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Corruption flourishes when governance structures are deficient, where impartiality in government is abused by powerful interests. We use a framework for measuring corruption, the TASP framework – referring to types, sectors, activities and places developed – to analyse the rule of prime minister Zoran Zaev (2017-2021) focusing on the issues of state capture and corruption. Our analysis builds upon public and media perceptions about corruption. We argue that SDSM’s rule in the mentioned period was not just detrimental to the faith North Macedonian citizens have in government and its institutions. The corruption of Zaev’s government violated international norms of transparency and standards compliance and corroded, weakened, and endangered the foundations upon which democracy rests. We reveal a high number of instances of illiberal and corrupt practices of SDSM government in the period 2017-2021. The magnitude of cases involving state capture and grand corruption indirectly reveals that, following the victory at the 2020 parliamentary elections and the formation of the second Zaev government, the ruling elite undertook systemic political corruption, manipulating policy formation and public institutions to their own advantage. Essentially, Zaev’s rule replicated previous illiberal practices of Nikola Gruevski leading to the monopolization of power in the pursuit of particularistic interests.

Fetal and neonatal thyrotoxicosis occurs in up to 5% of pregnancies in mothers with Graves’ disease (GD). This condition is caused by stimulating antibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) that cross the placenta and may stimulate the fetal thyroid, typically in the second half of pregnancy. GD is often treated with radioiodine, resulting in hypothyroidism in most patients, but TRAbs can persist for several years. Even if a pregnant mother is hypothyroid after radioiodine therapy or surgery, her TRAbs can still, although rarely, induce fetal hyperthyroidism. In this review, we first present two cases of neonatal hyperthyroidism in mothers with GD who became hypothyroid after prior radioiodine therapy, identified through a 10-year analysis of the National Perinatal System in Slovenia. Based on these cases, we provide an overview of existing data on this rare clinical condition in neonates. We also discuss the underlying mechanisms and clinical outcomes based on currently available data. In conclusion, our review highlights the importance of careful monitoring during pregnancy in all women with GD, even in those well managed after radioiodine therapy or surgery.

Fetal and neonatal thyrotoxicosis occurs in up to 5% of pregnancies in mothers with Graves' disease (GD). This condition is caused by stimulating antibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) that cross the placenta and may stimulate the fetal thyroid, typically in the second half of pregnancy. GD is often treated with radioiodine, resulting in hypothyroidism in most patients, but TRAbs can persist for several years. Even if a pregnant mother is hypothyroid after radioiodine therapy or surgery, her TRAbs can still, although rarely, induce fetal hyperthyroidism. In this review, we first present two cases of neonatal hyperthyroidism in mothers with GD who became hypothyroid after prior radioiodine therapy, identified through a 10-year analysis of the National Perinatal System in Slovenia. Based on these cases, we provide an overview of existing data on this rare clinical condition in neonates. We also discuss the underlying mechanisms and clinical outcomes based on currently available data. In conclusion, our review highlights the importance of careful monitoring during pregnancy in all women with GD, even in those well managed after radioiodine therapy or surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein binding prevents uremic toxins from removal by conventional extracorporeal therapies leading to accumulation in maintenance dialysis patients. Weakening of the protein binding may enhance the dialytic elimination of these toxins. In ultrafiltration and equilibrium dialysis experiments, different measures to modify the plasma binding affinity and capacity were tested: (i), increasing the sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration to achieve a higher ionic strength; (ii), increasing the temperature; and (iii), dilution. The effects on the dissociation constant KD and the protein bound fraction of the prototypical uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate (IS) in plasma of healthy and uremic individuals were studied. Binding of IS corresponded to one site binding in normal plasma. KD increased linearly with the NaCl concentration between 0.15 (KD = 13.2 ± 3.7 µM) and 0.75 M (KD = 56.2 ± 2.0 µM). Plasma dilution further reduced the protein bound toxin fraction by lowering the protein binding capacity of the plasma. Higher temperatures also decreased the protein bound fraction of IS in human plasma. Increasing the NaCl concentration was effective to weaken the binding of IS also in uremic plasma: the protein bound fraction decreased from 89% ± 3% to 81% ± 3% at 0.15 and 0.75 M NaCl, respectively. Dilution and increasing the ionic strength and temperature enhance the free fraction of IS allowing better removal of the substance during dialysis. Applied during clinical dialysis, this may have beneficial effects on the long-term outcome of maintenance dialysis patients.

A circular reinforced concrete plate on deformable foundation is investigated. The foundation is composed of three layers of soil which are defined as isotropically nonlinear materials with variable physical properties. The reinforced plate is treated as an elastic body. The plate is subjected to dissymmetrical half-circular loading of linearly variable pressure. Generally, the unified system “structure-foundation” is the contact analysis problem, which is modeled by ANSYS software. Plastic shear deformations are evaluated by solving the contact problem by the finite element method. The comparative analysis, including the treatment of physically linear system “structure-foundation”, is performed. The comparison based on linear analysis shows that rigidity of the foundation generates higher extreme stresses in the plate in terms of the Huber-Mises criterion. However, in nonlinear analysis, the intensity of stresses is naturally decreasing, when a more flexible model of the foundation is used.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi ajustar e comparar modelos de curvas de índice de sítio para Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit., variedade Hawaii (cv. K8), no Agreste de Pernambuco. Os dados foram obtidos na Estação Experimental da Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária (IPA), no município de Caruaru - PE, considerando-se 544 árvores, cultivadas com e sem composto orgânico, com 19 mensurações ao longo do tempo (1990-2003). Foram ajustados e comparados os modelos de Schumacher, Chapman-Richards, Silva-Bailey, Mitscherlich, Weibull e Clutter-Jones. Para a seleção das equações, utilizaram-se os índices de ajuste (IA), o erro padrão da estimativa (), a distribuição gráfica dos resíduos e o teste de identidade dos modelos. O modelo de Clutter-Jones apresentou o maior valor de IA nos dois tratamentos. Nos gráficos das distribuições residuais, os modelos não apresentaram tendências. No teste de identidade dos modelos de regressão, verificou-se não haver diferença significativa ao nível de 5 % de probabilidade. Por ser um modelo com o menor número de parâmetros entre os testados e por ser freqüentemente utilizado na Ciência Florestal, o modelo de Schumacher merece especial destaque em trabalhos de índice de sítio.

The main goal of this work was to set and compare site index curves for leucena [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit] variety Hawaii (cv K8) in Agreste of Pernambuco. The data set came from Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária (IPA), Experimental Station of Caruaru, in which 544 trees cultivated with and without organic compound were measured 19 times during the period of 1990 2003. The models of Schumacher, Chapman-Richards, Silva-Bailey, Mitscherlich, Weibull and Clutter-Jones were tested and compared. To select the best equations, the Index of Fit (IF), standard error of estimate (S yx %), identity model test and the graphic of residuals distribution were used and results show that the model of Clutter-Jones provided a better IF for both treatments. The graphic of residual distribution did not show tendency among the models. The model identity test showed no differences among the models tested. As Schumacher is model has been used frequently in forestry and presented the smallest number of parameters, it deserves special focus in studies of site index.

The article discusses the taxation of IRPJ and CSLL on tax credits resulting from unfavorable judicial decisions against the Federal Public Treasury. There are different views on the timing of taxation, and there is still no consensus on the subject. The research analyzed academic papers on the offsetting of tax credits in the last 5 years and found various approaches, such as tax transaction programs and the collection of tax credits through the tax execution procedure. The law allows the offsetting of tax credits with own debts, provided they are of the same kind or have the same constitutional destination. The operationalization of the offsetting of federal taxes is regulated by Normative Instruction No. 2,055/2021. The Brazilian Federal Revenue is obliged to comply with judicial decisions that determine the offsetting, even if provisional. The divergence solution from COSIT deals with the taxation of amounts refunded to the legal entity taxpayer by virtue of a judicial decision in an undue payment repetition action. Amounts refunded as improperly paid taxes will be subject to IRPJ and CSLL taxation if they have been accounted for as deductible expenses in previous periods. There is no incidence of Cofins and Contribution to PIS/Pasep on the recovered amounts. The interest on the recovered undue tax is considered new revenue and is also subject to taxation. The solution also addresses the recognition of revenue by the cash basis and the accrual basis. The injunction granted in a Writ of Mandamus allows the offsetting of credits discussed in another declaratory action before the final judgment. However, this injunction does not result in an increase in assets for the taxpayer and loses its effects if the action is not favorable to him. If the injunction is revoked [Extracted from the article]

The improved mathematical model of steel frame structures’ design is created. The loading is simple, and plastic strains are evaluated. Energy principles of deformable body mechanics and mathematical programming theory are employed. Equilibrium finite elements with interpolation functions of internal forces are used for discretization. The elements are designed using HE, IPE, RHS steel profile assortments and considering dispersion of geometrical characteristics of profile assortment sets. Optimal design of steel structures is realized by using the experimental tool system JWM SAOSYS Toolbox v0.42, which was created by the authors in MATLAB environment. SAOSYS architecture operates with object‐oriented finite elements pseudo‐polymorphously. The possibilities of this system are demonstrated by considering a numerical example of optimal design of industrial building frame with strength and stiffness constraints. The assumption of small displacements is adopted for computations. Santrauka Pasitelkus deformuojamo kūno mechanikos energinius principus ir matematinio programavimo teorija, sudarytas minimalaus tūrio strypiniu plieniniu konstrukciju, patyrusiu ir plastines deformacijas, projektavimo nuo vienkartes apkrovos uždavinio patobulintas matematinis modelis. Diskretizacijai naudojami pusiausvirieji baigtiniai elementai su iražu interpo‐liavimo funkcijomis. Elementai projektuojami iš sortimentiniu HE, IPE, RHS plieniniu profiliuočiu, atsižvelgiant i profi‐liuočiu aibiu geometriniu charakteristiku sklaida sortimentuose. Optimalus plieniniu konstrukciju projektavimas realizuojamas autoriu MATLAB aplinkoje sukurta eksperimentine sistema JWM SAOSYS Toolbox v0.42. SAOSYS architektūra pseudopolimorfiškai operuoja objektiškai orientuotais baigtiniais elementais. Sistemos SAOSYS galimybes atskleidžiamos pramoninio pastato remo optimalaus projektavimo su stiprumo ir standumo apribojimais pavyzdžiu. Skaičiuota atsižvelgus i mažu poslinkiu prielaidas. Published Published Online: 14 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: optimalus projektavimas, ekstreminiai energiniai principai, matematinis programavimas, plienines konstrukcijos, baigtiniu elementu metodas, objektiškai orientuotas programavimas, MATLAB

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This paper presents the analysis of the spatial prismatic sloped overlay of irregular shape with a spherical surface upon. This bearing steel structure is under a dead‐load of a framed glass packet and under snow. Mathematical model of prism and spheroid geometry is developed. Construction geometry of a rectangularly profiled pipe and snow pressure is modelled in finite elements, using special software is developed by authors. This software is designed for the evaluation of glass structures and is easily adopted for a data exchange with commercial software. Computer aided design of the overlay and structure stress‐deformation analysis is realized by ANSYS. Sniego apkrovos veikiamo metalo ir stiklo denginio modeliavimas Santrauka Straipsnyje nagrinėjama erdvinė prizminio šlaitinio netaisyklingos formos denginio su ant jo komponuojamu sferoidu, laikančioji plieno konstrukcija, veikiama nuolatinės įrėmintų stiklo paketų apkrovos bei sniego. Sudarytas prizmės ir sferoido geometrijos matematinis modelis. Stačiakampio profilio vamzdžių konstrukcijos geometrija, sniego apkrova yra modeliuojama baigtiniais elementais pagal autorių sukurtą sniego įvertinimo stiklinėms konstrukcijoms kompiuterinę programą, kuri nesunkiai susiejama su komerciniais kompiuteriniais paketais. Denginio projektavimo ir konstrukcijos įtempių bei deformacijų analizė atlikti ANSYS kompiuteriniu paketu. First Published Online: 21 Oct 2010 Reikšminiai žodžiai: stiklo denginys, erdvinė plieno konstrukcija, sferoidas, stiklo paketai, sniego apkrova, matematinis modeliavimas, baigtinių elementų metodas.

Deimantas Šukys1, Sergejus Gaižauskas1, Robert Jankovski1, Andrius Gaižauskas1, Edgaras Stankevičius2 1 Vilniaus greitosios pagalbos universitetinės ligoninės Bendrosios chirurgijos centras, Šiltnamių g. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius El paštas: deimasukys@centras.lt 2 Kauno medicinos universiteto Fiziologijos katedra, A. Mickevičiaus g. 9, Kaunas Prostata yra viena dažniausių vėžio lokalizacijų vyrams. Prostatos biopsija, kontroliuojama transrektiniu ultragarsu, yra pagrindinis metodas diagnozuojant prostatos vėžį ir pasirenkant gydymo taktiką. Pagrindinės indikacijos atlikti biopsiją yra PSA > 4 ng/ml ir pirštu čiuopiami prostatos karcinomai būdingi pakitimai. Yra pasiūlyta daug prostatos biopsijos atlikimo metodikų. Įrodyta, jog vietoje klasikinės sekstantinės biopsijos taikant daugiau mėginių turinčias ir labiau į periferinę prostatos zoną orientuotas schemas, randama iki 30% daugiau prostatos vėžio atvejų. Atliekant daugiau mėginių, tampa aktuali nuskausminimo problema. Dar nėra visuotinai priimtų prostatos biopsijos indikacijų ir jos atlikimo schemos. Reikšminiai žodžiai: prostatos vėžys, prostatos biopsija Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies Deimantas Šukys1, Sergejus Gaižauskas1, Robert Jankovski1, Andrius Gaižauskas1, Edgaras Stankevičius2 1 Center of General Surgery, Vilnius Emergency Hospital, Šiltnamių str. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: deimasukys@centras.lt 2 Department of Physiology, Kaunas Medical University, A. Mickevičiaus str. 9, LT-44307 Kaunas, Lithuania Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent cancer localizations in men. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy is the main method in prostate cancer diagnostics and deciding tactics of treatment. The main indications for prostate biopsy are PSA over 4 ng/ml and characteristic palpable lesions. There are a lot of methods to perform prostate biopsy. It is proven that using multicore schemes directed closer to the peripheral zone of the prostate instead of the classic sextant prostate biopsy increases prostate cancer detection by up to 30%. Anesthesia becomes the problem when performing more extended biopsies. So far, there is no strict generally adopted indications and prostate biopsy performing schemes. Keywords: prostate cancer, prostate biopsy

Sergejus Gaižauskas, Andrius Gaižauskas, Deimantas Šukys, Robert Jankovski Vilniaus greitosios pagalbos universitetinės ligoninės Bendrosios chirurgijos centras, Šiltnamių g. 29, LT-04130 Vilnius El paštas: gsergejus@hotmail.com Operacinis šlapimo takų akmenligės gydymas, taip pat ir endourologinis, susijęs su komplikacijų pavojumi. Literatūros duomenimis, komplikacijos endourologinių operacijų metu ir pooperaciniu laikotarpiu pasitaiko 4%, 8,3%, 18,8%, 26% ligonių. Pabrėžiama ryški koreliacija tarp komplikacijų skaičiaus mažėjimo ir operatoriaus patirties, tarp komplikacijų skaičiaus didėjimo ir akmenų sudėties bei dydžio. Dažniausiai pasitaikančios komplikacijos, techniniai sunkumai atliekant endourologines operacijas yra šie: intensyvus kraujavimas, kolektorinės sistemos perforacija, ekstravazacija, nesugebėjimas tinkamai suformuoti nefrostominio kanalo, šlapimtakių trauminiai pažeidimai. Straipsnyje pristatoma dešimties metų endourologinių operacijų patirtis, komplikacijų analizė. 780 ligonių buvo atliktos 827 perkutaninės nefrolitotripsijos ir 332 ligoniams – ureteroskopijos ir šlapimtakių akmenų šalinimas. Komplikacijų buvo10% pacientų. Dauguma jų buvo pirmaisiais darbo metais, endourologinių operacijų įvaldymo laikotarpiu. Šiuo metu, įgijus daugiau patirties, endourologinės operacijos gali būti atliekamos saugiai ir patikimai, rezultatai gaunami geri. Reikšminiai žodžiai: viršutinių šlapimo takų akmenligė, endourologinės operacijos Failures, technical difficulties and complications in the treatment of the upper urinary tract stones (10 years of experience) Sergejus Gaižauskas, Andrius Gaižauskas, Deimantas Šukys, Robert Jankovski Vilnius University Emergency Hospital, General Surgery Center, Šiltnamių str. 28, LT-04130 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: gsergejus@hotmail.com Endourologic manipulations are invasive procedures and like all surgical operations can be followed by the danger of complications. According to the results of various authors, PCNL complications take place in 4%, 8.3%, 18.8%, 26%. A prominent correlation is emphasized between the decrease of the number of complications and the experience of the surgeon, as well as between the increase of the number of complications and stone particularity. The most frequent complications and reasons for an abortion of the procedure are the following: massive bleeding, fever, extravasation, ureter obstruction. We present our experience in performing endourologic operations during the last 10 years. 780 patients were operated on percutaneously (827 operations) and 332 ureteroscopies were performed because of the upper urinary tract stones. Complications occurred in about 10% of operated on patients, mostly in the beginning of our work. Now, with growing experience, the operations can be performed safely, with low morbidity and good outcomes. Keywords: upper urinary trect stones, endourologic operations