Consumer responsibility in the context of transition to green economy in Romania

This paper presents a quantitative research with two main directions: (1) to determine the strength of a possible association between the consumers’ expectations from the companies and their willingness to be actively involved in the transition to green economy and (2) to establish the degree to which the level of education influences the expectations of the consumer regarding green technologies when deciding to buy from a company. It was confirmed that although there is a significant level of awareness regarding the impact of companies on the environment, it is not transposed proportionally in the awareness of the consumers of their own responsibility in the transition process towards a green economy. Given the obtained results, the Romanian consumer, although aware of the importance of protecting the environment, is not convinced of his own responsibility in this process, being rather inclined to believe that it is rather an obligation of companies to ensure a transition towards a green economy than their own

Pain management in the right iliac fossa during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa in women may be caused by a complicated ovarian cyst, adnexitis, and appendicitis. The paper analyses the characteristics of patients with right iliac fossa pain admitted during the Covid-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis on 25 cases with abdominal pain in the right iliac fossa admitted to “St. Apostol Andrei” Emergency County Clinical Hospital Constanta, Romania between March 2020 and March 2021 was performed. In 52% of the cases, the symptomatology remitted with antispasmodics, 4 (16%) patients had cystic torsion and right adnexectomy (group A, without adnexa), 6 (24%) patients had ruptured cysts and right cystectomy, and 2 (8%) had immediate cystectomy together with appendectomy due to signs of peritoneal irritation (group B, adnexa retained). The age, the signs and the symptoms, as well as the inpatient diagnosis in group A were lower compared to patients in group B. The ovarian cyst can become a major surgical emergency if twisted or ruptured and it reaches an important vascular source, especially if it is associated with acute appendicitis, which often poses problems of differential diagnosis. The collaboration between gynecologists and surgeons is essential in the optimal therapeutic solution of these cases

Innovative therapeutic approach to chemical burns produced by vesicants; an experimental study

Vesicants are compounds that cause severe toxic effects on various tissues. Such chemical action causes tissue necrosis, with clinical expression of skin lesions with a burning character and characteristic blisters. Clinical toxic effects of cutaneous vesicles are correlated with the absorbed dose and exposure time. The goals of the study are to evaluate in vitro the skin toxicity produced by the vesicant chemical compound 2-chloroethyl-ethyl sulfide (CEES), to develop a complex antidote formula, and to optimize the therapeutic efficacy by inclusion in controlled release systems. The experimental protocol aims at the in vitro evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the vesicant compound CEES and of the optimized complex antidote, using the MTT cell viability test. Optimization of the complex antidote formula was achieved by developing and in vitro and in vivo testing of a fixed combination of active substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, formulated as a solution with cutaneous administration. In vitro cytotoxicity tests on fibroblast cultures revealed the protective effect of the newly developed antidote solution, specifically a dose-related effect in the case of vesicant exposure

INDCOR White Paper 2: Interactive Narrative Design for Representing Complexity

This white paper was written by the members of the Work Group focusing on design practices of the COST Action 18230 - Interactive Narrative Design for Complexity Representation (INDCOR, WG1). It presents an overview of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) design for complexity representations through IDN workflows and methodologies, IDN authoring tools and applications. It provides definitions of the central elements of the IDN alongside its best practices, designs and methods. Finally, it describes complexity as a feature of IDN, with related examples. In summary, this white paper serves as an orienting map for the field of IDN design, understanding where we are in the contemporary panorama while charting the grounds of their promising futures.Comment: 11 pages, This whitepaper was produced by members of the COST Action 18230 - Interactive Narrative Design for Complexity Representation (INDCOR - https://indcor.eu

INDCOR white paper on the Design of Complexity IDNs

This white paper was written by the members of the Work Group focusing on design practices of the COST Action 18230 - Interactive Narrative Design for Complexity Representation (INDCOR, WG1). It presents an overview of Interactive Digital Narratives (IDNs) design for complexity representations through IDN workflows and methodologies, IDN authoring tools and applications. It provides definitions of the central elements of the IDN alongside its best practices, designs and methods. Finally, it describes complexity as a feature of IDN, with related examples. In summary, this white paper serves as an orienting map for the field of IDN design, understanding where we are in the contemporary panorama while charting the grounds of their promising futures

Tropaeum Traiani Monument. A Multi-Channel Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Territory through Cycle Tourism

The article explores the methodological approach of the designer around the promotion and communication project of the Tropaeum Traiani and the municipality of Adamclisi, located in the Dobruja region in Romania. The designer's ability consists in adapting to new scenarios, storing and reprocessing new information, taking note of the change and reasserting the project management. In this case the research has doubled between two targets, on the one hand, the stakeholders of the territory and on the other hand, the cyclists. The first phase of the project deals with the collection of data regarding the identity of the territory and the case studies of sustainable tourism. The second phase focuses on the data analysis and the field research, while the third phase deals with a target trend tourism research. At the end we collect some feedback from the stakeholders and the cyclists on the project and analyse the results from which to draw conclusions for future developments

Identitate nationala si identitate europeana. Dintr-o perspectiva psihosociologica - National Identity and European Identity. From a Psychological and sociological Perspective (Romanian Version)

The theme of European identity in relation to national identity is part of the Romanian social actuality. Interest in the issue of identity also grows (the author cites here the Euro barometer). The author presents in his work the following themes: social representations paradigm, national identity and European identity – objects of social representation, methodological issues, types of social identity, theories of identity, self-monitoring and self-efficacy – related concepts. No. pg. 145Current trends, policy rules, Econometric Analysis

Investigating the Function and Regulation of Two CRISPR Systems of Streptococcus mutans

CRISPR-Cas (clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats–CRISPR-associated proteins) provide adaptive microbial immunity systems against invading viruses and natural transformation via plasmids. Naturally competent Streptococcus mutans UA159 harbors two CRISPR-Cas systems: type II-A system (CRISPR1) and type I-C system (CRISPR2) and several spacers matching sequences of phage M102 or genomic sequences of other S. mutans strains. In addition, previous transcriptome studies in S. mutans linked CRISPR/Cas systems to stress response and virulence. The goal of this work was to determine the role of CRISPR/Cas systems in phage defense and natural transformation in S. mutans, and also to investigate if they play additional functions in the cell physiology. Deletion of CRISPR1 and/or CRISPR2 cas genes or removal of the spacers in S. mutans UA159 did not affect its M102 phage resistant phenotype, suggesting that CRISPR-independent mechanisms contribute to the phage resistance. Using a plasmid-based interference assay, we identified DNA interference activity in S. mutans UA159, which is mediated by its type II-A CRISPR/Cas system (CRISPR1). Spacers 2 and 3 from type II-A, both matching sequences from phage M102, were found to be essential for CRISPR interference against engineered plasmids containing matching proto-spacer sequences. Functional analysis of the cas deletion mutants revealed that CRISPR1-Cas system modulates stress tolerance induced by low pH, high temperature, oxidative and cell membrane stress, as well as DNA damaging conditions, whereas the CRISPR2-Cas participates in the tolerance associated with heat shock. Transcriptional analysis identified that VicR/K two-component signal transduction system differentially regulates the expression of cas genes for both systems in S. mutans. Further, structural, biochemical and functional studies found that the Cas5d protein SMU.1763c, a putative endoribonuclease associated with the CRISPR system I-C, acts on structured RNA substrates that is likely to be involved in CRISPR RNA processing but not in sensing cell envelope stress or preserving cell integrity in S. mutans. Together our data provide in vivo evidence that the CRISPR-Cas systems of S. mutans play novel roles in resistance against incoming plasmids that carry matching protospacer sequences and stress response.Ph.D

‘1 Question 10 Answers’. An exercise to examine methods of non-fiction story-making and processes of interpretation.

reserved2Bertolotti, Elisa; Serbanescu, AncaBertolotti, Elisa; Serbanescu, Anc