Western Romania Research Articles

The association between HIV clinical disease severity and psychiatric disorders as seen in Western Romania

ABSTRACTHIV disease continues to be a serious health issue all over the world. By the end of 2016, 36.7 million people were living with HIV, 1.8 million people became newly infected and 1 million died of HIV-related causes/diseases. In order to develop effective treatment strategies, is important to assess the risk factors that affect negatively the HIV-positive patients. HIV-infected patients are at high risk of developing psychiatric disorders in every stage of the illness. Psychiatric disorders can negatively influence the treatment adherence, induce risk behavior and influence the quality of life. The purpose of this study is to determine if the severity of HIV disease is associated with increased frequency of psychiatric disorders. We evaluated 101 HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Western Romania via Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ). We conducted a risk analysis in order to see if the patients have a higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders depending on HIV serostatus factor (HIV asymptomatic, symptomatic, AIDS converted). Our study shows that, the patients having AIDS and symptomatic HIV have a higher prevalence for the most common psychiatric disorders: major depressive disorder (OR = 5.81;p < 0.001), panic disorder (OR = 3.11; p = 0.016), agoraphobia (OR = 4.31; p = 0.024), social phobia (OR = 2.81; p = 0.038), generalized anxiety disorder (OR = 4.79; p = 0.006), somatization (OR = 8.72; p < 0.0010) and hypochondria (OR = 4.66; p = 0.0013). Symptomatic HIV and AIDS converted serostatus is also a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and psychosis. The main conclusion of this study is that the more severe HIV clinical disease was associated with increased frequency of psychiatric disorders. As a consequence, we conclude that psychiatric disorders and HIV/AIDS treatment should be addressed simultaneously, depending on the risk specific factors such as the HIV infection stage and, due to psychiatric repercussions of HIV is expected to become more relevant in the coming years.

A Human Resources Perspective on Responsible Corporate Behavior. Case Study: The Multinational Companies in Western Romania

This article aims to show the extent to which socially responsible Human Resource Management practices are implemented in multinational companies. As more recent studies highlight, the manner in which companies in Romania presently comprehend the social responsibility of their actions is mostly aimed towards the social component of the outer environment in which they function and less towards their own employees. In Romania, at the moment, there are only a few studies that catalogue the efforts made by companies in order to become more responsible towards their employees, or in other words, studies that present Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within its relationship with Human Resources Management (HRM). The research method we used for our case study was the semi-structured interview, applied on 32 respondents from the multinational companies carrying out their activities in the automotive sector in western Romania. Our study shows that multinational companies from the automotive sector are aware that CSR effects a series of long-term advantages, either externally—enhancing the company’s reputation and consolidating its brand as employer, its competitive advantage on the market, its media visibility—or internally—fostering an organizational culture that may generate greater engagement from its own employees, and financial advantages.

STUDIES ON SOME QUALITY COMPONENTS IN A LANDRACE COLLECTION OF CLIMBING BEANS (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS VAR. COMMUNIS)

The study aimed at evaluating a landraces collection of climbing beans regarding some characters that contribute to quality of grains or green pods. The biological material was formed of 56 landraces and 2 varieties of climbing beans from which the grains or green pods can be used in food. The landraces were collected from western and southwestern Romania. The experimentation was performed over three years in a collection-type experience, arranged in three repetitions. As elements of quality we determined: the percentage of husks from beans, boiling coefficient, the percentage of bean total protein, 1000 grain weight, the percentage of sugar in green pods. The experimental data were processed by analysis of variance and applying the t-test for determination of differences from the variety ‘Aurie de Bacau’ used as a control. The collection includes precious populations for all studied characters, but their number is reduced. For the percentage of grain husks and the protein content of grain, the most populations are below the control variety. For sugar percentage in green pod and the coefficient of boiling, the landraces are similar to control variety. In the collection, there are populations that can be processed by selection or can be used as parents in hybridization programs.

Total phenolic content, FTIR analysis, and antiproliferative evaluation of lupin seeds harvest from western Romania.

Lupinus spp. are herbaceous perennial flowering plants included in the Fabaceae family. Among the approximately 200 species belonging to this genre, Lupinus albus L., also known as white lupin, Lupinus angustifolius L., and narrow-leafed lupin or blue lupin, represent two of the most studied species due to their intense culinary use and potential biological activity. The intention of the study was to characterize total phenolic content, perform FTIR analysis, and antiproliferative effects against A375 human melanoma cells extracts obtained from germinated and ungerminated seeds from Lupinus albus L. and Lupinus angustifolius L. Total phenolic content was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. FTIR spectra were carried out by a Shimadzu Prestige-21 spectrometer in the range 400-4000 cm-1, using KBr pellets and resolution of 4 cm-1. Antiproliferative capacity was screened by employing the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and scratch assay methods. The study showed increased values corresponding to total phenolic content for the germinated extracts. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of genistein and main cinnamic acids derivatives (ferulic, caffeic, rosmarinic, and coumaric acids). All tested extracts showed weak antiproliferative potential against A375 human melanoma cells. Germination increased the amount of bioactive compounds in the seeds of the two studied species of lupin. FTIR analyses provided an important fingerprint of the chemical composition.

Professional and Transversal Competencies in the Accounting Field: Do Employers’ Expectations Fit Students’ Perceptions? Evidence from Western Romania

Abstract The changes that occur in the labour market due to the recent evolution registered in the field of accounting, led us to initiate a study in which we have as a purpose to analyse the perception that employers and students enrolled in the faculties for accounting from the Western part of our country have regarding the importance of the professional and transversal competencies when they get hired. The research tools used within this research are on the one side grounded on the quiz for data collection, and on the other side the ANOVA method for the analysis of the perception differences found in these two groups discussed upon. The results found in this work represent in the opinion of the authors an important reference mark for the university instruction of the young people who are about to enter the accounting profession, but also for the future employers who are about to interact with them.

Phytochemical screening and biological activity of Lamiaceae family plant extracts.

The current study aimed to investigate ethanolic extracts from the following medicinal plant species cultivated in western Romania: Melissa officinalis L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RO) and Salvia officinalis L. (SO). Antioxidant activity, total phenolics content and a profile of the main hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), including caffeic, ferulic, coumaric and rosmarinic acids, was determined for each plant extract. The in vitro antimicrobial activity against four bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Listeria-, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus), and the effect on cell viability in two melanoma cell lines (B164A5 murine melanoma and A375 human melanoma) was also assessed. The results indicated that total phenolics content was 73.76–274.73 mg GAE·g−1 and the antioxidant activity was 2.32–2.87 mM Fe2+·100 g−1. There was found a strong positive correlation (R=0.9691) between total phenolics content and the antioxidant activity in the investigated samples. Regarding the HCA profile obtained by high performance liquid chromatography, the results demonstrated that rosmarinic acid represents the main identified compound. The ethanolic extracts of RO and SO exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. RO was the most effective in terms of decreasing the cell viability of murine and human melanoma cell lines, while the HCAs did not exhibit any effect on cell viability. These findings suggest that plant extracts from the Lamiaceae family may used in the clinic as natural antibacterial agents.

Relations between tree canopy composition and understorey vegetation in a European beech-sessile oak old growth forest in Western Romania

AbstractThe diversity relationship between tree and herb layer has often been investigated, but the results are contradictory. Moreover, few studies of deciduous European species have been conducted to date in natural or near-natural forests, while such studies in old-growth forest with considerable co-dominance of oak are missing.In one of the best preserved natural European beech-sessile oak forests (Runcu-Grosi Natural Reserve, Western Romania) we investigated whether there is a correlation between canopy-layer diversity and herb-layer diversity. Structural diversity, vegetation composition, ecological and functional traits were evaluated. Our results show that the herb-layer diversity is higher under canopy with greater tree-layer diversity, and the diversity of both layers depend on whether the overstorey is dominated by beech or sessile oak. Herb layers of plots with oak co-dominance showed higher indicator values for light and temperature, and a higher proportion of graminoides and shrub species. In contrast, herb-layer in beech plots is dominated by juvenile trees, mainly beech and competitive herb species. Oak plots are characterised by a generally more evenly distributed herb-layer composition. Species richness of herb-layer was higher under a diversely structured overstorey, which was mainly achieved when oak was present in the canopy, and correlated negatively with litter thickness, which was highest in beech plots. We conclude that the identity of the dominant canopy species is most important for herb layer species composition and diversity. Furthermore, the plots with oak occurrence in the overstorey even with weak proportion (around 20% of stand basal area) features a higher biodiversity of species in the understorey.

Elements in the Market of the Real Estate Property in Oradea

Abstract The location of Oradea in western Romania, in a constant development area, correlates with the existing human potential; the area becomes attractive for citizens from other geographic regions who have moved to Oradea. The real estate market of apartments is experiencing an increase reaching new highs in the trim. II 2017. The city of Oradea is part of the cities with economic potential, with the demand for housing. The prices upward trend must be corelated with economic growth and strength in order not to produce a new “crisis” effect.

Risk-targeted maps for Romania

Romania has one of the highest seismic hazard levels in Europe. The seismic hazard is due to a combination of local crustal seismic sources, situated mainly in the western part of the country and the Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic source, which can be found at the bend of the Carpathian Mountains. Recent seismic hazard studies have shown that there are consistent differences between the slopes of the seismic hazard curves for sites situated in the fore-arc and back-arc of the Carpathian Mountains. Consequently, in this study we extend this finding to the evaluation of the probability of collapse of buildings and finally to the development of uniform risk-targeted maps. The main advantage of uniform risk approach is that the target probability of collapse will be uniform throughout the country. Finally, the results obtained are discussed in the light of a recent study with the same focus performed at European level using the hazard data from SHARE project. The analyses performed in this study have pointed out to a dominant influence of the quantile of peak ground acceleration used for anchoring the fragility function. This parameter basically alters the shape of the risk-targeted maps shifting the areas which have higher collapse probabilities from eastern Romania to western Romania, as its exceedance probability increases. Consequently, a uniform procedure for deriving risk-targeted maps appears as more than necessary.

Detection of Cercopithifilaria bainae in western Romania.

Cercopithifilaria species are tick-transmitted filarial parasites of mammals. In Europe, three Cercopithifilaria spp. are known to parasitize dogs, all occurring mainly in the Mediterranean countries. In Romania, Cercopithifilaria bainae has been reported in a single dog in eastern Romania but the occurrence in other parts of the country is not known. To further elucidate the geographic distribution of Cercopithifilaria spp. infection, 544 ticks were collected from dogs in several locations across Romania. The presence of Cercopithifilaria spp. was investigated with real-time PCR. A single Dermacentor reticulatus female tick was found to be infected with Cercopithifilaria bainae. The finding in the present study is geographically separated from the previous finding in Romania by 800km, as well as by the Carpathian mountain range. Hence, C. bainae is more geographically widespread in Romania than previously recognized. However, the single detection does suggest that infection is rather uncommon in Romanian dogs. Nevertheless, further studies on Cercopithifilaria spp. distribution and prevalence are needed.

Irrigation, a Basic Technological Element, for Improving the Autumn Cabbage Yield in Crișurilor Plain, Western Romania

The researches were carried out at the Agricultural Research and Development Station, Crișurilor Plain, Oradea, during 1990-2016. They have demonstrated that irrigation is needed every year due to the extension of the drought regions in Romania. Irrigation has become a basic element in the technology of the autumn cabbage crop due to the yearly pedological drought. For cabbage, the minimum watering depth is considered 0-50 cm, while an irrigation average rate of 2,410 m3/ha, with a variation range of 1,330-4,900 m3/ha had to be imposed in order to maintain the soil moisture content on the watering depth between the easily available water content and the field capacity. Irrigation improved the microclimate conditions and the ratio water/temperature + light (Domuţa climate index) increased. Daily water consumption increased as well. As a result, total water consumption increased by 70%, with a variation range of 19-872%. Irrigation determined an yield gain of 153%; water use efficiency (kg/m3) increased by 60.0%; irrigation water use efficiency recorded an average value of 13.4 kg yield gain/m3, with variation range 6.7 kg yield gain/m3-24.2 kg yield gain/m3. The correlations quantified in the soil-water-plant system (number of days with pedological drought, yield, respectively yield gain; Domuţa climate index-yield; water consumption-yield) support irrigation for the autumn cabbage crop from Crişurilor Plain.

Survey of the Occurrence and Human Infective Potential of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in Wastewater and Different Surface Water Sources of Western Romania.

From the group of parasitic protozoa, Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most common pathogens spread in surface water sources, representing a continuous threat to public health and water authorities. The aim of this survey was to assess the occurrence and human infective potential of these pathogens in treated wastewaters and different surface water sources. A total of 76 western Romanian water bodies in four counties (Arad, Bihor, Caraș-Severin and Timiș) were investigated, including the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (n = 11) and brooks (n = 19), irrigation channels (n = 8), lakes (n = 16), and ponds (n = 22). Water samples were collected through polyester microfiber filtration. Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were isolated using immunomagnetic separation, according to the US EPA 1623 method, followed by their identification and counting by immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy. All samples were screened through PCR-based techniques targeting the gdh gene for Giardia spp. and the 18S rRNA gene for Cryptosporidium spp., followed by sequencing of the positive results. Cryptosporidium-positive samples were subtyped based on sequence analysis of the GP60 gene. Giardia spp. was found in all tested water types with a cumulative detection rate of 90.1% in wastewaters, 26.3% in brooks, 37.5% in irrigation channels, 31.2% in lakes, and 36.4% in ponds. Except for ponds, all monitored water bodies harbored the Giardia duodenalis AII subassemblage with human infective potential. In addition, the ruminant origin assemblage E was widely distributed, and the domestic/wild canid-specific assemblage D was also recorded in a pond. Three (27.3%) wastewater samples were Cryptosporidium positive, and the identified species was the zoonotic Cryptosporidium parvum, with IIaA15G2R1 (n = 2) and IIdA18G1 subtypes. The results highlight that this threat to the public health must be brought to the attention of epidemiologists, health officials, and water authorities.

Genetic survey of alveolar and cystic echinococcoses in Romania: first molecular evidence of Echinococcus multilocularis in humans in the country

Summary Cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are considered as one of the most important zoonotic diseases in Romania, where they are subject to mandatory reporting. To obtain more knowledge about the genetic diversity of Echinococcus causative agents of these diseases, 11 isolates from humans and ungulate intermediate hosts from the two regions of Romania were genotyped using mitochondrial markers. In clinical samples of five patients from north-eastern Romania (Iasi, Botosani, Vaslui counties), Echinococcus multilocularis was identified as causal agent by cox1 sequence analysis. To the best of our knowledge this finding presents the first molecular evidence of E. multilocularis in humans from Romania. Only two cases of AE in patients were previously documented in the country by serological methods. In our four patients the most widespread European variant E5 of E. multilocularis was recorded, whereas in isolate from Vaslui county three nucleotide substitutions were detected as compared to the most related E5 haplotype. One of these mutations (411T/G) matched N1 and N2 haplotypes described previously from North America. In six CE samples retrieved from western Romania (Caras-Severin and Timis counties), two human isolates were diagnosed as Echinococcus canadensis G7, one as E. granulosus s.s. G1 and one as E. granulosus s.s. G3 using atp6 and rrnS sequencing. In ungulates, the cattle isolate was allocated to E. granulosus s.s. G1 and pig isolate to E. canadensis G7. The two G7 findings in humans reinforced the recent view that G7 was underestimated as compared to the E. granulosus s.s. regarding human CE threat that can be further employed for identifying sources of infections and establishing suitable preventive measures.

Choosing the optimal wind turbine variant using the ”ELECTRE” method

This paper presents a method of choosing the “optimal” alternative, both under certainty and under uncertainty, based on relevant analysis criteria. Taking into account that a product can be assimilated to a system and that the reliability of the system depends on the reliability of its components, the choice of product (the appropriate system decision) can be done using the “ELECTRE” method and depending on the level of reliability of each product. In the paper, the “ELECTRE” method is used in choosing the optimal version of a wind turbine required to equip a wind farm in western Romania. The problems to be solved are related to the current situation of wind turbines that involves reliability problems. A set of criteria has been proposed to compare two or more products from a range of available products: Operating conditions, Environmental conditions during operation, Time requirements. Using the ELECTRE hierarchical mathematical method it was established that on the basis of the obtained coefficients of concordance the optimal variant of the wind turbine and the order of preference of the variants are determined, the values chosen as limits being arbitrary.

Prognostic impact of blood pressure and heart rate at admission on in-hospital mortality after primary percutaneous intervention for acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation in western Romania.

BackgroundThe purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) on in-hospital mortality in ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, after primary percutaneous intervention (PCI).Patients and methodsThe study included 294 patients admitted for STEMI. They were divided into five groups according to the SBP at admission: group I, <105 mmHg; group II, 105–125 mmHg; group III, 126–140 mmHg; group IV, 141–158 mmHg; and group V, ≥159 mmHg. Increased HR was defined as ≥80 beats per minute (bpm). In-hospital death was defined as all-cause death during admission and classified into cardiac and noncardiac death.ResultsAmong the 294 patients admitted for STEMI, 218 (74%) were men. The mean age was 62±17 years. In-hospital mortality rate was 6% (n=18), with 11 (3.7%) deaths having cardiac causes. The highest mortality was registered in group I (n=9, 16%, P=0.018). Compared to the other groups, group I patients were older (P=0.033), more often smokers (P=0.026), and had a history of myocardial infarction (P=0.003), systemic hypertension (P=0.023), diabetes (P=0.041), or chronic kidney disease (P=0.0200). They more often had a HR ≥80 bpm (P=0.028) and a Killip class 3 or 4 at admission (P=0.020). The peak creatine phosphokinase-MB level was significantly higher in this group (P=0.005), while the angiographic findings more often identified as culprit lesions were the right coronary artery (P=0.005), the left main trunk (P=0.040), or a multivessel coronary artery disease (P=0.044). Multivariate analysis showed that group I patients had a significantly higher risk for both all-cause death (P=0.006) and cardiac death (P=0.003). Patients with HR ≥80 bpm also had higher mortality rates (P=0.0272 for general mortality and P=0.0280 for cardiac mortality).ConclusionThe present study suggests that SBP <105 mmHg and HR ≥80 bpm at admission of STEMI patients are associated with a higher risk of in-hospital death, even after primary PCI.

Quality of drinking water in rural areas of western Romania with reference to parasites

Quality of drinking water in rural areas of western Romania with reference to parasites

The Lives of Houses: Duration, Context, and History at Neolithic Uivar, Romania

There is a considerable mix of models for house durations in the literature on Neolithic Europe. This article presents a summary of a formal chronological model for the Neolithic tell of Uivar in western Romania. We provide estimates of house duration and relate houses to other features of the development of this tell, from the later sixth to the mid-fifth millennium calbc. Three wider implications are discussed: that the house must be contextualized case by case; that house duration gives powerful insights into the sociality of community; and that houses, surprisingly often taken rather for granted in Neolithic archaeology, should be fully integrated into the interpretation of Neolithic histories. From what perspective, anthropocentric or relational, that may best be done, is open to question; while it may be helpful to think in this case in terms of the lives and vitality of houses, the ability of people to create and vary history should not be set aside lightly.

Angiostrongylus vasorum in Romania: an extensive survey in red foxes, Vulpes vulpes

BackgroundAngiostrongylus vasorum is the causative agent of canine angiostrongylosis, a severe snail-borne disease of dogs. Red foxes are important natural reservoirs of infection, and surveys of foxes provide a more objective picture of the parasite distribution. Our aim was to investigate the possibility of the presence of A. vasorum in red foxes from the western part of Romania and to analyse the risk factors related to the sex, age and geographic origin of the foxes. Between July 2016 and April 2017, 567 hunted red foxes from 10 counties of western Romania were examined by necropsy for the presence of lungworms.ResultsOverall, the infection with A. vasorum has been found in 24 red foxes (4.2%) originating in four counties (Mureș, Hunedoara, Sălaj and Cluj). There was no significant difference between the prevalence in males and females, between juveniles and adults and between counties.ConclusionsThis is the first report of autochthonous infections of A. vasorum in Romania, showing a relatively low prevalence and extending eastwards the known distributional range of this parasite in Europe. The presence of autochthonous cases in domestic dogs in Romania remains to be confirmed by further studies.

ISHO Real Estate Regenerating Timişoara. The non-metropolitan city of Timişoara elected as European Capital of Culture for 2021

Timisoara is a major city situated in western Romania. In 2021, it will be European Capital of Culture. The city evolved around a fortified citadel surrounded by satellite settlements. After the demolition of the fortification (the XIXth century) a consistent urban tissue developed between the core and satellites. During the years, our office produced projects situated in these intermediate areas, developing an ”urban landscape” perspective, managing to attribute to the interventions a connecting role between the existing landmarks and poles; an important role was given to the ”modelling” of the volumes in order to open vistas and visual cones, as well as to the choice of forms and textures in order to ”stitch” the existing fabric and to offer a new reading of the city. We have selected one project in order to illustrate the methodology: the ”ISHO” Real Estate development.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. as contaminant protozoa of the main rivers of western Romania: genetic characterization and public health potential of the isolates.

The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence, contamination level, and public health significance of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in the primary rivers of western Romania. A total of 53 sampling points in the 24 most important western Romanian rivers in four counties (Arad, Bihor, Caraș-Severin, and Timiș) were investigated from March to September 2016. Surface water samples were collected by microfiber filtration. Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts were isolated using immunomagnetic separation (IMS) according to the USEPA 1623 method and, after staining with fluorescently labeled (FITC) monoclonal antibodies, were identified and counted under a microscope. The Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts were identified to species and assemblage/sub-assemblage level through the nested PCR-RFLP procedure targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA and gdh genes, respectively. PCR-based techniques were utilized for all water samples. Overall, 22 samples (41.5%) were determined to be positive for Giardia cysts (ranging from 0.05 to 300 cysts per liter), and four samples (7.5%) tested positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts (0.17-48 oocysts/l). G. duodenalis was molecularly identified in 13 water samples (24.5%), indicating the presence of the sub-assemblage A-II (n=12) and assemblage E (n=1). PCR-RFLP showed that two samples (3.8%) contained Cryptosporidium DNA, and the identified species were Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium canis. All positive results were successfully confirmed by DNA sequencing. Subtyping of the zoonotic C. parvum isolate based on sequence analysis of the GP60 gene revealed the occurrence of the IIaA16G1R1 subtype. The results of this study highlight considerable contamination of river waters with pathogenic Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., suggesting a potential risk for the public and animal health. This report presents the first extended published description of the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in the aquatic environment in Romania.