RESEARCHES ON OPTIMIZING THE CULTURE TECHNOLOGY IN SUNFLOWER

The approached issues covered research objectives aimed at optimizing the culture technology in order to achieve maximum and constant sunflower yield, in the soil and climate conditions of southern Romania, also pursuing the economic efficiency and environment protection. Research  were performed in the experimental field Systems of Sustainable Agriculture and Crops Fertilization (SSA-CF) not irrigated version, in the framework of NARDI Fundulea, pursuing the following parameters: hybrids,  fertilization and plants density The experimental diagram is three factorial type of form 3 x 3 x 2, managed according to the subdivided parcels method, in three repetitions.The total testing area was of 11,760m2. In order to organize the experiment it was used biological material consisting of three sunflower hybrids. Crop management was performed in optimal conditions of technology specific to the culture area, the studied genotypes consisting of: Performer (test check – semi-late hybrid), Barolo RO (semi-late hybrid), and PR64A89 (semi-late hybrid)

ASPECTS REGARDING THE APPEARANCE AND THE EVOLUTION OF KEYNESIAN DOCTRINE

This present paper is based on the importance of the keynesian doctrine in time and tries to make a brief foray into the life and work of John Maynard Keynes, revealing important aspects related to the new concepts this doctrine brought in the history of economic thought, looking at the same time to the criticism addressed to the keynesism and studying the effects they had in the development study of economic science. The objective of this theory is “the analysis of the mechanism of the market economy in order to ensure sustainable development, reducing or eliminating the disequilibrium, when it is not verified in practice the idea of the self equilibrium through the price mechanism."Keynes wrote in an era marked by mass unemployment, by degradation and suffering at an incredible level. A reasonable person could have supported the failure of capitalism, concluding that only major institutional changes - perhaps nationalization of means of production - could restore economic health

On the electrostatic inertia in microgrids with inverter-based generation only—an analysis on dynamic stability

Storage4Grid project grant agreement No. 731155 RESERVE project grant agreement No. 727481 KIOS CoE grant agreement No. 739551.Microgrids are about to change the architecture and the operation principles of the future power systems towards smartness and resiliency. Power electronics technologies are key enablers for novel solutions. In this paper we analyze the benefits of a “microgrid by design” architecture (MDA), using a solid-state transformer (SST) as a low-voltage grid-former and inverter-based generation only. In this context, the microgrid stability is maintained with the help of “electrostatic energy inertia” that can be provided by the capacitor connected to the DC busbar behind the SST inverter topology. This happens in a natural way, alike the mechanical inertia in power systems with synchronous machines, however without depending on frequency and without the need of a rotational inertia. This type of microgrid always operates (both fully connected to the main grid or in islanding mode) with all the necessary mechanisms needed to maintain the microgrid stable—no matter of the perturbations in the upstream of the point of common coupling (PCC). In the case of microgrids with inverter-based generation only (including the energy storage systems), there is no mechanical inertia and different stability mechanisms need to be applied compared to the stability principle of the classical power systems. Our proposed mechanism differentiates from the recently proposed stability assessments of microgrids based on virtual synchronous generators from the control theory perspective. This paper is a continuation of our previous work where the MDA was first introduced. The use-cases and scenarios are based on realistic and yet reasonable complexities, by coupling the disturbance magnitude with the voltage stability limit in power grids. The paper finds meaningful disturbances to test the electrostatic energy inertia at the boundaries of grid stability, as guidance to understand the range of voltage variation for extreme conditions. The results show that in microgrids with inverter-based generation only and passive loads (RLC type) the operation is no longer frequency dependent. The energy of the DC busbar capacitor as electrostatic energy inertia of the MDA has a role similar to that of the rotational machines in classical grids in terms of maintaining dynamic stability, however impacting two different types of stability.publishe

Influence of external factors on the composition and therapeutic efficiency of propolis

Universitatea de Stat de Medicină și Farmacie „Nicolae Testemiţanu” din Republica Moldova, Institutul de Chimie afiliat Academiei de Știinţe al Republicii Moldova, Chișinău, Republica Moldova, Universitatea de Știinţe Agricole și Medicină Veterinară, Cluj-Napoca, România, Universitatea Agrară de Stat din Moldova, Chișinău, Republica MoldovaAbstract. From therapeutic point of view, propolis is one of the most valuable bee products, which proves its use in various pharmaceutical forms, and further research of this product worldwide. However the complex and diverse composition requires a complex study of both propolis and the factors that lead to the modification of the composition and respectively inevitably to the change of the therapeutic properties. This paper is a synthesis of the effects of the use of herbicides and insecticides on the composition and therapeutic properties of propolis. It was established that the presence of certain herbicides and insecticides propolis samples collected in different geographic areas, as is concluded to decrease the effect of the presence of the therapeutic properties of propolis in the presence of polluting factors mentioned above.Rezumat. Din punct de vedere terapeutic, propolisul reprezintă una dintre cele mai valoroase substanţe biologic active apicole, fapt dovedit de utilizarea lui tot mai largă în diverse prescripţii și forme farmaceutice, și studiul lui centrat, reluat în pandemie, la nivel mondial. Compoziţia complexă și diversă, necesită un studiu la fel de complex, atât al propolisului, cât și al factorilor ce pot duce la modificarea compoziţiei, și respectiv, la schimbarea potenţialului terapeutic. Lucrarea reprezintă o sinteză prioritar axată pe rezultatele studiilor efectelor utilizării erbicidelor și insecticidelor asupra compoziţiei și potenţialului terapeutic al propolisului. Astfel, prezenţa unor erbicide și insecticide în mostrele de propolis colectat în diferite zone geografice și climacterice, influenţează direct compoziţia propolisului, condiţionând diminuarea substanţială a potenţialului lui terapeutic

Body Shaping and Volume Restoration: The Role of Hyaluronic Acid

Driven by the rising popularity of minimally invasive techniques, the demand for cosmetic procedures is increasing. Cosmetic body-shaping procedures can be categorized into those that remove tissue and those that add volume. This review focuses on the latter of these categories, particularly on the use of resorbable hyaluronic acid gels specifically developed for minimally invasive volume enhancement. Pilot studies of hyaluronic acid involving its injection to contour various body deformities and its recent use in female breast augmentation are discussed. Injectable hyaluronic acid is effective and well tolerated. It represents an attractive treatment option for volume restoration or augmentation by providing predictable long-lasting results after minimally invasive administration. Alternative treatment options for volume enhancement also are summarized including fat transfer, silicone implants, and the use of injectable nonresorbable products such as silicone, polyalkylimide, and polyacrylamide gels. As patients continue to opt for nonsurgical procedures that offer predictable results, the development of minimally invasive products such as hyaluronic acid is increasingly important

Life Cycle Management of Infrastructures

By definition, life cycle management (LCM) is a framework “of concepts, techniques, and procedures to address environmental, economic, technological, and social aspects of products and organizations in order to achieve continuous ‘sustainable’ improvement from a life cycle perspective” (Hunkeler et al.\ua02001). Thus, LCM theoretically integrates all sustainability dimensions, and strives to provide a holistic perspective. It also assists in the efficient and effective use of constrained natural and financial resources to reduce negative impacts on society (Sonnemann and Leeuw\ua02006; Adibi et al.\ua02015). The LCM of infrastructures is the adaptation of product life cycle management (PLM) as techniques to the design, construction, and management of infrastructures. Infrastructure life cycle management requires accurate and extensive information that might be generated through different kinds of intelligent and connected information workflows, such as building information modeling (BIM)

Patterns of tobacco use, quit attempts, readiness to quit and self-efficacy among smokers with anxiety or depression: Findings among six countries of the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

Introduction: We compared smoking behaviors, past quit attempts, readiness to quit and beliefs about quitting among current cigarette smokers with probable anxiety or depression (PAD) to those without PAD, from six European Union (EU) Member States (MS). Methods: A nationally representative cross-sectional sample of 6011 adult cigarette smokers from six EU MS (Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Spain) was randomly selected through a multistage cluster sampling design in 2016. Respondents were classified as having PAD based on self-reported current diagnosis or treatment for anxiety or depression, or a positive screen for major depression, according to a validated two-item instrument. Sociodemographic characteristics, patterns of tobacco use, past quitting, readiness to quit, self-efficacy and beliefs about quitting were assessed for patients with and without PAD. Logistic regression was used to examine predictors of PAD. All analyses were conducted using the complex samples package of SPSS. Results: Among smokers sampled, 21.0% (95% CI: 19.3–22.9) were identified as having PAD. Logistic regression analyses controlling for socioeconomic variables and cigarettes smoked per day found smokers with PAD were more likely to have made an attempt to quit smoking in the past (AOR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.25–1.74), made a quit attempt in the last 12 months (AOR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.45–2.11), and report lower self-efficacy with quitting (AOR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.44–2.32) compared to smokers without PAD. Additionally, it was found that individuals with PAD were more likely to report having received advice to quit from a doctor or health professional and having used quitline support as part of their last quit attempt. Conclusions: Smokers with PAD report a greater interest in quitting in the future and more frequent failed quit attempts than smokers without PAD; however, the high rates of untreated anxiety or depression, nicotine dependence, low confidence in the ability to quit, infrequent use of cessation methods, as well as socioeconomic factors may make quitting difficult

Social norms towards smoking and electronic cigarettes among adult smokers in seven European Countries: Findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

Introduction: This study explores whether current smokers’ social norms towards smoking and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) vary across seven European countries alongside smoking and e-cigarette prevalence rates. At the time of surveying, England had the lowest current smoking prevalence and Greece the highest. Hungary, Romania and Spain had the lowest prevalence of any e-cigarette use and England the highest. // Methods: Respondents were adult (≥18 years) current smokers from the 2016 EUREST-PLUS ITC (Romania, Spain, Hungary, Poland, Greece, Germany) and ITC 4CV England Surveys (N=7779). Using logistic regression, associations between country and (a) smoking norms and (b) e-cigarette norms were assessed, adjusting for age, sex, income, education, smoking status, heaviness of smoking, and e-cigarette status. // Results: Compared with England, smoking norms were higher in all countries: reporting that at least three of five closest friends smoke (19% vs 65–84% [AOR=6.9–24.0; Hungary–Greece]), perceiving that people important to them approve of smoking (8% vs 14–57% [1.9–51.1; Spain–Hungary]), perceiving that the public approves of smoking (5% vs 6–37% [1.7–15.8; Spain–Hungary]), disagreeing that smokers are marginalised (9% vs 16–50% [2.3–12.3; Poland–Greece]) except in Hungary. Compared with England: reporting that at least one of five closest friends uses e-cigarettes was higher in Poland (28% vs 36% [2.7]) but lower in Spain and Romania (28% vs 6–14% [0.3–0.6]), perceiving that the public approves of e-cigarettes was higher in Poland, Hungary and Greece (32% vs 36–40% [1.5–1.6]) but lower in Spain and Romania in unadjusted analyses only (32% vs 24–26%), reporting seeing e-cigarette use in public at least some days was lower in all countries (81% vs 12–55% [0.1–0.4]; Spain–Greece). // Conclusions: Smokers from England had the least pro-smoking norms. Smokers from Spain had the least pro-e-cigarette norms. Friend smoking and disagreeing that smokers are marginalised broadly aligned with country-level current smoking rates. Seeing e-cigarette use in public broadly aligned with countrylevel any e-cigarette use. Generally, no other norms aligned with product prevalence

Smoking in public places in six European countries: Findings from the EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Survey

Introduction: Surveillance of tobacco consumption in public places is an important measure to evaluate the impact of tobacco control interventions over time. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking as seen by smokers and their smoking behaviour in public places, in six European countries. Methods: We used baseline data of the International Tobacco Control Six European countries (ITC 6E) Survey, part of the EUREST-PLUS Project, conducted in 2016 in national representative samples of about 1000 adult smokers aged 18 years and older in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain. For each setting (workplaces, restaurants, bars/pubs and discos) participants were asked whether they had seen someone smoking during their last visit there and whether they too had smoked there. We report the overall and by-country weighted prevalence of seeing someone smoking and the smokers’ own smoking behaviour at each setting. We also assess the relationship between seeing someone smoking and smoking themselves at these settings. Results: The prevalence of smoking as seen by smokers was 18.8% at workplaces, with high variability among countries (from 4.7% in Hungary to 40.8% in Greece). Among smokers visiting leisure facilities in the last year, during their last visit 22.7% had seen someone smoking inside restaurants and 12.2% had smoked themselves there, while for bars/pubs the corresponding prevalences were 33.9% and 20.4%, and inside discos 44.8% and 34.8%. Conclusions: Smoking is still prevalent at leisure facilities, particularly at discos in Europe, with high variability among countries. More extensive awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement are needed to increase the compliance of smokefree regulations, especially in leisure facilities