Search

In Romania’s most rural parts, the urban networks are not sufficiently developed. In order to improve the living standards of the inhabitants of Lechinta village, Iernut city, Mures county, it is necessary to extend water supply and sewerage infrastructure. For a better visualization and understanding of the interest area, a database was created in which the constructions, buildings, electrical and optical fiber networks, infrastructure and access ways were digitized. Considering the created database and the digital elevation model of the terrain, it was possible to easily design the water supply and sewerage infrastructure that allowed a better management of the field measurements. In order to ensure a higher degree of details, but also to complete and verify the measurements made with GPS receivers, photogrammetric and LiDAR data were obtained using a UAS equipped with the TopoDrone LiDAR 100 Lite sensor and the Zenmuse X4S DJI camera. The field data were imported into the ArcGIS application and analyzed in order to achieve the water supply and sewerage infrastructure. In order to visualize the digitization of the elements in the field, web maps were made using ArcGIS online application. The first map allows a 3D view of the area of interest and the second map includes 5 applications: database visualization, selection of desired layers, determination of distances and surfaces, use of different basemaps as well as sharing information through email, Facebook, etc. Database and webmaps that were created contribute to an easier design of urban networks and the visualization of the land in real time.

Abstract Frozen dough storage, along with its thawing process, negatively affects the quality of the final product. Thus, fermentation with selected cultures and the enrichment of wheat-based dough using a specific soy powder could optimize the viscoelastic quality of frozen dough and increase its nutritional characteristics. Based on these aspects, the present study’s objective was to examine the effects of soy powder addition to wheat flour with single cultures of Fructilactobacillus florum DSM 22689 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae and coculture with these two microorganisms for 72 h of fermentation. Additionally, the fermentation process was monitored, and viscoelastic behavior and physical–chemical analyses of the fermented sourdough before and after frozen storage were assessed, as soy protein has been proposed to hinder water migration throughout frozen storage. As observed, soy powder, an essential functional ingredient, had a favorable impact on the water-starch-gluten system, and enhanced the viscoelastic behavior before and after 4 weeks of frozen storage.

Forests have a major role in preserving an environment, suitable for human life, being a very important and renewable natural resource. Because of the multiple interests of forest users, a wider range of up-to-date information is being requested in the community of forestry. The study describes a geographic information system (GIS) research, based on information about a protected forest area. The aim of this paper is to develop a management plan that lays the foundations for a long-term management of natural resources, both in favor of humans, and nature, to promote the values of biodiversity in this protected natural area, involving as much as possible, the communities in the area. GIS can be used not only to edit and display maps, but also to enhance work quality. These enhancements include an exploration of information from different types of maps, recognizing potentially problematic areas, facilitating informative public hearings, and presenting major area features. GIS has been recently applied to numerous fields, including forestry. Most GIS research works on land-use planning and forest management, relates to the establishment of databases, the expansion of mathematical models to incorporate the capabilities of spatial analyses. The results of this study reveal several features including: classification of plots by altitude, slope, exhibition, consistency of the tree, dominant species, accessibility of the plots, and identifying the areas where the snow lasts the longest. GIS technology provides users easier access to various information’s about forest features and to visualize them through the maps. The management of this database facilitates the implementation of methods of conservation of protected forests.

Population management is difficult and complex due to its dynamic and complexity. When we talk about demography, we talk about human population in a defined geographic area, meaning, demography is a spatial science. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a modern tool used in many fields, to manage attribute data and spatial data, including population management. The aim of this study is to present the size of population for each county and urban/rural area on two different years: 2012 and 2020, and the estimation of population growth until the year of 2050. Used for processing spatial data, ArcGIS package from ESRI, allows spatial and geostatistical analysis, mathematical calculations and the visualizations of data. Modern cartography is using GIS technologies to create maps in an easier and flexible way. GIS can use the existing analog maps after digitizing them. Using GIS, specialists can create maps at any scale, centered on any location and showing any selected information. ArcGIS tools permit to visualize, query and overlay the data bases related to the maps. Using ArcGIS applications, we determined the counties which present an increasing of population, and those presenting a decreasing of population, as well as the evolution of population in urban and rural area. In order to determine which counties are affected more by the population decline, we calculated the growth rate using the three major demographic variables: Birth, Death and Migration. In conclusion, we can say that the population in Romania has decreased in the past 8 years and is going to decrease even more in the next 30 years. This happened due to the low birth rate and high emigration rate.

3D building models are widely used in many applications. The use of terrestrial laser scanning and UAS photogrammetry for 3D modelling is a popular practice especially for constructions with complex architecture. The present article presents an example of using these technologies successfully for 3D modelling of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Holy Trinity from Baia Mare, Romania. A number of 51 control and verification points were determined by the closed circuit travel method and the intersection method. All measurements were processed in Terramodel software. The control points used in the georeferencing of the scans were materialized by metal stakes and the verification points were materialized by reflective targets. Depending on the construction configuration, the field of view and the minimum/maximum scanning distances were subsequently set. A total of 45 scans were performed to model the entire cathedral. The photogrammetric flight was performed in RTK mode, with corrections being transmitted from the DJI D-RTK-2 Mobile Station base to the RTK drone. All retrieved frames had geolocation and frame orientation elements recorded by the IMU module. A total number of 222 photograms were taken, as a result of a double grid photogrammetric flight, with the camera oriented at 60 degrees, but also as a result of manual acquisition by performing orbital flights at different heights: an orbital flight on the ground floor, an orbital flight at the level of about 40 meters and an orbital flight around the tower.

In view of the frequent occurrences of mycotoxins in cereals, this study assessed the presence of trichothecenes in 121 samples from Romanian markets. These samples were divided into five groups based on product type: (1) bread and bakery products containing white flour, (2) half-brown bread with whole wheat flour, (3) brown bread containing rye flour, (4) pasta, and (5) raw wheat. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to detect 13 different mycotoxins, which included the Type A compounds HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin, as well as the Type B compounds deoxynivalenol and nivalenol. Results indicated trichothecene contamination in 90.08% of our samples, with deoxynivalenol predominating by at least 78% in each examined group. Co-occurrence of three or four trichothecenes were found in 23.85% of our samples. Our study underscores the necessity of consistent monitoring of staple foods to prevent the intake of harmful trichothecenes by consumers.

Urban green spaces (UGS) contribute to the development of the ecosystem, especially in crowded urban areas such as cooling effect, air and noise pollution mitigation, recreation, aesthetic pleasure, quality of life and public health, as well as economic benefits, such as raising the price of the real state in the vicinity of UGS. The aim of the paper is to realize a study on green spaces and an urban distribution of the size of a systematic planning of functional and aesthetic qualities. This study examines the distribution and amount of green space, as well as the size and rates per capita are assessed. Even the distribution of distance and the accessibility of green areas throughout the city are closely linked to ensuring recreational needs. Spatial statistics using GIS have made possible the development of correct, coherent explanatory UGS variables such as distance, size, density, connectivity, sight and accessibility. The parks and all green spaces composed of polygons were digitized from the ArcGIS Attribute Table for the evaluation of per capita rates and the execution of a plan to combat the deficit of green spaces. In order to make an assessment of the green spaces, a comparative study of the area of interest from 2010 and 2020 was considered. According to the spatial analyses from ArcGis, during the 10 years, an intense real estate market was developed, affecting the distribution of green spaces per capita.

The minor riverbed of the Someș River is identified in the built-up area and the outside of the built-up area of Fărcașa ATU and the Ardusat ATU outside the built-up area, from the Ardusat DJ 193 road bridge, between hm 2725-2855 and between hm 2815-2867, according to GD (Government Decision) 1705/2006. For the first registration work of the Someș minor riverbed, the measurements, their processing and the afferent documentation were made in accordance with the Order of the general director of the National Agency for Cadastre and Real Estate Advertising no. 700/2014, updated in 2020. The purpose of the project refers to the topo-cadastral methods performed for the elaboration of the documentation of first registration in the Land Book of the minor riverbed belonging to the Someș river located within the radius of ATU Ardusat and ATU Fărcașa from Maramureș county. For the acquisition of the necessary data, both field works and office operations for data processing were taken into account, the studied area being 222.7 hectares. Measurements were performed using GNSS technology using the real-time kinematic RTK method. The UAV aerial photogrammetric method was used to obtain a high degree of detail. The drone used was equipped with an RTK module that receives real-time corrections, thus maintaining a high accuracy.

Objective: The university-business partnership plays a particularly important role in society, allowing a symbiosis between socio-economic stakeholders and the university. This symbiosis is based on co-creating and sharing knowledge, creating collaborative projects, valorizing research, implementing SD principles, and on good governance. The aim of this research is to identify groups of francophone socio-economic organizations willing to engage in co-creating knowledge with universities to adapt the academic curriculum to the dynamic requirements of the labor market, supporting entrepreneurship, whilst implementing SDG principles, and ensuring sustainable education. We base our approach on the two-step cluster analysis, data being collected via questionnaires among representatives of francophone organizations in an emerging market. This allows the identification of two clusters of francophone organizations according to the extent to which they contribute to strengthening their relationship with the university by co-creating knowledge, implementing SDG principles, and supporting sustainable education.Findings: The first cluster is represented by francophone organizations reluctant to co-create knowledge and innovate with universities. These organizations have a rather unclear long-term vision and are not actively involved in supporting SDG education or understanding the universities’ training needs. The second cluster is represented by francophone organizations willing to strengthen the relationship with universities and to co-create value, developing students’ entrepreneurial skills and cooperating on the adaptation of the academic curriculum to labor market requirements.Originality/Implications: The originality of this paper consists in conducting exhaustive research among francophone organizations in Romania, with significant practical and social implications for strengthening the strategic university-business environment partnership and identifying solutions to improve knowledge co-creation and sustainable education within a proper university governance.

Due to its good dietary role, barley has attracted a growing amount of interest for the manufacture of functional foods in recent years. In barley, a number of bioactive components, including as phenolic compounds, have been discovered, and barley extrudates could be used to formulate various processed foods, including ready-to-eat cereals, baby, and pet foods and support nutritionally balanced diets. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extrusion processing on resistant starch (RS), glycemic index (GI), and antioxidant compounds of barley flour. The L* and ΔE values of barley flours decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after extrusion is done at 150 and 180°C. The a* and b* values, however, increased after extrusion. Extrusion increased antioxidant activity (AOA), metal chelating activity (MCA), and ABTS+ scavenging activity, whereas total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) decreased. Barley extrudates at 150 and 180°C showed decreased TPC by 16.4–34.2% and 23.4–38.1%. Moreover, improved RS and reduced GI values were recorded for barley extrudates as compared to barley non-extrudates. Therefore, extrusion of barley could be an alternative to produce pregelatinized barley flour with improved RS low GI values and improved antioxidant potential.

This research aims to identify typologies of companies willing to cooperate with universities to foster knowledge co-creation and ease knowledge transfer to students within courses, training, communities of practises, etc., regardless of the business sector they are active in. To implement the research scope, we rely on the qualitative comparative analysis method (QCA). Interactions between causal factors within the university–industry relations, and knowledge co-creation have been examined. The results obtained indicate two typologies. Type 1 includes companies oriented towards supporting interactions with universities based on education, research, student placements, training, and community services such as consultancy, and product development. These acknowledge both the necessity of creating platforms to establish more ties with universities and the importance of alumni connections to develop effective campus management. Type 2 includes companies that are not interested in understanding or supporting the mission of universities in society, not developing ties with universities, and generating only a superficial interaction, which hinders their involvement in the creation of knowledge with universities. From a managerial perspective, this paper highlights the relationship between universities and industry and how this could contribute to increased resilience for a society facing unexpected challenges, such as the global crisis related to COVID-19 and the present state of international political instability.

Innovations range from food production, land use, and emissions all the way to improved diets and waste management. Global apple production has amounted to over 87 million tons/year, while 18% are processed, resulting in 20–35% (apple fruit fresh weight) apple pomace (AP). Using modern AP management, integrated knowledge in innovative fermentation demonstrates opportunities for reducing environmental pollution and integration into a circular economy. With this association in view, integrating AP flour during sourdough fermentation increases the nutritional value, highlighting a new approach that could guide innovative fermented foods. In this study, the wheat flour (WF) and AP flour were mixed at different ratios, hydrated with water (1:1 w/v), and fermented using a selective culture of Fructilactobacillus florum DSM 22689 and baker’s yeast (single and co-culture). Sourdough fermentation was monitored and analyzed for 72 h. Results suggested that AP may be an important source of organic acids and fermentable sugars that increase nutritional sourdough value. AP flour addition in WF had a positive effect, especially in fermentations with 95% WF and 5% AP, mainly in co-culture fermentation.

Obesity is a common feature in horses suffering from metabolic syndrome. While adipokines involvement as biomarkers is better established in human pathology, little data are available on horses. This study aimed to investigate the possible association and relationship between selected metabolic parameters and morphological traits in equine metabolic syndrome. Adiposity was evaluated using body condition score (BCS) and cresty neck score (CNS). Plasma levels of total cholesterol, insulin, NEFA, and adipokines (omentin and chemerin) were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Spearman correlation, univariate linear regression analysis and hierarchical clustering were performed. Significant positive correlations were observed between NEFA and bodyweight (r = 0.322; p = 0.006), BCS (r = 0.295; p = 0.013), and CNS (r = 0.267; p = 0.024), total cholesterol and bodyweight (r = 0.262; p = 0.027), and omentin and CNS (r = 0.234; p = 0.049). Cluster analysis supported these results and provided more details on the relationships between studied variables within and between the four resulting groups. These findings highlight NEFA, chemerin, and omentin as valuable biomarkers that could be further analyzed in other horse breeds for a better understanding of equine metabolic pathology.

The main objective of this paper is to correlate the current cartographic database with the old one, in the systematic cadastral works. Implementing a GIS and a geodatabase containing the cartographic database is necessary for identifying the buildings in the systematic cadastral works. In order to obtain the actual mapping database, a Phantom 4 PRO drone was used, with a 20 mp resolution camera. For determining the ground reference points there were used two South S82V GPS receivers with double frequency L1, L2, in base-rover radio mode. The existing cartographic database has been taken over from the Cadastre and Land Registration Office and integrated into the newly created geodatabase. With a unique GIS database, the process of identifying new buildings with old land data is done in a fast and efficient way. The accuracy of the new cartographic database provides greater security identifications, which can be affected even in the office, especially for those owners who have not submitted the stage of identifying the land. The exploitation of UAV photogrammetric measurements come in support of specialists carrying out systematic cadastre works, especially in the context of the low price per building imposed by the National Agency of Cadastre and Real Estate Advertising.

Xylo-oligosaccharides are sugar oligomers with 2~7 xylose units considered non-digestible fibers that can be produced from biodegradable and low-cost biomass like wheat straw. An integrated approach consisting of hydrothermal pretreatment, alkaline treatment, enzymatic treatment and the combinations thereof was applied to overcome the recalcitrance structure of the wheat straw and allow selective fractioning into fermentable sugars and xylo-oligosaccharides. The hydrolysates and processed solids were chemically characterized by High-performance liquid chromatography and Ion chromatography, and the results were expressed as function of the severity factor and statistically interpreted. The concentration of fermentable sugars (glucose, xylose, arabinose) was the highest after the combination of alkaline and enzymatic treatment with xylanase (18 g/L sugars), while xylo-oligosaccharides (xylotriose and xylotetraose) were released in lower amounts (1.33 g/L) after the same treatment. Refining experiments were carried out to obtain a purified fraction by using anion and cation exchange chromatography. The polymer adsorber resin MN-502 showed efficient removal of salts, phenols and furan derivatives. However, the xylo-oligosaccharides yields were also slightly reduced. Although still requiring further optimization of the treatments to obtain higher purified oligomer yields, the results provide information on the production of xylo-oligosaccharides and fermentable sugars from wheat straw for potential use in food applications.

During biodiesel production, massive amounts of raw glycerol are created generating an environmental issue and the same time an increase of biodiesel production cost at the same time. This raw glycerol could be converted by specific strains into value-added products, like 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD), an important monomer used in the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters. The present work is based on recent scientific articles and experimental studies on the targeted topic, namely on the use of bacterial strains for bioconversion of biodiesel-derived glycerol into valuable products, like 1,3-PD. Concentrations, yields and productivity of 1,3-PD are presented for various bacterial strains. Important results as respects the microbial bioconversion of biodiesel-derived glycerol into 1,3-PD were registered for strains like Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus diolivorans. From this study can be concluded that waste glycerol may be used as a nutrient source for microbial development and the production of 1,3-propanediol with high concentrations and yields.

The comparison of the antioxidant activity of the studied seeds of fiber crop (hemp and flax) emphasized a hierarchy of antioxidant capacity. The purpose of the study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) and hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) in powder form. In this study, the FT-IR technique was utilized in order to detect molecular components in analyzed samples. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated with photochemical assay as well as humidity, protein, fiber, lipid and carbohydrate content. The FT-IR results reveal the presence of different bio-active compounds in hemp such as flavonoids, tannins, sugars, acids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids and citric metabolites. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in flax seeds, 18.32 ± 0.98, in comparison with hemp seeds, 4 ± 0.71 (μg/mg dry weight equivalent ascorbic acid). Regarding nutritional parameters, flax seeds showed the most increased content of protein, displaying average values of 534.08 ± 3.08, as well as 42.20 ± 0.89 of lipids and 27.30 ± 0.89 of fiber (g/100 g/sample). Hemp seeds showed the highest protein content of 33 ± 1.24 (g/100 g/sample).

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in patients with overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Herein, we investigated the relationship between vitamin D status and overweight/obesity status, insulin resistance (IR), systemic inflammation as well as oxidative stress (OS). Anthropometric and laboratory assessments of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and glycemic, pro-inflammatory and OS biomarkers were performed in a sample of 47 patients with T2DM who were divided into categories based on overweight and degree of obesity. The main findings were: the overweight/obesity status correlated negatively with the degree of serum 25(OH)D deficiency (ρ = −0.27) with a trend towards statistical significance (p = 0.069); the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was significantly different (p = 0.024) in patients with 25(OH)D deficiency, as was total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with severe serum 25(OH)D deficiency as compared to those with 25(OH)D over 20 ng/mL (TOS: p = 0.007, OSI: p = 0.008); and 25(OH)D had a negative indirect effect on TOS by body mass index (BMI), but BMI was not a significant mediator of the studied relationship. In a setting of overweight and increasing degree of obesity, patients with T2DM did not display decreasing values of 25(OH)D. Subjects with the lowest values of 25(OH)D presented the highest values of BMI. Patients with 25(OH)D deficiency were more insulin resistant and showed increased OS but no elevated systemic inflammation. The negative effect of 25(OH)D on TOS did not seem to involve BMI as a mediator.

Background and Objective: In obese patients, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has shown mixed results on bile acid (BA) values. The aim of our study was to examine the potential ultra-early and early changes of the circulating total BA in relation with the changes of insulin resistance (IR) in obese patients submitted to laparoscopic SG. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four obese subjects were investigated for body mass index (BMI), total fasting BA, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and leptin before and at 7 and 30 d after SG. Results: After surgery, mean BMI decreased at the first (p < 0.001) and at the second time point (p < 0.001) relative to baseline. Total fasting BA values did not change significantly at 7 d (p = 0.938) and at 30 d (p = 0.289) after SG. No significant changes were found at 7 d (p = 0.194, p = 0.34) and 30 d (p = 0.329, p = 0.151) after surgery regarding fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, respectively. However, a trend of increased total fasting BA and decreased fasting insulin and HOMA- after laparoscopic SG has been found. Negative correlations between total fasting BA and insulin (r = −0.807, p = 0.009), HOMA-IR (r = −0.855, p = 0.014), and blood glucose (r = −0.761, p = 0.047), respectively, were observed at one month after SG. Conclusion: In conclusion, here, we found a lack of significant changes in total fasting BA, insulin, and HOMA-IR ultra-early and early after SG, which precluded us to consider a possible relation between the variations of BA and IR. However, the presence of the tendency for total fasting BA to increase and for insulin and HOMA-IR to decrease, as well as of the negative correlations one month after laparoscopic SG, suggest that this surgery brings about some changes that point towards the existence, and possibly towards the restoration, at least to some extent, of the link between BA and glucose metabolism.

Obesity per se carries the features of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that interrelate in a complex network and exert an important role in the onset of several complications such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. On the other hand, it seems that hyperglycemia per se as well as insulin resistance (independent of hyperglycemia), both induce increased oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to analyze proinflammatory and oxidative stress markers in obese patients with and without type 2 diabetes and to verify the hypothesis that type 2 diabetes associated with obesity would promote a higher chronic inflammation and oxidative stress state as compared to obesity alone. We found no differences between the two groups of patients regarding chronic inflammation and oxidative stress markers. Therefore we may conclude that there is no influence of type 2 diabetes on chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in obese patients.

Metabolically heathy obesity is characterised by the presence of obesity in the absence of metabolic disturbances. The aim of our study was to analyse pro-inflammatory, nitro-oxidative stress, and insulin-resistance (IR) markers in metabolically healthy morbidly obese (MHMO) with respect to metabolically unhealthy morbidly obese (MUHMO) with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to identify the potential predictors of MS in the MHMO group. Two groups of MHMO and MUHMO with MS were analysed. We evaluated serum high sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), chemerin, nitrite and nitrate (NOx), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant response (TAR), fasting blood glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR.) MHMO have similar hsCRP and TNF-α values as the MUHMO with MS, while chemerin was significantly lower in MHMO. NOx was higher in MUHMO with MS patients, while no difference regarding TOS and TAR was found between the two groups. HOMA-IR and insulin values were lower in MHMO as compared to the MUHMO with MS group. Insulin, HOMA-IR, and chemerin were identified predictors of MS in MHMO. In conclusion, MHMO and MUHMO display similarities and differences in terms of chronic inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress, and IR. Markers of IR and chemerin are possible predictors of MS in MHMO.