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The aim of the study was to perform dimensional, morpho-structural, mechanical and chemical characterization of four materials based on paper currently in use in Romania (RO), Italy (IT), Spain (SP) and Slovenia (SLO) designed for the temporarily wrapping of meat. SEM-EDXS, FTIR and DSC showed that RO is laminated on one side with polyethylene, SP is waxed, IT is modified with a multilayered polyethylene film and SLO is coated with hydrophobized starch. RO, IT and SLO comply with the standards of determination of density, roughness, breaking length and bending resistance. The highest content of metals found in the SP explains the highest electrical conductivity and the poor quality of the recycled material used for manufacturing. The highest values of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) resulted for SP sample expressed its water solubility and availability of migration into foodstuff. RO, IT and SLO are suitable for food packaging. In contrast, SP do not meet the requirements for safety and mechanical resistance. [Display omitted] • Characterization of four types of materials based on paper. • RO, IT-single-face coated with PE, SP-double-side waxed, SLO-coated with starch. • RO, IT, SLO comply the standards of mechanical resistance and are suitable for food packaging. • SP do not meet the requirements for safety and mechanical resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social isolation and loneliness greatly contribute to negative health consequences in older adults. Technological solutions can be an asset in promoting social connections and healthy behaviours. This paper presents an innovative structure for an Internet of Things (IoT) platform specifically tailored for older persons. The framework utilises a supervised learning algorithm to classify users into four identified profiles to facilitate the adoption and engagement of technology. The platform incorporates wearables, such as socks and smart bands, to track physical activity, and a messaging module to encourage social interaction. The platform processes the acquired data to quantify steps and deliver tailored interventions remotely to the older adults through the AGAPE Assistant, the mHealth solution of the platform. Furthermore, the AGAPE Assistant has a user interface design for older adults, with a focus on their specific needs. Additionally, improving digital literacy among older adults is crucial for maximizing the long-term compliance and benefits of such technological solutions. On the other hand, AGAPE Monitor is a web application used by formal caregivers to configure the tailored interventions. The platform's usability was assessed using different usability scale questionnaires, which revealed a mild level of user satisfaction and acceptance. The proposed framework is currently being deployed on more than 112 older adults across three countries: Italy, Romania, and Portugal. The proposed framework provides a holistic solution to encourage active ageing by adopting technology, implementing hybrid interventions, and promoting social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a set of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data obtained from in situ measurements conducted in four ornamental stone quarries located in Italy (Botticino quarry) and Romania (Ruschita, Carpinis, and Pietroasa quarries). The GPR is a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) technique that enables the detection and localization of fractures without damage to the surface, among other capabilities. In this study, two instruments of ground-coupled GPR were used to detect and locate the fractures, discontinuities, or weakened zones. The GPR data contains radargrams for discontinuities and fracture detection, besides the geographic location of the measures. For each measurement site, a set of radargrams has been acquired in two orthogonal directions, allowing for a 3D reconstruction of the investigated site. Dataset: DOI:10.17632/w26n6nftxs.3 (https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/w26n6nftxs/3) Dataset License: CC BY-NC-ND [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The SOUND method offers an innovative blended intervention based on music circle-activities and cognitive stimulation approaches which was codesigned by musicians, health professionals, older people with dementia, family caregivers and researchers, for its application in dementia settings. The purpose of the paper is to describe the detailed procedure of the quasi-experimental pilot study. Method: The experimental phase of SOUND uses a mixed-method design encompassing qualitative and quantitative observations, cognitive testing, selfreport and interviewer-assisted questionnaires to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention for 45 people with dementia and 45 professionals (15 in every study country: Italy, Portugal, Romania). Results: The pilot study will be the first implementation of the SOUND intervention aiming to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effects of the method. Conclusion: The novelty of SOUND is its multicomponent method, including the most evidenced features for improving the wellbeing of participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of innovation and artificial intelligence (AI), with reference to innovative startups, presents a challenge for firms that start operating in the market. Such a transformation in the entrepreneurial scenario, which is likely to define new business models, has been observed in two European countries: Italy and Romania. In this article, we examine the AI-induced innovations in the regulatory frameworks of both countries. We then provide insights from interviews with CEOs of innovative startups, who discuss the challenges and prospects facing the industry. This paper concludes with some reflections on this evolving framework as a prelude to further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the traditional public administration dichotomy 'power versus knowledge', concerned with the cleavage between politicians and bureaucrats, this paper's main purpose is to reframe a classic theoretical model, by placing the spotlight on a new, under-conceptualized public sector actor: the technocrat. Second, the paper performs empirical research starting from an own-build comprehensive database that includes all the ministers appointed in the Romanian Government during a 30-year timeframe (October 1991-November 2021). In spite of being a rather young democracy with a communist public sector legacy, research findings indicate that in Romania we can clearly identify patterns similar to other European countries (primarily Italy), consisting of appointing technocrats to the cabinet. Such nominations are discussed in correlation with the advancements of new theories of democracy and public administration, imprinted with Neoliberalism, New Public Management, and Good Governance paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigrant minority (IM) languages have a significant presence in certain European regions. Nonetheless, these languages are not usually included in the school curriculum. This paper aims to analyse the studies published between 2010 and 2020 considering IM languages in multilingual European education contexts. The method included a search of academic papers published in the databases ERIC, Web of Science and Scopus, which yielded 42 studies. The studies were analysed by considering: (1) the demographic characteristics of the countries where the studies were conducted, (2) the sociolinguistic or psycholinguistic focus of the papers in relation to the European country, and (3) the characteristics of the bi-multilingual education programme including IM languages. The results indicate that: (1) the demographic characteristics of the country are not strictly related to the number of studies published, (2) most studies have a sociolinguistic approach even though many studies analyse both sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic factors, and (3) only seven multilingual education programmes including IM languages were described in these papers. We conclude that there is a lack of research focusing on IM languages in educational settings and discuss how addressing these gaps could create opportunities for building equitable multilingual communities in Europe.

This article uses a life-course approach to investigate how and why migrants' feelings of belonging change between childhood and young adulthood. Drawing on 24 in-depth retrospective interviews with young Romanian migrants who moved to Italy as children, the paper shows how young migrants' belonging is shaped by the nature of social relations and by the level of acceptance or exclusion expressed by others in the receiving and origin countries, under specific institutional and socioeconomic contexts. Overall, the study demonstrates how life-course methodologies are an essential tool to capture the dynamic, changing nature of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since European Union (EU) enlargement in 2003, labour migration from East to West and South to North has increased. It is to be expected that a share of these workers will want to retire in their host countries. According to the academic literature, EU legislation protects such mobility well by allowing the transfer of rights accrued in any EU country to another. However, such research has focused on legislation, not outcomes. We know little about how migration will affect the financial status of retired migrants in their host country and their ability to sustain a life there, should they stay after retirement. Using migration, wage and pension policy data (Eurostat, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), this paper projects the post-retirement incomes of a range of hypothetical EU migrants, selected in relation to the most common migratory flows since 2003. After having worked in their home countries (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Italy) for at least ten years, these people move to richer countries (Italy, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom) and work there for at least 30 years. To determine whether they can remain settled after decades of labour force participation in the host country, the paper adds their pension entitlements from home and host countries and compares this income with the relative poverty line of the host countries. This shows that good portability of entitlements matters little when these are very low because of a large wage gap between home and host country. Thus, after at least 30 years of enjoying all citizenship rights as workers, most of these individuals are projected to receive incomes below the relative poverty line of their host countries and thus experience a sharp drop in this status. Their citizenship is diminished. The paper concludes by considering policies that could avoid such an outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For any start-up, adhering to an entrepreneurial ecosystem is an engine for business innovation. The specific objectives of this paper are to address themes and characteristics (also comparing organizational structures and services provided in different national contexts: Italy vs. Romania) in terms of selection mechanisms adopted by business incubators, to analyse and deepen the contribution that incubators make to new business initiatives. From a methodological point of view, the comparative analysis of the incubator activities in Italy and Romania was performed by collecting relevant information outlining selection mechanisms that provide a qualitative magnitude to the start-ups' selection criteria. Findings reflect different perspectives regarding the approach of selection mechanisms in these two European countries. Furthermore, Romanian start-ups could learn practices from the Italian start-up ecosystem, enabling them to better perform in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During voluntary work, volunteers acquire valuable new knowledge and skills, but they often do not recognize these newly developed competencies, cannot apply them in further education, and fail to make others, including potential employers, aware of them. The classification and validation of these competencies can help to facilitate the transfer of volunteers' competencies within the volunteer and labor markets; however, the required steps for validation of the acquired competencies are frequently complicated or unclear for volunteers. Additionally, accepted ways of validating are lacking in labor market. This paper starts by presenting the value and benefits of volunteering, especially in a business education context. Thereafter, the authors present a European partnership project--the Grundtvig Learning Partnership's Volunteering Validation Highway (VVH). The partnership aimed to facilitate the validation and transfer of volunteers' experience. The following paper discuss volunteering as important part of society and a business education approach integrating volunteering. To support the idea of integration, the authors present a study concerning volunteers' competencies, the benefits of volunteering, and the usefulness in business education of competencies gained through volunteering. The study used data from a questionnaire and group discussions. Regarding different countries, the partners expected different understandings of volunteering; therefore, the researchers conducted mixed-nationality group discussions to develop a mutual understanding of volunteering. The researchers also developed a questionnaire according to the group discussion categories (inductive) and included both open-ended and multiple-choice questions. The results support the idea of integrating volunteering experiences in business education. First, the results showed benefits for society and for the volunteers themselves. Second, the volunteers gain on the one hand professional competencies that were relevant to the labor market, like delegating tasks to other people. On the other hand, the volunteers mentioned social and process-oriented competencies, including communication and technical skills. Third, the researchers identified two major advantages of volunteering: volunteers learn networking and communicating, and volunteers experience opened new occupational fields. The authors presented in a fourth step opportunities to integrate volunteering into business education. Business education can therefore be a service learning or a social entrepreneurship education course.

This paper illustrates some teachers' perspectives, beliefs and experiences as to distance learning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A specifically designed online survey was administered to a hundred primary-school EFL teachers in some regions of Italy, Romania, and Spain in May/July 2020, and a comparative analysis of the responses was conducted to examine how teachers bore the brunt of the pandemic in areas that were severely affected by it. Results suggest that educators were somehow prepared to face distance learning in terms of resources and materials. During the lockdown they used synchronous video-conferencing tools and online games more extensively. Although they struggled to monitor children's progress and to maintain motivation throughout the school closures, educators seem ready to implement these tools and strategies in future blended teaching. However, educators admit to lack specific training aimed at learning how to implement EFL online teaching, and they are concerned about its efficacy with young learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Synergies Roumanie is the property of GERFLINT (Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches pour le Francais Langue Internationale) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current paper presents a preliminary algorithm most commonly used for designing the base isolation devices. The algorithm addresses exclusively the base isolation systems which use Laminated Rubber Bearings (LRBs), one of the most used devices in the world. In the first part of the paper the theoretical aspects will be presented by focusing on two different designing approaches (stress approach and strain approach). The seismic conditions will be defined according to three different seismic codes: the European Code (EUROCODE- 1998), the Italian Code and the Romanian Code. In the second part of the paper, several parametrical studies are performed using the designing procedure presented in the first part. The aim of these studies is to obtain a clear understanding of the design procedures and also to determine the influence of seismic characteristics on studied parameters. Finally, the last part of the paper presents a comparison between different solutions obtained for the base isolation system when we consider the same building (Demonstration building on HDNR isolators situated near Java, Indonesia) and different seismic parameters. The chosen seismic conditions correspond to the seismic parameters defined by the above mentioned codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to identify good practices in epidemic risk management. Thus, by knowing and applying these good practices, results can be obtained to mitigate the negative consequences produced by extremely risky events such as epidemics. In order to achieve the proposed goal, the following were specified as objectives of the article: identification of measures adopted in the four countries analyzed, namely Spain, Italy, Romania and Poland, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and of solutions taken to reduce economic losses which arose as consequences of the imposition of these measures in the field of tourism. This paper combines elements of qualitative research, namely the use of methods such as data processing and analysis, comparative analysis, documentation of reports, and the presentation of conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only recently has attention in gender studies on migration been paid to family/work reconciliation strategies. Currently, there are few studies that focus not only on the point of view of mothers, but also on broader intra-family gender dynamics, especially in countries of more recent immigration. This paper examines the work/family reconciliation ideals, plans and practices of immigrant couples from Morocco, Peru and Romania living in Italy during their transition to parenthood. We analysed in-depth interviews with migrant mothers and fathers with children under the age of 6, at different stages of the transition to parenthood. Contradictions between ideals of 'the good father provider' and 'intensive motherhood' and actual practices emerged, and gendered care narratives may be used to bridge the gap between ideals and practices. Although immigration fosters innovations and gender negotiations, the receiving context tends to hinder the emergence of less asymmetrical divisions of responsibilities for childcare and paid work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accounting for patients' perspective has become increasingly important. Based on the Consumer Quality Index method (founded on Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) a questionnaire was recently developed for Dutch cancer patients. As a next step, this study aimed to adapt and pilot this questionnaire for international comparison of cancer patients experience and satisfaction with care in six European countries.Method: The Consumer Quality Index was translated into the local language at the participating pilot sites using cross-translation. A minimum of 100 patients per site were surveyed through convenience sampling. Data from seven pilot sites in six countries was collected through an online and paper-based survey. Internal consistency was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha and validity by means of cognitive interviews. Demographic factors were compared as possible influencing factors.Results: A total of 698 patients from six European countries filled the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was good or satisfactory in 8 out of 10 categories. Patient satisfaction significantly differed between the countries. We observed no difference in patient satisfaction for age, gender, education, and tumor type, but satisfaction was significantly higher in patients with a higher level of activation.Conclusion: This European Cancer Consumer Quality Index(ECCQI) showed promising scores on internal consistency (reliability) and a good internal validity. The ECCQI is to our knowledge the first to measure and compare experiences and satisfaction of cancer patients on an international level, it may enable healthcare providers to improve the quality of cancer care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our paper aims at presenting the vision of Constantin Hamangiu on the neccessity to accomplish legislative unification and, implicitly, the administrative one. This process took place in Romania after the First World War, simultaneously with other European countries. A supporter of the idea of legislative unification, Hamangiu conducted a comparative study on the topic by analyzing the process in Romania, as well as in France, Italy, Poland and Czechoslovakia. His conclusions were that achieving unification by means of extending the legislation existing in the "mother state" (i.e. France, Italy) to the provinces integrated in 1918, was correct, and that, in case of Romania (where the process of legislative unification was prolonged), there was the urge to accelerate this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, the advertisements use persuasion to make the consumers buy products, regardless of their necessities. The advertisements for beer are no exception, too. This paper follows the advertising tendencies in Italy and Romania. Thus, we focused on a comparative study of a corpus of thirty slogans, half Italian, half Romanian, both stylistically and syntactically. After a thorough examination, we could identify the common traits used in drawing the target group of consumers, such as the presentation of century-old tradition of brewing to offer prestige or the inherent connection between beer and spending leisure time with friends. There were especially pointed out the features that make some slogans unique and which define the two nations. The slogans revealed collective character traits, such as the weaknesses of the Italians towards women and the Romanians' attachment to nature. From a syntactic point of view, both in Italian and Romanian ads, the short, concise sentences, made up of no more than six words prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crestanello P. and Tattara G. Industrial clusters and the governance of the global value chain: the Romania-Veneto network in footwear and clothing, Regional Studies. The aim of this paper is to analyse the governance of value chains operating in the traditional sectors of clothing and footwear, focusing particularly on production delocalization from the Italian region of Veneto to the nearby country of Romania. After describing and quantifying the internationalization process between Veneto and Romania, the paper discusses how networks in the two countries evolved through time. This paper draws on several case studies, posits three models of value chain governance, and discusses the implications of these models for territories with very different levels of development and different industrial structures, and it considers their implications for regional development and sustainability. [image omitted] Crestanello P. et Tattara G. Les grappes industrielles et la gouvernance mondiale de la chaine des valeurs: le reseau Roumanie-Venetie dans la chaussure et la confection, Regional Studies. Cet article cherche a analyser la gouvernance des chaines de valeur qui existent dans les secteurs traditionnels, tels la chaussure et la confection, portant notamment sur la delocalisation de la production de la region italienne de la Venetie au pays a proximite, a savoir en Roumanie. Une fois presente et quantifie le processus d'internationalisation entre la Venetie et la Roumanie, l'article discute comment dans les deux pays des reseaux ont evolue au fil des annees. Cet article puise dans plusieurs etudes de cas, avance trois modeles de la gouvernance des chaines de valeur et discute de l'impact de ces modeles sur les territoires dont les niveaux de developpement et les structures industrielles sont tres differents. On considere aussi les retombees pour ce qui est de l'amenagement du territoire et du developpement durable. Internationalisation Roumanie Italie Organisation de la production Crestanello P. und Tattara G. Branchencluster und die Fuhrung der globalen Wertschopfungskette: das Netzwerk Rumanien-Venezien fur Schuhe und Kleidung, Regional Studies. In diesem Beitrag wird die Fuhrung von Wertschopfungsketten im traditionellen Kleidungs- und Schuhsektor analysiert, wobei besonders auf die Delokalisierung der Produktion von der italienischen Region Venezien ins nahe Rumanien eingegangen wird. Nach einer Beschreibung und Quantifizierung des Prozesses der Internationalisierung zwischen Venezien und Rumanien erortern wir, wie sich die Netzwerke in den beiden Landern im Laufe der Zeit weiterentwickelt haben. Hierfur werten wir mehrere Fallstudien aus, entwickeln drei Modelle fur die Fuhrung von Wertschopfungsketten, erortern die Folgen dieser Modelle fur Gebiete mit einem ausserst unterschiedlichen Entwicklungsstand und unterschiedlichen Industriestrukturen und untersuchen die Auswirkungen auf die regionale Entwicklung und Nachhaltigkeit. Internationalisierung Rumanien Italien Organisation der Produktion Crestanello P. y Tattara G. Aglomeraciones industriales y la gobernanza de la cadena global de valores: la red de Rumania-Veneto en industria de confeccion y calzado, Regional Studies. El objetivo de este articulo es analizar la gobernanza de las cadenas de valores que funcionan en los sectores tradicionales de articulos de vestir y calzado prestando especial atencion a la deslocalizacion de la produccion desde la region italiana de Veneto al pais cercano de Rumania. Tras describir y cuantificar el proceso de internacionalizacion entre Veneto y Rumania, aqui analizamos como se han desarrollado las redes en los dos paises con el paso del tiempo. En este ensayo nos basamos en varios estudios practicos, proponemos tres modelos de la gobernanza de la cadena de valores y argumentamos los efectos de estos modelos para los territorios con niveles muy diferentes de desarrollo y distintas estructuras industriales. Asimismo consideramos sus implicaciones para el desarrollo y la sostenibilidad regionales. Internacionalizacion Rumania Italia Organizacion de produccion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We offer a comparison between the age profiles of rates of formation of marital and non-marital unions among women in Russia, Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Italy. We show that there is considerable variability across these populations in the levels and age patterns of union entry rates, ranging (i) from high and early rates in Russia to slow and late entries in Italy; and (ii) from the emphasis on marriage seen in Russia, Poland, Italy, and particularly Romania, to the dominant role of cohabitation reported for Bulgaria. Although this paper mainly discusses known features (like the patterns for Italy), these features are displayed with an unusual degree of clarity in the comparative framework, which also highlights unusual patterns, such as those seen in Bulgaria. We do not find much commonality in union-entry rates among ex-communist countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the variables having impact on the student motivation have been analyzed based on the articles, conference papers, master's theses and doctoral dissertations published in the years 2000-2017. A total of 165 research papers were selected for the research material and the data were collected through qualitative research techniques through document review and content analysis. According to the research results, the most important factors affecting student motivation are the fields of teacher, teachers' classroom management skills and their teaching methods. In this research, factors having less influence on the student motivation are parental communication, student characteristics and study fields. In addition, relational search type was used more than others, mostly students were selected as the study group and most researches were conducted in USA and Turkey.

This paper focuses on the evaluation of the therapeutic use of photocards by prisoners and facilitators in a counselling psychology led European project, based on responses to open-ended questionnaires. It is part of a wider project, involving seven partner organisations in six European countries (England, Finland, Greece, Italy, Malta and Romania), which developed and trialled four different approaches to using photography in the context of counselling in prisons. Of the 51 inmates that participated in the project, 48 (94%) completed the questionnaires; of those, 39 (77%) were available for individual analysis due to prison restrictions in one partner organisation only allowing group data. Of those 39, who returned their completed questionnaires, over 92% found the therapeutic use of photographs either very helpful (56.4%) or helpful (35.9%), and the remaining 7.7% described it as average. From the thematic analysis, main themes emerging regarding inmates’ experiences of working with photocards were that it: facilitates emotional expression and sharing; unlocks memories and reconnects with life outside; fosters insight, reflection and self-growth; breaks the monotony of prison life and, overall aids emotional learning. A thematic analysis of 11 psychological therapists/facilitators’ perspectives showed that the use of photocards: gives clients a voice; provides a safe and collaborative frame and a therapeutic relationship; and, provides a useful icebreaker, helpfully overcoming anxieties of both client and psychotherapist/facilitator. Overall, photocards were considered useful as their projective nature can help facilitate prisoners’ strong need for expression in a context where there are limited opportunities and trust is fragile. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the last two years, a growing number of studies have focused on the promotion of students' mental health to address the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less studies have been conducted on sustaining teachers' mental health which has been affected by the sudden changes in online teaching and the difficulties in keeping and building relationship with students. Even before the pandemic, teaching has long been recognised as one of the most challenging occupations characterized by high levels of stress. Although the research highlighted the key role of mental health promotion among teachers, there is still a lack of programs enhancing teachers' wellbeing. This study examined the impact of the PROMEHS program, a school-based curriculum, on teachers' mental health. A total of 687 teachers participated in the study. Applying a pre- and post-training study design with experimental and waiting list groups, teachers were evaluated in social and emotional learning, resilience, and self-efficacy. The results showed that there was a significant improvement in all competences of the teachers in the experimental group compared to those in the waiting list group. The paper discusses the implications of the findings with recommendations for further studies in the area.

Purpose: An increasing number of international immigrant workers enter the EU labour market to fill the gap in many key economic sectors. Labour migration often implies a process of family adaptation and, in some cases, a breakdown in the community structure and networks. This study aims to provide insights into the dynamics of transnational families, focusing on changes in the redefinition of roles within family members and children care arrangements. Design/methodology/approach: The study was based on the analysis of 12 biographical interviews conducted using semi-structured interviews between November 2018 and December 2019 among Romanian women who worked as caregivers in families in an Italian metropolitan city and the surrounding urban area. Findings: Despite the economic dimension being essential, psychological well-being increasingly burdens workers' migratory experience and that of their family members. Findings suggest including employers and children among the actively involved actors of the family decision-making process; working and contractual conditions as factors that significantly impact the opportunities and capability of workers to provide and receive care, mainly if the latter are employed in the informal market. Originality/value: The study makes it possible to highlight that the dynamics in decision-making processes in transnational families change in the different phases of the migration project and involve numerous actors. These processes are not always rational and are strongly influenced by the labour market structure in which migrants are employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amongst all European countries, Romania has one of the biggest immigrant communities abroad, and this has become a major social issue, especially after Romania became a member of the European Union. But what happens to these Romanian immigrants from the sociocultural point of view? Are they integrating themselves successfully in their adoptive countries? Which factors exert the most important influence in the process? How is sociocultural identity being reshaped by the immigration experience? In this paper, we shall try to find answers to all these questions, using already existing theories and studies, but also using a primary research on a group of high-skilled immigrants living in Italy and Great Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Return migration has recently become an important topic of research within the gender and migration literature. Drawing on multi-sited ethnographic research carried out in Romania and Italy, this paper focuses on the gendered patterns of return, highlighting the relationship between the motivation to return, family life plans, challenges and individual responses to structural factors that shape the decision to return. Based primarily on participant observation and in-depth interviews with women and men from a Romanian village, the findings suggest competing ways in which men and women resettle in their community. While men transfer large amounts of money and make use of their new skills and their contacts with their Romanian peers in Italy in order to gain their livelihoods in the village, women encounter conditions that are deterrents to such economic transfers. Women tend, therefore, to maintain contact with Italian families as an alternative to their imperfect economic reintegration into the village. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper was used the data set collected in a research project between private companies from Romania and Italy, for the development of a basic approach of artificial neural network techniques, as an application in Matlab, aiming to detect the degree of degradation of oil, an automated installation, measuring online the physicochemical properties of the oil. Physical-chemical parameters measured lead to the creation of generous time series, but accessible by numerical and statistical calculation, for the application of artificial intelligence techniques. Applying neural network techniques to parameters that measure oil degradation, oxidation and humidity have generated the results of this work. The main function of monitoring the state of operation of a mechanical system, machine, or plant is to provide the almost correct diagnosis of the machine's state and rate of change so that preventive measures can be taken at a given time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quality Assurance Review is the property of Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents and discusses the results of OnAir, a European project on Media Education funded by the European Commission. This two-year project aimed at collecting, documenting, and developing media education practices across Europe, especially in Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. In particular, the paper focuses on the role of documentation in improving teachers' practical knowledge and highlights the challenging aspects at stake in this process. The analysis of collected data reveals that documentation of media education practices is often poor both in terms of information about instructional practices and in teacher reflection on their actions. Stronger collaboration between teachers and researchers may be needed to support the kind of careful documentation that leads to effective practice. The development of adequate tools that teachers can easily use during their own activities may also facilitate improved levels of documentation. (Contains 2 tables, 2 figures, and 1 footnote.)

This paper explores linguistic landscapes and the enactment of public visibility and presence of non-majority linguistic groups in EU member states. Non-majority linguistic groups gain power, visibility and presence through the introduction of bilingual or multilingual signposts on roads, streets, squares, and public buildings in towns and cities where a given linguistic group represents a significant population share. The article offers a comparative analysis of language policies of EU member states regarding enactment of official bilingual or multilingual signs in public space. Twenty EU member states have signed the "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages," while 17 members have ratified it. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, an integral party of the Lisbon Treaty, stipulates that language diversity is one of the fundamental values respected by the EU. Hence, this comparative research assesses various practices employed by member states in relation to the proclaimed values of multilingualism. Consequently, the paper depicts and compares different language policies that produce linguistic landscapes in EU member states. Finally, it tries to determine whether there is a convergence towards a common EU policy on bilingual and multilingual signs in public space.

Background: Postpartum iron deficiency anemia (PPIDA) is highly prevalent in developing countries where it constitutes an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Potential determinants of PPIDA are prepartum iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia in association with severe blood loss during delivery. We investigated the efficacy of oral Sucrosomial® iron for recover from mild-to-moderate PPIDA. Methods: This pilot study was conducted in three medical centers in Romania. Adult women (≥ 18y) with mild (hemoglobin [Hb] 9–11 g/dL) or moderate (Hb 7–9 g/dL) PPIDA diagnosed at screening (2–24 h after delivery) were eligible. Women with mild PPIDA received oral Sucrosomial® iron (Pharmanutra, S.p.A, Italy) once daily (30 mg elemental iron per capsule) for 60 days. Those with moderate PPIDA received oral Sucrosomial® iron twice daily (60 mg elemental iron) for 10 days, followed by a 50-day course of oral Sucrosomial® iron once daily (30 mg elemental iron). Laboratory parameters, as well as subjective clinical symptoms using a 3-point Likert Scale, were assessed at baseline and on study days 10, 30 and 60. Results: Sixty anemic women entered the study, but three were missed during follow-up. At day 60, a Hb rise was observed in both groups (+ 3.6 ± 1.5 g/dL; p < 0.01), 81% experienced correction of anemia (Hb ≥ 12 g/dL), 36% achieved a ferritin concentration ≥ 30 ng/mL (p < 0.05), and 54% a transferrin saturation (TSAT) ≥ 20% (p < 0.01). For women still anemic at day 60, mean Hb was close to normality (11.3 ± 0.8 g/dL). Resolution of IDA-associated clinical symptoms was already observed just 10 days after treatment initiation. No patient discontinued treatment due to gastrointestinal adverse events. Conclusions: Sucrosomial® iron was shown to be potentially effective and well tolerated at treating mild and moderate PPIDA. These results encourage the use of oral Sucrosomial® iron as a treatment option for PPIDA, but larger studies with longer follow-up are warrant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a comparative perspective, this article analyzes which organizational factors favored the number of projects with European funds in Romania and Italy in sport. Italy ranks first in the EU in accessing Erasmus + grants on the sports component, followed by Spain, Croatia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Slovenia, and Romania. While in Italy, more organizations are applying for funding, with an average of 0-5 projects per program period/organization, in Romania, fewer organizations apply for projects, but more projects/organization. An online questionnaire was addressed to a sample of 234 sports organizations from Italy and 49 sports organizations in Romania, followed by online interviews that were interpreted through the NVIVO platform. This research showed that in terms of performance, the organization's number of employees impacts the revenues obtained and, implicitly, the financial result of the organization. Also, the number of Erasmus SPORT projects of the organizations in 2014-2020 as leaders or partners correlates with the organization's total income and financial result. On the other hand, there are no significant differences between the two countries on the factors that contributed the most to the success of organizations in Romania and Italy in obtaining funding through the Erasmus + program. Romanian and Italian organizations consider essential factors in attracting projects, the network of external partners with experience in writing and implementing projects, and internal human resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The increased comorbidities among older people are related to the longer life expectancy and the way a condition is defined. People who live longer and remain healthy express different needs from older people of previous decades. Objective. This study aims to present the profile of the older person in contemporary society and the careworkers' humanistic training needs. Methodology. The focus group methodology was selected. Twelve focus groups consisted of 69 participants over 60 years old in total and six focus groups of 41 careworkers in total, from Italy, Portugal, Finland, Romania, UK, and Cyprus, were conducted. A content analysis was used. Results. A profile of the older person living in the above stated countries was revealed with the "New Old" being financially independent, active with a healthy lifestyle, more informed and educated in relation to the past, liking social interactions, open-minded to new relationships, volunteering for non-for-profit associations, using technology, or wanting to learn how to use. However, older people in these countries were still experiencing ageism (discrimination, ignorance, and social exclusion) and lack of respect. Care workers also expressed their views in relation to the training needs that meets this new profile of older people including basic nursing skills, daily living activities, humanistic, person-centered care, social skills, and ICT competence. Conclusions. This multicenter focus group discussions study promoted the concept of the older person in contemporary society and the importance of humanistic care. A new definition of the older person and an adaptation of the training curricula for careworkers Job certification including the person-centered approach is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One method to reduce CO2 emissions from vehicle exhaust is the use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) fuel. The global use of this fuel is high in European countries such as Poland, Romania, and Italy. There are a small number of computational models for the purpose of estimating the emissions of LPG vehicles. This work is one of the first to present a methodology for developing microscale CO2 emission models for LPG vehicles. The developed model is based on data from road tests using the portable emission measurement system (PEMS) and on-board diagnostic (OBDII) interface. This model was created from a previous exploratory data analysis while using gradient-boosting machine learning methods. Vehicle velocity and engine RPM were chosen as the explanatory variables for CO2 prediction. The validation of the model indicates its good precision, while its use is possible for the analysis of continuous CO2 emissions and the creation of emission maps for environmental analyses in urban areas. The validation coefficients for the selected gradient-boosting method of modelling CO2 emissions for an LPG vehicle are the R2 test of 0.61 and the MSE test of 0.77. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Return to work is a complex and challenging process which takes various forms in different contexts. The aim of this study is to explore and compare cross-country differences in stakeholders' experiences and views on actors, policies and practices relevant for return to work after long-term sickness absence. The comparative exploration is done in six countries with various legislative backgrounds, welfare and social dialogue systems. Methods Using a purposive sample, six multidisciplinary stakeholders group discussions were conducted in six countries: Belgium, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Slovakia. A total of 51 individuals comprised of social partners, policymakers or representatives of public bodies and patient associations participated. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to derive the most important themes in the discussions. Results Five major themes emerged from the group discussions. A graphic model is proposed to emphasize the variety of frameworks and processes across countries. Conclusions The core part of the return to work process is the dynamic relation between legislation, stakeholders and practices, which is influenced by broader national and societal factors. The cross-country variation in legislations, stakeholders and practices can be understood as a continuum, from low to high structuring, development and comprehensiveness. Although social dialogue appears to have a role in return to work process with variation across countries, it is not always on top of the agenda of social partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance of perceived susceptibility to a disease in adopting preventive behaviors, and the negative impact of optimism bias on prevention, this paper aimed to explore to what extent comparative optimism bias (understood as the tendency to assess a lower probability for oneself to experience negative health events compared to others) is present in the specific context of the Covid-19 pandemic, in two countries with different profiles in terms of the spread of the disease: Italy and Romania. After identifying optimism bias in both countries, we tested whether it depends on respondents' characteristics like gender, age, education, health status and whether or not they have the opportunity to work from home. We surveyed 1126 Romanians and 742 Italians, and found that optimism bias depends on self-reported health status, and that optimism bias increases with age. Inconclusive evidences were found regarding gender and education level, as well as the option to work from home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the examination of the researches about the use of technology by fine arts teachers. The study was conducted according to the content and citation analysis model. In this context, Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection indexes were included. In the document scanning in the WOS environment, the keywords 'Fine arts', 'Teachers' and 'Technology' were searched. In total, 169 documents were examined and analysed one by one. They were analysed according to year, document type, WOS content category, country, source title, organisation and citation, authors, publication language and categories. As a result of this research, the first study was conducted in 2004, while the most studies were conducted in 2016. It was concluded that the published studies had the most Proceedings papers as the document type. The area where the studies of fine arts teachers on the use of technology are mostly carried out is Education Educational Research, according to the Web of Science content category. The most researched title in the distribution according to the Source Title field is 'International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts.' The university with the most studies is Kazan Federal University. The 19 authors who conducted the studies have a large number of studies in this field. It was concluded that other authors had only one study in the field. Again, when we look at the distribution of the countries and documents according to the language of writing, the country with the most studies is China and the language of the documents is English. The area continues to evolve.

Preschool education is an education process that prepares children for primary education, provides the training and upbringing conditions in the home and also aims to remove the inequalities in terms of language and society in the early period. The audit is to evaluate learning and all the factors that affect learning and also prepare the environment and conditions for effective learning. The purpose of this research was to develop a comprehensive point of view for preschool education audit in the world and our country. Document analysis that is one of the qualitative research methods were utilized in this paper as the method. The documents related to the systems in France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Russia, China, Israel, America, Saudi Arabia, Japan, India Jordan, Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Kosovo and Turkey were researched out within the scope of this study.

This paper presents the framework of an intensive programme (IP) organised by UNESCO and addressed to young graduate professionals to prepare them for a career in fields related to sustainability. The aims of the IP were to address participants' environmental awareness and to develop attitudes and skills related to environmental planning and management. This paper focuses on the methodological aspects of the educational activities and on the setting in which the activities were delivered. Teaching methods based on a learner-centred approach were used in the training. During the activities, 17 participants were provided the opportunity to experience various aspects of environmental integration and sustainability principles in key sectors of planning procedures in the Lonjsko Polje Nature Park (Croatia). The activities were evaluated using quantitative and qualitative tools such as the environmental education questionnaire, the training quality and involvement questionnaire and two focus groups with participants. The results showed the relevance of the setting and the methods applied to develop environmental awareness and skills related to managing sustainability issues. Implications for future research about educational programmes based on the development of sustainability principles are discussed.

The competition of civilizations forced the European universities to adapt to the competition with the Chinese and American universities. European integration cannot advance without the collaboration between European universities. An answer to these challenges is the CIVICA project, the European University of Social Sciences, a consortium of the following universities: Bocconi University (Italy), Central European University (Hungary), European University Institute (European Intergovernmental Organization), Hertie School of Governance (Germany), The National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (Romania), Sciences Po (France) and the School of Economics in Stockholm (Sweden). This experiment aims to become one of the European pilot universities, in the first round of applications for Erasmus+ in February 2019. The experiment takes into consideration the most important resource of a country: the human resource. The network of universities that are part of the CIVICA consortium will group approximately 38,000 students, 7,000 teachers and 3,000 people from the administrative apparatus. The London School of Economics is part of the CIVICA consortium, as an associate partner. At the Bucharest conference, the public presentation of the consortium and its objectives, the rectors of the seven universities set out to educate the future generations of professionals in social sciences, in order to solve the most pressing problems of the world. Creating a European identity is essentially the long-term, fundamental objective of the CIVICA consortium. In the context of this conference, we interviewed a few representatives of CIVICA, and their answers will be analyzed in this paper's section dedicated to the results of the research.

Serious gaps are found when evaluating the recognition and inclusion of gender aspects in transport strategies, research and innovation. Similar issues can be spotted in the transport labor market, where only 22% of workers are women at the European level. The roots of these limitations are in the low participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) studies and, therefore, in the traditionally male-dominated transport field occupations. Stemming from the European project TInnGO, the current paper proposes a descriptive analysis to evaluate the gender gaps in educational provision and research in ten European countries. Specific indicators, such as percentages in the gender composition or the presence of university courses dealing with mobility and transport, have been defined and their availability in different countries is verified. In addition, a desktop review of practices for encouraging and supporting women in STEM studies is operated, underling characteristics such as the kind of initiative, the methods and tools used, the target group or the type of promoter. The results of this activity show that a wide network of associations and mentoring operates in various European nations, mostly targeting secondary school students, trying to make females aware of their potentialities in a deeply gender-biased field like the STEM one.

The scientific literature comprises a relatively large palette of studies focusing on tourist preferences regarding the weather and climate at the destination. However, the findings do not allow for establishing a hierarchy of climate and environmental features of interest for tourism based on destination type (urban/rural/mountain/seaside), but mainly to list them. We aim to identify some characteristics of a potential climate service targeting tourists by addressing in particular three aspects: 1. which are the weather, climate and/or environmental features most commonly marked as of interest in the general case of 'any destination type' and for the particular case of rural destinations; 2. which are the delivery and presentation forms of greatest interest; 3. how willing would be the tourists to pay for such a service. To this end, we used a questionnaire with five closed questions regarding these aspects, disseminated in Romania and Italy. The results confirm some expectations based on scientific literature and highlight the user interest in information encompassing several climates and/or environmental aspects, preferably in one single product. The results may be valuable for developing and providing effective tourism-oriented climate and environmental products and contribute to a better user uptake of such products and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with two aspects referring to the procedure of the preliminary chamber, which could raise questions about the right to a fair trial guaranteed by Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights: is the judge of the preliminary chamber compatible to judge the case on the merits, does the exclusively written and non-contradictory procedure respect the guarantee of the fair trial? The analysis of the two issues was made by comparing it with the Italian system, where our legislator inspired from. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a cultural psychology approach to examine the relevance of the Health Belief Model (HBM) for predicting a variety of behaviors that had been recommended by health officials during the initial stages of the COVID-19 lockdown for containing the spread of the virus and not overburdening the health system in Europe. Our study is grounded in the assumption that health behavior is activated based on locally relevant perceptions of threats, susceptibility and benefits in engaging in protective behavior, which requires careful attention to how these perceptions might be structured and activated. We assess the validity of the HBM in two European countries that have been relatively understudied, using simultaneous measurements during acute periods of infection in Romania and Italy. An online questionnaire provided a total of (N = 1863) valid answers from both countries. First, to understand individual difference patterns within and across populations, we fit a General Linear Model in which endorsement was predicted by behavior, country, their interaction, and a random effect for participants. Second, we assess the effect of demographics and health beliefs on prevention behaviors by fitting a multi-group path model across countries, in which each behavior was predicted by the observed health belief variables and demographics. Health beliefs showed stronger relationships with the recommended behaviors than demographics. Confirming previously reported relationships, self-efficacy, perceived severity, and perceived benefits were consistently related to the greater adoption of individual behaviors, whereas greater perceived barriers were related to lower adoption of health behaviors. However, we also point to important location specific effects that suggest that local norms shape protective behavior in highly contextualized ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]