The dispute over the Rosia Montana mining project represents an opportunity to reshape Romania’s sustainable development policy

Earlier this month, a Romanian Parliamentary Commission rejected the controversial Rosia Montana law, intended to allow the largest gold-mining project in Europe. Simona Manea argues that the issue represents an important opportunity to push for sustainable development policies in Romania. She also notes that the protest movement that has emerged in response to the mining project has the potential to reform the Romanian political class by placing pressure on state institutions and promoting democratic participation

The EU should intervene in the debate over Romania’s controversial Rosia Montana mining project

A number of protests have taken place in Romania over a planned mining project at Rosia Montana in the north of the country. Simona Manea argues that the EU should take a more active role in the debate, particularly given its attempts to lead efforts to implement the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to shape the UN debate on the post-MDGs Agenda. She notes that the project would pose significant concerns for the environment, and that the EU could help strengthen opposition within Romania by choosing to act on existing environmental legislation

FISCAL ASPECTS REGARDING TAXING THE INCOMES OF NON�RESIDENTS IN ROMANIA

The tax on the non�residents incomes has become a more present issue, because the new economical and political conjuncture, and especially because of the European one, the foreign companies intending to invest more in Romania. Through Romania�s adhering to the European Union the volume of foreign investments in Romania knew an important increase, and, implicitly, the incomes obtained by non� residents from the activities unfolded in Romania, having as consequence the increase of the tax volumes cashed from this sector. This under the conditions of a favorable fiscal treatment applied to the investors from the European Union compared to the non�residents from the extra�communitarian area. The problem of the tax applied to the incomes of the non�residents knows a few important changes, brought by Romania�s adhering to the European Union, such as, for example, those regarding the tax levels and tax exemption, the new Fiscal Code basing on protecting the residents from the states members of the European Union and on avoiding double international taxing. The specialized international organisms reached to the conclusion that the optimal solution for avoiding double taxing is represented by concluding bilateral or multilateral conventions between states, their disposals having the role to clarify the status of the residents involved in different economical activities in other states We present below the approached problems together with the new changes in force starting with January 1st 2009.non�resident, incomes, tax, double taxing, residence

Metabolic alterations in experimental models of depression

Introduction: Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and is associated with a severe impact on the personal functioning, thus with incurring significant direct and indirect costs. The presence of depression in patients with medical comorbidities increases the risks of myocardial infarction and decreases diabetes control, and adherence to treatment. The mechanism through which these effects are produced is still uncertain. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the metabolic alterations in female Wistar rats with induced depression, with and without administration of Agomelatine. The methods included two experiments. All data were analyzed by comparison with group I (control), and with each other. In the first experiment we induced depression by: exposure to chronic mild stress-group II; olfactory bulbectomy-group III; and exposure to chronic mild stress and hyperlipidic/ hyper caloric diet-group IV. The second experiment was similar with the first but the rats received Agomelatine (0.16mg/ animal): group V (depression induced through exposure to chronic mild stress), VI (depression induced through olfactory bulbectomy) and VII (depression induced through exposure to chronic mild stressing hyperlipidic/ hypercaloric diet). Weight, cholesterol, triglycerides and glycaemia were measured at day 0 and 28, and leptin value was measured at day 28. The results in the 1st experiment revealed significant differences (pconclusion, significant correlations were found between high level of triglycerides and depression induced by chronic stress and olfactory bulbectomy. Agomelatine groups had a lower increase of triglycerides levels

A critique of the anthropomorphic conception of the state: The Romanian state as a relational, network and emergent actor.

The present thesis is premised on the claim that that there is an inescapable arrangement of the discipline around the concept of the state. IR theories, from rationalist to constructivist ones, dispute to different degrees the ontological and/or analytical utility of the concept. Yet none of them reject the assumptions of corporate agency (based on the assumption of personhood) when discussing the state as an agent internationally. This thesis advances the view that assumptions about the properties of biological kinds, such as unchangeable features, well-determined boundaries and unitary intentionality and agency, cannot be transferred to social kinds such as states. It constitutes a rejection of the essentialising and reifying moves characterising IR theories, while still arguing there are such things as structurally complex actors, and that the state is one of them. The thesis proposes a conception of the state as a relational, network and emergent actor. It argues that a combination between the relational ontology of networks with the emergent and nonlinear assumptions of complexity science constitute the basis for such a conception of the state. Specifically, the framework can account for the relationship between individual and state agency without collapsing the two analytical and ontological objects. It proposes a view of state agency as differentiated depending on the type of relationships within networks engaged in the constitution of the state. In this light, state agency is regarded as non-unitary and relational. Based on such a framework, the illustrative cases challenge the manner in which historical data has been put to work to explain the construction of the Romanian state in relation to specific historical events: i.e. the coup and change of regime after 1944; and within a specific period of modernity: i.e. from the 1960s to mid- 1980s. The analysis demonstrates that the Romanian state is more than the sum of powerful individuals, yet not a static entity with a clear distinction between its inside and outside. It also shows that, even for the personalistic dictatorship years (1960s - 1980s), overlapping and contradictory social relations and practices simultaneously constitute the state and state agency. This demonstration aims to reinforce the broader claim about the applicability of the framework across a range of types of states (in this case, totalitarian modern states) whilst allowing specific historical analysis of their constitution and agentic potentialities

The Principle of Critical Energy as a Transdisciplinary Principle with Interdisciplinary Applications

The principle of critical energy (PCE) is a transdisciplinary principle that may be used in all chapters of sciences for superposition and/or cumulation of different external actions (mechanical, thermal, magnetic, electrical, chemical, etc.) It may be used for lifetime evaluation of engineering structures, as well as for living organisms, by taking into account the influences due to pollution, due to internal deterioration, due to preloading or residual stresses, etc. In this paper, we explain what PCE is, how it may be practically used and the interdependences between the terms comprised in its general relation. PCE was applied for solving problems of superposition of external actions and internal deteriorations in the following chapters of sciences: mechanical engineering, thermomechanical-chemical loadings, multiple pollution, medical field and viscoelasticity. It was compared with synergy theory and with catastrophe theory

Liquid biopsy for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent and lethal cancer globally. Over 90% of HCC cases arise in the context of liver cirrhosis, and the severity of the underlying liver disease or advanced tumor stage at diagnosis significantly limits treatment options. Early diagnosis is crucial, and all guidelines stress the importance of screening protocols for HCC early detection as a public health objective. As serum biomarkers are not optimal for early diagnosis, liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising tool for diagnosis, prognostication, and patients’ stratification for personalized therapy in various solid tumors, including HCC. While circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are better suited for personalized therapy and prognosis, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and extracellular vesicle-based technologies show potential for early diagnosis, HCC screening, and surveillance protocols. Evaluating the added value of liquid biopsy genetic and epigenetic biomarkers for HCC screening is a key goal in translational research. Somatic mutations commonly found in HCC can be investigated in cfDNA and plasma exosomes as genetic biomarkers. Unique methylation patterns in cfDNA or cfDNA fragmentome features have been suggested as innovative tools for early HCC detection. Likewise, extracellular vesicle cargo biomarkers such as miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs may serve as potential biomarkers for early HCC detection. This review will explore recent findings on the utility of liquid biopsy for early HCC diagnosis. Combining liquid biopsy methods with traditional serological biomarkers could improve the overall diagnostic accuracy for early HCC detection

STUDY ON QUALITY AND SAFETY OF WHITE TOPINAMBOUR (Helianthus tuberosus), DRY, AS SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL FOR FUNCTIONAL FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

Within this paper, a study on physical and chemical features of white topinambour tuber (Helianthus tuberosus) cultivated in Southern Romania, Fetesti, Ialomita, was performed. For this study, the tuber vegetal product, in dry state, was used, being studied samples taken from the vegetal crop established near the road traffic, starting from the half part of cultivated area and from the farthest side, in order to identify the possible pollutants acting on minerals, oligoelements, but especially heavy metals contained by it; therefore, complementary studies to quality ones have been made in order to determine also the safety aspects of this potential source of raw active matter of natural vegetal origin for food industry, functional food, food supplements and pharmaceutical industry

STUDY ON QUALITY AND SAFETY OF WHITE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE (Helianthus tuberosus), FRESHLY HARVESTED, AS SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL FOR FUNCTIONAL FOOD AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

Within this paper, a study on physical and chemical features of white Jerusalem artichoke tuber’s (Helianthus tuberosus) cultivated in Southern Romania, Fetesti, Ialomita, was achieved. The Romanian Plain, where Fetesti locality is situated is characterized by unlimited fields, considered as first- class lands, namely with deep well drained and aerated soil, easy to work, presenting a good permeability and water stocking, with relative high natural fertility for most of plants of culture adapted to climate conditions and which are not difficult to be exploited as arable field. For this study, the tuber vegetal product, in fresh state, was used, being studied samples taken from the vegetal crop established near the road traffic, starting from the half part of cultivated area and from the farthest side, in order to identify the possible pollutant substances acting on minerals, oligoelements, but especially heavy metals contained by it; therefore, not only quality studies, but also complementary studies have been made in order to determine also the safety aspects of this potential source of raw active matter of natural vegetal origin for food industry, functional food, food supplements and pharmaceutical industry