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Influence of layering and Curie temperature uncertainty on the performance of multilayer active magnetic regenerators
No full textMagnetic refrigeration is a promising alternative to traditional vapor compression systems, with potential efficiency and environmental sustainability advantages. However, the narrow operational temperature range of magnetocaloric materials (MCMs) and their reliance on rare-earth elements remain key challenges. Multilayer active magnetic regenerators (AMRs) address the temperature range limitations by combining multiple magnetocaloric layers, each with different Curie temperatures. This study investigates the impact of statistical deviations in Curie temperatures on the performance of multilayer AMRs, specifically using second-order La-Fe-Co-Si materials. A 1D multilayer AMR numerical model is developed to simulate the effects of Curie temperature variability, with radial basis function neural networks employed to efficiently predict performance. The results indicate that although increasing the number of MCM layers enhances cooling power and coefficient of performance (COP), Curie temperature uncertainties significantly degrade the AMR performance. The likelihood of achieving cooling targets diminishes as the number of MCM layers increases, particularly for standard deviations exceeding 1 K. These findings emphasize the importance of accounting for Curie temperature uncertainties in AMR design. Moreover, enhancing the manufacturing precision of the Curie temperatures of MCMs is essential for improving the performance and commercialization of magnetocaloric technology
Syndromic molecular testing in mechanically ventilated patients with severe pneumonia
No full textRapid identification of pathogens is critical in severe pneumonia patients for timely therapy in mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients. Conventional diagnostics are time-consuming. The Allplex Respiratory Panels 1-4 detect 16 viruses and seven bacteria and provide faster resultshowever, because this molecular assay does not yield viable organisms, antimicrobial susceptibility testing cannot be performed. We compared conventional diagnostics with commercial panels to evaluate diagnostic performance and clinical utility. In this prospective study, a total of 30 bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and 80 tracheal aspirates were obtained from 110 unique ICU patients with severe pneumonia (January 2014 and April 2016). Conventional diagnostics were performed during illness, whereas testing of these specimens by commercial panels was performed retrospectively. Pathogen detection rates and co-detections were analyzed by pneumonia type (community-acquired, hospital-acquired, and ventilator-associated). Conventional diagnostics detected pathogens in 87 of 110 patients (79.1%) versus 70 of 110 (63.6%) detected by the commercial approach (P = 0.016). Detection of viruses was most frequent, predominantly influenza A and human rhinovirusescommon bacterial detections included Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Co-detections occurred in 12.7% patients by the commercial approach and in 21.8% by the conventional approach, including virus-bacterium co-detections in 10.9% and 14.5% of cases, respectively. The commercial approach missed eight bacterial and four fungal detections identified by conventional methods. Conventional diagnostics showed higher yield in hospital-acquired pneumonia (82.5% vs 50.0%P = 0.004), whereas both approaches were comparable in community-acquired cases (75% vs 73.4%). Conventional diagnostics (including culture-based methods) provide broader detection and offer the ability for phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing to be performed, whereas commercial panels offer speedtogether, they may optimize pathogen detection and therapy in critically ill patients.IMPORTANCESevere pneumonia in critically ill patients remains a major clinical challenge due to its diverse etiology, rapid progression, and the need for timely, targeted therapy. This study demonstrates that conventional diagnostic approaches-combining culture and molecular tests-identify the etiology more effectively than a commercial multiplex PCR-based syndromic panel in ICU patients. While the molecular approach offers faster results, it lacks the breadth of bacterial and fungal targets and does not provide the opportunity for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Importantly, viral pathogens-particularly influenza A and rhinoviruses-were frequently detected, underscoring their role in severe pneumonia and the relevance of viral-bacterial co-infections. This work highlights that syndromic molecular diagnostics may be valuable for rapid screening or in community-acquired pneumonia but are insufficient for hospital- or ventilator-associated pneumonia. Our findings support a complementary diagnostic strategy to optimize pneumonia management in ICU settings, improve antimicrobial stewardship, and ultimately impact clinical outcomes for patients with life-threatening respiratory infections
Depersonalizacija med izvajalkami psihosocialne podpore
No full textThe article examines the relationship between depersonalisation and the provision of psychosocial support among women in helping professions. The aim of the study was to determine the extent to which depersonalisation, as a consequence of occupational burnout, is present in women working in these professions, and to identify the factors that predict it. The research was a quantitative empirical cross-sectional study that applied a descriptive/analytical approach. The sample included 302 women from the Western Balkans. The findings show that approximately one-third of the participants exhibited mild symptoms of this phenomenon, whereas 12.5% had moderate to high levels. It was revealed that marital status, holding a professional licence, intercultural training, and international/intercultural experience are predictors of depersonalisation levels.Ta članek raziskuje povezanost med depersonalizacijo in psihosocialno podporo pri ženskah v poklicih pomoči. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti, v kolikšni meri je depersonalizacija kot posledica izgorevanja na delu navzoča v ženski populaciji v poklicih pomoči, ter prepoznati njene prediktivne dejavnike. Raziskava je bila izvedena kot kvantitativna empirična presečna študija z deskriptivno-analitičnim pristopom. V vzorec sta bili vključeni 302 ženski na območju Zahodnega Balkana. Ugotovitve raziskave kažejo, da približno tretjina udeleženk kaže blage simptome, medtem ko je pri 12,5% žensk zabeležena zmerna do visoka izraženost tega pojava. Rezultati so pokazali, da so zakonski stan, strokovne licence, interkulturno usposabljanje ter mednarodne/interkulturne izkušnje pomembni prediktorji ravni depersonalizacije
Communication noise in Slovenian-Chinese conditional discourse
No full textPrispevek prouči načine izražanja pogojnosti v slovenščini in kitajščini. Čeprav imata oba jezika dobro izdelan sistem formulacije pogojno-posledičnih vezi, prihaja v medjezikovni komunikaciji pogosto do razhajanj v razumevanju. V slovenščini uporabljamo kombinacije pogojnih odvisnikov z veznikom če v povednem in pogojnem naklonu, vrsto pogoja pa natančneje določimo tudi s pomočjo členkov. Zanimivo je, da kitajščina razume kot »pogojne stavke« le tiste, kjer si v slovenščini pomagamo s členki, slovenski pogojni odvisniki s čistim če v povednem ali pogojnem naklonu pa v kitajščini sodijo med »domnevalne stavke«. Izsledki te kratke primerjalne študije kažejo, da se medsebojno nerazumevanje pojavi predvsem pri presojah, ali sogovorec predpostavlja realne možnosti ali pa govori o sedanjih in bodočih hipotetično možnih situacijah. V teh primerih moramo najprej zagotoviti obsežnejši kontekst, ki postavi skupna izhodišča diskurza, pa še to ni zagotovilo za odpravo komunikacijskega šuma.This paper examines how to express conditionality in Slovene and Chinese. Although there is a well-formed system for formulating conditional-causal relationships in both languages, cross-linguistic communication often results in divergences in understanding. In Slovene, combinations of conditional subordinate clauses with the conjunction če (if) are used in the indicative and conditional mood, whereby the type of condition is further specified by particles. Interestingly, Chinese grammar considers as “conditional” only those sentences where Slovene employs particles, while Slovene conditional clauses with a simple če in the indicative or conditional mood are classified in Chinese as “suppositional sentences”. The findings of this brief comparative study indicate that mutual misunderstanding primarily arises when the listener evaluates whether the speaker assumes real possibilities or speaks about present or future hypothetically possible situations. In such cases, a broader context that establishes shared starting points for discourse is needed, though it is still not sufficient for a flawless information flow and elimination of communication noise
Razmislek o neokorporativističnem okviru
No full textWe examine the relationship between Slovenian neo-corporatism and the welfare state, focusing on long-term care. As corporatism is a struggle against capital, but within the structures of capitalism, it is unable to resist the extension of capitalist relations to the welfare state. However, this extension was expected to have only a limited impact on the public sector, namely increasing the quality and diversity of services. Our analysis shows that a market logic has prevailed throughout the sector. This has significantly reduced the influence of trade unions on the welfare state, which they exchanged for their subordination to capital.V članku obravnavamo odnos med slovenskim neokorporativizmom in socialno državo, pri čemer se osredotočamo na dolgotrajno oskrbo. Ker je korporativizem boj proti kapitalu, vendar znotraj struktur kapitalizma, se ni mogel upreti širjenju kapitalističnih odnosov v socialno državo. Vrh tega se je pričakovalo, da bo širitev imela omejene učinke na javni sektor, da bo zgolj povečala kakovost in raznolikost ponudbe. Naša analiza pokaže, da je v resnici vsilila tržno logiko celotnemu sektorju. Tako so si sindikati zmanjšali vpliv na socialno državo, ki so jo ob vzpostavitvi korporativizma menjali za svojo podreditev kapitalu
Secure Zero Trust Network Access Using Tailscale Overlay
No full textVarnost računalniških omrežij je v sodobnem času izjemno pomembna, saj se
število kibernetskih napadov na podjetja in posameznike nenehno povečuje. Razvijajo
se številni varnostni mehanizmi, ki zagotavljajo zaščito omrežij, vendar se
pogosto pojavi težava, da stara strojna in programska oprema teh mehanizmov
ne podpira. Namen zaključnega dela je prikazati, kako je mogoče z uporabo pristopa
ZTNA zaščititi starejšo omrežno opremo, ki sama po sebi nima sodobnih
varnostnih funkcij. V okviru naloge je bil uporabljen usmerjevalnik Linksys kot
primer starejše naprave, za vzpostavitev okolja ZTNA pa Raspberry Pi, ki je
deloval kot posrednik ZTNA. Z uporabo orodja Tailscale je bilo vzpostavljeno
prekrivno omrežje, v katerem lahko naprave komunicirajo le, če so preverjene in
vključene v to omrežje. Raspberry Pi je bil povezan na domače omrežje prek
usmerjevalnika TP-Link, kar je omogočilo povezljivost z internetom in delovanje
okolja ZTNA. Delovanje sistema je bilo preizkušeno z dvema praktičnima demonstracijama.
Prva je vključevala uporabo aplikacije IP spletna kamera, s katero
je bila preverjena varna povezava med napravami v različnih omrežjih. Druga
pa je prikazala varno komunikacijo industrijskega protokola Modbus TCP, pri
čemer sta bila strežnik in odjemalec simulirana v terminalih Putty. Rezultati so
pokazali, da je mogoče tudi starejše naprave uspešno vključiti v varno omrežno
okolje brez njihove posodobitve. S tem pristopom se izboljša varnost dostopa do
naprav v omrežju, hkrati pa se zmanjša potreba po nakupu nove strojne opreme.In modern times, network security has become critically important, as the number
of cyberattacks targeting both companies and individuals continues to increase.
Numerous security mechanisms have been developed to protect networkshowever,
a common challenge arises when legacy hardware and software lack support
for these modern solutions. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate how
older network devices can be protected using the ZTNA approach, even when
they do not possess advanced built-in security features. In this project, a Linksys
router was used as an example of legacy equipment, while a Raspberry Pi acted
as a ZTNA gateway. The Tailscale tool was used to establish an overlay network
in which devices can communicate only if they are authenticated and part
of the same network. The Raspberry Pi was connected to the home network
through a TP-Link router, providing internet access and enabling the operation
of the ZTNA environment. The functionality of the system was verified through
two practical demonstrations. The first involved the IP Webcam application,
confirming secure communication between devices in different network segments.
The second showcased the secure transmission of the Modbus TCP industrial
communication protocol, with the server and client simulated in separate Putty
terminals. The results demonstrate that even older devices can be successfully integrated
into a secure network environment without hardware upgrades, thereby
improving network access security and reducing the need for new equipment
carboxylate chain length and additional ligands
No full textIzvedla sem sinteze v različnih sistemih z bakrovimi(2+) ioni in s tremi vrstami anionskih alifatskih karboksilatov (propanoat L, heksanoat L in nonanoat L), ki se razlikujejo po dolžini verige. Vsem sem dodala tudi eno piridinsko spojino, nikotinamid L, 3-hidroksipiridin L, 2-hidroksipiridin L in 2-aminopiridin L. Vse te sinteze so bile opravljene pri treh različnih koncentracijah v vodi. Uporabila sem IR spektroskopijo za analizo produktov. Največ trdne snovi z najboljšimi izkoristki se je izločilo pri uporabi L. Spojina [Cu(L)(L)]n je že bila opisana. Pri L se je trdni produkt s tem piridinskim ligandom izločil le pri propanoatu L pri najvišji uporabljeni koncentraciji. Uporaba L in L vodi do produktov s temi molekulami, ki pa se spreminjajo glede na koncentracijo in dolžino verige. Za nanos, ki bi se najmanj spreminjal ob prisotnosti dodatne vode, se najbolje izkaže nonanoatni anion L ob L.Syntheses in several systems with copper(2+) ions and three types of aliphatic carboxylate anions (propanoate L, hexanoate L, and nonanoate L), differing in chain length, were carried out. One pyridine-type compound was also added to each of them, namely nicotinamide L, 3-hydroxypyridine L, 2-hydroxypyridine L, and 2-aminopyridine L. All these syntheses were carried out at three different aqueous concentrations. IR spectroscopy was used to analyze the solid products. The best yields were obtained using L. One of these compounds with formula [Cu(L)(L)]n has already been described. The solid product with L pyridine ligand was obtained only with propanoate L at the highest concentration applied. On the other hand, the remaining L and L molecules are also found within the solid products, however, their compositions vary depending on concentration and the aliphatic chain length. An application of these copper compounds for coating at a presence of additional water, the nonanoate anion L in combination with L seems to be the optimal solution
Razvijanje konceptualnega programerskega znanja pri študentih pedagoških smeri računalništva
No full textThis study examines how students enrolled in a two-subject teacher programme (computer science and mathematics) at the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, develop a conceptual understand-ing of programming knowledge through the implementation, recognition and explanation of programming patterns. Based on over 500 programming solutions completed by first- and second-year students, we focus on four foundational patterns: linear search, guarded search, counting and extreme values. The study involved 70 students across different phases, with 17 of them tracked longitudinally over three to four years, examining their ability to recognise programming patterns, explain underlying logic and design related tasks. The results show that the students gradually improved their use of programming patterns, initially producing many redundant or incorrect solutions, which over time shifted towards correct implementations. However, this development was uneven across pattern types and programming constructs. Tasks involving while loops and guarded searches initially proved more challenging, with higher rates of incorrect or redundant solutions in the early phases. A consistent finding across all of the student groups was a substantial gap between the students’ ability to implement patterns and their ability to explain them conceptually. This demonstrates that for loop implementation skills do not automatically transfer to conceptual understanding, especially for more complex cases like guarded search and extreme values. This finding is particularly concerning for prospective educators. Importantly, explanation ability strongly predicted task design quality, underscoring the fact that conceptual mastery directly supports pedagogical competence. These findings highlight the need for explicit instruction on programming patterns in teacher education, not only to support correct implementation but also to build deeper explanatory and pedagogical skills. Emphasising patterns as conceptual tools can help future educators better analyse code, anticipate student difficulties and design effective, pattern-based programming tasks.V raziskavi preučujemo, kako študentje študijskega programa Dvopredmetni učitelj, smer računalništvo in matematika, na Pedagoški fakulteti Univerze v Ljubljani razvijajo konceptualno programersko znanje skozi implementacijo, prepoznavanje in razlago programskih vzorcev. Na podlagi več kot 500 programskih rešitev študentov prvega in drugega letnika se osredinjamo na štiri temeljne programske vzorce: linearno iskanje, zaščiteno linearno iskanje, štetje in iskanje ekstremnih vrednosti. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 70 študentov17 smo jih spremljali longitudinalno (od tri do štiri leta) ter analizirali njihovo zmožnost prepoznavanja in razlage logike delovanja izbranih programskih vzorcev ter oblikovanja nalog, ki pri reševanju zahtevajo njihovo uporabo. Izsledki kažejo, da so študentje postopoma izboljševali uporabo programskih vzorcev: v začetnih fazah so pogosto reševali naloge z odvečnimi deli kode ali napačnimi rešitvami, s časom pa so prehajali k pravilnim implementacijam. Napredek je bil neenakomeren med različnimi programskimi vzorci in uporabljenimi programerskimi konstrukti. Naloge, ki so vključevale uporabo zanke »while« pri zaščitenem linearnem iskanju, so se izkazale za zahtevnejše, saj so v zgodnjih fazah pogosteje vodile v napačne rešitve ali odvečne dele kode. Kljub izboljšavam pri implementaciji se je pri vseh skupinah študentov pokazal razkorak med tem, kar znajo implementirati s programsko kodo, in tem, kar znajo konceptualno razložiti. To kaže, da pravilna uporaba programskega konstrukta, na primer zanke »for«, še ne zagotavlja razumevanja ideje koncepta programskega vzorca, kar je še zlasti očitno pri zahtevnejših vzorcih, kot sta zaščiteno linearno iskanje in iskanje ekstremnih vrednosti. Zavedanje obstoja tega razkoraka je pri bodočih učiteljih še posebej pomembno. Poleg tega se je pokazalo, da ima sposobnost razlage delovanja programskega vzorca močen vpliv na kakovost oblikovanih nalog. To potrjuje, da konceptualno razumevanje neposredno podpira razvoj pedagoških kompetenc. Rezultati raziskave kažejo, da bi bilo v izobraževanju učiteljev računalništva smiselno bolj eksplicitno vključiti poučevanje programskih vzorcev. S tem bi prispevali k njihovi pravilni implementaciji, prav tako pa bi spodbujali globlje konceptualno razumevanje in s tem povezanih pedagoških kompetenc. Umeščanje programskih vzorcev kot konceptualnih orodij v programe pedagoških smeri računalništva lahko bodočim učiteljem omogoči natančnejšo analizo kode, boljše predvidevanje pogostih učnih težav in oblikovanje učinkovitih, na vzorcih temelječih programerskih nalog
Analysis of business results of the selected public enterprise
No full textDiplomsko delo obravnava poslovno uspešnost socialnega podjetja Center ponovne uporabe, d. o. o., so. p. (CPU), ki deluje na področju krožnega gospodarstva. Namen raziskave je analizirati letna poročila CPU za obdobje 2019–2024 ter s tem preveriti ekonomsko učinkovitost in uspešnost poslovanja podjetja, ki združuje družbene in okoljske cilje. Za dosego ciljev so uporabljene kvantitativne metode, predvsem matematična metoda za izračun kazalnikov ekonomičnosti, donosnosti in produktivnosti ter statistična metoda za analizo trendov in primerjavo rezultatov med leti. Podatki so bili pridobljeni iz letnih poročil, analiza pa je podprta z grafičnimi prikazi.
Rezultati raziskave kažejo, da je CPU v obdobju 2019–2024 ohranjal ali izboljševal svojo gospodarnost, saj je kazalnik ekonomičnosti vedno presegal vrednost 1. Donosnost je v tem obdobju izrazito rasla, zlasti ROA in ROE, kar kaže na izboljšano uporabo sredstev in kapitala. Produktivnost zaposlenih se je skoraj podvojila, kar nakazuje učinkovitejše poslovne procese. Uporabnost rezultatov se kaže v potrditvi, da socialno podjetje lahko uspešno povezuje ekonomske in družbene cilje, kar prispeva k trajnostnemu razvoju. Raziskava opozarja na pomen nadaljnjega spremljanja stroškov in produktivnosti ter predlaga vlaganja v digitalizacijo, inovacije in krepitev sodelovanja z lokalnimi skupnostmi. Rezultati prispevajo k razumevanju poslovanja socialnih podjetij in podpirajo dobre prakse v krožnem gospodarstvu, kar ima pozitiven vpliv na okolje in družbo.This thesis analyses the business performance of the social enterprise Center ponovne uporabe d. o. o., so. p. (CPU), which operates in the field of circular economy. The aim of the research was to analyse CPU’s annual reports from 2019 to 2024, focusing on key financial indicators of efficiency and performance, and to assess whether the company effectively combines economic, social, and environmental goals. To achieve the objectives, quantitative methods were applied, including mathematical methods for calculating indicators of economy, profitability, and productivity, and statistical methods for analysing trends and comparing results over the years. Data were obtained from the company’s annual reports, supported by graphical representations.
The results show that CPU maintained or improved its economy, with the indicator value consistently above 1. Profitability increased significantly, especially ROA and ROE, indicating better utilization of assets and equity. Employee productivity almost doubled, suggesting more efficient business processes. The practical contribution of this research lies in demonstrating that a social enterprise can successfully integrate economic and social objectives, thus supporting sustainable development. The findings emphasize the importance of continuous cost control and productivity monitoring and recommend investments in digitalization, innovation, and cooperation with local communities. The results contribute to a better understanding of social enterprise operations and support best practices in the circular economy, with a positive impact on the environment and society
Magnetic field-driven strategies for biofilm disruption
No full textBiofilms, structured communities of microbial cells embedded in extracellular polymeric substances, are notorious for their resilience against conventional antimicrobial treatments. They contribute significantly to chronic infections and industrial biofouling, necessitating innovative strategies for their eradication. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles have emerged as a promising tool in combating biofilms due to their biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties, which enable magnetic delivery of antibacterial agents, magnetic hyperthermia, magneto-mechanical actuation including mechanical biofilm disruption, and reversible dynamic magnetic assembly into hierarchical structures. This review describes developing stages of magnetic nanoscale weapons against biofilms ranging from individual iron oxide nanoparticles to complex hierarchical nanoparticle assemblies in the form of magnetic robots and their swarms. A vast array of possible antibiofilm and antibacterial functionalities originating from iron ions, individual iron oxide nanoparticles, spherical nanoparticle assemblies, magnetic robots, and swarms of robots are presented. Magnetic nanotools offer significant improvements and advantages over conventional methods for biofilm eradication, yet their successful future applications depend on addressing and overcoming critical material, biological, and engineering challenges