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The article discusses the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infections in the Roma population in Cluj County, Romania. It mentions that the prevalence of HBV in the Roma population was much higher than in the general non-Roma Romanian population, while the prevalence of HCV was moderately higher. The authors emphasize the need to prioritize the Roma population in the management of viral hepatitis to achieve the World Health Organization's elimination targets for 2030.

This article focuses on the development of European institutional repositories web security in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS). Since the first analysis in June 2016, we have been still using the same three independent online tools to measure the web security score of these repositories. In case of data transfer, the qualitative aspects of the secured HTTPS protocol are as important as implementing the protocol itself. Our analysis is directly related to the previously published article where we examined the selected group of LIS repositories. Now, we are focusing on the summarization of improvements made between 2016-2018. These are based on periodical annual measurements. These may contribute to increasing the security level of repositories not only in Europe, but also with respect to the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) regulation which came into force a few months ago. It is significant because the GDPR focuses, inter alia, on the ways of sensitive data transfer over the internet networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the profound impact of a viral pandemic on the mental health of patients with autoimmune diseases undergoing biological treatment is crucial for future insights. This cross-sectional case-control study aimed to assess the mental health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Romania, spanning from November 2022 to March 2023. A specialized self-report questionnaire in the Romanian language was developed to measure the multifaceted effects of COVID-19 on the mental well-being of these patients. The findings revealed a significant decline in the mental health of patients with IBD during the pandemic compared to the control group. Patients with IBD exhibited elevated levels of anxiety and concern regarding the virus. Intriguingly, despite the challenges, the vaccination rate was notably higher among patients with IBD, indicating a proactive approach to safeguarding their health. The study also shed light on various coping mechanisms employed by patients with IBD to navigate the pandemic-related restrictions. Engaging in activities such as social media and computer games emerged as effective strategies for managing heightened stress and limitations. In conclusion, the emergence of a novel viral pathogen represents a significant distress factor for patients with autoimmune diseases. Recognizing and comprehending these consequences enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between physical and mental health and equips authorities with valuable insights to better manage future epidemics or viral outbreaks. This study underscores the importance of tailored support systems and strategies for patients with autoimmune diseases during global health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanostructuring of titanium and its alloys surfaces is used inter alia for increasing the medical implants osseointegration. Many papers about this topic were published. However, in most cases there were no informations about nanostructures adhesion to the surface, which is crucial from the application point of view. The aim of this study was to prepare nanostructures on titanium beta alloy and optimized its adhesion to the alloy surface. Nanotubes were formed by anodic polarization in electrolyte containing fluoride ions. The composition of the nanotubes was described by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Nanostructures adhesion was tested by pull-of method. The nanotubes on the Ti–36Nb–6Ta beta alloy surface were prepared by anodization. The nanostructures properties were modified by electrochemical process parameters. The adhesion of the nanotubes prepared in this work was satisfactory for implantological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A versatile isothermal glass apparatus provided with sintered glass on the bottom was designed for the bench scale adsorptive bleaching and deodorisation of vegetable oils. The stream of argon bubbles agitated the sample in both cases and protected the vegetable oil effectively against undesirable autoxidation and photooxygenation changes. However, a variable concentration of hexanal (27-30 μmol/kg) was always present in half-refined oils due to the heterolytic fragmentation of alkyl hydroperoxides. The colour on the Lovibond scale and the content of phosphorus (< 5 mg/kg) were efficiently decreased during the laboratory bleaching of rapeseed oil. It was found out that the adapted glass apparatus connected with a vacuum pump (1 hPa, a stream of argon gas instead of stripping steam) was able to reduce the content of carbonyl compounds below detectable concentration at 220-240°C. Furthermore, the extent of minor geometrical and positional isomerisation reactions was negligible (0.035-0.130 wt%). The results of the bench scale bleaching and deodorisation experiments were completely comparable with the industrial equipment under reduced pressure of the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neolithic site of Bylany (CZ) is one of the largest and most thoroughly described Neolithic settlement in Central Europe. Although a comprehensive understanding has been achieved of the household development and pottery assemblage, little is known about household economies, dietary practices and animal exploitation strategies at the site. Nowadays such information can be tracked through the molecular and isotopic composition of organic lipid residues preserved in porous walls of archaeological potsherds (e.g. Cramp et al., 2014; Whelton et al., 2017). The pottery assemblage of Bylany is very abundant and this approach had previously been applied to one of the later settlement phases (later LBK, phase 19) revealing a meat- and plant-based diet and an exploitation of both ruminant and non-ruminant animals. To examine the economy over a longer settlement period of Bylany, ceramic material from the oldest part of the settlement was chosen. More than 130 rim potsherds attributed to the early LBK settlement phases 2 to 5 were analysed using a lipid biomarker approach combining chromatographic, spectrometric and isotopic methods. The analyses revealed that the fats absorbed in the ceramics were well-preserved with almost 90% of the sherds containing lipids. The lipid concentration varied in different vessel shapes with higher concentrations in dishes compared to bowls and jars. The stable carbon isotopic compositions of palmitic and stearic fatty acids, the major fatty acids present in the total lipid extracts, revealed that ruminant carcass products were the predominant animal products processed in the vessels. Plant product processing were confirmed by the presence of fatty alcohols, dicarboxylic acids and terpenic compounds. Detection of biomarkers produced at high temperature confirmed the thermal stress observed in some of the vessels. Although ruminants probably played a dominant role in the early phases of Bylany, as seen in the later phase 19, dairy fat residues were not detected in the analysed potsherds. These results thus shed light on the dietary strategies practiced in Bylany and are in agreement with the studies of other Central European Neolithic sites. • Lipid residues of potsherds from the early LBK period of the Neolithic site of Bylany (Czech Republic) were analysed. • Results were interpreted in relation to pottery vessel shapes and putative vessel function at the household level. • Animal and plant-based products were detected in the vessels. • Stable carbon isotopic analyses confirmed predominantly ruminant product processing. • Dairy fat residues were absent in potsherds, as seen in the later LBK phase 19 from Bylany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an increased risk of developing vascular calcifications, as well as bone dynamics impairment, leading to a poor quality of life and increased mortality. Certain vitamin K dependent proteins (VKDPs) act mainly as calcification inhibitors, but their involvement in the onset and progression of CKD are not completely elucidated. This review is an update of the current state of knowledge about the relationship between CKD and four extrahepatic VKDPs: matrix Gla protein, osteocalcin, growth-arrest specific protein 6 and Gla-rich protein. Based on published literature in the last ten years, the purpose of this review is to address fundamental aspects about the link between CKD and circulating VKDPs levels as well as to raise new topics about how the interplay between molecular weight and charge could influence the modifications of circulating VKDPs at the glomerular level, or whether distinct renal etiologies have effect on VKDPs. This review is the output of a systematic literature search and may open future research avenues in this niche domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present the effect of rapeseed microstructure on the extraction mechanism. 'Solution and diffusion' extraction had to be considered to deepen the understanding of the process. Transmitted light microscopy images of the ultramicrotome-cut casting sections proved the presence of 'conductive' capillary system with radius R from 8 to 25 μm. The rate of 'solution extraction' was controlled by capillary flow through 'conductive' voids. It was described by derived and extended Hagen-Poiseuille equation. The rate of solvent extraction of soybeans was described by negative power function, whereas rapeseed extraction was defined by complex nonlinear curve-fitting model. Specific surface area of large (1.3 ± 0.1 m g) and small (1.5 ± 0.1 m g) fraction of rapeseed extraction meal particles did not differ significantly, contrary to flaked soybeans. This is the novel finding. Significant differences could be explained by vegetable seed histology context (seed and cell size, sorption abilities). 'Diffusion extraction' was rate determining at the flat part of the time-dependent extraction curve. Isolated fraction of free fatty acids originated from simultaneous lipolysis of acylglycerol species and hydrolysis of glycerophospholipids and glyceroglycolipids. Decreasing quality of last fractions increased refining loss and material costs. Compounds such as waxes (6.89-10.40 wt%), complex glycerolipids (14.83-15.26 wt%), and free fatty acids (2.26-2.45 wt%) had to be removed by edible oil refining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve oil yield at the final stage of process, relation among solvent extraction mechanism and the removal of homo- and heterolipid classes with different acyl chain domains was studied. Selected technological parameter was decreasing quality of crude oil in the last successively extracted fractions. The composition of fatty acids, originally linked as lipid building-blocks, indicated no differences up to 94 wt% of hexane extractable oil from the rapeseed material. During the same time interval, it was released 95.8 cumulative wt% of oleic acid and only 76.9 cumulative wt% of ( Z)-11-octadecenoic (asclepic, cis-vaccenic) acid. Steep decrease of oleic acid content was correlated with the down-trend of total monounsaturated fatty acid concentrations in the simple glycerolipid fractions (from 57.0 -59.0 to 26.7 wt%) and free fatty acid fractions (from 59.0-60.0 to 40.1 wt%). On the other hand, we have observed 7.14-fold increase of asclepic acid concentration derived from the simple glycerolipids (mono-, di- and triacylglycerols), wax and sterol esters. The increment of asclepic acid was 4.78-fold in the fraction of the complex glycerolipids and acylate steryl glycosides. Lipidomic and proteomic analyses of isolated oil bodies, rapeseed hull and dehulled seeds proved an origin of ( Z)-11-octadecenoic acid. Furthermore, we determined similar fatty acid composition of lipid fractions derived from pure oil bodies and from dehulled seeds. In both cases, the low content of total asclepic acid: 3.13-3.15 wt% in aleurone cells was observed. Low amount of ( Z)-11-octadecenoic acid is novel finding, which indicated that ( Z)-11-octadecenoic acid originated from seed coat species that are less accessible to the hexane. It was confirmed that the main portion of asclepic acid moieties were derived from wax and sterol esters, triacylglycerols and heterolipids originally present in rapeseed coat (epidermal layer, testa and aleurone layer). Therefore, increasing amounts of asclepic acid and its precursor, palmitoleic acid, released from seed coats was significant indicator of solvent extraction process efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditions of deodorization/physical refining of sunflower oil were simulated by high temperature heating in laboratory at 240, 250, and 260 °C. Oxygen atmosphere was excluded by argon atmosphere. Influence of temperature, initial oxidation of incoming oil (peroxide value 2-30 mmol ½ O/kg) on geometrical, positional isomerization, and polymerization was measured. The level of initial oxidation of the oil has a significant influence on rate of isomerization, polymerization, and duration of induction period of polymerization reactions. Induction period of polymerization is dependent linearly on temperature at constant hydroperoxide content and is extended with decreasing temperature and lower peroxide value of oil. Significant conjugation took place with geometrical isomerization and resulted in all- trans diene formation. All- trans dienes are incoming reactants for polymerization according to the Diels-Alder mechanism. Suggested 'propagation' phase of polymerization took place later. Induction period was observed only in the case of polymerization reactions of triacylglycerols. This is the confirmation of the hypothesis that the cis/ trans isomerization, positional isomerization, and polymerization are consecutive reactions in ascending order. Identification of molecular peaks and confirmation of fragments were possible by connecting HPSEC with APCI-MS. Dimers of triacylglycerols (TAG) dominated in studied system. Remaining compounds may have been formed from di-, monoacylglycerols, and other minor constituents of sunflower oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The binary phase behavior of purified 1,3-dilauroyl-2-stearoyl-sn-glycerol (LSL) and 1,2-dilauroyl-3-stearoyl-sn-glycerol (LLS) was investigated at a slow (0.1°C/min) and a relatively fast (3.0°C/min) cooling rate in terms of melting and crystallization, polymorphism, solid fat content (SFC), hardness and microstructure. Much of the behavior of the system is explained by its polymorphism and the influence of thermal processing. The α-form and the β′-form of a double chain length structure were detected in the mixtures cooled at 3.0°C/min, whereas only the β′-form was detected in those cooled at 0.1°C/min. X-ray diffraction data as well as thermodynamic data propose that the most stable phases are promoted by the symmetrical LSL. The measured trends in structural characteristics, thermal properties, SFC, relative hardness and microstructure delimit three groups of mixtures which imply a competition between the stabilizing effect of LSL and disordering introduced by kinetic effects: (a) LLS-rich mixtures with LSL molar fractions (X LSL) less than 0.3, (b) mixtures with X LSL clustered around 0.5 and (c) LSL-rich mixtures with X LSL ≥0.7. The balance between ordering and kinetic effects determines the polymorphism of the mixtures, which in turn determines the behavior of the LSL/LLS system. The kinetic phase diagram of the LSL/LLS binary system constructed using heating differential scanning calorimetry thermograms displayed a singularity at the 0.5LSL molar fraction which delimits two distinct behaviors: eutectic behavior in one region and monotectic behavior in the other. The molecular interactions, as depicted by a non-ideality parameter of mixing obtained from a thermodynamic model based on the Hildebrand equation, suggests an almost ideal mixing behavior and a moderate tendency to the formation of unlike-pairs in the liquid state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]