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Introduction: Lipidomics can offer an instant picture of the lipophilic metabolites from tissues and biofluids and can indicate the evolution of different pathologies, such as hyperplasia or different types of cancers. Related to these pathologies, Prostate Serum Antigen (PSA), proved to have a low grade prediction for an accurate diagnosis. Meanwhile, untargeted or targeted metabolomics became a useful advanced technology to discover new biomarkers for a better diagnosis. Aims: To realize an adequate procedure based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to determine the profile of lipids from blood serum, followed by adequate biostatistics. Materials and Methods: Blood samples, obtained from healthy men and patients with prostate benign hyperplasia, post-biopsy cancer and post-surgery cancer were processed for lipid extraction and subjected to HPLC–ESI(+)QTOF-MS measurements, followed by the multivariate analysis (PCA and Cluster Analysis) with Unscrambler 10.1 software. TofControl 3.2 and Data Analysis 4.2 software (BrukerDaltonics) were used for the control of the instrument and data processing. Results: The molecules responsible for such discriminations were identified to be mainly represented by lyso-phospatidylcholines. By Cluster Analysis, the dendograms showed good statistical clustering of samples, especially for cancer patients agains controls and less clustered for hyperplasia. Conclusion: One can consider that molecules belonging to phospholipid family and diacyl /triacylglycerides or ceramides or carnitines can be considered potential biomarkers for hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

External and internal microclimatic conditions, biodeterioration, anthropogenic factors, etc, influence the natural stone support for artifacts and built heritage. Based on this fact, the present study explores the effectiveness of nano-TiO2 in preserving and enhancing the durability of natural stone used in the façades of heritage buildings, focusing on the Markovits-Mathéser House in Oradea Municipality, Romania. The investigation involved treating rock samples (fossiliferous limestone) with 2% and 5% nano-TiO2 solutions and subjecting them to simulated extreme climatic conditions for the analyzed area in a controlled climatic chamber for six months. The treated samples demonstrated a significantly higher compressive strength than untreated benchmarks. SEM analyses confirmed that nano-TiO2 formed a protective layer, filling micro-cracks and pores, thereby enhancing the stone’s resistance to environmental stressors. The study also found that the nanoparticle coating maintained its integrity under extreme temperature and humidity variations, with only a slight decrease in surface coverage. These findings suggest that nano-TiO2 coatings significantly improve heritage building materials’ mechanical properties and longevity. However, the study highlights the importance of careful application and long-term evaluation to ensure environmental and health safety. Overall, nano-TiO2 presents a promising solution for the conservation of cultural heritage, offering enhanced durability and protection against climatic and environmental challenges. Further research is recommended to optimize application workflow and formulations for broader and more effective use in heritage conservation.

The current paper aims at optimizing the natural gas deliveries from an underground storage by implementing automated control systems and fiscal measurement systems according to the harmonized European legislation in the area of metrology. In the first part, the authors have carried out an analysis regarding the state of the art at international level with regard to technical solutions for optimizing the deliveries of natural gas by means of a constriction element of a measurement panel. In the following, a software application was created for monitoring the parameters taken from the process gas chromatograph and transferring them to the flow computer by implementing software filters. The novelty element here is that it allows the trading of the nominated natural gas amount in a set period of time.

Ergonomic design of the workplace is a matter of utmost importance. Ergonomics should consider reducing the high number of accidents as well as the high amounts paid for insurance. In recent years there have been numerous injuries due to cumulative trauma or due to psychological, sociological and ethical factors. Operators often adapt to improper work conditions, but the number of accidents increases and productivity decreases. The driver of the vehicle must be provided with a suitable space and position so that his posture is physiologically comfortable, does not cause excessive fatigue and illness, there is freedom of movement to drive the steering wheel, steering levers and pedals, which must be accessible and placed in such a way that the driver’s requirements are minimal and the visibility is ensured. In the paper there will be presented elements for the ergonomic design of the workplace for the motor vehicle occupation and will be taken into account several factors involved among which we mention the correct positioning of the seat adjustment while driving a car, adjusting the backrest and seat, adjusting the lumbar support, adjusting the steering position, adjusting the headrests to ensure that in the event of an accident, the risk of a head injury is very small.

Whereas formerly metallic materials were used extensively and for various purposes in the machines manufacturing industry, nowadays new materials are sought that can replace the "conventional" machines manufacturing materials with new ones. This is especially challenging in areas where parts need to be able to withstand very tough conditions, such as high temperatures or large forces applied to them. The current paper intends to analyze some of the most widely used materials for high-strength applications. A special focus in this regard is on the one hand in fiber-reinforced composite materials with the polymer matrix and on the other hand on basalt. The most important properties, processing technologies and applications of these materials are analyzed and discussed and conclusions are drawn regarding their compatibility with the intended purpose.

During the tests for evaluating shock behavior for certain alloy steels, one of the stages consists of an analysis of geometrical and structural degradations. These degradations are functions of stress distribution, values, and module of plastic and elastic deformation energies involved. High values of kinetic energy generated at shock imposed the necessity for a scientific model of study / simulation. The presented model allows a further extension for ranges of values and restrictions imposed to shock stresses for certain alloy steels special structures. In order to evaluate and calibrate the presented model, some experiments were conducted. Data resulted from experiments was compared to data resulted during simulations. After calibration and confirmation of proposed model, new parameters could be computed, parameters that were unavailable in experimental studies. The present paper presents some considerations regarding the adopted methodology, results, and perspective for further experimental trials and simulations.

This article main purpose is to highlight the main advantage of the hardware and software implementation for an energy management system based on renewable energy sources. By using implemented and dedicated hardware and software the evolution of energy production and consumption can be monitored. The advantages of such system are highlighted by the results obtained from experimental simulations. An experimental model for the power system based on renewable energy sources was implemented, where the actual status of the system in different situations when the equipments change their own statuses can be shown.

This paper presents some considerations on the development and use of Web services in Web-based SCADA applications . SCADA systems are becoming more and more comon allowing the user to monitor and control local and remote technological processes. SCADA Web-based applications are SCADA applications for web clients, that run in web browsers. The use of Web services enables the development of web SCADA applications in a consistent way, by using the standardized methods for data transmission. Web services use XML standard for data transfer. This paper also proposes the use of the XML standard for describing virtual instruments.

Castability is, along with biocompatibility, one of the most important characteristics of metallic materials used for dental prosthetic applications. In addition, the characteristics and performance of the employed casting machine are also decisive for the end result of the casting, especially when dealing with titanium or a titanium alloy. Starting from a critical analysis of the existing methods for determining the castability of dental alloys, the current paper presents a new method (and associated pattern) for determining the castability. Also, given the castability’s dependence on the type of casting machine, the paper includes an analysis of suitable casting machines and suggests some possible improvements.

Starting from a new study on carbon monoxide and noise pollution levels in an important crossroads area of the city of Sibiu, Romania, the current paper uses the data to compare with data obtained during past studies carried out on the same area, allowing an assessment of the evolution of the two pollution indicators over time. The recent study, carried out over a two-week period in November 2017 both during the peak morning hours and at midday, combined a video-based vehicle count with measurements of the carbon monoxide and of the noise level, respectively. The data comparison reveals not only a worsening of the pollution levels in the centre of Sibiu over the past few years and should allow the determining of the best methods and means for reducing the level of the pollutants, possibly in correlation with the improvement of the road traffic conditions.

The scope of the present paper is to present the architecture and design of an effective tool useful for monitoring, maintenance and training of specialists in the field of photovoltaic renewable energy Among renewable energy resources, solar energy represents an easy to use, accessible and green source of energy. An important goal is the efficient use of solar energy which can only be achieved by the knowledge of solar datum and equipment characteristics from a studied area. Based on this idea, the paper presents a concept of virtual tools developed on web technologies and virtual instrumentation for monitoring and control of solar renewable energy. These tools are mainly designed as a base for a virtual laboratory that can be used for the study of photovoltaic and thermal solar energy parameters, representing, by didactical point of view, a handful way for students to study the phenomenology and also a training tool for specialists in the field of solar photovoltaic energy.

Recent developments and trends in the electric power consumption indicate an increasing use of renewable energy. Renewable energy technologies offer the promise of clean, abundant energy gathered from self-renewing resources such as the sun, wind, earth and plants. Virtually all regions of the world have renewable resources of one type or another. By this point of view studies on renewable energies focuses more and more attention. The present paper intends to present different mathematical models related to different types of renewable energy sources such as: solar energy and wind energy. It is also presented the validation and adaptation of such models to hybrid systems working in geographical and meteorological conditions specific to central part of Transylvania region. The conclusions based on validation of such models are also shown.

Establishing which metallic materials are suitable to be used for the protection of operators and machinery, when subjected to stress impact in the drilling industry, for surface exploitation, mines and quarries, is a complex process. Due to the harsh operating conditions, a careful evaluation of the various materials used is of utmost importance. This paper addresses the issues relating to the methodology of determining the appropriate homogenous materials to be used, based on a correspondence between their characteristics and applications. Starting with a list of specific operating conditions, one has established a set of requirements and has assessed the market; the recommended materials for the job are alloy steels and aluminum alloys.

The paper analyzes the possibility to use a neuro-fuzzy type mathematical model, with the final goal of establishing the welding parameters for new types and dimensions of pipes and fittings. Anticipating the developing dynamic of polyethylene-made elements, especially pipes and fittings, starting from the current situation when already a wide range of pipes and fittings with different wall thicknesses and nominal working pressures is produced and commercialized, and taking into account also new development, it was considered necessary to find out the welding parameters for any new pipe type and dimension. The usage of existing welding equipment for new pipe dimensions is impossible without a preliminary set of welding parameters: pressure, temperature, time. Based on experimentally validated data for discreet values of the characteristic welding parameters, there was generated, using mathematical laws and functions, a new model that can estimate the necessary values of the welding parameters for any value within their variation range. As a result, the mathematical model created using neuro-fuzzy techniques allows the obtaining of the correct value for certain parameters (e.g. required welding pressure) for any values of the input variables pipe diameter and pipe thickness.

Noise pollution is one of the most important negative effects of road traffic, especially in cities. The current paper presents an attempt to reduce the noise level created by the road traffic along some main roads in the city of Sibiu, Romania by suggesting ways to optimize the traffic flow. The number of cars and the resulting noise levels were recorded in a key area of Sibiu. The noise levels were compared to standards and to measurements taken in areas with less traffic. Then, they were fed, together with road geometry data, into a specialized simulation software that allowed the computer-aided reproduction of the traffic flow, but also the modifying of conditions such as the road geometry to achieve, coupled with a multicriterial analysis, an optimization of the pedestrian and road traffic flow in view of a reduced noise pollution.

The current paper presents a computer-aided analysis of the way in which a natural gas storage created in a depleted gas deposit and the associated gas collection network are operated, both during the extraction phase and during the injection phase. In a first step, an analysis is carried out on a two-dimensional, nonstationary model for the gas storage, based on the deposit’s geometry and the rock properties, but also on the gas motions. Also, a dynamic simulation of the injection and extraction processes is unfolded, allowing the study and optimisation of elements such as well placement and gas flows through the wells with the goal of maximising the storable gas quantities. A second model is then generated for the gas collection network associated with the natural gas storage, using the simulation software Simone. Its main benefit is allowing the simulation and modelling of nonstationary flows through the network. The two models are closely interconnected, in that for the extraction stage, the output from the first model is used as input for modelling the collection network, while for the injection phase, the results from modelling the collection network are used as entry data for the gas storage model.

The quality of the natural gas extracted from deposits and transported through pipelines is a major factor in achieving the desired heating properties of the gas. A big problem related to the quality is the presence of impurities such as dust, sand or water. These can be removed by using separators. This paper presents an analysis of the efficiency of a cyclone-type separator in terms of speeds and pressure drops, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method in the case of separating water droplets from the main gas flow.

Green Transformation: Trends and Prospects of Green Jobs in Romania. This study investigates the trends and potential of green jobs in Romania, particularly focusing on sectors crucial to the green economy, such as agriculture, energy, and waste management. The emergence of green jobs signifies a shift towards ecological sustainability and economic resilience, highlighted by the growth in sectors A (Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing), D (Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply), and E (Water Supply; Sewerage, Waste Management, and Remediation Activities) from NACE rev.2 codes. The analysis reveals an evolving labor market, with an increase in sustainable agricultural practices and a shift towards more sustainable energy production methods. Furthermore, significant increases in average annual net wages across these sectors from 2018 to 2023 suggest an appreciation of labor value in green jobs, potentially reflecting heightened demand, technological advancements, and a shift towards more specialized skill sets. This study contributes to the academic discourse on green jobs, offering valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and the labor market in fostering a sustainable and resilient economy. Future research should address methodological limitations, explore the impact of policy interventions, and examine the role of technological advancements in developing green jobs in Romania.

Patients with morbid obesity and concomitant hip or knee osteoarthritis represent a challenging patient demographic to treat as these patients often present earlier in life, have more severe symptoms, and have worse surgical outcomes following total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Previously, bariatric and metabolic surgeries represented one of the few weight loss interventions that morbidly obese patients could undergo prior to total joint arthroplasty. However, data regarding the reduction in complications with preoperative bariatric surgery remain mixed. Glucagon-like peptide receptor-1 (GLP-1) agonists have emerged as an effective treatment option for obesity in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, recent data suggest these medications may serve as potential anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying agents for numerous chronic conditions, including osteoarthritis. This review will discuss the GLP-1 agonists and GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide dual agonists currently available, along with GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon triple agonists presently being developed to address the obesity epidemic. Furthermore, this review will address the potential problem of GLP-1-related delayed gastric emptying and its impact on the timing of elective total joint arthroplasty. The review aims to provide arthroplasty surgeons with a primer for implementing this class of medication in their current and future practice, including perioperative instructions and perioperative safety considerations when treating patients taking these medications.

Many analytical methods have been successfully employed for the study of minerals, in particular, vibrational infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The advantages of the vibrational spectroscopic techniques for identifying and characterizing minerals include: rapid and versatile use; qualitative and quantitative chemical signatures; distinctive chemical fingerprint of a material; indirect determination of the crystal features (polymorphism, isomorphism, coordination, degree of deformation of structural polyhedra); small sample quantity (area less than 1 μm2 for Raman); wide coverage of 4,000 – 50 cm−1 region in a single scan; in situ and direct measurements without sample preparation; nondestructive use; etc. On the other hand, XRPD is a destructive technique that, depending on the method used and the density of the material, requires from a few micrograms up to around 5 grams of sample quantity for analysis. In spite of that, it is a rapid and powerful technique used in mineral studies with relatively straightforward interpretation of the results. During the last decade, portable X-ray powder diffractometers for the nondestructive analysis of art and archeological materials have been developed along with the portable and hand-held vibrational spectroscopy instrument. Here, some advantages and limitations in the process of the complementary use of FTIR and Raman vibrational spectroscopy and XRPD for identification and characterization of minerals are outlined.

Immigration is an important and contemporary topic in management education given its impact on labor, wages, innovation, and diversity. However, extant research offers few insights into the antecedents to student immigration attitudes. Survey data from undergraduate students taking business courses at two large public universities in the southeast U.S. reveal that while student attitudes toward immigration are more moderate than the general U.S. population, these attitudes differ by gender, political affiliation, and immigration background. Following realistic conflict theory and social identity theory, these student immigration attitudes are a function of both fear and competition. First, their attitudes are confounded by conflicting antecedents in perceived personal competition for resources with immigrants (e.g., jobs, wages) versus immigration benefits (e.g., costs, labor base, innovation). Second, xenophobia (fear of immigrants) is a remarkably powerful influencer of one's immigration attitude and its antecedents. With these points, management educators must engage students in critical thinking about immigration to prepare them to effectively work with diverse colleagues and business partners while leading global organizations. We, therefore, present four cross-disciplinary areas of intersection between immigration and management education, including diversity and cultural intelligence, human resource management and ethics, entrepreneurship and innovation, and finally, economic and socioeconomic impacts.

The paper presents data on indigenous people from the area of East Herzegovina (the south of the province of Dalmatia). After the defeat of the Illyrians and the establishment of educational goals in the Roman province of Dalmatia, territorial and ethnic changes occurred with certain tribes that academic circles were poorly informed about. The indigenous feature, as indicated by the Illyrian names on the epigraph statues of East Herzegovina, is significant. By conquering the Illyrian territory and establishing power over it, the Romans left its inhabitants certain autonomy, followed by the processes of urbanization and Romanization from the 1st to the 4th century. After occupying the Illyrians, the period in which the indigenous people were introduced into Roman social and political order commenced. The following period was marked by the penetration and establishment of the ancient culture and civilization in the Balkans as well as by the work on the rule managemant with the Illyrians. Epigraph statues, various archeological findings and oral sources shed light to a certain extent on these processes in the territory of East Herzegovina. Archeological research and epigraph materials point to the conclusion that the areas in the inland of East Herzegovina (the south of Dalmatia) in the Roman period managed to perservere their regional ethnic characteristics for an extended period of time, which is best seen in the onomastics from Dobrićevo, Ljubomir, Fatnica, and Nevesinje. Some of the characteristic names found on epigraph statues from this area are Zorada, Zanatis, Tattaris, Temus etc. Regional onomastics testifies that the traditional lifestyles perservered in the Roman period for an extended period of time. However, inscriptions can still be found with indigenous Illyrian names that were to some extent adapted to the Roman onomastic system.