topographical engineer Pamfil Polonic. Only in the summer of 1968, Dumitru Tudor coordinated excavations whose precise purpose was to document again the northern portal and to check the neighboring southward pillar(s). The results of these investigations have been relatively modest, but still provide welcome additional information. They were later found in an article by Octavian Toropu and several monographic studies on the site and the Roman bridges on the Lower Danube, primarily due to Dumitru Tudor. Our contribution makes a critical review of all historical and archaeological data pertinent to the bridge of Constantine the Great at Oescus-Sucidava. It introduces as elements of absolute novelty for specialized literature the results of the bathymetry carried out in 2017 through the Danube bed and those of the magnetometric survey (October 2022) in the floodplain on the left bank of the river, today a communal pasture. Thus, within the FAST DANUBE Project, the team of specialists from Marine Research carried out bathymetric measurements with multibeam sonar, on which occasion they identified 27 possible traces (pillars) of the Constantine I Bridge erected between Oescus and Sucidava. The traces of the piles stretch along a linear route for 820 m, while the average distance between them is around 30 m. Additional magnetometric investigations were carried out in the fall of 2022, between the northern portal, the ancient tributary and the mouth of Bozahuzului (from Tr. boğaz, mouth, narrow strait or entrance), also called Banului, or Celeiului backwater. Their result consisted in the identification of seven other anomalies (pillars) due to the Constantinian bridge, over a length of approx. 210 m. The respective anomalies show a rigorous alignment with the northern portal and the masonry piles highlighted by the bathymetry carried out through the Danube bed, and the distance between them is, again, identical.

This study aims to investigate a marlstone and claystone succession located at the southern end of the Eastern Carpathians, a region where oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2) has not been pointed out so far. Toward the upper half of this succession, a 17-cm-thick black shale was identified. The investigated depositional interval lies within the late Cenomanian–early Turonian, encompassing the UC3d up to UC7 nannofossil zones. The δ13C values fluctuated between 2.06‰ and 3.89‰, showing a positive isotope excursion that was assigned to OAE2. The δ13C isotope curve displays the following intervals: pre-excursion, first build-up, trough, second build-up, plateau, and post-excursion. Within the second build-up interval of OAE2, a substantial shift in CaCO3 values, accompanied by high concentrations of total organic carbon and a significant decline in the abundance and diversity of calcareous nannofossil assemblages, was observed. The nannofossil turnover related to OAE2 climax revealed predominance of Watznaueria barnesiae and temporary disappearance from the record of surface-water higher fertility taxa, such as Biscutum constans, Zeugrhabdotus erectus, and Discorhabdus ignotus. Above OAE2, peaks of Eprolithus floralis, followed by increased abundance of Eiffellithus turriseiffelii and Nannoconus spp., were identified. In the lower part of the studied succession (i.e., the upper Cenomanian UC3d nannofossil subzone), during the pre-excursion characterized by low δ13C values and less negative δ18O values, a small group of nannofossils more related to mid- and high-paleolatitudes, such as Crucibiscutum salebrosum, Repagulum parvidentatum, and Seribiscutum primitivum, is present, always showing a low abundance.

A hemipelagic succession 29m thick, situated in South Tibet within the Tethyan Himalaya tectonic unit, has been investigated for its calcareous nannofossil content. A total of 17 samples were subject to qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis. The studied interval belongs to the upper Albian-lowermost Cenomanian and extends into the UC0 nannofossil zone; based on the last occurrence of Hayesites albiensis , the UC0a and UC0b-c subzones were recognized. The most abundant nannofossil of the Youxia section is Watznaueria barnesiae. Other common taxa are Eiffellithus turriseiffelii , Eprolithus floralis, Rhagodiscus spp., and Zeugrhabdotus spp. In the lowermost part of the studied section, below the beginning of the Albian-Cenomanian Boundary Event (ACBE), i.e., prior to the δ13C positive excursion related to OAE1d, the nannofossils confined to high paleolatitudes, namely Repagulum parvidentatum , Seribiscutum primitivum , and Sollasites horticus , are present with a low abundance. This occurrence is believed to be evidence of a short episode of cooler surface waters linked to a transgressive event. The nannofossil abundance and diversity, along with the fluctuation patterns of the nutrient and temperature indices throughout the section, reflects a primary signal of mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions from the base of the succession up to the two oldest δ13C peaks of ACBE, both late Albian in age and within the OAE1d. By contrast, the dominance of Watznaueria barnesiae , representing more than 80% of the total assemblages, along with the significant drop in abundance and diversity shown by nannofossils within late phases of ACBE, are interpreted as a diagenetic signal. Mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions returned towards the top of the studied succession, where Biscutum constans and Zeugrhabdotus erectus again show a higher abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nummulitic Limestones deposits are preserved along the tectonic contact between the Variscan basement and Alpine units of Corsica. These marine carbonates, dated from the Late Palaeocene to the Middle Eocene, were deposited within a foreland flexural basin that is considered to be the southern continuation of the Alpine foreland basin of southeast (SE) France. However, in contrast with the Nummulitic Limestones of SE France, those of Corsica are far less documented. This field‐based study constrains the sedimentology, stratigraphy and structure of the Nummulitic Limestones of Corsica in three localities (Balagne, Corte and Sari‐Solenzara) to identify factors that controlled foreland basin development and to clarify its significance within the early alpine orogen. The microfacies, microfaunal assemblages and siliciclastic fractions are characterised throughout the succession at each locality. The results indicate the existence of an important Variscan basement relief to the west of the basin (West Corsican Massif) that supplied early alluvial fans found at the base of the foreland succession in the northernmost Balagne area. Continuous high clastic input strongly reduced the development and diversity of the overlying Nummulitic Limestones facies and fauna. Further south, limestones in the Corte and Sari‐Solenzara areas are thicker and contain richer fauna. Three depositional models corresponding to the carbonate ramp system are proposed for the Nummulitic Limestones and used to construct paleogeographic maps illustrating the transgressive evolution of the Corsican foreland basin from the Early to the Late Eocene. Based on our results and available regional tectonic data and LT thermochronological data, we propose that the Nummulitic marine transgression took place within a continuous foreland basin encompassing southern Corsica and SE France during the early development of the western alpine arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sediment sections are investigated at Cape Arkhangelos, island of Rhodes, where Pleistocene marine sediments crop out in horsts and grabens of a Mesozoic basement. There, hemipelagic sediments characterized by upper bathyal communities are atypically mixed with much shallower faunal components because they were deposited close to rugged coastal landforms. Biostratigraphic analyses show that the sections were deposited between 1.8 and 0.9 Ma, and between 1.8 and 1.6 Ma, respectively. By combining the planktonic/benthic foraminiferal ratio with 31 bathymetric indicators chosen among extant species of benthic foraminifera, mollusks, and bryozoans, we show that relative sea-level fluctuations can be reconstructed in these atypical settings despite the proximity of steep slopes that favored transportation of allochthonous fauna. The shallow-water components (including gravels and calcareous algae) were transported downslope by the combined action of gravity, currents, and tectonic disturbance that promoted drowning (with a maximum flooding recorded at ca. 1.7 Ma) and then uplift of fault-bounded paleovalleys that formed during the Early Pleistocene. Abrupt facies changes and age differences between sections have been triggered by the irregular paleotopography of the Mesozoic basement, which fostered differential depositional settings, with outer to middle neritic deposits above the horsts and upper bathyal deposits in paleovalleys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die begleitenden archäologischen Rettungsmasnahmen entlang der Autobahn Nr. 2 führten im Abschnitt Cernavodă-Medgidia, beim km. 152, zur Entdeckung eines Grubenfeldes, das allerdings nicht vollständig ausgegraben werden konnte. Die Fundstelle liegt südlich der Stadt Cernavodă bei „Dealurile [Hügel] Cochirlenilor“, auf einer hohen Donau-Terasse. Die Grube Nr. 121, die 2012 freigelegt worden ist, lieferte hervorragende Inventarstücke aus Bronze und Keramik und erweist sich dadurch als wegweisender Fund an der unteren Donau und sogar in größeren kulturellen Arealen. In die nicht tiefe Grube wurden zuerst drei Keramik-Gefäße der Coslogeni-Kultur deponiert – das eine umgestülpt –, dann obendrauf, vermutlich minimal unter der damaligen Erdoberflache, vier Bronzegegenstände, die vom Bagger gestört und teilweise beschädigt worden sind. Es handelt sich um einen vernieteten Kessel, eine kalottenförmige Schale, ein säbelförmiges Langmesser/Machaira und eine Schaftrohraxt mit kugelsegmentförmiger Nacken. Die vier Bronzen verweisen auf Verbindungen mit dem nordpontischen Raum (vor allem mit seiner westlichen Hälfte), mit dem ostpontischen Bereich und mit dem nördlichen Karpatenbecken. Die Zusammensetzung der Gegenstände stellt bislang ein typologisch-geographisches Unikum dar und kann in die BD-Zeit (14.-13. Jh., vgl. auch die C 14-Datierungen) versetzt werden.

This study presents detailed foraminiferal, ostracod, and calcareous nannofossil analyses of five Middle Miocene sections located in the Central Paratethyan realm, namely in Poland, Romania and the Republic of Moldova. Based on foraminiferal distribution, five biostratigraphically important assemblages (labelled A-E) are distinguished. Foraminifera data combined with ostracoda and nannofossil evidence allowed correlation between the studied sections, and a comparison with the deposits of similar age from the Transylvanian, Vienna and Pannonian basins, as well as with the Transcarpathian regions. The micropaleontological record across the Badenian-Sarmatian boundary interval is also presented.

Southeast Europe has played an important role in shaping the genetic diversity of sheep due to its proximity to the Danubian route of transport from the Near East into Europe, as well as its possible role as a post-domestication migration network and long tradition of sheep breeding. The history of Romania and, in particular, the historical province of Dobruja, located on the shore of the Black Sea, has been influenced by its geographical position at the intersection between the great powers of the Near East and mainland Europe, with the Middle Ages being an especially animated time in terms of trade, migration, and conflict. In this study, we analyzed the mitochondrial control region of five sheep originating from the Capidava archaeological site (Dobruja, Southeast Romania), radiocarbon dated to the Early Middle Ages (5–10th century AD), in order to better understand the genetic diversity of local sheep populations and human practices in relation to this particular livestock species. The analyses illustrate high haplotype diversity in local medieval sheep, as well as possible genetic continuity in the region. A higher tendency for North to South interaction, rather than East to West, is apparent, together with a lack of interaction along the Asian route. Continuous interaction between the First Bulgarian Empire, which occupied Dobruja starting with the 7th century AD, and the Byzantine Empire is indicated. These results might suggest expanding trade in Southeast Romania in the Early Middle Ages.

Inguinal hernia surgery is a constantly evolving field, with ongoing research efforts aimed at enhancing surgical techniques and outcomes for patients. This retrospective study conducted between 2015 and 2020 in the First Surgical Clinic of Craiova Emergency Clinical Hospital focused on the occurrence and characteristics of postoperative pain following inguinal hernia repair using the tension-free Lichtenstein procedure. A total of 178 patients were included in the study, with 16.85% reporting postoperative pain. The average pain intensity was 6.4 on a scale of 1 to 10. Patients described the pain as numbness, burning sensation, stinging, pressure, and tingling sensations. Notably, 50% of patients reported pain related to weather changes. While the study explored potential relationships between patient demographics, hernia type, and postoperative pain, no statistically significant associations were found. Approximately 20% of patients with postoperative pain reported adverse effects on their work, and 10% used analgesics for pain management. This study highlights the multifaceted nature of postoperative pain following inguinal hernia repair, emphasizing the need for further research to identify individual risk factors and adherence to international guidelines for hernia management. The findings also underscore the importance of effective pain management strategies to improve patient comfort and quality of life post-surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]