University North

The current study assessed the physicochemical quality of groundwater from wells in a rural region of northeastern Romania, where local communities depend exclusively on this resource for drinking water. Eighty wells were analyzed in situ for total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, salinity, con-ductivity, redox potential (ORP), and pH. For comparative purposes, similar measurements were conducted on urban water supplies in the cities of Iași and Botoșani, as well as on 14 commercial bottled water brands. The findings revealed critical water quality issues in rural wells, including frequent exceedances of microbiological and chemical thresholds, particularly for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Spatial mapping showed strong variation across parameters, with elevated salinity and low oxygenation most prominent in lowland areas. Bottled water analysis showed a wide range of mineral compositions, influencing their appropriateness for daily consumption. Still waters such as Aqua Carpatica Still and Wonder Still displayed low sodium, calcium, and magnesium concentrations, making them suitable for specific dietary needs. In contrast, highly mineralized waters like Aqua Carpatica Sparkling exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) recommended limits for TDS and salinity. The study also highlighted the insufficient monitoring by local authorities and the lack of comprehensive labelling on bottled water, both of which hinder informed decision-making by consumers. The results emphasize the urgent need for standardized groundwater surveillance, public health initiatives, and improved transparency in bottled water labelling. These findings provide a foundation for future policy actions targeting safe and equitable access to drinking water in rural communities.

Human activities inevitably affect natural ecosystems, the impact of which most often refers to negative factors resulting in the accumulation of toxic elements in environmental components. This study quantified the presence of 12 toxic elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, and Se) in water, soil, and six melliferous plant species across the Republic of Croatia. Sampling sites were classified into four groups according to the dominant anthropogenic impact: agricultural areas, urban and traffic-affected zones, industrial vicinities, and forested hill regions. The results demonstrate the transfer of toxic elements from abiotic matrices into plants, indicating their potential as bioaccumulators. Soil contamination with toxic metals was identified as a relevant ecological risk factor, while contamination of melliferous plants highlights potential implications for human health through the production of honeybee-derived products. Element concentrations in water and soil were determined using three atomic absorption spectrometry techniques (FAAS, GFAAS, and CVAAS), whereas concentrations in floral samples of melliferous plants were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS). The obtained results were interpreted in relation to natural background levels and the current national legislation. Anthropogenic impacts were further evaluated using environmental quality indices and bioaccumulation factors, revealing site-specific contamination patterns of both natural and anthropogenic origin.

This paper examines how business communication culture influences work-related stress and burnout across diverse organizational sectors. Using a quantitative survey of 107 employees and validated instruments such as the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the study analyzes the effects of open, hierarchical, and disorganized communication practices on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and perceived control. Results show that open and transparent communication serves as a protective factor, while hierarchical and disorganized patterns significantly increase misunderstanding frequency, reduce perceived autonomy, and elevate stress. Emotional exhaustion was the most pronounced burnout dimension, particularly in sectors with high interpersonal demands. Findings highlight the mediating role of perceived control and confirm that communication quality is a central predictor of psychological well-being at work. The study contributes to organizational communication research by offering evidence-based recommendations for leadership communication training and structured communication protocols.

Digitalisation represents one of the key processes of modern society and the economy. It refers to the systematic use of digital tech-nologies to improve business processes, increase efficiency, create new value, and provide additional opportunities for generating rev-enue. Digitalisation is changing the way businesses operate, commu-nicate, manage resources, and connect with customers and partners. The European Union recognizes digitalisation as a strategic priority through initiatives aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, skills, and innovation, while Croatia actively participates in these processes by supporting businesses and modernizing the public sector. To inves-tigate the impact of digitalisation on business efficiency, a quantita-tive study was conducted using a survey among logistics companies in northwestern Croatia. The results show that digitalisation positively affects business operations, particularly in warehouse operations, cost management, and employee productivity. The study concludes that continuous investment in digital solutions and employee training is essential for sustaining competitiveness in today’s business environment.

The growing integration of intermittent renewables, especially solar PV, challenges grid stability and limits the operational flexibility of conventional hydropower. Beyond hydrological variability, hydropower is constrained by mandatory ecological flow releases, which restrict its ability to reduce generation during high solar output or ramp up during peak demand due to water scarcity. This paper introduces Ecological Flow Energy Storage (EFES), a cost-effective, environmentally sound solution to enhance grid flexibility. EFES involves building small reservoirs downstream of existing hydropower plants to temporarily store ecological flows. This decouples ecological requirements from electricity generation, enabling hydropower plants to halt generation during solar-rich periods without breaching environmental mandates. Stored water can later be released through upstream turbines during low solar availability or peak demand, effectively turning a regulatory constraint into a strategic energy storage asset. EFES supports better integration of renewables, optimizes hydropower dispatch, and enables economic arbitrage, all while preserving downstream ecological services. In Brazil, the estimated EFES potential is 14.3 GW, with a storage cost that can be ten times lower than battery storage. This paper explores the technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental implications of EFES, highlighting its promise as a scalable, low-cost energy storage solution for modern power systems. • A proposal for increasing the flexibility of hydropower for both ecological and energy services • Downstream micro-reservoirs can decouple hydropower generation from ecological flow. • Enabling hydropeaking to reduce solar curtailment • In Brazil, Ecological Flow Energy Storage can shave ∼14.3 GW peak. • A scalable, low-cost path to integrate VRE via hydropower flexibility

An iridium(III) complex bearing a picolinamidato ligand has been developed as an efficient catalyst for the regioselective C3 alkylation of indoles and oxindoles via a borrowing hydrogen (BH) or hydrogen autotransfer strategy. A broad range of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic alcohols, including diols, are successfully employed under solvent-free (neat) conditions with low catalyst loading, demonstrating excellent functional group tolerance. Significantly, this protocol combines high regioselectivity, atom economy, and operational simplicity by avoiding preactivated alkylating agents, external oxidants, or reductants, thereby advancing sustainable C-C bond-forming methodologies. The method is scalable and provides straightforward access to structurally diverse and biologically relevant indole and oxindole frameworks, which are prevalent motifs in pharmaceuticals and natural products. Control experiments, deuterium labeling studies, and spectroscopic investigations support a classical borrowing hydrogen mechanism involving Ir-hydride intermediates.

Secondary distribution of HIV self-testing can expand testing among men who have sex with men. A parent quasi-experimental trial found that sexual health influencers (SHIs) identified by a machine-learning model achieved greater peer uptake than those identified by an empirical scale, but the factors driving distribution effectiveness remain unclear. We conducted a secondary analysis of the parent trial (ChiCTR2000039632) in five provinces in southern China. Participants were randomized to either the empirical scale or machine-learning identification arm, and SHIs were then selected within each arm. The current analysis included 196 SHIs with complete follow up. Effective distribution was defined as motivating at least one peer to test. Predictor variables captured sociodemographic, behavioral and network characteristics. Multivariable Poisson LASSO models with multiple imputation and cross-validation estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs). Among 196 SHIs (mean age28years), 46.9% achieved effective distribution. A total of 286 unique peers returned verified HIV self-testing results, of whom 118 (41.3%) were first-time testers. Peer HIV testing was associated with stronger awareness of peers' HIV status (aIRR1.31; 95% CI 1.16-1.48) and more active sharing of HIV information (aIRR1.28; 95% CI 1.10-1.50). SHIs who had been accompanied during their own HIV test recruited more newly tested peers (aIRR1.94; 95% CI 1.12-3.37). Our data have implications for secondary distribution of HIV self-test kits and suggest the need for capacity strengthening related to peer engagement in HIV self-testing.

Background:Chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused byHaemophilus ducreyiresulting in genital ulcer disease (GUD), is now considered rare in many parts of the world. However, chancroid has remained highly prevalent in Malawi since the 1990s.Methods:We combined data fromtwo recent studies conducted in Malawi (2019-2022, 2021) that screened and enrolled patients>18 years of age presenting to a STI clinic with GUD. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted forH. ducreyiand other STIs from ulcer swabs. We evaluated demographic, sexual and clinical characteristics of participants with positiveH. ducreyiPCRs to describe the epidemiology of chancroid using descriptive statistics.Results:Among 618 participants with GUD, 137 (22%) tested positive forH. ducreyiby PCR. Of these, most were male 85 (63%), the median age was 27 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 23, 33) and 19 (17%) had HIV co-infection. About a third (n=42, 31%) were co-infected with other STIs. Among 15 (11%) enrolled participants with additional clinical data, most reported one sexual partner in the past month (median = 1 [IQR: 1, 1). However, a history of prior transactional sex was reported by 5/15 (33%). The clinical presentation of the ulcers varied and over half presented with multiple ulcers (53%). Most ulcers (89%) were associated with pain, but few (20%) had associated inguinal lymphadenopathy.Conclusions:This review confirmed the high prevalence and persistence of chancroid in Malawi. However, additional investigations are needed to further characterize the epidemiology of chancroid and determine the reasons for its persistence in Malawi.