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As highlighted by Pop & Georgescu (2024), the Romanian academic literature concerning municipal bonds is sparse, while the investigations regarding the factors that can influence the sub-sovereign bond trading at Bucharest Stock Exchange is quasi non-existent, to the best of authors’ knowledge. The present paper continues the work of Pop & Georgescu (2024) by trying to identify which of the public available information regarding various interest rates and Bucharest Stock Exchange (henceforth BVB) indices returns influence the trading activity of municipal bond market segment. The correlations presented within this paper imply that the modest profile of municipal bond segment at BVB is related to a relative small number of individual investors that dominate the transactions, using mostly observed data to decided when to trade and what to trade. The scarce correlations that appear in relation with the trading volume and trading value point toward the idea that only a small portion of the listed municipal bonds are owned by individual investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a statistical analysis is made of the health personnel in Romania in the public and private systems using data from the period 1990-2022, provided by the National Institute of Statistics. Using the least squares method, analytical functions are found that model the trend and forecasts are made for the years 2023 and 2024. The confidence intervals for the predictions are also found, at a significance threshold of 5%, and the correlations between certain indicators are analysed. It was found that in the public sector there was a downward trend, in general, for all categories of medical personnel in the period 1990-2017, followed by an increasing evolution after 2018, due to salary increases in the system. However, there is still a shortage of physicians in the public sector, even if their number has steadily increased in the last years. There is no correlation between the number of physicians and the number of beds in public hospitals, although this should be positive and high. On the other hand, in the private sector the trend is obviously increasing throughout the studied period, the correlations are very strong between the analysed indicators, a situation explained by the fact that in this system the goal is to minimize expenses and increase profit and less access of all citizens to health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast development of the cryptocurrencies has brought to the attention of the authorities and researchers the importance of studying the risks associated with this category of assets. One of the main directions of analysis was the study of the correlations between the crypto-market and other traditional markets in order to assess the impact on financial stability. In the last 2-3 years, more and more studies have showed increasing correlations between the traditional markets and the crypto-market, which could generate some risks to the financial stability. We applied a novel methodology, based on TVP-VAR model, to study the correlations between Bitcoin and three other traditional assets, respectively gold, S&P 500 and EUR/USD from 01/01/2015 to 01/01/2023. We proved that the correlations between traditional assets, such as equity (S&P 500), respectively commodity (gold) and Bitcoin have increased significantly. However, other assets, such as the exchange rates are not correlated with cryptocurrencies and the correlations in the other way, from Bitcoin to gold, respectively S&P 500 are still very low. Thus, our findings indicate that, at this moment, the crypto-market poses risks to the financial stability, but because of the fact that the correlations are still only unidirectional (from traditional assets to cryptocurrency), the crypto-market could now just amplify the risks to the financial stability originating from the traditional markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought with its occurrence and manifestations at all levels of the natural components, yields both direct and indirect negative effects, on the ecological systems, water resources, social, as well as economic aspects of life. Therefore, any analysis that concerns this phenomenon, must be carried out at a multi-scalar level, addressing all manifestation levels (meteorological, hydrological, and hydrogeological drought). Standardized evaluation indices (for precipitation-SPI, evaporation-, -SPEI, streamflow-SDI and groundwater-SGI) have been used to analyze the evolution of the drought phenomena in Eastern Romania, for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months' time-scales, applied to seven groundwater bodies. The results of the analysis complement the observations concerning the evolution of meteorological drought (using SPI and SPEI) in the East European region, by highlighting the drought sequences of the last two decades of the last century. Those are accompanied by the meteorological drought sequences which occurred on extensive areas, starting from 2007, until present, with direct effects in river discharge and increases in groundwater level depths. The Bravais–Pearson correlation coefficient shows a close connection between meteorological and hydrological drought (r ~ 0.45 to 0.68) and between hydrological and groundwater drought (r ~ 0.42 to 0.74) for wells with piezometric level under 5 m depth. In the larger context of climate scenarios which envision an increase in air temperature, and a decrease in the atmospheric hydrological input, the increase in the drought frequency is obvious, with direct effects on all-natural components that are dependent on the hydrological resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the capital market and the evolution of Romania's economic growth, examining the correlation between the main indicators of the two economic and financial mechanisms. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between financial development and economic growth in the period 2000-2020, using indicators for the development of the stock market sector and the macroeconomic environment. Most of the existing studies on this topic address the markets of developed economies, but we believe that the degree of correlation may differ in the case of less developed countries. This paper tries to bring its contribution to the specialized literature by studying the indicators in the case of Romania, during the period when this developing market aspires to the status of an emerging market and in the context in which this promotion took place in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to analyze the demand and offer in Romania's balneary (spa) tourism in the decade 2010-2019 in order to identify the main trends and correlations and the aspects which have to be improved for increasing spa tourism contribution in the economy and to people's health and relaxation. The data provided by National Institute of Statistics were processed using usual methods for dynamic analysis, trend equation, regressions and correlations, and determination coefficient. In 2019, Romania's offer in spa tourism was represented by 37 balneary resorts, 620 units with reception function for tourist accommodation, and 35,643 places, while the demand consisted of 1.33 million tourist arrivals and 4.81 million overnight stays. All this figures represent much more than in 2010, except the number of places which declined by 2.3%. Romanian spa tourism keeps 7.1% of the number of tourist accommodation units, 10% of the number of places, 8.5% of tourist arrivals, and 16% overnight stays. A positive and strong connection was found between the number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays, but also an unbalanced ratio between overnight stays and number of places as well as between tourist arrivals and number of places. Therefore, balneary tourism has to be much more sustained to become a strong branch of Romania's tourism. A new strategy is required to better valorize the richness of natural resources, to continue investing in infrastructure, to diversify spa services, and to promote more intensively Romania's spa tourism abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the essential cereal crops for humankind, the harvested area with barley ranks the 3rd place regarding grains cereals, after wheat and rice. The yield potential of barley, trait with complex genetic determinism, represents the maximum level of biomass which a genotype can realize under optimal conditions of growth and development as well as in an environment free of diseases, pests and weeds. The inheritance of quantitative traits involves a large number of genes which act additively in determining the character. To increase the yield potential of barley varieties, the present paper studied three traits which are involved in yield: spike length, grain weight/spike and grain number/spike that on 22 cultivars of barley, in ecological condition of ARDS Turda. Significance of the sample F for the genetic factor and interaction between the year and the genotype, for all three studied traits, reflects the fact that between those the 22 distinct genotypes there are very significant differences, which can be used in breeding programmes. As genitors for breeding programmes we can use cultivars Daciana, Romaniţa and To 2170/01 for spike lenght, cultivars Turdeana, Aura, Daciana and Xanadou for grain weight/spike and cultivars Turdeana and Adina for grain number/spike. The correlations between the three studied traits, which influence the barley yield, were posit ive, statistically assured, allowing their simultaneous improvement in the breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the EU-28 oil seeds sector in terms of cultivated area, production and yield for rape and turnip rape, sunflower and soybean, based on the data provided by Eurostat for the period 2008-2018. Growth rate, index method, descriptive statistics, correlations and regression equations were used to identify the trends and connections between these indicators. In 2018, the EU-28 cultivated 11.8 million ha with oil seeds crops, of which 58% rape, 33.8% sunflower and 8 % soybean. Seeds production reached 35 million tonnes, being by 30 % higher than in 2008. The average yield accounted for 3.2 t/ha in case of rape, 2.4 t/ha sunflower and 2.8 t/ha soybean seeds. The main producers of rape seeds are France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom and Romania, and in case of sunflower are Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and France. The correlations and regression models indicated that for increasing production, yield improvement of sunflower and rape and also cultivated surface of soybean to increase. The lack of incentives for oil seeds producers in the EU and the higher payments for protein crops in order to balance the protein deficit on the EU market and reduce imports, will affect oilseeds for sure producers and production. As a result, it is expected as soybean to be cultivated on larger surfaces and sunflower cultivated area to decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfaces affected by excess salinity arrived at 200 million ha., at the level of the whole planet and to about 400.000 ha in Romania; around 7% of the world's total the surface area is affected by salinity. Salinization is a frequent process and is a major constraint for food production because it limits yield of the crops. Cl- ion is dominant in saline substrates; it is essential as a microelement for all higher plants, but the high concentration of this ion leads to toxicity to the salt-sensitive plants; the stress caused by salinity is also a stress of dehydration. High salinity causes an internal water shortage, and plants that are affected by saline stress can sometimes develop xeromorphic structures. Therefore, in present study was pursued the influence of saline solutions of 100 mM and 200 mM NaCl on productivity of 7 local populations of common beans, collected from areas with saline soils, from North-East of Romania and grown under greenhouse conditions, in 2018. Thus, they were analyzed after 15 and 30 days of saline stress: the largest/lowest amount of chlorine, the number of pods/plant and the weight of the grains/plant, elements that define productivity. As a result, the concentration of 100 mM and 200 mM NaCl negatively influenced the fruit weight against the control variant, to all the genotypes studied, and the Trușești 2, Blăgești, Săveni and Moșna genotypes recorded the highest number of grains/plants for the 100 mM variant and 200 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the dynamics of average monthly income (AMI) and average monthly expenditure (AME) per household and the relationships between these indicators of living standard in Romania in the period 2007-2017. The dynamic analysis, descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression functions were used to process data. The results pointed out that both AMI and AME per household increased in Romania, but income growth rate was higher than expenditure increase rate. In the rural area, AMI per household is 64.3 % of the urban average and 76.1 % of the national one. AME is the highest in the urban area. In the rural households it represents 77.1 % of the urban one and 85.6 % of the national average. A person living in the rural area spends three times less money than an urban citizen. The share of AME in the AMI decreased from 80.7 % in 2007 to 66.5% in 2017, because the income growth rate was higher than the spending rate. In the rural communities, this percentage was 74.9 in 2017, higher than in the urban area. The expenditures on food and non alcoholic beverages also increased, being higher in the urban area. The share of food and non alcoholic beverages in AME is 29 % in the rural area, the highest in the country. AME per household accounts for 61.1 % of GDP, placing Romania on the 8th position in the EU-28. Also, Romania comes on the top position for 17 % share of expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverages in GDP. The correlations proved a high and positive connection between income and expenditure. According to the regression equations, an AMI increase by Lei 100 will increase AME by Lei 52.9 at the national level, by Lei 49.30 in the urban household, by Lei 58.96 in the rural household, will raise consumption expenditure on food and non alcoholic beverages by Lei 12.02 nationally, by Lei 10.39 in the urban household and by Lei 14.58 in the rural one. Household income is still lower in Romania compared to other EU countries. A new strategy is required to increase population's income in order to improve life quality and reduce the discrepancies with the other EU countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper was to analyze the trends and correlations in Romania's agro-food trade in the period 2007- 2016 based on the data supplied by the National Institute of Statistics. The statistical parameters of mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, growth rate, trend line, regression model, Pearson correlation coefficient have been used in this study. The export value of agro-food products reached Euro 6.06 billion, while the import value of agro-food products accounted for Euro 6.78 billion in the year 2016. Despite that both export and import value increased, Romania is still a net exporting country. The year 2013 and 2014 registered a positive trade balance. The economic efficiency in Romania's agro-food foreign trade has increased. This was proved by the growth of the share of the agro-food products export in Romania's export value, and by the share of export value in the GDP carried out in agriculture as well as in terms of export/import coverage rate. Romanian producers must continue to pay a special attention to the factors stimulating the growth of the agricultural production and improve the quality of agro-food products in order to cover better the requirements of the domestic and also of the international market, leading to a positive trade balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals are important pollutant both of environment and of food. In wine, heavy metals can originate from natural and anthropogenic sources. In the paper the heavy metals concentrations of some wine varieties originating from two wine-growing region of Romania was assessed. The following heavy metals were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and graphic furnace atomic spectroscopy (GFAS): iron(Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). The measured concentrations of heavy metals were compared with other studies about the heavy metals in wines and with the legal limits. The heavy metals concentrations in the analyzed wines are within the legal limits. The data were modeled in order to find possible correlations between the heavy metals content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Journal of Journalism & Communication / Revista Română de Jurnalism şi Comunicare- RRJC is the property of Romanian Journal of Journalism & Communication 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 paper presents an analysis of the evolution for sugar beet production and sugar beet extraction after Romania accesion in European Union. The analysis is based on the evolutions of areas, total and average yields per unit of area. The last period (2007- 2013) is compared to the previous period (2001-2006), utilised at reference. Also, it is performed in the four sugar factories respectively (SC AGRANA Romania SA, Sugar Factory Bod, SC sugar Oradea SA, sugar Ludus SA) and it was made for the 2007-2013 period, after the application of EU's rules for sugar market. The study presents the evolution of the biological sugar content and white sugar content between the years 2007 and 2013 and it evaluates the variability of the way of achieving production quotas. The main conclusion imposed after the analysis is that the systems of sugar production from sugar beet are stabilized. Statistically multiannual average deviation from the assigned quota is approx .2%. Annual variations of sugar production are set between (-) 15% - (+) 43%, compared with the Romanian quota (104.688 tons white sugar). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of stress on Health Related Quality of Life is considered a certainty in modern society, but the magnitude of this phenomenon is still not very well known. Measuring perceived stress level and assessing the correlations with perceived Health Related Quality of Life scores may bring valuable information for medical, public health and also for social interventions. Objective: to assess the level of perceived stress in relationship with self evaluated Health Related Quality of Life both on physical and mental components and by the eight domains. Materials and methods: A sample of 928 adult subjects was selected through "snow ball method" from different geographic regions of Romania. Two well-known tools have been used for collecting data: Perceived Stress Scale 14 items (PSS-14) for measuring perceived stress level and SF-36v2 Health Survey, for perceived Health Related Quality of Life assessment. Possible correlation between PSS-14 scores level and different levels of SF-36 scores, by physical and mental components and by the eight domains, have been analyzed. Results: The lowest SF-36 score value was registered for vitality (61.8±17.69) and the highest for physical functioning (84.1±20.52), MCS and PCS had closed values (71.7±19.02 and 74.5±19.44 respectively). Males and people from urban areas tend to have a better perceived HRQoL, also people from Transilvania. Perceived HRQoL score decreases with age, especially after 55 years but it is positively correlated with education and income level, excepting an intriguing gap in 2000 - 2499 lei group. Significant moderate negative correlations were identified between PSS-14 scores and all SF- 36 Health Survey components - both Physical and Mental scores and for all of the eight analyzed domains. Conclusions: Study results provide additional arguments regarding the importance of perceived stress level assessment in medical, public health and social interventions, together with tailored stress reduction measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of stress on Health Related Quality of Life is considered a certainty in modern society, but the magnitude of this phenomenon is still not very well known. Measuring perceived stress level and assessing the correlations with perceived Health Related Quality of Life scores may bring valuable information for medical, public health and also for social interventions. Objective: to assess the level of perceived stress in relationship with self evaluated Health Related Quality of Life both on physical and mental components and by the eight domains. Materials and methods: A sample of 928 adult subjects was selected through "snow ball method" from different geographic regions of Romania. Two well-known tools have been used for collecting data: Perceived Stress Scale 14 items (PSS-14) for measuring perceived stress level and SF-36v2 Health Survey, for perceived Health Related Quality of Life assessment. Possible correlation between PSS-14 scores level and different levels of SF-36 scores, by physical and mental components and by the eight domains, have been analyzed. Results: The lowest SF-36 score value was registered for vitality (61.8±17.69) and the highest for physical functioning (84.1±20.52), MCS and PCS had closed values (71.7±19.02 and 74.5±19.44 respectively). Males and people from urban areas tend to have a better perceived HRQoL, also people from Transilvania. Perceived HRQoL score decreases with age, especially after 55 years but it is positively correlated with education and income level, excepting an intriguing gap in 2000 - 2499 lei group. Significant moderate negative correlations were identified between PSS-14 scores and all SF- 36 Health Survey components - both Physical and Mental scores and for all of the eight analyzed domains. Conclusions: Study results provide additional arguments regarding the importance of perceived stress level assessment in medical, public health and social interventions, together with tailored stress reduction measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that until the late 1980s, in Romania, the term "unemployed" was practically unused, the centralized economy having as major goal the complete occupancy. Starting with 1990, this phenomenon was manifested itself in our country as well, as a result of the imbalance of the labor market. To understand and represent the macroeconomic phenomena better, the paper presents the analysis of the relationship between the Gross domestic product and the unemployment, as well as the current infl uences. The conclusions show the fact that beginning with 1995, their dynamics included a relationship, broken by the effects of the world economic crisis present in our country as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education has been the object of appreciation and research since ancient times, statesmen, great scholars, philosophers, men of culture and art, school people carefully investigating this area with profound implications for the development of present and future society. Regarded as a cultural, social or civilization factor, the importance of education is widely recognized in the intellectual and moral training and development of people and society, in general. Education begins in childhood and, in terms of contemporary society, it becomes a permanent activity. Given the importance of this area, in this paper I have proposed an analysis of the situation of the education in Romania during 1990-2011, using representative indicators such as: the number of educational institutions, the school population, the number of pupils, the number of students, the number of teaching staff and the birth rate. For this study, I have used the principal component analysis method and, for the statistical data processing, I have used the SPSS software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes a series of correlations between the current Civil Code (entered into force on October 1, 2011) and the legislation relating to intellectual creation (works, related creations thereof, databases, inventions, industrial drawings or models, trademarks and geographical indications). In this respect, following a series of considerations concerning the legal terminology in this field, the paper discusses the patrimonial intellectual property rights on the works and trademarks that each of the spouses registered, as well as on scientific or literary manuscripts, drawings, art and invention projects and other similar property, as well as on the revenues due under an intellectual property right. Finally, it draws some considerations related to private international law matters on the legal protection of intellectual creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the Romanian version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (M.D.A.S.), the instrument was translated into Romanian and administrated to 198 young adults. The M.D.A.S. is a brief self-complete questionnaire consisting of five questions and it is easily scored by summing individual item scores (from a=1 to e=5), for a total score ranging from 5 to 25. The M.D.A.S. has been translated into a number of world languages, many of which have reported adequate psychometrics. The objectives of our study were to check the Romanian translation of the M.D.A.S., to determine its reliability and validity in a sample from the Western part of Romania, and to provide norms to clinical practice. The M.D.A.S. was applied with other psychological tests, the Current Thoughts Scale (C.T.S.), the Trimodal Anxiety Scale (T.A.Q.), the McGill Pain Questionnaire, (McGill P.Q.) and the Dental Fear Survey (D.F.S.). Our hypothesis was the existence of possible correlations between these scales. Since dental anxiety is present with all social categories and with all ages, accurate assessment is one of the premises of the intervention for reducing the prevalence and intensity of dental anxiety. For this, measurements with adequate psychometrics are needed, applied in a doctor - patient communication context based on trust and collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development and the regional approach bring good results for in the economical, social and environmental areas of interest and at the level of all the regions. Tourism is an activity that can be managed to achieve these two concepts for obtaining the best for the local goals and by reuniting the effort s of all the regions, can bring a national development. The implementation of specific measures can increase the number of tourists and can respond to the demands of the eco tourists. This work presents the case of the regional development of the South Muntenia region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Art. 244 para. (1) of the current (Romanian) Civil Procedure Code, the court may suspend trial if: - the settlement of the case depends, in full or in part, on the existence or inexistence of a right that forms the object of another trial; - criminal prosecution was initiated for a crime which would have a decisive influence on the decision to be issued. The author examines this text by correlation to Art. 248 et seq. of the same Code regulating superannuation. In this context, the author believes that the request to reopen the suspended case according to Art. 244 of the Civil Procedure Code for the re-initiation of trial is not a procedural act which must be fulfilled by the court ex officio. Moreover, the court of law may only re-place the case on the dockets to ascertain superannuation, on which occasion it shall have to grant trial expenses to the defendant or respondent in appeal (as applicable), which requests or produces proof of such expenses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we aimed to determine correlations between the profit of the firms and the value of their shares for 2010, and between the Down Jones index and the share prices on the stock market. The study is structured in two parts: in the first part, we establish correlations between the share price and profit, and between Down Jones indicator, and the course of the share prices based on econometric models. In the second part of the present study, we used the SPSS program, and we calculate the same correlations with this program. We made use of the following types of research: descriptive research, explanatory research, and applied research. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that we employed econometric methods and the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) program to establish correlations between different variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. crassa) is cultivated presently in almost all European countries, and in Romania on large surfaces in West Plain. Vest. This crop is used as a valuate source of cattle food. Due to its high content of water and sugar, it increases the milk production and is an appropriate fodder for the dairy cows (ALBAYRAKS. and NECDET Ç., 2007, LAUWERS T., 2009). Usually, the fodder beet is administrated chopped and mixed with straws. The goal of this paper is to find a mathematical model which will allow to analyze the studied varieties of fodder beet under aspect of some quantitative characteristics (by correlation method) and then to classify them considering the similitude degree (in this case considering the first two factors). The biological material that was studied is represented by 16 varieties of fodder beet and it represents a valuable and highly diversified material from ecological viewpoint (Belgium, Germany, Poland, Romania), reason why there was considered useful to see what is their behaviour in conditions of Banat. The variability study of the root characteristics (root weight, root length, maximum diameter of the root) and of the leaf characteristics (leaf number, green leaf number and foliar surface) was made basing on biometric determinations. There were determined the linear correlations between the morphological characters up mentioned and then, basing on these correlations, there was realised an analysis of the main components and a cluster analysis (using the Euclidian distance and Ward method) which revealed that the varieties Angoba, Troya, Feldher and Ketil; Monro, Polifuraj 2, Beta Rosa and Ursus; Gonda, Tamara and Kyros I; Brigadier and Marshal; Fumona, Zentaur and respectively Tamon formed clusters, showing a strong similarity between them. The values of the genetic potential in fodder beet are manifested only if the variety is maintained in genetic equilibrium and whether it will receive appropriate condition of cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is one of the most valuable carnivorous fish species in Europe, and in Romania as well. In the literature there are no relevant data on growth dynamic and correlation among the main body measurements in pikeperch larvae obtained out-of-season and reared in recirculated aquaculture system (RAS). The aim of this study was to bring information for clarifying some of these aspects. Our results emphasized that correlation coefficient between maximum body high (H) and total length (TL) together with standard length (SL) decrease linear from 10 to 25 DPH. The correlation coefficients between the main length measurements (TL and SL) reveal a very high correlation between the two traits in pikeperch larvae. High correlations between body weight (BW) and the other length measurements were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Romanian Review of Private Law / Revista Română de Drept Privat is the property of Universul Juridic Publishing House 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.)

Cognition of correlations offers the possibility to evaluate complicated characters by evaluating the less complicated ones. Multiple correlations are useful in finding a balance between principal characters studied in breeding programs. The aim of the study was the evaluation of principal component characters of production capacity in a collection of 24 landraces of sweet pepper landraces from West Romania. Evaluated characters were: number of fruit per plant, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit weight, pulp thickness, pulp weight, number of seeds in fruit, production of fruits per plant. The evaluated collection presents increased variability for number of fruits per plant, average weight of single fruit and fruit pulp weight. Production of fruit per plant, fruit diameter and fruit length are lower. Production of fruits per plant is influenced in proportion of 50% by fruit number and secondly by fruit diameter. Fruit diameter has a significant and major contribution (over 70%) on fruit weight, less important being the fruit length and diameter, pulp thickness. From simple regressions study we conclude that single fruit weight is influenced by fruit diameter and pulp thickness, and production per plant depends on number of fruits per plant and fruit diameter. Number of seeds per fruit is higher in longer fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An empirical analysis of the Romanian emerging stock market RASDAQ based on the statistical study of the composite index RASDAQ-C reveals the leptokurtic profile of the probability density function (p.d.f.) of the stock index changes, the power law asymptotic behaviour of the p.d.f., the breakdown of scaling at long time scales, the absence of linear correlation in the stock index changes but existence of long-range correlation in nonlinear function such as the absolute value or the square of index changes (implicitly the long-range correlation in the index volatility). These results, consistent with the similar referring to the more liquid markets, suggest the presence of several universal features, in addition to several particularities related to the quickness of assimilation of the new information and its impact over the investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives : Characterization of patients with endocarditis regarding demographic, clinical, biological and imagistic data, blood culture results and possible correlation between different etiologic factors and host status characteristics. Material and methods : This is a retrospective observational descriptive study conducted on patients older than 18 years admitted in the past 10 years, in the Cardiology Clinic of the Clinical County Emergency Hospital Oradea Romania, with clinical suspicion of bacterial endocarditis. Demographic data, clinical, paraclinical investigations and outcome were registered and analyzed. Results : 92 patients with definite infective endocarditis (IE) according to modified Duke criteria were included. The mean age of patients was 63.80 ± 13.45 years. A percent of 32.6% had health care associated invasive procedure performed in the 6 months before diagnosis of endocarditis. Charlson's comorbidity index number was 3.53 ± 2.029. Most common clinical symptoms and signs were: shortness of breath, cardiac murmur, fever. Sixty-six patients had native valve endocarditis, 26 patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis and one patient was with congenital heart disease. Blood cultures were positive in 61 patients. Among positive culture patient's staphylococcus group was the most frequently involved: Staphylococcus aureus (19.6%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (18.5%). Most frequent complications were heart failure, acute renal failure and embolic events. Conclusions: Staphylococcus aureus IE was associated with the presence of large vegetations, prosthetic valve endocarditis and intracardiac abscess. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) infection was associated with prosthetic valve dysfunction. Streptococcus gallolyticus etiology correlated with ischemic embolic stroke and the presence of large vegetations. Cardiovascular surgery was recommended in 67.4% of patients but was performed only on half of them. In hospital death occurred in 33.7% of patients and independent predictors of mortality were congestive heart failure and septic shock.

The objectives of our study were to verify the Romanian translation of the TAQ, to determine its psychometric qualities in a sample of participants from Western Romania, and to compare them with data from similar researches. The TAQ measures three key anxiety components: somatic, cognitive and behavioural. The questionnaire's 36 items were derived from previous research, from different widely utilised measurement instruments known for their psychometric properties. The TAQ was administered along with other psychological tests, the Current Thoughts Scale (CTS), the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), the McGill Pain Questionnaire, (McGill PQ-S) and the Dental Fear Survey (DFS). The validation of these instruments on the Romanian population represents a part from a PhD research project regarding anxiety and dental fear management. We consider that the results advanced in the validation study support the TAQ's psychometric qualities, and thus the TAQ can be seen as a useful instrument, with high applicable potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]