Search Results (51)

The natural history of focal non-infected lesions of the abdominal aorta (fl-AA) remains unclear and largely depends on their aetiology. These lesions often involve a focal “tear” or partial disruption of the arterial wall. Penetrating aortic ulcers (PAUs) and intramural hematomas (IMHs) are examples of focal tears in the aortic wall that can either progress to dilatation (saccular aneurysm) or fail to fully propagate through the medial layers, potentially leading to aortic dissection. These conditions typically exhibit a morphology consistent with eccentric saccular aneurysms. The management of focal non-infected pathologies of the abdominal aorta remains a subject of debate. Unlike fusiform abdominal aortic aneurysms, the inconsistent definitions and limited information regarding the natural history of saccular aneurysms (sa-AAAs) have prevented the establishment of universally accepted practice guidelines for their management. As emphasized in the latest 2024 ESVS guidelines, the focal nature of these diseases makes them ideal candidates for endovascular repair (class of evidence IIa—level C). Moreover, the Society for Vascular Surgery just referred to aneurysm diameter as an indication for treatment suggesting using a smaller diameter compared to fusiform aneurysms. Consequently, the management of saccular aneurysms is likely heterogeneous amongst different centres and different operators. Endovascular repair using tube stent grafts offers benefits like reduced recovery times but carries risks of migration and endoleak due to graft rigidity. These complications can influence long-term success. In this context, the use of endovascular bifurcated grafts may provide a more effective solution for treating these focal aortic pathologies. It is essential to achieve optimal sealing regions through anatomical studies of aortic morphology. Additionally, understanding the anatomical characteristics of focal lesions in challenging necks or para-visceral locations is indeed crucial in device choice. Off-the-shelf devices are favoured for their time and cost efficiency, but new endovascular technologies like fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) and custom-made devices enhance treatment success and patient safety. These innovations provide stent grafts in various lengths and diameters, accommodating different aortic anatomies and reducing the risk of type III endoleaks. Although complicated PAUs and focal saccular aneurysms rarely arise in the para-visceral aorta, the consequences of rupture in this segment might be extremely severe. Experience borrowed from complex abdominal and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair demonstrates that fenestrated and branched devices can be deployed safely when anatomical criteria are respected. Elective patients derive the greatest benefit from a fenestrated graft, while urgent cases can be treated confidently with off-the-shelf multibranch systems, reserving other types of repairs for emergent or bail-out cases. While early outcomes of these interventions are promising, it is crucial to acknowledge that limited aortic coverage can still impede effective symptom relief and lead to complications such as aneurysm expansion or rupture. Therefore, further long-term studies are essential to consolidate the technical results and evaluate the durability of various graft options. Full article

This study examines the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial decision-making, focusing on bail and sentencing contexts. We examined public perceptions of judges who use AI tools compared to those who rely solely on expertise. Using an experimental design, participants (N = 1800; stratified by race/ethnicity and gender) were presented with vignettes depicting judges using varying levels of AI assistance. Key outcomes included perceptions of judicial legitimacy, procedural justice, and trust in AI, with analyses stratified by racial groups (Black, Hispanic, White). The results revealed that judges relying on expertise were generally rated higher in legitimacy than those using AI; however, significant racial differences emerged. Black participants showed greater trust and perceived fairness in AI-augmented decisions compared to White and Hispanic participants. Open-ended responses further highlighted social psychological themes regarding the symbolic meaning of AI in judicial processes. These findings underscore the complexity of integrating AI in the judiciary, emphasizing the need for transparent and equitable implementation strategies to maintain public trust and fairness. Future research should explore underlying factors influencing these perceptions to inform policies that address racial disparities and enhance trust in AI-assisted legal decision-making. Full article

This paper studies the impact of crisis management mechanisms (bailouts and bail-ins) on moral hazard. Through an econometric study of financial crises in emerging countries since 1993, the results indicate that recurrent bailouts exacerbate moral hazard, while bail-ins have only a minor impact due to their perceived lack of credibility. The results highlight the impact of crisis management measures on financial stability and the scale of the mobilised resources. Analysed in the context of efforts to support sustainable development, the study recommends reassessing the fundamentals of the bailout approach, developing a robust and sustainable bailout framework that aligns immediate interventions with sustainability objectives towards sustainable recovery strategies. Full article

This article discusses key aspects of deposit–refund system design in Poland, highlighting the importance of energy-sustainable collection logistics. The main role in this system is played by the operator responsible for collecting and transporting packaging to metering centers and recycling plants. The research focused on the optimal placement of logistics facilities to minimize energy expenditures, using the balanced center of gravity method. It took into account the distribution of collection points and the intensity of material flows to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly reverse logistics model. The most important results of the research are the development of a model for the layout of logistics facilities that minimizes energy consumption, the identification of key factors such as the location of collection points and material flows, the development of a methodology for green logistics, and practical recommendations for system designers. The proposed solutions, although innovative in Poland, are universal in nature and can be applied in other countries. The article makes an important contribution to the development of sustainable bail logistics and promotes a balanced energy transition. Full article

In this paper, a novel mixed Tutton salt (K_0.86Na_0.14)₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₆ was successfully synthesized as a single crystal and evaluated as a thermochemical heat storage material. Its thermal and thermochemical properties were correlated with the structure, which was determined by powder X-ray diffraction using the Le Bail and Rietveld methods. The elemental ratio between the K⁺ and Na⁺ monovalent cations was established by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Similar compounds such as Na₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄ and K₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₆ were also synthesized and used for structural comparisons. The (K_0.86Na_0.14)₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₆ salt crystallizes in monoclinic symmetry with the P2₁/c-space group, typical of hexahydrate crystals from the Tutton salt family. The lattice parameters closely resemble those of K₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₆. A comprehensive analysis of the intermolecular contacts, based on Hirshfeld surfaces and 2D fingerprint mappings, revealed that the primary interactions are hydrogen bonds (H···O/O···H) and ion-dipole interactions (K/Na···O/O···Na/K). The unit cell exhibits minimal void space, accounting for only 0.2%, indicative of strong atomic packing. The intermolecular molecular and atomic packing are important factors influencing crystal lattice stabilization and thermal energy supplied to release crystallographic H₂O. The thermal stability of mixed Tutton salt ranges from 300 K to 365 K. Under the dehydration of its six H₂O molecules, the dehydration reaction enthalpy reaches 349.8 kJ/mol, yielding a thermochemical energy storage density of 1.79 GJ/m³. With an H₂O desorption temperature ≤393 K and a high energy storage density ≥1.3 GJ/m³ (criteria established for applications at the domestic level), the (K_0.86Na_0.14)₂Ni(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₆ shows potential as a thermochemical material for small-sized heat batteries. Full article

Taiwan faces intense rainfall during typhoon seasons, leading to rapid increases in water level in rivers. Accurate flood forecasting in rivers is essential for protecting lives and property. The objective of this study is to develop a river flood forecasting model combining multiple additive regression trees (MART) and ensemble Kalman filtering (EnKF). MART, a machine learning technique, predicts water levels for internal boundary conditions, correcting a one-dimensional (1D) unsteady flow model. EnKF further refines these predictions, enabling precise real-time forecasts of water levels in the Danshui River system for up to three hours lead time. The model was calibrated and validated using observed data from four historical typhoons to evaluate its accuracy. For the present time at three water level stations in the Danshui River system, the root mean square error (RMSE) ranged from 0.088 to 0.343 m, while the coefficient of determination (R²) ranged from 0.954 to 0.999. The validated model (module 1) was divided into two additional modules: module 2, which combined the ensemble unsteady flow model with inner boundary correction and MART, and module 3, which featured an ensemble 1D unsteady flow model without inner boundary correction. These modules were employed to forecast water levels at three stations from the present time to 3 h lead time during Typhoon Muifa in 2022. The study revealed that the Tu-Ti-Kung-Pi station was less affected by inner boundaries due to significant tidal influences. Consequently, excluding the upstream and downstream boundaries, Tu-Ti-Kung-Pi station showed a superior RMSE trend from present time to 3 h lead time across all three modules. Conversely, the Taipei Bridge and Bailing Bridge stations began using inner boundary forecast values for correction from 1 h to 3 h lead times. This increased the uncertainty of the inner boundary, resulting in higher RMSE values for these locations in modules 1 and 2 compared to module 3. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic was a health, economic, and financial crisis. The aviation sector was one of the most severely hit. Despite the extensive literature on this, COVID-Finance has been focused on stock returns, neglecting what could be learnt from the spreads of airlines’ credit default swaps (CDSs). This would seem of the utmost importance, given the epicenter of the crisis within the credit market. In this paper, an in-depth analysis of airlines’ CDS spreads is conducted. It is found that they were severely hit, for all airlines studied. However, the results of the PSY test showed that speculative trading led the surge, as explosive roots were found in the spreads of all these aviation firms. The dramatic increase in CDS spreads has contributed to already high borrowing costs for airlines. Our results suggest that aviation bail outs have helped to mitigate spreads’ explosiveness. Monetary policy measures have also limited, albeit indirectly, the funding risk posed by the government bail outs. By the end of March 2021, spreads were no longer explosive, and were approaching, at highly heterogeneous paces, their pre-pandemic values. Notwithstanding, airlines’ stock prices have been notably resistant to recovery. Full article

The stick tea thrip (Dendrothrips minowai) is one of the most serious sucking pests of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) in China, North Korea, and Japan. Plant volatile lures are widely used for both monitoring and mass trapping. Previously, we demonstrated that sticky traps baited with p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, farnesene, or 3-methyl butanal captured significantly more D. minowai in tea plantations, with p-anisaldehyde notably capturing the most. In this study, we showed that D. minowai adults exhibited significantly higher attraction to mixtures of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene compared to an equivalent dose of p-anisaldehyde alone in H-tube olfactometer assays under laboratory conditions. Moreover, in field experiments conducted in 2022, rubber septa impregnated with a ternary blend of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene (at 3–4.5 mg and a ratio of 3:1:1) captured the highest number of adults on sticky traps, outperforming traps bailed with individual components or a solvent control over two weeks. Significantly, the mass trapping strategy employing these lures achieved control efficacies ranging from 62.8% to 70.7% when compared to traps without attractant, which achieved control efficacies of only 14.2% to 35.4% across three test sites in 2023. These results indicate that the combination of p-anisaldehyde, eugenol, and farnesene exhibits an additive or synergistic effect on D. minowai. In conclusion, our findings establish a theoretical framework and provide practical technological support for integrating attractant-based strategies into comprehensive thrips management strategies. Full article

Based on the previous work conducted by Fujii et al., NdBaInO₄ compounds present modest oxide-ion conductivities. Therefore, it has been an attractive system of significant interest. In this study, we attempted to partially substitute Ca for Nd and the total electrical conductivity was successfully improved due to the generation of oxygen vacancies. The synthesis, crystal structure, density, surface topography, and electrical properties of NdBaInO₄ and Ca-doped NdBaInO₄ have been studied, respectively. NdBaInO₄ and 10% and 20% molar fractions of Ca-doped NdBaInO₄ were synthesized through solid-state reactions. The crystal structure of them was obtained from Le Bail refinement of the XRD pattern, giving the result of the monoclinic structure, which belongs to P2₁/c space group. The highest total electrical conductivity of 4.91 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ was obtained in the Nd_0.9Ca_0.1BaInO_3.95 sample at a temperature of 760 °C in the dry atmosphere and the activation energy was reduced from 0.68 eV to 0.58 eV when the temperature was above 464 °C (737 K) after doping the NdBaInO₄ with a 0.1 molar fraction of Ca²⁺. Moreover, the total conductivity of Nd_0.9Ca_0.1BaInO_3.95 in the wet atmosphere at moderate temperature was relatively higher than that in the dry atmosphere, which suggests that potential proton conduction may exist in wet atmospheres. In addition, the oxygen diffusion coefficients of Nd_0.9Ca_0.1BaInO_3.95 (D* = 1.82 × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s, 850 °C) was about two times higher than that of Nd_0.8Ca_0.2BaInO_3.90 (D* = 7.95 × 10⁻⁹ cm²/s, 850 °C) and was increased significantly by two orders of magnitude when compared with the oxygen diffusion coefficient of the undoped NdBaInO₄ (D* = 8.25 × 10⁻¹¹ cm²/s, 850 °C). Full article

The tourism sector has witnessed continuous development over the last few decades, overcoming various challenges and crises. This resilience underscores the remarkable diversity of managerial and entrepreneurial initiatives capable of meeting the ever-growing and unpredictable global demand. Our objective is to explore the perceptions of factors and opportunities that encourage the launch and management of businesses in health and spa tourism utilizing a qualitative methodology. Our conclusions are based on the analysis of 32 hotel managers’ and small business owners’ interviews in a relevant tourist resort in Romania. This study reveals that all four types of identified opportunities and drivers influencing business creation and management in health and spa tourism (i.e., improving work quality and independence, professional and personal development, responses to opportunities, and upgrading existing services) are substantially influenced by gender, relevant work experience, and education. The novelty of our research lies in highlighting the influence of these drivers according to a specific context given by the size, management type, and ownership structure of tourism ventures, as well as the difference between large hotel managers and small business owners in terms of their perception and goals. We acknowledge that the limited number of interviewees and the spatially bound context of the research may have an effect on the relevance of the results. This study’s findings underscore the necessity for compromise and collaboration among diverse stakeholders in the tourism industry, particularly when developing long-term strategies for health and wellness destinations. This collaborative approach plays a critical role in promoting the well-being and prosperity of individuals, businesses, and the entire local community. Full article

Flamenco is a traditional way of expressing values and knowledge from one generation to the next as part of informal education and is now a consolidated artistic genre in Andalusia. A legal framework was created to protect and promote flamenco as a unique element of Andalusian culture, and to incorporate flamenco studies into the official school curriculum. There is nothing written on what constitutes flamenco content or how it should be taught. We conducted a small phenomenological ethnographic study of women who teach a specific style of flamenco dance which is important in the field of teaching, namely the Escuela Sevillana, and we aimed to understand how they constructed the pedagogical content knowledge that enabled them to teach it in the public and private spaces where it is taught. The study design was qualitative and interpretive. The study population comprised all women teaching this style of flamenco dance. Data collection was through in-depth interviews, with a bibliographical review of relevant material for context. The results focus on interpreting and understanding the reality studied, and describing in detail how these dance teachers constructed the pedagogical content knowledge in order to teach it effectively. We draw the conclusions that there are various stages of teaching professionalisation, and experience-based learning is important for consolidation as a teacher. Full article

Background: Percutaneous deep vein arterialization (pDVA) is considered a treatment modality in patients with no-option critical limb ischemia. However, there is still a paucity of evidence regarding its safety and efficacy. Data sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase and Web of Science databases as well as the CENTRAL registry up to the end of June 2023. Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023445171). The risk of bias was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS). Primary endpoints included technical success, overall survival and limb salvage during the follow-up. Amputation-free survival at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year as well as complete wound healing, major adverse limb events and reintervention were investigated as secondary outcomes. Results: Five observational studies, comprising 208 patients (142 Rutherford class 5/77 Rutherford class 6), were included. MINORS revealed a low risk of bias. The meta-analysis reached a pooled technical success rate of 96.2% (95% CI: 91.5–98.4), an overall survival of 82.8% (95% CI: 70.5–95.2) and a limb salvage rate of 77.2% (95% CI: 65.2–89.1) during the follow-up. The amputation-free survival at 30 days, 6 months and 1 year was 87.8%, 68.7% and 65.6%, respectively. Furthermore, pDVA resulted in a complete wound healing rate of 53.4% (95% CI: 30.3–76.5). The pooled reintervention rate was as high as 46.7% (37.1–56.3%). Conclusions: PDVA seems a feasible bail-out strategy for patients with no option for routine treatment of CLTI. However, due to the small number of studies, the strength of the evidence is low. Full article

The reaction of UO₂ with the respective lanthanide metal and purified graphite in an arc-melting furnace led to the formation of solid solutions of the composition Ln_xU_1−xC₂, with Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm, and Lu. They all crystallize in the tetragonal CaC₂ type structure (I4/mmm, Z = 2). Elemental analyses of selected samples (EDX) confirm that the composition of the resulting solid solution is in reasonable agreement with the nominal (weighed-in) composition of the starting materials, i.e., a significant evaporation of the lanthanide metals during the arc-melting synthesis does not occur. The lattice parameters of the solid solutions were extracted using Le Bail fits of high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction data (beamline P02.1, DESY, Hamburg, Germany; beamline BL 09, DELTA, Dortmund, Germany), revealing ideal Vegard behavior for all five solid solutions. XANES investigations on all compounds at the Ln-L_III and U-L_III edges reveal that the occupancies of the U-6d orbitals decrease with increasing x, whereas the occupancies of the Ln-5d orbitals increase, pointing to an electron transfer from the uranium to the lanthanide cations. Examination of the shifts of the absorption edge (E₀) leads to the same finding. Full article

There is a considerable debate in the literature regarding the real impact of tourism on the environment and human communities, specifically with respect to tourism’s openness to sustainable innovation. The way in which the different forms of tourism and entrepreneurial and managerial initiatives respond to the new economic, technological, social and environmental challenges acquire considerable importance for academics, practitioners, decision makers and consumers. The purpose of this research is to assess the potential for sustainable innovation in spa and health tourism in a relevant area in Romania through a survey-based study of both entrepreneurs who own a tourist accommodation unit, as well as top and middle managers from large tourism enterprises. The results of our research show that the development of spa and health tourism offers multiple examples of good practices, and that stimulating innovative entrepreneurial initiatives can lead to a sustainable reinvention of the tourism and local economy, in line with the international health tourism market. In the case of small businesses, even though sustainable initiatives are present, they are at an earlier stage and are less diversified compared to hotels, the scope of innovation is smaller and their motivation weaker. In other words, a large part of the objectives of modernization and sustainability in spa and health tourism (equipment, services, qualification and hiring of employees, sustainable and environmentally friendly orientation) are the responsibility of large hotel resorts. This research provides valuable insights into the ongoing debate surrounding the impact of tourism on the environment and local communities, with a specific focus on the potential for sustainable innovation in spa and health tourism within a significant region of Romania. Full article

To investigate the volatile components of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Bail (commonly known as northern Schisandra) of different colors and to explore their similarities and differences, to identify the main flavor substances in the volatile components of the branch exudates of northern schisandra, and finally to establish a fingerprint map of the volatile components of the dried fruits and branch exudates of northern Schisandra of different colors, we used GC-IMS technology to analyze the volatile components of the dried fruits and branch exudates of three different colors of northern Schisandra and established a fingerprint spectra. The results showed that a total of 60 different volatile chemical components were identified in the branch exudates and dried fruits of Schisandra. The components of germplasm resources with different fruit colors were significantly different. The ion mobility spectrum and OPLS-DA results showed that white and yellow fruits were more similar compared to red fruits. The volatile components in dried fruits were significantly higher than those in branch exudates. After VIP (variable importance in projection) screening, 41 key volatile substances in dried fruits and 30 key volatile substances in branch exudates were obtained. After screening by odor activity value (OAV), there were 24 volatile components greater than 1 in both dried fruits and branch exudates. The most important contributing volatile substance was 3-methyl-butanal, and the most important contributing volatile substance in white fruit was (E)-2-hexenal. Full article