Counties Of Romania Research Articles

Contribution to the identities and distribution patterns of Zygaenidae (Lepidoptera) from Romania

Zygaenid material collected from 25 localities in ten counties of Romania during 1967-2002 was examined. Fifteen species were found, of which Jordanita notata appears to reliably represent the only second population of the species in Romania, while the record of J. budensis seems to be the fifth locality for the country. We discuss several misidentifications of species published in previous publications and list their precise collection places and dates.

Impactul împăduririlor artificiale asupra calităţii aerului. Principii de dezvoltare durabilă

Recent studies suggest that the level of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere can be significantly reduced by employing environmental policies and strategies regarding the use of renewable energy sources, alternative fuels, high energy efficiency plants and equipment, as well as the implementation of a program for afforestation and creation of green spaces for CO2 absorption, retention of fine powders and release of oxygen into the atmosphere. The current paper analyses the above-mentioned environmental strategy, starting from the assumption that the development of an afforestation program contributes to the retention of fine powders and implicitly to the release of a greater quantity of oxygen in the atmosphere, being the starting theory tested through an econometric model. Through this econometric model, the relationship between air quality and the surface of the land on which artificial regeneration was performed will be studied, using panel data for a number of 41 counties in Romania. The results of this analysis highlight that artificial forests have a positive impact on air quality, but the effects are visible after a certain time lag because forests are slowly renewable resources. For these reasons, it should be emphasized that the afforestation program must be doubled by the rational exploitation of this extremely precious resource, the forest, combined with the reduction of emissions of polluting elements. As a consequence, significant air quality improvement can be achieved.

Management of Cancer Patients During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic, in a County in Romania

Introduction. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has profoundly affected health systems by relocating resources, enforcing restrictive measures and burdening health care workers. The study aims to assess the changes in the treatment and the evolution of cancer patients in a county in Romania, with a population of over a half million inhabitants. Patients and method. Patients with breast, gastric, colorectal, and lung cancer were studied over a two-year period: 14 months before the onset of the pandemic and 10 months after its beginning. The number of new cases of cancer, the number of chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions, the number of surgeries and deaths from these four types of cancer were recorded. Results. During the pandemic, fewer chemotherapy sessions were administered for all cancers (p<0.0001). The number of radiotherapy sessions for breast (p<0.007) and colorectal cancer (p<0.002) increased by banning patients from going to university hospitals and decreased for lung cancer (p<0.03) which has symptoms similar to those of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Conclusions. Cancer patients had limited access to chemotherapy. Their diagnosis and treatment were included in the same category as non-life-threatening diseases. Testing, quarantine and travel limitation were not accompanied by additional safe medical services for the oncological patients. The death rate is inconclusive because the time since the onset of the pandemic is shorter than the natural evolution of the types of cancers studied.

Quality of pellets produced from agricultural wood residues specific to the Prut river basin

Quality of pellets produced from agricultural wood residues specific to the Prut river basin This paper presents an overview of the prospects for the use of agricultural wood residues, specific to the climatic zone adjacent to the Prut River and the qualitative characteristics of densified solid biofuels in the form of pellets produced from the main types of the agricultural wood biomass, taken from agricultural plantations in the Republic of Moldova and Botosani, Iasi, Vaslui and Galați counties in Romania. The aim of the paper is to establish the energy potential of the main indigenous agricultural wood residues and to analyze the quality of the pellets produced from these residues. The research results showed that the pellets produced from the studied agricultural residues mainly meet ENPlus 3 requirements for most qualitative parameters, except for those produced from blackberry and currant residues. Residues from the prunning of some types of fruit shrubs can be used to produce pellets by creating mixtures of different proportions, and their qualitative characteristics can be significantly improved by thermo-chemical pre-treatment of the raw material. Keywords: plant biomass, densified solid biofuels, pellets, biofuel, energy potential, agricultural wood residues.

Investigation of the relationship between dating anxiety, self-esteem and social connectedness in emerging adults

This paper investigates the relationship between dating anxiety (DA), self-esteem (SE) and social connectedness (SC), particularly the degree in which self-esteem and social connectedness can be considered predictors of dating anxiety, as well as the differences and similarities between participants regarding the three concepts (dating anxiety, self-esteem and social connectedness) based on their age, gender and the relational status. The sample consisted in 200 participants young adults (from several counties in Romania), aged 18-30 years old. Data were collected online by three instruments regarding DA, SE, and SC. The quantitative analysis of the results indicates positive and statistically significant correlations between SE and SC, negative correlations between DA and SE and between DA and SC. The results are discussed by reffering to previous data in the literature and from the perspective of their applied values in relation to the wellbeing of young adults involved (or trying to be involved) in romantic relationships.

Digital innovation in education in Romania quantitative approach

Abstract Economic growth, productivity and national well-being over time have been promoted through various innovation strategies. Education aims to shape the human personality according to its particularities but also according to the social dynamics, the mobility of teachers through the dynamic integration of man in society. Education differs from one historical stage to another. With the advancement of technology, students have the opportunity to take online courses, regardless of where they are, age, physical limitations or personal schedule. Technology can open up new opportunities for learning and assessment. With the help of the regression analysis applied based on the indicators provided by the National Institute of Statistics: the number of students, computers, laboratories and workshops in each county in Romania (2010-2017) tested the influence of technology on the number of students enrolled in schools. The main conclusion of the study emphasizes that a higher number of children enrolled in school in a county is correlated with the degree of technology. Thus, the number of new devices will increase to ensure the possibility for both teachers and students to evolve. On the other hand, the fact that some areas of the country are less developed and lack funding, is also reflected in the number of children enrolled as well as in the number of computers available.

The Branding Power of Szeklerland. Online Place Branding Tendencies and Identity-Forming Efforts in Szeklerland

Abstract Destination branding has always been a complex question. This is especially true if we are talking about Szeklerland as a historical, cultural, and ethnic region, which can be defined in the easiest way through Covasna, Harghita, and Mureş counties of Romania. A well-structured brand in a region can help with its economic development and search for identity, so it is worth looking into branding activities in the region. Despite Szeklerland’s strong identity and reputation, the discourse is extremely divided between Romanian and Hungarian people. There are plenty of brand owners in the region without central management and coherence. There are plenty of amateur and corporate initiatives that are generally poorly organized and serve individual economic purposes. In addition, politicians also play an active role in forming these processes. Although the regional and tourism development strategies of the counties of Szeklerland are similar, and it can be said that the stakeholders are open to the cooperation between the three counties, there were only partial results of regional-level collaboration. The paper follows the activities of online promotional initiatives about Szeklerland and the larger territorial units influencing the region, such as Romania and Transylvania, and the branding narratives created during them.

Homeownership, mobility, and home: A relational housing study of Argentine Ludar and Romanian Rudari

This article examines the community-led housing practices of two related Boyash-Roma communities in Argentina and Romania. The Argentinean case introduces the story of the Ludar in the Greater Buenos Aires Region, a Romanian-speaking sub-group of the Roma, who likely arrived here between 1880 and 1900. Throughout Argentina, most of the Ludar are involved in street vending. The second case concerns the Roma communities of the Rudari from Vâlcea County in Romania, who travel to Sweden primarily to beg. Although the cases seem unrelated, they demonstrate how close engagement with Roma and their socioeconomic mobility allows experimental comparisons of informality and urban development in various parts of world. While their mobile earning strategies are contested by authorities, they enable many to secure a feeling of belonging in a post-crisis context, characterised by rampant racism, greatly restricted welfare provision and increasingly constrained mobility. The newly emerging homes are understood as spaces of hope and dignity and the coping strategies as processes meant to unmake precarity. In this way, the article contributes to an emerging scholarship of Roma resistance, while informing broader contestations of urban marginality.

Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions in Ambulatory Elderly Patients Living in Rural Areas of Romania Using STOPP/START (Version 2) Criteria.

BackgroundRational use of medications and monitoring of prescriptions in elderly patients is important to decrease the number and duration of hospitalizations, emergency medical consultations, mortality, as well as medical costs.PurposeTo identify potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and potential prescription omissions (PPOs), and determine their prevalence based on the Screening Tool of Older Persons’ potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP) v2 criteria and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START) v2 criteria for patients aged >65 years.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural counties in Romania based on electronic prescriptions for chronic conditions (EPCCs) issued from 30 days to 90 days by a specialist or general practitioner. Collected EPCCs were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists based on 26 STOPP v2 criteria and 10 START v2 criteria.ResultsPIM prevalence was 25.80% and PPO prevalence was 41.72% for 646 EPCCs. The mean age of patients was 75 years and the mean number of drugs per EPCC was four. The most frequently identified PIMs were treatment duration (6.65%), theophylline administration (5.72%), drug indication (4.64%), cyclo-oxygenase-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (1.39%), and zopiclone prescription (0.77%). Statins (24.76%), beta-blockers (8.04%), and beta-2 agonist/antimuscarinic bronchodilators (5.88%) were the most frequently identified PPOs.ConclusionPPOs were more prevalent than PIMs for elderly populations living in the two rural counties in Romania we studied. Health practitioners (family physicians, specialists, and pharmacists) should focus on prophylactic and curative considerations when prescribing agents to decrease the morbidity and mortality of elderly rural Romanian patients.

First detection of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) on Monochamus sutor (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Romania

AbstractAs a result of the detection of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in Portugal, and its subsequent spread to Spain, intense surveys were conducted to screen for the presence of Bursaphelenchus species in Romania. Herein, we report recent surveys of insects potentially vectoring Bursaphelenchus species collected using trap trees or pheromone‐baited traps placed in the forest. Trap felled spruce trees (Picea abies) and pheromone‐baited traps were installed in six different counties in Romania (Brașov, Sibiu, Suceava, Hunedoara, Timiș and Dâmbovița). Ten different species of insects distributed among Curculionidae and Cerambycidae were obtained. Nematodes were extracted from insects and observed to validate the presence of Bursaphelenchus specimens. One female identified as Monochamus sutor was the only specimen carrying nematodes in the genus Bursaphelenchus. Nematodes were identified as B. mucronatus based on morphological and molecular features. This is the first detection and report of natural spread of B. mucronatus in Romania. The absence of B. xylophilus was confirmed in the areas of Romania surveyed in this work.

The Chlorination Impact of Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Danube River

An appropriate appraisal of the water quality parameters has an essential contribution in identification of main pollution factors in a certain region. In Romania, the lower course of Danube River Basin covers more than 1,075 kilometres and a significant percentage of the population lives in this area and depends on the Danube for potable water, industry, agriculture, and transport. The biodiversity, species and habitats, is markedly significant, taking in account that the Danube is the largest uninterrupted wetland area in the world and one of the last relatively undisturbed regions of Europe. The main focus of this article is to analyze the capability of chlorine removal in the municipal wastewater treatment plants in five counties of Romania, starting from 2013 to 2017. The five years average of influent fluctuates from 77.56 mg/dm3 to 111.03 mg/dm3 comparing with 82.94 mg/dm3 and 116.29 mg/dm3 the average of effluent. It should be specified that the limit imposed by the European legislation is 500 mg/dm3. Even if the measured values are below a quarter of the imposed limit, chlorinated wastewaters can be poisonous and may have a harmful impact on aquatic flora and fauna that are exposed to them, and consequently, that chlorination dechlorination might not be appropriate treatment approach for the protection of receiving waters.

Artificial Neural Network for Environmental Air Emissions Prediction Systems

Artificial neural network ANN is an appropriate tool for predestining the different relationships across many scientific researches. Air emissions prediction is an effective method of securing public health by revealing the imminent danger of air pollutants. So far, the existing methods of air emissions concentration prediction became useless on long-term dependencies, and most neglect spatial correlations. In this study, an artificial neural network model, which also takes into account the spatial-temporal variable, is proposed for prediction of air emission. The ANN was used in order to take into account the historical data, auxiliary data such as environmental quality and weather conditions. Evaluation of the results revealed that the developed ANN model appears to be an appropriate tool in predicting environmental air emissions. The data were collected from 12 air quality-monitoring stations from a random county in Romania. The proposed model performed well and presented a relative error varies from 0 to 4.7%.

The Efficiency of Biological Total Phosphorus Removal Process

This article investigates the efficiency of phosphorus removal in the municipal wastewater treatment plants in five counties of Romania from 2013 to 2017. This study focused on evaluation of the performance of phosphorus elimination using biological methods in order to respect the admissible effluent discharge limits. The yearly average of inflow total phosphorus varies from 3.64 mg/L to 4.22 mg/L comparing with 1.02 mg/ L and 1.59 mg/L the average of outflow. Chemical and biological methods are utilized to remove phosphorus. The efficiency of the numerous process available for the phosphorus removal is quite inadequate by comparing the effluent degree of purification and the removal cost.

Insurance Literacy and Spatial Diffusion in the Life Insurance Market: A Subnational Approach in Romania

In most Eastern European countries, the life insurance market is poorly developed with respect to the income level of their citizens. Most of the academic literature investigating the determinants of this market focuses on cross-country- or individual-level studies. Our research assesses the specificities of the life insurance market at a subnational level, more specifically at the county level. The behavioral mechanisms are highlighted through cross-section linear regressions with spatial interactions on a database of 42 counties in Romania in 2015. One important result is the positive effect of insurance literacy, estimated in a national survey, on the demand for life insurance. Another significant result is the spatial diffusion process identified in life insurance density between neighboring counties. Among the control variables, we identified a significant positive impact of income and urbanization on the demand for life insurance and a negative impact of the unemployment rate.

Pedagogical Methods for Teaching the Use of Prototyping by 3D Printers

Abstract The paper presents the concept, design and manufacturing of an educational tool using 3D printing. This method provides valuable aid in offering the pupils and students a tactile and practical experience in their study, especially if they are visually impaired. The educational tool in the study represents the map of the counties in Romania with their names in Braille alphabet and is an example of the manner 3D printing can be used to enhance the study possibilities of pupils and students with different disabilities.

A PRELIMINARY QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF RURALITY IN ROMANIA AND THE IMPACT OF COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY SUBSIDIES

In the literature, many studies have sought to assess through a quantitative approach the principle relationships between quantitative variables correlated to rurality. The impediment to such studies arises from the impossibility of quantitatively assessing cause-effect relationships between variables. The core purpose of this research was to assess by a quantitative approach the main cause-effect relationships in counties of Romania over the years 2007 to 2016, in order to identify variables affecting the rurality index. The study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling following the bootstrap methodology. The research outcomes highlighted the notable and positive role of financial subsidies allocated by the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy and specifically, the payments in favour of disadvantaged rural areas in relation to the rurality index across all regions of Romania. Some decoupled payments allocated within the framework of the first pillar of the CAP were found to have had no effect on crop farming. Drawing conclusions from this research, the financial support disbursed by the rural development programme is a fundamental stimulus to the reduction of socioeconomic marginalisation in Romanian farms and farming areas.

Physical Development and Eating Habits for a Group of Adolescents from Suceava County in Romania

Physical Development and Eating Habits for a Group of Adolescents from Suceava County in Romania

Adolescent smoking and the social capital of local communities in three counties in Romania

ObjectiveTo identify the effect of social capital on adolescent smoking. MethodA stratified random sample of 1313 7th and 8th grade students from three counties in Transylvania, Romania, completed a self-administered questionnaire on smoking-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. The impact of social capital was measured (personal and community activities, school achievements and smoking-related knowledge). Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were used to measure the association between social participation and smoking. ResultsExperimenting with smoking was mostly related to knowledge about smoking, academic performance and second-hand tobacco smoke exposure at home. The strongest risk factor of adolescent smoking was the smoking behaviour of classmates: those who reported a significant proportion of smokers among their classmates were nine times more likely to smoke themselves than in other cases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 9.05). Those who considered smoking to be harmless were 4 times more likely to be smokers than those who considered this behaviour to be dangerous (aOR: 4.28). Poor academic results increased adolescents’ smoking (aOR: 3.22 and 2.66). The odds were significantly higher for smoking, if they had an active social life (aOR: 2.54). Regular church attendance proved to be a protective factor (aOR: 0.45). ConclusionsSeveral social capital factors can play a role in adolescent smoking. The organization and the development of community activities aimed at prevention must strengthen the factors related to the community's social capital to reduce the likelihood of teenage smoking.

Efficiency and Corruption in Local Counties: Evidence from Romania

The current financial crisis and the lack of resources made imperative the analysis of the efficiency for managing public money, both at the central and at the local level. The general objective of the research is constituted by the estimate of the technical efficiency of all counties in Romania, as well as the analysis of its implications in local development. The originality and novelty of the study are supported by the research of a subject that has in the center the efficiency of the public authorities, current research direction for the public sector, in view of achieving a complex study. In order to reach the objective proposed, we will perform calculations on the basis of the Data Envelopment Analysis mathematical model and of the Tobit non-linear econometric model. At the same time, we reach the conclusion that in Romania, as in other states, there is a causality link between the efficiency of the local authorities and the level of corruption.

Molecular survey of neglected bacterial pathogens reveals an abundant diversity of species and genotypes in ticks collected from animal hosts across Romania

BackgroundTicks are transmitting a wide range of bacterial pathogens that cause substantial morbidity and mortality in domestic animals. The full pathogen burden transmitted by tick vectors is incompletely studied in many geographical areas, and extensive studies are required to fully understand the diversity and distribution of pathogens transmitted by ticks.ResultsWe sampled 824 ticks of 11 species collected in 19 counties in Romania. Ticks were collected mainly from dogs, but also from other domestic and wild animals, and were subjected to molecular screening for pathogens. Rickettsia spp. was the most commonly detected pathogen, occurring in 10.6% (87/824) of ticks. Several species were detected: Rickettsia helvetica, R. raoultii, R. massiliae, R. monacensis, R. slovaca and R. aeschlimannii. A single occurrence of the zoonotic bacterium Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii was detected in a tick collected from a dog. Anaplasma phagocytophilum occurred in four samples, and sequences similar to Anaplasma marginale/ovis were abundant in ticks from ruminants. In addition, molecular screening showed that ticks from dogs were carrying an Ehrlichia species identical to the HF strain as well as the enigmatic zoonotic pathogen “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”. An organism similar to E. chaffeensis or E. muris was detected in an Ixodes ricinus collected from a fox.ConclusionsWe describe an abundant diversity of bacterial tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from animal hosts in Romania, both on the level of species and genotypes/strains within these species. Several findings were novel for Romania, including Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii that causes bacteremia and endocarditis in dogs. “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” was detected in a tick collected from a dog. Previously, a single case of infection in a dog was diagnosed in Germany. The results warrant further studies on the consequences of tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals in Romania.