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The way in which virtual assistants can influence the marketing paradigm through various uses within the interactive media, present on the web, within eCommerce websites, but also through indirect action, starting from social media, is a very complex and interesting process, which is worth studying. From the perspective of virtual assistants, all consumer buying behavior models are a simplification of reality, since there can be many other sub-models which can be derived from the main ones. The objective pursued within this research has been the presentation of the impact of the use of intelligent virtual assistants on the direct marketing activity of the companies, and the correlation with consumer behavior, especially in terms of the different decision levels and the way in which it is being supported.

The investigation of consumer buying behavior represents an attraction for both academic marketing specialists and practitioners. Deciphering, interpreting, and influencing the complex process of how individuals think and act when they are searching, selecting, and purchasing a product/service or brand are concerns as tempting as they are difficult to achieve, sometimes, from a theoretical and practical point of view. The two-year period of the COVID-19 pandemic has attracted changes in people's social and professional lives, including within the manifestation of purchasing behavior for different groups of products or services. The objective of this article is to identify the changes in the buying behavior of customers for the group of jewellery products, during the pandemic, through analyzing the evolution of the sales volume, by product range, recorded at the level of a store in Constanța, which belongs to a wellknown company on the Romanian marketplace.

In the ESP domain, grammar teaching has always been regarded as a challenging issue, requesting great pedagogical skills, no matter the learners' level and field of expertise. The paper looks at a range of techniques for introducing grammar that focus on meaning, techniques that use tasks meant to maximize interaction and create an opportunity for meaning-focused language use. A more learner-centered approach, inductive teaching offers learners of Business English opportunities to actively create rules, to be more engaged and remember more. We will further explore how blended learning can be used as a helpful tool for guided discovery. In this way, learners discover the form and/or use of the target language with less input on the teacher's part. Moreover, the switch from traditional to blended learning will certainly benefit students and will naturally appeal to their identity as digital natives.

Complicated wounds often require specialized medical treatments, and hydrogels have emerged as a popular choice for wound dressings in such cases due to their unique properties and the ability to incorporate and release therapeutic agents. Our focus was to develop and characterize a new optimized formula for biohybrid hydrogel membranes, which combine natural and synthetic polymers, bioactive natural compounds, like collagen and hyaluronic acid, and pharmacologically active substances (doxycycline or npAg). Dynamic (oscillatory) rheometry confirmed the strong gel-like properties of the obtained hydrogel membranes. Samples containing low-dose DOXY showed a swelling index of 285.68 ± 6.99%, a degradation rate of 71.6 ± 0.91% at 20 h, and achieved a cumulative drug release of approximately 90% at pH 7.4 and 80% at pH 8.3 within 12 h. The addition of npAg influenced the physical properties of the hydrogel membranes. Furthermore, the samples containing DOXY demonstrated exceptional antimicrobial efficacy against seven selected bacterial strains commonly associated with wound infections and complications. Biocompatibility assessments revealed that the samples exhibited over 80% cell viability. However, the addition of smaller-sized nanoparticles led to decreased cellular viability. The obtained biohybrid hydrogel membranes show favorable properties that render them suitable for application as wound dressings.

The article presents a complete approach for the wood industry for assessing the state of circular economy adoption by companies. A methodology for achieving this purpose is proposed and then implemented with the help of a specific questionnaire. The study is based on a literature survey with two components, one relating to reports on the concept of circularity and one relating to the methodological aspects of determining and measuring the progress of companies. Starting from these aspects and factoring in the sectoral evolution in Romania, the assessment directions and detailed questions for each are established essentially through a mind-mapping process. For validation, the questionnaire with seven evaluation viewpoints covered in 28 items is applied within the Romanian wood industry to 60 companies. The analysis of results is carried out using descriptive and inferential statical methods, such as ANOVA, showing good progress of the industry at company level, through individual efforts as well as the need to continue the transformation of the sector from the point of view of regulatory oversight and market acceptance. A set of recommendations for companies to advance their situation is proposed to help the maturation of the current circular approaches.

Most people consider entrepreneurship to be an innate quality that few people have. In fact, it can be developed through education and training. It is the sum of environmental, personal and social factors. Experts in business and economics believe that the success of entrepreneurs depends largely on their education and the field in which they choose to do business. Therefore, if you feel that you have the necessary skills to start a business, entrepreneurship education will be a very important tool. Romania is facing an accelerated digitization process, with direct effects on traditional retail, which will increasingly migrate to online commerce.

Natural gas pipeline networks used for long-distance transportation are expanding quickly, and the construction of special valves with large diameters has especially increased since 2022. The design and manufacturing of the flow control equipment is carried out on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the parameters required by the beneficiary. In this paper, results obtained by fluid flow simulation with SolidWorks2023 software for a 500 mm diameter trunnion ball valve lead to important information regarding how the fluid flow develops in the intermediary and fully closed positions. The large inner space of the ball allows the development of high-amplitude vortices; thus, the simulation demonstrates that the shut-on/off operation of large-diameter ball valves is mandatory to avoid fast destruction following partial opening. This paper also demonstrates why the metal–metal (MM) sealing with a double-piston effect (DPE) design for seats produces low leakage rates, including for the shut-off position; the pressure field reveals that few gas particles succeed in crossing the upstream sealing zone, and even fewer cross the downstream sealing zone. Additionally, the interpretation of the results explains and highlights the importance of using seats with a DPE design to achieve fire safety, which is required for natural gas pipeline applications.

Methionine metabolism is dysregulated in multiple sclerosis (MS). The methyl donor betaine is depleted in the MS brain where it is linked to changes in levels of histone H3 trimethylated on lysine 4 (H3K4me3) and mitochondrial impairment. We investigated the effects of replacing this depleted betaine in the cuprizone mouse model of MS. Supplementation with betaine restored epigenetic control and alleviated neurological disability in cuprizone mice. Betaine increased the methylation potential (SAM/SAH ratio), levels of H3K4me3, enhanced neuronal respiration, and prevented axonal damage. We show that the methyl donor betaine and the betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) enzyme can act in the nucleus to repair epigenetic control and activate neuroprotective transcriptional programmes. ChIP-seq data suggest that BHMT acts on chromatin to increase the SAM/SAH ratio and histone methyltransferase activity locally to increase H3K4me3 and activate gene expression that supports neuronal energetics. These data suggest that the methyl donor betaine may provide neuroprotection in MS where mitochondrial impairment damages axons and causes disability.

My paper will focus on several basic features concerning blended learning, and it will build on the properties of digital technologies. In our contemporary world, students in general, and working students in particular, feel the need to use their digital skills to be successful in both the study and work environment. This means that our courses should be upgraded by resorting to the new technologies in the field of teaching and assessment. By doing so, the advantages would be multiple, starting with accessibility, affordability, flexibility and ending with inclusivity, selfempowerment and resource management. An example of such a ‘fortunate’ mixture between on-site classroom interaction and on-line activities is the case of flipped classrooms, where, as it is going to be discussed, student-time is increased and so is the quality of the interaction between the teacher and the learners.

In recent years, natural product's research gained momentum, fueled by technological advancement and open availability of research data. To date, sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. [Elaeagnaceae]) plant parts, especially berries, are well characterized and repeatedly tested for antioxidant activity and regenerative properties, in various cell types and tissues. However, fatty acids (FA) have been less investigated in term of biological effects, although, they are important bioactive components of the sea buckthorn fruit and oil. The aim of our work was to determine whether sea buckthorn seed oil is a suitable source of FA with regenerative properties on normal skin cells. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS), we purified and characterized four fractions enriched in saturated (palmitic) and non-saturated (linoleic, alfa-linolenic, oleic) FA, which were tested for cytotoxicity, cytokine and growth factor production, and regenerative effect on normal keratinocytes and skin fibroblasts. Evidence is presented that the palmitic acid enriched fraction was a suitable sea buckthorn seed oil derived product with cell proliferation properties on both skin cell types.

The digital twin solution is an industry 4.0 specific tool that has grown in the past decade, stemming from the modelling and simulation approaches that existed before, complemented by new sensor capabilities, cloud processing, big data analytics, and implementation mechanisms. As it is being used mostly in the present by manufacturing companies, the primary focus of the solution is to enhance productivity and reduce costs by optimizing processes and enabling real-time problem-solving, sometimes based on decision-making systems and artificial intelligence. However, as companies are being faced with an increasingly steep list of environmental requirements and regulations, ranging from the classical pollution control and waste recycling to full-scale economic models based on circular economy and transformative carbon dioxide elimination programs, the features of the manufacturing digital twins must also evolve to provide an appropriate answer to these challenges. In this paper, the authors propose a framework for building better digital twins for production systems by incorporating environmental-related functions. The demarches start from analysing existing solutions presented in literature from the point of view of environmental suitability, based on the use of the MoSCoW method for differentiating attributes (into Must have, Should have, Could have, Will not have elements) and determining development alternatives based on the employment of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for feature selection, and the TRIZ method (Theory of Inventive Problem-Solving) for application guidelines. The MCDA was performed within a focus group of nine production specialists from regionally successful sectors. We arrive at the conclusion that environmental-related functions are poorly implemented in the digital twins of the present (although more so in integrated solutions and custom-built applications) and that the development of the proper tools, databases, and interpretation keys should proceed immediately in the fields of production engineering, industrial ecology, and software development to support them.

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) represents the most prevalent genital infection in young women of reproductive age. Objective: This systematic review aims to estimate the effect of HPV infection during pregnancy and assess the correlation between HPV and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: The search strategy has been developed based on the PICOS framework: Population (pregnant women infected with HPV), Intervention (HPV infection confirmed by molecular tests), Comparator (pregnant women without HPV infection), Outcomes (adverse pregnancy outcomes) and Study design (observational studies). We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases on 8 January 2022 by using the following keywords: “HPV”, “prematurity”, “preterm birth”, “miscarriage”, “premature rupture of membranes”, “adverse pregnancy outcome”, “low birth weight”, “fetal growth restriction”, “pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders”, “preeclampsia”. Selection criteria were HPV infection confirmed within maximum 2 years before pregnancy with a molecular test and adverse pregnancy outcomes. (Results: Although numerous studies are conducted on this topic, data are still controversial regarding identifying maternal HPV infection as a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. More prospective large cohort studies are needed to prove a causative relationship.

Increasing volatility and product individualization are leading to higher complexity in manual assembly. At the same time, production and processes must become more flexible, and humans have to adapt to new products more often and even faster. Industry 5.0 will increasingly focus on human-centric approaches, on the collaboration of humans and machines intensively using cognitive assistance systems. The design of an innovative cognitive assistance system is a complex task due to the many technological opportunities and their interrelationships. In the framework of this research, a method was developed enabling the systematic design of cognitive assistance systems that integrates business and worker requirements aiming at improving productivity, quality, worker satisfaction and well-being. The research question was approached by design science research having, as the main output, a systematic and innovative method for the design of cognitive assistance systems based on quality function deployment (QFD), referred to as cognitive assistance system-QFD (CAS-QFD). The developed methodology is divided into six phases and includes the iterative design of a cognitive assistance system starting from the assembly process. The method considers the information needs of the workers, the definition of the appropriate assistance functions and the selection of the interaction technologies. The exemplarily industrial evaluation highlighted the relevance of CAS-QFD for systematically designing cognitive assistance systems based on holistic requirements, identified at the worker, workplace, production area and, finally, at the enterprise level.

Fatty acids (FAs) have been shown to exhibit a pro-inflammatory response in various cell types, but astrocytes have been mostly overlooked. FAs, both saturated and unsaturated, have previously been shown to induce pro-inflammatory responses in astrocytes at high concentrations of hundreds of µg/mL. SSO (Sulfo-N-succinimidyl Oleate sodium), an inhibitor of FA translocase CD36, has been shown to prevent inflammation in the mouse brain by acting on local microglia and infiltrating monocytes. Our hypothesis was that SSO treatment would also impact astrocyte pro-inflammatory response to FA. In order to verify our assumption, we evaluated the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in normal human astrocyte cell culture pre-treated (or not) with SSO, and then exposed to low concentrations of both saturated (palmitic acid) and unsaturated (oleic acid) FAs. As a positive control for astrocyte inflammation, we used fibrillary amyloid. Neither Aβ 1–42 nor FAs induced CD36 protein expression in human astrocytes in cell culture At low concentrations, both types of FAs induced IL-8 protein secretion, and this effect was specifically inhibited by SSO pre-treatment. In conclusion, low concentrations of oleic acid are able to induce an early increase in IL-8 expression in normal human astrocytes, which is specifically downregulated by SSO.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of premature birth, which therefore increases the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) of the neonate and is associated with high morbidity and mortality of the newborn. The administration of glucocorticoids to the mother before premature birth decreases the risk of neonatal complications. However, the data regarding the administration of this therapy to mothers with DM is limited. Clinical guidelines recommend treating them in the same manner as the non-DM women, even if there is no recent data to support the benefit in this subpopulation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the real-life effects of glucocorticoid administration on the maternal and fetal prognosis of pregnancies complicated with DM. Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 67 pregnant females who were admitted to the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department of The Emergency University Hospital of Bucharest between December 2016–March 2021, and who received corticosteroid before prematurely giving birth to 70 newborns. There was a group of 33 mothers with DM and a second group with 34 non-DM pregnant women selected for control of glucocorticoids’ real-life administration in the high risk for premature birth population. Results: The administration of glucocorticoids was not restricted by the presence of DM; 78% of the mothers with DM and 79.41% of the mothers without DM received one course of antenatal glucocorticoids for fetal lung maturation (p = 0.6). The incidence of ARDS differs between groups was statistically insignificant: 35.29% in the DM group versus 30.55% in the control group (p = 0.8). There were similar cases of maternal complications such as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), or preeclampsia in the two groups. These findings suggest that glucocorticoid therapy is effective for premature newborns from pregnancies with DM and does not negatively impact the complication rate of the mothers, sustaining their administration in these cases. Conclusions: The administration of antenatal glucocorticoids before premature birth is not influenced by the presence of DM regarding Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes, the incidence of ARDS, but there were differences such as more large for gestational age (LGA) newborns and neonatal hypoglycemia in the DM group. Considering the low number of patients enrolled from a single-center, future multicentric studies are needed. It is important to emphasize that this study’s findings reflect the local practice and cannot be generalized.

The process of documenting cultural heritage digitally has emerged with the recent technological developments. One of the direct consequences of using digital devices to promote cultural heritage is to educate the endusers and to exceed their initial expectations regarding their interaction and engagement with cultural heritage assets. Creativity is encour-aged and stimulated by technology; as a result, cultural heritage domain must use technologies and tools from various domains such as engineering (3D scanning), gaming industry (VR headsets), digital marketing (interactive screens) to create interactive exhibitions. These tools can be paired with classical cultural heritage exhibition methods to attract, engage and support end-users more efficiently and effectively by creating unprecedented interactive. For this endeavor more than 560 artifacts have been digitized, the monuments and the fortress have been digitally reconstructed and integrated in digital applications that were combined with classical museum exhibition methods. By doing so, the paper also brings contributions concerning the methodologies used for deploying state of the art scanning and digitizing technologies. The main motivation was to bring classic exhibition techniques to modern times and to attract the young audiences to museums, thus identifying how they can be more engaged, involved and educated within the mixed museum spaces.

Glioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor and has the greatest prevalence of all brain tumors. Treatment resistance and tumor recurrence in GBM are mostly explained by considerable alterations within the tumor microenvironment, as well as extraordinary cellular and molecular heterogeneity. Soluble factors, extracellular matrix components, tissue-resident cell types, resident or newly recruited immune cells together make up the GBM microenvironment. Regardless of many immune cells, a profound state of tumor immunosuppression is supported and developed, posing a considerable hurdle to cancer cells’ immune-mediated destruction. Several studies have suggested that various GBM subtypes present different modifications in their microenvironment, although the importance of the microenvironment in treatment response has yet to be determined. Understanding the microenvironment and how it changes after therapies is critical because it can influence the remaining invasive GSCs and lead to recurrence. This review article sheds light on the various components of the GBM microenvironment and their roles in tumoral development, as well as immune-related biological processes that support the interconnection/interrelationship between different cell types. Also, we summarize the current understanding of the modulation of soluble factors and highlight the dysregulated inflammatory chemokine/specific receptors cascades/networks and their significance in tumorigenesis, cancer-related inflammation, and metastasis.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors of the central nervous system, characterized by a wide range of inter- and intratumor heterogeneity. Accumulation of fatty acids (FA) metabolites was associated with a low survival rate in high-grade glioma patients. The diversity of brain lipids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is greater than in all other organs and several classes of proteins, such as FA transport proteins (FATPs), and FA translocases are considered principal candidates for PUFAs transport through BBB and delivery of PUFAs to brain cells. Among these, the CD36 FA translocase promotes long-chain FA uptake as well as oxidated lipoproteins. Moreover, CD36 binds and recognizes thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an extracellular matrix protein that was shown to play a multifaceted role in cancer as part of the tumor microenvironment. Effects on tumor cells are mediated by TSP-1 through the interaction with CD36 as well as CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. TSP-1/CD47 interactions have an important role in the modulation of glioma cell invasion and angiogenesis in GBM. Separately, FA, the two membrane receptors CD36, CD47, and their joint ligand TSP-1 all play a part in GBM pathogenesis. The last research has put in light their interconnection/interrelationship in order to exert a cumulative effect in the modulation of the GBM molecular network.

Background and Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus, besides other agents, belong to a group named the TORCH complex. Research on the epidemiology of these agents in women is of particular interest, as primary infection during pregnancy could cause severe damage to the fetus. Women who had contracted infection before pregnancy develop IgG antibodies, so the fetus is protected in case of contact with the same agent. Our scope was to identify the childbearing women simultaneously protected or susceptible to a primary infection to two or three agents mentioned above. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 6961 fertile Caucasian women from Western Romania, to analyze the simultaneous seroprevalence to two or three of the pathogens from the TORCH complex: Toxoplasma gondii, CMV, and rubella virus. Sampling was conducted at two time points: 2008–2010 (group 1; 1461 participants) and 2015–2018 (group 2; 5500 participants). Results: The percentage of women simultaneously seropositive to IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii/IgG-anti-CMV, IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii/IgG-anti-rubella, IgG-anti-CMV/IgG-anti-rubella or IgG-anti-Toxoplasma gondii and IgG-anti-CMV/IgG-anti-rubella antibodies decreased between the two groups (2008–2010 vs. 2015–2018): 41.4% vs. 36.1%, OR = 0.79, p = 0.0002; 41.8% vs. 35.7%, OR = 0.77, p < 0.0001; 88.9% vs. 83.6%, OR = 0.63, p < 0.0001; 39.6% vs. 33.2%, OR = 0.75, p < 0.0001. When comparing women from urban and rural areas, the simultaneous seroprevalence was higher in rural areas. In women tested 2008–2010 (group 1) the simultaneous seroprevalence (urban vs. rural) was: 38.4% vs. 49.1%, OR = 1.54, p = 0.0002; 38.4% vs. 50.6%, OR = 1.64, p < 0.0001; 88.8% vs. 89.2%, OR = 1.04, NS; 36.4% vs. 47.7%, OR = 1.58, p = 0.0001. A similar trend was found in women tested in group 2. Conclusions: The rate of simultaneous seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii, CMV and rubella virus among Romanian women of reproductive age decreased significantly between 2008–2010 and 2015–2018 and the susceptibility to infections increased. It is necessary to apply increased prevention measures among susceptible pregnant women.

We present the case of a 35-year-old woman who had a high-risk pulmonary embolism (according to ESC risk stratification for pulmonary embolism) after she had undergone a Caesarion section. Postoperatively, she presented with acute left lower limb pain, swelling and erythema. A diagnosis was made of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the ilio-femoral and popliteal veins. She was started on anticoagulant therapy, which proved to be inefficient, the patient developing a left calf and thigh oedema and shortness of breath. A CT scan revealed high-risk embolus located in the right atrium and through the tricuspid valve. The decision was made to refer her to a cardiovascular surgeon. During her preoperative evaluation, the patient became hemodynamically unstable and was rushed into the operating room, severely desaturated, bradycardic, without consciousness, with severe hypotension. On the basis of the severe state of the patient and the CT scan findings we performed an emergency pulmonary embolectomy, with the patient on cardio-pulmonary by-pass, without cross-clamping the aorta, using a modified Trendelenburg procedure. This case supports using open pulmonary embolectomy for patients with hemodynamic instability on the basis of clinical diagnosis.

This paper represents the focus on developing efficient algorithms that reduce the operations required to be employed in order to obtain complex surfaces milling finishing toolpaths for the three axis NC (Numerical Control) machine within the reverse engineering chain of processes. Direct machining is the process of generating efficient toolpaths directly from the digitized data, meaning the point cloud. The entire research is focused on determining the mathematical calculus able to interpret the data collected through the contact/noncontact 3D scanning process. In this direction, two algorithms were developed to generate ball-end mill finishing toolpaths for freeform surfaces using ordered/unordered point clouds. Practical work that validates author’s employed algorithms of obtaining finishing milling toolpaths uses the point cloud stored from the 3D scanning process in matrix found in ASCII files, which makes data interpreting easy.

The specificity of the different management tools and their diversification have represented the starting point for taking into consideration the process decision program chart and the activity network diagram. The analysis of these management tools gives the possibility of understanding the complexity of the management problems and their practical importance. At the same time, going in the intimacy of these instruments shows us the complex relations among components, activities, management matrices. That is why we resorted to the separate discussion of these tools in order to point out both the specific elements of these tools and the ways of putting these into practice.

The wooden churches from Transylvania, Romania, are a unique and representative cultural heritage asset for rural communities, both in terms of architecture and the style of painting that defines them as monuments of national heritage. These churches are in danger of degradation because rural communities are beginning to abandon them for various motives (e.g., they are too small, are expensive to maintain, or are being replaced by modern churches, built of stone and modern materials). The reason behind their accelerated degradation is that they are covered with shingles that need to be periodically changed and repaired to prevent water from reaching the inner painting layer, a process that is, in many cases, ignored. Imperial gates are the symbol of these churches and separate the nave from the narthex. They are made entirely out of wood and were sculpted and painted manually by skilled craftsmen and still represent the central element of these churches, in terms of art and aesthetics. The digital preservation of these heritage assets is an interdisciplinary undertaking, which begins with the physico-chemical analysis of the pigments in the painting layer, continues with three-dimensional (3D) digitization of the monument and of the objects of interest (such as the imperial gates), and finishes with a digital restoration of these monuments and artefacts. This paper presents a working methodology, successfully applied in digitizing and digitally restoring imperial gates from wooden churches in Transylvania, namely from the wooden church of Voivodeni, Sălaj County, Romania (Transylvania region). X-ray fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopy were used to determine the pigments in the painting layer of these artefacts, and after they were identified, they were synthesized in laboratory conditions. The resulting color was digitized and used for digitally restoring the artefact(s) to its (their) pristine condition. To popularize these cultural heritage assets, the authors make use of virtual reality to mediate the interaction between the general public and heritage objects in their current state of preservation, in a digital environment. Moreover, to showcase how these heritage objects were degraded over time, a digitally restored version of the artefact in pristine condition is presented alongside a version in its current state (as is, digitized, but not yet digitally restored).

The active discovery of risk factors among pregnant women could lead to a decrease în premature births in Romania which are currently above the European average – 9% over 6.5%. Low addressability of the population towards primary medicine constitutes a major risk factor for premature birth. Unwanted pregnancy prevention among teenagers may become a priority from an economic standpoint or when one considers the social impact of a premature newborn. Daily costs for taking care of a premature baby are extremely high, the European average being somewhere around 100 euro/day. Therefore, given the impact and severe nature of ROP, it is highly recommended that a deep and careful research of risk factors, their rate of prevalence and a specific individualization of their causes be performed in order to establish the main areas of prevention. Assuring an analysis of adjustable factors corroborated with the importance of early discovery of retinopathy allow for a thorough evaluation of possible prognostic factors. Underlining the risk factors currently found in modern literature, a retrospective study has been made, which backs these conclusions. The basis for monitoring is represented by the clinical charts in IOMC (“Alessandrescu-Rusescu” National Institute for Mother and Child, Bucharest).

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) represents a determinate cause of blindness in children that could be avoided. Blindness due to ROP and the stage of it when its being diagnosed is mostly determined by: socio-economic degree of country development; availability of the screening in neonatal care; gestational age and hospital screenings; treatment programs available at any given time in the country; screening and treatment costs (material and human resources). ROP is the number one cause of blindness in Romania at the time being. Early discovery decreases exponentially the chances of blindness onset. Low birth weight (LBW), fewer than 1,500 g, represents an additional risk factor together with the degree of prematurity. Mandatory screening both during hospitalization as well as in the first 4-6 weeks after birth may avoid a major social problem. It is a simple process – eye exam with fundus examination – and it depends entirely on the availability, consistency and seriouseness of the parents. Thus a major social impact with disastrous consequences could be avoided.

Starting from the recent identification of CD36 and CD97 as a novel marker combination of fibroblast quiescence in lung during fibrosis, we aimed to survey the literature in search for facts about the separate (or concomitant) expression of clusters of differentiation CD36 and CD97 in either tumor- or pancreatic-cancer-associated cells. Here, we provide an account of the current knowledge on the diversity of the cellular functions of CD36 and CD97 and explore their potential (common) contributions to key cellular events in oncogenesis or metastasis development. Emphasis is placed on quiescence as an underexplored mechanism and/or potential target in therapy. Furthermore, we discuss intricate signaling mechanisms and networks involving CD36 and CD97 that may regulate different subpopulations of tumor-associated cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, adipocyte-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, or neutrophils, during aggressive pancreatic cancer. The coexistence of quiescence and activated states in cancer-associated cell subtypes during pancreatic cancer should be better documented, in different histological forms. Remodeling of the local microenvironment may also change the balance between growth and dormant state. Taking advantage of the reported data in different other tissue types, we explore the possibility to induce quiescence (similar to that observed in normal cells), as a therapeutic option to delay the currently observed clinical outcome.

With all the advantages of additive manufacturing, it is possible to obtain a prosthesis that can be more efficient and comfortable than a classic one. In this case, it is possible to use more materials in making the leg prosthesis which by using soft material that can be printed can provide a higher degree of comfort. In the development of the prosthesis were used state of the art techniques and instruments: laser scanning, revere engineering, 3D printing TRIZ.

Persistent, low-grade inflammation is now considered a hallmark feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), being involved in the development of all-cause mortality of these patients. Although substantial improvements have been made in clinical care, CKD remains a major public health burden, affecting 10–15% of the population, and its prevalence is constantly growing. Due to its insidious nature, CKD is rarely diagnosed in early stages, and once developed, its progression is unfortunately irreversible. There are many factors that contribute to the setting of the inflammatory status in CKD, including increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and acidosis, chronic and recurrent infections, altered metabolism of adipose tissue, and last but not least, gut microbiota dysbiosis, an underestimated source of microinflammation. In this scenario, a huge step forward was made by the increasing progression of omics approaches, specially designed for identification of biomarkers useful for early diagnostic and follow-up. Recent omics advances could provide novel insights in deciphering the disease pathophysiology; thus, identification of circulating biomarker panels using state-of-the-art proteomic technologies could improve CKD early diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostics. This review aims to summarize the recent knowledge regarding the relationship between inflammation and CKD, highlighting the current proteomic approaches, as well as the inflammasomes and gut microbiota dysbiosis involvement in the setting of CKD, culminating with the troubling bidirectional connection between CKD and renal malignancy, raised on the background of an inflammatory condition.

Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia that may lead to severe visual impairment due to the irregular astigmatism caused by corneal thinning. In addition to its association with atopy, eye rubbing, or genetic component, late reports suggest the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of the disease. Our aim was to determine the concentration of IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, RANTES, IFN gamma, and TNF alpha in the tear film of patients with keratoconus and their first degree family members. We analyzed forty-eight participants in an observational cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of keratoconus had to be confirmed in addition to a minimum of 47 D corneal refractive power by corneal topography readings provided by a Placido-based topography system and analysis of the pattern: irregular astigmatism with an asymmetric “bow-tie.” As for the other groups, the most important diagnosis criteria were a normal topographic pattern with a regular astigmatism. 17 keratoconus patients, 16 relatives, and 15 controls were recruited after clinical assessment as part of the research. The cytokine’s mean values were similar in the keratoconus group and the relatives’ samples but significantly higher compared to the controls. Important differences were found in IL-4 levels between keratoconus patients and relatives and between relatives and controls (mean difference of 302.42, p

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is the scaffold protein of caveolae, which are minute invaginations of the cell membrane that are involved in endocytosis, cell signaling, and endothelial-mediated inflammation. CAV1 has also been reported to have a dual role as either a tumor suppressor or tumor promoter, depending on the type of cancer. Inflammation is an important player in tumor progression, but the role of caveolin-1 in generating an inflammatory milieu remains poorly characterized. We used a caveolin-1-knockout (CAV1−/−) mouse model to assess the inflammatory status via the quantification of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, as well as the ability of circulating lymphocytes to respond to nonspecific stimuli by producing cytokines. Here, we report that the CAV1−/− mice were characterized by a low-grade systemic proinflammatory status, with a moderate increase in the IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-12p70 levels. CAV1−/− circulating lymphocytes were more prone to cytokine production upon nonspecific stimulation than the wild-type lymphocytes. These results show that CAV1 involvement in cell homeostasis is more complex than previously revealed, as it plays a role in the inflammatory process. These findings indicate that the CAV1−/− mouse model could prove to be a useful tool for inflammation-related studies.

Viticultural landscapes traditionally consist of a diverse mosaic of different elements of agricultural and semi-natural ecosystems, providing a variety of ecosystem services. In the context of VineDivers landscape ecology, a landscape buffers of 750 m in diameter were delimited around the centroid of the studied vineyard parcels. The results of landscape mapping are parameters such as percentage of semi-natural elements, mean size of vineyard parcel, and complexity index. In Romania were studied sixteen vineyards ecosystems from Târnave Viticulture Region – Transylvania. Landscape mapping offers a better understanding of spatial information and structural inventory of agroecosystems. Also, it should be possible to study the effects of landscape pattern upon species composition, and biodiversity.

From the perspective of the anthropology of space, the problem of perception and representation of the alien remains a fertile subject of research, nevertheless inevitably interfering with imagology, in the sense assigned to the concept of image as any representation of a cultural r eality through which the individual or the group translate the cultural, social, ideological space in which they are located Identity does not justify an existence in itself, but only in relation to alterity The imagological perspective of the foreigner in Romanian traditional culture proves rich in categories of representation dictated inevitably by reference to spatiality

One of the most efficient approaches in teaching Economics is the Case Method. The Case Method combines two elements: the case itself and the discussion of that case. A teaching case is a rich narrative in which individuals or groups of individuals have to make a decision or solve a problem. A teaching case is not a case study of the type used in academic research, as it provides information, but neither analysis nor conclusions. During the classroom discussions, the students perform analytical work, explaining the relationships among events in the case, identifying options, evaluating choices and predicting the effects of actions.

Recently, a large spectrum of biomaterials emerged, with emphasis on various pure, blended, or doped calcium phosphates (CaPs). Although basic cytocompatibility testing protocols are referred by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10993 (parts 1−22), rigorous in vitro testing using cutting-edge technologies should be carried out in order to fully understand the behavior of various biomaterials (whether in bulk or low-dimensional object form) and to better gauge their outcome when implanted. In this review, current molecular techniques are assessed for the in-depth characterization of angiogenic potential, osteogenic capability, and the modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation properties of CaPs and their cation- and/or anion-substituted derivatives. Using such techniques, mechanisms of action of these compounds can be deciphered, highlighting the signaling pathway activation, cross-talk, and modulation by microRNA expression, which in turn can safely pave the road toward a better filtering of the truly functional, application-ready innovative therapeutic bioceramic-based solutions.

The case of a 61-year-old male with a recent total gastrectomy for a hemorrhagic gastric tumor is presented, with the important co-morbidities of type II diabetes mellitus requiring insulin, chronic hepatitis C with liver dysfunction, stage II essential hypertension, chronic stage III renal disease peripheral type II aorto-iliac disease with stage II ischemia of both legs, and chronic anemia. About one month following the gastrectomy, the patient presented with fever and acute inflammatory syndrome. Severe aortic insufficiency, aortic valvular vegetations, and positive blood cultures with Staphylococcus saprophytic were found. The diagnosis of infectious endocarditis on the aortic valve was established (positive blood cultures with echocardiographic features of vegetations, fever), and antibiotic treatment with Levofloxacin and Vancomycin was initiated. The evolution was favorable with the remission of the inflammatory syndrome and quick cessation of fever. However, the hemodynamic aspect showed progressive heart failure with acute pulmonary edema. The transesophageal echocardiographic examination confirmed the existence of severe aortic insufficiency and valvular vegetations with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 38%. The coronary angiography revealed double vessel disease. The calculated Euroscore II was 33.4%. Aortic valve replacement with porcine xenograft and double coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed. The patient had a favorable postoperative course remaining afebrile and out of heart failure, with the markers of inflammation largely within normal limits. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased to 50%. The successful outcome of this case, represented by a rare association of cancer, endocarditis, and coronary disease, reveals the importance of the multidisciplinary teams involved in this case: gastroenterology, general surgery, cardiology, infectious diseases, cardiac surgery, and intensive care. Therefore, in such cases with high risk, complex patients, a strong collaboration between all specialties is needed to overcome all of the limitations of the patient’s co-morbidities.

This present study demonstrates that the role of the mangers in the productive maintenance is currently becoming more important. This assessment is formulated starting from the daily realities regarding the growth of the proportions of productions and along with these the growth of the volume of equipments which need a better care and maintenance for a proper operation. The productive maintenance has developed and emerged out of this necessity. Therefore, the productive maintenance in the economic theory represents the maintenance of the equipments and fabric at the highest productive level by cooperating with all departments related to production. This aspect points out that the maintenance and repair works of the equipments have to be the main preoccupation of the personnel and especially of the managers.

The aim of the article is to explain the Romanian context for inventories and analysis regarding landscape diversity, management and aesthetics. The main surveyed drivers of change are: (1) natural and cultural dimensions - geology, soils, climate, topography patterns, land use, farm types, infrastructures, settlements; (2) institutional dimensions - existing local organizations, institutions and stakeholders, power relations, legislation, tenure arrangements, and land planning policies; (3) socio-cultural and economic dimensions - attitudes and values, goals and aspirations, local culture, sense of place, agricultural and other industries, farm economy, and historical development. These three main dimensions are surveyed for two types of anthropological environments: urban - municipality level and rural - commune level. The presented information summarizes previously published materials and uses national statistical data.

Malignant gliomas are aggressive brain tumors with limited therapeutic options, possibly because of highly tumorigenic subpopulations of glioma stem cells. These cells require specific microenvironments to maintain their “stemness,” described as perivascular and hypoxic niches. Each of those niches induces particular signatures in glioma stem cells (e.g., activation of Notch signaling, secretion of VEGF, bFGF, SDF1 for the vascular niche, activation of HIF2α, and metabolic reprogramming for hypoxic niche). Recently, accumulated knowledge on tumor-associated macrophages, possibly delineating a third niche, has underlined the role of immune cells in glioma progression, via specific chemoattractant factors and cytokines, such as macrophage-colony stimulation factor (M-CSF). The local or myeloid origin of this new component of glioma stem cells niche is yet to be determined. Such niches are being increasingly recognized as key regulators involved in multiple stages of disease progression, therapy resistance, immune-escaping, and distant metastasis, thereby substantially impacting the future development of frontline interventions in clinical oncology. This review focuses on the microenvironment impact on the glioma stem cell biology, emphasizing GSCs cross talk with hypoxic, perivascular, and immune niches and their potential use as targeted therapy.