DIGITAL TEHNOLOGIES. AN OVERVIEW OF CURRENT EVOLUTIONS AND IMPACT

Various observers describe today's global economy as one in transition to aknowledge economy, as an extension of an information society. The transition requires thatthe rules and practices that determined success in the industrial economy need rewriting in aninterconnected, globalized economy where knowledge resources such as know-how andexpertise are as critical as other economic resources. According to analysts of the knowledgeeconomy, these rules need to be rewritten at the levels of firms and industries in terms ofknowledge management and at the level of public policy as knowledge policy or knowledge-related policy. The digital and ICT revolutions are twin revolutions. Information andcommunications technology (ICT) refers to a broad field encompassing computers,communications equipment and the services associated with them. It includes the telephone,cellular networks, satellite communication, broadcasting media and other forms ofcommunication.digital revolutions, communication equipment, broadcasting media

Universities, Entrepreneurship and Regional Networks Chances for a Welfare

Entrepreneurship has been recognized as an engine of both growth and economic development. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) account for 99,8% of all businesses in Europe and their role in the economic growth and job creation has been recognized at the regional, national and European level. This leads the policy makers at all levels to look for measures enhancing the firm creation activity and in the same time they have to harmonize with Universities Curricula. In the Information Era network is a current tool that build bridges and develop business and people’s knowledge

Investigation of silica - PVA xerogel microstructure evolution during thermal treatment by SANS experiment

The purpose of the study was to investigate the appearance of certain microstructures developing in the SiO2/PVA nanocomposite xerogels at different temperatures by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The samples were prepared by the alcoxide route of the sol-gel method. The SANS measurements were performed over a q (scattering vector) range from 0.05 to 3.7 nm-1, providing structural information at length scales (2π/q) between approximately 1 and 100 nm. The measured small-angle scattering intensities of silica and silica/PVA samples aged at 60°C and heat-treated at different temperatures, are presented in log-log plots. It is shown that both the molecular mass of organic and the temperature of thermal treatment have strong influence on transition tendency from mass fractal toward surface fractal structures

Mesoporous silica matrices derived from sol-gel process assisted by low power ultrasonic activation

The present work contributes to elucidating the differences between silica gels obtained by low doses ultrason- ic activation, and those obtained by the conventional method, termed as classical sol gel. Silica matrices were produced by sol-gel synthesis process, assisted and non-assisted by an ultrasonic field, and subsequently char- acterized by various methods. Nitrogen adsorption and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements provided texture and microstructure of the dried gels. The adsorption results show that the sample sonicated for 2 hours presents the most ordered microstructure, characterized by pore shape close to spherical and the narrowest size distribution – about 90 % of the pores for this sample fall into the mesopore range (2–50 nm). SANS data reveal the formation of primary structural units of sizes around 1.5–2 nm which are small linear or branched polymeric species of roughly spherical shape and with rough surface. They are generated in the very early stage of sol gel process, as a result of hydrolysis and condensation reactions. The aggregated primary units form the secondary porous structure which can be described as a rough surface with fractal dimension above 2. The best porosity characteristics were obtained for the sample activated for 2 hours, indicating the optimal doses of sonication in the present conditions. Our results demonstrate the possibility of tailoring the pore size distribution using a low power ultrasonic bath

Effectiveness in development management of the region

This publication focuses on the attempt to determine the effectiveness of regional development management activities on the example of the Bucharest Ilfov Region in Romania. In recent years, the EU's operational programmes have supported the development of many countries such as Poland and Romania. However, the main problem in the development of regions is very often the effectiveness of the use of EU funds and the efficient and effective way of management by intermediaries and beneficiaries themselves. The aim of this article is to present examples of solutions for effectiveness in development management of the region in relation to the EU 2020 Strateg

Infrastructure Investments: Need for a Higher Territorial Cohesion in Bucharest-Ilfov Region

This paper is going to present the current situation and some predictions regarding the development of Bucharest Ilfov region infrastructure, the most developed Romanian regions from economical point of view. The cohesion policy investments must be closely aligned to the objectives of Europe 2020 (there should be a balanced approach to investment, a right balance between different types of investments). For this reason, the development opportunities through infrastructure investments using the EU funds is one of the main priority in order to increase Bucharest-Ilfov attractiveness, accessibility and mobility across the region. The paper will present the regional development trends and the present regional policy implementation practice and first results regarding the infrastructure investments financed through EU funds in order to increase the capital city functions as an engine for development

Multinuclear solid state NMR of novel bioactive glass and nanocomposite tissue scaffolds

Sol-gel derived bioactive glasses are promising candidates for bone regeneration, where bone is a natural nanocomposite of collagen (organic polymer) and hydroxyapatite (inorganic mineral) with a complex hierarchical structure and excellent mechanical properties. Solid-state NMR is a sensitive probe and offers atomic-level information on the structure of sol-gel derived bioactive glasses. In this thesis, a multinuclear solid state NMR approach, as part of an extensive study, has been applied to a key range of sol-gel derived materials related to novel nanocomposites to act as tissue scaffolds. The nanostructure evolution of sol-gel derived bioactive glasses 70S30C (70 mol% SiO2 and 30 mol% CaO) was characterised by 29Si, 1H and 13C CP MAS NMR. Calcium was found to be incorporated into the silica network during the stabilisation stage and to increases its disorder. The inhomogeneity found within 70S30C bioactive glass monoliths showed that the calcium concentration was higher in the outer region of the monolith caused by the way calcium only enters into the structure after breakbown of the nitrate. Trimethylsilylation reaction mechanisms used to tailor the nanoporosity of sol-gel derived 70S30C bioactive glass was also studied. The 29Si NMR results showed that the modification processes affected the atomic scale structure of the glass, such as Qn structure and network connectivity. 1H and 13C NMR was used to follow the loss of hydroxyls and organic groups directly. The study was extended to 58S (60 mol% SiO2, 36 mol% CaO, 4 mol% P2O5) systems and compared for two synthesis routes: inorganic and alkoxide. Via the inorganic route high temperatures were needed for calcium incorporation, while via alkoxide route calcium was found to be incorporated at low temperatures. Reactive surface Ca ions were involved in the formation of different types of carbonates for the two routes. The addition of P2O5 to the silica-calcium oxide system results in a scavenging of calcium ions by phosphate groups to give orthophosphate and pyrophosphate units. Solid-state NMR of new organic-inorganic hybrid scaffolds, class II, in the silicagelatin and silica-calcium oxide-poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) systems indicates that 3- glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) provides a covalent link between the organic and inorganic networks and increased the inorganic condensation. 1H-1H intra- and intermolecular proximities have been identified using 1H DQ (double-quantum) CRAMPS (combined rotation and multiple pulse spectroscopy) techniques. 13C NMR results indicate that an efficient promotion of epoxide ring opening of GPTMS was reached by either gelatin or γ-PGA. 43Ca NMR identified different calcium environments in the hybrid systems. The last part of this thesis is focused on the comparison studies in the mechanism of apatite growth on both melt-derived (Bioglass®) and sol-gel derived (TheraGlass®) bioactive glass surfaces. By using a combination of 1H, 13C, 31P, 29Si and 23Na, using one and two dimensional NMR spectroscopy, the inhibitive effects of serum proteins in the mechanism of the apatite growth was revealed. The solid-state NMR experimental data support the hydroxycarbonate apatite formation mechanism proposed by Hench. Apatite formation takes place from the largely amorphous phosphate ions initially deposited on the glass surface. Serum proteins adsorbed on the glass surface have been found to significantly inhibit the apatite formation. Multiple sodium sites have been identified in Bioglass® composition with the formation of a more ordered local structure on increasing immersion time

Tourism and Cultural Heritage: Sector Priorities of Regional Development Policy within Bucharest-Ilfov Region

The sustainable development gets a great importance in the context of Romania integration in the EU and globalization, a context in which the intersection of the economic, social environmental but also cultural and recreational sector is more and more complex. Having in mind this complex context, in this paper, we present a personal point of view regarding the potential for growth in tourism of Bucharest-Ilfov region, due to vast range of tourist offer (cultural, business, recreational). The Bucharest-Ilfov region has a great tourism potential: the attraction capacity of the Bucharest urban centre is enriched by the environmental and cultural value of the areas and sites surrounding the capital city. This combination of urban, business, cultural and environmental resources is a powerful basis for developing the tourism sector in the region. The tourism sector must be a priority of the regional development policy, because of the importance of the tourism contribution to growth and job creation so the infrastructure improvement is therefore a necessity for tourism development. In line with the above, the main goal of this paper is to demonstrate the necessity of increasing the economic importance of the tourism sector within the regional economy

THE ROLE OF SEA IN INTEGRATING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO THE PLANNING OF HYDROENERGETIC PLANTS

The present paper offers an analysis of the concept of SEA and its role in the development of hydroenergetic plant planning. The article provides information related to the institutional aspects of the strategic environmental assessment processes, at the same time outlining the potential benefits of the procedure in the assessment and management of environmental effects. In addition, the paper offers useful information consisting of relevant issues to be considered when elaborating Environmental Reports for hydroenergetic plans, as well as environmental targets to be achieved in relation to the management of water resources