50 research outputs found

    AGRICULTURE IN ROMANIA IN THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN STRUCTURES DURING POST - ACCESSION

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    European Union and its Member States shall adjust some provisions of the development strategies aimed at increasing food production in sustainable ways, protecting natural resources and increase competitiveness of European agriculture on the world market. Romania faces imbalances in market conditions is not rationally use land particularly favorable to obtain a competitive agricultural supplies. Large annual variations in crop conditions in which the yields per hectare and per animal is about half the EU15 average does not provide the power necessary at affordable prices, especially for vulnerable population groups. Addressing structural and operational problems of the institutional system of agriculture in Romania\'s European integration process is an important way of overcoming the situations to which the elimination of disparities in economic development and social peace disturbed by high and rising prices of food, produced in quantities increasing imports. In the current international situation in which Romania difficulties in structural adjustment in agriculture and reduction of disparities compared to EU Member States, a national policy of granting real priorities for the sector is badly needed. These priorities cover both ways of achieving the overall objectives which fall within the strategic guidelines of the European Union and European integration meets the needs and solving specific national targets.European integration, rural development, agricultural policy, national objectives, agricultural holdings.

    Magnetically‐actuated microcages for cells entrapment, fabricated by laser direct writing via two photon polymerization

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    The manipulation of biological materials at cellular level constitutes a sine qua non and provocative research area regarding the development of micro/nano‐medicine. In this study, we report on 3D superparamagnetic microcage‐like structures that, in conjunction with an externally applied static magnetic field, were highly efficient in entrapping cells. The microcage‐like structures were fabricated using Laser Direct Writing via Two‐Photon Polymerization (LDW via TPP) of IP‐L780 biocompatible photopolymer/iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) composite. The unique properties of LDW via TPP technique enabled the reproduction of the complex architecture of the 3D structures, with a very high accuracy i.e., about 90 nm lateral resolution. 3D hyperspectral microscopy was employed to investigate the structural and compositional characteristics of the microcage‐like structures. Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X‐Ray Spectroscopy was used to prove the unique features regarding the morphology and the functionality of the 3D structures seeded with MG‐63 osteoblast‐like cells. Comparative studies were made on microcage‐like structures made of IP‐L780 photopolymer alone (i.e., without superparamagnetic properties). We found that the cell‐seeded structures made by IP‐L780/MNPs composite actuated by static magnetic fields of 1.3 T were 13.66 ± 5.11 folds (p < 0.01) more efficient in terms of cells entrapment than the structures made by IP‐L780 photopolymer alone (i.e., that could not be actuated magnetically). The unique 3D architecture of the microcage‐like superparamagnetic structures and their actuation by external static magnetic fields acted in synergy for entrapping osteoblast‐like cells, showing a significant potential for bone tissue engineering applications

    Functional Implications of Oral Papillomatosis

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    The papillomatous lesion has a number of implications that destabilize the normal functioning of the stomatognathic system, but also it has psychological implications. A patient with a papilloma located in an area of maximum visibility tends to be less exposed in public, to reduce socialization, to feel embarrassed. Oral papilloma affects the masticatory function, phonation, but also aesthetics.Understanding how local immunity works in patients diagnosed with oral papilloma is essential. Local immunity influences the evolution of the papillomatous oral lesion. Toll-like receptors are extremely important in the immune process of oral papilloma. Toll-like receptors can be used as indicators of lesion progression. A reduced expression of these receptors in the focus of the lesion is suggestive of pathological progress. It is also emphasized that in the oral cavity we find a well-represented local immune system which cells have an immune role and whose expression influences the evolution of the disease. The most incriminating factor in the occurrence of oral papilloma is HPV infection. The persistent inflammatory process produced by the HPV virus stimulates the development of oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal neoplasms. The HPV virus acts as a direct inducer in the process of transforming the benign lesion into a malignant lesion. Macrophages play an important role in the malignancy potential induced by the HPV virus. Macrophages are activated by increasing the metabolic rate and fighting tumor cells.</p

    Recoverable and Reusable Polymer Microbead-Supported Metal Nanocatalysts for Redox Chemical Transformations

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    Metal nanoparticles have been widely exploited in catalysis, but their full impact on the environment and human health is still under debate. Here we describe the one-step fabrication of recoverable and reusable polymer microbead-supported metal and metal oxide nanocatalysts for application in batch reactions and flow systems. Au, Ag, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared directly at the surface of commercial benzylamine-coated spherical polymer beads in water by using low-energy microwave radiation for 5 min. The functionalization of microbead surface with betalamic acid, an antioxidant from plant origin, before irradiation changes the morphology and catalytic properties of the grafted nanoparticles. No leaching of the active phase was observed during the application of these effective and ready-to-use nanocatalysts on the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123. The supported nanocatalysts were recovered by filtration and/or magnetic separation and reused up to three times without significant drop in catalytic performance. These results can stimulate the controlled and facile synthesis of recoverable microbead-supported magnetic and nonmagnetic nanocatalysts that can be applied under myriad reaction conditions and reused multiple times.Peer reviewe

    Total and Potentially Active Bacterial Communities Entrapped in a Late Glacial Through Holocene Ice Core From Scarisoara Ice Cave, Romania

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    Our understanding of the icy-habitat microbiome is likely limited by a lack of reliable data on microorganisms inhabiting underground ice that has accumulated inside caves. To characterize how environmental variation impacts cave ice microbial community structure, we determined the composition of total and potentially active bacterial communities along a 13,000-year-old ice core from Scarisoara cave (Romania) through 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing. An average of 2,546 prokaryotic gDNA operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 585 cDNA OTUs were identified across the perennial cave ice block and analyzed in relation to the geochemical composition of ice layers. The total microbial community and the putative active fraction displayed dissimilar taxa profiles. The ice-contained microbiome was dominated by Actinobacteria with a variable representation of Proteobacteria, while the putative active microbial community was equally shared between Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Accordingly, a major presence of Cryobacterium, Lysinomonas, Pedobacter, and Aeromicrobium phylotypes homologous to psychrotrophic and psychrophilic bacteria from various cold environments were noted in the total community, while the prevalent putative active bacteria belonged to Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, and Massilia genera. Variation in the microbial cell density of ice strata with the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and the strong correlation of DOC and silicon concentrations revealed a major impact of depositional processes on microbial abundance throughout the ice block. Post-depositional processes appeared to occur mostly during the 4,000–7,000 years BP interval. A major bacterial composition shift was observed in 4,500–5,000-year-old ice, leading to a high representation of Beta- and Deltaproteobacteria in the potentially active community in response to the increased concentrations of DOC and major chemical elements. Estimated metabolic rates suggested the presence of a viable microbial community within the cave ice block, characterized by a maintenance metabolism in most strata and growth capacity in those ice deposits with high microbial abundance and DOC content. This first survey of microbial distribution in perennial cave ice formed since the Last Glacial period revealed a complex potentially active community, highlighting major shifts in community composition associated with geochemical changes that took place during climatic events that occurred about 5,000 years ago, with putative formation of photosynthetic biofilms

    Neonicotinoid insecticides as emerging contaminants in agricultural soil

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    Using an LC-MS-MS method for detection of 6 neonicotinoid insecticides (imidacloprid, dinotefuran, acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram) was developed a new performant extraction method based on sonication treatment of soil samples, which were previously dried, grounded, homogenized, sieved (2 mm) and subjected to the selective extraction process with acetonitrile. Then the obtained extracts were diluted with ultrapure water (ratio 1: 100) and subjected to purification by Strata C18 SPE extraction using cartridges loaded with 200 mg/6 mL of octa-dodecyl-silica adsorbent phase. The entire methodology allowed obtaining quantification limits at trace level that varied in the range 0.3-0.9 ng/g and recoveries between 71.4% and 109.6%. In the agricultural soil samples, taken from the lands cultivated with wheat, corn, sunflower, beans, located in Prahova and Giurgiu counties (Romania), only four neonicotinoids out of the total of six were quantified imidacloprid (0.38 ng/g-56.9 ng/g), acetamiprid (1.7-7.2 ng/g), thiamethoxam (1.05-6.7 ng/g), clothianidin (1.1-1.5 ng/g)

    Phenotyping Type 2 Diabetes in Terms of Myocardial Insulin Resistance and Its Potential Cardiovascular Consequences: A New Strategy Based on 18F-FDG PET/CT

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    Cardiovascular risk; Myocardial insulin resistance; Type 2 diabetesRisc cardiovascular; Resistùncia miocàrdica a la insulina; Diabetis tipus 2Riesgo cardiovascular; Resistencia miocárdica a la insulina; Diabetes tipo 2Background: Systemic insulin resistance is generally postulated as an independent risk factor of cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the role of myocardial insulin resistance (mIR) remains to be clarified. Methods: Two 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were performed on forty-three T2D patients at baseline and after hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp (HEC). Myocardial insulin sensitivity (mIS) was determined by measuring the increment in myocardial 18F-FDG uptake after HEC. Coronary artery calcium scoring (CACs) and myocardial radiodensity (mRD) were assessed by CT. Results: After HEC, seventeen patients exhibited a strikingly enhancement of myocardial 18F-FDG uptake and twenty-six a marginal increase, thus revealing mIS and mIR, respectively. Patients with mIR showed higher mRD (HU: 38.95 [33.81–44.06] vs. 30.82 [21.48–38.02]; p = 0.03) and CACs > 400 (AU: 52% vs. 29%; p = 0.002) than patients with mIS. In addition, HOMA-IR and mIS only showed a correlation in those patients with mIR. Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET combined with HEC is a reliable method for identifying patients with mIR. This subgroup of patients was found to be specifically at high risk of developing cardiovascular events and showed myocardial structural changes. Moreover, the gold-standard HOMA-IR index was only associated with mIR in this subgroup of patients. Our results open up a new avenue for stratifying patients with cardiovascular risk in T2D.This research was funded by the Carlos III Health Institute and the European Regional Development Fund (PI16/02064 and PI20/01588) and AGAUR (2017SGR1303 and 2017SGR1144)

    The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

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    Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

    PRESENTATION OF THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) – HISTORY AND ESTIMATES POST

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    Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is one of the first common policies adopted by the European Union. Its genesis was a reaction to food problems that followed the Second World War, and measures were adopted in the European Economic Community (EEC). The term "common policy" fairly reflects one of the defining features of the CAP, namely that, for about 90% of agricultural products, the decision not remain with the Member States but the European Union. CAP is not only one of the first common policies, but also among the most important. In its present form, agricultural policy is built around two pillars: the first - and original - is the common market organizations, common measures include regulating the operation of integrated markets for agricultural products, and the second, which has gained widespread in the last decade is that of rural development and includes structural measures targeting the harmonious development of rural areas, in some aspects: social, business diversity, quality products, protect the environment

    AGRICULTURE IN ROMANIA IN THE PROCESS OF INTEGRATION INTO EUROPEAN STRUCTURES DURING POST - ACCESSION

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    European Union and its Member States shall adjust some provisions of the development strategies aimed at increasing food production in sustainable ways, protecting natural resources and increase competitiveness of European agriculture on the world market. Romania faces imbalances in market conditions is not rationally use land particularly favorable to obtain a competitive agricultural supplies. Large annual variations in crop conditions in which the yields per hectare and per animal is about half the EU15 average does not provide the power necessary at affordable prices, especially for vulnerable population groups. Addressing structural and operational problems of the institutional system of agriculture in Romania's European integration process is an important way of overcoming the situations to which the elimination of disparities in economic development and social peace disturbed by high and rising prices of food, produced in quantities increasing imports. In the current international situation in which Romania difficulties in structural adjustment in agriculture and reduction of disparities compared to EU Member States, a national policy of granting real priorities for the sector is badly needed. These priorities cover both ways of achieving the overall objectives which fall within the strategic guidelines of the European Union and European integration meets the needs and solving specific national targets
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