Geological and ecological assessment of the exposure degree of the Zăton-Bulba karst system (Mehedinţi Plateau) to anthropogenic hazards: intrinsic vulnerability and biodiversity study

The Mehedinţi Plateau represents an area highly marked by the intensity of the karst processes and by the diversity of the exokarst and endokarst features. The analyzed area includes two parallel limestone bars, developed on the Carpathian structures direction (NNE-SSW). The geological and geomorphological research, guided by a working protocol similar to that of the EPIK method, highlighted the role played by the lithology, structure, tectonics, epikarst and protective cover, related to the infiltration conditions, flow parameters and impact area of a potential contamination event; also, we carried on microtectonic studies on the Bulba Valley, Peşterii Hill, Podul Natural Cave and Bulba Cave. In addition to the results obtained following the EPIK method protocol, we bring forward data concerning the water quality, performing hydrogeochemical analyses on water samples collected from the main sources in the region. Our research has been focused on TDS, on cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, NH4+) and on anions (HCO3-, Cl-). We conclude by modelling the cumulative abundance and the species richness of the harvestmen (Opiliones) in the studied area, under different degrees of human impact on habitat

Geological and hydrogeochemical research, tools for karst management in the north of the Caraş Gorges (Banat Mountains, Romania)

The karst geosystems functioning frequently implies very quick mass and energy transfers, which make them highly sensitive to any natural or anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore, the groundwater resources, threatened by agricultural and industrial pollution, should be carefully exploited, taking into account the intrinsic vulnerability of the region. This paper aims to present the results of the geological, geomorphological and hydrogeochemical studies carried out in the Banat Mountains (Romania), in order to widely assess and map the vulnerability of the most exposed karst aquifers. Following the principles of the EPIK method and using GIS, we were able to delineate upon degree 4 vulnerability classes (low, moderate, high, very high). Moreover, each unit has been assigned to a specific protection framework, comprising suitable management solutions, designed for environmental managers

Translation of the Fugl-Meyer assessment into Romanian: Transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations and clinical validation

PurposeThe Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale, which is widely used and highly recommended, is an appropriate tool for evaluating poststroke sensorimotor and other possible somatic deficits. It is also well-suited for capturing a dynamic rehabilitation process. The aim of this study was to first translate the entire sensorimotor FMA scale into Romanian using the transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptations of its official afferent protocols and to then validate it using the preliminary clinical evaluation of inter- and intra-rater reliability and relevant concurrent validity.MethodsThrough three main steps, we completed a standardized procedure for translating FMA's official afferent evaluation protocols into Romanian and their transcultural and semantic-linguistic adaptation for both the upper and lower extremities. For relevant clinical validation, we evaluated 10 patients after a stroke two times: on days 1 and 2. All patients were evaluated simultaneously by two kinesi-physiotherapists (generically referred to as KFT1 and KFT2) over the course of 2 consecutive days, taking turns in the roles of an examiner and observer, and vice versa (inter-rater). Two scores were therefore obtained and compared for the same patient, i.e., being afferent to an inter-rater assay by comparing the assessment outcomes obtained by the two kinesi-physiotherapists, in between, and respectively, to the intra-rater assay: based on the evaluations of the same kinesi-physiotherapist, in two consecutive days, using a rank-based method (Svensson) for statistical analysis. We also compared our final Romanian version of FMA's official protocols for concurrent validity (Spearman's rank correlation statistical method) to both of the widely available assessment instruments: the Barthel Index (BI) and the modified Rankin scale (mRS).ResultsSvensson's method confirmed overall good inter- and intra-rater results for the main parts of the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols, regarding the percentage of agreement (≥80% on average) and for disagreement: relative position [RP; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only two measurements out of the 56 comparisons we did], relative concentration [RC; values outside the interval of (−0.1, 0.1) in only nine measurements out of the same 56 comparisons done], and relative rank variation [RV; all values within an interval of (0, 0.1) in only five measurements out of the 56 comparisons done]. High correlation values were obtained between the final Romanian version of FMA's evaluation protocols and the BI (ρ = 0.9167; p = 0.0002) for FMA–upper extremity (FMA-UE) total A-D (motor function) with ρ = 0.6319 and for FMA-lower extremity (FMA-LE) total E-F (motor function) with p = 0.0499, and close to the limit, with the mRS (ρ = −0.5937; p = 0.0704) for FMA-UE total A-D (motor function) and (ρ = −0.6615; p = 0.0372) for FMA-LE total E-F (motor function).ConclusionsThe final Romanian version of FMA's official evaluation protocols showed good preliminary reliability and validity, which could be thus recommended for use and expected to help improve the standardization of this assessment scale for patients after a stroke in Romania. Furthermore, this endeavor could be added to similar international translation and cross-cultural adaptations, thereby facilitating a more appropriate comparison of the evaluation and outcomes in the management of stroke worldwide

Nontrivial tori in spaces of symplectic embeddings

This dissertation is comprised of two papers studying the topology of certain spaces of symplectic embeddings. The first paper shows how given two 4-dimensional ellipsoids whose symplectic sizes satisfy a specified inequality, a certain loop of symplectic embeddings between the two ellipsoids is noncontractible. The statement about symplectic ellipsoids is a particular case of a more general result which claims that given two convex toric domains whose first and second ECH capacities satisfy a specified inequality, one can prove that a certain loop of symplectic embeddings between the two convex toric domains is noncontractible.The second paper proves how given two 2n-dimensional symplectic ellipsoids whose symplectic sizes satisfy certain inequalities, a certain map from the n-torus to the space of symplectic embeddings from one ellipsoid to the other induces an injective map at the level of homology with mod 2 coefficients

Karst groundwaters vulnerability assessment methods

A major socio-economic and scientific issue is represented by karst hydrostructures vulnerability mapping, which qualitatively and quantitatively highlights their exposure degree. Two research trends have been developed, one taking into account the environment features exclusively – the aquifer and protective cover type, permeability, aquifer depth, recharge rate, etc. (intrinsic vulnerability), the other focused on the types and quantities of pollutants (specific vulnerability). MAGIERA (2000) described and compared 69 methods, grouped in 5 types: hydrogeological complex and setting methods, index models and analogical relations (AF, AVI, Ekv, ΔhT’), parametric system models (DRASTIC, DWSAP, SINTACS, EPPNA, GOD, EPIK, REKS, PI, GSI, GLA), mathematical models (VULK, FAVA) and statistical methods (CALVUL). However, it is also possible to classify the methods on the basis of other criteria, such as scale (local, regional, national), aim (land use planning, protection zoning, site assessment) and target (source or resource vulnerability)

An inventory of the caves of Romania Inhabited By Oniscidea

The authors provide a list of 213 caves and of the species of Oniscidea known to inhabit them, presenting their altitudinal distribution across major physical-geographic units of Romania

A Study on Repositioning Nalidixic Acid via Lanthanide Complexation: Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxicity and DNA/Protein Binding Studies

“Drug repositioning” is a modern strategy used to uncover new applications for out-of-date drugs. In this context, nalidixic acid, the first member of the quinolone class with limited use today, has been selected to obtain nine new metal complexes with lanthanide cations (La3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+); the experimental data suggest that the quinolone acts as a bidentate ligand, binding to the metal ion via the keto and carboxylate oxygen atoms, findings that are supported by DFT calculations. The cytotoxic activity of the complexes has been studied using the tumoral cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and LoVo, and a normal cell line, HUVEC. The most active compounds of the series display selective activity against LoVo. Their affinity for DNA and the manner of binding have been tested using UV–Vis spectroscopy and competitive binding studies; our results indicate that major and minor groove binding play a significant role in these interactions. The affinity towards serum proteins has also been evaluated, the complexes displaying higher affinity towards albumin than apotransferrin

Rare-Earth Metal Complexes of the Antibacterial Drug Oxolinic Acid: Synthesis, Characterization, DNA/Protein Binding and Cytotoxicity Studies

“Drug repositioning” is a current trend which proved useful in the search for new applications for existing, failed, no longer in use or abandoned drugs, particularly when addressing issues such as bacterial or cancer cells resistance to current therapeutic approaches. In this context, six new complexes of the first-generation quinolone oxolinic acid with rare-earth metal cations (Y3+, La3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Gd3+, Tb3+) have been synthesized and characterized. The experimental data suggest that the quinolone acts as a bidentate ligand, binding to the metal ion via the keto and carboxylate oxygen atoms; these findings are supported by DFT (density functional theory) calculations for the Sm3+ complex. The cytotoxic activity of the complexes, as well as the ligand, has been studied on MDA-MB 231 (human breast adenocarcinoma), LoVo (human colon adenocarcinoma) and HUVEC (normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells) cell lines. UV-Vis spectroscopy and competitive binding studies show that the complexes display binding affinities (Kb) towards double stranded DNA in the range of 9.33 × 104 − 10.72 × 105. Major and minor groove-binding most likely play a significant role in the interactions of the complexes with DNA. Moreover, the complexes bind human serum albumin more avidly than apo-transferrin