The objective of the paper is related to the use of stochastic methods to appreciate if the recent climate trend is similar to the decennial trends of the last thousands years. If not , it means that the present climate change is unprecedented. If yes , it means that the extraordinary climatic events of the recent years are a natural expression of climate variability, but the memory of several generations and of instrumental series, more than 100 years old, cannot point it out. The first hypothesis is an “alarming” possibility, while the latter is a “relaxing” one.

Environment is characterized by a significant number of physical parameters, among which is the air ionization. It is also important under biomedical aspect, because it exercises the beneficial influences of living organisms. In the introductory considerations, the paper presents some theoretical details of how air ions are generated naturally and are mentioned some biological effects produced by ions (especially by artificial ionization), the most important from therapeutically point of view. Then, are presented the measurement methods of this electrical component of the ambient air and some ion concentrations from different places, but also in some balneary-climatic resorts from Romania. In the final part of the paper are mentioned the conclusions, as well as some new possible explanations (based on quantum theory) on how the air ions act on living organisms.

A cold microclimate will prompt a reaction to be triggered by heat generation and the effects on the body are decreased sweating, peripheral vascular constriction by increasing the excitability threshold of the Krause corpuscles, cold receptors that maintain the blood pressure control threshold. Hot climatization requires vasodilation and sweating, especially when the air temperature exceeds 29° C. Objectives: To evaluate and present the beneficial effect of the microclimate formed on the upper course of Bârlad from the Central Moldavian Plateau on the human body of the patients with advanced pathology of the locomotor apparatus. Methods: The study was performed on a group of 17 patients aged 63-98 with chronic pathology of the locomotor system, the clinical status being analyzed over a period of 5-10 months sanatorium treatment. The pain scale - Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) was used. Results: The analysis of the clinical status of patients with chronic pathology of the locomotor apparatus for a period of 5-10 months balneary-climatic sanatorial treatment indicated an important improvement due to the climate of the area (VAS Media at the beginning of the evaluation - 7.12, after 5- 10 months of treatment in sanatorium - 3.06, P Stewdent = 0.01). Recommendations: Modeling some limits of microclimatic parameters in order to increase the degree of multifunctional comfort of patients.

Article 35 of the Romanian Constitution guarantees ”the right to a healthy environment”. Looking at the particular case of Ploiești, the most important city in Prahova county, one could say that this article refers to every Romanian, except those living here. Odd things happen in Ploiești, a city under the blessing as well as the curse of the ”black gold” – oil. People are more and more anxious about the high level of air pollution and recent data extracted from the statistics of the Public Health Department in Prahova only came to amplify their concerns. The lack of continuous measurements of air pollution empowers the rumours about dubious arrangements between local authorities and main polluters. Since the communist era, when it was the second city in Romania by the value of the industrial production, the city of Ploiești has changed. Many of the colossal factories are forever gone and with them their huge negative impact on the environment. However, many things still need to change, because the way we see things has changed. Nowadays, the information is easier to access wherever we are, and people learn fast to turn this to their advantage. Many cities in Romania have managed to surpass their industrial grey past and step into a greener future: Cluj, Oradea or Brașov are just three examples. Although problems never cease to appear, the commitment of the authorities to citizens’ interests is very important. Political leaders of Ploiești must acknowledge that a city without oil is conceivable, while a city without people is an absurdity. The simple things that the local authorities need to do is to assure the population about their commitment and good intentions (continuous measurements, studies on the relationship between air pollution and cancer mortality), to control and regulate the potential sources of air pollution (first of all industry, then transport and household activities), and, most of all, hear the voice of the people !

Dans l’article en question nous essayons de mettre en evidence et d’eliminer certaines ambiguites, souvent rencontrees dans la litterature de specialite, concernant la definition de la notion de „pollution”, et de contribuer a la comprehension des causes du soi-disant „rechauffement global” et de sa maniere de se manifester. En ce qui concerne la pollution, nous considerons qu’elle est causee seulement par des elements nocifs resultes a la suite de l’activite humaine, de la societe humaine, elements qui ont penetre dans le milieu naturel ce qui a deteriore ses qualites spontanees (voir aussi V. Tufescu, dans Petit dictionnaire encyclopedique, 1978). Les gaz et les cendres volcaniques, les gaz resultes a la suite de la decomposition des substances organiques, le pollen et les spores etc., ne sont pas des elements polluants, ils font partie integrante de la composition atmospherique, de la lithosphere et de l’Ocean Planetaire. On ne peut pas parler de pollution sur la Terre avant de l’apparition de l’homme, de la diversification de son activite.

The integrated urban development currently represents the „tip of the spear” of urban planning, promoted by all the structures of the European Union. The principles of this new movement have been established in the table of contents of the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities (2007), adopted at the Informal Reunion of the European Ministers responsible for Urban Development in the EU Member States. Apart from the crucially important acting strategies, in it we also encounter one that refers to stigmatized communities: Granting special attention to underprivileged areas within the city as a whole . Decisive on this line, it is specified that the “politics of social integration which contributes to the reduction of inequalities and prevention of social exclusion will be the best warranty for maintaining the safety of our cities” . Thus, rough neighbourhoods are mentioned in all of the European Union’s programmatic documents. In our study we have focused our attention on one such underprivileged area, the Mimiu neighbourhood (ghetto) in Ploiesti, where time seems to have stood still for decades, during which time the people here have struggled to make a living

Return migration can be understood provided that the causes of emigration, either economic, political, family reunification or other, are known. Return migration can be triggered by political regime changes in the destination country, reduction in job opportunities and possibly economic changes that lead to low incomes for the work performed. Return migration can also be caused by the fulfillment of the objectives in the destination country or by a change in the economic situation in the country of origin. The emigrant is subjected to transformation processes in the country of migration. As a result, he undergoes a series of socio-economic and identity changes that are noticed in his attitude, behavior and mentality after the return to the home country. The reintegration process in the home country can be quick or slow, depending on the changes experienced by the emigrant. The experience in the country of migration either can create difficulties in readaptation of the emigrant, or can contribute to personal, family and professional development. By employing case study as a research method, the present paper highlights the difficulties met by emigrants after returning to the home country and the ways of addressing them throughout the reintegration process, using in certain situations aspects learned and assimilated in the country of migration.

Landslide is a major hydro­geological hazard that affects large parts of Himalayan area of Uttarakhand state in India. The developments in Geo-spatial technologies have opened the doors for detailed and accurate assessment of landslide prone area. This paper deals with a use of temporal remote sensing data and geographical information systems for landslide mapping. Six categories of controlling factors for landslides i.e. slope gradient, aspect, lithology, land use land cover (LULC), drainage density, lineament density are defined in this study. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been generated to identify the vegetated and non-vegetated area. During the study, it is clearly reveals that a total number of about 695 landslides spots covering an area of 2.30 sq. km. were mapped from Landsat-OLI-TRS image of 2015 whereas a total number of 157 landslides covering an area of 1.60 sq. km. were mapped from Landsat-ETM+ image of the year 2005. This study is valuable for hazard zonation, mitigation purpose and regional planning in the Himalayan area

Rivers in mountain areas have alluvial beds largely consisting of coarse alluvia (blocks, cobble, gravel) mobilized and transported downstream only during exceptional hydrological phenomena. Their distribution influences river-bed stability, sediment transport rates and high-water levels, because alluvial deposits define bed roughness. As a rule, especially in large rivers, the size of alluvia deposited on river-beds gradually decreases downstream (downstream fining), as the river transport capacity is reduced. This tendency can be interrupted by discontinuities, caused by the lateral input of alluvia or by anthropogenic interventions. The aim of this paper is to analyze the spatial distribution of the size of bed material along two small rivers, Gemenea and Slatioara, located in the northeastern part of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. The phenomena of grain-size fining or coarsening of the material deposited along these river-beds are of low intensity. The high degree of connectivity between river-bed and hillslopes and scarps of meadow terraces has generally resulted in unimodal distributions centered on the coarse fraction (gravel, cobble and blocks, over 60% of the total), whereas the fine fraction (sands) is below 1%. A slight tendency of bimodality begins to emerge towards the lower course of the Gemenea river profile (sand increases to slightly over 5% of the total bed material). This occurs with meadow development and the reduction of the connectivity between river-bed and adjacent hillslopes. Hence the conclusion that lateral input and longitudinal sorting of particles are among the main causes of bed deposits bimodality in our study area

River is important for every human being as well as flora and fauna. Over the last century, riverine ecosystems have suffered from intense human intervention resulting in habitat loss and degradation and as a consequence, many biotic species have become highly endangered, particular in rivers where heavy demand is placed on freshwaters. This study was aimed to estimate the pollution status and their variation across the stretch of river Gomti flowing through the city of Jaunpur. The sampling is concerned from upstream to downstream regions of the river through the city. Four sampling sites namely, Gokul Ghat (upstream), Gular Ghat, Shastri Bridge and Gomti Barrage (downstream) were selected for sampling. The water samples were collected and analyzed for a period of one year during March 2016 to February 2017. For the study total 6 parameters such as Temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Nitrate (NO 3 - ) and Phosphate (PO 4 3- ) were detected with reference to the monsoonal variation (summer, monsoon and winter). The results indicate that Gomti River water was in polluted condition due to the city drainage systems, unplanned municipal wastes and industrial waste. Religious idol immersions are also found on the bank and in river water. On the other hand river was polluted mainly by local waste like daily garbage, faecal flow and plastic bags. It indicates that the unplanned urbanization is responsible for the deterioration of river water. To keep the river clean for the future, it is strongly recommended that urban effluents should not be over-looked before their discharge into the river and it is very necessary to assess the river water quality and subsequently, prepare the mitigation measures to reduced pollution level in Gomti River