Biodegradation study of some food packaging biopolymers based on PVA

Abstract Polymers are a common choice as protective materials since they combine flexibility, variable sizes and shapes, relatively light weight, stability, resistance to breaking, barrier properties and perceived high-quality image with cost-effectiveness. Currently, mainly non-biodegradable petroleum-based synthetic polymers are used as packaging materials for foods, because of their availability, low cost and functionality. However, biopolymers can be made from renewable resources without the environmental issues of petroleum-based polymers and with the additional advantage of being available from renewable sources or as by-products or waste-products from the food and agriculture industries. The aim of this study was to test some food packaging biopolymers based on PVA. In this respect, some biopolymers for food packaging applications were subjected to biodegradation tests by covering the tested samples with soil. The samples were incubated in known temperature and humidity conditions. The experiment lasted 45 days, after that the samples were washed, weighed and the biodegradation degree was calculated. The obtained results shows that PVA is a promising material for food packaging usage, as it is made from renewable resources and it is environmentally friendly.Â

Research on the activity of some oxidative enzymes from potato leaves

Oxidative enzymes catalyze the decomposition of reactive oxygen species: hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, hydroxyl and singlet oxygen, which are formed during the normal plant physiological processes. The hydrogen peroxide is decomposed by peroxidase and catalase along with superoxide dismutase. This research studies the activity of those enzymes in potato leaves from plants subjected to thermo-hydric stress. The activity of oxidative enzymes studied had a similar dynamic in the potato leaves. The highest activity was determined during budding phase, in which the leaves are most sensitive to the action of thermo-hydric stress. All three enzymes analyzed had increased activity in the leaves of plants grown at a 50% AHI hydric regime compared with those from the variants grown at 80% AHI regime. Under thermo-hydric stress conditions the highest activity of catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was determined in Robusta variety, which proved to be more sensitive to the action of these factors, and the lowest activity of those enzymes was determined for Sante and Tresor varieties

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

THE PERCEPTION ON ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS – A RESEARCH ON THE URBAN CONSUMER

This paper is about the consumers of organic products. The work is important because in Romania, although consumption data show a small percentage consumption of organic products, in words it is still high. The difference consists between the definition and the perception of the concept of ecological products in respondents’ eye. This work aims to study the consumer perception of such niche products from a narrow perspective and that of products certified or not. Trying to prove that there are differences in behaviour between the two groups. Problem arising in this field is that there are many concepts of period of environmentally-friendly. Marketing and criterion by which to do all the market report shows green products from the point of view as they are legal certificates. Only that in Romania, there are two different segments of shoppers. Those who buy green products certified and those who buy green products certified. These latter, which many call the peasant market supplies, are an interesting group of future investigation for this type of sale. This paper comes as a complete research done in this market and brings attention to a new variable of analysis for motivational research. This research is an exploratory research that proposed method is very common in research of this kind. We held three focus group meetings divided by a selection questionnaire. The first group of 7 persons included only persons who have declared that they have bought certified products and the second group of 9 persons included only people who bought uncertified products. The third group also of 9 persons included people in both categories. So we could identify what some say about others when they are face to face and also when they are not. The results are as expected. We can say says there difference between the two groups in terms of motivation choosing those types of products, the same reasons are for buyers and their family, taste and the appearance of a child in the family. However there are differences in what way those products are defined. If some consider as only those who are eco-certified, having confidence in the certification scheme more tightly, the other group has more confidence in their long term relationships with suppliers-manufacturers, and also in the taste of the products. This research was necessary as part of a wider analysis that aims to build a model of purchase and consumption of organic products

SM-ROM-GL (Strong Motion Romania Ground Level) Database

The SM-ROM-GL database includes data obtained by the processing of records performed at ground level by the Romanian seismic networks, namely INCERC, NIEP, NCSRR and ISPH-GEOTEC, during recent seismic events with moment magnitude Mw ≥ 5 and epicenters located in Romania. All the available seismic records were re-processed using the same basic software and the same procedures and options (filtering and baseline correction), in order to obtain a consistent dataset. The database stores computed parameters of seismic motions, i.e. peak values: PGA, PGV, PGD, effective peak values: EPA, EPV, EPD, control periods, spectral values of absolute acceleration, relative velocity and relative displacement, as well as of instrumental intensity (as defined bz Sandi and Borcia in 2011). The fields in the database include: coding of seismic events, stations and records, a number of associated fields (seismic event source parameters, geographical coordinates of seismic stations), links to the corresponding ground motion records, charts of the response spectra of absolute acceleration, relative velocity, relative displacement and instrumental intensity, as well as some other representative parameters of seismic motions. The conception of the SM-ROM-GL database allows for an easy maintenance; such that elementary knowledge of Microsoft Access 2000 is sufficient for its operation

Trauma pattern in a level I east-European trauma center

Objective: To analyze trauma epidemiology, pattern of lesions or death profile in a level I east-European trauma center. Methods: Prospective observational study of patients admitted to a level I east-European trauma center and enrolled in our trauma registry, between January 2012 to January 2013, was conducted, with the inclusion criteria: (1) trauma lesions, (2) new injury severity score (NISS) higher than 15. Results: There were 141 patients admitted during the study interval, including 102 (72.3%) males, with a mean age of (43.52 ± 19.00) years, and a mean NISS of 27.58 ± 11.32. The trauma etiology was traffic-related injuries 101 (71.6%), falls 28 (19.9%) and crushing injuries 7 (5.0%). Only one case of gunshot wound was encountered in our study. Out of traffic-related injuries, the automobiles were involved in 56 (55.4%) and motorcycles in 9 (8.9%) patients. The bicyclists accounted for 2 (2.0%) of patients and pedestrians hit by vehicles were in 33 (32.7%) cases. High-velocity falls were found in 7 (25.0%) patients, whereas low-velocity falls accounted for 21 (75.0%) of cases. The overall mortality was 30.00%, and these patients presented the mean NISS of 37.63. Conclusions: Our trauma pattern profile is similar to the one found in west-European countries, with a predominance of traffic-related injuries and falls. The severity and anatomical puzzle for trauma lesions were more complex secondary to motorcycle or bicycle-to-auto vehicles collisions. A trauma registry, with prospective enrollment of patients, is a very effective tool for constant improvements in trauma care

Research on thermo hydric stress effect on some early potato physiological processes

The main climatic factors that affect the metabolism of horticultural plants are high temperature, low precipitation (drought) and increased soil salinity, as a result of those. This research aimed to clarify key physiological changes in Solanum tuberosum L. plants exposed to thermo hydric stress compared to those grown under normal conditions. Potato plants grown on sandy soil in two active humidity interval (A.H.I.) 50% and 80% were analyzed. Water stress conditions (50% from AHI) reduced the average intensity of the photosynthesis process of the five varieties of potatoes with an average of 16%, compared with irrigated (80% AHI). Under water stress, the average intensity of respiration process of the five varieties was higher by 7.8% compared with the variants grown at soil moisture of 80% AHI. Water stress occurred in the case of the 50% AHI, caused inhibition of transpiration in all varieties. Thermo hydric stress had no net influence on leaf chlorophyll content. Tresor variety grown in water stress conditions (50% AHI) was characterized by the most intense metabolic activity, with the highest intensity of the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and highest chlorophyll content in leaves

ACUTE PANCREATITIS IN PREGNANCY – A CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction. Acute pancreatitis in pregnancy is a rare condition with an approximate incidence of 1 over 1,000–12,000 pregnant women, but it is associated with increased incidence of maternal and fetal mortality. Can occur during any trimester but over half (52%) occur during the third trimester and rarely during post-partum period. Difficulty in diagnosis and treatment put significantly in danger the maternal and fetal health. The treatment of pancreatitis in pregnancy should be conservative as far as possible with delaying the definitive treatment until after delivery. Case report. We report a case of a 20-year-old woman, at 32 week of gestation who presented with severe pain confined to the upper abdomen and radiating to the back to the upper abdomen. Investigation undertaken led to the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis which was managed conservatively. She recovered within several days and then delivered a healthy baby. Conclusions. Acute pancreatitis is rare in pregnancy, occurring most commonly in the third trimester. Pancreatitis in pregnancy remains a challenging clinical problem to manage, but if treated early, preterm labor can be avoided

THE OPEN HEALING APPROACH AND THE USE OF PLATELET-RICH GROWTH FACTORS FOR SOCKET PRESERVATION

This clinical study evaluated the outcome of bone regeneration using an open-healing approach. We performed 80 atraumatic extraction with socket preservation in n=69 patients (0.98 sex ratio). Post extraction sockets were filled with platelet-rich autologous plasma factors Endoret® (PRGF®) clots covered with fibrin membrane and were left exposed during healing. The bone volume was measured and the need for an additional augmentation in the implant stage was assessed using CBCT scans at t=8 weeks. This analysis showed that open healing technique using PRGF allowed uneventful healing and sufficient bone formation. Thereby, soft-tissue problems associated with extensive flap mobilization and tension may be avoided. We concluded that the use of PRGF in socket preservation with the open healing approach can be favorable from both clinical and radiological points of view. Furthermore, there was almost no need for additional augmentation in the implant stage and the number of complications was limited