Assessing the soil quality of a former industrial area, using pollution load index and enrichment factor

Soil degradation involves the decline of soil quality and fertility due to the acidification, salinization or chemical contamination of soils from agricultural or industrial sources. In this study, spatial changes of topsoil quality were investigated in the lower basin of Arieș River, an area with a wide history of industrial activities. A sampling campaign has been done along the lower Arieș catchment, during a rainy season (November 2019). The topsoils pH and metals content were analysed. In order to asses the quality of the soil samples, soil contamination index Cd and enrichment factor EF were computed. The results of the present study showed that the topsoil samples from the former industrial sites had a high Cu, Pb and As content. According to the Cd, one sample presented a level of concern due to high level of heavy metals content, and EF assigned a considerable degree of soil enrichment - in case of two topsoil samples

METALS AND ORGANIC POLLUTANTS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATER BY LOCAL LEMNA MINOR GENOTYPE

Lemna minor was collected from a local pond from the Floresti area, Cluj county. The plants were left for vegetative multiplication, and then analyzed in order to investigate their ability to reduce the pollutants from wastewater. The untreated wastewater contained high concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, low concentrations of Ba, Be, Ca, Fe, Hg, Li, Rb, Se, Sr, Sn, Ti, V and high levels of organic pollutants. The results showed that the Lemna minor genotype has a high potential to reduce the totally oxidizable organic pollutants from the wastewater with 65%. Lemna minor achieved high removal efficiency of Mn and Pb from wastewater. Also, the results demonstrate the impressive ability of the Lemna minor genotype to accumulate high concentrations of Na, Al, Hg and Fe compared to that of the control plants. Simultaneously, an antagonistic effect was observed in case of the Cu, Ni and Zn after the accumulation metals from the wastewater

The effect of socioeconomic factors on crime rates in Romania: a macro-level analysis

The article outlines the need to identify appropriate explanations for various acts of deviant behaviour, mental illness and violent reactions in Romanian contemporary society which is facing a crisis of values and character. The objective of the article is to provide empirical evidence and raise awareness regarding the relationship between crime and socioeconomic factors in Romania over the period 1990–2014, based on statistics for testing co-integration theory and causal relationships. Specifically, the proposed analysis intends to capture the complexity of socioeconomic pressures on individuals and to clarify the ways in which the vitiation of modern society represents a manifestation of implemented economic mechanisms. By using data related to income, unemployment, inflation, inequality, development, education and population density as socioeconomic factors and also data on crime divided by region and type, the article supports the hypothesis of significant causality between socioeconomic factors and crime. Two directions can be considered for revealing the general result of the proposed analysis: one is that an increase in income inequality has a strong and robust effect regarding crime rates rising, and the second reveals that the place of residence is essential, the urban agglomeration being a generating factor for crime

CHEMICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BLACKTHORN (PRUNUS SPINOSA) AND ROSE HIP (ROSA CANINA) FRUITS GROWN WILD IN CLUJ-NAPOCA AREA

In this study, the chemical and technological properties of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and rose hip (Rosa canina) fruits growing wild in Cluj-Napoca area were analysed. Proximate analysis such as dry matter, moisture content, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, water-soluble, pH and mineral contents were established in this work. Al, B, Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S were determined as major minerals. Mineral content of samples growing in Cluj-Napoca area were determined by inductively coupled plasma ICP-OES. All samples contained high amounts of K (18711-952 mg/kg), Ca (1504.22-88.06 mg/kg), Mg (972-22.7 mg/kg), P (1511-2104 mg/kg), Na (534-34.8 mg/kg), Al (26.3-1.15 mg/kg) and Fe (16.0-1.97 mg/kg). Technological properties such as projected area, porosity, bulk density, and hectoliter weight were measured. The obtained results revealed nutritional properties and mineral contents of analyzed fruit. It is very important to know the technological properties of the fruits because optimal equipment and working parameters can be used for harvesting, transportation and processing

Study of rare familial monogenic dyslipidemias

A dislipidemia é um distúrbio do perfil lipídico, seja por elevação ou diminuição de partículas lipídicas. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma revisão dos casos com dislipidemia rara em estudo no Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, apresentando os dados clínicos e moleculares mais relevantes. O perfil lipídico foi determinado para cada caso índex e familiares e o estudo molecular dos genes envolvidos foi realizado por amplificação por PCR e sequenciação de Sanger. Foram estudados, ou está em curso o estudo, de 14 casos índex com os seguintes diagnósticos clínicos: Deficiência familiar em lipoproteína lípase (3), Lipodistrofia familiar parcial de Dunningan Tipo 2 (1), Deficiência em lípase ácida lisossomal (3), Abeta/hipobetalipoproteinemia (2), Deficiência em HDL (1), Hipertrigliceridemia autossómica recessiva (3), Sitosterolemia (1). O fenótipo clínico de cada caso índex é variável dependendo de cada condição. Foi encontrada a causa genética da doença em 8/14 doentes, estando os restantes ainda em estudo. Doentes com as várias dislipidemias raras apresentadas têm um risco acrescido de ter outras doenças graves como pancreatite, doença cardiovascular ou complicações neurológicas e devem, por esta razão, ser identificados o mais precocemente possível, de forma a minimizar ou prevenir os efeitos nefastos destas condições.Dyslipidemia is a disorder of lipid metabolism, characterized by either an increase or decrease in lipid particles. The aim of this study is to review all cases with rare dyslipidemia, studied in the National Health Institute of Portugal, presenting the most relevant clinical and molecular data. Lipid profile was determined for each index case and relatives, and molecular analysis of the genes involved was performed by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. This study includes 14 index cases, with the following clinical diagnoses: Familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (3), Familial partial lipodystrophy, Dunningan Type 2 (1), Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (3), Abeta / hypobetalipoproteinemia (2), HDL deficiency (1), Autosomal recessive hypertriglyceridemia (3), Sitosterolaemia (1). The clinical phenotype of each index case varies depending on each condition. It was possible to find the genetic cause of the disease in 8/14 patients, and the remaining are still under study. Patients with the rare dyslipidemias presented have an increased risk of having other serious disorders such as pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease or neurological complications and should, therefore, be identified as early as possible in order to minimize or prevent the adverse effects of these conditions

Cholesterol, low is not always the best: Part 2 – Alterations in Lipoprotein Metabolism causing low lipid levels

A dislipidemia é um distúrbio do perfil lipídico, seja por elevação ou diminuição de uma ou mais partículas lipídicas. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma revisão das causas moleculares de hipolipidemias e suas consequências clínicas. São também apresentados casos com hipolipidemias raras já estudados, ou com estudo em curso no laboratório do INSA, apresentando os dados clínicos e moleculares mais relevantes. O perfil lipídico foi determinado por métodos automatizados para cada caso índex e familiares e o estudo molecular dos genes envolvidos foi realizado por amplificação por PCR e sequenciação de Sanger ou sequenciação de nova geração (NGS). Foram referenciados ao laboratório do INSA 7 casos índex, tendo sido possível até ao momento identificar a causa molecular do fenótipo apresentado em 3 casos: 2 com hipobetalipoproteinemia (1 homozigoto e 1 heterozigoto) e 1 caso índex com doença de Tangier; os restantes encontram se ainda em estudo. Doentes com as dislipidemias raras apresentadas têm um risco elevado de ter complicações cardiovasculares, neurológicas e/ou esteatose hepática e devem, por esta razão, ser identificados o mais precocemente possível, de forma a minimizar ou prevenir os efeitos nefastos destas condições.Dyslipidemia is a disorder of the lipid metabolism profile, by either elevation or decrease of lipid particles. The objective of this work is to review the molecular causes of hypolipidemia and its clinical consequences. In this study, we present cases with rare hypolipidemias already studied or with a study in progress in laboratory of INSA, presenting the most relevant clinical and molecular data. The lipid profile was determined by automated methods for each index case and relatives and the molecular study of the genes involved was performed by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing or next generation sequencing (NGS). Seven index cases were referred to laboratory of INSA and it was possible to identify the molecular cause of the phenotype presented by 3 cases: 2 with hypobetalipoproteinemia (1 homozygous and 1 heterozygous) and 1 with Tangier's disease; the remaining cases are still under study. Patients with the rare dyslipidemias presented have a high risk of having cardiovascular, neurological complications and/or hepatic steatosis and should therefore be identified as early as possible in order to minimize or prevent the harmful effects of these conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Total Phenolic, Flavonoids and Antioxidant Capacity of Some Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Abstract: Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from the induced oxidative stress damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals that. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals as a natural by-product of normal cell processes. In the present study,were evaluated  the phenolic and flavonoids contents as well as the antioxidant capacity of seeds from  the Lamiaceae and Apiaceae family: fennel  (Foeniculum vulgare), dill (Anethum graveolens) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) . (Sreemoyee Ch. et. al., 2012 ) The main objective of the study was the comparative assessment of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds from dill, rosemary and fennel methanolic extracts correlated with their  antioxidant activity. Both total phenolic content and flavonoids content of the seeds samples were measured spectrophotometrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and a chromogenic system of NaNO2-Al(NO3)3-NaOH, respectively.. Antioxidant capacity was determined by 2,2-DPPH method. Results strongly showed that Rosmarinus officinalis extract has the most effective antioxidant capacity in scavenging DPPH radicals, while Foeniculum vulgare and Anethum graveolens were less active. The total phenolic content was within 773,14 and 3367,24mg GAE/ 100g while the concentration in flavonoids was between 231,84 and 1325,53 QEg/100g dry seeds. Â