Assessment of hydrological drought in the north-eastern part of Romania

On the background of amplification of hydro-climatic drought in the last decades, in this paper we try to evaluate a series of indexes for assessing hydrological droughts. To characterize the hydrological drought, minimum flow parameters are successively analyzed: percentiles from the flow duration curve, mean annual minimum flow, base flow index and recession indeces. Also was used some indices to evaluate the water deficit from streams like thereshold level method and the sequent peak algorithm. Each method was exemplified using data from hydrometric stations from Bahlui drainage basin and associated data from 2012 summer drought. The results show that in the 2002-2014 period, the average drought duration of the cold season is 23 days, but with a low water deficit due to conditions of quartering it in the form of ice and snow layer. In summer season, the average lenght of hydrological drought is 22 days, with a huge water deficit which may exceed 37.5 mil. m3 as happened in the summer of 2012

Vicrostatin – An Anti-Invasive Multi-Integrin Targeting Chimeric Disintegrin with Tumor Anti-Angiogenic and Pro-Apoptotic Activities

Similar to other integrin-targeting strategies, disintegrins have previously shown good efficacy in animal cancer models with favorable pharmacological attributes and translational potential. Nonetheless, these polypeptides are notoriously difficult to produce recombinantly due to their particular structure requiring the correct pairing of multiple disulfide bonds for biological activity. Here, we show that a sequence-engineered disintegrin (called vicrostatin or VCN) can be reliably produced in large scale amounts directly in the oxidative cytoplasm of Origami B E. coli. Through multiple integrin ligation (i.e., αvβ3, αvβ5, and α5β1), VCN targets both endothelial and cancer cells significantly inhibiting their motility through a reconstituted basement membrane. Interestingly, in a manner distinct from other integrin ligands but reminiscent of some ECM-derived endogenous anti-angiogenic fragments previously described in the literature, VCN profoundly disrupts the actin cytoskeleton of endothelial cells (EC) inducing a rapid disassembly of stress fibers and actin reorganization, ultimately interfering with EC's ability to invade and form tubes (tubulogenesis). Moreover, here we show for the first time that the addition of a disintegrin to tubulogenic EC sandwiched in vitro between two Matrigel layers negatively impacts their survival despite the presence of abundant haptotactic cues. A liposomal formulation of VCN (LVCN) was further evaluated in vivo in two animal cancer models with different growth characteristics. Our data demonstrate that LVCN is well tolerated while exerting a significant delay in tumor growth and an increase in the survival of treated animals. These results can be partially explained by potent tumor anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects induced by LVCN

Strategies to inhibit tumour associated integrin receptors: rationale for dual and multi-antagonists

YesThe integrins are a family of 24 heterodimeric transmembrane cell surface receptors. Involvement in cell attachment to the extracellular matrix, motility, and proliferation identifies integrins as therapeutic targets in cancer and associated conditions; thrombosis, angiogenesis and osteoporosis. The most reported strategy for drug development is synthesis of an agent that is highly selective for a single integrin receptor. However, the ability of cancer cells to change their integrin repertoire in response to drug treatment renders this approach vulnerable to the development of resistance and paradoxical promotion of tumor growth. Here, we review progress towards development of antagonists targeting two or more members of the RGD-binding integrins, notably αvβ3, αvβ5, αvβ6, αvβ8, α5β1, and αIIbβ3, as anticancer therapeutics

ASSESSMENT OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STREAM FLOW AND BASE FLOW: PATTERNS, ANALYSIS, APPLICATIONS

Base flow indices for low land area from North-Eastern part of Romania are compared, which were calculated with six different separation methods: the local minimum method (LMM), Talaksen filter, Chapman filter, recursive digital filter (RDF) WHAT model and the Ekchardt filter. All filter-based methods indicate a slight increase in BFI values throughout the study period (1981-2013), in agreement with an increase in precipitation levels in the area over the past decades. The correlation matrix between the different values obtained for the BFI indicates that the most appropriate methods for the study area are the Chapman filter and the Eckhardt filter (r=0.98). Both methods suggest the identification of parameters a and BFImax, which, when adjusted for the lowland area of North-Eastern Romania (a=0.925, BFImax=0.7-0.8), indicate that, in the area in question, BFI values exceed 0.5.). This indicates the need for a careful reevaluation of the region from a hydrological point of view, one that takes into account the changes in land use and the numerous hydro-technical works of the past decades

BISTRIȚA RIVER CHANNEL CHANGES IN THE SUBCARPATHIAN SECTOR, IN THE LAST TWO CENTURIES

Over time, the hydrographic network corresponding to Bistrița basin has undergone numerous changes, mostly human induced, materialized through the hydrotechnical works made in order to create accumulation lakes (especially after 1960, to encrease electricity production), regularization, damming and embankment, land reclamation or achievement of adduction related to public water supply, and also for built-up area or transport routes network expansion. These actions have led to significant changes regarding the hydrographic network morphometry, by reducing the length of the river, degreasing slopes or sinuosity index. The succesion of changes was analyzed by using the following cartographic documents: Austrian maps published by von Otzellowitz (1788-1790), topographic maps (1:50.000 scale) published in 1894, military maps (1:20.000 scale) edited in 1917-1920, topographic plans (1:5.000 scale), 1975-1976 edition, cadastral plans printed in 1986 (1:10.000 scale) and 2005-2006 ortophotomaps at 1:5.000 scale. Overlapping these maps using GIS techniques highlighted the significant reduction of unplaite and sinuosity index. Also, following the deviation of the natural course of Bistrița river through the creation of a 30 kilometers drainage channel were brought important changes to the river channel morphometry, to the position and river confluences angles, and to the whole hydrographic network of the subcarpathian sector of this river

Experimental Study on Electrical Conductivity of Several [C4mim][BF4] Ionic-Liquid-Based Nanocolloids

Nanocolloids are receiving considerable attention in regard to their properties and future applications, especially as heat transfer fluids and phase change materials for energy storage. Additionally, studies on ionic liquids and ionic-liquid-based nanocolloids are at the forefront of research preoccupations. This study aims to shed light on applications of nanocolloids based on [C4mim][BF4] ionic liquid, giving insight into the electrical conductivity of [C4mim][BF4] ionic liquid, as well as three types of nanoparticles suspended in this particular ionic liquid, namely Al2O3 (alumina), ZnO (zinc oxide) and MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotubes). In this experimental research, three types of suspensions were carefully prepared and the electrical conductivity was measured both at ambient temperature and during heating. The results are discussed in the context of the state of the art. The electrical conductivity variation with temperature was found to be linear, and nanoparticle loading significantly influenced the electrical conductivity of the suspensions. A complex analysis in terms of temperature and nanoparticle type and loading was performed. In conclusion, the electrical properties are relevant for many applications and further experimental work needs to be devoted to their study

THE ROLE OF THE HYDRO-CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN CAUSING HIGH FLOODS IN THE SUCEVIȚA RIVER CATCHMENT

Located in the north-eastern part of Romania, the Suceviţa catchment has been affected in the last decade, by the most serious known high floods in the modern period of hydrological observations. The significant amounts of rainfall (260 mm in five days in 2008 and 150 mm in four days in 2010) have led to the formation of high floods that have affected large areas of land near the river course. These torrential rainfall led to the recording of maximum flows showing an increased tendency from 214 m3/s in 2007 to 467 m3/s in 2010 (reconstituted value exceeding the probability of occurrence of 0.1%). Even if the afforestation degree, at the level of the catchment and its tributaries, in the mountainous area, is over 80%, the morphometric conditions given by the average high values of the slopes (37-55‰) and also by the circularity ratio (0,60 – 0,73) generate a fast drainage of the precipitation water to the riverbeds. At the same time, the human activity increases the impact of flooding because of the activities carried out near watercourses. Flooding associated with these high floods have highlighted the vulnerability of the communities manifested by weak capacity to absorb the effects of the phenomenon and to recover after such events. Therefore, the high floods of 2008 and 2010 have caused extensive damage to the localities situated in the Sucevița river catchment