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The F456L mutation of Omicron EG.5.1 : insight of the molecular mechanism
Get PDFThe E.G.5.1 sub-variant, named "Eris", from the already redoubtable Omicron, has made its way into several nations, creating a new wave of uncertainty. Although its destructive potential has yet to be fully assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO), this strain may have a high potential for transmission following its appearance in 51 countries. The entry point for sarscov2 is via the angiotensin receptor, so in our study we tried to clarify the mutation that raises many questions about its impact. We used computational approaches to try and get as close as possible to an adequate answer. We found that the mutation at position 456 allowed the L456 residue to become more flexible than the F456 residue; we found that there is a 60% gain in flexibility for this variant compared to the ancestral strain. This led to a new π-σ interaction between RBD-ACE2, thus promoting affinity. This linkage advantage may explain the exponential increase in Eris transmission, but the pathogenicity remains to be assessed over the coming months. What makes this mutation unique is that it is the first time it is been seen in this position, which raises uncertainties about vaccine efficacy and viral transmissibility.peer-reviewe
A geological and geophysical database for the assessment of offshore freshened groundwater resources
Get PDFFresh groundwater resources in coastal regions are vital for modern society, but are under considerable pressure due to
population growth, seasonal peaks in demand, pollution and climate change. In recent years, interest in offshore freshened
groundwater (OFG) has surged, as potential resource for addressing these challenges. Recent studies have documented OFG
occurrences on many continental margins and islands, with global volume estimates ranging between 105-
10⁶ km3.
However,
these global estimates rely on simplified assumptions regarding aquifer geometry and properties, as they only are intended to
give an idea of the scale of these resources. Focused studies on specific coastal regions are required to evaluate the distribution
of these resources locally. However, these studies are often hampered by the technical challenge and high cost of acquiring
and processing data in marine regions. Thus, the understanding of aquifers, including their occurrence, volumes, and their
geological and hydrological properties, remains limited. In this context, this study aims to develop a comprehensive, open
access database that integrates existing geophysical, geological, and geochemical datasets to enhance OFG characterisation
and modelling capabilities in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Moreover, this database aims to support hydrological studies
on offshore aquifers and coastal hydrology, and help modelling of groundwater flow from recharge areas. The remaining
challenges regarding data accessibility and resolution are then discussed, underscoring the need for further interdisciplinary
research and data sharing to ensure the sustainable management of this valuable resource.peer-reviewe
Capacity building in the medical device regulatory inspectorate
Get PDFIntroduction: Harmonised inspection strategies of medical device economic operators are considered as one of the arms of market surveillance activities within the 2017 European Medical Devices Regulations (MDR 2017/745), that enhance the use of safe medical devices on the European market. Cooperation between regulatory bodies and business market is essential to ensure utmost clarity and effectivity in regulation interpretation. Inspectors’ capacity can be enhanced through training, resource usage, technical help, assessment, feedback and collaboration.Aims: To establish a capacity-building framework for medical device regulatory inspectors within European National Competent Authorities (EU NCAs), presented as a structured guidance document. This initiative focuses on enhancing inspector competencies to ensure regulatory surveillance of medical devices.peer-reviewe
Ukraine’s agricultural and rural development : transformation of strategic planning within the processes of European integration
Get PDFPURPOSE: The purpose of the paper is to understand the conditions and problems within the
development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, qualitative transformations, and peculiarities
of strategic planning of this sector and rural areas in the context of Ukraine’s European
integration, wartime challenges, and post-war recovery.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study utilizes a retrospective analysis of Ukrainian
legislation and strategic planning documents for agricultural sector. Through legal and
hermeneutic analysis, the research examines the evolution of state policy, which initially
focused on pure agricultural development before expanding to encompass the broader agrifood sector and rural development. Data sources include official statistics and reports from
the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine,
and the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. These resources provide insights into the
structural changes and resource allocation in the sector. Additionally, the paper employs a
systematic and comparative approach to assess the challenges and prospects of Ukraine’s
European integration in agriculture and rural development. This involves analyzing the
principles and regulations of the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and
its potential alignment with Ukraine’s national policy frameworks, focusing on adapting EU
standards and directives to Ukraine’s agricultural context.FINDINGS: The analysis reveals that, despite Ukrainian agribusiness holding a significant
position in global food markets, the development of Ukraine’s agro-industrial complex and
rural areas lags behind many countries. This lag is evident in low production
competitiveness, outdated technologies, limited investment, and a high dependence on state
funding. Additionally, rural development faces specific challenges, including declining
human capital, governance limitations, and underutilized community resources. Positive
progress has been noted in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the study
highlights increased consumption of key food items - such as meat, fish, vegetables, and
fruits - among the population. This shift suggests a gradual transition toward a healthier
diet, aligning with broader health and nutritional goals. In terms of European integration,
the findings suggest that Ukraine's alignment with the EU’s updated Common Agricultural
Policy could strengthen its European integration efforts. By adopting EU standards, Ukraine
may enhance the agricultural sector's efficiency, support sustainable rural development, and
foster long-term resilience in the post-war period. This alignment is expected to facilitate the
sector's recovery and contribute to achieving food security by incorporating EU practices in
sustainable land use, biodiversity, and rural socio-economic stability.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper provides insights for policymakers to address the sector's
development in the context of European integration, facilitating post-war recovery and
contributing to food security. The implementation of European standards could improve
agricultural practices and rural development in Ukraine.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study examines the agricultural sector's strategic planning amidst the
challenges posed by war and integration into European frameworks, contributing to
discussions on sustainable rural development and sectoral alignment with European policies.Significant parts of this research were conducted within the project
“Substantiation and measures for implementation of a human rights-based integrated
approach to rural development, food security and land policy in post-war rebuilding of
Ukraine” (acronym “rUAr: Rebuild Rural Ukraine”), financed under the “Long-term
program of support of the Ukrainian research teams at the Polish Academy of Sciences
carried out in collaboration with the U.S. National Academy of Sciences with the financial
support of external partners”.peer-reviewe
Ensuring access : a short communication on cervical cancer screening in women with intellectual disabilities
Get PDFCervical cancer represents a high burden in women’s health. Introduction of cervical cancer screening and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs are making a measurable impact to reduce cervical cancer prevalence and mortality in a number of countries. However, there are still discrepancies in service provision and uptake in different countries, with women with intellectual disabilities being at greater risk of being impacted. The aim of this literature review is to highlight the current state of cervical cancer screening, with a special focus on the barriers and enablers affecting women with intellectual disabilities. We found that there are multiple obstacles for the uptake of cervical cancer screening among women in general, but even more in women with intellectual disabilities. Barriers to cervical cancer screening can be due to geographical, psychosocial or economic reasons, together with poor understanding by the caregiver/s and/or the patient herself or misconceptions from healthcare professionals. Improved knowledge for caregivers, health care professionals and persons with intellectual disability will lead to better uptake of cervical cancer screening. In conclusion, the implementation of enablers in order to overcome the obstacles faced by women, especially those with intellectual disability, is a public health priority which has the potential to lead to less morbidity and mortality related to cervical cancer.peer-reviewe
Formation of crisis situations in modern organizations and their impact on market functioning
Get PDFPURPOSE: The goal is to identify potential areas where crisis situations may arise in
organizations and their impact on the contemporary market.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The research problem centres on the question what factors
generate crises in organizations? To address this, it is essential to characterize the critical
areas within modern organizations. The research hypothesis posits that maintaining
effectiveness in organizations results from understanding organizational mechanisms and
processes. This requires leadership focused on a deep comprehension of the organization as
a system composed of various elements and the relationships between them. Such leadership
fosters cohesion among organizational components through direct communication, enabling
the acquisition of knowledge and information about the organization's internal and external
environments. To answer the research question and verify the hypothesis, the authors
conducted an analysis of the available literature.FINDINGS: The hypothesis has been positively verified. An organization should be viewed as
an organized entity created by specific individuals or external institutions led by particular
individuals. Through the implementation of a strategy, it becomes complex, integrated, and
oriented, ensuring effective management. Understanding an organization as a bundle of
various goals, rights, contracts, transactions, and expectations allows one to grasp the
essence of its functioning and helps prevent crisis situations.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The analysis of the collected material shows that crisis situations can
result from a lack of knowledge about the fundamental areas of an organization: its
organization, complexity, integration, strategic orientation, and unfamiliarity with
interpreting organizational metaphors as a bundle of rights, transactions, expectations, or
contracts.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: An analysis of the collected literature shows that crisis situations are an
inherent feature of every organization. However, thanks to scientific management, managers
identify and prevent the development of crisis situations. Organizational knowledge
contained in theory and practice allows for understanding their functioning and recognizing
their impact on the organization and the market.peer-reviewe
Spirituality in the workplace : the impact of Christian values on management style and employees' psychological well-being
Get PDFPURPOSE: The aim of this article is to demonstrate how Christian spirituality and its
associated values (such as human dignity, solidarity, integrity, humility, servanthood, and
love for one’s neighbor) can positively influence management styles within organizations and
enhance employees’ psychological well-being. The article seeks to integrate a spiritual
perspective with modern management practices and mental health promotion in the
workplace.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This work is theoretical and review-based, with elements of
literature analysis. The authors draw on documents of the Catholic Church (e.g., the
encyclical Laborem exercens), academic literature in the fields of work psychology and
management, as well as practical examples (such as ServiceMaster and Caritas). The article
also relies on statistical data concerning stress and occupational burnout, and on empirical
studies exploring the impact of spirituality on employee well-being.FINDINGS: Work understood as a calling and a form of service enhances the sense of meaning
and professional engagement. A Christian management style (e.g., servant leadership)
fosters a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration. Christian spirituality can reduce stress
and burnout levels, strengthening employees' mental resilience. Spiritual practices (prayer,
reflection, meditation) support emotional balance. Implementing spiritual values in an
organization presents challenges but, when grounded in respect for diversity, can effectively
function regardless of employees' individual worldviews.PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: The implementation of Christian values should be based on
universal ethical principles and respect for diversity. Organizations should cultivate
leadership rooted in servant leadership, promoting empathy, humility, and responsibility. It
is advisable to create space for reflection, dialogue, and spiritual development in the
workplace (e.g., workshops, retreats). Values should be integrated into human resource
policies, evaluation systems, and internal communication. The personal example of leaders is
essential for effectively embedding values into organizational culture.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The originality of this article lies in the combination of Christian
spirituality with contemporary management theory and practice, demonstrating its practical
applicability in secular and professional contexts. The authors present spirituality not merely
as a religious concept but as a tangible resource that enhances work quality, interpersonal relationships, and psychological health. It is a proposed management model grounded not
only in efficiency but also in humanity, community, and meaningful purpose.peer-reviewe
Monotherapy versus dual lipid lowering therapy in high risk coronary artery disease patients
Get PDFIntroduction: European
Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias
recommend dual therapy with a high intensity statin and ezetimibe if target
low density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C 1 4 mmol/L) is not achieved with statin
monotherapy.Aim: To assess lipid lowering therapy and
LDL-C levels in coronary artery disease (CAD)
patients who underwent a cardiac
intervention.peer-reviewe
The potential of covalent organic frameworks to act as mechanical metamaterials
Get PDFSupplementary information is available in the document herewith attached.Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of engineered molecular crystals composed of organic building blocks linked together through covalent bonds. Depending on the composition of their building blocks, COFs have been synthesised as 1D frameworks extending in a single direction, as 2D sheets or as 3D crystal lattices. Research on the mechanical properties of COFs, revealed that in certain cases, both a negative Poisson’s ratio and a negative linear compressibility can be achieved, however, such studies remain limited. Molecular modelling of 3D COFs presents several challenges, primarily due to their large pore sizes. In view of this, a methodology was developed for simulating these materials by loading nitrogen molecules within their pores. The results indicate that geometry optimisation consistently yielded structures closely resembling experimental ones when the COFs were sufficiently loaded with nitrogen molecules. Furthermore, the potential of these systems to exhibit a negative Poisson’s ratio and/or negative linear compressibility was investigated. The employed method confirms that such frameworks can exhibit both properties, illustrating the potential of 3D COFs to function as mechanical metamaterials. This study provides valuable insights into the potential auxetic nature of existing 3D COFs, paving the way for the design of other 3D COFs with inherent auxetic properties.peer-reviewe
La terre crue en contexte funéraire : Développements formels, typologiques et techniques pendant la Préhistoire récente / Raw earth in funerary context. Formal, typological and technical developments during the Neolithic and the Bronze Age
Get PDFThis is the first discussion ever on the subject of
earthen architecture in funerary context in the Maltese
Islands between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze
Age in spite of the scanty evidence of such use in the
respective archaeological record. Two separate and
contrasting situations characterise these two episodes of
Maltese prehistory with respect to funerary ritual. The
Late Neolithic (3800-2350 BCE) has left us two major
subterranean cemeteries for collective inhumation: one
cut in a relatively soft rock, the other one making use of
a naturally formed system of underground caves. In both
cases raw earth was utilized to cover primary and secondary
burials. Around 2350 BCE this extraordinary culture is
replaced by a new Bronze Age culture characterised by
the disposal of the dead through cremation. The matrix
for the cremated human remains now consists of a thick
layer of dark ashy earth. This paper discusses the different
raw earth matrices and any possible hints of other raw
earth uses, including clay figurines.peer-reviewe