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Face to face with the complex and various challenges generated by the rapid evolution of technology in financial auditing, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a key element for innovation, providing advanced solutions to adapt to dynamic market needs. By analyzing real-time data, identifying anomalies and generating predictive insights, AI significantly improves accuracy, efficiency and risk understanding in auditing, marking an essential step towards optimal performance in a changing environment. The authors set out to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence in auditing using bibliometric analysis and statistical approaches to highlight the essential role of artificial intelligence technologies in the evolution and optimization of the financial audit process. In conclusion, the implementation of artificial intelligence in auditing offers significant advantages, such as increased efficiency, accurate fraud detection and adaptation to specific client requirements, but it is vital to recognize the challenges and limitations in order to fully exploit the potential of artificial intelligence and revolutionize audit practices in the digital era.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has become part of the standard of care for symptomatic patients with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction (HRrEF), and wide QRS, despite optimal medical therapy. Device technology, operator experience, and post-implant optimization on follow-up have significantly improved CRT response during the last decade. In parallel, conduction system pacing (CSP) has emerged as a new and potentially better tool for maintaining physiological ventricular activation in patients with antibradycardia pacing, as well as an alternative for dyssynchrony correction in HFrEF patients. The current review focuses on cardiac dyssynchrony pathophysiology and correction methods, clinical evidence on CRT and CSP as therapies for cardiac dyssynchrony, and the role of each according to clinical evidence and current guidelines for HFrEF treatment.

As a result of the massive digitalization of recent years, ERP systems have started to play an important role in the life cycle of an organization, raising a number of challenges and opportunities especially for the accounting and auditing profession. The accounting and the auditing professions represent two very versatile professions as a result of the changes that have taken place from the moment of their appearance until now, they are constantly improving with the evolution of digitalization. Digitalization has led to the development of accounting and auditing organizations and of course to the focus of attention on sustainability processes and how their corporate reporting is done. The many advantages that ERP systems offer to professional accountants and auditors, as well as other categories of users, have influenced many organizations to resort to the implementation of these systems. Thus, to highlight the main challenges and opportunities that ERP systems offer to the accounting and auditing profession from the perspective of how to ensure sustainability and corporate reporting, the authors performed a quantitative bibliometric analysis, selecting a sample of Web of Science cited articles. The results indicated that ERP systems have a major impact on the decisions adopted by organizations, more specifically they ensure a true picture of the organization's situation, having a significant influence on the way of corporate reporting and on sustainability.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing significant changes to the digital skill set required of management accountants. Thus, to continue ensuring the profession's relevance, academia and professional bodies constantly seek to update their curricula to meet the business environment's necessities. Thus, the present research aims to identify the digital skills management accounting practitioners need by examining the companies' requirements and determining whether there are significant differences between European Union (EU) member states regarding the countries' digital performance. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach by combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to achieve this objective. The results obtained from the undertaken analyses reveal that most companies consider necessary basic digital skills, such as the effective use of spreadsheet software and competencies related to integrated systems, Business Intelligence, database management systems, and data warehouse management systems. In addition, the comparative review reveals that in countries with a high level of digital performance there is a significant impact on the professional requirements, with no differences being identified between countries with a medium and low level of digital performance, emphasising the changing role of practitioners as a result of the extensive management accounting processes' digitalisation. The research findings consequently have a series of implications for academia, professional bodies, and companies.

In recent years, significant advancements in nanotechnology have facilitated the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with tailored sizes and shapes, offering versatile applications across various fields, particularly in biomedicine. ZnO’s multifunctional properties, such as semiconductor behavior, luminescence, photocatalytic activity, and antibacterial efficacy, make it highly attractive for biomedical applications. This study focuses on synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, varying the precursor concentrations (0.3488 mol/L, 0.1744 mol/L, 0.0872 mol/L, 0.0436 mol/L, and 0.0218 mol/L) and reaction times (15, 30, and 60 min). Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to assess the structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The predominant morphology is observed to be platelets, which exhibit a polygonal shape with beveled corners and occasionally include short rod-like inserts. The thickness of the platelets varies between 10 nm and 50 nm, increasing with the concentration of Zn2+ in the precursor solution. Preliminary antimicrobial studies indicated that all strains (S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans) were sensitive to interaction with ZnO, exhibiting inhibition zone diameters greater than 10 mm, particularly for samples with lower precursor concentrations. Cell viability studies on human osteoblast cells demonstrated good compatibility, affirming the potential biomedical applicability of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. This research underscores the influence of synthesis parameters on the properties of ZnO nanoparticles, offering insights for optimizing their design for biomedical applications.

The gut microbiota dysbiosis that often occurs in cancer therapy requires more efficient treatment options to be developed. In this concern, the present research approach is to develop drug delivery systems based on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) as nanocarriers for bioactive compounds. First, MNPs were synthesized through the spraying-assisted coprecipitation method, followed by loading bee pollen or bee bread extracts and an antitumoral drug (5-fluorouracil/5-FU). The loaded-MNPs were morphologically and structurally characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy was applied to establish the release profiles and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the antibacterial and antitumoral activity of loaded-MNPs was assessed. The results demonstrate that MNPs with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiproliferative, and prebiotic properties are obtained. Moreover, the data highlight the improvement of 5-FU antibacterial activity by loading on the MNPs’ surface and the synergistic effects between the anticancer drug and phenolic compounds (PCs). In addition, the prolonged release behavior of PCs for many hours (70–75 h) after the release of 5-FU from the developed nanocarriers is an advantage, at least from the point of view of the antioxidant activity of PCs. Considering the enhancement of L. rhamnosus MF9 growth and antitumoral activity, this study developed promising drug delivery alternatives for colorectal cancer therapy.

The purpose of this study is the comparative interpretation of the results obtained in the non-surgical treatment of the periodonal disease with the help of SRP, diode laser therapy and plasma autologous. The aim was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the treatment with autologous plasma enriched with growth factors (PRG-F) as an adjunct to SRP and laser therapy. In total, 35 patients were involved (19 males and 16 females) divided into two lots. The first batch was treated with SRP and laser, and the second with SRP, laser and plasma. Controls were from two in two weeks (3 months), and they indicated a more marked reduction in the periodonal pockets deeps at those who also benefited of plasma.

The integration of SAF-T (Standard Audit File for Tax) into an ERP system helps companies improve their tax operations by simplifying tax reporting, increasing operational efficiency, legal compliance and data quality. In addition, SAF-T integration can help companies optimize their processes and correct their workflow, leading to greater efficiency and better data visibility. It is important for all companies to ensure that the accounting system they use is compatible with the SAF-T format and that the implementation is done correctly. Therefore, the long-term benefits may outweigh the costs and risks involved, as evidenced by the data collected using the questionnaire. The purpose of this research is to provide a good understanding of the implications associated with the integration of SAF-T into an ERP system, so that companies can make informed decisions about the implementation of this solution. The questionnaire conducted on a number of significant respondents led to the achievement of the set objective. Concurrently, the advantages and disadvantages observed for all involved parties were pursued: companies, suppliers, and tax administrations, thus outlining a clear picture of the requirements to which taxpayers must respond from the beginning of year 2022.

The accounting profession is in a continuous digitization process, as a result of the frequent use of computer systems with the aim of streamlining and improving the daily activity of employees in this field. However, in addition to the benefits offered by these IT systems for accounting professionals, the risks to which the information processed and stored with these IT systems could be subjected must also be taken into account so that the quality of financial-accounting activities is not disturbed. The present work aims to analyze the main risks to which the financial-accounting data processed and stored in the database of the ERP systems could be subjected, as well as the way to ensure the security of the financial-accounting data within these integrated IT solutions. This article focused on a quantitative research using bibliometric analysis which is basically based on the analysis of a sample of 263 articles dealing with the two key topics of the paper: "data security" and "ERP systems".

The flying ad hoc network (FANET) is an emerging network focused on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that has attracted the attention of researchers around the world. Due to the cooperation between UAVs in this network, data transfer between these UAVs is very essential. Routing protocols must determine how to make routing paths for each UAV with others in a wireless ad hoc network to facilitate the data transmission between UAVs. Nowadays, reinforcement learning (RL), especially Q-learning, is an effective response for solving existing challenges in the routing approaches and adding features such as autonomous, self-adaptive, and self-learning to these approaches. In this paper, Q-learning is used to enhance and increase network performance, and a Q-learning-based routing method using an intelligent filtering algorithm called QRF is presented for FANETs. The main innovation in this paper is that QRF manages the size of the state space using the proposed filtering algorithm. This will increase the convergence rate of the Q-learning-based routing algorithm. On the other hand, QRF regulates the learning parameters related to Q-learning so that this scheme is better adapted to the FANET environment. In the last step, the network simulator version 2 (NS2) is employed to execute the simulation process related to QRF. In this process, five evaluation criteria, namely energy consumption, packet delivery rate, overhead, end-to-end delay, and network longevity are evaluated, and the results obtained from QRF are compared with those of QFAN, QTAR, and QGeo. The simulation results in this paper show that QRF makes a balanced energy distribution between UAVs and thus extends the network longevity. Moreover, the intelligent filtering algorithm designed in QRF has reduced delay in the routing process but is associated with communication overhead.

Development of efficient controlled local release of drugs that prevent systemic side effects is a challenge for anti-osteoporotic treatments. Research for new bone-regeneration materials is of high importance. Strontium (Sr) is known as an anti-resorptive and anabolic agent useful in treating osteoporosis. In this study, we compared two different types of synthesis used for obtaining nano hydroxyapatite (HA) and Sr-containing nano hydroxyapatite (SrHA) for bone tissue engineering. Synthesis of HA and SrHA was performed using co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods. Regardless of the synthesis route for the SrHA, the intended content of Sr was 1, 5, 10, 20, and 30 molar %. The chemical, morphological, and biocompatibility properties of HA and SrHA were investigated. Based on our results, it was shown that HA and SrHA exhibited low cytotoxicity and demonstrated toxic behavior only at higher Sr concentrations.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties, can be considered viable candidates for nanotechnology applications, in particular for the phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles. The present work aims to evaluate the potential application of hyssop and oregano for the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, as well as to evaluate the biological activities of their extracts and obtained nanoparticles (antioxidant potential, as well as cell viability, inflammation level and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts HFIB-G cell line studies). In order to obtain natural extracts, two extraction methods were applied (classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction), with the extraction method having a major influence on their composition, as demonstrated by both the total phenolic compounds (significantly higher for the microwave-assisted extraction; the oregano extracts had consistently higher TPC values, compared with the hyssop extracts) and in terms of individual components identified via HPLC. The obtained nanoparticles ware characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the lowest dimension nanoparticles being recorded for the nanoparticles obtained using the oregano microwave extract (crystallite size 2.94 nm through XRD, average diameter 10 nm via TEM). The extract composition and particle size also influenced the antioxidant properties (over 60% DPPH inhibition being recorded for the NPs obtained using the oregano microwave extract). Cell viability was not affected at the lowest tested concentrations, which can be correlated with the nitric oxide level. Cell membrane integrity was not affected after exposure to classic temperature hyssop extract-NPs, while the other samples led to a significant LDH increase.

Today, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are very popular in military and commercial applications as well as academic research. Flying ad hoc network (FANET) is a new type of ad hoc network that organizes small drones in an ad hoc form. The movement in 3D space, high mobility, frequent topological changes, restricted resources, and low density are the features of these networks. These features cause serious challenges in designing an appropriate routing approach for these networks. In this paper, a greedy perimeter stateless routing method based on a position prediction mechanism called GPSR+ is proposed for FANETs. This scheme employs a position forecast strategy to approximate the future position of UAVs and modifies the propagation period of hello messages based on this strategy to achieve better adaptability to the dynamic network. In addition, GPSR+ chooses a set of candidate UAVs using a new method called the spherical removal technique to decide on the next-hop UAVs in the routing process. Finally, the most stable UAV toward the destination will be chosen from the candidate set to act as the next-hop. The simulation results show that GPSR+ grows the packet delivery ratio in FANET and extends network longevity because it increases path stability and improves energy consumption. However, the delay in GPSR+ is high.

IntroductionMedicine faces nowadays the trend of increasing life expectancy of human population, with the resulting increase of degenerative age related diseases prevalence, combined with the risks of less tempered sun radiations environment exposure. Under these circumstances, our work pointed out on evaluating the effect of some xanthophyll pigments dietary supplements, actually widely recommended, for prevention of retinal degenerative damages and for slowing down the progression of such age related changes if they have already occurred. These dietary supplements are already well known for their total antioxidant activity, proven by photochemiluminescence method using Total Antioxidant Capacity in Lipid soluble-substances procedure.Materials and methodsThe study recruited a number of 120 subjects equally divided on genders. The lot included a first group of 60 patients with comparable ages (all of them over 50 years and divided in 2 segments of age: 50-60 and over 60) and suffering from comparable retinal age-related degenerative abnormalities (mild/medium severity age-related macular degeneration according to Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System), and a second group, considered control, including a similar number of healthy, normal retina subjects belonging to same age and gender categories. There were evaluated at baseline the eye medical status and the retinal risk by specific methods: complete eye check-up, Amsler grid, specific standardized questionnaires focused on visual function and its impact on the quality of current life. Both groups, patients and control, received similar dosages of xanthophyll pigments dietary supplements including lutein and zeaxanthin during 18 months after baseline; at the end of this supplementation period a new evaluation was conducted. In the second part of the research all subjects involved received a new dietary supplement in which the same xanthophylls were enriched with C and E vitamins and oligo-elements Zinc and Copper. At the end of three years duration supplementation, the subjects were reevaluated and the paper presents the conclusions on the matter, pointing on the impact of xanthophyll supplements on visual health.ResultsCorrelation tests were applied to the complete set of data. Correlation tests have values between -1 and +1. The value -1 represents the negative correlation (reverse proportionality) meanwhile the value +1 represents the positive correlation (direct proportionality). The charts show the curves that are fitting experimental data. The dependence is linear in nature, and the value R2, as it approaches more the value 1, represents a better match with the experimental data (the data are in a percentage of approximately 99% on these straight lines of type y = ax + b). In the charts, there were noted the average values of the scores for healthy control patients with “Control”, and the average values of the scores for the patients with existing age related degenerative retinal pathology at baseline with “Patients”.DiscussionThe retinal function and the impact of visual condition on health were both evaluated at baseline, 18 months and 36 months after baseline, by visual acuity, ophthalmoscopy fundus examination, Amsler test and by asking the subjects to answer the visual function questionnaires: EQ-5D, NEI-VFQ-25, as measures of health status quality and of the influence on welfare. The study revealed that under supplementation both control healthy subjects and patients with known degenerative retinal pathology included in the 50-60 years of age group evolved almost the same way, leading to the conclusion that administered xanthophyll pigments-based supplements, simple or enriched, managed to slow down the progression of abnormal degenerative vision loss to a rate comparable to physiological aging-related vision loss. It was also observed that intake of xanthophyll pigments dietary supplements preserved the general health condition and maintained relatively constant vision on the entire 36th months follow-up research duration in patients presented with existing age related degenerative retinal pathology at baseline. For healthy subjects, evaluation showed an improvement in results after dietary supplementation, with maintenance of constant vision and a significantly increase of general condition, in a positive sense. For subjects over the age of 60 dietary supplements intake was even more effective compared to younger group in providing better control of degenerative processes.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are electrochemical conversion devices that produces electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel and their development became of high importance to drastically reduce the greenhouse emission. Rare earth elements (REEs) are widely used as materials and dopants in controlling the ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes for SOFCs. Their criticality and high costs for separation to individual REEs lead to first studies aiming to search possible use of mixed REEs with natural occurrence as extracted from concentrates. This paper focused on obtaining sintered pellets based on zirconia doped with natural mixture of REEs extracted from monazite and study their microstructure, impedance spectra and dielectric properties vs. operating temperatures to assess their potential applications as solid electrolyte. ZrO2 doped powders with 8% natural mixture of REEs (8ZrMZ) were synthesized by hydrothermal process. ZrO2 doped with 4% Y2O3 (4ZrY) and 8%Y2O3 (8ZrY) were also obtained by the same route and used as standard materials already used in commercial SOFCs. All powders were uniaxially pressed and sintered in air, with highest densities obtained for 1400 °C. The Niquist diagrams for 8ZrMZ samples show significantly lower ionic conductivity compared to standards 4ZrY and 8 ZrY. This may be attributed to the presence of detrimental Fe and Si impurities following the mixed REE after Th and U removal from monazite concentrates and the ratio of REEs in the dopant composition affecting the ionic conductivity due to possible association of structural defects. Research works are further needed to improve the receipt for using naturally mixed REEs and asses their possible use as a competitive dopant for solid electrolytes.

This study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of fluid extracts obtained from three Romanian cultivars of haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) var. Loni, bitter cherries (Prunus avium var. sylvestris Ser.) var. Silva, and pomace from red grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) var. Mamaia, and their capacity to modulate in vitro steatosis, in view of developing novel anti-obesity products. Total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid content of fluid extracts was spectrophotometrically assessed and their free radical scavenging capacity was evaluated using Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and free 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition assays. The Pearson coefficients showed a moderate correlation between the antioxidant activity of fluid extracts and their phenolic content, but a strong correlation between anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content. HPLC analysis identified and quantified the main phenolic compounds of chlorogenic and syringic acid, catechin, and glycosylated kaempferol, apigenin, and quercetin, in variable proportions. An in vitro experimental model of steatosis was developed in HepG2 hepatocytes treated with a mixture of free fatty acids. Cell culture analyses showed that cytocompatible concentrations of fluid extracts could significantly reduce the lipid accumulation and inhibit the reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide secretion in stressed hepatocytes. In conclusion, these results put an emphasis on the chemical compounds’ high antioxidant and liver protection capacity of unstudied fluid extracts obtained from Romanian cultivars of bitter cherries var. Silva and pomace of red grapes var. Mamaia, similar to the fluid extract of haskap berries var. Loni, in particular, the positive modulation of fat deposition next to oxidative stress and the lipid peroxidation process triggered by fatty acids in HepG2 hepatocytes. Consequently, this study indicated that these fluid extracts could be further exploited as hepatoprotective agents in liver steatosis, which provides a basis for the further development of novel extract mixtures with synergistic activity as anti-obesity products.

In recent years, significant advancements in nanotechnology have facilitated the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with tailored sizes and shapes, offering versatile applications across various fields, particularly in biomedicine. ZnO's multifunctional properties, such as semiconductor behavior, luminescence, photocatalytic activity, and antibacterial efficacy, make it highly attractive for biomedical applications. This study focuses on synthesizing ZnO nanoparticles via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, varying the precursor concentrations (0.3488 mol/L, 0.1744 mol/L, 0.0872 mol/L, 0.0436 mol/L, and 0.0218 mol/L) and reaction times (15, 30, and 60 min). Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to assess the structural, morphological, and chemical properties. The predominant morphology is observed to be platelets, which exhibit a polygonal shape with beveled corners and occasionally include short rod-like inserts. The thickness of the platelets varies between 10 nm and 50 nm, increasing with the concentration of Zn2+ in the precursor solution. Preliminary antimicrobial studies indicated that all strains (S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans) were sensitive to interaction with ZnO, exhibiting inhibition zone diameters greater than 10 mm, particularly for samples with lower precursor concentrations. Cell viability studies on human osteoblast cells demonstrated good compatibility, affirming the potential biomedical applicability of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. This research underscores the influence of synthesis parameters on the properties of ZnO nanoparticles, offering insights for optimizing their design for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota dysbiosis that often occurs in cancer therapy requires more efficient treatment options to be developed. In this concern, the present research approach is to develop drug delivery systems based on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) as nanocarriers for bioactive compounds. First, MNPs were synthesized through the spraying-assisted coprecipitation method, followed by loading bee pollen or bee bread extracts and an antitumoral drug (5-fluorouracil/5-FU). The loaded-MNPs were morphologically and structurally characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and thermogravimetric analysis. UV-Vis spectroscopy was applied to establish the release profiles and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the antibacterial and antitumoral activity of loaded-MNPs was assessed. The results demonstrate that MNPs with antioxidant, antibacterial, antiproliferative, and prebiotic properties are obtained. Moreover, the data highlight the improvement of 5-FU antibacterial activity by loading on the MNPs' surface and the synergistic effects between the anticancer drug and phenolic compounds (PCs). In addition, the prolonged release behavior of PCs for many hours (70–75 h) after the release of 5-FU from the developed nanocarriers is an advantage, at least from the point of view of the antioxidant activity of PCs. Considering the enhancement of L. rhamnosus MF9 growth and antitumoral activity, this study developed promising drug delivery alternatives for colorectal cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been known for many centuries in Asian countries under different names, varying depending on the country. The objective of this review is to investigate the scientific research on the natural active bio-compounds in extracts obtained from G. lucidum with significant biological actions in the treatment of cancer. This review presents the classes of bio-compounds existing in G. lucidum that have been reported over time in the main databases and have shown important biological actions in the treatment of cancer. The results highlight the fact that G. lucidum possesses important bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, sterols, proteins, nucleotides, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which have been demonstrated to exhibit multiple anticancer effects, namely immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, cytotoxic, and antioxidant action. The potential health benefits of G. lucidum are systematized based on biological actions. The findings present evidence regarding the lack of certainty about the effects of G. lucidum bio-compounds in treating different forms of cancer, which may be due to the use of different types of Ganoderma formulations, differences in the study populations, or due to drug–disease interactions. In the future, larger clinical trials are needed to clarify the potential benefits of pharmaceutical preparations of G. lucidum, standardized by the known active components in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

One major problem with the overuse of antibiotics is that the microorganisms acquire resistance; thus the dose must be increased unsustainably. To overcome this problem, researchers from around the world are actively investigating new types of antimicrobials. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been proven to exhibit strong antimicrobial effects; moreover, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) considers ZnO as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). Many essential oils have antimicrobial activity and their components do not generate resistance over time. One of the drawbacks is the high volatility of some components, which diminishes the antimicrobial action as they are eliminated. The combination of ZnO NPs and essential oils can synergistically produce a stronger antimicrobial effect, and some of the volatile compounds can be retained on the nanoparticles’ surface, ensuring a better-lasting antimicrobial effect. The samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and thermal analysis (TG-DSC) coupled with analysis of evolved gases using FTIR. The ZnO NPs, with a size of ~35 nm, exhibited a loading between 1.44% and 15.62%—the lower values were specific for limonene-containing oils (e.g., orange, grapefruit, bergamot, or limette), while high values were obtained from cinnamon, minzol, thyme, citronella, and lavender oils—highlighting differences among non-polar terpenes and alcohol or aldehyde derivatives. The antibacterial assay indicated the existence of a synergic action among components and a high dependency on the percentage of loaded oil. Loaded nanoparticles offer immense potential for the development of materials with specific applications, such as wound dressings or food packaging. These nanoparticles can be utilized in scenarios where burst delivery is desired or when prolonged antibacterial activity is sought.

Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been intensively studied for biomedical applications, especially as drug delivery systems for the treatment of infections. Additionally, they are characterized by intrinsic antimicrobial properties owing to their capacity to disrupt or penetrate the microbial cell wall and induce cell death. However, the current focus has shifted towards increasing the control of the synthesis reaction to ensure more uniform nanoparticle sizes and shapes. In this context, microfluidics has emerged as a potential candidate method for the controlled synthesis of nanoparticles. Thus, the aim of the present study was to obtain a series of antibiotic-loaded MNPs through a microfluidic device. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), the morphology was evaluated through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM), the antibiotic loading was assessed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and, and thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analyses, and. the release profiles of both antibiotics was determined through UV-Vis spectroscopy. The biocompatibility of the nanoparticles was assessed through the MTT assay on a BJ cell line, while the antimicrobial properties were investigated against the S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans strains. Results proved considerable uniformity of the antibiotic-containing nanoparticles, good biocompatibility, and promising antimicrobial activity. Therefore, this study represents a step forward towards the microfluidic development of highly effective nanostructured systems for antimicrobial therapies.

Tissue engineering requires new materials that can be used to replace damaged bone parts. Since hydroxyapatite, currently widely used, has low mechanical resistance, silicate ceramics can represent an alternative. The aim of this study was to obtain porous ceramics based on diopside (CaMgSi2O6) and akermanite (Ca2MgSi2O7) obtained at low sintering temperatures. The powder synthesized by the sol-gel method was pressed in the presence of a porogenic agent represented by commercial sucrose in order to create the desired porosity. The ceramic bodies obtained after sintering thermal treatment at 1050 °C and 1250 °C, respectively, were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine the chemical composition. The open porosity was situated between 32.5 and 34.6%, and the compressive strength had a maximum value of 11.4 MPa for the samples sintered at 1250 °C in the presence of a 20% wt porogenic agent. A cell viability above 70% and the rapid development of an apatitic phase layer make these materials good candidates for use in hard tissue engineering.

This paper provides a comparative analysis between Central and Southeastern European (SEE) countries, members of the European Union, based on their investment in the ICT sector over a period of 2008-2019. The countries analyzed are as follows: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia. The conclusion of the article is that there is a strong correlation (83%) between the ICT investments indicator and the GDP indicator, and there are negative correlations between the percentage of ICT personnel in total employment, business expenditure on R&D (BERD) in the ICT sector as a percentage of total R&D expenditure by NACE Rev. 2 activity, the R&D personnel in the ICT sector as percent of total R&D personnel by NACE Rev. 2 activity and GDP for the mentioned countries with the 2008-2019. These last three negative correlations were expected due to the focus on the outsourcing activities, inefficient R&D sector for the countries mentioned above from Central and South-East Europe during the 2008-2019 period.

Our research shows that major economic events (or shocks) do influence inflation. The positive correlation coefficients show that each of these shocks had repercussions on the inflation in the countries analyzed. This can be explained by the fact that economies, especially in the last two decades, became more interconnected, thus increasing the risk of spillovers. At the country level, differences in the levels of inflation can be explained, most likely, by the specific fundamentals of each economy or, perhaps, each region. The results may be biased by the rather specific circumstances that prevailed after the global financial crisis i.e. unconventional monetary policy measures and public support during the COVID-19. The last two events analyzed show that authorities can support aggregate demand, but if this stimulus is not paired with the necessary reforms to support the aggregate supply as well, then economic growth and resilience, together with a low and stable inflation, cannot be achieved.

Periodontal disease is a chronic disease with a complex etiology that includes bacterial colonization, excessive inflammation and oxidative stress. The hormone melatonin has antioxidant properties and could help alleviate chronic diseases by reducing stress. The aim of this study was to investigate and analyze the effect of exogenous melatonin on patients with periodontitis. More detailed studies are needed to expand the therapeutic possibilities of melatonin as a premedication in dentistry.

The objective of this paper is to observe the possibility of digitizing the accounting and auditing profession by implementing ERP systems, as a result of massive changes in technology over time. The purpose of this paper is to add value to the literature, given the positive or negative aspects of the digitization of the accounting and auditing profession using information systems such as ERP. ERP systems such as information systems have a key role in managing and conducting accounting and auditing, providing support to professional accountants and auditors. The research method used to identify the possibility of digitizing the accounting and auditing profession through ERP information systems is based on the analysis of the archive (literature review), collecting data and information from selected articles from different databases. Following the study, the authors concluded that the accounting and auditing profession can be digitized through the use of ERP information systems, as it allows the automation of a large number of tasks, and the information processed with these systems is much more transparent and accurate.

In this paper, the thermal decomposition of crystalline Al(OH)3 was studied over the temperature range of 260–400 °C for particles with a size between 10 and 150 µm. The weight losses and thermal effects occurring in each of the dehydration process were assessed using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, refined by the Rietveld method, were used for mineral phase identification, phase composition analysis, and crystallinity degree determination. Moreover, the particle size distributions and their corresponding D10, D50, and D90 numeric values were determined with a laser analyzer. We observed a strong relationship between the calcination temperature, the initial gibbsite grade particle size, and the crystallinity of the resulting powders. Hence, for all endothermic effects identified by DSC, the associated temperature values significantly decreased insofar as the particle dimensions decreased. When the gibbsite was calcined at a low temperature, we identified small amounts of boehmite phase along with amorphous new phases and unconverted gibbsite, while the powders calcined at 400 °C gradually yielded a mixture of boehmite and crystalized γ-Al2O3. The crystallinity % of all phase transition products declined with the increase in particle size or temperature for all the samples.