Country Risk Importance on Investment Decision Making

Given the controversies, especially from the last period, in terms of credibility of the major international rating agencies, this article aims to assess the correlation between country risk ratings and the evolution of FDI flows in the receiving economies. In this regard, we chose to analyze the degree of these influences manifestation in Romania. The study, based on statistical information on the rating granted to Romania and the value of foreign direct investments during the period between 2000 and 2010, confirms the indirect natural connection of the two indicators. Thus, the results show that, when the rating falls in an immediate lower class, foreign direct investments are reduced by 1173.76 billion Euros, which represents 27.2% of the investments average mean made within the 11 analyzed years. Conversely, we can observe an influence of 0.05% of FDI on Romania's rating. The data obtained demonstrates the interdependence between the two indicators, however, a low correlation can be observed. The qualitative analysis performed, showed arguments that support the decrease in importance of rating, such as: reducing the credibility of rating agencies as a result of exposing the weak points from the methodologies applied, granting of incorrect ratings, the inability to foresee the financial crisis or increasing the transparency of governments which makes more and more information available to investors. This doesn’t mean that the role of country rating is denied. It remains an important decision making criterion in guiding the flows within the global economy space, but it is not sufficient and it is not indispensable.country risk, foreign direct investments, interdependence.

Development and validation of Triticum phytobiological method as an alternative procedure for investigating in vivo acute toxicity on mice

The goal of this study was to validate an alternative method for determining in vivo acute toxicity using vegetal material instead of laboratory animals, starting from the phytobiological method known also as the Triticum technique. We set out to demonstrate that vegetal cells have similar sensitivity to some toxic agents as animal cells, in which case a statistical correlation could be established. A series of new compounds synthesized by the Romanian National Institute for Chemical Pharmaceutical Research and Development as potential β3 adrenergic receptors agonists were tested for their acute toxicity using classic animal exposure models, before investigating possible anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. We then determined whether similar conclusions might be reached exposing vegetal material to the same agents. We successfully demonstrated that plants are affected in a very similar way as animals when exposed to some potentially toxic agents, providing new possibilities for ending unethical animal experiments

Chitosan: A Good Candidate for Sustained Release Ocular Drug Delivery Systems

This chapter focuses on the eye, one of the most important organs of humans. Current data on pathophysiology of the human eye are presented in direct correlation with a range of therapeutic products, with a well-known and widely used material, namely chitosan. Applications of chitosan biopolymer are described in the development of innovative, modern, therapeutic devices and solutions. Thus, chitosan is a good excipient either for classic drop-type ocular systems, as well as for complex drug systems such as nanostructures (nanoparticles, nanomicelles and nanosuspensions), liposomes, microemulsions, microspheres, in situ hydrogels and inserts or implants. A number of disadvantages for ocular administration of the drugs are thus overcome

Natural and Artificial Superwettable Surfaces-Superficial Phenomena: An Extreme Wettability Scenario

With the help of biomimetics, superficial characteristics were transposed, through various methods, onto artificially obtained materials. Many industrial fields applied surface architecture modifications as improvements of classic materials/methods. The medico-pharmaceutical, biochemical, transportation, and textile fields are few examples of industrial areas welcoming a “structural change.” Anti-bioadhesion was widely exploited by means of antibacterial or self-cleaning fabrics and cell culturing/screening/isolation. Anti-icing, antireflective, and anticorrosion materials/coatings gained attention in the transportation and optical device fields. Interdisciplinary approaches on extreme wettability include “solid-fluid” formations called liquid marbles, which will be further discussed as a superhydrophobic behavior exponent

INFLUENCE OF COLCHICINE TREATMENTS ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF THE OKRA SEEDLINGS

The effect of the treatments with colchicine determines the doubling of the number of chromosomes, but can also induce mutations being often used in breeding works to induce variability. Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (syn. Hibiscus esculentus L.) is an economically important vegetable plant grown in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate areas with a warmer climate for multiple nutritional and medicinal properties. In the present paper, 0.1% colchicine treatments were performed on the okra seeds. Five variants with different exposure times were experimented and observations were made after seven days on the length and thickness of the roots and the hypocotyl. The treatment with colchicine induced the modification of the morphological characters, resulting in seedlings with short and thickened roots and hypocotyls. The maximum effect was recorded in variant no. 5 with 2 hours exposure

Effects of Film Thickness of ALD-Deposited Al2O3, ZrO2 and HfO2 Nano-Layers on the Corrosion Resistance of Ti(N,O)-Coated Stainless Steel

The goal of this stydy was to explore the potential of the enhanced corrosion resistance of Ti(N,O) cathodic arc evaporation-coated 304L stainless steel using oxide nano-layers deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD). In this study, we deposited Al2O3, ZrO2, and HfO2 nanolayers of two different thicknesses by ALD onto Ti(N,O)-coated 304L stainless steel surfaces. XRD, EDS, SEM, surface profilometry, and voltammetry investigations of the anticorrosion properties of the coated samples are reported. The amorphous oxide nanolayers homogeneously deposited on the sample surfaces exhibited lower roughness after corrosion attack compared to the Ti(N,O)-coated stainless steel. The best corrosion resistance was obtained for the thickest oxide layers. All samples coated with thicker oxide nanolayers augmented the corrosion resistance of the Ti(N,O)-coated stainless steel in a saline, acidic, and oxidising environment (0.9% NaCl + 6% H2O2, pH = 4), which is of interest for building corrosion-resistant housings for advanced oxidation systems such as cavitation and plasma-related electrochemical dielectric barrier discharge for breaking down persistent organic pollutants in water

Nigella Sativa and Oriental Spices with Protective Role in Iron Intoxication: in vivo Experiments on Rabbits

Homeostasis of hematological parameters is essential for assuring a general health status for any living organism. Iron is one of the essential mineral, involved in many vital processes - mainly in blood cells production, but in the same way it can become toxic in very high concentration. Hemoglobin and red blood cells are directed related with the iron ion, due to the high quantity (70%) of total iron from organism being part of the blood (hemoglobin) and muscle (myoglobin) cells. Ferrous ion is part of hemoglobin structure, and red blood cells. But, the administration of high doses of iron can negatively affect the general health status, because the iron alters the enzymatic system in the vital organs. The aim of our experimental study was to verify the hypothesis that in rabbit’s organism, after intraperitoneal administration of 15g Fe2+/body weight as ferrous-gluconate hydro solution, a special diet based on a complex, fresh, organic vegetables (roots and leaves) protects the organism by iron intoxication and help the hematological homeostasis. The research experiment was conducted during 43 days in summer time, on German Lop Eared breed young rabbits, which were protected with a diet that consisted of administration of Nigella sativa, some oriental spices (Allium ampeloprasum, Allium tuberosum, Coriandrum sativum, Eruca sativa, Cucumis sativus, Raphanus sativus, Trigonella foenum-graecum) and other vegetables (Trifolium, Petroselinum crispum, Dacus carrota subsp.sativus and Cucumis sativus). At the final of experiment we collected blood samples for hematological test and we evaluated the erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red cell distribution width. The results were analytical evaluated and only for hemoglobin we obtained significant increase value in experimental rabbits compared to control group of rabbits