Social Worlds of Attitudes Towards Anti-COVID-19 Vaccination: a Multi-Sited Approach to Contextualise a European Society

What does the balance of attitudes towards the anti-COVID-19 vaccination look like in an Eastern European Society of today? We compared what the Romanians in Romania, interviewed on the subject in the Flash Eurobarometer 494, say with what those from other European Union countries say. From the “discussion with the data” we understood that there are not only ani-vaxxers, pro-vaxxers and hesitants. Other categories matter, between them. We tried to see how much it mattered, in the pro- or anti-vaccination beliefs, not only the usual demographic conditionings of education, age, gender or residential environment, but also personal pre-pandemic vaccination experiences, as an adult, or trust in institutions relevant to the COVID-19 vaccination

Romanian migration as multiregional building of transnational fields

The key idea of the first chapter is that regions at different levels, at origin and at destination, function as relevant frames in structuring migration fields. Transnational fields are not only dense interactions between pairs of societies having Romania as origin, but a configuration of interactions among clusters of sending microregions in Romania and receiving macroregions, formed by clusters of receiving countries. Changing the unit of analysis from national societies to regions at different levels allows for a dynamic picture of multisited and multilevel regionalism in understanding transnational migration. Survey and census data are aggregated to reach this picture. The multiregional model of transnationalism is developed by four axes or layers on migration streams, cross-border networks, transnational habitus and migration experiences at individual and family levels. This comprehensive, multilayer approach requires the use of multiple data sets (the EUCROSS survey on Romanian natives, the Romanian census data from 2011 and the Romanian subsample from the Eurobarometer 73.3 on New Europeans) that are able to capture the complexity of the model

The Europeanisation of Everyday Life: Cross-Border Practices and Transnational Identifications among EU and Third-Country Citizens - Romanians' Social Transnationalism in the Making

Transnational migration fields emerged in social research as a result of a tentative criticism of methodological nationalism with its focus on the national space as a homogeneous container of all the forms of social life. The new approach of methodological transnationalism is targeted to locate some sociocultural phenomena and processes in the framework of interactions among several societies. Cross-border practices, links and identities in this new approach put in relation not only nation-states but non-state actors that are structured at group, community and regional level. The three chapters of the working paper address the emerging social transnationalism (Mau, 2012) of Romanians by focusing on transnational fields, perceptions of the first trips abroad and the habitus of emigrants in relation with return intentions. Temporary or indefinite time emigration of Romanians abroad for work started, mainly, during the economic recession that hit Romania in 1997-1999. In spite of its young age, it largely contributed to the structuring of a social transnationalism by fields, actors and layers. EUCROSS and non-EUCROSS data at individual or aggregated level, of quantitative and qualitative nature are put to work for capturing the complexity of the Romanian transnationalism in the making. The key idea of the first chapter is that regions at different levels, at origin and at destination, function as relevant frames in structuring migration fields. Transnational fields are not only dense interactions between pairs of societies having Romania as origin, but a configuration of interactions among clusters of sending microregions in Romania and receiving macroregions, formed by clusters of receiving countries. Changing the unit of analysis from national societies to regions at different levels allows for a dynamic picture of multisited and multilevel regionalism in understanding transnational migration. Survey and census data are aggregated to reach this picture. The multiregional model of transnationalism is developed by four axes or layers on migration streams, cross-border networks, transnational habitus and migration experiences at individual and family levels. This comprehensive, multilayer approach requires the use of multiple data sets (the EUCROSS survey on Romanian natives, the Romanian census data from 2011 and the Romanian subsample from the Eurobarometer 73.3 on New Europeans) that are able to capture the complexity of the model. The chapter “First trip abroad: expectations, experiences and stories of transnational Romanians” analyses transnational Romanians’ stories about their first trip abroad using the EUMEAN dataset. The concept of physical mobility is seen as a broader framework for understanding transnational and cosmopolitan behaviours as well as international migration. In order to distinguish between different types of travelling for the first trip abroad, the chapter is constructed keeping in mind the structural changes and constraints regarding physical mobility for Romanian citizens. During the transition from a communist country to a EU member state, Romanian citizens’ stories about travelling abroad for the first time fundamentally changed. Labour migrants, asylum seekers, business travellers, students or tourists left the country with different expectations and faced different problems at destination. Their attitudes toward origin and destination framed their images about the first trip abroad. Using a qualitative approach and samples of Romanians who live in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom, the analysis emphasizes certain differences between different types of travelling for the first time abroad and reconstructs how Romanians started their transnational careers. Romanian migration has a temporary and circulatory character: on the one hand, people are moving back and forth to and from a destination and, on the other hand, there are migrants who either resettle in Romania, come back in the home country and then emigrate to a different destination than the initial one or move to a new destination after spending time abroad without returning to Romania. The third chapter is concerned with the factors that shape these distinct possible strategies and types of mobility, with a special interest towards intentions and plans for return. In doing so, we look at the bonds Romanian migrants maintain with their home country and explore the different typologies and categories of migrants as moulded by their experiences, opinions and attitudes towards the country of origin. The main questions of interest concern how the experience of migration shapes the attitude towards the home country and the intention to return, how did the crisis influence such aspects (if it did) and what the main factors that appear as significant to one category of migrants or another from this point of view are. For this purpose, we use fifty one of the sixty one in-depth interviews realized with Romanians as part of the EUCROSS project in Denmark, UK, Spain, Italy and Germany (EUMEAN dataset)

Our initial experience with ventriculo-epiplooic shunt in treatment of hydrocephalus in two centers

Introduction Hydrocephalus represents impairment in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. If the treatment of hydrocephalus is considered difficult, the repeated revisions of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts are even more challenging. Objective The aim of this article is to evaluate the efficiency of ventriculo-epiplooic (VEp) shunt as a feasible alternative in hydrocephalic patients. Material and methods A technical modification regarding the insertion of peritoneal catheter was imagined: midline laparotomy 8–10cm long was performed in order to open the peritoneal cavity; the great omentum was dissected between its two layers; we placed the distal end of the catheter between the two epiplooic layers; a fenestration of 4cm in diameter into the visceral layer was also performed. A retrospective study of medical records of 15 consecutive patients with hydrocephalus treated with VEp shunt is also presented. Results Between 2008 and 2014 we performed VEp shunt in 15 patients: 5 with congenital hydrocephalus, 8 with secondary hydrocephalus and 2 with normal pressure hydrocephalus. There were 7 men and 8 women. VEp shunt was performed in 13 patients with multiple distal shunt failures and in 2 patients, with history of abdominal surgery, as de novo extracranial drainage procedure. The outcome was favorable in all cases, with no significant postoperative complications. Conclusions VEp shunt is a new, safe and efficient surgical technique for the treatment of hydrocephalus. VEp shunt is indicated in patients with history of recurrent distal shunt failures, and in patients with history of open abdominal surgery and high risk for developing abdominal complications

New Trends in Bioactive Glasses for Bone Tissue: A Review

Bioactive glasses are very attractive materials, used for tissue engineering materials, usually to fill and restore bone defects. This category of biomaterials, show considerable potential for orthopaedic surgery because they can promote bone tissue regeneration. Many trace elements have been incorporated in the glass network, an example is metallic glasses to obtain the desired properties. Because of tolerable mechanical properties, and because they are able to bond to living bone and stimulate its regeneration, this bioactive glasses have a particular interest and are in a continuous research and improvement. The chapter presents the history of bioactive glasses, classification, include a summary of common fabrication methods, applications, surface coatings, applications and future trends in relation to human bone. This review highlight new trends and areas of future research for bioactive glasses

Quantitative tales of ethnic differentiation: measuring and using Roma/Gypsy ethnicity in statistical analyses

This paper analyzes the use of ethnicity in quantitative models, focusing on Roma / Gypsy ethnic affiliation. Three research models are identified, together with characteristic measurement and model specification issues. A path model is estimated as a methodological example in order to explore the association of Roma / Gypsy ethnic affiliation with church attendance in Romania, using data from two surveys with national and Roma samples. Direct, mediated and moderated relationships involving ethnic affiliation are highlighted and discussed in relation to the processes of ethnic differentiation. [author's abstract