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This study determined the influence of socio-demographic characteristics on women microfinance services uptake and establish whether women access to microfinance services has challenged the prevailing patriarchal system in Hai District, Kilimanjaro region. The study used a cross-sectional research design involving 111 respondents drawn at random from the study population. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data whereby Atlas.ti computer software was used to organise and analyse some data. Ordered probit regression model was used to analyse the influence of some socio-demographic characteristics on women microfinance services uptake. The findings show that marital status and education level attained tend to influence women microfinance services uptake and some level of social and economic empowerment. Moreover, microfinance uptake among women beneficiaries has not challenged the current patriarchal system in the study area. The study concludes that while socio-economic empowerment was realised among some microfinance beneficiaries, microfinance services uptake among women has not yet succeeded to influence the prevailing patriarchal system. It is advised that women and other key stakeholders, should engage in serious training and sensitisation practices to actively influence meaningful change in the current patriarchal system.

A new algorithm for the numerical solution of the biharmonic equation is developed. It is based on the first implemented hp-version of the least-squares collocation method (hp-LSCM) with integral collocations for a fourth-order elliptic equation in combination with modern methods of accelerating iterative processes for solving systems of linear algebraic equations (SLAE). The hp-LSCM provides the possibilities to refine the grid (h-version) and increase the degree of polynomials to the arbitrary order (p-approach). The convergence of approximate solutions obtained by the implemented version of the method is analyzed using an example of a numerical simulation of the bending of a hinged isotropic plate. The high accuracy and the increased order of convergence using polynomials up to the tenth order in the hp-LSCM are shown. The effectiveness of the combined application of algorithms for accelerating iterative processes to solve SLAE that are combined with LSCM is investigated. In this paper, we consider the application of the following algorithms: preconditioning of SLAE matrices; the iteration acceleration algorithm based on Krylov subspaces; the prolongation operation on a multigrid complex; parallelization using OpenMP; a modified algorithm for solving local SLAEs. The latter is implemented with iterations over subdomains (which are cells) and makes it possible to more effectively solve overdetermined SLAEs in the LSCM in the case of solving a linear differential equation. The form of the matrices does not change at each iteration. Only the elements of the vectors of their right parts corresponding to the matching conditions are modified. The calculation time on a personal computer is reduced by more than 350 times with the combined use of all acceleration techniques compared to the case when only preconditioning was used.

This study assessed resources capability of government co-operative supporting organizations (GCSOs) in innovations dissemination to primary co-operative societies (PCSos) in Tanzania. Case study research design using multiple cases was used involving five cases. Primary data were collected using key informant interviews, focus groups discussions, documentary reviews and personal observations. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings indicate that, most GCSOs in Tanzania were poor in terms of resources to disseminate innovations to PCSos. Most GCSOs were also not determined at prioritizing and utilizing available resources for dissemination of innovations to PCSos. Further, some external factors e.g. inadequate government resources commitment, employment freezing and others have been adversely affecting GCSOs resources capability to disseminate innovations to PCSos. Moreover, there were no formal and comprehensive incentive systems to reward innovation dissemination activities in most of the GCSOs. It is recommended that GCSOs should mobilize more internal resources and ensure sufficient innovation resources prioritization and utilization to adequately facilitate innovations dissemination to PCSos. The GCSOs should also establish clear incentive systems to reward innovation dissemination activities.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is considered a modern epidemic because of its increasing prevalence worldwide and serious medico-social consequences, including the economic burden of treatment and patient care. The development of new effective therapeutic agents for AD is one of the most urgent and challenging tasks. To address this need, we used an aminoalkylene linker to combine the well-known anticholinesterase drug tacrine with antioxidant 2-tolylhydrazinylidene-1,3-diketones to create 3 groups of hybrid compounds as new multifunctional agents with the potential for AD treatment. Lead compounds of the new conjugates effectively inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE, IC50 0.24–0.34 µM) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, IC50 0.036–0.0745 µM), with weak inhibition of off-target carboxylesterase. Anti-AChE activity increased with elongation of the alkylene spacer, in agreement with molecular docking, which showed compounds binding to both the catalytic active site and peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE, consistent with mixed type reversible inhibition. PAS binding along with effective propidium displacement suggest the potential of the hybrids to block AChE-induced β-amyloid aggregation, a disease-modifying effect. All of the conjugates demonstrated metal chelating ability for Cu2+, Fe2+, and Zn2+, as well as high antiradical activity in the ABTS test. Non-fluorinated hybrid compounds 6 and 7 also showed Fe3+ reducing activity in the FRAP test. Predicted ADMET and physicochemical properties of conjugates indicated good CNS bioavailability and safety parameters acceptable for potential lead compounds at the early stages of anti-AD drug development.

The operation of a nuclear power plant relies on precalculated nuclear design predictions based on core calculations of various reactor states. The fuel temperature is a crucial factor in determining the reactor fuel behavior, but assessing the temperature variation in a fuel pellet taking into account neutron transport is challenging. Detailed simulation of the temperature behavior within the fuel pellet can be obtained by coupling of Monte Carlo neutron transport codes with thermal-hydraulics solvers. However, this approach is not practical for standard nuclear design calculations, and computationally cheaper and faster methods must be used. In nuclear core simulators, a concept of a single ''effective temperature'' that yields the same neutron response as in the case of the actual temperature shape is mainly applied. This paper evaluates various fuel temperature models used in nuclear core simulation calculations, ultimately recommending a new effective temperature model that considers the burnup correction.

U članku je analiziran rad Publicističko-izdavačkog zavoda „Jugoslavija“ (1956–1962), čiji su osnovni zadatak bili „spoljna propaganda“ i promocija socijalističke Jugoslavije u svetu. Stavljen u kontekst globalnog Hladnog rata, članak pruža detaljniji uvid u samu instituciju, način njenog funkcionisanja, kadrovsku politiku, sadržaj i glavne publikacije, dok, s druge strane, otkriva ceo sistem jugoslovenskog „propagandnog“ nastupanja u inostranstvu. Sȃmo istraživanje bazira se na neobjavljenoj arhivskoj građi, koja osvetljava značajnu ulogu Publicističko-izdavačkog zavoda „Jugoslavija“ u promociji zemlje krajem pedesetih i početkom šezdesetih godina 20. veka.

Reactivity worth of fuel rods at the JSI TRIGA research reactor was measured. Differently burned fuel rods were chosen to validate fuel burnup calculations. Two methods of measuring reactivity worth of fuel rods are used, traditional method is compared to newly introduced method using fuel rods swapping. Connection between both methods is described theoretically and the theory is validated experimentally. Fuel rod worth calculated using the newly introduced fuel rod swap method was within 1σ of worth measured using the traditional method. In addition to the recently performed experiments, weekly measurements of reactor core reactivity throughout the operational history are used for validation. The measured data were used to validate the fuel burnup and core criticality calculations. Fuel burnup calculations are performed using three different computer codes: the deterministic TRIGLAV, the Monte Carlo Serpent-2, and the hybrid RAPID. Great agreement was observed for Serpent-2 and RAPID by simulating fuel rod worth and its burnup, indicating that the fuel burnup and criticality calculations are accurate and that reactivity changes due to small burnup differences on the order of 10 pcm can be accurately simulated. In addition it was shown using ex-core detectors and large fission chamber that detector response changes due to fuel swapping are evident for fuel rod burnup differences of 20 MWd/kg. Fuel burnup calculations were further validated on excess reactivity measurements for three mixed TRIGA cores. The calculated burnup reactivity coefficient ΔρBU using Serpent-2 and RAPID was within 1σ of the measurements, showing both codes are capable of calculating burnup for different TRIGA fuel types.

Abstract Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are among the major causes of high maternal and fetal/neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with HDP have significantly elevated N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels at diagnosis; however, the NT-proBNP levels during early pregnancy are largely unknown. This study aimed to validate the association between HDP and NT-proBNP levels. This retrospective study evaluated 103 pregnant women who developed HDP diagnosed after 35 weeks of gestation and 667 who did not. The HDP group had significantly lower early-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels than the without HDP group. However, the two groups did not significantly differ in terms of the late-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels. After adjusting for confounding factors such as age, body mass index, parity, and blood pressure levels, high early-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels were associated with a lower HDP risk. Early-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels ≥ 60.5 pg/mL had a negative predictive value of 97.0% for ruling out HDP, with a sensitivity of 87.4% and specificity of 62.5%. In conclusion, elevated early-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels were associated with a lower HDP risk. Moreover, a cutoff point of ≥ 60.5 pg/mL for early-pregnancy NT-proBNP levels had a high negative predictive value and sensitivity for ruling out HDP. These findings can provide new clinical implications.

Cilj je istraživanja bio ispitati ulogu majčine psihološke kontrole i nezadovoljenja psiholoških potreba u školskome okruženju u razvoju problema mentalnoga zdravlja i problematične uporabe interneta. U istraživanju su sudjelovala 342 adolescenta iz triju zagrebačkih srednjih strukovnih škola (Mdob= 16.45, SD = 0.533), od čega 174 mladića. U istraživanju su ispitani percipirana majčina psihološka kontrola, nezadovoljenje potrebe za autonomijom i kompetentnošću u školskome okruženju, simptomi depresivnosti, anksioznosti i stresa te problematična uporaba interneta. Rezultati pokazuju da djevojke iskazuju više razine problematične uporabe interneta i problema mentalnoga zdravlja nego mladići. Analizom traga utvrđen je izravan učinak majčine psihološke kontrole na nezadovoljenje potreba te na internalizirane probleme. Rezultati pokazuju da je nezadovoljenje potreba medijator između psihološke kontrole, internaliziranih problema te problematične uporabe interneta. Također, stres je medijator između psihološke kontrole i problematične uporabe interneta, ali samo kod djevojaka. Istraživanje doprinosi razumijevanju problematične uporabe interneta među adolescentima u Hrvatskoj. Preciznije, istraživanje potvrđuje teorijske pretpostavke teorije samoodređenja da se negativni učinci psihološke kontrole povezane s uspjehom mogu odraziti na druge kontekste, poputškolskoga okruženja, i dovesti do nezadovoljenja potreba u tome okruženju. To naposljetku može dovesti do negativnih posljedica za dobrobit adolescenata u obliku problema s mentalnim zdravljem i problematične uporabe interneta. Rezultati istraživanja mogu poslužiti pri kreiranju intervencija za poboljšanje školskoga okruženja te za usvajanje strategija suočavanja s nezadovoljenjem psiholoških potreba da bi se spriječili problematična uporaba interneta i internalizirani problemi.

Abstract Background Mutations in one or multiple genes can lead to hypodontia and its characteristic features. Numerous studies have shown a strong genetic influence on the occurrence of hypodontia, and identified several genes, including AXIN2, EDA, FGF3, FGFR2, FGFR10, WNT10A, MSX1, and PAX9, that are directly associated with dental agenesis and carcinogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence and pattern of tooth agenesis, microdontia, and palatally displaced canine (PDC) in women diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), compared to a control group of women without any malignancy or thyroid disease. Materials and methods This case–control study was carried at the Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine University of Zagreb, and Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Centre. The study involved a clinical examination and evaluation of dental status, panoramic X-ray analysis, and assessment of medical and family history of 116 female patients aged 20–40 with PTC, as well as 424 females in the control group who were of similar age. Results The prevalence of hypodontia, microdontia, and PDC was statistically higher in women with PTC than in the control group. The prevalence rate of hypodontia was 11.3% in the experimental group and 3.5% in the control group. The experimental group showed a higher occurrence of missing upper lateral incisors, lower left central incisors, and all the third molars (except the upper left) compared to the control group. Women with PTC showed the prevalence of PDC significantly higher than the control group (3.5%, 0.7%, p = 0.002). The probability of hypodontia as a clinical finding increases 2.6 times, and microdontia occurs 7.7 times more frequently in women with PTC. Conclusion Our study suggests a possible link between odontogenesis and PTC. The absence of permanent teeth may increase the likelihood of PTC in women. Leveraging the age-7 orthopantomogram to identify women at high risk for PTC within a critical early detection window could significantly improve oral health outcomes and PTC prognosis through proactive interventions.

Abstract Despite the extensive knowledge about the effects of chronic stress on cognition, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional moderation analysis on a population-based sample of 596 adults to examine the age- and sex-specific role of emotion regulation (ER) in the relationship between chronic stress and cognitive performance using validated self-report questionnaires. While women showed no direct or moderated relationship between stress and cognition, men displayed a distinct age-related pattern where stress was negatively associated with poorer cognitive performance at older ages, and the onset of this relationship was detected earlier in men with ER problems. These results showed that suppression of emotions and lack of executive control of ER amplify the negative consequences of chronic stress and suggest that there are sex-specific differences in the decline of ability to cope with long-term exposure to stressors.

Aim of study: To assess the impact of pH level on force decay and color stability of orthodontic elastomeric chains (EOC) after exposure to commonly used beverages. Materials and methods: A total of 120 chain cuts were prepared from 2 different manufacturers (GC Orthodontics Europe GmbH, Breckerfeld, Germany, and FORESTADENT® - Bernhard Foerster GmbH, Pforzheim, Germany). According to the distance between loops, two types of chains were selected from each manufacturer: short and medium ones. Chains were immersed into 10 commonly used beverages with different pH values. After 7 days, force degradation was evaluated with the universal machine for mechanical testing (Model 4411; Instron, Canton, USA) and color change using a VITA Easyshade® digital spectrophotometer. Kruskal-Wallis with post-hoc Dunn's test for intergroup comparison and Wilcoxon rank test for intragroup comparison. Results: Initial force varied among EOC brands, with GC short chains having the highest force and Forestadent medium chains the lowest. The most pronounced force decay occurred within 24 h, notably affecting Forestadent short chains the most, followed by Forestadent medium, GC short, and GC medium chains. Despite a higher force drop rate over seven days, short EOCs maintained higher forces than medium EOCs. GC EOCs consistently maintained higher forces after seven days compared to Forestadent EOCs. After the immersion of EOC in different solutions for 24 h, only Evian water, Soy milk, and Coconut water did not change color. After 7 days, the greatest color change was recorded in coffee. Conclusion: There is no correlation between pH value and force decay of polyurethane chains. Short chains showed more constant force delivery and greater value of remaining force in comparison to medium ones. Color stability was mostly affected by coffee, followed by matcha tea, soy milk, and apple juice.

During an earthquake on December 29th 2020, the Krško NPP automatically shutdown due to the trigger of the negative neutron flux rate signal on the power range nuclear instrumentation. From the time course of the detector signal, it can be concluded that the fluctuation in the detector signal may have been caused by the mechanical movement of the ex-core neutron detectors or the pressure vessel components rather than the actual change in reactor power. The objective of the analysis was to evaluate the sensitivity of the neutron flux at the ex-core detector position, if the detector is moved in the radial or axial direction. In addition, the effect of the core barrel movement and core inside the baffle movement in the radial direction were analysed. The analysis is complemented by the calculation of the thermal and total neutron flux gradient in radial, axial and azimuthal directions. The Monte Carlo particle transport code MCNP was used to study the changes in the response of the ex-core detector for the above-mentioned scenarios. Power and intermediate-range detectors were analysed separately, because they are designed differently, positioned at different locations, and have different response characteristics. It was found that the movement of the power range ex-core detector has a negligible effect on the value of the thermal neutron flux in the active part of the detector. However, the radial movement of the intermediate-range detector by 5 cm results in 7%–8% change in the thermal neutron flux in the active part of the intermediate-range detector. The analysis continued with an evaluation of the effects of moving the entire core barrel on the ex-core detector response. It was estimated that the 2 mm core barrel radial oscillation results in ∼4% deviation in the power and intermediate-range detector signal. The movement of the reactor core inside baffle can contribute ∼6% deviation in the ex-core neutron detector signal. The analysis showed that the mechanical movement of ex-core neutron detectors cannot explain the fluctuations in the ex-core detector signal. However, combined core barrel and reactor core inside baffle oscillations could be a probable reason for the observed fluctuations in the ex-core detector signal during an earthquake.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widely disseminated herpesvirus for which antibodies have been demonstrated in over 90% of adults worldwide. After subclinical primary EBV infections, as well as after infectious mononucleosis, the virus can be shed in saliva for a prolonged period of time. Aim: Diseases and disorders that can induce EBV salivary shedding include mental disorders and sex, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, malaria and HIV infection. Since the occurrence of EBV in saliva during acute infectious diseases has not yet been systematically researched, we aimed to investigate the possible relationship between acute infectious diseases and salivary shedding of EBV. Material and methods: This pilot cross-sectional study included consenting adults hospitalized for acute infectious conditions and their peers free of acute infectious diseases. A total of 40 patients with acute infectious diseases were enrolled, along with 41 adults free of acute infections. Peripheral venous blood samples for serodiagnosis and saliva samples for EBV PCR test-ing were collected from both groups. We fitted logit and general linear models to proportions and to ln (viral copy counts) to generate adjusted proportions and geometric mean values in the two groups of subjects. We used SAS for Windows 9.4. Results: The most common acute infectious disease was COVID-19 pneumonia, followed by hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Crude proportions of peo-ple with positive serological test results and those with saliva viral shedding were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: The presented preliminary data do not indicate acute infectious conditions as a marked “contributor” in increasing salivary EBV shedding.

Objective: This study assesses the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of medical staff in intensive care units (ICUs) regarding oral hygiene care for critically ill, bedridden patients. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study included 65 employees from the Intensive Care Units of the Sestre Milosrdnice Clinical Hospital Centre (CHC SM) and the Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the University Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb (CHC ZG). A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, methods, frequency, and attitudes towards oral care for mechanically ventilated patients. The data were examined through descriptive statistical methods, presented in terms of proportions (percentages). For the purpose of comparing the feedback across the two hospital centers and different educational backgrounds, the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were employed. Results: Results of a survey of 65 participants (18 from CHC SM and 47 from CHC ZG) revealed a notable disparity in oral hygiene knowledge, with graduate nurses displaying the highest proportion of adequate knowledge (100%) and regular nurses showing the least (30.3%) (p

Abstract Background Uterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive tumour with a poor prognosis. Its metastases to the heart are even rarer, especially to the epicardium. The majority of reported cardiac metastases of uterine leiomyosarcoma were in the cardiac chambers or intramyocardial. Surgical resection of the uterine leiomyosarcoma in the early stages is the only definitive treatment for this disease. However, in the cases of cardiac metastasis, surgery is recommended only in emergencies and patients with expected beneficial outcomes. Case presentation Our patient was a 49-year-old female referred to the Department of Cardiac Surgery for scheduled surgery of pericardial neoplasia. The patient underwent a hysterectomy and adnexectomy three years prior owing to the uterine leiomyosarcoma. A regular follow-up magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis discovered neoplasia in the diaphragmic portion of the pericardium. No other signs of primary disease relapse or metastases were found. The patient was asymptomatic. The multidisciplinary team concluded that the patient is a candidate for surgery. Surgery included diastolic cardiac arrest achievement and resection of the tumour. Macroscopically, a parietal layer of the pericardium was completely free from the tumour that invaded only the apical myocardium of the left ventricle. Completed histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of the uterine origin. Three months after surgery, the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and dacarbazine. One year after surgery, there are no signs of new metastases. Conclusions Strict surveillance of patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma after successful treatment of the early stage of the disease is of utmost importance to reveal metastatic disease to the heart in a timely manner and to treat it with beneficial outcomes. Surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy might be a good approach in patients with a beneficial prognosis. From a surgical point of view, it is challenging to assess the appropriate width of the resection edges to be radical enough and, at the same time, sufficiently conservative to ensure the satisfactory postoperative function of the remaining myocardium and avoid repetitive tumour growth. Therefore, intraoperative histopathology should always be performed.

Changes in the land use/land cover (LU/LC) model caused by different anthropogenic and natural factors are an important object of numerous scientific research. In this paper, an analysis of the spatio-temporal changes (LUCCs) for the area of Significant landscape (SL) of the „Baraćeve špilje“ in the period from 1960 to 2021 was performed. Using aerial photographs and a hybrid classification method, LU/LC models and spatio-temporal changes (STCs) analysis were performed. The research showed that the abandonment of agriculture and the slow disappearance of anthropogenic influence led to the disappearance of low vegetation in the form of lawns, meadows and pastures, while the bushy vegetation and forest gradually prevailed. Finally, in accordance with the degree of protection of the studied area guidelines for stopping negative trends in LU/LC changes were considered.

Waste disposal in landfills represents a severe threat to aquatic environments on the local, regional, and global levels. In Slovenia, there are 69 registered landfills where groundwater is regularly monitored. However, isotope techniques are not regularly employed. Therefore, we employed isotope analysis of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen in combination with total alkalinity to assess the impact of the selected landfill on groundwater and to evaluate the biogeochemical processes at work. The δ18O, δ2H, δ13CDIC, 3H activity and total alkalinity were determined in October 2020 at 12 sampling points from the surrounding area of the Gajke and Brstje landfills and leachate from the Gajke landfill. The δ18O (-9.24 ± 0.3 ‰) and δ2H (-64.9 ± 2.7 ‰) in groundwater indicate that the main water source consists in direct infiltration of precipitation, with no significant isotopic fractionation. Total alkalinity in the investigated area ranges from 5.45 to 73 mM and δ13CDIC from –14.9 to +6.1 ‰, respectively. Higher values of total alkalinity (up to 73 mM), δ13CDIC (up to +6.1 ‰), δ18O (-7.64 ‰) and 3H (209.8 TU) are detected in the leachate, indicating biogeochemical process related to CO2 reduction or methanogenesis. Methanogenesis could be present at locations GAP-10/13 (Brstje landfill) and G-2 (Gajke landfill) with δ13CDIC values ranging from –8.2 to –7.6 ‰ and with dissolved oxygen values around 0 % and elevated 3H values (from 16 to 18 TU). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of isotopic analysis as a valuable tool for monitoring landfills, revealing shifts in biogeochemical processes within the groundwater there.

Abstract Large-scale quantum computers have the potential to hold computational capabilities beyond conventional computers. However, the physical qubits are prone to noise which must be corrected in order to perform fault-tolerant quantum computations. Quantum Error Correction (QEC) provides the path for realizing such computations. QEC generates a continuous stream of data that decoders must process at the rate it is received, which can be as fast as 1 μs per QEC round in superconducting quantum computers. If the decoder infrastructure cannot keep up, a data backlog problem is encountered and the computation runs exponentially slower. Today’s leading approaches to quantum error correction are not scalable as existing decoders typically run slower as the problem size is increased, inevitably hitting the backlog problem. Here, we show how to parallelize decoding to achieve almost arbitrary speed, removing this roadblock to scalability. Our parallelization requires some classical feed forward decisions to be delayed, slowing-down the logical clock speed. However, the slow-down is now only polynomial in the size of the QEC code, averting the exponential slowdown. We numerically demonstrate our parallel decoder for the surface code, showing no noticeable reduction in logical fidelity compared to previous decoders and demonstrating the predicted speedup.

U radu je prikazana suvremena poljoprivredna tehnika u zaštiti bilja kroz pojašnjen pristup rada automatske kontrole rada prskalice. Prikazani su moderni sustavi za nivelaciju armature upotrebom senzora i ukazana važnost korištenja GIS navođenja kao glavne smjernice precizne poljoprivrede. U radu su dani konkretni primjeri prskalica na kojima su postavljeni automatski sustavi poput Amatron 3, Arag sustav, BoomTrac Pro gdje su ukazane sve prednosti navedenih. Korištenjem suvremene tehnike i dodatne digitalne opreme omogućena je kvalitetna aplikacija zaštitnih sredstava uz višestruke uštede.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent malocclusion and parafunctional habits contribute to the development of signs and symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in schoolchildren with mixed dentition in Croatia in a sample of 338 children, aged 9 to 15 years. Methods: TMD signs and symptoms assessed by the clinician were joint function and pain, masticatory muscles tenderness, range of mandibular motion, and joint sounds. To evaluate subjective symptoms and parafunctions, children and parents were asked about the presence of headaches, jaw locking, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, pain during mouth opening, or bruxism, as well as parafunctions like biting pencils or nails, chewing hard candies or ice, daily gum chewing, opening bottles with teeth, engaging in jaw play, thumb-sucking, and clenching/grinding teeth. Results: At least one symptom of a TMD was pronounced in 142 participants (42.0%). The most commonly reported parafunction was pencil or nail biting, present in 25.1% of participants. Class II malocclusion increased the likelihood by 2.6 times, pencil or nail biting by 2.34 times, and clenching/grinding teeth by 8.9 times that the subject would exhibit at least one TMD symptom. Conclusions: Every child with mixed dentition should undergo a brief examination of the TMJ, especially in cases of Class II malocclusion, pencil or nail biting, and teeth clenching or grinding, as these have all been identified as significant risk factors that increase the likelihood of experiencing TMD symptoms. This highlights the need for proactive screening and assessment by healthcare providers to reduce the risk and prevalence of TMDs in affected children and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

This study aims to investigate and provide information on the prevalence and haematological parameters of haemoparasites in cattle slaughtered in selected abattoirs in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. Atotal of 384 blood samples were randomly collected between January and July 2021 and screened for haemoparasites by examining Giemsa-stained thin blood smears. TRBC count, TWBC count, PCV, Hb concentration and DLC were determined using standard methods. An overall parasitaemia of 10.68% was recorded for Anaplasma centrale 14 (3.65%), Anaplasma marginale 11 (2.86%), Theileria mutans and Babesia bigemina with 8 (2.08%) each. Abattoir-specific prevalence indicated 13 (3.39%), 11 (2.86%), 9 (2.34%) and 8 (2.08%) for Unguwa-Uku, Kano central, Bachirawa and Tudun-Wada abattoirs respectively (p>0.05). Young cattle had a significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 11.58% compared to adults with 8.08%. Gender-related parasitaemia revealed that females had higher prevalence of 10.73% than males with 10.60% which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Breed-specific prevalence showed 9.24%, 11.54% and 16.67% for White Fulani, Red Bororo and Sokoto Gudali respectively, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Season-related parasitaemia showed that dry season had higher prevalence of 13.54% compared to rainy season with 7.81% which was statistically significant (p<0.05). All haematological parameters were within the recognized reference intervals for cattle. Significant decrease in mean values of PCV, TRBC and slight increase in TWBC was recorded. Routine treatment of animals and regular vector control to reduce the prevalence of haemoparasites in the study area is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Korčanica Memorial Zone is a Yugoslav architectural heritage, one of the many World War II memorials and one of the rare preserved memorial sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Korčanica memorial of the former Partisan hospital is presented as historical landscape research. Through multi-layered, primarily cultural, social and economic aspects of the Bosnian Krajina territory development at a given time, the paper aims to its (re)integration in urban planning and landscape design, with public participation in local and regional development. Korčanica landscape historical contextualization, through available archival materials and periodicals research, information obtained by interviewing the sculptor and on-site analysis, provided a broad insight into heritage as a process within specific discourses, helping in current significance comprehension. Universal landmark language in the current Korčanica landscape communicates intelligibly by timeless message design quality. The message sent in this place almost half a century ago, although now out of its political and socio-ideological context and currently unprotected, manages to reach the few casual or intentional visitors. Its vitality lies in the uniqueness of the response to, first of all, the historically significant place marking - for the birth of great social strength and unity, to the expected abstraction or symbolism beyond the national, as well as the response to the natural context of this hidden landmark, whereby in formulating such an answer in a sculpture scale, the author himself remains true to his expression. The landscape biography reading discovered many history lessons about the variable territory state, and many traces of social, economic, educational, cultural and technological layers of Grmeč Mountain history are (un)available in the current Korčanica landscape.

Various physiotherapeutic methods and approaches play a significant role in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease, including the use of enriched environments. Virtual reality (VR) as a type of enriched environment has the potential to create multiple sensory experiences and feedback, influencing various aspects of the patient’s information processing and response. The suitability for home use and the considerable impact on motivation highlight its advantages over alternative approaches. The objective of this review is to investigate the impact of VR-based exercise on balance outcomes among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The inclusion criteria consisted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of exercise in a VR environment on individuals’ static and dynamic balance outcomes. In order to gather relevant studies, we conducted a comprehensive search across three databases. From a dataset of 625 records, we conducted a comprehensive full-text screening based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process resulted in the inclusion of 14 RCTs in our review. The emerging evidence regarding exercising in a VR environment does not definitively prove its superiority over standard exercise routines. However, studies have demonstrated that both the experimental and control groups showed comparable improvements in enhancing static and dynamic balance among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The comparable improvements in balance observed between the experimental and control groups signify the potential effectiveness of VR-based exercises. This underscores the encouragement for further development in this technology, particularly focusing on fully immersive VR environments, which may yield superior effects in enhancing balance among individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

In this article, we study the phase behavior of two polydisperse hydrocolloids: dextran and polyethylene oxide. We combine the data on the experimental osmometric virial coefficients of the pure components with the experimental critical point of their aqueous mixture and the size distribution of each component from a previously published study in order to predict the phase boundary, spinodal, and fractionation upon demixing of the polydisperse mixture. We compare the results of our calculation to the experimental phase diagram. Our method reveals a better correspondence with the experimental binary phase behavior than modeling each component as monodisperse. The polydispersity of the hydrocolloids causes the phase separation boundary to shift to lower concentrations and the miscibility region to decrease and change its shape from a rotated U-shape to a W-shape.

Prije sedam godina (2016. godine) u Republici Hrvatskoj uvedeno je obavezno testiranje uređaja i strojeva za aplikaciju pesticida. Ispitivanje tehničke ispravnosti uređaja i strojeva provodi se svake 3 godine u ovlaštenim ispitnim stanicama. Prema dosadašnjim podacima stanje tehničke ispravnosti uređaja i strojeva u RH prije sedam godina bilo je nezadovoljavajuće (loše). Međutim 2022. godine utvrđeno je da je prilikom testiranja bilo preko 88% ispravnih strojeva, bez obzira što je prosječna starost strojeva preko 21 godinu. U radu su putem Fitosanitarnog informacijskog sustava i analizom rezultata testiranja prikazani podaci o broju orošivača, prosječnoj starosti, proizvođaču, tipu stroja i najčešćim kvarovima.

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This study investigates the production of clausal embeddings by 195 Russian speakers (67 monolingually raised speakers, 68 heritage speakers in the US, and 60 heritage speakers in Germany) in different communicative situations varying by formality (formal vs. informal) and mode (spoken vs. written). Semi-spontaneous data were manually annotated for clause type and analyzed using a binomial generalized mixed-effects model. Our results show that heritage speakers of both groups and monolingually raised speakers behave alike regarding their use of embedded clauses. Specifically, all speaker groups produce embedded clauses more frequently in formal situations compared to informal situations. Mode was not found to influence the production of embedded clauses. This behavior suggests an underlying register awareness in heritage speakers of Russian. Such register awareness might be a result of the high involvement of heritage speakers with Russian. This study contributes to our understanding of linguistic outcomes of heritage speakers and highlights the influence of communicative situations on language production.

Background and Objectives: General anesthesia induces reversible unconsciousness, eliminating sensation and enabling painless medical procedures. Vital for dental care, it addresses patients with medical conditions, those needing extensive procedures, and those unable to cooperate due to fear. Dental care for patients with disabilities is a significant unmet need, with studies showing increased oral disease prevalence. This research aims to analyze postoperative morbidity both in healthy and disabled children undergoing dental procedures under general anesthesia. Materials and Methods: This study involved 96 children aged 3 to 15 with dental caries. Two groups were formed: the control group (CTL) (52.94%) included healthy patients requiring general anesthesia due to unsatisfactory cooperation, and the other group included children with physical or intellectual disabilities (CD) (47.96%). Postoperative complications were monitored 1 h after the procedure and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after the procedure by contacting parents/caregivers by phone. The intensity of postoperative pain was assessed using the Wong–Baker faces pain rating scale. General anesthesia was conducted following a standardized protocol for dental procedures. Results: CTL patients complained more often about postoperative pain 1 h after the procedure (p = 0.03). One day after the procedure, oral bleeding (p = 0.04), fever (p = 0.009), and diarrhea (p = 0.037) occurred more often in CD. In the same period, sore throat appeared more often in CTL (p = 0.036). Three days after the dental treatment, there were statistically significant increases in the occurrence of agitation (p = 0.043) and constipation (p = 0.043) in CD. Seven days later, CD demonstrated a higher occurrence of agitation (p = 0.037). According to the Wong–Baker faces pain rating scale, CTL experienced more frequent and intense pain. Conclusions: CD more frequently reported complications like oral bleeding, fever, and diarrhea. In contrast, the CTL group more often reported pain-related symptoms. The conclusion underscores the need for a pain control protocol for CD and emphasizes the importance of frequent monitoring to prevent unwanted consequences during tooth restoration under general anesthesia.

The significant rise in the use of clear aligners for orthodontic treatment is attributed to their aesthetic appeal, enhancing patient appearance and self-confidence. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aligners’ response to common staining agents (coffee, black tea, Coca-Cola, and Red Bull) in color and chemical stability. Polyurethane-based thermoformed and 3D-printed aligners from four brands were exposed to common beverages to assess color change using a VITA Easyshade compact colorimeter after 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 7 days, as well as chemical stability using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The brand, beverage, and manufacturing method significantly influence color stability. ATR-FTIR analysis revealed compositional differences, with variations in response to beverage exposure affecting the integrity of polymer bonds. Color change analysis showed coffee as the most potent staining agent, particularly affecting Tera Harz TC85 aligners, while ClearCorrect aligners exhibited the least susceptibility. 3D-printed aligners showed a greater color change compared to thermoformed ones. Aligners with a PETG outer layer are more resistant to stains and chemical alterations than those made of polyurethane. Additionally, 3D-printed polyurethane aligners stain more than thermoformed ones. Therefore, PETG-layered aligners are a more reliable choice for maintaining the aesthetic integrity of aligners.

Titania nanotubes are gaining prominence in the biomedical field as implant materials due to their mechanical durability, nano-rough properties, and positive influence on cellular response. This work aimed to synthesize titania and titanium oxynitride (Ti–O–N) nanotubular arrays on TiAl6V4 substrates using an anodic oxidation process followed by annealing in air or by additional nitridation in NH3 atmosphere. Different nanotubular layers of unique morphology and structure were fabricated and investigated using advanced surface analysis and biocompatibility tests. In-depth surface analysis was performed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), 3D profilometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS). Cell testing using adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and human fetal osteoblasts demonstrated good cell viability, high proliferative capacity, and a favorable overall effect on cell morphology for the Ti–O–N nanotubes.