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Purpose: This paper aims to identify campus greening initiatives on a sample of universities in Romania reflected in the university curricula, the behavioral patterns of students and teachers, the administrative actions that carry out empirical investigation of students/teachers/management staff perception on campus greening (based on self-administered questionnaires); detect the way campus greening initiatives are promoted/made visible; and identify the gaps and needs of the universities under scrutiny in terms of campus greening initiatives. Design/methodology/approach: The current research relies on two major components reviewing campus greening-related activities and initiatives, as reflected in the scientific literature and university curricula (empirical and quantitative assessment) and inquiring selected universities' about the campus greening programs they unfold through questionnaire surveys (qualitative assessment). Findings: Generally, sustainability topics (e.g. environmental protection, waste management and sustainable development) are largely addressed and, to some extent, applied in faculties dealing with earth sciences (e.g. geography, ecology) and technical sciences (e.g. environmental engineering). This can be explained by the traditional theoretical background of the first, and the experimental-oriented profile of the latter, which supports the development of innovative technologies (green technologies). However, there is a need to better undertake and promote greening initiatives for most of the higher education institutions in Romania. Some spatial (between institutions throughout Romania) and structural (according to the profile of the institutions) disparities are visible. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of the study might be the small number of universities providing a positive feedback to the questionnaire survey and the degree of subjectivity of some of the answers, directly linked with the professional background and issue awareness of the persons who answered the questions. Practical implications: The findings can be useful to the university managers to better orient their actions toward campus greening, increasing their knowledge and awareness toward sustainability-related actions. Originality/value: This is the first attempt reporting in the literature to analyze the campus greening initiatives to a large number of universities in Romania based on a common approach, identifying the main gaps and challenges in this process.

The paper presents the content of the Laudatio honoring Professor Francesco Guida, to whom Babe°-Bolyai University granted on 31 October 2019 the title of doctor honoris causa. Professor at Roma Tre University, chairman of the Italian Association of Southeast European Studies and of the Romanian-Italian Center for Historical Studies, director of the Interdepartmental Center for Research on Central-Eastern Europe, Russia and Eurasia, in his scientific career Professor Guida consistently followed three major research directions, the history of Romania, of Bulgaria and of Greece, but he has also written studies on Hungary, Russia, Serbia and Poland or on other countries in Southeast Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. Lithiasis is a name given to the pathology that brings together under its umbrella the bioumoral and local factors that lead to the appearance of urinary lithiasis. Regarding the applications of genetics in the field of nephrolithiasis, we can say that things have been set in motion a great deal after the introduction of the GWAS (genome-wide association studies). Material and methods. This study consists of 1988 hospital patients; 127 unrelated, confirmed nephrolithiasis cases, and 1861 controls, consisting of patients admitted for urological and surgical conditions other than nephrolithiasis. DNA was extracted from whole blood at deCODE Genetics (Reykjavik, Iceland) and genotyped using Infinium Omni- Express-24 bead chips. An association test was performed between the 8.5 million markers and a phenotype represented by the confirmed nephrolithiasis diagnostic. Results. To search for new susceptibility loci associated with nephrolithiasis, we tested a total of 8.5 million genetic variants in a Romanian cohort. No variants tested in the Romanian GWAS reached genome-wide significance (P-value lower than 5 × 10-8), while 14 markers showed association P-values <1 × 10-6. Conclusions. Despite the lack of replication, we strongly consider our results an important stepping-stone for the future development of genetic screening of renal lithiasis in the Romanian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives. Prostate cancer shows evidence for genetic predisposition, more than 70 prostate cancer (PCa) susceptibility loci have been found, explaining 30% of the familial risk for this disease. Each locus can have a different number of single nucleotide polymorphism. In the 70 PCa susceptibility loci, more than 100 prostate cancer (PCa) risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified by genome wide association studies (GWAS). Materials and Methods. The study consisted of 1064 hospital patients genotyped, 166 unrelated PCa cases histopathologically confirmed, with abnormal PSA levels and age of onset lower than 60 years, and 1104 controls consisting of patients admitted for urological and surgical conditions, excluding cancer. Results. The top two results were for uncommon variants (minor allele frequency estimated to be 2% in case sample and 9% in control sample) from chromosomes 22 and 12 SNP, RS9621053 and RS11059458. We believe the result for this SNP should be considered with caution. One other novel variant (RS42929) also reached genome-wide significance. We found significant evidence (p < 0.05) supporting the association between early onset prostate cancer and 13 of 14 SNPs studied, with the same direction of effects as in previous reports. We showed that the frequency of risk alleles, for both individual SNPs and in aggregate across SNPs, is significantly greater in EO PCa cases than in CGEMs cases that were diagnosed at > 55 years. Conclusions. In summary, our results provide strong evidence that SNPs associated with overall PCa are also likely to be associated with EO PCa and that studies focused on EO PCa could be a particularly powerful resource for future association studies focusing on PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The choice of a mixed structure of fodder crops, including annual and perennial species, becomes a necessity for Romanian farmers due to the droughty periods recorded during the vegetation period of fodder plants. The choice of some species with good adaptability at drought and high forage yields in such climatic conditions has no less importance. Moreover, the application of a proper fertilization influences both the reaction of species at climatic conditions and the level of obtained yields. This study aims to find species/crops and fertilization levels which can provide good forage yields in drought conditions. In this respect six crops represented by two mixtures as oat + peas (control - C1) and triticale + pea (C2), respectively by four pure crops as rape (C3), millet (C4), sorghum x Sudan grass hybrid (C5) and sweet sorghum (C6), on three levels of fertilization (N0P0 kg∙ha-1 - F1, N60P70 kg∙ha-1 - F2 and N120P70 kg∙ha-1 - F3), were studied. The study was undertaken in 2011 when the rainfall level during sowing-harvesting period (March-July months) was with 362.65 mm lower than in 2010 and with 184 mm lower than in 2009, respectively. Sweet sorghum and sorghum x Sudan grass hybrid fertilized with N60P70 kg∙ha-1 and N120P70 kg∙ha-1 doses were revealed with significant high dry matter yield among the studied crops and experimental variants (crop x fertilization). Among the mixtures of annual grasses and legumes taken into the study and which can be used in pig farming within experimental area, in a descending order, considering the obtained yields, the following variants can be recommended for farmers: triticale + peas fertilized with N120P70 kg∙ha-1 dose and unfertilized oat + peas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporary pastures throughout their multifunctionality play an important role in rabbit farming due to the both quantity and quality of provided fodder. Temporary or sown pastures, as they are named, can comprise one species (pure crop) or more perennial fodder plants (mixtures of grasses and legumes). Among the pure crops, the most frequently used in rabbit feed in Romania is alfalfa. The alternative of use of mixtures beside pure crops in fodder production for rabbits is interesting to be considered both from nutritional point of view and as agronomical advantages in comparison with pure crops. This paper presents comparative information regarding the production, quality and chemical composition of some species/mixtures of perennial fodder crops. Complex mixtures composed from 6, respectively 7 species (M7 and M8), revealed higher yields but lower values for cell walls content as compared with alfalfa. The same mixtures moderately fertilized (N60P70) can supply phosphorus and potassium needs in herbivorous nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a planned fodder production in actual climate change represents for majority of Romanian farmers a compulsory measure with a view to provide fodder necessary. Achievement of this measure supposes the knowledge of ecological conditions, biological characteristics of the annual and perennial fodder species existing in the market and their response at different weather conditions. The choice of a mixed structure of annual (oat+pea, triticale+pea, sorghum x Sudan grass hybrid) and perennial (alfalfa as pure crop, grass and legume mixtures) species allows farmers to adapt the fodder production at the actual climate changes. Such a structure represents a solution both for a good assessment of fresh matter production and for obtaining of qualitative fodder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sown pastures in general and those sown with complex mixtures particularly, well adapted to some ecological conditions, through their multifunctional character can represent real alternatives to annual fodder cultures. In this paper are presented the results of an experiment that followed the behavior of eight complex mixtures of perennial fodder plants and a pure alfalfa culture, fertilized with three doses of fertilizers (N0; N60P70; N120P70 kg·ha-1). Between the two studied factors (mixture and fertilization), fresh matter yield at first cycle of harvest was significantly influenced only by mixture. The highest fresh matter yield at the first mowing was recorded by mixture five consisted of red clover and four poaceous species (Trifolium pratense, Dactylis glomerata, Festulolium, Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of drought phenomena during vegetation period of plants determined serious problems for Romanian farmers by partial or total disparagement of cultures in the last years. This problem is also common for fodder producing farmers from Transylvania. Introducing in fodder plant assortment of some drought resistant species, like type C4 species (sweet sorghum, sorghum x Sudan grass and others) could represent a long-term solution for these farmers. Because these plants need big temperatures for optimal germination the risk of water loosing in the upper stratum of soil in which they are sown appears. In these conditions it is very important to know how big temperature and low humidity during germination process can influence the germination energy and the length of embryonic roots. The purpose of this research was to study the comparative reaction of maize and sweet sorghum seeds at four treatments with different humidity and temperature applied during germination process in order to evaluate the germination energy and length of embryonic roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is structured in three parts, as follows: In the first part we summarized the different approaches in the literature of the concept of "ecological footprint". In the second part of the article the evolution of key components of those indexes and their determinants for Romania are exposed. The paper concludes with a summary of the main challenges and opportunities that can be identified from the analysis of the presented data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig farming represents one of the traditional activities of Romanian family farms in which vegetal production is efficiently used in conditions of actual evolution of the cereals national market. The adaptation of pig farming systems from family farms to the conditions imposed by the practices of a sustainable agriculture requires the knowledge of requirements related to the fodders production. The financial support measures available for Romanian farmers in vegetal production sector through National Rural Development Plan encourage the sustainable agriculture practices. Single area payment scheme (SAPS) is one of the available measures both for farms with intensive system of pig faming and for those with extensive system, with or without fodder production. Among the requirements imposed to the integrated farms for the obtaining of financial support in the frame of SAPS, a special attention must be paid both to the plants technology of culture (such as organic fertilization of fodder plants assortment) and to the liquid and solid manure management in order to protect waters against nitrates pollution from agricultural sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting with 2012 year, Romanian farmers have to respect the cross compliance requirements for Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC), the minimal requirements regarding the usage of fertilizers and pesticides for the crops protection and the Statutory Management Requirements (SMR). The novelty of the requirements imposed for the farmers in the crop field is connected with the necessity to respect the environmental protection measures, such as protection of the underground water, protection of the soil, protection of the water against of the nitrates and protection of the natural habitats (SMR 1- SMR 5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes and analyses the image of Transylvania and the Transylvanian Romanians as it is reflected in the accounts written by the legates of the Holy See in the mid-nineteenth century. This image was constructed from a series of stereotypes and clichés that were commonly used in the milieus of Western extraction and that reinforced, most of the times, the existing negative bias against the Romanians and the Romanian space. The papal legates' accounts included reflections on: the geographical and climatic conditions, the level of civilization, education, the material situation, the bookish horizon and the understanding of religious dogmas and doctrines. All of these aspects were perceived in prevalently negative terms, emphasizing the inferiority of this space and signaling, implicitly, the gap that separated Western and Eastern Europe. The only aspects that were perceived in a positive light were the physiognomic similarities between the Romanians and the Italians, the fact that a part of the Transylvanian Romanians were Catholics (belonged to the Greek-Catholic Church) and the Romanians' Latin descent. As the envoys of the Holy See confessed in their reports, their mission was to pave the way for Transylvania's integration within the value system of Western civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some of the results obtained during the experiences carried out within the sugar beet experimental field of Viisoara, Cluj County. In the agricultural year 2007 - 2008, several researches were conducted on sugar beet in order to obtain bioethanol, using sugar beet as main biological raw material. Taking into account the quality requirements of bioethanol, one carefully monitored the sugar beet crop evolution regarding the influence of different technology factors, such as irrigation regime and fertilization, on sugar beet yield. As a result, after applying a number of test methods, one determined the characteristics of bioethanol for each sample obtained from sugar beet in the experimental fields of Viisoara, according to the EN 15376 standard requirements, as a component of the automotive fuel for petrol vehicles, according to EN 228:2008 standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the experiment carried out in a greenhouse in 2010 at University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the influence of substrate and fertilization method on yield of eggplants was investigated. For the plants cultivated on reused organic substrate the yield difference was significant negative for both early and total yield comparative with variants with plants cultivated on new organic substrate. The fertilization method influenced only the early yield. Thus, the organically fertilized plants registered yield differences distinct significant negative in comparison with chemical fertilized ones. In the case of total yield, no significant differences between two methods of fertilization were recorded. Combination of factors has influenced both early and total yield, best results were obtained for variants cultivated on new organic substrate, indifferent to the fertilization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many farmers the temporary pasture represents an alternative source in the constant supplying with fresh matter (FM) fodder for animals. The use of perennial fodder grasslegume mixtures best adapted to the local ecological conditions as well as the knowledge of the opportunity of fertilization can represent the guaranty and the efficiency of this source. The knowledge of fresh matter yield distribution on cuttings and on different fertilization doses in accordance with the ecological conditions of a specific zone permits a rational planning of fodder crops structure in a farm. The yields of M5 mixture (Trifolium pmtense, Dactylis g!omerat4 Festulalium, Phiewn pratense, Loliwnperenne) on the three doses of fertilization varied very little, reason for it is recommended to be cultivated without fertilization in the similar ecological conditions with those from Jucu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the experiment effectuated at the company SC Cristal Lux SRL from Bălan commune, Sălaj County, Romania, was to establish the best plant density and plant directing method for bell peppers cultivated in plastic tunnel. A bifactorial experience has been organized: Factor A = plant density, with: a1- 30000 plants/ha; a2- 40000 plants/ha; Factor B = shoots pruning method, with: b1- pruned with 2 shoots; b2- pruned with 3 shoots. By factors combination 4 experimental variants resulted. Plants density has affected both the early and the total yield. A density of 40000 plants/ha assured a significant yield increase comparative with 30000 plants/ha. The pruning method has influenced neither early nor total yield. Under the combined influenced of both factors the best results have been obtained by variant III (40000 plants/ha, 2 shoots) and variant IV (40000 plants/ha, 3 shoots) for both the early and the total yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preservation of the genetic variability at the crop plants is an important premise for a long durable agriculture. Romania still has an important genetic diversity at the crop plants. Unfortunately in Romania the risk of this diversity disappearance is very big due to the age of the seeds producers and the big surface of unused land. During 2007-2009, at University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) from Cluj-Napoca a series of actions for collecting vegetable seeds, for description from agronomical, biological and biochemical point of view of authentic local varieties, for producing and preserving seeds in the Gene Bank of Suceava have been undertaken. Investigations were made in 26 counties of the country but the experimental fields were placed at USAMV Cluj-Napoca. In this work paper are briefly presented the main characteristics of the local varieties of parsley (Petroselinum crispum, subsp. crispum). Among the 64 studied cultivars, 54 (85.7%) proved to be local varieties and among these 5.5% are used for leaves, 20.4% for roots and 74.1% have mixt destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the experiment effectuated in 2008, at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, in a "Venlo" type greenhouse, the influence of fructification managing and fertilization of greenhouse cucumbers on their harvests dynamic, early and total yield as well as fruit commercial quality was studied. In case of variants for which fructification was managed only on main stem yield efficiencies of 15.5% for early yield and 24.9% for total yield were recorded in comparison with variants for which fructification was managed both on main stem and on fruit-bearing springs, placed on upper one third of pergola. Fertilization method influenced total yield, very significant positive difference of yield being obtained with root and foliar fertilization in comparison with root fertilization. Under combined influence of experimental factors, both for early and for total yield, the best results were obtained at variant for which fructification was managed only on main stem and was root and foliar fertilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the region of the Apuseni Mountains, a part of the Western Carpathians in Romania, mining activities have a long-standing tradition. But they also resulted in an apparent major acid mine drainage combined with a heavy metal pollution in surface waters. The acid mine drainage (AMD) production is due to enhanced pyrite oxidation in ore pits and deposits of ore. The CriŞ Alb catchment covers an area of 4200 km². The mining activities are concentrated in the upper basin, in which an open pit and several abandoned under ground mines are producing AMD that is discharged untreated into tributaries. Solid wastes of the mineral processing plants were deposited in several dumps and tailings dams. During several field campaigns, water was collected mainly from surface waters, dug-wells, piezometers and impoundments. Solid samples were taken from river sediments and of the biggest tailings dams. Inputs of tributaries polluted with acid mine waters only slightly increase concentration of heavy metals and sulphate in the upper CriŞ Alb River. Water in the main river water remains neutral. These results contrast with those found in the neighbouring Certej catchment, where mining activities result in a strong acidic and heavy metal pollution. Metal concentrations measured at the upper station and in tributaries upstream mining areas reflect roughly background values. They fall in the range of the environmental quality standards proposed by the EU Water Framework Directive. Outflow of the big tailings dams and tributaries downstream old mines exhibit the first sign of acid mine drainage production. However, most heavy metal concentrations fall nearly to background values. These waters still have an acid neutralizing capacity. Metal concentrations in sediments taken in the active river channel display a decreasing trend downstream. The sequential extraction essay demonstrates that the mineralogy of the primary material deposited and the pH will be changed when waste ore deposits react with oxygen diffusing into the tailings. In general, CriŞ Alb river water exhibits only a small impact by mining activities, although hot spots of acidic mine waters inputs exist in the upper valley and heavy metals in particles accumulate in river sediments. The results of this study can be used by various stakeholders, mainly the mining companies, local municipalities and environmental protection county authority bodies in order to integrate them in their post-mining measures, making them aware by the potential long-term impact of mining on the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]