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We have performed the measurement of the 27Al(α, n) cross section at IFIN-HH for a range of energies from 2.5 to 5.2 MeV, using an array of 28 3He counters arranged in 3 concentric rings (ELIGANT-TN). Here we present the experimental setup and discuss the role of the 13C contamination which effects the measurements in the low-energy region. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy carried out before and after the experiment suggested an increase in the 13C concentration during the experiment.

Introduction. Recently published data suggested significantly lower pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) incidence with conduction system pacing (CSP). Because most data evaluated only the impact on the left ventricle, this study aimed to assess changes in echocardiographic parameters of morphology and function for all heart chambers in patients with baseline preserved and mid-range LVEF over a medium-term follow-up period after CSP. Methods. A total of 128 consecutive patients with LVEF > 40% and successful CSP for bradyarrhythmic indication were prospectively enrolled. A complete 2D echocardiographic examination was performed at baseline and the last follow-up. Results. In total, 38 patients received His bundle pacing (HBP) and 90 received left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP). The mean follow-up period was 699.2 ± 177.2 days, with 23 patients lost during this period. The ventricular pacing burden for the entire group was 97.2 ± 4.2%. Only three patients (2.9%) met the criteria for PICM. CSP led to a significant increase in LVEF (from 54.2 ± 7.9 to 56.7 ± 7.8%, p = 0.01) and a significant decrease in LV diastolic (from 107.2 ± 41.8 to 91.3 ± 41.8 mL, p < 0.001) and systolic (from 49.7 ± 21.4 to 39.5 ± 18.2 mL, p < 0.001) volumes. There were no significant changes in E/e′, mitral regurgitation, atrial volumes, and right ventricle (RV) diameter. There was a significant improvement in RV function. Tricuspid regurgitation was the only parameter that worsened. There were no differences in evolution for each echocardiographic parameter between the HBP and the LBBAP groups. Conclusions. HBP and LBBAP are equally protective for harmful changes in both atria and ventricles. The prevalence of PICM, defined as a decrease in LVEF, is very low with CSP.

Wood represents one of the most used natural resources: from construction to musical instruments, tools, toys, fuel, shipbuilding, and, not to mention, stationery, as it is indispensable for modern society. Europe has important wood resources, but for some countries, their sustainable exploitation is at least questionable. However, other countries prefer to monetize their natural resources by developing a competitive tourism industry. In this study, an analysis of European countries in terms of corruption, deforestation, and tourism is undertaken, in order to approach and discuss the specific characteristics and to identify the factors that determine a country to manage its natural resources in a sustainable way. The methodology used is quantitative, employing secondary data, resulting in different ways of data visualization. The main finding is that low levels of corruption and high levels of tourism competitiveness are associated with countries that manage their forests in a sustainable way. This confirms the research question: Competitive European destinations that enjoy the presence of well-established sustainable tourism products have managed to reduce the level of corruption and implement developed environmental policies, including forestland protection. The practical outcome of this paper is to point towards a long-term solution to decrease deforestation. In summary, sustainable development of the tourism sector must be part of the long-term initiatives to reduce the levels of illegal deforestation.

The issue of determining the enforceability of the letter of bank guarantee has recently been raised in judicial practice. The classification of the bank guarantee letter as a credit instrument belonging to the family of the bank credit by signature leads to the conclusion that the credit operation by issuing the letter of bank guarantee is governed by the rules of the special law of the bank credit agreement, respectively by the legal provisions governing the conclusion and effects of this contract, as well as the consequences of non compliance with contractual obligations, including those regarding the forced execution of the contract in case of non repayment by the client of the loan. The basic principle governing bank guarantees is the separation of the obligation of the bank issuing the letter of guarantee from the fundamental contract. The limits of the bank's commitment autonomy are established by law: the bank cannot be held liable in case of abuse or obvious fraud. The opinion we formulate following the research undertaken is in the sense of retaining the enforceable nature of the letters of bank guarantee.

The biosorption of heavy metals has become an attractive alternative to conventional methods and is considered feasible, environmentally friendly and often low-cost option. Five microorganisms (Rhodotorula sp., Cladosporium sp., Bacillus megaterium, Trichosporon sp. and Geotrichum sp.) were isolated from different environments and used for the biosorption of Cd(II) from aqueous solutions in batch mode to expand upon the existing studies and generate new data related to the main microorganisms that could be successfully applied to the removal of heavy metals from wastewaters. Considering a constant biosorbent dose (5 g/L), pH (5.4) and temperature (25 °C) and varying contact times and initial pollutant concentrations, the process efficiency and uptake capacity of the biosorbents were assessed. Statistical analysis of the experimental results revealed that a contact time longer than 24 h did not significantly increase the uptake capacity or removal efficiency of Cd(II) by B. megaterium or Geotrichum sp., which means that the available binding sites on the cell wall immediately participate in the removal of metal ions. For the other three biosorbents, increasing the contact time from 24 h to 48 h led to a significant increase in the uptake capacity and removal efficiency. A comparison of the uptake values of each biosorbent revealed that Bacillus megaterium had the highest Cd(II) uptake capacity (8.53 mg/g), followed by Trichosporon sp. (8.21 mg/g). The lowest uptake capacity, as well as the lowest efficiency after 48 h of contact, was obtained for Geotrichum sp. (0.73 mg/g and 14.97%, respectively). The results of the FTIR analysis revealed that almost all the functional groups were present on the surface of the biosorbent, but their involvement in Cd(II) biosorption differed from biosorbent to biosorbent. The phosphodiester, amide and hydroxyl groups found on the cell surface of Bacillus megaterium, Cladosporium sp., Rhodotorula sp. and Trichosporon sp. were the main groups involved in Cd(II) biosorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Recently published data suggested significantly lower pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM) incidence with conduction system pacing (CSP). Because most data evaluated only the impact on the left ventricle, this study aimed to assess changes in echocardiographic parameters of morphology and function for all heart chambers in patients with baseline preserved and mid-range LVEF over a medium-term follow-up period after CSP. Methods. A total of 128 consecutive patients with LVEF > 40% and successful CSP for bradyarrhythmic indication were prospectively enrolled. A complete 2D echocardiographic examination was performed at baseline and the last follow-up. Results. In total, 38 patients received His bundle pacing (HBP) and 90 received left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP). The mean follow-up period was 699.2 ± 177.2 days, with 23 patients lost during this period. The ventricular pacing burden for the entire group was 97.2 ± 4.2%. Only three patients (2.9%) met the criteria for PICM. CSP led to a significant increase in LVEF (from 54.2 ± 7.9 to 56.7 ± 7.8%, p = 0.01) and a significant decrease in LV diastolic (from 107.2 ± 41.8 to 91.3 ± 41.8 mL, p < 0.001) and systolic (from 49.7 ± 21.4 to 39.5 ± 18.2 mL, p < 0.001) volumes. There were no significant changes in E/e′, mitral regurgitation, atrial volumes, and right ventricle (RV) diameter. There was a significant improvement in RV function. Tricuspid regurgitation was the only parameter that worsened. There were no differences in evolution for each echocardiographic parameter between the HBP and the LBBAP groups. Conclusions. HBP and LBBAP are equally protective for harmful changes in both atria and ventricles. The prevalence of PICM, defined as a decrease in LVEF, is very low with CSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the roll bending process, the rolling force acting on the roller shafts is one of the most important parameters since, on the one hand, it determines the process settings including the pre-loading, and, on the other hand, its distribution and size may affect the integrity of both the bending system and the final product. In this study, the three-roller bending process was modeled using a two-dimensional plane–strain finite element method, and the rolling force was determined as a function of plate thickness, upper roller diameter, and yield strength for various API steel grades. Based on the numerical simulation results, a critical bending angle of 41° was identified and the rolling systems were divided into two categories, of less than or equal to, and greater than 41°, and an analytical model for predicting the maximum rolling force was developed for each category. To determine the optimal pre-tensioning force, two optimization formulations were proposed by minimizing the maximum equivalent stress and the absolute maximum displacement. The rolling forces predicted by the analytical models were found to be in good agreement with the numerical simulation results, with relative errors generally less than 10%. The predictive analytical models developed in this study capture well the complex deformation behavior that occurs during the roll bending process of steel plates, providing guidelines and predictions for industrial applications of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Environmental concerns have consistently been a focal point for the scientific community. Pollution is a critical ecological issue that poses significant threats to human health and agricultural production. Contamination with heavy metals and pesticides is a considerable concern, a threat to the environment, and warrants special attention. In this study, we investigated the significant issues arising from sub-chronic exposure to imidacloprid (IMI), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd), either alone or in combination, using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model. Additionally, we assessed the potential protective effects of polyfloral honey enriched with natural ingredients, also called honey formulation (HF), against the combined sub-chronic toxic effects of the three contaminants. The effects of IMI (0.5 mg·L−1), Hg (15 μg·L−1), and Cd (5 μg·L−1), both individually and in combination with HF (500 mg·L−1), on zebrafish were evaluated by quantifying acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, lipid peroxidation (MDA), various antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (SOD and GPx), 2D locomotor activity, social behavior, histological and immunohistochemical factors, and changes in body element concentrations. Our findings revealed that all concentrations of pollutants may disrupt social behavior, diminish swimming performances (measured by total distance traveled, inactivity, and swimming speed), and elevate oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers of SOD, GPx, and MDA in zebrafish over the 21-day administration period. Fish exposed to IMI and Hg + Cd + IMI displayed severe lesions and increased GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) and S100B (S100 calcium-binding protein B) protein expression in the optic tectum and cerebellum, conclusively indicating astrocyte activation and neurotoxic effects. Furthermore, PCNA (Proliferating cell nuclear antigen) staining revealed reduced cell proliferation in the IMI-exposed group, contrasting with intensified proliferation in the Hg + Cd group. The nervous system exhibited significant damage across all studied concentrations, confirming the observed behavioral changes. Moreover, HF supplementation significantly mitigated the toxicity induced by contaminants and reduced OS. Therefore, the exposure to chemical mixtures offers a more complete picture of adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and the supplementation with bioactive compounds can help to reduce the toxicity induced by exposure to environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution with heavy metals has become a problem of major interest due to the harmful effects of metal ions that constantly evolve and generate serious threats to both the environment and human health through the food chain. Recognizing the imperative need for toxicological assessments, this study revolves around elucidating the effects of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions on three plant species; namely, Medicago sativa L., Triticum aestivum L., and Zea mays L. These particular species were selected due to their suitability for controlled laboratory cultivation, their potential resistance to heavy metal exposure, and their potential contributions to phytoremediation strategies. The comprehensive phytotoxicity assessments conducted covered a spectrum of critical parameters, encompassing germination inhibition, seedling development, and broader considerations regarding ecosystem health. The key metrics under scrutiny included the germination rate, the relative growth of root and stem lengths, the growth inhibition index, and the tolerance index. These accurately designed experiments involved subjecting the seeds of these plants to an array of concentrations of PbCl2 and CuCl2 solutions, enabling an exhaustive evaluation of the phytotoxic potential of these metal ions and their intricate repercussions on these plant species. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic responses of different plant species to Pb(II) and Cu(II) metal ions, shedding light on their adaptability and resilience in metal-contaminated environments. These findings have important implications for understanding plant–metal interactions and devising phytoremediation strategies in contaminated ecosystems.

Avec des hivers plus doux, une plus grande précocité du débourrement de la vigne pourrait conduire à un accroissement des dégâts de gel au cours du 21ème siècle, en dépit du réchauffement climatique. Toutefois la projection du risque de gelées dans le futur souffre actuellement d’incertitudes. Nous revenons ici sur les éléments à considérer quand on souhaite évaluer le risque de dégâts de gel de printemps et les limites de l’exercice de simulation de ce dernier, en s’appuyant sur des travaux de simulations menées dans la région viticole de Chablis (Bourgogne, France).

In order to ensure adequate protection of children in the digital space, the Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted General Comment no. 25 (2021) on children's rights in relation to the digital environment. The adopted document highlights the importance of children's access to the digital environment in safe and fair conditions. The main objectives declared are: acquiring digital literacy, ensuring the respect for the right to privacy and restricted access to Children’s personal data, guaranteeing safe and secure access to digital environment. The measures proposed for the realization of children's rights in the digital environment are based on the observance of fundamental principles such as: non-discrimination; best interests of the child; right to life and development; respect for the views of the child.

The celerity of insolvency proceedings required the establishment of a derogatory regime from the common law as regards the fulfillment of the formalities for citation the parties and communicating the procedural documents, due to the fact that it involves a large number of parties and procedural acts, and the application of the general regulations would only slow conducting the proceedings. Within the insolvency proceedings, the citation and respectively, the communication of the procedural documents can be accomplished in three ways: according to the Code of Civil Procedure, by publishing the procedural act in the Bulletin of insolvency proceedings, or in both ways. The choice made by one of the participants in the insolvency proceedings of a procedural domicile in the course of insolvency proceedings may not be relied on in relation to other participants in the insolvency proceedings as a whole, neither before a court settling an associated case. Manifestation of the will of a participant at insolvency proceeding regarding the choice of a procedural domicile produces effects only in the trial of that case in the insolvency proceedings, remaining irrelevant for the settlement of other cases in connection with the same insolvency proceedings.