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Maize crop ranks the first place in Romania as cultivated area, representing 2.3-2.5 million ha annually, this being subjected to the attack of several pests. Various researches conducted in different locations of Romania indicated that pests (Tanymecus dilaticollis, Agriotes spp. Helicoverpa armigera, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, Ostrinia nubilalis) can caused up to 100% losses in maize crops, especially because of those pests attacking in the first stages of vegetation. Recently, other very damaging pests have been reported to the maize crop as new threats or/and quarantine pests, which can cause major damages in the future, for example: Spodoptera frugiperda, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Chilo partellus. These new pests have established themselves in Europe, therefore the risk of spreading is very high. The data from literature were analysed on the pest short description, the damages produced to maize plants and the most effective control strategies through chemical, biological and cultural operations in the maize growing regions in Romania. It is important for growers to recognize all stages of these insects that attack maize crops, to making the correct decision by Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and/or other effective control methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare non‐nutritive sweetened (NNS) beverages versus water for weight loss after a 12‐week behavioral weight‐management program. Methods: This is an ongoing, 2‐year, parallel‐group, open‐label, controlled equivalence trial; week‐12 data are reported. Adults with BMI of 27 to 35 kg/m2 who regularly drank cold beverages were randomized 1:1 to intention‐to‐treat water or NNS beverages while undergoing a weekly 12‐week group behavioral weight‐management program. Weight change to week 12 was the primary end point (equivalence: two‐sided p > 0.05); changes in waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, glycemic control markers, fasting lipid profiles, liver function tests, hunger (visual analog scale), sugar and sweetener consumption, and activity levels were secondary end points. Results: Overall, 493 participants were randomized (water: n = 246; NNS beverages: n = 247); 24.1% were NNS beverage naïve. Weight change was equivalent with water versus NNS beverages (−5.6 vs. −5.8 kg; difference [90% CI]: −0.2 kg [−0.7 to 0.4]). There were no significant differences between groups for secondary end points except reductions in waist circumference (greater with NNS beverages vs. water), glycated hemoglobin, and consumption of any type of sweetener (both greater with water vs. NNS beverages). Conclusions: Weight loss was equivalent with NNS beverages and water following a 12‐week behavioral weight‐management program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The available chemotherapeutic regimens for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) in Romania include FOLFIRINOX (FFX), gemcitabine-based regimens (GB), and gemcitabine monotherapy (Gem). The purpose of our study was to compare the efficacy of FFX, GB, and Gem in patients with mPDAC in real-world scenarios. Our research revealed that the overall survival (OS) of patients receiving FFX or GB was comparable, twice as long as that of patients receiving Gem, and the progression-free survival (PFS) was highest for patients receiving FFX as first-line chemotherapy (L1). Male gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance (ECOG-PS) 0/1, the FFX regimen, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 4.15 were all independently linked to a longer OS. L1 with FFX improved both OS and PFS for second-line chemotherapy (L2). Purpose: To assess the efficacy of FOLFIRINOX(FFX), gemcitabine-based regimens (GB), and gemcitabine monotherapy (Gem) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC). Methods: This is a retrospective study that included 83 patients with mPDAC treated with first-line chemotherapy (L1) with either FFX, GB or Gem between 2015 and 2017. Progression-free survival (PFS) for L1 and second-line chemotherapy (L2) (PFS-L1 and PFS-L2) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Median PFS-L1 for FFX, GB and Gem groups was 9 months (95% (Confidence Interval) CI 2.76–15.24), 5 months (95%CI 3.44–6.56), and 5 months (95%CI 3.76–6.24), respectively (p = 0.04). OS was 14 months (95%CI 11.16–16.85), 12 months (95%CI: 9.44–11.56), and 7 months (95%CI: 5.7–8.3) for patients treated with FFX, GB, and Gem, respectively (p = 0.0001). ECOG-PS (0/1) (Hazard Ratio (HR) 6.74, p = 0.002), age > 70 years (HR 0.25, p = 0.04), body tumors (HR 2.8, p = 0.048), CA19–9 > 39 U/mL (HR 0.26, p = 0.02), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) > 4.15 (HR 6.76, p = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for PFS-L1. Male gender (HR 3.02, p = 0.026), ECOG-PS (0/1) (HR 4.21, p = 0.003), L1 with FFX (HR 0.255, p = 0.007), and NLR > 4.15 (HR 2.65, p = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors of OS. PFS-L2 (HR 6.91, p = 0.013) and OS-L2 (HR 6.95, p = 0.037) were significantly higher in patients first treated with FFX. Conclusions: The OS of patients who receive FFX or GB is comparable. The best PFS-L1 belongs to the FFX group. Male gender, ECOG-PS 0/1, the FFX regimen, and NLR > 4.15 were independent predictors of OS. PFS-L2 and OS-L2 were favorably impacted by L1 with FFX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian cancer does not cause many symptoms in the early stages, which is why the majority of cases are of advanced disease. Increasing awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms may lead to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes. Methods: Participants in Britain completed the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Measure by online survey (n = 459). Results: Our participants were 75% female, 25% male and a young (27.89 ± 11.44 years) ethnically diverse population (40.3% White, 29.3% Asian and 18.0% Black). Individuals recalled 1.24 ± 1.30 symptoms, and recognised 5.96 ± 2.4 symptoms. We found higher levels of recall and recognition compared to previous research possibly due to using an online survey. Recognition was lowest for difficulty eating (39.4%) and persistently feeling full (38.7%). Males had slightly lower symptom recall and recognition than females. Participants incorrectly recalled an irregular menstrual cycle (22.4%) as an ovarian cancer symptom and 67% answered the age of incidence question incorrectly. Suggesting that participants incorrectly associate ovarian cancer as a disease of pre‐menopausal women. Individuals recalled 1.47 ± 1.20 risk factors, and recognised 6.1 ± 2.4 risk factors. Family history of ovarian cancer was recalled by 59% of participants. Recognition was lowest for in vitro fertilisation treatment (23.0%) and talcum powder in the genital area (23.0%). The generic cancer risk factors of alcohol (9.3%) and poor diet (8.8%) were recalled as specific ovarian cancer risk factors. 57.9% of participants incorrectly answered that there is an ovarian cancer screening programme. Suggesting confusion between ovarian and cervical cancer as participants also recalled cervical cancer risk factors of sexually transmitted diseases (6.3%) and human papillomavirus (1.5%). 29.7% of female participants would seek help for an ovarian cancer symptom within 1–2 days. Help seeking was higher in the Black and Asian ethnicities (44.4% and 45.0%; p = 0.018). Conclusion: Awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is low. Ovarian cancer awareness campaigns should include common misconceptions identified in this research. Awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms is low. Participants incorrectly associate ovarian cancer as a disease of pre‐menopausal women as well as confusing it with cervical cancer. Ovarian cancer awareness campaigns should include common misconceptions identified in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize leaf weevil (Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyll) is one of Romania's most harmful pests of maize crops. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the different control methods of the maize leaf weevil in conditions of the high pest pressure from a commercial farm, located in one of the most favorable areas for this weevils species, in the southeast of Romania (Mihail Kogălniceanu, Ialomița County). This study has tested foliar treatment with acetamiprid and lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredients, seeds treatment with imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole active ingredients, and granules application with the lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredient. In the spring of 2021, at the experimental site, it has registered a high pest density (15-20 weevils/m2). As a result of the weather's unfavorable conditions for weevils activity on the ground, the pest attack was moderate when maize was in early vegetation stages. At the control (untreated) variant, most of the maize plants had leaves chaffed in the proportion of 50-75%, but the majority of the plants survived after the attack. In this study, lower weevils attack has registered in the case of the variants with seeds treated with imidacloprid and cyantraniliprole active ingredients. From all experimental variants, higher maize yield was recorded in the case of the variant with seeds treated with imidacloprid active ingredient (12501 kg/ha). This study, effectuated in conditions of high pest pressure, in commercial farm conditions, demonstrates that seed treatment with systemic insecticides adequately protects the maize plants in early vegetation stages (BBCH 10-BBCH 14) against maize leaf weevil attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document and make available to the scholarly community a uniquely detailed database of 20,680 observations of wages for men, women, and children and 30,000 observations of prices from eighteenth-century rural Denmark. These microlevel data were originally collected by the Danish Price History Project but have not previously been released. To illustrate the usefulness of such data, we discuss possible applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The maize leaf weevil (Tanymecus dilaticollis Gyllenhal, 1834) represent one of the most destructive pests of maize crops in Romania, especially in the south and south-east of the country. Every year was attacked more than 1 million hectares cultivated with maize. This pest is very dangerous when maize is in early vegetation stages, from plant emergence until four leaves (BBCH 10-BBCH 14). After the ban of the seeds treatment with neonicotinoids in the Europe Union, no alternatives for seed treatment to control this pest remain available in our country. In this article, it has assessed both, seeds treatment with neonicotinoids and possible alternatives for controlling of the maize leaf weevil in conditions of the commercial farm located in the south-east of Romania. Seeds treatment with imidacloprid (600 g/l), cyantraniliprole (625 g/l) active ingredients, maize foliar treatment with acetamiprid (20 %), lambda-cyhalothrin (50 g/l) active ingredients, granules application at maize sowing, with chlorpyrifos (5 %), lambda-cyhalothrin (4 g/kg) active ingredients or two granules application, at maize sowing and after plants emergence with cypermethrin (0.8 %) active ingredients were assessed. The efficacy of the applied insecticides was determined by evaluating weevils attack intensity at the maize plants, at BBCH 14 stage, using a scale from 1 (plant not attacked) to 9 (plant destroyed). In the spring of 2020, weather conditions from the experimental site, during assessments period were unfavorable for weevils activity at the soil surface. Even if the pest density from the experimental location was high (10-15 insects/m2) however weevils attack at maize plants was low. At variant with seeds treated with imidacloprid active ingredient, maize attack intensity at maize plant was 3.86, at untreated variant attack intensity was 4.47 while at rest of the experimental variants, attack intensity ranged between 4.29 and 4.46. It has registered significant statistical differences between weevils attack at maize plants from variant with seeds treated with imidacloprid active ingredient and the rest of the variants from this assessment (p<0.05). In the weather conditions of the year 2020, from the experimental location from the south-east of Romania, there weren't registered significant statistical differences between seeds treatment with cyantraniliprole active ingredient, maize foliar treatment with acetamiprid, lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredients, granules application with chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin active ingredients, and untreated variant (p<0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During its history, the evolution of the orchestra has always been strongly connected to the development of instruments as well as to the evolution of vocal and instrumental genres in different epochs. In Opera, the role and the size of the orchestra has grown over time, from Romanticism and continuing through the 20th century, becoming the heart of drama itself. Its sonorities have been permanently enriched by exploring the resources of each instrument, the texture and combinations of different timbres, all destined to intensify dramatic situations, to deepen the inner life of the characters and valorise space. Here are some aspects of the opera's orchestra evolution through the 20th century, its impact on vocalism and the influence of the conductors in the destiny of lyrical theatre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper we introduce a new q-generalization of Szász-Mirakjan operators and we investigate their approximation properties. By using a weighted modulus of smoothness, we give local and global estimations for the error of approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper we introduce a q-analogue of the Baskakov-Kantorovich operators and investigate their weighted statistical approximation properties. By using a weighted modulus of smoothness, we give some direct estimations for error in case 0 < q < 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]