FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS INTEROPERABILITY

The current economic developments have led to substantial changes in terms of how thefinancial and accounting activities are carried. The business environment can be characterized by awidespread consolidation of companies and their grouping in holding companies. Thus, the focus ison consolidation the financial data, and the integration and interoperability of the financial andaccounting applications and also the integrated information systems have a major significance. Withthe development of the Internet, the architecture of the informatics applications has really beenaffected, this resulted in substantial changes in how the solutions are distributed and accessed aswell. The present paper analyses and provides viable solutions for the use of the technologieswhich are applied in the interoperability of the financial and accounting information systems, in thecontext of economic activity globalization. The dynamism and economic processes development in thenew context have generated important researches in the informatics field which had resulted insimplifying the access way to applications (by simply using a Web browser) and also developing theinterconnecting technologies for the financial and accounting information systems – theirinteroperability represents, in fact, the Keyword.On this economic scenery, the financial and accounting information systems become very importantsolutions to integrate different business applications and also to offer a complete perspective for allthe business.SOA (Service Oriented Architecture), Informational Integrated Systems, XML (eXtended MarkupLanguage), Visual Studio .NET, Web Services

Reactive Oxygen Species and Bone Fragility

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key signaling molecules that play an important role in the progression of inflammatory disorders. In the last decade, studies have indicated that ROS, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are crucial components that regulate the differentiation process of osteoclasts. Osteoclasts (OCs), cells specialized for bone resorption, utilize ROS as second messengers during receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced differentiation and activation. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the current understanding of reactive oxygen species involvement in bone pathophysiology

CO2 methanation catalyzed by oriented MoS2 nanoplatelets supported on few layers graphene

[EN] Powders of molybdenum disulfide platelets strongly grafted on graphene have been prepared by pyrolysis of ammonium alginate containing adsorbed various proportions of (NH4)(2)MoS4. After pyrolysis, formation of MoS2 supported on graphene was determined by XRD and electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. MoS2/G exhibits catalytic activity for the methanation of CO2, the performance being optimal at intermediate loadings. The catalytic activity of sharply contrasts with that of bulk MoS2 that promotes the reverse water gas shift, affording CO as the main product. Characterization of the spent MoS2/G catalyst shows the partial conversion of external MoS2 into MoO3. Comparison of the catalytic activity of MoS2/G with that of MoO3/G shows that the latter is less efficient, but more selective for CO2 methanation.Vasile I. Parvulescu kindly acknowledges UEFISCDI for financial support (project PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0146, Nr. 121/2017 and project PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0541). Financial support by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Severo Ochoa and CTQ2015-69653-CO2-R1) and Generalitat Valencia (Prometeo 2017-083) is gratefully acknowledged. A.P. also thanks the Spanish Ministry for a Ramon y Cajal research associate contract.Primo Arnau, AM.; He, J.; Jurca, B.; Cojocaru, B.; Bucur, C.; Parvulescu, VI.; García Gómez, H. (2019). CO2 methanation catalyzed by oriented MoS2 nanoplatelets supported on few layers graphene. Applied Catalysis B Environmental. 245:351-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.12.034S35135924

Can procalcitonin measurement help the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis? A prospective trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Procalcitonin (PCT) is an accurate marker for differentiating bacterial infection from non-infective causes of inflammation or viral infection. However, there is only one study in children which tested procalcitonin as a diagnostic aid in skeletal infections. With this study we sought to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of procalcitonin for identifying bone and joint infection in children evaluated in the emergency department for non traumatic decreased active motion of a skeletal segment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients aged 1 month to 14 years were prospectively included in the emergency department when suspected for osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Procalcitonin levels, C reactiv protein, white blood cell count were measured and bacteriological samples were collected before initiation of antibiotic treatment. Patients were assigned to 3 groups according to the degree of suspected infection: group 1 confirmed infection, group 2 presumed infection and group 3 non infected patients.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred thirty nine patients were included (118 girls and 221 boys). Group 1 comprised 8 patients (2 had PCT levels > 0.5 ng/ml). Two had osteomyelitis and 6 septic arthritis. Forty children were incuded in group 2 (4 had PCT levels > 0.5 ng/ml). Eighteen had presumed osteomyelitis and 22 presumed septic arthritis. Group 3 comprised 291 children (9 PCT levels > 0.5 ng/ml) who recovered without antibiotic treatment. The specificity of the PCT as a marker of bacterial infection (comparing Group 1 and Group 3) was 96.9% [95% CI, 94.2-98.6], the sensitivity 25% [95% CI, 3.2-65.1], the positive predictive value (PPV) 18.2% [95% CI, 2.3-51.8] and the negative predictive value (NPV) 97.9% [95% CI, 95.5-99.2].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PCT is not a good screening test for identifying skeletal infection in children. Larger studies are needed to evaluate still more the place of PCT measurements in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.</p

Romanian ancient gold objects provenance studies using micro-beam methods: the case of "Pietroasa" hoard

Abstract Five fragments of ancient gold objects belonging to Pietroasa "Closca cu Puii de Aur" ("The Golden Brood Hen with Its Chickens") Romanian hoard were analysed using the micro-PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) technique. The purpose of the study was to gain some more knowledge regarding the metal provenance by determining the presence of PGE (Platinum Group Elements) and other high-temperature melting point trace elements (Ta, Nb, Cr) at a micrometric scale. Ta and Nb inclusions (micrometric areas of composition different from the surroundings) on three samples and Pd inclusions on one sample were found. The measurements led to some conclusions for the possible gold ore sources of Pietroasa treasury: the South-Ural Mountains, Nubia (Sudan) and/or Anatolian deposits and Roman imperial coins

Engineering active sites on reduced graphene oxide by hydrogen plasma irradiation: mimicking bifunctional metal/supported catalysts in hydrogenation reactions

[EN] H2 plasma has been used to generate carbon vacancies on reduced graphene oxide to increase its catalytic activity as a hydrogenation catalyst. A relationship between the power of the plasma treatment and the exposure time with the activity of the material was observed for CvC double bond hydrogenation. The activity data in the case of 1-octene, showing skeletal isomerization besides hydrogenation, indicate that H2 plasma treatment can introduce hydrogenating and acid sites rendering a bifunctional catalyst that is reminiscent of the activity of noble metals supported on acid supports.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Severo Ochoa, CTQ2015-69563-CO2-R1 and Grapas) is gratefully acknowledged. AP thanks the Ministry for a Ramon y Cajal research associate contract. AFG thanks the Center of Supercomputing of Galicia (CESGA) for the computational facilities. MM acknowledges financial support from the PN 16 47 01 04 project. VIP kindly acknowledges UEFISCDI for financial support (project PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0146, No. 121/2017).Primo Arnau, AM.; Franconetti, A.; Magureanu, M.; Mandache, NB.; Bucur, C.; Rizescu, C.; Cojocaru, B.... (2018). Engineering active sites on reduced graphene oxide by hydrogen plasma irradiation: mimicking bifunctional metal/supported catalysts in hydrogenation reactions. Green Chemistry. 20(11):2611-2623. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7gc03397dS261126232011Grondal, C., Jeanty, M., & Enders, D. (2010). Organocatalytic cascade reactions as a new tool in total synthesis. Nature Chemistry, 2(3), 167-178. doi:10.1038/nchem.539Stephan, D. W., & Erker, G. (2009). Frustrated Lewis Pairs: Metal-free Hydrogen Activation and More. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 49(1), 46-76. doi:10.1002/anie.200903708Thomas, A., Fischer, A., Goettmann, F., Antonietti, M., Müller, J.-O., Schlögl, R., & Carlsson, J. M. (2008). 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Chemical Reviews, 114(12), 6179-6212. doi:10.1021/cr4007347Zhang, J., Qu, L., Shi, G., Liu, J., Chen, J., & Dai, L. (2015). N,P-Codoped Carbon Networks as Efficient Metal-free Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 55(6), 2230-2234. doi:10.1002/anie.201510495Kong, X., Sun, Z., Chen, M., Chen, C., & Chen, Q. (2013). Metal-free catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by N-doped graphene. Energy & Environmental Science, 6(11), 3260. doi:10.1039/c3ee40918jHu, H., Xin, J. H., Hu, H., & Wang, X. (2015). Structural and mechanistic understanding of an active and durable graphene carbocatalyst for reduction of 4-nitrophenol at room temperature. Nano Research, 8(12), 3992-4006. doi:10.1007/s12274-015-0902-zTrandafir, M.-M., Florea, M., Neaţu, F., Primo, A., Parvulescu, V. I., & García, H. (2016). Graphene from Alginate Pyrolysis as a Metal-Free Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Nitro Compounds. ChemSusChem, 9(13), 1565-1569. doi:10.1002/cssc.201600197Primo, A., Neatu, F., Florea, M., Parvulescu, V., & Garcia, H. (2014). Graphenes in the absence of metals as carbocatalysts for selective acetylene hydrogenation and alkene hydrogenation. Nature Communications, 5(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms6291Primo, A., Parvulescu, V., & Garcia, H. (2016). Graphenes as Metal-Free Catalysts with Engineered Active Sites. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 8(1), 264-278. doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01996Son, S., Holroyd, C., Clough, J., Horn, A., Koehler, S. P. K., & Casiraghi, C. (2016). Substrate dependence of graphene reactivity towards hydrogenation. Applied Physics Letters, 109(24), 243103. doi:10.1063/1.4971385Tang, C., & Zhang, Q. (2017). Nanocarbon for Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis: Dopants, Edges, and Defects. Advanced Materials, 29(13), 1604103. doi:10.1002/adma.201604103Tang, C., Wang, H.-F., Chen, X., Li, B.-Q., Hou, T.-Z., Zhang, B., … Wei, F. (2016). 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A., Piner, R. D., Kohlhaas, K. A., Kleinhammes, A., Jia, Y., … Ruoff, R. S. (2007). Synthesis of graphene-based nanosheets via chemical reduction of exfoliated graphite oxide. Carbon, 45(7), 1558-1565. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2007.02.034Su, C., Acik, M., Takai, K., Lu, J., Hao, S., Zheng, Y., … Ping Loh, K. (2012). Probing the catalytic activity of porous graphene oxide and the origin of this behaviour. Nature Communications, 3(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms2315Gholami, J., Manteghian, M., Badiei, A., Ueda, H., & Javanbakht, M. (2015). N-butylamine functionalized graphene oxide for detection of iron(III) by photoluminescence quenching. Luminescence, 31(1), 229-235. doi:10.1002/bio.2950Zhang, C., Dabbs, D. M., Liu, L.-M., Aksay, I. A., Car, R., & Selloni, A. (2015). Combined Effects of Functional Groups, Lattice Defects, and Edges in the Infrared Spectra of Graphene Oxide. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 119(32), 18167-18176. doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b02727Chu, H. Y., Rosynek, M. P., & Lunsford, J. H. (1998). Skeletal Isomerization of Hexane over Pt/H-Beta Zeolites: Is the Classical Mechanism Correct? Journal of Catalysis, 178(1), 352-362. doi:10.1006/jcat.1998.2136EBITANI, K. (1991). Skeletal isomerization of hydrocarbons over zirconium oxide promoted by Platinum and Sulfate Ion. Journal of Catalysis, 130(1), 257-267. doi:10.1016/0021-9517(91)90108-gSazama, P., Pastvova, J., Rizescu, C., Tirsoaga, A., Parvulescu, V. I., Garcia, H., … Blechta, V. (2018). Catalytic Properties of 3D Graphene-Like Microporous Carbons Synthesized in a Zeolite Template. ACS Catalysis, 8(3), 1779-1789. doi:10.1021/acscatal.7b04086Oubal, M., Picaud, S., Rayez, M.-T., & Rayez, J.-C. (2012). Structure and reactivity of carbon multivacancies in graphene. Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, 990, 159-166. doi:10.1016/j.comptc.2012.01.008Gürel, H. H., Özçelik, V. O., & Ciraci, S. (2014). Dissociative Adsorption of Molecules on Graphene and Silicene. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(47), 27574-27582. doi:10.1021/jp509260cChase, P. A., & Stephan, D. W. (2008). Hydrogen and Amine Activation by a Frustrated Lewis Pair of a Bulky N-Heterocyclic Carbene and B(C6F5)3. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 47(39), 7433-7437. doi:10.1002/anie.200802596Cheng, G.-J., Zhang, X., Chung, L. W., Xu, L., & Wu, Y.-D. (2015). Computational Organic Chemistry: Bridging Theory and Experiment in Establishing the Mechanisms of Chemical Reactions. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 137(5), 1706-1725. doi:10.1021/ja5112749Coman, S. M., Podolean, I., Tudorache, M., Cojocaru, B., Parvulescu, V. I., Puche, M., & Garcia, H. (2017). Graphene oxide as a catalyst for the diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation in the synthesis of prostaglandin derivatives. Chemical Communications, 53(74), 10271-10274. doi:10.1039/c7cc05105

Graphene oxide as a catalyst for the diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation in the synthesis of prostaglandin derivatives

[EN] Modification of GO by organic molecules changes its catalytic activity in the hydrogen transfer from i-propanol to enones, affecting the selectivity to allyl alcohol and diastereoselectivity to the resulting stereoisomers. It is noteworthy the system does not contain metals and is recyclable.Coman, SM.; Podolean, I.; Tudorache, M.; Cojocaru, B.; Parvulescu, VI.; Puche Panadero, M.; García Gómez, H. (2017). Graphene oxide as a catalyst for the diastereoselective transfer hydrogenation in the synthesis of prostaglandin derivatives. Chemical Communications. 53(74):10271-10274. doi:10.1039/c7cc05105kS1027110274537

Overview of Some Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease

Much more specialists are nowadays aligning themselves on the view according to which the prevalence of cardiovascular disease will reach epidemic levels in the near future due to the increase of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Most epidemiological studies indicate that we are confronted with a multiplication of risk factors, with an emphasis on their genetic conditioning as well as an acceleration of the effects generated by non-genetic factors. According to WHO recommendations, the appropriate methods of reducing the cardiovascular risk are those that combine health policies with efficient education measures. Long-term results of these measures aim to decrease the incidence of complications and associated costs with their treatment at the same time with increasing the quality of life. Approximately 50% of deaths from heart disease could be prevented through sustained action on the main cause—hypertension—and by treating risk factors, primarily hyperlipidemia and elevated body weight. Atherosclerotic disease requires a rigorous approach because identifying predisposing risk factors with proven implications in the initiation and progression of this disease, as well as modulation of those with protective role, can have a significant impact in finding an appropriate treatment in order to improve cardiovascular diseases and their consequences

Innovative nanostructured magnetite/wool/polysiloxane composite as magnetic adsorbent for oil spill removal

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of a new nanostructured composite (Wool-$\text{Fe}_3\text{O}_4$-Polysiloxane) aimed to be applied as a magnetic adsorbent for oil spill cleanup. The synthesized composite was characterized by the physical–chemical instrumental techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and VSM). The hysteresis loops from the VSM measurement disclosed a magnetic saturation value of $M_{S}=5.47$ emu/g that was sufficient to induce magnetic properties to the composite material. The produced magnetic adsorbent showing hydrophobic properties was successfully tested for the sorption of petroleum products. Kinetic data of oily liquids retention and dripping were modeled by using the exponential and hyperbolic regression equations with three parameters. The hyperbolic kinetic model suggested higher maximal sorption capacity at time zero ($t=0$), that is, 14.486, 12.896, and 3.501 g/g, for motor oils 15W, 5W, and $n$-dodecane, respectively. The advanced recovery (80–92%) of retained oils from the spent sorbent was done by centrifugation

Innovative nanostructured magnetite/wool/polysiloxane composite as magnetic adsorbent for oil spill removal

We report herein the synthesis and characterization of a new nanostructured composite (Wool-$\text{Fe}_3\text{O}_4$-Polysiloxane) aimed to be applied as a magnetic adsorbent for oil spill cleanup. The synthesized composite was characterized by the physical–chemical instrumental techniques (XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, and VSM). The hysteresis loops from the VSM measurement disclosed a magnetic saturation value of $M_{S}=5.47$ emu/g that was sufficient to induce magnetic properties to the composite material. The produced magnetic adsorbent showing hydrophobic properties was successfully tested for the sorption of petroleum products. Kinetic data of oily liquids retention and dripping were modeled by using the exponential and hyperbolic regression equations with three parameters. The hyperbolic kinetic model suggested higher maximal sorption capacity at time zero ($t=0$), that is, 14.486, 12.896, and 3.501 g/g, for motor oils 15W, 5W, and $n$-dodecane, respectively. The advanced recovery (80–92%) of retained oils from the spent sorbent was done by centrifugation