Achievement of a Fortifying Product based on Apples, Quinces and Sea Buckthorn

The aim of the research was to achieve a fortifying product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar rich in antioxidants (vitamin C, β-carotene) and dietary fibers (cellulose, pectic substances) from fruit. In the experiments were used fruit (apples, quinces and sea buckthorn) with a high content of these nutrients. The antioxidants are chemical substances that inhibit, decompose or prevent forming of free radicals or other substances that induce cancerogenesis. Also, dietary fibers are another group of natural compounds with an important role in the prevention of the digestive diseases. In the experiments were used biochemical methods for analysis of fruit and processed products (determination of soluble dry substance, glucides, proteins, lipids, mineral elements, total acidity, vitamin C, β-carotene, cellulose, pectic substances etc.). Also were performed microbiological analysis and sensorial analysis for processed products. In order to obtain the product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar, four variants of experiments were carried out at the laboratory level. Following the sensorial and biochemical analyses, the optimum variant of the product Apple, Quince and Sea Buckthorn Nectar was selected, namely the variant V3 in which the ratio apple puree and quince puree was 1:1 and the percentage of added sea buckthorn juice was 3%

CONFLICTUAL SITUATIONS IN THE EDUCATIONAL UNITS – REALITY AND GOOD MODELS

The conflict situations are everyday realities in any organization, therefore their analysis and management involved many specialists, due to the impact on individual and organizational performances. The concrete way of dependence between the tasks that employees have to solve and conflicts that arise are still unclear. This article collects qualitative information, as well as quantitative information from some recent projects deployed in our country or foreign countries, so that it clarifies to some extent the sources, types of conflicts and their frequency of occurrence. Also in the article there are presented some methods of analysing conflictual situations

THE FIELD OF MATHS KEY COMPETENCE AND THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

Applying the European key competences system (KK), the changes in curricula involves modify for teacher mentalities, sometimes different with the initial formation. Particularly, the text explain the domain of key competences mathematic and the connections with others competences. The article clarifies the steps necessary to design a cluster of units or lessons, propose an example - collection of activities for a theme. Finally, it is presents a formula used for measure the difficulty of a theoretical problem or a situational model. The alternatives formats for the same problem is a possibility to prepare the students to respond for the unusually task

TO WHAT EXTENT IS MATH HELPFUL? EXAMPLES OF APPLIED MATH: FROM FRACTIONS TO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANIZATION

Resource allocation is an important issue for managers and for the members of a team, and its fair solution is not possible without math. From simple fractions to the more complex mathematical models is nevertheless a long way. A general observation is that, usually, the resources are limited, or they have an accumulation rate slower than the people’s demands or needs, which causes dissatisfaction and even conflicts among the group members. This article addresses this issue with the use of mathematical support. Mathematics tells us that if we choose resource allocations strategies which allow every person to be satisfied with the resources he/she receives, or if the resources are shared in a „right” way, the dissatisfaction will be less frequent and with a lower intensity. This article presents, in an accessible way, some mathematical models which could be used as practical applications in entrepreneurial education or math classes in high-school, that give students a base for further discussions and learning

COMBINATORIAL GAMES IN MATH LEARNING – HOW TO STUDY THEM IN THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL

This paper proposes some mathematical games, simple and elegant, which can become activities that teachers can successfully use for the course “Game and movement“ or in any math class. We have highlighted the main benefits of such activities for a child’s personality development and, in particular, for his mental development. The article also warns that the playful methods, especially math games, are missing from the initial and continuous training of teachers

DIOXINS AND FURANS CONTAMINATION OF FOOD AND THEIR TOXICOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS ON THE HUMAN BODY MINI-REVIEW

Abstract Dioxins (sum of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins -PCDDs) and furans (polychlorinated dibenzofurans -PCDFs), are polychlorinated aromatic compounds with high toxic potential, which persist in the environment. Their degradation is extremely slow, they accumulate in the human body mainly through the consumption of contaminated food (in more than 90% of cases) and can not be destroyed by cooking or metabolized by living organisms. This study aims to underline the importance of their determination through advanced analytical methods such high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-HRMS), in order to increase the food safety

Metabolic Potential of Some Functional Groups of Bacteria in Aquatic Urban Systems

This study analyzed the metabolic potential of some functional groups of bacteria in aquatic urban systems and evaluated the abundance of communities of total heterotrophic bacteria in the water in relation to the monitored physico-chemical factors. The results obtained showed seasonal differences, especially in spring. The high values of the abundance of heterotrophs in winter are related to human activity at the sampling stations. Screening for four types of extracellular hydrolytic enzyme with potential for degradation of organic matter (amylases, lipases, proteases and cellulases) led to the conclusion that lipolytic bacteria were dominant in the studied ecosystems, while proteolytic bacteria were observed in low numbers, but were present in urbanized areas. The presence of cellulolytic bacteria is correlated with the development of macrophytic vegetation. The aim of the present study was oriented towards the evaluation of the anthropogenic input in several lakes surrounding Bucharest in the Nord-Eastern region. These urban ecosystems are generated as a requirement of city development. The microbiological and general enzymatic approaches generated some novel results concerning the pollution degree of aquatic urban ecosystems and could be considered as a platform for further investigation

Acute Clinical Syndromes and Suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: The Experience of a Single Romanian Center in the Early Pandemic Period

Background and Objectives: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients with chronic diseases suffering exacerbations have required acute medical care. The purpose of our study was to determine useful criteria for the differentiation of patients with acute clinical syndromes and suspicion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Materials and Methods: This was an observational retrospective study, conducted in an internal medicine clinic from April to May 2020. We collected clinical, biological, and computed tomography (CT) data on patients with exacerbations of chronic diseases and clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with an already-positive real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 on presentation at the emergency department were excluded from our study. Results: Of 253 suspected cases, 20 were laboratory-confirmed as having SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR, whereas COVID-19 diagnosis was ruled out in the remaining 233. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) correlated significantly with COVID-19 diagnosis in suspected patients, while laboratory markers were not significantly different between the two groups. Of the suspected patients, significantly higher percentages of dry cough, fever, myalgias, sore throat, loss of smell and appetite, and ground-glass opacities (GGOs) on CT were found in SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that, until receiving the result of an RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 (usually 12–24 h), association with VTE as a comorbidity, fever, dry cough, and myalgia as clinical features, and GGO on CT are the main markers for the identification of COVID-19 patients among those suspected with acute clinical syndromes. Our results also provide evidence for doctors not to rely solely on biological markers in the case of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with exacerbations of chronic diseases. These data are useful for faster decision-making with regard to suspected COVID-19 patients before receiving RT-PCR test results, thus avoiding keeping patients in crowded emergency departments