Multi-level governance approach in the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR): the analysis of the contribution of national stakeholders

The purpose of the thesis is to find out the contribution of national stakeholders in the decision-making process of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR). Alongside other macro-regional strategies, EUSAIR is the recent strategy of the European Union which is characterized by multi-level governance, considering that the decision-making process involves different stakeholders from different level and sector. The literature argues that the supranational institutions are taking a central part in the decision-making of EUSAIR, due to funding resources, however, the literature also confirms that the role of the national stakeholders is considered influential as well. Even though the macro-regional cooperation is characterized by multi-level governance, which is involving different level actors in the process, the thesis debates that the national stakeholders are taking the essential part in the decision-making of EUSAIR through bargaining among national governments and further including more stakeholders from the NGOs and local society into taking an active role in the EUSAIR decision-making.O objetivo da dissertação é descobrir a contribuição das atores nacionais no processo de tomada de decisão da Estratégia da UE para a Região Adriática e Jônica (EUSAIR). Juntamente com outras estratégias macrorregionais, a EUSAIR é a estratégia recente da União Europeia, caracterizada pela governança em vários níveis, considerando que o processo de tomada de decisão envolve diferentes partes interessadas de diferentes níveis e setores. A literatura argumenta que as instituições supranacionais estão tendo um papel central na tomada de decisão da EUSAIR, devido ao financiamento de recursos, no entanto, a literatura também confirma que o papel das atores nacionais também é considerado influente. Embora a cooperação macrorregional seja caracterizada por governança multinível, que envolve diferentes atores de nível no processo, a dissertação debate que as atores nacionais estão assumindo o papel essencial na tomada de decisões da EUSAIR por meio de negociações entre governos nacionais e incluindo ainda mais atores das ONGs e da sociedade local na participação ativa no processo de tomada de decisão da EUSAIR

Comparative in vivo evaluation of novel formulations based on alginate and silver nanoparticles for wound treatments

In the present study, possibilities for using novel nanocomposites based on alginate and silver nanoparticles for wound treatment were investigated in a second-degree thermal burn model in Wistar rats. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were electrochemically synthesized in alginate solutions that were further utilized to obtain the Ag/alginate solution and microfibers for subsequent in vivo studies. Daily applications of the Ag/alginate colloid solution, containing AgNPs, alginate and ascorbic acid (G3), wet Ag/alginate microfibers containing AgNPs (G5) and dry Ag/alginate microfibers containing AgNPs (G6) were compared to treatments with a commercial cream containing silver sulfadiazine (G2) and a commercial Ca-alginate wound dressing containing silver ions (G4), as well as to the untreated controls (G1). Results of the in vivo study have shown faster healing in treated wounds, which completely healed on day 19 (G4, G5 and G6) and 21 (G2 and G3) after the thermal injury, while the period for complete reepitelization of untreated wounds (G1) was 25 days. The macroscopic analysis has shown that scabs fell off between day 10 and 12 after the thermal injury induction in treated groups, whereas between day 15 and 16 in the control group. These macroscopic findings were supported by the results of histopathological analyses, which have shown enhanced granulation and reepithelization, reduced inflammation and improved organization of the extracellular matrix in treated groups without adverse effects. Among the treated groups, dressings based on Ca-alginate (G4-G6) induced enhanced healing as compared to the other two groups (G2, G3), which could be attributed to additional stimuli of released Ca2+. The obtained results indicated potentials of novel nanocomposites based on alginate and AgNPs for therapeutic applications in wound treatments