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Economic inequality is associated with preferences for smaller, immediate gains over larger, delayed ones. Such temporal discounting may feed into rising global inequality, yet it is unclear whether it is a function of choice preferences or norms, or rather the absence of sufficient resources for immediate needs. It is also not clear whether these reflect true differences in choice patterns between income groups. We tested temporal discounting and five intertemporal choice anomalies using local currencies and value standards in 61 countries (N = 13,629). Across a diverse sample, we found consistent, robust rates of choice anomalies. Lower-income groups were not significantly different, but economic inequality and broader financial circumstances were clearly correlated with population choice patterns. Ruggeri et al. find in a study of 61 countries that temporal discounting patterns are globally generalizable. Worse financial environments, greater inequality and high inflation are associated with extreme or inconsistent long-term decisions.

Purpose: Unstable pelvic ring injuries produced by external rotation of the hemipelvis and a symphyseal disruption are most often treated with internal fixation of the anterior ring, with percutaneous treatment of the posterior ring as needed. In some clinical situations, patients are treated with external fixation for their anterior injuries and the long-term functional outcomes associated with external fixation are not well understood. We ask if there is a difference in functional outcome, between treatment of these injuries with internal versus external fixation, when measured at a minimum of three years after injury. Method: This was a retrospective cohort study performed at a level one regional trauma center. Trauma database review identified 128 patients, with 70 subsequently excluded, with unstable anterior posterior compression (APC) pelvic ring injuries (OTA 61B2.3 & 61C1.2) treated with surgery with minimum three years of follow-up. An intervention of internal fixation versus external fixation of anterior pelvic ring was performed, and depending on the injury, supplemented with posterior iliosacral screw fixation. Main outcome was measured with the Majeed functional outcome score (0-100). Results: Patients treated with external fixation reported a Majeed score of 70 (95% CI 28-100) compared to 79 (95% CI 36-100) in those with internal fixation (p-value 0.28). Subgroups of the Majeed score were not significantly different (p value > 0.05). Open fractures, severity of injury, and ISS were worse in those treated with external fixation. There was no differential loss to follow-up. Conclusion Patients with unstable pelvic ring injuries with symphyseal disruptions treated with external fixation as definitive treatment versus internal fixation may fare no different in the long term.

Purpose The mass electronics sector is one of the most critical sources of waste, in terms of volume and content with dangerous effects on the environment. The purpose of this study is to provide an automated and accurate dismantling system that can improve the outcome of recycling. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, the paper details the implementation layout and highlights the advantages of using a custom architecture for the automated dismantling of printed circuit board waste. Findings Currently, the amount of electronic waste is impressive while manual dismantling is a very common and non-efficient approach. Designing an automatic procedure that can be replicated, is one of the tasks for efficient electronic waste recovery. This paper proposes an automated dismantling system for the advanced recovery of particular waste materials from computer and telecommunications equipment. The automated dismantling architecture is built using a robotic system, a custom device and an eye-to-hand configuration for a stereo vision system. Originality/value The proposed approach is innovative because of its custom device design. The custom device is built using a programmable screwdriver combined with an innovative rotary dismantling tool. The dismantling torque can be tuned empirically.

In recent years, the role of technology in working life has increased. Technology and digitalization play a crucial role in the developmentof the organizations and the entire societies. The ascendance of digital organizations has also become a widely researched topic, the digital workplace environmentbeing an important organizational asset for increasing employee productivity (Köffer, 2015). Digitalization creates changes in the world of work, impacting not only business performance and worker productivity, but also job satisfaction, work/life balance, worker autonomy and monitoring across hierarchical levels. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in particular are essential components of working andimportant working tools (Korunka&Vartiainen, 2017).

Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that mainly affects children younger than 6 years old. However, it represents the most common cause of acquired heart disease and the second most frequent vasculitis in children. Its importance consists in cardiac (coronary) complications identified in adults younger than 40 years old. Early diagnosis is pivotal for preventing (or reducing) coronary aneurysms and avoiding, at least, later unnecessary surgical interventions. Full (classic, complete) Kawasaki disease is easily diagnosed, even if the symptoms are not always present at the same time and most of them are unspecific. Incomplete Kawasaki disease implies challenge, delay or misdiagnosis. “Picking it up early is a winner” – the specialists say, so that early treatment administered at the right moment can stop the inflammatory process leading to much better outcomes, consequently.

The infection with hepatitis C virus has drawn attention to researchers from 1970. Nowadays, hepatitis C virus infection is a global public health issue, affecting approximately 3% of the global population. Experimental models provided vital data on the understanding of viral replication. Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus is generally a progressive lent disease characterized by the persistence of inflammation in the liver and correlated with the cirrhosis in about 20% of patients after 20-30 years of infection. Hepatitis C virus is still a public health threat, but progress in monitoring and treatment of infected patients is truly noticeable and has remarkably improved the prospects for this disease.

The aims of this study were to analyze the within-group weekly metabolic power average (wMPA), weekly acceleration zones (wAcZ), and weekly deceleration zones (wDcZ), in starter and non-starter professional soccer players, based on different periods of the full season (pre-, early-, mid-, and end-season). Twenty-one professional soccer players (age, 28.3 ± 3.8 years, height, 181.2 ± 7.1 cm, body mass, 74.5 ± 7.7 kg, BMI, 22.6 ± 1.0 kg·m2) were monitored during the full season in the highest level of the Iranian Premier League. WMPA, wAcZ, and wDcZ at three different zones (wAcZ1, wAcZ2, wAcZ3, wDcZ1, wDcZ2, wDcZ3) were collected using Global Positioning System. ANOVA was applied to analyze within-group changes across the different periods of the full season. In general, starters presented higher values in the beginning of the season (pre- and early-season) and lower values at mid- and end-season. Specifically, starters showed significant differences in early- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1 (p &lt, 0.05), plus early- vs. end-season for wMPA and wAcZ1 (p &lt, 0.01). In addition, non-starters showed higher values in the pre-season that decreased until the end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1. Regarding wAcZ2, wDcZ2, wAcZ3, and wDcZ3, non-starters presented higher values in early-season that decreased until the end-season. Specifically, non-starters showed significant differences in pre- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wDcZ1, pre- vs. end-season for wMPA, wDcZ1, wDccZ2, and wDcZ3, early- vs. mid-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, wDcZ1, wAcZ2, and wDccZ2, early- vs. end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, wDcZ1, wAcZ2 wDccZ2, wAcZ3, and wDcZ3, and mid- vs. end-season for wMPA, wAcZ1, and wAcZ3 (p &lt, 0.05). In conclusion, starters were revealed to have higher values in pre- and early-season, and lower values in mid- to end-season, while non-starters were revealed to have lower load values in pre- and end-season and higher load values in early- and mid-season. This study provides extra insights over the season for starters and non-starters, respectively. Data can be used by coaches to better training periodization across soccer season.

The Internet as a shopping and purchasing medium has become an extensively researched topic. Augmented realty, in particular, allows consumers to explore their options and make personalised changes while shopping online. Our study aims to analyse the symmetry between the attitudes towards using the traditional electronic online shopping and the electronic commerce that uses augmented reality. We also investigate the effects of personality traits and the attitudes towards the Internet on the two electronic commerce forms. Our results show that the buying intention in online shopping is significantly higher in the case of augmented reality. Our results also reveal associations between personality traits and online buying behaviours, i.e., neuroticism and the openness to experiences being associated with the willingness to buy online. On the other hand, personality traits are proved to predict buying impulsiveness, the highest weight being represented by low emotional stability and high external locus of control. Further research should also include other dimensions, such as the perceived risks associated with online purchasing, self-efficacy or anxiety towards technology.

In recent years, inertial navigation systems have become very popular in many industries, (most notably the auto industry [1]) for providing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and moreover, to contribute to the development of driverless vehicles. These systems, in addition to the inertial sensor, are equipped with GNSS receivers (GPS), laser scanners and video cameras to become very accurate sensors. This paper aims to present the MEMS type inertial sensors, especially the MPU6050 sensor and its practical application in monitoring the attitude of a two wheels vehicle along a race track.

Iliopsoas release is a common procedure for coxa saltans interna of the hip. The possible sequelae from this surgery have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine postoperative atrophy and morphology of the cut tendon. This retrospective review included patients who underwent arthroscopic iliopsoas release and had magnetic resonance imaging of the ipsilateral hip before and after surgical intervention. Cross-sectional area measurements were obtained of the iliopsoas muscle at the level of the distal anterior inferior iliac spine as well as at the L5 vertebral pedicle in patients who had imaging that included the lower lumbar spine. Patient-reported outcomes included the modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and the Hip Outcome Score subscales for activities of daily living (HOS ADL) and sport (HOS Sport). A total of 44 patients met inclusion criteria for this study; 26 patients had additional advanced imaging that included the lumbar spine. The cross-sectional area of the iliopsoas at the level of the anterior inferior iliac spine decreased postoperatively by a mean of 191.4 mm 2 ;, this difference was statistically significant ( P 2 on the released side and 1216.2 mm 2 on the nonoperative side ( P Orthopedics . 2020;43(3):e171–e176.]

Over the recent years, the communication and collaboration based on online applications has been ubiquitous, being used in teaching, learning and research. In this context, the present study analyses the attitudes and perceptions of the teaching staff and researchers from several higher education institutions in Romania with respect to online collaboration and communication applications, and the impact these applications have on their work (teaching and research). The findings have revealed that the email is still the main communication and collaboration application in both teaching and research, but other, newer applications are not far behind. The extent to which these applications are accepted and used seem to depend directly on personal variables, the most significant ones being the technology anxiety and self-efficacy. The relationship between personality traits and the use of online communication and collaboration applications in the professional academic life has been shown to be mediated by work engagement, which enhances the teachers' personal resources, enhancing their levels of achievement. The findings have also demonstrated that the use of online communication and collaboration applications is part of the factors predicting the teachers' and researchers’ success in academic life.

Ambroxol (2-amino-3,5-dibromo-N-[trans-4-hydroxycyclohexyl]benzylamine), an over-thecounter product, is a mucoactive agent and has been used widely to treat both acute and chronic respiratory diseases since 1978. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical evidence available on the use of ambroxol in children with acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Data for this review were obtained from both published and unpublished clinical studies, and real-world evidence studies. Although conducted prior to the introduction of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), these studies, representing almost 1,300 pediatric patients, report strong clinical outcomes following the use of ambroxol in pediatric patients. Furthermore, efficacy findings were consistent irrespective of age, including for patients as young as 1 month old. Additionally, the majority of studies found ambroxol to be well tolerated in children. Taken together, the clinical evidence for ambroxol shows treatmenteffects that offer significant benefits to pediatric patients for its licensed use as a secretolytic therapy in acute and chronic bronchopulmonary disorders associated with abnormal mucus secretion and impaired mucus transport. The findings from this review indicate that ambroxol, for its intended over-the-counter indications, is both efficacious and well tolerated in children and that the favorable benefit/risk profile of ambroxol reported in adults extends to the pediatric population, starting from early infancy, with acute and chronic respiratory diseases.

The era of oral direct antivirals has completely changed the picture of chronic hepatitis C. The rates of sustained virological response overpassed the 90% percentage, but new challenges are coming: the persisting liver disease, the complications on long term, the follow up. The new treatment came with the advantage of increased number of patients that can be treated (cirrhotic patients including the ones with advanced disease, the co-infected patients HCV-HIV, the patients with end stage renal disease). The experience with these drugs is relatively short, but there are some general recommendations for the post-treatment surveillance. This review discusses the recommended follow-up and the clinical findings in patients, after obtaining SVR (sustained virological response).

With the introduction of direct acting antivirals in the therapeutic armamentarium of hepatitis C (HCV), policy makers have set criteria for treatment eligibility. In Romania, the combination of ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir is reimbursed for F4 fibrosis on liver biopsy/Fibromax, or F3 with contraindication to interferon (IFN). Our aim was to assess treatment eligibility and discordance between serological, elastometric and imaging evaluation of fibrosis in a cohort of patients with HCV. We evaluated both newly diagnosed and previously known HCV patients with advanced fibrosis, from our database, during a period of 7 months, between November 1st, 2015 and May 31st, 2016. Clinical, biological, ultrasound, elastography and endoscopy data were collected. Altogether 146 patients were assessed for treatment eligibility. Among them, 61% were females, with a mean age of 60 ± 8 years. Regarding treatment status, 52.5 % were naive, 27.4% nonresponders, 17.81% relapsers and 2.74% intolerant to bitherapy. 54.8% had elevated alpha-fetoprotein and were checked by advanced imaging for exclusion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – of them, 8 were diagnosed with HCC. On ultrasound, almost 1/2 patients had dilated splenoportal axis and at endoscopy 42% had esophageal varices. Transient elastography (Fibroscan) was done in 88/146 patients: 82.95% were F4, 1.14% F3-F4, 9.09% F3 and 6.82%

Background Allergic reactions to influenza vaccinations are a well-known phenomenon; however, only a few published statistics give information on the risks. Patients with a chicken egg allergy must be particularly carefully handled during an influenza epidemic where vaccines produced using embryonated chicken eggs are primarily employed. Methods A selective literature review and analysis of the problem of allergic reactions to vaccinations was performed. Results The two most common relative contraindications among patients to be vaccinated are the presence of an egg allergy and a previous anaphylactic reaction to vaccination. These patients have a significantly increased risk of sustaining an adverse reaction. These high-risk patients should therefore only be vaccinated on the basis of thorough assessment of medical history, and then only with caution. The emergency routine must include sufficient precautionary measures, in case an anaphylactic reaction occurs. Conclusion Current guidelines for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions are to be observed. Immediate treatment of the first symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction-i.v. administration of adrenalin, antihistamines, cortisone, and in some cases betamimetics-can usually prevent anaphylactic shock. Alternatively, a graded vaccination ("split protocol") and overnight surveillance can be considered in this group of patients.

BACKGROUND: Currently considered an occupational disease, the burnout syndrome affects 13–27% of the active population in multiple occupational sectors of the modern world. OBJECTIVES: Considering the burnout syndrome from the new perspective of the predictive, preventive, personalized medicine concept as a pathological entity with a predictable appearance and evolution which allows a preventive approach and a personalized therapy, the main objective of the study is to highlight the possibility of psychotherapeutic interventions for producing measurable psychological changes in order to decrease the burnout level of hospital nurses. METHOD: The research design is experimental, the independent variable being the participation or non-participation of nurses in psychotherapeutic sessions where specific classical psychodrama techniques are originally used. Nurses previously identified with medium or high levels of burnout participated in the clinical study, split into two groups: the experimental one, with 150-min weekly sessions, and the control one, without any intervention. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires were administered to the members of both groups. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the differences between pre- and post-intervention revealed (a) the decrease of the levels of personal burnout and of burnout generated by the working conditions and (b) the decrease of the depression and of anxiety on four dimensions (self-awareness, ergic tension, veiled and general anxiety). CONCLUSIONS: The classical psychodrama method can be an effective solution in the prophylaxis and treatment of the burnout syndrome. The multidisciplinary approach according to the PPPM concept including changes of the environmental factors within the professional framework associated with stress control programmes can be promising solutions for the management of this syndrome.

Nowadays, global warming, energy issues and environmental concern have forced energy production stakeholders to find new low carbon solutions. Photovoltaic technologies as renewable energy resources represent a competitive way for the transition from conventional fossil fuels towards a renewable energy economy. The highest renewable energy systems (RES) market share is based on silicon photovoltaic (Si-PV). The installed RES have rapidly increased over the last two decades, but, after the end of their service life, they will be disposed of. Therefore, the constant increase of the installed RES has attracted the global concern due to their impact on the environment and, most of all, due to the content of their valuable resources. However, the rational management of RES waste has not been addressed so far. The paper represents an extension of a previous work focused on Si-PV recycling by developing all waste hybrid composites. The extension research conducted in this paper is related to the influence of Si-PV characteristics on the mechanical performances and water stability of the hybrid composites. All waste hybrid composites developed by embedding different Si-PV grain sizes were tested before and after water immersion in terms of mechanical strength, interfacial adhesion, crystallinity and morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The results revealed the better performance of such Si-PV composites compared to that of sieved composites even after long term water immersion. Therefore, high-content Si-PV hybrid composites could be developed without Si-PV powder sieving. Further on, all waste hybrid composites could be used as paving slabs, protective barriers for outdoor applications.

Although not a disease, primary snoring often leads to social problems. In an earlier retrospective pilot study, we found hints that individuals were snoring less in a lateral versus a supine head position. The aim of this study is to elucidate on the effect of an anti-snoring pillow which changes the head position.We designed an interventional, controlled, and randomized crossover study. It included 22 participants, between 18 and 78 years, who snored, had a BMI ≤ 30, and a sleep partner. Obstructive sleep apnea was ruled out by polysomnography (PSG) or by respiratory polygraphy (PG). Two potential participants dropped out. The first two phases were done at home (4 weeks in total), followed by two nights of polysomnography in our sleep laboratory. During all phases, questionnaires regarding snoring, sleep quality, and pillow tolerance were completed by the patients and, as relevant, by their partners.The PSG parameters revealed a significant reduction in the snoring index (p = 0.03) when on the activated pillow without a deterioration in other respiratory parameters. This correlated well with the visual analog scale (VAS) that showed a significant decrease in snoring with the activated pillow according to the bed partners (p 0.001). Subjective acceptance of the pillow during the study period was 100%.This study shows that by using a pillow to change the head position, it is possible to reduce both subjective and objective snoring severity.DRKS 00008744 AND ETHICS COMMISSION REGISTRY NUMBER REGISTRY NUMBER 2013-406 M-MA.

Background and Aims. Malnutrition is common in patients with chronic liver disease. We aimed to evaluate malnutrition assessment tools in predicting severity and survival of patients with liver cirrhosis. Material and Methods. We examined patients with liver cirrhosis. Nutritional evaluation was performed on admission, using subjective global assessment (SGA), handgrip strength (HGS), and anthropometry. Patients were followed up for 6 months. Results. We included 100 patients, 72 men, with mean age of 59.2 years. According to disease severity, patients were 23% Child-Pugh A, 46% Child-Pugh B, and 31% Child-Pugh C. SGA and HGS significantly correlated with Child-Pugh, MELD, and MELD-Na scores on admission. At 6 months follow-up, 80.4% (78 of 97) of patients survived, while 3 patients were lost from observation. Survival was predicted by SGA (1 death in 32 patients SGA A, 8 deaths in 46 patients SGA B, and 9 deaths in 19 patients SGA C, p=0.001) and HGS (25.1 ± 8.5 in deceased versus 30.6 ± 10.9 in survivors, p=0.046). The mean BMI and MAMC values did not significantly differ between patients who survived or were deceased at 6 months. Conclusion. HGS and SGA may predict severity and short-term survival in cirrhotic patients.

Academic dishonesty in higher education is an increasingly visible problem throughout the world and in Romania in particular. A total of 1127 university students from six public Romanian universities were surveyed for their experiences and beliefs with 22 behaviors that might be considered academically dishonest. A five-factor solution to the frequencies of these behaviors was interpretable and accounted for more than half of the total variance. How acceptable students believed the behaviors were and how often students witnessed other students engage in these behaviors were consistent predictors of the frequency of the behaviors, with small to medium effect sizes. Demographic predictors of these behaviors, including gender, academic specialty, year in school, institution, grade average, and scholarship status, predicted very little variance in the behaviors. Implications and limitations of the study, as well as limitations of research in the field, are discussed.

Einleitung Im Jahr 2006 wurde eine interdisziplinare Stellungnahme zur praoperativen Gerinnungsdiagnostik bei Kindern vor einer Tonsillektomie/Adenotomie (TE/AT) veroffentlicht. Diese empfiehlt, auf die praoperative „Routinegerinnung“ zu verzichten und stattdessen einen standardisierten Fragebogen zur Abklarung einer Blutungsneigung zu verwenden. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es zu uberprufen, ob es nach der Umsetzung der Empfehlung zu einer Veranderung der Nachblutungsrate gekommen ist. Methoden Mittels einer retrospektiven Datenanalyse der Jahre 2003 und 2009 wurde die Inzidenz von Nachblutungen bei Kindern nach TE, AT und kombinierter ATE untersucht. Wahrend 2003 nur eine freie Anamnese durchgefuhrt wurde und in Teilen eine Routinegerinnung vorlag, wurden 2009 alle Kinder durch den standardisierten Fragebogen gescreent und im Verdachtsfall eine umfassende Gerinnungsdiagnostik vorgenommen. Ergebnisse 2003 wurden 352 Kinder operiert, in 25 Fallen (7,1%) kam es zu Nachblutungen, wovon 18 (6,1%) revidiert werden mussten. 2009 wurden 293 Kinder operiert, 20 (6,8%) Kinder erlitten eine Nachblutung, 14 (4,7%) wurden operativ revidiert. Ein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied in der Nachblutungsrate zwischen beiden Kollektiven zeigte sich nicht. Bei 5 der Kinder, die 2003 nachgeblutet hatten, lag praoperativ ein Gerinnungslabor vor, das in allen Fallen unauffallig war. Auch alle postoperativ durchgefuhrten Gerinnungsuntersuchungen, die im Anschluss an die Nachblutungen in beiden Gruppen durchgefuhrt wurden, waren unauffallig. Schlussfolgerung Die Anwendung des standardisierten Fragebogens unter Verzicht auf eine Routinegerinnung fuhrt nicht zu einer nachweisbaren Veranderung der Nachblutungsrate nach TE/AT. Die Ergebnisse bestatigen daruber hinaus, dass Nachblutungen nach TE/AT in aller Regel nicht Ausdruck einer kompromittierten Blutgerinnung sind.

The access of the general public and of the Romanian students to the use of the computer and the internet has been possible only since the middle of the 90's, research on the topic having no object up to that date. The variety of results obtained by studies conducted on different samples or at different time spans support the usefulness of the research in other cultural contexts than the ones in the Western countries. The current study examines the relationships between computer and internet anxiety, computer self-efficacy and other personal characteristics in a Romanian context. A full mediated model was tested. According to our findings, low computer self-efficacy predicts anxiety, the previous education in the field of computer science has direct negative effects on computer anxiety and on the negative attitudes towards the internet. The results show that there are no significant differences between the male and the female participants concerning computer anxiety, self-efficacy and the negative attitudes towards the internet. Significant differences between participants enrolled at different education levels and study programs, Science and Humanities, are obtained. Low computer self-efficacy predicted anxiety.Previous education in the field of informatics had negative effects on anxiety.Anxiety correlates with the experience in using computers.IT&C grades at Science programs are negatively associated with the level of anxiety.There are no significant gender differences for internet and computer anxiety.

The present paper describes the challenges and preliminary results obtained during the design and implementation of a disassembly system for capacitors placed on printed circuits boards. This research is included in an attempt to reduce the impact of the electronic waste. The proposed architecture includes a six axis multipurpose industrial robot, dedicated sensors and a custom built tool. An originally designed rotary tool, with a specific type of drill bit, was used to dismantle each capacitor on the board. A sensor triggers the tool for the drill rotation when the perforation is accomplished accordingly, so that the friction force is big enough to initiate the dismantling procedure. Using the rotation movement of the drill, at a calculated number of rotations, the capacitors are successfully dismantled from the printed circuits board. An artificial vision system composed from a stereo camera and an image-processing algorithm, provides data with regard to the position of each capacitor on the printed circuit board. A vacuum cleaner was integrated in the scheme to recover the capacitors after dismantling. The scheme design was perpetually optimized using dedicated simulation software. Also, preliminary results obtained on the physical system underline the potential advantages of the proposed approach.

BACKGROUND: The burnout syndrome is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. It was identified in some professional categories, the most often being affected those in public health services. OBJECTIVES: This study mainly aims to identify and analyze the value of the personality traits and work characteristics as predictive factors for the occurrence of the burnout syndrome in nurses, under the new approach of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine. METHOD: A total of 192 nurses were included in the study. The NEO-Five-Factor Inventory, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and the Inventory of Nursing Work Characteristics were administered to all of the participants. RESULTS: Some personality traits proved to be predictive factors for the occurrence of the burnout syndrome. Neuroticism, negative self-esteem, and negative emotionality predict burnout vulnerability. The negative correlations between sociability and the burnout dimensions show that the positive affectivity of the extraverted individuals and the strong positive orientation of the extraverts towards others are protective factors against burnout. There are also significant associations between certain personality traits and nursing work characteristics (work overload, the existence of problems in the department, and satisfaction in the professional and family life), which could be defined, also, as predictive factors for burnout. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the influence of the Big Five personality traits and nursing work characteristics as predictive factors of the burnout occurrence, opening real possibilities to perform a targeted prevention and provide personalized interventions as organizational services.

The subject of electromagnetic compatibility is a compulsory one, taught to students from electrical engineering and applied electronics study programmes. We present a comparative study between the current teaching method of shielding calculation and a new simulation-based teaching approach. In the academic year 2013–2014, the effectiveness of the new method was evaluated by analyzing the answers provided by the students to the items in a questionnaire along with their final lab test scores.

Background and aims Cow′s milk proteins allergy is the most common type of allergy in infants. The aims of the study were to assess the nutritional status on infants diagnosed by cow’s milk allergy and the benefits of nutritional intervention on infants growth. Methods A prospective study on a sample of 32 infants aged 3 to 12 months diagnosed with cow’s milk allergy from 2014–2016 was conducted. The following data were analysed: type of feeding, family history of atopy, age at onset of suggestive symptoms and specific serum IgE values. For the assessment of nutritional status, all the analyses were performed based on the z-score weight for age, height for age and weight for height. Body weight and length were assessed at the time of diagnosis and 6 months of nutritional intervention with monthly intervals of evaluation. Results The sample included predominantly girls with a mean age of 7.2 months. The average age at onset of symptoms was 2.20±2.48 months. Approximately one-half of the infants were younger than 6 months of age. Family history for atopy was positive in 18 patients (56.2%). Exclusive gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in 14 patients (43.7%), cutaneous manifestations in 10 patients (31.3%), respiratory symptoms in 4 patients (12.5%) and systemic symptoms in 4 patients (12.5%). Specific IgE profile reported to 47.3% of the study sample the IgE mediated allergy forms. The assessment of the nutritional status at the time of diagnosis demonstrated that 26.2% had a deficit in weight-for-age, 10% had a deficit in weight-for-height and 16.3% had a deficit in height-for-age z score. At the time of diagnosis 47.5% of the infants were of normal weight for age. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas were recommended for 56.2% (18/32) of patients and amino acid-based formulas for 43.8% (14/32) of patients. At the end of six months of nutritional intervention data indicated that 8.5% had maintained weight-for-age deficit, 6.4% had a deficit in weight-for-height and 11.2% had a deficit in height-for-age z score. Conclusions The weight-for-age deficit was the most predominant indicator of nutritional status in infants affected by cow’s milk allergy. Highly effective replacement diets are needed to control symptoms and promote nutritional recovery in order to avoid malnutrition.

Background and aims Prolonged elevation of the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is as biochemical indicators for hepatic diseases. However, these enzymes are also present in a variety of extrahepatic tissues, including skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to call the attention to the often disregarded message that high level of transaminases may be a marker of both liver and muscle diseases. Methods We report a case series that included three male patients who were admitted to our paediatrics unit during the last 24 months with persistent elevated serum levels of aminotransferases. The diagnostic work-up included physical examination, screening for liver disease and muscular dystrophy: serum level of transaminases, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Results The patients, all boys, were aged between 3 and 5 years, mean age of 3.7 years. The initial ALT and AST values were between 486–890 U/L and 344 and 680 U/L respectively. The serum level of ALT, generally considered to be specific for hepatocellular injury, was increased 10 to 25 times above normal in all the reported cases. LDH serum level was increased for all patients The neurological findings were all not remarkable: difficulty in running and jumping, frequent falls. Serum CPK level was found significantly increased. Genetic studies showed deletions in the Duchenne muscle dystrophy gene, exons 45–48 and 48-49-50 respectively. Paradoxically, the increase in ALT activity was greater than that of serum AST level. Conclusions High level of transaminases is most striking during the early stage of muscular dystrophy, before onset of or when only subtle signs of muscle disease are present. Serum CPK level and careful physical examination are the most useful and cost-effective means of correctly identifying these patients.

Background and aims Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and thalassemia are the most common microcytic anaemia in children. Sometimes, expensive or invasive investigations are necessary for their distinction. A number of haematological indices are useful, but some of them assume difficult calculation. In practice, most paediatricians use Mentzer index, maybe out of convenience. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the specificity and sensitivity of the haematological indices. Methods Retrospective study conducted on a total of 144 patients with IDA diagnosis at hospital discharge. Criteria for study group selection were: age bigger than 1 month, haemoglobin below the minimum age reference, serum iron determination, negative history of other hematologic disorders or chronic diseases. Depends on IDA/thalassemia severity, the aforesaid indices accuracy is the following: Shine and Lal (S and L) > Green and King (G and K) > England and Fraser (E and F) > Red Blood Count (RBC), Red Distribution Width Indice (RDWI) > Mentzer (MI) > Srivastava (S) > Ricerca (R) > RDW-CV (RDW), for mild and moderate forms and S and L > G and K > E and F, RDWI > RBC > R > MI > S > RDW, for severe forms. Results 106 patients had low levels of serum iron; 121 had mild, 13 moderate and 10 severe anaemia. There were not any statistical difference among the anaemia severity forms. The highest sensitivity presented E and F (99,1%), followed by RBC (95,3%), S (94,3%), RDWI (86,8%) and G and K (85,8%), and the highest specificity presented R (92,1%), followed far away by S and L (57,9%). MI had a (predictive) positive value at 88 from 106 low level iron patients but a negative value at only 3 from 38 normal level iron patients (p 0,12). The IDA diagnosis supposed a different number of positive indices (2 to 8), almost always others. Conclusions The haematological indices are useful in differentiating microcytic anaemia, but the selection of one of the best is difficult. The choice requires haematological assessment.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the association of risk factors such as smoking and professional status (students vs employed) as determinants of disparities in perceived wellness among Romanian individuals. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 145 participants were enrolled from December 2017 to February 2018, in Brasov, Brasov County, Transylvania, Romania. We used a simplified Perceived Wellness Survey model to measure the holistic individual perceived wellness status by professional and smoking status. Basic descriptive and multivariate analyses of variance were used to assess and contrast participants’ characteristics and wellness score distributions. A factor analysis was used to estimate Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin values and calculate standardized Cronbach’s coefficients. Results: The average age of our participants was 27.7 years. Compared with students, more employed participants tended to smoke electronic cigarettes ( p Conclusion: Among our study participants, there is an association between smoking and perceived wellness. For emotional, environmental, and spiritual domains, employed participants are more likely to regard themselves as more confident. Our study demonstrates the direct application of the Perceived Wellness Survey model in predicting the disparities of perceived wellness among young individuals. It allows health agencies to target disparity interventions among populations with high risk of low perceived wellness.

The paper presents tooth contact analysis (TCA) of modified gears using semi-analytical methods (SAMs). The semi-analytical methods use Love’s analytical formulation for Boussinesq equation of linear half-space theory and Hartnett approach for numerical formulation. The linear contact between two teeth has a finite length and during meshing process the edge effect appears, with a harmful influence on the gear reliability. To eliminate this, some tooth profile modifications are needed. To turn a line contact into a point contact, the crowned lead profile surface is considered. The ways used to obtain the matrices of separation are discussed for both spur and helical cylindrical gears. The large pressures’ systems of equations were solved using the method of conjugate gradients and fast Fourier transform. For validation, in cases of hertzian geometries the SAM results have been compared with results obtained analytically, while for non-hertzian geometries, the SAM results have been compared with FEM results as presented in the specific literature. The developed SAM proved to be an accurate, robust and very fast tool for TCA of spur and helical cylindrical gear.

This paper illustrates a method, in conformity with Standards [10 - 14], regarding gear design. The optimization process using this method consists in reducing the number of design steps and also in its accuracy. This method takes into consideration the functionality of gears. This method, called also the operational method [1], involves 10 kinematic and dynamic restrictions, that provide a direct calculus of gears, without any iterations. The standard methods require successive iterations, until the appropriate result is obtained. The comparison between these methods is presented below. The kinematic and dynamic restrictions, being defined as mathematical functions, could easily be implemented in a programming language.

The centrally planned compulsory assignment (‘repartition’) of higher education graduates to various socialist enterprises and/or institutions was one of the novelties brought along by the communist system in Romania, closely following the Soviet model. The article focuses on the regulations aspects of how this system actually functioned in the 1950s and 1960s. It demonstrates that in the first stage, the system presented loopholes which allowed some of the graduates to avoid going to the socialist units to which they had been assigned, and the management of these units to refuse to accept graduates they did not really want. Therefore, even if the system was marred by many arbitrary decisions and by ideological considerations that often dwarfed meritocratic criteria, during the 1950s the system allowed for considerable individual bargaining and agency at the margin of official rules. Yet, gradually, the loopholes were closed with the help of targeted bureaucratic regulations, and while meritocratic criteria became increasingly important in the process of assigning higher education graduates to their future workplaces, the system became tighter and allowed for fewer opportunities to circumvent the official rules.

Einleitung Das primare Schnarchen stellt per definitionem keinen Krankheitswert dar, fuhrt jedoch haufig zur sozialen Beeintrachtigung. Die Behandlung des Schnarchens sollte grundsatzlich risikoarm und gut vertraglich sein. In Ruckenlage tritt Schnarchen meist verstarkt, in manchen Fallen sogar ausschlieslich auf. Die Studienlage hierzu ist jedoch inhomogen. Erste Hinweise lassen vermuten, dass Schnarchen in Kopfseitenlage trotz erhaltener Ruckenlage abgeschwacht ist bzw. gar nicht auftritt. Bislang erscheint noch unklar, ob eine alleinige Kopflageanderung Schnarchen tatsachlich vermindert.

Der nasale Provoaktionstest ist ein standardisiertes Verfahren zum Nachweis der klinischen Relevanz einer allerigschen Rhinitis mit hoher Spezifitat und Sensitivitat. Zur Auswertung stehen neben subjektiven semiquantitativen Kriterien auch etablierte objektivierende Messverfahren zur Verfugung.

This paper underlines that Renaissance audiences and writers such as William Shakespeare recognized brain damage, particularly epilepsy, as depriving the individual of self-control. It remains uncertain whether or not Shakespeare’s audience was able to understand the medical implications suggested by the onset of epilepsy, or whether or not the dramatist himself employed this disease for dramatic reasons. Nevertheless, reading brain afflictions such as epilepsy in Shakespeare’s tragedies opens them up to a wider readership and spectatorship, who understand mental disturbance as an “evil thing.”

With the availability of high resolution digital technology, there has been increased interest in developing statistical and image processing techniques that can enhance the existing capabilities of analyzing works of art for authenticity. This work explores the merits of using advanced correlation filters in supplementing art experts efforts in identifying forgeries among disputed paintings. We show that by training the optimal trade-off synthetic discriminant function (OTSDF) filter on each section of a coarsely parceled image of an original painting, we are not only able to distinguish between a low-quality digitized representation of a painting and its forgery, but also specifically indicate where the differences occur and where the replica is particularly faithful to the original. This method is also valuable in determining whether an original painting has undergone any modifications, given that a representation of the initial version is available.

In this study, we used the method of differentiated instruction. By using the differentiated instruction in physical education lessons for pupils with visual impairments, we intend to determine if progress can be made in terms of speed development. The study addresses to subjects with visual impairments enrolled in special schools, among which we find both blind and visually impaired pupils. The grades to which we refer are part of lower secondary school, one fifth grade and two sixth grades. An initial testing was conducted, which targeted the assessment of reaction speed, arm repetition speed and running speed. For speed, we used the Stopwatch test, for repetition speed, we used Plate Tapping from Eurofit Test Battery, and for running speed, we used 5x5 Shuttle Run from the National School Assessment System for Physical Education and Sports. After applying the tests, the value I and II groups were established for each grade involved in the experiment. After completing the instruction program, the pupils were assessed again using the tests from the initial testing. The analysis of the results showed an improvement in terms of speed for the visually impaired pupils due to the use of differentiated instruction. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.uk

The meshing process of two gears is altered by elastic deformations of the machine parts involved in the power transmission chain. The edge effect appears and some additional manufacturing procedures are necessary to be done. The paper presents a computerized program used to establish the suitable value for the profile correction according to the particular running parameters as torques and misalignments. Semi-analytical methods were used to obtain the elastic state, developed during the meshing process, around the concentrated contact of pinion and gear. For spur gears the separation is possible to be obtained analytically, while for helical gears a numerical algorithm has been developed to obtain the matrix of separations. The two approaches were validated and some numerical results regarding the 2D and 3D pressures distributions as well as the contact areas, are presented. For operating condition without misalignment, the lead modification by end relief could led to a very favourable, quasi-Hertzian, pressures distribution. The presence even of a quite small value of misalignment changes the quasi-Hertzian distribution to a skewed one with detrimental effect on gear's life.

The aim of this paper is to obtain high efficient and inexpensive spectral selective solar absorbers, for solar thermal flat plat collectors using a simple technique – spray pyrolysis deposition (SPD). To achieve maximum solar absorptance and minimum thermal emittance, the following parameters are optimized: the precursor solution concentration and composition, substrate temperature and annealing treatment. The structural and morphological properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. The thermal emittance and solar absorptance of as-deposited films were correlated with the chemical composition, crystalline structure and morphology. The results prove that coatings with excellent spectral selective properties (normal solar absorptance of 0.92 and a normal thermal emittance of 0.03) can be obtained by SPD.

Sympathetic cooling by laser cooled Mg ions has been proposed as a method for fast cooling of highly charged ions to a very low temperature. The paper describes the construction of the solid state laser system at 279.63 nm required for laser cooling of the Mg ions. The laser system is composed of a fiber laser at 1,118.54 nm and two successive second harmonic generation (SHG) ring cavities for frequency quadrupling. In the first SHG cavity, non-critical phase matching of a lithium triborate (LBO) crystal is used for doubling from 1,118.54 to 559.27 nm. The second SHG cavity uses critical phase matching of a β-barium borate (BBO) crystal for doubling from 559.27 to 279.63 nm. With the aid of Boyd–Kleinmann theory, optimum experimental parameters are calculated and used for an efficient SHG. Besides this, the paper intends to be a shortcut for practical applications of the Boyd–Kleinmann theory for SHG.

Carotid bodies play a critical role in protecting against hypoxemia, and their activation increases sympathetic activity, arterial pressure, and ventilation, responses opposed by acute stimulation of the baroreflex. Although chemoreceptor hypersensitivity is associated with sympathetically mediated hypertension, the mechanisms involved and their significance in the pathogenesis of hypertension remain unclear. We investigated the chronic interactions of these reflexes in dogs with sympathetically mediated, obesity-induced hypertension based on the hypothesis that hypoxemia and tonic activation of carotid chemoreceptors may be associated with obesity. After 5 weeks on a high-fat diet, the animals experienced a 35% to 40% weight gain and increases in arterial pressure from 106±3 to 123±3 mm Hg and respiratory rate from 8±1 to 12±1 breaths/min along with hypoxemia (arterial partial pressure of oxygen=81±3 mm Hg) but eucapnia. During 7 days of carotid baroreflex activation by electric stimulation of the carotid sinus, tachypnea was attenuated, and hypertension was abolished before these variables returned to prestimulation values during a recovery period. After subsequent denervation of the carotid sinus region, respiratory rate decreased transiently in association with further sustained reductions in arterial partial pressure of oxygen (to 65±2 mm Hg) and substantial hypercapnia. Moreover, the severity of hypertension was attenuated from 125±2 to 116±3 mm Hg (45%–50% reduction). These findings suggest that hypoxemia may account for sustained stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors in obesity and that this activation leads to compensatory increases in ventilation and central sympathetic outflow that contributes to neurogenically mediated hypertension. Furthermore, the excitatory effects of chemoreceptor hyperactivity are abolished by chronic activation of the carotid baroreflex.

Our aim is to present the necessity and the objectives taken into account in the development of an ON LINE expert system, with free access, for the eolian sites designing process. The expert system is based on a set of rules and metric relations, and also on a Romanian patent. By eolian site design, we assume: 1. approximation of average and annual eolian potential, using terrain data, and 2. offering a blueprint for eolian plant project. This blueprint contains: potential technical solution, recommended installed power, optimal pillar height, approximation of capital costs, data about the providers for eolian plants, etc.

Considering both wind power drawbacks and the well known benefits and advantages of hydropower, and taking into account a general rule that stated that the power of wind plant is a fraction (30%) of wind power turbine, we proposed a hybrid eolian-hydro system for large utility system as a fine solution that has an overall integrated capacity factor better than those on we could trust before (30%). We had introduced a new efficiency factor for a better dimensioning expression of losses on dump loads in alone standing wind power plant. Finally we look for the solution on national scale, where hydro power represents a small part, fewer than 10%, as in Romania.

It is well established that bacteria engage in social behavior and form networked communities via molecular signaling. However, most studies published to date focus on the intracellular molecular networks rather than the intercellular networks formed across strains and species. Therefore, in this paper, we define for the first time a bacteria intercellular network and describe its dynamics and contribution to biofilm formation. We apply our methods to a heterogeneous bacteria population consisting of strains that are often identified from clinical isolates, namely, the wild-type (co-operator), and its signal-blind and signal-negative (cheater) mutants. We analyze the network dynamics and biofilm metrics, showing that our method can effectively reveal the underlying intercellular communication process and community organization within the biofilm. We claim that the application of social and network sciences to understanding bacteria population dynamics can aid in developing better drugs to control the many pathogenic bacteria that use social interactions to cause infections.

In this paper the Monte Carlo simulation program GESPECOR is applied for the computation of the efficiency of an HPGe gamma-spectrometry system used for the measurement of high volume samples. The detector characterization required for Monte Carlo simulation is achieved by a trial and error procedure using the efficiency values measured with point sources placed in several positions. After detector characterization, the efficiency values appropriate for the assessment of 220 l waste drums are computed and compared with experimental values.

This paper analyses the stabilityof an externally pressurized gas bearing (EPB) in a series-parallel arrangement. This mixed con. guration is an alternative to the rigidly mounted single bearing with no external damping, yielding, as one extreme, a high stiffness, but a low whirl threshold speed. The other extreme is a series bearing arrangement with a full-length externally pressurized sleeve between the journal and the housing, yielding a lower stiffness but a higher whirl threshold speed. The paper shows that a mixed con. guration allows for an increase in whirl threshold speed above that for an equivalent rigidly mounted single bearing but below that for a series arrangement. However, the mixed con. guration is stiffer than the series arrangement.

The paper presents the way in which the teaching activities relating with the subject of Electromagnetic Compatibility were enhanced through applying some original methods of learner involvement. A brief history on this subject taught at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of Transilvania University of Brasov is presented along with the course content. The actions proposed for enhanced involvement include fieldwork and mini-projects. The mini-projects were approached through the PBL-method (Project Based Learning). Specific questionnaires were used for data collection. The students were asked to express their opinions by completing these questionnaires at both the beginning and at the end of the course period. The obtained results were evaluated by solving a common problem area using specific methods depending on the field of study pursued by the students. The obtained results opened new horizons in developing and applying teaching methods based on learning through new projects and communication, intended for increasing the students' degree of interest and satisfaction. The results provide the possibility of evaluating the differences at the level of academic performance depending on the students' field of study. The acquired knowledge allowed for the implementation of several solutions for improving the teaching activity, thereby offering better opportunities for the integration of the students in the labour market.