Kristal University

In today’s media environment, young people encounter the challenge of navigating an intricate ecosystem filled with misinformation and disinformation. As the digital landscape continues to expand, the ability to critically evaluate news and information has become essential. Media literacy plays a pivotal role in equipping students with critical thinking skills to assess media content, identify biases, and discern credible information from falsehoods. This study investigates the application of critical thinking skills in media literacy among university students through a comprehensive survey. The survey assesses students’ tendencies to analyse context, identify dependencies between diverse information sources, and interpret nuances in media content. Results indicate a significant proportion of students actively engage in higher-level critical thinking processes. However, a notable segment remains neutral or less engaged, highlighting opportunities for targeted educational interventions. The findings underscore the importance of fostering media literacy and critical thinking skills within higher education to enhance students’ ability to navigate complex media environments effectively.

Background:Knee Osteoarthritis is an important cause of discomfort and invalidity among patients. It is usually treated with NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) and analgesics, but in some cases, it is difficult to treat patients who develop recurrent synovitis. Methotrexate is the most common DMARD (disease modifying anti-rheumatism drugs) used in rheumatic inflammatory diseases, and may be used in cases with knee osteoarthritis, resistant to NSAIDs treatment[1].Objectives:The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Methotrexate in recurrent knee synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis, in terms of pain reduction and ultrasound-proven synovitis remission.Methods:This study was conducted over a period of 4 years. It consists of 145 patients with knee osteoarthritis complicated with knee synovitis. The population was divided into 2 groups: the control group consisted of 45 patients with recurrent knee synovitis secondary to osteoarthritis, treated with naproxen (2x 250 mg/daily) and acetaminophen (2x 500mg/daily) daily for 6 months. The case group included 100 patients treated with naproxen, acetaminophen, and Methotrexate 10mg per week plus Folic acid 10 mg per week, for 6 months. Hepatitis B, C and HIV were excluded in every patient in which Methotrexate was started. Patients with high transaminases and chronic kidney disease were excluded. None of the patients had concomitant Rheumatoid Arthritis. Each patient was evaluated with knee ultrasound and was followed up for 6 months and asked about their pain. It was considered in remission for every patient, whose US exam revealed none/minimal Doppler signal, and no excessive fluid was detected. Pain score and synovitis presence in every patient at the end of 6 months therapy and was compared to the time of the beginning of therapy.Results:After gathering and evaluating our data, it was seen that, in the control group, 17 out of 45 patients achieved US-proven synovitis remission (37.8%), while in the case group, 71 out of 100 patients achieved remission (71%). The Chi square test was applied in this study. Statistical analysis shows that there exists a significant statistical difference between two groups regarding synovitis remission (p < 0.05). Regarding pain score, after 6 months of therapy, in the control group, 26 out of 45 (57.8%) patients achieved a pain score < 5/10, meanwhile in the case group, 83 out of 100 patients (83%) achieved a pain score < 5/10. Statistical analysis shows that there exists a significant difference between two groups regarding pain scale (p < 0.05).Control Group (Naproxen + Acetaminophen)Case Group (Methotrexate + Naproxen + Acetaminophen)Synovitis Remission (%)37.871.0Pain Score (<5/10) (%)57.883.0Chi Squared Statistic (χ2)-19.92Critical Chi Squared Value-3.841Conclusions-Significant DifferenceConclusion:Based on the results of our study, it appears that the addition of Methotrexate to the treatment regimen of patients with knee osteoarthritis complicated by recurrent synovitis is associated with a higher likelihood of achieving synovitis remission and a pain score < 5/10 compared to treatment with naproxen and acetaminophen alone. This effect was evident in terms of ultrasound exams and in clinical outcomes.REFERENCES:[1] Zhu, Z., Yu, Q., Leng, X. et al. Can low-dose methotrexate reduce effusion-synovitis and symptoms in patients with mid- to late-stage knee osteoarthritis? Study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. Trials 21, 795 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04687-3.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The 30th Albanian Surgical Conference (ACS 2023) and the 7th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ACTES 2023) represent a significant milestone in the medical community. These concurrent events provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, collaboration, and the advancement of surgical science in Albania.&#x0D; ACS 2023 &amp; ACTES 2023 gather experts, scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts from the field of surgery, both in traumatic and non-traumatic areas, in the vibrant city of Tirana. The comprehensive program encompasses a diverse range of surgical topics, from abdominal and chest injuries to vascular injuries, emergency surgery, and the challenge of nurse services in the new millennium.&#x0D; The theme of this year's events, "Surgery and not only...," reflects the commitment to innovation, best practices, and groundbreaking discoveries. The programs include plenary sessions with renowned experts, scientific presentations, panel discussions, networking opportunities, an industry exhibition, poster awards, cultural and social activities, and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits.&#x0D; Participants can expect a professionally enriching experience that also offers personal rewards. ACS 2023 &amp; ACTES 2023 value the role of each attendee in contributing to the advancement of surgical knowledge and patient care. The events promise to chart new horizons in the field of surgery and foster international collaboration.&#x0D; The 30th Albanian Surgical Conference and the 7th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery are poised to create lasting memories, and their success hinges on the active participation of every attendee. It is an opportunity to inspire, collaborate, and make a lasting impact on surgical care worldwide.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Policy makers in the US are increasingly concerned that greater use of the Medicare hospice benefit by people with dementia is driving up costs. Yet this perspective fails to incorporate potential cost savings associated with hospice. We estimated the association between hospice use by people with dementia and health care costs, using Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data from the period 2002-19. For community-dwelling people with dementia, Medicare costs were lower for those who used hospice than for those who did not, whether hospice enrollment was in the last three days ($2,200) or last three months ($7,200) of life, primarily through lower inpatient care costs in the last days of life. In nursing homes, total and Medicare costs were lower for hospice users with dementia who enrolled within a month of death than for those who did not use hospice. Total costs for the entire last year of life for those who used any days of hospice in the last year compared with no hospice did not differ, although Medicare costs were higher and Medicaid costs lower for those in nursing homes. Medicare policies that reduce hospice access and incentivize hospice disenrollment may actually increase Medicare costs, given that hospice cost savings generally derive from a person's last days or weeks of life.

March 29 2023 Leonardo@Djerassi 2022: Gallery Krista DeNio, Krista DeNio Krista DeNio Email: krista@movingground.org Web: https://movingground.org/ Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Brian House, Brian House Brian House Email: bhouse@amherst.edu. Web: https://brianhouse.net/. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Haein Kang, Haein Kang Haein Kang Email: studio@haeinkang.com. Web: https://www.haeinkang.com/ Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Mark Mayer, Mark Mayer Mark Mayer Email: mark.g.mayer@gmail.com Web: www.markgmayer.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Lisa Rosenberg, Lisa Rosenberg Lisa Rosenberg Email: lrconsulting@me.com Web: http://www.lisarosenberg.com/ Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Jenifer Wightman Jenifer Wightman Jenifer Wightman Email: audiblewink@gmail.com Web: http://www.mudpaintings.com Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Scholar Author and Article Information Krista DeNio Krista DeNio Email: krista@movingground.org Web: https://movingground.org/ Brian House Brian House Email: bhouse@amherst.edu. Web: https://brianhouse.net/. Haein Kang Haein Kang Email: studio@haeinkang.com. Web: https://www.haeinkang.com/ Mark Mayer Mark Mayer Email: mark.g.mayer@gmail.com Web: www.markgmayer.com Lisa Rosenberg Lisa Rosenberg Email: lrconsulting@me.com Web: http://www.lisarosenberg.com/ Jenifer Wightman Jenifer Wightman Email: audiblewink@gmail.com Web: http://www.mudpaintings.com Online ISSN: 1530-9282 Print ISSN: 0024-094X © ISAST2023ISAST Leonardo 226–230. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02375 Cite Icon Cite Permissions Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Search Site Citation Krista DeNio, Brian House, Haein Kang, Mark Mayer, Lisa Rosenberg, Jenifer Wightman; Leonardo@Djerassi 2022: Gallery. Leonardo 2023; doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_a_02375 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll JournalsLeonardo Search Advanced Search This content is only available as a PDF. © ISAST2023ISAST Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

The environmental situation in the world is only getting worse every year. This is caused by an increase in air pollution, wastewater pollution, wood burning, and others. Since 2013, ammonia emissions by European Union companies have increased significantly. This was facilitated, among other things, using synthetic pesticides. That is why the transition of agriculture to organic farming standards can be considered a good alternative. The aim of the study was to analyse the effectiveness of combining known organic pesticides in one biogeocenosis. A combined treatment of the vegetable crop Brassica oleracea with such biological pesticides as Bacillus thuringiensis and pyrethrin, combined with mass pest trapping, is proposed in the research. When combining these three approaches, the efficiency was 93%. The total crop yield was 27 tons/ha, while the area of the field where pheromone and yellow sticky traps were used had a yield of 34 tons/ha. These methods were effective against the following pests: Ceutorhynchus rapae, Aleyrodes proletella, and Brevicoryne brassicae. Leaf damage was reduced by 93% on average during the study period when using the combined approach. During the two-year research, it was possible to neutralize 1882 insects by mass trapping and find out that the largest number of Ceutorhynchus rapae affect the crop in May and August, but the use of pheromone traps is most effective in October. The combination of individual methods increased the effectiveness of each method due to the synchronized impact on different pests. Increasing vegetable yields in Albania in the future can also solve the problem of hunger in countries with unfavourable climatic conditions by increasing the export of these crops

Abstract Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) distinguish for their low cost nature that makes them very attractive for providing wireless Internet connectivity. Such infrastructures can be used to deploy community networks, metropolitan area networks, municipal and corporative networks, and to support applications for urban areas, medical, transport and surveillance systems. The main issues in WMNs are achievement of network connectivity and stability as well as QoS in terms of user coverage. In this paper, we deal with the effect of changes in population size and number of generations for node placement problem in WMNs for Normal distribution of mesh clients. We consider two population sizes 8 and 512 and for every population size the number of generations are 200 and 20,000. As evaluation metrics we used size of giant component and number of covered users. The simulation results have shown that the increase of the population size results in better performance. Best results are obtained for the number of generation 20,000. However, when the number of generation is increased, the computation time is also increased.

This is one obituary that I knew I would have to write very soon, but even when I received word of Rukin's (“Rukie” as he known to family and friends) passing, I could not help it—I cried for a lon...

After the fall of communist system in Eastern Europe, international relations have undergone a process of major changes as a result of two main processes: a) the disintegration of former Soviet Union and Former Yugoslavia, and b) the process of integration of former communist countries to EU and NATO.In view of the new situation, countries of former communist bloc are defining the tendencies of future development in order to outline recommendation on the policies of adjustment to the new models of regional and global security.Early challenges of global security, during four decades of the Cold War, were the defense of the sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of threat of the Soviet army.Geopolitical and geostrategic changes that swept Eastern Europe after the fall of communism were accompanied by interethnic tensions and conflict.By now, the concept of security is broader and includes the defense of fundamental values and principles of democratic systems.