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The briquette porosity is a quality characteristic known to be important for combustion analysis, heat and mass transfer processes during combustion stages, determination of effective thermal conductivity or other related properties. This paper describes a method to quantify the briquette porosity by some surface roughness parameters that can be useful for alternative, inexpensive and at hand evaluations. Porosity of briquettes manufactured with a hydraulic press from waste wood from secondary processing was calculated with three methods suggested in the literature for wood; of these, one was adapted here for a wet porosity model (called “general relation”) proposed for wood briquettes. Briquettes density was obtained by using two stereometric methods and a liquid displacement method. Correlations were examined between porosity, surface roughness parameters and density of briquettes. Very strong correlations with surface roughness were identified for porosity calculated with all three methods, when density was measured by one of the stereometric methods. These correlations can serve as a method to indirect evaluation of the briquettes porosity by assessing the surface quality.

Nanotechnology offers a new horizon for cancer drug administration and systemic safety of oncological treatments. Compared with conventional pharmaceutical forms, nanoparticles (NPs) have many advantages such as larger surface, ability to adsorb and targeted delivery of different types of drugs, providing decreased side effects and a patient customed approach in cancer treatment. Due to their diverse chemical composition, NPs offer the possibility of developing innovative therapies, which may be also applied in glioblastoma treatment. Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been previously used in cancer treatment, as targeted drug delivery systems. Helianthin is an azo dye compound that we found to induce cell death in high grade glioma (HGG) cells. In this study, we analyzed the in vitro effect of MNPs loaded with Helianthin (HeMNPs) on a glioblastoma cell line (GB2B).

In the present paper addressing the issue of advanced performance in mathematics, we seek to answer to the following study questions: “What are the main factors that lead to the achievement of advanced performance?”; “Which is the profile of the teacher able to train the Olympic students in Mathematics?”; “Why do teachers want for their students to achieve advanced performance in mathematics?”; “Why do the students want to reach a high degree of performance in Mathematics?”; “What difficulties could significantly impede on student progress?”; “What is the connection between enthusiasm and advanced performance in Mathematics?”; “ Why does an Olympic student participate in competitions?”.

Background. Understanding the underlying cause of mortality in sepsis has broad implications for both trials design and clinical care. A one-size-fits-it-all treatment without considering underlying comorbidities and particularities of a specific patient may have a huge impact on prognosis. Materials and methods. We performed a retrospective, single center observational study of patients admitted in Emergency Department taking into account the suspicion of an infection, serious enough to produce a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Of this population, we selected the septic patient (Sepsis-3 definition) and studied the impact of comorbidities on prognosis. Results. 125 patients were included. We found that institutionalized patient and respiratory insufficiency were the factors with the biggest impact on prognosis. Close to that, the age was a factor to be taken into account when discussing about prognosis. Other factors as malignancy, diabetes mellitus, cardiac and renal failure were not associated with ominous prognosis, although may have an impact. Two scores (MEDS and NEWS2) and a biomarker were also found to be useful when making a prognosis in such patients. Conclusions. In this retrospective cohort, the institutionalized patient and patients with with respiratory have poor prognosis, while in other diseases, MEDS, NEWS2 and presepsin were reliable prognostic factors.

Prior to 2000, the DNA alkylating agents nitrosoureas were used as standard treatment of glioblastoma. Current treatments for glioblastoma patients consist of surgery followed by radiation in combi...

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host response to infection and it is an important global health problem. After the Sepsis 3 definition, sepsis is only the tip of the iceberg. Only when is life-threatening, an infection is declared sepsis, so the rapid medical intervention is paramount. As the sepsis is a so important medical condition in daily clinical practice, many scores and biomarkers were studied in order to have a better risk stratification in early phases of an infection. By design, some scores were intended to be used in Emergency Departments (ED), Intensive Care Units (ICU), or in specific wards. Ideally, the intervention should take place as rapid and earlier as possible. A possible research direction should be based on a rapidly, low-resources, none or minimum equipment requested for measuring parameters for determining a EWS (increased sensitivity) used with a biomarker (rapidly determined) for gaining specificity in order to buy time, further used to reduce the length of stay in ICU and mortality. Verified and revised scores as NEWS2 and biomarkers such as procalcitonin and presepsin offer a research direction to be explored.

Medical oncology has seen an exponential growth in the last 20 years with the vast majority of malignancies receiving new therapeutic options with substantial benefits to patients� survival and quality of life. Glioblastomas (GBMs), however, have remained largely incurable, with over 90% of patients dying within 5 years of diagnosis. The estimation of a dose�effect type ratio, regarding the action of an oncological drug on tumor cells, leads to relevant conclusions in establishing the optimal medication, specific to the chemotherapeutic act. The identification of the optimal dose of agent is very important, based on experiments on cell lines with regards to cellular kinetics. In this study, we developed a mathematical model based on the specific transfer function of a dose�response action type of a drug on tumor cells in vitro.

Intracerebral hemorrhage is a significant public health problem, as it is a disease associated with overwhelming mortality and disability. We performed a retrospective feasibility study of patients admitted with acute intracerebral hemorrhage in our department for four months. Our aims were to identify peculiarities of the risk factors, demographic and clinical characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage patients from our population, to estimate a feasible recruitment rate for a larger prospective study of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and to analyze and correct potential drawbacks in the methodology of a more extensive prospective study of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage hospitalized in our department. During the study period, we admitted 53 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in our department. The mean age of the patients was 69.1 years, and 53% were men. Arterial hypertension was the most common etiologic factor leading to intracerebral hemorrhage. 50.01% of patients died during hospitalization, 31.19% were discharged with significant disability, and 18.8% had a favorable short-term outcome. Higher hematoma volumes, male sex, deep location of the hemorrhage, and age between 51 and 60 years were factors associated with an unfavorable short-term outcome.

In this work surface-enhanced Raman spectra of nucleic acids from in vitro grown Solanum tuberosum L. cultivars and populations (Buzau population, Lazarea population, Patraque d'Auvergne, RFA Roclas Clone 2.6 Ferma, Vitelotte Negresse, Roclas Clone C, Blue Congo) were measured with 532 nm laser line. Main surface-enhanced Raman modes of these DNAs have been analyzed. Also, DNA from two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties were studied at acidic pHs by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Modified SERS intensities and wavenumber shifts of nucleic acids bands were observed upon lowering the pH, being a proof of binding affinity changes of DNA with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and of structural modifications induced at acidic pHs in DNA molecular groups. Furthermore, the (sub)picosecond surface dynamics of DNA extracted from leaf tissues of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties was investigated. In this work, the bands full widths at half-maximum (FWHMs) have values in the wavenumber range from 8 to 34 cm

In order to comply with the need for safe and quality electricity transmission, it is necessary to provide an adequate operating condition for the main electric power pieces of equipment. The capacitor-type bushings pertaining to the transformer units are such important components, which must retain their parameters throughout their operating life. The paper presents the design of a system for monitoring the condition of insulated bushings pertaining to transformer units: the presentation of the hardware, of the software and the practical implementation. For the study and analysis of solutions, as well as the development of the application, six insulated bushings of a 400 kV autotransformer were considered: three insulated bushings of 200 kV and three of 400kV.

In the book The Enlightenment (Iluminarea), Father Iacob Ghergheluca teaches us how a spiritual man behaves. He is a model of love who practices the equality principle and loves all men. He is also s model of self acceptance who has discovered the presence of love within himself and offers it to the entire world. Enlightenment begins with self knowledge and it implies a metamorphosis of the creator consciousness that changes life experiences and life itself, as the consciousness is able to change the world. How to cite: Purcaru, A. R. (2017). Father's Teachings: The Ethical Conduct of The Spiritual Man; The Enlightenment. Logos Universality Mentality Education Novelty, Section: Philosophy and Humanistic Sciences, V (2), 52-59. https://doi.org/10.18662/lumenphs.2017.0502.06

In the present paper, the adsorptive Pb(II) removal from synthetic aqueous solutions using a 2 cm diameter hydroxyapatite column has been studied through column adsorption experiments by varying column depths (1, 2, 3, 4 cm) and flow rate (10, 15, 22.5 mL/min). Different types of synthetic hydroxiapatites have been involved in experiments. Column design parameters such as critical bed depth and adsorption capacity have been determined from experimental studies. The results revealed the effectiveness of synthetic hydroxyapatite porous beads in Pb(II) removal from aqueous synthetic solutions.

Dyes are an important class of natural and synthetic compounds, recently studied as potential anticancer drugs. Among various natural dye molecules, Curcumin was extensively studied in treatment of malignant gliomas, a highly incurable disease. Curcumin was reported to induce cell death in malignant gliomas by induction autophagy and apoptosis. We have previously reported that Helianthin, a synthetic dye compound, also induced apoptotic cell death in high grade glioma cells. In this study we evaluated the antiproliferative and the apoptotic effect of Curcumin and Helianthin on a human low passage glioblastoma cell line. We found that both compounds displayed antiproliferative properties on glioblastoma cells, however, at equimolar concentrations, Helianthin induced more cytotoxic effect than Curcumin. IC50 value is considered a good indicator of drug efficacy. We found that Helianthin required a lower concentration to achieve IC50 (16.9.735 �14.8 mM) than Curcumin (68.5 �12.3 mM). We also found that Curcumin and Helianthin treatment induced caspase 3, 8 and 9 activation in glioblastoma cells. This study may lead to a widespread search for dye agents that may represent an untapped source of drugs for cancer treatment.

In the puritan and utilitarian environment of 18th century England, there is a literary trend called sentimentalism, which stands out as an attitude of opposition towards aristocratic morality. The characteristics of the trend are the cult of feelings, the cult of nature (as an unspoiled environment) and the proclamation of puritan morality. The initiator of this trend was Samuel Richardson, who adopts the genre of the epistolary novel and writes Pamela (1740) and Clarissa Harlowe (1747-1748). If the first is based on the theory of rewarded virtue, the second one presents the punishment of vice. Together with other realistic novelists of his century, Richardson wanted to present heroes from the bourgeois world superior to moral representatives of the aristocracy.

The paper analyses a series of arguments that had as purpose to convince the population not to go to vote in the Referendum of October 2018 organized in Romania about redefining marriage as possible only between different sexes. As the law requested a 30% presence to be validated, the arguments final purpose was not to operate the constitutional changes. But a series of arguments, as convincing as they were, were not correct from a logical and philosophical point of view, as they led astray from the participation to the democratic vote process, the civic implication in establishing the rights of the citizen and refocused public attention from the question in order on the different political and religious organizations. The paper discusses the details.

The paper analyses an unethical media account of two celebrations, St. Valentine and Dragobete. If in 2018 The Romanian National Television posted on Social Media an appropriate account of St. Valentine Holiday, in 2019 the situation was completely different. While reporting on St. Valentine, the media trust considered appropriate to present it in an unjustified comparison with the Dragobete celebration of 24th of February, described as an authentic Romanian celebration of love. While reporting about Dragobete, the celebration was again compared with Valentine?s Day, the second reduced to the adopted American tradition of love celebration, whereas the first described as the appropriate one for Romanians to celebrate. None of the two media accounts remained true to the history of either celebration. St. Valentine is a Christian Holiday with Ancient European roots, however controversial the love celebration tradition may be, as the second is a Romanian pagan celebration. There was no need to account for the two events in an antagonistic manner. A separate account of the two celebrations would have been more appropriate. If the Romanian television decided to promote Dragobete as an important Romanian celebration on Social Media, it could have done so without relating it to St. Valentine. Moreover, these accounts disregard the Romanian Catholic communities which celebrate Valentine, the martyr priest, on the 14th of February. The paper discusses how both media accounts disregard the ethical recommendations on reporting about multiculturalism and generate an unnecessary state of conflict between the communities who celebrate one or both holidays.

Monitoring the satisfaction of sales representatives is a major challenge in business based on multi-level marketing systems (MLM), as a high level of satisfaction could determine the sales representatives’ loyalty and subsequent business growth. The purposes of this study are (i) to measure the sales representatives’ satisfaction with various experiences they face within the MLM system, (ii) to identify the main satisfaction factors that synthetically illustrate the sales representatives’ experiences with the MLM system, and (iii) to determine the influence of satisfaction factors with MLM experiences on the intention to recommend the system to other people interested in joining the business. The research was based on a survey among 412 sales representatives of companies that use an MLM system in various fields of activity. The main factors that summarize the experiences that sales representatives have within the MLM systems have been identified by using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Further, the satisfaction with these factors was analyzed in relationship with the intention to recommend the system for the development of their individual business. The research results indicate three major experiences of the sales representatives: (i) experiences within the MLM system, (ii) experiences with customer relationships, and (iii) experiences with the product. The results also show that the higher satisfaction with these factors is, the higher the likelihood to recommend the MLM system. This study provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in using experiential marketing for sustainable business development and provides management insights for companies that use MLM systems.