An assessment of the scope and effectiveness of soft measures to handle plastic pollution in the Baltic Sea Region.

As a semi-closed sea, the Baltic Sea is especially vulnerable to human activities and pressures, such as tourism, industry, and increasing population size, which is also associated with increasing levels of plastic pollution. Apart from legal frameworks and technical solutions (e.g.

Fertilizer use and agricultural practices in the paradox of maize crop production and environmental sustainability.

The enduring existence of pollution presents a substantial danger to human health, natural systems, and social welfare. Human activities mostly generate greenhouse gas emissions, namely carbon dioxide, which negatively impacts the environment. This study used annual datasets to examine the association between maize crop production, maize yield, fertilizer consumption, agricultural land use, and environmental quality in China.

Reusability of Scrap Rubber, Tire Shredding, Recycled PVC and Fly Ash for Development of Composites with Vibration Damping Ability.

The study focuses on harnessing recycled materials to create sustainable and efficient composites, addressing both environmental issues related to waste management and industrial requirements for materials with improved vibration damping properties. The research involves the analysis of the physico-mechanical properties of the obtained composites and the evaluation of their performance in practical applications. Composite materials were tested in terms of their tensile strength and vibration damping capabilities, considering stress-strain diagrams, vibration amplitudes, frequency response functions (FRFs) and vibration modes.

Comparing Relationship Satisfaction and Body-Image-Related Quality of Life in Pregnant Women with Planned and Unplanned Pregnancies.

This comparative cross-sectional study conducted at the "Pius Brinzeu" healthcare center in Timisoara explored the differential impacts of pregnancy planning status on sexual function, body image, and relationship satisfaction among pregnant women. Employing the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults (BESAQ), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the study analyzed responses from 107 participants divided into groups of planned ( = 59, mean age 28.5 ± 5.

Analysis regarding the impact of 'fake news' on the quality of life of the population in a region affected by earthquake activity. The case of Romania-Northern Oltenia.

Purpose: The study aims to examine the impact of the wave of seismic activity in the northern region of Oltenia (Gorj County, Romania) in February 2023 and the belief in 'fake news' (circulated regarding causality, manifestations, and future developments of the seismic activity) on the quality of life of the affected population. It was considered opportune to conduct this study, given the novelty of such a situation, as the mentioned geographical area is not known to have a high seismic risk.

Methods: The study was built based on the questionnaire to which 975 respondents, present/residing in Gorj County during the earthquakes and at least 14 days after, and with a minimum age of 18 years, responded.

Perspectives on Scaffold Designs with Roles in Liver Cell Asymmetry and Medical and Industrial Applications by Using a New Type of Specialized 3D Bioprinter.

Cellular asymmetry is an important element of efficiency in the compartmentalization of intracellular chemical reactions that ensure efficient tissue function. Improving the current 3D printing methods by using cellular asymmetry is essential in producing complex tissues and organs such as the liver. The use of cell spots containing at least two cells and basement membrane-like bio support materials allows cells to be tethered at two points on the basement membrane and with another cell in order to maintain cell asymmetry.

A Cotton Fabric Composite with Light Mineral Oil and Magnetite Nanoparticles: Effects of a Magnetic Field and Uniform Compressions on Electrical Conductivity.

Over the past few decades, tactile sensors have become an emerging field of research with direct applications in the area of biomedical engineering. New types of tactile sensors, called magneto-tactile sensors, have recently been developed. The aim of our work was to create a low-cost composite whose electrical conductivity depends on mechanical compressions that can be finely tuned using a magnetic field for magneto-tactile sensor fabrication.

Allergic rhinitis associated with nasal polyps and rhinosinusitis - histopathological and immunohistochemical study.

Currently, allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common allergic disease worldwide. AR is defined as immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated chronic inflammatory disease of the upper airways. It characterizes by symptoms like nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and sneezing.

Study on the Vaccination of the Population of Romania against Monkeypox in Terms of Medical Security.

Although it has been shown in numerous studies that immunization of the population by vaccination is the most effective way to protect against smallpox or other polioviruses, the anti-vaccination public rhetoric recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to influence the populations acceptance of vaccination against newly emerging viruses. This fact influenced our decision to study the vaccination of the Romanian population against the virus that causes monkeypox, aiming to identify the degree of compliance regarding the decision related to vaccination acceptance/non-acceptance/hesitation, based on the survey of a representative sample of respondents. The study is based on an online questionnaire completed between 1 July and 31 July 2022 by 820 individuals, aged 18 years or above, with a permanent residency in Romania.

Survey upon the Reasons of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance in Romania.

Aim: The present study aims to observe the reasons for which the participants have chosen to uptake one of the COVID-19 vaccines approved in Romania. Thus, it will help us to determine whether the reasons are medical in nature, with the respondents' scope to stay healthy, or if there are other motivations. High rates of vaccine acceptance are essential in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, and trust indicators in other inoculations may be vital for the good management of the vaccination campaign.

Relevance of dietary exposure to acrylamide formed in heat-processed agri-food products.

Objectives: Acrylamide (AA) is considered one of the contaminants that occur in heat-processed agri-food products, which through diet can increase the risk of developing cancer for consumers of all age groups.

Methods: This review analysed the level of acrylamide of the most important heat-processed agri-food products that contribute to the dietary exposure of the population of different European countries and the assessment of health risks related to the presence of AA in food.

Results: The results of monitoring AA concentrations in agri-food products, reported individually by researchers or projects such as CONTAM in 2015 and the UK Food Standard Agency in 2017, show that some products exceeding the recently set European reference level are reported as such for specific values - mean UB/RLs in µg.

Magneto-Tactile Sensor Based on a Commercial Polyurethane Sponge.

In this paper, we present the procedure for fabricating a new magneto-tactile sensor (MTS) based on a low-cost commercial polyurethane sponge, including the experimental test configuration, the experimental process, and a description of the mechanisms that lead to obtaining the MTS and its characteristics. It is shown that by using a polyurethane sponge, microparticles of carbonyl iron, ethanol, and copper foil with electroconductive adhesive, we can obtain a high-performance and low-cost MTS. With the experimental assembly described in this paper, the variation in time of the electrical capacity of the MTS was measured in the presence of a deforming force field, a magnetic field, and a magnetic field superimposed over a deformation field.

Promoting gender equality across the sustainable development goals.

Unlabelled: Gender issues, and gender equality in particular, can be regarded as cross-cutting issues in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), even though it is unclear how they are taken into account. This study addresses this information gap by performing an assessment of the emphasis on gender issues across all the other 16 SDGs, in addition to SDG5, through a literature review and case study analysis, the basis for the newly developed framework, highlighting specific actions associated to each SDG. The 13 countries addressed in the 16 case studies include China, India, or Australia and illustrate the inclusion of SDG5 into the SDGs.

Analysis of the impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine on the population of Romania.

Purpose: The study aims to highlight the behavior of people in a state in the vicinity of a military conflict zone. Specifically, it highlights the psychological behavior of Romanian citizens after the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. It was considered appropriate to carry out this study, given the novelty of such a situation, since, after the end of the Second World War, Europe has no longer faced major problems of insecurity caused by armed conflicts of this magnitude.

The Clinical, Biological, Psychological and Psychiatric Impact of the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Women.

Objective: Psychosocial factors are correlated with the risk of breast cancer, by the lack of externalization of feelings and aggressive tendencies, or with a negative prognosis, by the presence of a high level of stress and reduced coping abilities. Impairment of psychological status should be assessed early to identify quantifiable psychooncological changes, such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. These indicators, measured in this study, may become psychometric markers for predicting the existence of the neoplastic process, prior to histopathological evaluations.

Telocytes' Role in Modulating Gut Motility Function and Development: Medical Hypotheses and Literature Review.

This review article explores the telocytes' roles in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), presenting the mechanisms and hypotheses related to epithelial regeneration, progressive fibrosis, and dysmotility as a consequence of TCs' reduced or absent number. Based on the presented mechanisms and hypotheses, we aim to provide a functional model to illustrate TCs' possible roles in the normal and pathological functioning of the digestive tract. TCs are influenced by the compression of nearby blood vessels and the degree of fibrosis of the surrounding tissues and mediate these processes in response.

Changing Times: The Impact of Digitalization on the Behavior of Professionals and Their Perception towards Development.

In 2020, the educational system was taken by surprise by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the educational institutions were delivering face-to-face classes and were forced to switch to online teaching in a very short period of time due to lockdown measures and the health and safety measures put in place by public authorities. In addition to universities, professional courses were also forced to be delivered online.

Parental COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy for Children in Romania: National Survey.

Purpose: Once vaccination against COVID-19 was also possible for children over 12 years of age, parents/legal guardians had to give their consent for their vaccination. It is a crucial moment, given the large number of infected people in Romania and the fact that these children are a source of transmission of the virus in the community. The refusal or hesitation of the parents/legal guardians, regarding the agreement for the vaccination of the children, determined us to focus on this subject, wishing, based on the questioning of as many parents as possible, to extract the reasons underlying these decisions.

Study on the Refusal of Vaccination against COVID-19 in Romania.

The refusal to be inoculated with the anti-COVID-19 vaccine by a part of the Romanian population becomes a barrier against controlling and stopping this particularly infectious virus. The rapid evolution of COVID-19 vaccines has created confusion regarding health and safety. Many Romanian citizens refuse vaccination because of fears generated by uncertainties based on information obtained from fake news.

Role of in the triggering and evolution of hemorrhagic gastro-duodenal lesions.

The majority of studies concerning () are oriented towards the implication of infection with in processes that end in the formation of neoplasia, without assessing the impact of the bacterium in triggering acute gastroduodenal hemorrhagic episodes. The present study includes 166 patients with upper digestive hemorrhage, admitted to the ATI Clinic, the Gastroenterology Clinic or to the Surgery II Clinic of the County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Craiova, Romania between 2017 and 2019. All patients were monitored for evolution and received treatment according to current guidelines, and hemorrhagic lesions were biopsied.

Structure and Heat Transfer in Zircaloy-4 Treated at High Temperatures.

Zircaloy-4 has an important role in the construction of generation III nuclear reactors. An important application is the fuel element sheath, which must have excellent corrosion resistance in the working environment, adequate mechanical characteristics and very good heat transfer properties from the combustible element to the coolant. The corrosion processes at high temperatures, the accidents that lead to significant increases in temperature and the structural transformations associated with them affect the heat transfer process.

The Relevance of Supplemental Vitamin D in Malignancies.

Background: Vitamin D has a widely acknowledged role in regulating the metabolism of calcium and phosphate, both essential to bone remodeling. However, numerous studies in recent decades have emphasized the association between low sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency, and an increased risk of extra-skeletal disorders such as cancer.

Objective: This mini-review of literature aims to present an objective overview of several recent studies and meta- analyses evaluating the role of vitamin D in cancer prevention, its potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes, as well as the negative effects of vitamin D deficiencies.

Autophagy dysfunctions associated with cancer cells and their therapeutic implications.

Genomic analysis of human cancers indicates that the loss or mutation of core autophagy related genes, (ATG) is uncommon, whereas oncogenic events that activate autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis have been identified. Several studies have demonstrated that autophagy plays a wide variety of physiological and pathophysiological roles in cells: a cellular process that maintains the homeostasis of the normal cell, while self-defects can lead to a lawsuit to accelerate tumorigenesis and developing diseases, such as cancer. Depending on different contexts, autophagy dysfunctions may play a role: neutral, tumor-suppressive, or tumor-promoting.