ECONOMIC MEASUREMENTS OF SOCIAL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS: WHERE DOES ROMANIA STAND AT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

Sustainable economic development, no matter the geographical area it is applied to, relates to improving living standards and incorporates a new focus and challenge for the economy: the measurement of intangible and social assets. This article aims to present Romania’s ranking among other countries. First of all, it analyses the rationale for measuring social aspects, in the context of the emrging new economy. The essential point here is that investing in intangibles produces more welfare on long term and improves labour productivity, creating a more competitive and knowledge based economy and society. Secondly, several indices are presented and the ranking for Romania is analysed, in order to provide a systematic view and debate upon the importance of social and intangible assets and their ways of measurement at a country level. We consider that our study's results are just a starting point for possible future theoretical and empirical investigations. This paper seeks to develop in Romania a framework of understanding the value of social and intangible assets and their importance for sustainable development. We appreciate that such a study could be a quite useful approach for both the academic and business communities in our country.knowledge economy, intangible assets, sustainable development,economic development, globalisation

Quality Assurance of Cylindrical Casted Parts with Small Thickness

The casting of the cylindrical parts with great diameter and small thickness and intermediary flange is difficult because of the great values of the forced contraction. Thus the value of the tensile stress is very great and can determine the fracture of the part in zone of the thermal knot. For assurance of the quality of these parts some technological solutions are necessary. The paper shows the analysis of this aspect and presents practical solutions

The Process Involved in Making the Medals

This paper presents a method that was experienced in the laboratory to manufacture a medal. There are three general techniques used to make medals: repoussé, striking and casting. Serigraphy technique is the most chosen for a relief type as it is the fastest and least expensive to produce. The final result is a unique work of art, with examples of the same medal exhibiting subtle variations in color and surface detail

Sources of Emissions in the Sintering and Blast Furnace Plant

The main technological operations for producing the sinter used for preparing the hot metal in the furnace are: preparation and transport of raw materials used for producing the sinter (transport, storage, crushing, sorting ore and coke); sintering the raw materials during the sintering tape preparation (cooling, smashing, sorting) and transport of the sinter

Improving Biocompatibility of Co-Cr Alloy Used in Dentistry by Surface Modification with Electrochemical Methods – Corrosion of Untreated Co-Cr Alloy in Solution with Different pH

The use of metals and alloys in dentistry has seen remarkable progress due to the deep research on their biocompatibility or the application of advanced technologies to improve surface properties by controlling material/environment interactions occurring in the mouth. The biocompatibility of metals and alloys is a consequence of the presence of the surface oxide layer. The chemical properties and therefore the interface chemical processes are  determined precisely by this oxide layer and not the metal itself. The material response to changes in pH, to the application of force or the degrading effects of fluids may impair biocompatibility. Corrosion resistance, an important feature of the biocompatibility, can be verified by studying the electrochemical behaviour of metals and alloys in specific environments. This paper presents some research results on the corrosion behaviour of Co-Cr biomaterial composition in aqueous solutions with different pH (Fusayama - Meyer artificial saliva, Hank’ s and Ringer’ s solutions, citric acid) given that many of chemical reactions in the mouth are extremely sensitive to the environmental pH. The electrochemical methods used (free potential, potentiodynamic curves and cyclic polarization) are relevant methods for studying interactions of materials - specific environment of use/exploitation. Research has shown different behaviour of the alloy according to the pH, the chloride content and the oxidizing nature of the environment

Corrosion Behaviour and Biocompatibility of 316 Stainless Steel as Biomaterial in Physiological Environment

Although stainless steel is a material widely used for biomedical applications, its surface properties for long term application are still a serious concern. 316L stainless steel (SS 316L) is a material commonly used in dentistry for orthodontic braces, wires and in some cases as dental crowns. The pH value of natural saliva from the oral cavity can undergo sudden modification due to food products which are rich in citric acid. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of 316L stainless steel was evaluated in two simulated body fluid solutions, Fusayama-Mayer artificial saliva with pH=5 and Fusayama-Mayer artificial saliva adjusted with citric acid to a pH=1.58 which simulates the environmental conditions of the oral cavity. The surface of SS316L was investigated by optical microscope before and after corrosion assays. The electrochemical corrosion behavior was studied by open circuit potential, potenitodynamic polarization and linear polarization. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the corrosion damage after the electrochemical assays

Structural Aspects of Antifriction Properties Brass

a + β' brass types with antifriction properties belong to the category of hightensile brass, alloys which besides Cu and Zn also contain certain alloying materials introduced in order to obtain some special characteristics. It is known that these elements change the limits of the equilibrium diagram, widening or narrowing the phase existence areas