Background: Primary hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to extremely low temperatures in an environment with no underlying health conditions. Secondary hypothermia, on the other hand, results from disruptions in thermoregulation due to diseases, trauma, surgery, drugs, alcohol, or infections. Postmortem biochemistry has become a crucial factor in forensic examinations, offering valuable apprehension into tissue of and organ dysfunction associated with the process of dying. Aim: This research aims to explore various biochemical markers and their significance in distinguishing primary from secondary hypothermia. Methods: This study involved 21 Wistar rats, which were separated into three experimental groups: CG (n = 7), which were exposed only to hypothermic conditions; AHG (n = 7); and BHG (n = 7). We tested these parameters in each rat: glucose, urea, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, sodium to potassium ratio, chloride, and calculated osmolality. Results: Distinct biochemical differences were noted between primary and secondary hypothermia. Glucose and creatinine levels exhibited significant variations (p < 0.001). Urea concentrations also manifested notable differences between the groups (p < 0.001). Phosphorus levels demonstrated significant differences (p = 0.004), with post hoc analyses revealing significant contrasts between the AHG and BHG (p = 0.014) and between the BHG and CG (p = 0.014). Potassium levels and the sodium-to-potassium ratio differed significantly (p < 0.001). Osmolality also varied significantly across experimental groups (p < 0.001), with post hoc tests confirming significant differences between the AHG and CG (p = 0.013) and between the BHG and CG (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The calculated osmolality exhibited significant variation among the different groups, indicating a notable impact of the substances on the biochemical profile related to hypothermia. This study focused on the effectiveness of biochemical markers in distinguishing primary hypothermia from secondary hypothermia.
Honeydew honey (HH) is a distinctive type of honey known for its dark colour, high mineral and polyphenol content, and pronounced biological activity. This study continues previous research on beech and chestnut honeydew honeys by presenting a comprehensive analysis of linden honeydew honey (LHH) from Bosnia and Herzegovina—a variety that, until now, has not been characterised in detail. Physicochemical parameters confirmed its classification as HH, with high electrical conductivity (1.21 mS/cm) and low moisture (15.1%). GC-MS analysis revealed a unique volatile profile dominated by α-terpinolene (17.4%), distinguishing LHH from other HH types. The sample exhibited high total phenolic content (816.38 mg GAE/kg) and moderate antioxidant capacity (1.11 mmol TE/kg). Antimicrobial testing demonstrated strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with lower efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria. No cytotoxic effects were observed in HaCaT keratinocytes at concentrations up to 60 mg/mL, and wound healing assays showed improved scratch closure reaching approximately 30% after 24 h and 41% after 48 h compared to the control. These results indicate that LHH possesses promising bioactive properties and potential for dermatological application. Further studies with broader sample sets are needed to explore variability and confirm the therapeutic relevance of LHH in comparison to other honeydew types.
Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disease from the spectrum of movement disorders, with psychiatric comorbid symptoms and manifestations. Women are affected twice as often as men, and the frequency in the population is 4-10%, while during pregnancy the prevalence triples. This research was conducted as a result of a search and selection of studies on the prevalence of RLS in pregnancy, which include works published in domestic and foreign journals and searches of PubMed, PubMed Central, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase. A primary search of medical databases found 316 publications. In this secondary process, due to the lack of access to the abstract or full text, and due to the poor quality of the articles, 11 relevant publications were finally found and included in this systematic review. The total number of respondents included in this research is 7033, aged 19-45. The lowest prevalence was 4.9% in Japan, and the highest prevalence was 54.7% in Saudi Arabia. In this review, the overall mean frequency of restless legs syndrome during pregnancy was 24.69%. Furthermore, in our ongoing research conducted in 2022 on restless legs syndrome, we recorded a frequency of 26.5% in a population of 266 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. The frequency of restless legs syndrome is high among the population of pregnant women, and according to its etiology, clinical manifestations and comorbid manifestation, this disorder represents a close link between psychiatry, neurology and gynecology. For this reason, pregnant women should pay extra attention to the early detection of this disorder, which can significantly affect a pregnant woman's daily energy level, poor sleep and daytime sleepiness, and more frequent symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Background/Objectives: Large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, have emerged as potential clinical support tools to enhance precision in personalized patient care, but their reliability in radiological image interpretation remains uncertain. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ChatGPT-4o in interpreting chest X-rays (CXRs) and abdominal X-rays (AXRs) by comparing its performance to expert radiology findings, whilst secondary aims were diagnostic confidence and patient safety. Methods: A total of 500 X-rays, including 257 CXR (51.4%) and 243 AXR (48.5%), were analyzed. Diagnoses made by ChatGPT-4o were compared to expert interpretations. Confidence scores (1–4) were assigned and responses were evaluated for patient safety. Results: ChatGPT-4o correctly identified 345 of 500 (69%) pathologies (95% CI: 64.81–72.9). For AXRs 175 of 243 (72.02%) pathologies were correctly diagnosed (95% CI: 66.06–77.28), while for CXRs 170 of 257 (66.15%) were accurate (95% CI: 60.16–71.66). The highest detection rates among CXRs were observed for pulmonary edema, tumor, pneumonia, pleural effusion, cardiomegaly, and emphysema, and lower rates were observed for pneumothorax, rib fractures, and enlarged mediastinum. AXR performance was highest for intestinal obstruction and foreign bodies, and weaker for pneumoperitoneum, renal calculi, and diverticulitis. Confidence scores were higher for AXRs (mean 3.45 ± 1.1) than CXRs (mean 2.48 ± 1.45). All responses (100%) were considered to be safe for the patient. Interobserver agreement was high (kappa = 0.920), and reliability (second prompt) was moderate (kappa = 0.750). Conclusions: ChatGPT-4o demonstrated moderate accuracy for the interpretation of X-rays, being higher for AXRs compared to CXRs. Improvements are required for its use as efficient clinical support tool.
Abstract Digital transformation significantly impacts all aspects of the economic system, particularly the functioning of monetary policy and the financial sector. As a key process in modernization, digital transformation encompasses innovations that enable faster, safer and more efficient financial transactions, contributing to greater transparency and better economic integration. This paper analyzes the impact of digital transformation on the monetary policies of Southeast European (SEE) countries, with a particular focus on the development and implementation of digital payment systems. The aim of the research is to examine the potential of digital technologies to improve the monetary policies of these countries, enabling them to achieve greater financial stability and alignment with European Union (EU) standards. The focus is on identifying the benefits of implementing digital payments, including reducing transaction costs, improving trust in monetary institutions, and increasing the transparency of financial flows. The methodological framework of the research is based on multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), using the CRITIC and MARCOS methods. The CRITIC method was used to evaluate the importance of individual criteria relevant to digital payments, while the MARCOS method enabled the ranking of countries based on their potential for implementing digital payments. The results of the research show that alignment with EU legislation is the most important factor, while Romania has the best potential for implementing digital payments among the observed countries. The contribution of this paper is reflected in the development of a strategic framework and the encouragement of regional cooperation, through which SEE countries could realize the full potential of digital transformation to accelerate economic growth and integration with the EU.
Background Many low-income and middle-income countries have introduced public health insurance systems, whereby, thanks to government subsidies, selected groups are entitled to receive insurance coverage even if not paying direct contributions into the system. These efforts towards achieving universal health coverage were often undermined by difficulties in enrolment and registration, barriers to health service utilisation or complicated rules around service packages. Governmental and non-governmental accountability initiatives have been established to overcome these barriers in order to make health insurance programmes responsive and to empower citizens. This paper examines evidence and synthesizes lessons from 20 accountability initiatives in six selected countries to understand how these achieved (or not) these goals. Methods We systematically analysed six final reports and five published papers which were part of a multicountry research programme from 2019 to end of 2022 studying accountability initiatives. Between June 2023 and September 2024, we systematically extracted data and synthesised findings from the reports and papers based on a conceptual framework, adapted from a framework developed by Molyneux, which had been adopted by the country teams to guide their studies. We coded the extracted data and identified the content, context and process factors that enabled or hindered the accountability initiatives in achieving their intended goals. We present and discuss factors that were present in at least two initiatives. Results Governmental initiatives were in most instances established in conjunction with the health reforms that introduced the health insurance programmes they address. Whereas some of these initiatives were effective, many were undermined by poor outreach to citizens, inadequacy of resources, conflicts of interest and power imbalances and lack of fidelity to original design. Non-governmental initiatives often emerged to fill existing gaps in government services and programmes. Many of the non-governmental initiatives had several features which helped them in contributing to citizen empowerment, and these included embeddedness in and being trusted by the local communities, flexibility in operating and reaching out to people and the underlying motivation of people working in them. Conclusions The effective implementation of accountability initiatives requires transparency, trust-building measures, active outreach and community engagement and adequate resources. These elements can ensure that initiatives achieve their intended goal of enhancing citizens’ access to their health insurance entitlements. Further research is needed to understand how best collaboration between governmental and non-governmental initiatives can be fostered to build synergies between the two toward the achievement of common goals.
Objective: Obesity and overweight represent a global public health crisis, due to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases consequent to many factors such as metabolic dysregulation and chronic inflammation. This study aimed to compare the Heart Rate variability (HRV) between obese and non-obese hypertensive patients. Design and method: A cross-sectional study included 76 hypertensive patients, referred to the Functional Explorations department. Anthropometric and clinical data were collected. All patients underwent 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure (BP) Monitoring. HRVs were measured (standard deviation in percentage) during 24-hour, diurnal and nocturnal periods. Patients were divided into two groups, according to their body mass index (BMI, whether < 30 kg/m 2 or = 30 30 kg/m 2 and more): G1 (obese, n=39) and G2 (non-obese, n=37). Results: Mean age was 55±10 vs. 52±15 years and mean BMI was 34±4 vs. 26±2 kg/m 2 in G1 and G2, respectively. Both groups were matched for sex (66.7% of females in G1 vs. 48.6% of females in G2) and comorbidities (mainly diabetes and dyslipidemia), but G1 included a higher proportion of metabolic syndrome (p<0.05). Mean values of 24-hour Systolic and Diastolic BPs were 136±10 mmHg vs. 130±11 mmHg (p=0.022), and 84±9 mmHg vs. 80±9 mmHg (p=0.066), respectively in G1 and in G2. Mean values of 24-hour, diurnal and nocturnal HRVs were 14±3% vs. 16±3%; 14±3% vs. 16±3%; 7±3% vs. 9±6%, respectively in G1 and in G2. Diurnal and 24-hour HRVs were statistically lower in G1 (p=0.010 and 0.035, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed in nocturnal HRV (p=0.279) between the two groups. Conclusions: This study revealed lower HRVs among obese patients which highlights a clear association between obesity and reduced autonomic nervous system function, particularly with diminished parasympathetic activity. This HRV reduction, resulting in an imbalance in autonomic regulation, increases cardiovascular risk. Managing weight seems to be the key to minimize these negative impacts.
The transition from 5G to 6G networks will catalyze the development of advanced 6G Applications (6G Apps) with enhanced network programmability and intelligence, providing vertical industries and Communication Service Providers (CSPs) with new opportunities to optimize their operations. This article explores the future of the 6G Apps tailored to verticals in the 6G era, highlighting their role as middleware that abstracts network complexities and exposes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to enable dynamic interaction and real-time adaptation. Key enablers such as network exposure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and edge computing are studied in the context of optimizing operations across verticals, and improving Quality of Service (QoS) and fostering innovation. A case study on teleoperated vehicles exemplifies the real-world applicability of these technological enablers for 6G Apps. Furthermore, this article offers insights and explores new research opportunities for 6G Apps tailored to verticals to evolve in the 6G era while addressing key challenges in deploying these applications in real-world commercial networks as a service.
Network emulators are essential in testing network systems, applications, and protocols. Emulators bridge the gap between simulation setups that lack realism in results and real-world trials that are accurate but often expensive, non-reproducible, and uncontrollable. This paper describes the simulations and emulations of the national Czech QKD network. Using emulation techniques, a unique ecosystem is formed that includes the processes of generating, processing, storing, and consuming cryptographic keys. The presented tool will undoubtedly spur future development, understanding, and teaching, and it is critical for testing novel applications and protocols applied to QKD networks.
Interna revizija, kao nezavisna i objektivna funkcija, ima ključnu ulogu u unapređenju poslovanja organizacija kroz procenu i poboljšanje efektivnosti upravljanja rizicima, kontrolom i organizacionim procesima. Iako nije zakonski obavezna u svim zemljama, njeno uspostavljanje postaje sve važnije, posebno u javnom sektoru i finansijskim organizacijama i korporacijama, kako bi se unapredilo poslovanje, ostvarili ciljevi i smanjili rizici. Kvalitet interne revizije definiše se njenom sposobnošću da ispuni ciljeve organizacije pružajući korisne informacije menadžmentu, osiguravajući usklađenost s propisima, upravljajući rizicima i poboljšavajući sistem internih kontrola i organizacione procese. Njena važnost ogleda se u povećavanju kredibiliteta revizije, poverenja zainteresovanih strana i dugoročne održivosti organizacije. Ključni faktori kvaliteta uključuju profesionalne standarde, podršku menadžmenta, nezavisnost, objektivnost, kompetenciju revizora i efikasnu koordinaciju sa eksternim revizorima. Iako univerzalan model za ocenu kvaliteta interne revizije ne postoji, istraživanja naglašavaju značaj različitih metodoloških pristupa, uključujući SEM metodologiju, faktorsku analizu i regresione modele i strukturalni pregled literature radi preciznijeg razumevanja indikatora kvaliteta. U radu su prezentovana istraživanja koja se bave upravo istraživanjem kvaliteta interne revizije i identifikovanja ključnih faktora koji određuju kvalitet interne revizije.
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