The Question of the Danube and the Planning Myopia

This is our first paper in a sequence of studies dedicated to the Danube. Hence, the following text should be considered as an introduction to a more ambitious research project in the field of spatial planning. In essence, the article forms a critical synthesis of the various arguments that have been put forwardover the past hundred years in support of the Danube’s significance as a vector for development. This exercise in synthesis is both a necessary and an instructing prerequisite for the entire research project: In due course, we wish to formulate a basic set of hypotheses concerning Romania’s development in connection to the Danube. If proven feasible, we wish to subsequently test them in as much detail as possible. The rationale behind this review paper is a reasoned examination of the functions the Danube can still fulfil from a Romanian spatial planning perspective

ELIMINATION OF LOSSES USED LEAN MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES AND KAIZEN PHILOSOPHY

Lean manufacturing is today one of the most successful production strategies for improving competitiveness. To achieve success, a healthy production system based on solid concepts and philosophies is also required. Thus, it has been decided to adopt and accelerate the Lean Manufacturing concept on every site. The Kaizen or "Continuous Improvement by Involving All" method is a teamwork methodology used to systematically solve problems and apply improvement solutions

MODIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS USING KANBAN METHOD AND GROWTH IN PRODUCTION LEVEL

The Kanban method is based on the principle of taking over the tasks by the team members as they become available (pull system), and not on the placement of the tasks without their being requested by the person to execute them (push system).Using the Kanban method, components are manufactured only when needed, so extra components are eliminated. As there is no extra production, waste cuts and scrap are reduced

STRUCTURAL - FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE SOIL LEVEL MACHINE

The soil leveling machine is of half – carried type and it works, as unit, with the wheeled tractor (or caterpillar tractor). The leveling plane is established by the rear wheels of the tractor and by the wheels of the hind train of the machine. The positive and negative soil dislevelments are given against the leveling plane. In the paper there are established the displacements of the mechanism for the automatic working regime, in which the cutting blade is execution element

Approved and Commercialized Antidiabetic Medicines (Excluding Insulin) in Seven European Countries—A Cross-Sectional Comparison

Diabetes mellitus is a complex, multifactorial, progressive condition with a variety of approved therapeutic options. The purpose of this study was to offer an overview of the authorized antidiabetic medicines (excluding insulin) compared with marketed products in seven European countries. Data were obtained from primary sources, including the websites of national authorities and directly from specialists in the countries of interest. The range of marketed medicines compared with the authorized group was assessed in terms of active pharmaceutical ingredients (>60% in Bulgaria, France, Serbia), brand names (>70% in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Spain), pharmaceutical forms (>60% in all countries), strengths (>60% in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Spain), marketing authorization holder (≥50% in all countries) and the status of medicine. Spain was found to have the highest number of products based on most of these attributes. Over 90% of authorized medicines had a pharmacy price in Serbia. Regarding the newer class of GLP-1 receptor agonists, a retail price for all approved substances was available in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Spain. Only one brand name with one concentration was found available for some agents, being susceptible to drug shortages: glibenclamide (Romania, Serbia, Spain), glipizide (the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Spain), glisentide (Spain), acarbose (the Czech Republic), sitagliptin (Bulgaria, Poland), vildagliptin (the Czech Republic, Poland) and saxagliptin (the Czech Republic, France, Romania, Serbia). An overview of the national and international therapeutic options may allow competent authorities and health professionals to take rapid measures in case of supply problems or health crises

The etiology and pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated acute kidney injury

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients often develop acute kidney injury (AKI), leading to increased mortality. In order to improve patients’ survival rate, it is important to understand the pathophysiology mechanism of AKI. In this brief review, we highlight the most important elements of the etiology and pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated AKI. Acute tubular injury seems to be more frequent than prerenal azotemia in COVID-19 patients and collapsing glomerulopathy is the most encountered form of glomerular disease. Another important role in acute kidney injury seems to play immune cell infiltration, inflammation, endothelial injury and microvascular thrombi. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is also important in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 associated AKI

Immunosupression in IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most frequent types of glomerulonephritis encountered in adults from Western countries and Asia. IgAN is responsible for approximately 40% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) mediated by glomerular impairment. The majority of adult IgAN patients present a slowly progressive pattern towards ESRD. Current types of treatment are based mainly on supportive care: i.e., life style risk factors, measures that lower blood pressure and reduce proteinuria, weight loss, smoking cessation or glycaemia control. Because IgAN is an immune complex-mediated disease, immunosuppression therapy gains more and more attention as a modality of treatment. Despite the beneficial effects, the value of immunosuppression remains controversial due to high rates of adverse reactions. The aim of this review is to highlight the benefits and limitations of promoting immunosuppression in IgAN with mild to moderate proteinuria despite supportive antiproteinuric therapy up titrated to maximum tolerated doses

The failure of the floating cover of a vertical cylindrical tank

The location of oil tanks for the storage of volatile hydrocarbons could be done in geographical areas where the standard unit weight of the snow layer on the horizontal surface of the land reached 1500 ... 2000 N / m2 . The snow layer deposited on the floating cover under heavy weather conditions can cause a compressive force between 4500 and 6000 N / m2 . This creates problems in the operation of the tank and consequently the constructive structure of the floating cover can not bear this unitary load from the snow load, inevitably causing the damage. The capacities of the floating cover should be considered not only in terms of limitations on load-bearing considerations in general, but also in terms of the distribution of loads on the surface of the floating cover. The paper presents the aspect of the failure of a floating cover of a vertical cylindrical tank used to store liquid hydrocarbons under heavy climatic conditions

Effects of Injection Rate Shape on Performance and Emissions of a Diesel Engine Fuelled by Diesel and Biodiesel B20

The combustion process in diesel engines is controlled by the injection rate shape. The stricter emission regulations requiring simultaneous reduction of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter imposes intense research and development activity for achieving clean and robust combustion. This work describes the experimental investigation made for calibration of an engine model and the numerical investigation performed to assess the influences of different injection rate shapes on performances of a diesel engine fuelled with diesel and rapeseed biodiesel B20. The engine model was developed with the AVL-BOOST code using the AVL-MCC combustion mode. The model was calibrated for the reference Top-Hat injection rate shape using experimental data registered for maximum brake torque and maximum brake power speed conditions. Other injection rate shapes such as triangular, trapezoidal, and boot having the same area, start, and duration of injection were investigated in terms of combustion characteristics, performance, and pollutant emissions. The link existing between the injection characteristics and the NOx and Soot emissions highlights that, for the optimal rate of injection shape, a simultaneous reduction of NOx and Soot by 11%, respectively 4% for maximum brake torque and by 22%, respectively 7% for maximum brake power, can be obtained using biodiesel B20