Southern Romania Research Articles

Early Pleistocene amphibians and squamates from Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania)

This paper describes an Early Pleistocene amphibian and squamate assemblage from the Dacian Basin, southern Romania. The fossil sample allows for the identification of a moderately diverse assemblage, which includes representatives of 13 genera of the families Salamandridae (Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus sp.), Bombinatoridae (Bombina sp.), Hylidae (Hyla aff. Hyla arborea), Bufonidae (Bufo bufo), Pelobatidae (Pelobates syriacus), Ranidae (Ranidae indet., Pelophylax sp., Rana ?temporaria, Rana sp.), Lacertidae (Lacertidae indet.), Anguidae (Pseudopus sp.), Natricidae (Natrix natrix), and Colubridae (Coronella austriaca, Zamenis longissimus). The taxonomic composition of the Early Pleistocene amphibian and squamate assemblage from Copăceni is similar to the one reported from other Romanian sites of the same age, and also to that of Recent Romanian herpetofaunas. The amphibian and squamate assemblage from Copăceni supports the existence of a permanent freshwater body, of neighbouring forests or shrubberies, and thick soil, in an Early Pleistocene climate that was warmer than the present one.

THE DYNAMICS OF TOMATO LEAFMINER TUTA ABSOLUTA (MEYRICH, 1917) (LEPIDOPTERA: GELECHIIDAE) IN PROTECTED TOMATO CROPS FROM MUNTENIA REGION (ROMANIA)

The South American native species Tuta absoluta is recognized as a tomato pest with fulminant dispersal ability in the new invaded areas. T. absoluta monitoring in all tomato-producing regions of the country is a vital step in early detection and integrated management decision-making. The aim of the study was to elucidate the interval of occurrence and population dynamics of T. absoluta in Muntenia region, respectively the vegetable basin that supply Bucharest northern markets. The paper presents the results of pest monitoring carried out in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, by using pheromone-baited traps and also by visual inspection of tomato crops in various greenhouses in four localities from Bucharest surrounding area. The study provides first systematic monitored data about T. absoluta dynamics in protected tomato crops from southern Romania. Depending on year weather conditions, in the greenhouses tomato crops from the investigated area, the tomato leaf miner completed maximum 3 to 4 generations from spring to autumn and the degree of attack on tomatoes reached its maximum at the end of the second vegetation cycle. There was also noted a steady annual increase in the number of adult catches and degree of attack on tomatoes in the protected crop from analysed area.

‘Put Variety in White’: Multi-Analytical Investigation of the White Pigments Inlaid on Early Chalcolithic Pottery from Southern Romania

‘Put Variety in White’: Multi-Analytical Investigation of the White Pigments Inlaid on Early Chalcolithic Pottery from Southern Romania

The Profile of the Patients with Double Infection HIV and TB in South West of Romania.

Background: Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / tuberculosis (TB) raises important diagnostic and treatment problems as the lung is one of the target organs for HIV. Studies have shown that an HIV patient is 5-15 times more likely to switch from Koch's bacillus-infected status to active tuberculosis. Material and method: Retrospective study on 207 patients with HIV/TB coinfection in the Oltenia area registered in the Regional Center for Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS infection in Craiova to define the profile of patients with double TB-HIV infection in southern Romania for cases registered between 2005-2015. Results: 53.14% of patients were females. Most cases were from rural areas (56.10%) Half of them are born between 1988 and 1990 but only 5% graduated university. 66.18% don’t have a job and are supported by state with a monthly minimum income. 29.4% are smokers. More than 60% of cases had pulmonary TB and other 25% had concomitant pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. TB and HIV have been diagnosed almost at the same time in 25% of cases. At the time of TB diagnosis 75% of patients had CD4+lymphocytes count <200cel/ml. We also noticed the absence of prophylaxis for TB in patients infected with HIV (PIH) and high incidence of hepatitis B (30.43%). Conclusions: Clinical expression, radiological and bacteriological aspects are often atypical in HIV/TB coinfected patients. The lack of TB prophylaxis and TB endemicity in the studied area may justify the large number of TB cases in HIV-infected patients.

First record of Colobopsis truncata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Moldova region of Romania

Colobopsis truncata is a common Mediterranean species distributed mostly in southern and central Europe. In Romania, the species is expected to be widely distributed, but data are scarce. Both minor workers and soldiers of the species were collected in different sites during field observations in the spring of 2020. Herein we report the first record of Colobopsis truncata from Moldova and new records for southern Romania.

Characteristics of Phomopsis juglandina (Sacc.) Hohn. Associated with Dieback of Walnut in the Climatic Conditions of Southern Romania

Phomopsis juglandina (Sacc.) Höhn., which is the conidial state of Diaporthe juglandina (Fuckel) Nitschke, and the main pathogen causing the dieback of branches and twigs of walnut was recently detected in many orchards from Romania. The symptomatological, morphological, ultrastructural, and cultural characteristics, as well as the pathogenicity of an isolate of this lignicolous fungus, were described and illustrated. The optimum periods for infection, under the conditions prevailing in Southern Romania, mainly occur in the spring (April) and autumn months (late September-beginning of October). Strong inverse correlations (p &lt; 0.001) were found between potential evapotranspiration and lesion lengths on walnut branches in 2019. The pathogen forms two types of phialospores: alpha and beta; the role of beta phialospores is not well known in pathogenesis. In Vitro, the optimal growth temperature of mycelial hyphae was in the range of 22–26 °C, and the optimal pH is 4.4–7. This pathogen should be monitored continuously due to its potential for damaging infestations of intensive plantations.

Dynamics of phenological stages due to climate change in plum trees in southern Romania

Dynamics of phenological stages due to climate change in plum trees in southern Romania

Molecular Epidemiology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Strains Circulating in Romania during the First Months of the Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The spread of SARS-CoV-2 generated an unprecedented global public health crisis. Soon after Asia, Europe was seriously affected. Many countries, including Romania, adopted lockdown measures to limit the outbreak. AIM: We performed a molecular epidemiology analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral strains circulating in Romania during the first two months of the epidemic in order to detect mutation profiles and phylogenetic relatedness. METHODS: Respiratory samples were directly used for shotgun sequencing. RESULTS: All Romanian sequences belonged to lineage B, with a different subtype distribution between northern and southern regions (subtype B.1.5 and B.1.1). Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the Romanian epidemic started with multiple introduction events from other European countries followed by local transmission. Phylogenetic links between northern Romania and Spain, Austria, Scotland and Russia were observed, as well as between southern Romania and Switzerland, Italy, France and Turkey. One viral strain presented a previously unreported mutation in the Nsp2 gene, namely K489E. Epidemiologically-defined clusters displayed specific mutations, suggesting molecular signatures for strains coming from areas that were isolated during the lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Romanian epidemic was initiated by multiple introductions from European countries followed by local transmissions. Different subtype distribution between northern and southern Romania was observed after two months of the pandemic.

Re-modeling and Simulation of an Economic Map System Based on System Dynamic Principles - Case Study in Southern Romania

Re-modeling and Simulation of an Economic Map System Based on System Dynamic Principles - Case Study in Southern Romania

Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions: the case of Southern Romania

Abstract The study of entrepreneurial intentions has become a topic of interest in the last decades. As most of the decisions to launch a new firm are assumed to be planned for some time, it means that they are preceded by an intention to do so. Thus, identifying and analyzing the factors that influence the entrepreneurial intention represents a key issue in the entrepreneurship research. A review of the scientific literature shows that the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions are to be found in both the psychological approach and the behavioral approach. The psychological approach stresses the importance of various factors such as the locus of control, the propensity to take risk, the self-confidence, the need for achievement, or the innovativeness. On its turn, the behavioral approach puts accent on other elements such as the subjective norms or the personal attitude. The purpose of the paper is to identify and analyze the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions in the case of the Romanian entrepreneurs located in the Southern part of the country. In this respect, it takes into account several factors such as gender, experience or propensity towards risk. The methodological approach was based on a quantitative research method. The method of data collection was a survey by self-administered questionnaire. The paper illustrates the existence of various correlations between the above factors and the entrepreneurial intentions. It contributes to the enrichment of the scientific literature by emphasizing the role played by some of the main determinants of entrepreneurial intentions in the developing of entrepreneurship in Southern Romania.

Dead snakes and their stories: morphological anomalies, asymmetries and scars of road killed Dolichophis caspius (Serpentes, Colubridae) from Romania

We analysed several morphological characters of 84 road-killed D. caspius individuals from different areas of southern Romania. Most presented asymmetries in the total number of temporal scales, the temporal row and the periocular and labial scales. Almost a quarter of snakes had scars, located especially on the head and tail; many individuals had multiple injuries. The lowest rate of individuals with scars was found in the area with the least anthropogenic impact (Danube Gorge). This finding suggests that, in other areas in Romania, the species is threatened and lives in less optimal conditions. The number of individuals with asymmetries and scars differed according to the populated region, sex or size class. Most of the individuals were killed in August, due to the large number of road-killed juveniles.

Timing of phenological stages for apple and pear trees under climate change in a temperate-continental climate.

The study examines the consequences of climate change in Malus (apple) and Pyrus (pear) on four phenological stages: bud swelling (code 51 BBCH Monograph), budburst (code 53), beginning of flowering (code 61), and end of flowering (code 69) in the temperate-continental climate of southern Romania. The hypothesis tested is how much the onset dates (TOD) of phenology stages moved earlier due to climate change. Weather and phenological data were collected from 1969 to 2018 and were statistically processed. There was an increase in air temperature (T) during the first 5months in the year, with a significant rise in March and April; significant linear relationships show an advance in TOD with the years elapsed. Inverse linear relationships were found between TOD, maximum (Tmax), mean (Tmean), minimum (Tmin) temperature, and sunshine hours (Sh). The relationships between TOD and Tmax were the strongest. The early stages of flowering phenology are advancing more strongly than later flowering stages. For apple, in the last 50years, there was an advance of 13.8days for stage 51, 14.8days for stage 53, 10.7days for stage 61, and only 7.3days for stage 69; for pear trees, the advance was lower: 10days for stage 51, 9days for stage 53, 6.7days for stage 61, and only 2.1days for stage 69. These findings, which might be extrapolated to similar environments, have important consequences in fruit growing, like the occurrence of climate accidents due to late frost, insect pollination, and application of pesticides and irrigation water.

Testing Hungarian oak (Quercus frainetto Ten.) provenances in Romania

Abstract: In this study ten Hungarian oak provenances from Southern Romania were tested in two comparative trials 10 years after planting. The diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree height (Th) were measured in family progenies and the survival rate was determined. In both trials, the local provenances (Bals and Seaca 2) revealed superior fitness in terms of growth and adaptability traits, confirming the recommendation of using local provenances with priority in afforestation activities. Based on the measured traits, families which ranked in the first ten positions at age 3 and age 10 years were identified in both trials. The analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences in growth traits between provenances and families in both comparative trials. Duncan’s test for 5% transgression probability revealed different results for dbh and Th in terms of provenance homogeneity in the two test sites, with a superior homogeneity in the Aramadia trial for dbh and in the Bals trial for Th. Growth performances of the Hungarian oak provenances were significantly influenced by the experimental location and by the interactions between provenance, family and locality, suggesting that maximum precaution must be taken in the choice of forest reproductive materials to be planted in different environmental conditions. The family mean heritability (h2f) was significantly lower than the individual heritability (h2i), suggesting the possible adoption of an individual selection strategy in the next stage of the current breeding programme. The juvenile-adult correlations will be made at the age of 40 years and will take advantage of the results of this study to shorten the testing period for the selection of genetically improved material in Hungarian oak.

Multidisciplinary approach for time-framing of an overpainted wooden iconostasis from Southern Romania

In this study several non-invasive and minimally-invasive techniques were employed for the discovery of the original aspect of an old iconostasis belonging to a small wooden church in Vâlcea County (southern Romania). Preliminary examination of the iconostasis raised suspicions upon its actual age, the wooden carved decorations style pointing towards the Brancovan period, while images in raking light highlighted old lacunae painted over. Hyperspectral imaging and X-ray Fluorescence investigations were performed in situ, while Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and microscopic examination were performed on several microsamples. Corroborated results confirmed the presence of an older painting underneath the visible one. Cross-section analysis revealed the existence of multiple layers, while images acquired with hyperspectral camera revealed contours of the initial drawing. Several pigments were found such as smalt, Prussian blue, vermilion, red lead, red and yellow ochre, chrome yellow, chrome green, lead white and zinc white. A modified egg tempera technique - proteinaceous materials mixed with oil, was most probably originally used. The obtained results shed light on the traditional painting techniques used within the Brancovan period as well as essential information for art historians and conservators involved in the restoration of this valuable artifact.

Whole genome sequencing snapshot of multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from hospitals and receiving wastewater treatment plants in Southern Romania.

We report on the genomic characterization of 47 multi-drug resistant, carbapenem resistant and ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates from the influent (I) and effluent (E) of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and from Romanian hospital units which are discharging the wastewater in the sampled WWTPs. The K. pneumoniae whole genome sequences were analyzed for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence genes and sequence types (STs) in order to compare their distribution in C, I and E samples. Both clinical and environmental samples harbored prevalent and widely distributed ESBL genes, i.e. blaSHV, blaOXA, blaTEM and blaCTX M. The most prevalent carbapenemase genes were blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48 and blaKPC-2. They were found in all types of isolates, while blaOXA-162, a rare blaOXA-48 variant, was found exclusively in water samples. A higher diversity of carbapenemases genes was seen in wastewater isolates. The aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AME) genes found in all types of samples were aac(6’), ant(2'')Ia, aph(3'), aaD, aac(3) and aph(6). Quinolone resistance gene qnrS1 and the multi-drug resistance oqxA/B pump gene were found in all samples, while qnrD and qnrB were associated to aquatic isolates. The antiseptics resistance gene qacEdelta1 was found in all samples, while qacE was detected exclusively in the clinical ones. Trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole (dfrA, sul1 and sul2), tetracyclines (tetA and tetD) and fosfomycin (fosA6, known to be located on a transpozon) resistance genes were found in all samples, while for choramphenicol and macrolides some ARGs were detected in all samples (catA1 and catB3 / mphA), while other (catA2, cmIA5 and aac(6’)Ib / mphE and msrE) only in wastewater samples. The rifampin resistance genes arr2 and 3 (both carried by class I integrons) were detected only in water samples. The highly prevalent ARGs preferentially associating with aquatic versus clinical samples could ascribe potential markers for the aquatic (blaSHV-145, qacEdelta1, sul1, aadA1, aadA2) and clinical (blaOXA-1, blaSHV-106,blaTEM-150, aac(3)Iia, dfrA14, oqxA10; oqxB17,catB3, tetD) reservoirs of AR. Moreover, some ARGs (oqxA10; blaSHV-145; blaSHV-100, aac(6')Il, aph(3')VI, armA, arr2, cmlA5, blaCMY-4, mphE, msrE, oqxB13, blaOXA-10) showing decreased prevalence in influent versus effluent wastewater samples could be used as markers for the efficiency of the WWTPs in eliminating AR bacteria and ARGs. The highest number of virulence genes (75) was recorded for the I samples, while for E and C samples it was reduced to half. The most prevalent belong to three functional groups: adherence (fim genes), iron acquisition (ent, fep, fyu, irp and ybt genes) and the secretion system (omp genes). However, none of the genes associated with hypervirulent K. pneumoniae have been found. A total of 14 STs were identified. The most prevalent clones were ST101, ST219 in clinical samples and ST258, ST395 in aquatic isolates. These STs were also the most frequently associated with integrons. ST45 and ST485 were exclusively associated with I samples, ST11, ST35, ST364 with E and ST1564 with C samples. The less frequent ST17 and ST307 aquatic isolates harbored blaOXA-162, which was co-expressed in our strains with blaCTX-M-15 and blaOXA-1.

First Report on Clinical Feline Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) Infection in Romania.

SummaryDirofilaria immitis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) is the causative agent of heartworm disease (HWD), a severe and potentially fatal condition in dogs. Although cats are considered more resistant to infection than dogs, they are also susceptible to heartworm infection. Moreover, the clinical importance of feline dirofilariosis has increased in recent years, especially in heartworm endemic areas. In contrast to dog, definitive antemortem diagnosis of heartworm infection in cat is difficult to achieve and a combination of testing methods must be used for clinical confirmation. Here we describe a clinical case of heartworm infection in a 12-year-old male mixed breed cat, originated from Southern Romania, which was referred to a veterinary clinic with a history of vomiting and clinical signs of respiratory distress. The thoracic radiograph showed a diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern of the pulmonary parenchyma. The serological test for D. immitis circulating antibody was positive and heartworms were visualized by echocardiography in the main pulmonary artery. In conclusion, the present study clearly shows that cats are at risk for D. immitis infection in heartworm-endemic areas in Romania. Additionally, the findings highlight the urgent need for increased awareness among veterinary practitioners of the existence of feline heartworm diseases and for adequate prophylactic measures to be applied. To our knowledge, this is the first report on clinical evolution and radiographic and echocardiographic features of a naturally heartworm-infected cat in Romania.

Transforming Romanian school buildings in prosumers. An opportunity for increasing the energy efficiency in electrical networks and reducing the environmental impact of the power distribution sector

In the last decades, electricity systems suffer crucial transformations from integrated networks with a unidirectional flow, to decentralized, bidirectional flow networks. The stakeholders of this large-scale business have changed or improved their role. Electricity distribution companies are becoming service providers and end-users are becoming electricity producers. With the legislation issued in 2018, a new stakeholder was born on the Romanian electricity market, the prosumer. So, the decentralization reached an extreme by giving the smallest end-user the opportunity to become an electricity producer. In the first paragraph of this paper, authors summarize provisions of most recent energy strategies issued by the Romanian Government and the regulatory framework for incentivizing this market player. Given the growing interest of local administration in energy efficiency and pollution reduction, authors consider that schools can play a major role in fulfilling ambitious environmental targets. Most school buildings date from the communist regime and have a rather similar design. In their energy management programmes, municipalities consider energy efficiency in school buildings and authors present the case study of a school in the city of Ploiesti, one of the largest in southern Romania. A brief description of the electricity end-use systems is presented. Before any measure is taken on the supply-side, school’s administration needs to implement the demand-side measures. Next, these measures are investigated, and the results of the technical-economic analysis are presented. In southern Romania, photovoltaic (PV) solutions have better operating conditions and for this case study the solution for local generation with PV panels is presented. In the paper, authors are making an in-depth investigation of extending the prosumers model, with local PV generation on school buildings, over most of Romanian geographical regions. The carbon footprint is calculated, and the environmental benefits of this integrated approach are highlighted.

Practici depoziţionale non-funerare La Tène târziu în sud-vestul României. Descoperirile de la Glogova şi Desa / Non-funerary depositional practices during the Late La Tène in southwestern Romania. The discoveries from Glogova and Desa

Practici depoziţionale non-funerare La Tène târziu în sud-vestul României. Descoperirile de la Glogova şi Desa / Non-funerary depositional practices during the Late La Tène in southwestern Romania. The discoveries from Glogova and Desa

Early Pleistocene freshwater fishes of Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania)

Early Pleistocene freshwater fishes of Copăceni (Dacian Basin, southern Romania)

Polyploidy in First and Second Trimester Pregnancies in Romania - a Retrospective Study.

Polyploidy is a rare lethal cytogenetic anomaly in pregnancies, generally leading to pregnancy termination. This study aims to compare first and second trimester polyploidy in pregnancies and describe the underlying mechanisms. A retrospective study was conducted in three medical genetics laboratories, collecting cases from Eastern, Southern, and Western Romania. The period of interest was January 2008 to December 2018. Prenatal samples (chorionic villi and amniotic fluid) and miscarriage samples were tested by standard karyotyping, as well as QF-PCR or FISH as complementary or alternative techniques. In first trimester pregnancies, we report cytogenetic results of chorionic villi samples from miscarriages: 25 triploid cases and 13 tetraploid cases. In second trimester samples obtained by amniocentesis, cytogenetic findings were positive for 17 triploid cases. Maternal age, age of the pregnancy, and fetal gender identified by ultrasound were recorded in all cases and, additionally, data on biochemical risk and ultrasonographic findings for second trimester pregnancies. Cytogenetic investigations of spontaneous abortions provide valuable information on the cause of abortion. This information is crucial for genetic counseling and may also contribute to prenatal diagnosis in subsequent pregnancies.