INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ROMANIA 2007-2012

This paper intends to analyse the correlation between the level of economic growth of a country and its rural development. The phrase sustainable development combines the economic growth and the preservation and improvement of environmental and human health, preservation of social justice and assurance of democratic environment in social life. Therefore, the sustainable economic growth provides for the meeting of current consumption requirements without compromising or prejudicing those of the future generations. By adding the requirements regarding environmental protection and preservation of natural resources to economic growth we may speak of a proper sustainable development

Developments in the European market of organic agricultural products

This paper represents an analysis of the development of the European organic agricultural product market, taking into account especially the consumption of organic agricultural products and some aspects regarding the consumers’ behaviour. The period between 2000 and 2012 was analysed, with particular attention to the situation existent in 2012 and with references to the global situation. The tendencies that are foreseen for the future of this market segment are also considered. The conclusions of this analysis emphasize the idea that, in an era when the population is increasingly more informed and interested in its health and of the environment it is living in, the organic food market, which is still a niche market, has real opportunities of development. The only condition is that all of those involved in this sector of organic farming (producers, processors and retailers) join forces in order to develop concepts and strategies for the organic farming of the future

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Effects of the Economic Crisis on the Standard of Living in Romania

AbstractThe global economic crisis affected not only different institutions and companies, but also the standard of living of population. Romania is far from getting out of this crisis, and its impact may be measured by different indicators assessing the standard of living of population, such as active population, employed population, employment rate, unemployment rate, population income, consumption expenditure of population etc

Providing Labor Market Flexicurity and Quality of Life Through Better Education and Professional Training

AbstractDiscussions at a european level aimed at policies of economic and social cohesion, especially those aimed a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth(Europe 2020 Strategy), provide universities an increasingly important role in achieving the link between the professional training of people and the requirements of the labor market. Given these priorities, the paper shows that efforts should be focused on education accountability, encouraging innovation and improving employment and training policies to meet labor market flexicurity. Also, a greater capacity for research, development and innovation in all sectors of the economy, combined with a good use of resources will improve competitiveness and boost new job creation. In this article is undertaken a comparative analysis of areas where action must be taken and how to be operated, pointing out some differences and performances recorded in the European Union, through the relevant indicators on employment, education and innovation, as part of the system of indicators of life quality. Providing labor market flexicurity requires major changes in the Romanian educational system, including strategies for lifelong learning, determined by the implementation of new IT and communication technologies in all sectors. The role of educational institutions is changing, education became an integral part of the process of globalization and an economic source that can sustain a relatively long-term competitive advantage, as long as they always provide an “update” of the information already processed by an individual

THE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE LABOUR IN THE EUROPEAN UNION’S MEMBER STATES

The economic crisis is far to an end. After a recursion of the recession in 2012 and a continuance in 2013, its’ effects are increasingly stronger and the most tangible effect is the poverty increase among the active population. It is due to the revenues decrease, to poverty and exclusion’s risks, the attenuation of protection effects which are socially and initially carried out by the decrement of tax incomes and by the increase of expenditures level for social performances. These effects are being acutely experienced, particularly by the member states in the Southern and Eastern Europe. Therefore, at the E.U. point, one performed studies, one determined the causes and it is trying to find solutions. This scientific paper aims to analyze the main parameters onto one must interfere in and the actions that should be considered in order to increase population’s standard of living

Artificial Intelligence in Education

This book contains a collection of 19 systematic literature reviews conducted by Cognitive Science students in the "Artificial Intelligence in Education" seminar in the winter term of 2021/2022. From a Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) perspective, the book investigates the state of the art of research on applying AI technology in educational settings as well as the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of these applications. The four larger areas covered by the studies are "Didactics and Ethics", "Methods and Technologies", "Extended Reality and Robots", and "Addressing Special Needs"