Factors influencing educational choices of Romanian rural youth

This paper attempts to identify the main factors influencing the decisions regarding educational choices of rural youth from Cluj county, Romania. In order to achieve this, data collected in three waves of survey, in 2007, 2011 and 2015, were combined. The three surveys used the same methodology, thus allowing us to test the stability of the outcomes over a period of eight years, to highlight the main changes occurring in this period and to test statistically the factors of influence on a larger sample. The results show that the share of those who intend to study further slightly increased in the period 2007-2015. Regression analysis lead us to five factors that have a statistically significant influence on continuing education: the parents’ attitude towards continuing education, the age, the number of siblings; the school performance and the computer skills of the respondents. Some other individual, family and locality-related variables also correlated significantly with the intention to study further. Based on the conclusions, some policy implications are discussed

Cultivating conditions optimization of the anaerobic digestion of corn ethanol distillery residuals using response surface methodology.

AbstractThis study investigated the individual and interactive effects of three factors — temperature, inoculum/substrate ratio (ISR) and inoculum typology — on the anaerobic digestion of corn ethanol distillery wastewater. Biochemical methane potential assays planned with factorial design with two independent quantitative variables on three levels (ISR: 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1; temperature: 30°C, 33.5°C, 37°C) and one independent qualitative variable (inoculum type: suspended, granular, mixed) have been performed. Response Surface Methodology has been used to study the effect of the factors with the aim of maximizing the specific methane yields (YCH4) obtainable with this substrate. The results show that all three investigated factors influence in a significant matter the YCH4, the ISR having the strongest effect on it. The temperature has significant influence on the YCH4 only in combination with high ISR values. The optimal conditions for the maximum YCH4 (551 mL CH4 g−1 VSadded) have been found at 37°C operating temperature, ISR=3:1 and using granular inoculum. These conditions gave rise to a 4-fold increase of YCH4 with respect to the worst combination of factors (YCH4=129 mL g−1 VSadded for the suspended inoculum type, at 30°C and ISR=1:1). The results improve the knowledge on the digestion of this substrate, providing information for successful process up-scaling

Epilepsziasebészeti beavatkozások eredményei a Pécsi Epilepszia Centrumban 2005 és 2016 között = Postoperative outcome of surgical interventions for epilepsy between 2005 and 2016 at the Epilepsy Center of Pécs

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: Az epilepszia krónikus, súlyos neurológiai betegség, mely jelentősen befolyásolja az életminőséget. A megfelelő indikációval végzett epilepsziasebészeti beavatkozás rohammentességet eredményezhet, mely önmagában vagy rehabilitációt követően jelentősen javíthatja az életminőséget. Célkitűzés: Jelen tanulmányunk célkitűzése a Pécsi Epilepszia Centrumban 2005 és 2016 között epilepsziasebészeti beavatkozáson átesett betegek posztoperatív eredményeinek felmérése. Módszer: Az adatgyűjtés a betegek klinikai anyagának áttekintésén túlmenően kérdőívek alkalmazásával történt, a rohamállapot értékelésén kívül a foglalkoztatottsági státuszra mint az életminőség egyik fontos indikátorára is fókuszálva. Eredmények: Reszektív epilepsziasebészeti beavatkozás 72 esetben történt. A betegek 76%-a tartósan rohammentessé vált. A betegek 10%-ánál műtét után csak igen ritkán lépett fel roham, 7%-uknak jelentősen csökkent a rohamszáma, míg 7%-ban nem változott érdemben a rohamállapot. A rohammentes és a nem rohammentes betegek csoportjainak foglalkoztatottsági adatait vizsgálva azt találtuk, hogy a rohammentesség befolyásolja a páciensek elhelyezkedési lehetőségeit. A rohammentes betegek 67%-a állt foglalkoztatottság alatt, míg a nem rohammenteseknek mindössze a 19%-a (p<0,01, Fisher-féle egzakt teszt). Következtetés: Eredményeink a nemzetközi adatoknak megfelelve alátámasztják az epilepszia reszektív sebészi kezelésének klinikai és szociális eredményességét. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(7): 270–278. | Abstract: Introduction: Epilepsy as a chronic, severe neurologic disease significantly influences the quality of life of the epileptic patients. In candidates well selected for surgery, the seizure freedom is realistically achievable, and the quality of life can be further improved with complex individual rehabilitation. Aim: We aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcome of patients who underwent epilepsy surgery between 2005 and 2016 at the Epilepsy Center at Pécs. Method: We evaluated seizure status at regular follow-up visits after surgery and the quality of life using questionnaires focusing on employment and social status. Results: 76% of the 72 patients who underwent surgical resection for epilepsy were free from disabling seizures , and 10% had rare disabling seizures (almost seizure-free), 7% experienced worthwhile improvement and 7% had no worthwhile improvement. Comparing the employment status of patients free from disabling seizures to patients not free from disabling seizures, we found that the employment status is significantly influenced by seizure freedom (p<0.01, Fisher’s exact test). While 67% of seizure-free patients were employed, only 19% of patients not free from disabling seizures were hired. Conclusion: Our results resemble the international tendencies and success rate, proving epilepsy surgery as an available, valid and effective treatment in well selected patients. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(7): 270–278

Effect of Linagliptin vs Placebo on Major Cardiovascular Events in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and High Cardiovascular and Renal Risk

IMPORTANCE Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Prior trials have demonstrated CV safety of 3 dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors but have included limited numbers of patients with high CV risk and chronic kidney disease

Genetic Analysis of Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus sylvestris forma turfosa L. Using RAPD Markers

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #211d1e; line-height: 115%; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Garamond Premier Pro&quot;;">The purpose of the present study was to determine the level of genetic diversity within and among Ciuc basin, Romania (populations from Mohos and Luci raised bogs in Harghita Mountain and Sumuleu in Ciuc Mountain) <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pinus sylvestris </span>populations using molecular markers. Two of populations (Mohos and Luci) seems to be the descendants that survived the continental glaciation. Genetic diversity was analyzed by RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA). Nine primers were selected for analysis, which generated reproducible bands. On base of presence or absence of homologues bands Nei’s gene diversity, the percentage of polymorphic loci and Nei’s unbiased genetic distance were calculated. The level of genetic variation among populations was found to be low. For both populations the variation values among populations were higher than within populations. The fossil records and geological historical data explain the extremely low genetic diversity of this species. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pinus sylvestris </span>experienced strong bottlenecks during its evolutionary history, which caused the loss of genetic variation. Genetic drift and breeding in post-bottlenecked small populations may be the major forces that contribute to low genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of populations. Human activities may have accelerated the loss of genetic diversity in <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Pinus sylvestris.</span></span></span></p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span

The Effect of Mutation in Lipopolysaccharide Biosynthesis on Bacterial Fitness

This paper presents the genome sequence of a Shigella sonnei mutant strain (S. sonnei 4351) and the effect of mutation in lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis on bacterial fitness. Lipopolysaccharides are the major component of the outer leaflet of the Gram-negative outer membrane. We report here a frameshift mutation of the gene gmhD in the genome of S. sonnei 4351. The mutation results in a lack of epimerization of the core heptose while we also found increased thermosensitivity, abnormal cell division, and increased susceptibility to erythromycin and cefalexin compared to the S. sonnei 4303. Comparative genomic analysis supplemented with structural data helps us to understand the effect of specific mutations on the virulence of the bacteria and may provide an opportunity to study the effect of short lipopolysaccharides

Cell death and survival following manual and femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy in age-related cataract

AIM: To study molecular and morphological changes in lens epithelial cells following femtosecond laser-assisted and manually performed continuous curvilinear capsulotomy (CCC) in order to get information about these methods regarding their potential role in the induction of development of secondary cataract. METHODS: Anterior lens capsules (ALC) were removed from 40 patients with age-related cataract by manual CCC and by femtosecond laser-assisted capsulotomy (FLAC). Samples removed by manual CCC were assorted in group 1, FLAC samples were classified in group 2. Morphology of lens epithelial cells was examined with light and electron microscopes. Following capsulotomy, expressions of p53, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 genes were analyzed with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the pro-apoptotic p53 in the epithelial cells. RESULTS: Light and electron microscopic examination showed that ALC of group 1 contained more degenerating cells following manual CCC than after FLAC. The expression level of p53 was higher after manual than laser-assisted surgery. Immunocytochemistry indicated significantly higher number of cells containing p53 protein in the manual CCC group than following FLAC. Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 gene expression levels were slightly lower following manual CCC than after FLAC, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Manually removed ALC shows slightly, but not significantly larger damage due to the mechanical stretching and pulling of the capsule than those removed using FLAC