Moldova State University

• We analyzed four new Ediacaran communities from the ca. 567–539 Ma Moldova-Podillia Basin. • Spatial analysis can be used to infer ecological processes from spatial patterns. • A diverse range of dispersal and environmental processes affected Beltanelliformis. • These results contrast to those for Avalonian taxa, which exhibit consistent ecological dynamics. Discoidal fossils are some of the most abundant and widespread Ediacaran taxa found in many different environments throughout the late Ediacaran (580–539 Ma). They have a wide range of suggested affinities including microbial colonies, medusae, and the holdfasts of frondose taxa, including putative algal/bacterial discoidal taxa, such as Beltanelliformis and Nemiana , which are often found in large abundance in monospecific clusters. From their spatial patterns, we can infer the underlying biological and ecological processes governing their community ecology. Here, we analyzed four new Ediacaran communities from the ca. 567–539 Ma Moldova-Podillya Basin, with Vălcineț Area A and B, in the nearshore to shallow-marine environments, Cosăuți in the lower-energy marine environment, and Egoreni in the shallow-marine conditions (2352 specimens over 11.46 m 2 ), as well as previously described two communities (196 specimens over 1.80 m 2 ) from Kolesnikov (2022) data and 121 specimens over 0.46 m 2 from Leonov (2007) data from the Central Urals and the White Sea areas, respectively. These communities exhibited different community dynamics, with strong cluster orientation and dispersal processes in the Vălcineț and South Urals communities, in contrast to the strong association with habitat patchiness for the Cosăuți, Egoreni and White Sea area communities. Our results suggest two alternative drivers for Beltanelliformis communities, those controlled by dispersal in currents and those in a weaker flow by substrate patchiness. The White Sea assemblage Ediacaran biota show variation in environmental and dispersal dynamics and thus contrast with Avalonian assemblage Ediacaran biota, which show consistent drivers across large spatial and temporal scales.

Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, faces significant geohazard challenges due to its unique geological setting on loess-covered plateaus dissected by river valleys and ravines. Urban expansion and infrastructure development have intensified landslide susceptibility in this region, threatening residential areas, transportation networks, and critical infrastructure. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of urban landslides in Chișinău using Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) technique applied to Sentinel-1 satellite data spanning the last five years (2019-2025).The PS-InSAR methodology provides millimeter-level precision in detecting and monitoring ground deformation over time, making it particularly suitable for identifying slow-moving landslides and ground subsidence in urban environments. We processed ascending and descending Sentinel-1 SAR imagery to generate time-series deformation maps and identify persistent scatterers across the Chișinău metropolitan area. The analysis revealed multiple zones of significant ground displacement, with deformation rates ranging from -15 to +25 mm/year, concentrated primarily in areas with steep terrain, proximity to water courses, and urban development on historically unstable slopes.The susceptibility map derived from our analysis indicates high-risk zones in the northern and western sectors of Chișinău, particularly around suburb localities Vatra, Ghidighici, and Durlești, where loesslike deposits on valley slopes are subjected to both natural erosion processes and anthropogenic pressures. The southeastern areas near locality Bubuieci also show elevated landslide susceptibility, correlating with urban expansion into previously undeveloped terrain. Integration of PS-InSAR results with geological maps, digital elevation models, and land-use data enabled the development of a comprehensive landslide susceptibility assessment framework.Key findings reveal that ground deformation patterns in Chișinău exhibit strong seasonal variations, with accelerated movement during spring months corresponding to snowmelt and precipitation events. Urban infrastructure, including roads, buildings, and utilities, located within identified high-risk zones, shows structural damage consistent with slow-moving landslide activity. The study identifies critical infrastructure corridors, including major transportation routes (E583, E581) traversing the study area, that require enhanced monitoring and mitigation measures.Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number 40PCBROMD within PNCDI IV.

Purpose of the study: This study aims to develop and validate Flash-based interactive learning media integrated with the K-W-L strategy to enhance eleventh-grade students’ reading comprehension skills and align instructional practices with higher-order cognitive demands reflected in international assessments such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Methodology: This research employed a Research and Development (R&D) design adapted from the Borg and Gall model. The study involved eleventh-grade students in a public senior high school. Data were collected through expert validation sheets, reading comprehension tests (pre-test and post-test), and student response questionnaires. Data analysis included descriptive percentage analysis and N-Gain calculation. Main Findings: The developed media achieved an average expert validation score of 88.18%, categorized as good and feasible for classroom implementation. The effectiveness test showed a mean N-Gain score of 0.51, indicating moderate improvement in students’ reading comprehension. Significant gains were observed in higher-order indicators, including inference-making, interpretation of implicit meaning, and evaluation of contextual information aligned with TIMSS cognitive demands. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study integrates the K-W-L metacognitive strategy systematically within Flash-based interactive media to support analytical reading skills aligned with international assessment competencies. Unlike prior studies focusing solely on strategy use or media feasibility, this research bridges digital instructional design, structured reading strategy, and global literacy challenges in secondary education.

The emergence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous platforms, and artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed military espionage more profoundly than any technologi-cal innovation of the last century. From strategic surveillance conducted at high altitudes to miniature drones operating in urban combat environments, autonomous systems have rede-fined intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Their ability to op-erate for long durations, penetrate hostile areas, and collect multispectral data has shifted the emphasis of military espionage from human-centered operations to machine-driven analysis and remote sensing. This paper examines the evolution of espionage practices in contemporary warfare through the integration of autonomous technologies. It explores three fundamental dimen-sions: (1) the strategic role of long-endurance UAVs capable of persistent monitoring and signals intelligence; (2) the tactical deployment of small, agile drones on the battlefield; (3) the progressive shift toward autonomous decision-making, including target recognition, pattern identification, and predictive analysis through AI. The study also evaluates hybrid systems such as loitering munitions-platforms that merge reconnaissance with precision strike ca-pabilities. Beyond technical aspects, the paper addresses ethical and legal challenges associat-ed with the use of autonomous surveillance tools. The deployment of drones without pilot risk reduces political costs, potentially lowering the threshold for conducting cross-border espionage operations. AI-driven interpretation of data introduces concerns regarding algo-rithmic bias, accountability gaps, and the risk of misidentification. The proliferation of commercial drones has further democratized access to aerial surveillance, making it avail-able not only to states but also to non-state actors and irregular groups. Ultimately, the paper argues that drones and autonomous systems enhance the preci-sion, speed, and scope of intelligence collection. However, their growing use calls for up-dated international regulations, transparent accountability mechanisms, and increased em-phasis on cyber-security and ethical restrictions. The future of military espionage will likely be determined by the balance between technological innovation, operational necessity, and the protection of fundamental human rights.

This cross-sectional clinical study aimed to explore the untargeted metabolomic and lipidomic profiles in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained from healthy individuals and patients with periodontitis. GCF was collected from 17 periodontally healthy and 19 periodontitis patients. For the unbiased characterisation of positively and negatively charged polar metabolite and lipid compounds, we employed hydrophilic interaction and reversed-phase liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry platforms, followed by a semisupervised deep learning-based approach for metabolomic peak curation and data analysis. A total of 256 metabolites were identified with Metabolomics Standards Initiative (MSI) confidence Levels 1-3, including 198 elevated and 58 diminished compounds in periodontal lesions (q < 0.05, |log2-transformed Fold Change (FC)| > 1). Periodontitis samples exhibited a significant positive accumulation of purine degradation and ceramide metabolites, along with a negative regulation of oxy fatty acids metabolism. Additionally, we observed a significant increase in established periodontitis biomarkers, including N-acetylneuraminic acid, citrulline and 2-pyrrolidineacetic acid. The study also characterised distinct differences in bacterial and fungal metabolite profiles between the healthy and diseased samples. These findings suggest that untargeted metabolomic screening of GCF may significantly improve our understanding of biochemical changes between healthy tissue and periodontitis. This knowledge is pivotal for the development of a precision paradigm in periodontitis.

Interest to the Cu-based kesterite type compounds, as Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) and related materials, is connected to their promising photovoltaic properties, permitting to regard them as a new generation of materials for solar cells, containing mainly low-cost, low-toxic and abundant components. Experimental investigations of their electronic transport during the last decade, including resistivity and magnetoresistance, permitted to collect important data on the electronic properties of these materials. Among them is the concentration of acceptors, connected to the CuZn antisites. In this work, we propose a model to analyze the concentration of such defects, capable to yield interesting information on other types of defects in kesterites. A detailed analysis based on this model is performed in Cu2Zn1–xCdxSnS4, Cu2ZnSnxGe1–xS4, and Cu2ZnGeSe4 single crystals, as well as in CZTS powders and thin films. The data on such defects as Zn atoms outside the Zn sublattice, on the SnZn and GeZn antisites, as well as on the vacancies in the Zn sublattice, have been obtained.

The paper examines the transformations of contemporary marketing through the lens of the trust crisis between companies and consumers, arguing that power should shift from organizations to consumers, with human attention becoming the main economic resource. Despite technological progress, current marketing strategies remain dominated by automation and symbolic manipulation, losing the human dimension of the consumer relationship. The analysis revisits Philip Kotler's principles on the deeply human nature of marketing and identifies five perennial consumer needs: love, belonging, self-interest protection, meaning, and respect. It concludes that the future of marketing belongs to companies capable of replacing persuasion with empathy, control with transparency, and technological performance with relational ethics.

This study deals with the legal regime of the patient's right to damages for non-pecuniary damage (moral or biological) caused by medical malpractice. The Civil Code of the Republic of Moldova introduced a new regulation of treatment services on 1 March 2019, inspired by the Draft Common Frame of Reference of the European Union (DCFR). It regards the patient-provider relationship as a contractual relationship. Therefore, the patient's claim for damages is contractual in nature. At the same time, the Civil Code allows, in this matter, for competing claims, so that the patient can base the same claim on the law of torts. The national case-law on the measure of damages for medical malpractice has not yet been systematized, most likely because it is not abundant. Therefore, local judges should take as a reference point the amount of damages awarded by the local courts in cases unrelated to medical malpractice.