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Considering the huge economic and social disparities between urban and rural areas of Romania, it is important to investigate the local community perception on the perceived impact of the rural development strategies, provided that local strategies should be developed based on citizens’ needs. The study represents a first step towards a more complex research to evaluate the degree of satisfaction and wellbeing of the rural communities from Cluj County, following the implementation of the rural development programs. The research was conducted on the basis of primary data obtained from citizens of Cuzdrioara, a commune from Cluj County which represents a particular case, as its position allows the direct connection to national roads. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were performed for comparisons of proportions, while Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal Wallis test were used for the comparisons of scale scores between respondents. Through the objectives of the Local Development Strategy, Cuzdrioara commune aims to improve the way of life of the inhabitants by achieving the objectives proposed in the strategy. Many projects have been completed, being positively assessed by the citizens. The public administration fulfilled the objectives established in the Local Development Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show, based on the latest studies in poeciliid fish and other fish species, how sex chromosomes appear, how they evolve and how they are supposed to end. Sex chromosomes originate from autosomes. Initially, the first differentiation appears in the form of minor genes specific to the male and female sex, scattered randomly along the length of the future sex chromosomes. Their abundance or frequency will influence the differentiation of the organism to one sex or the other. These minor genes tend to be concentrated in regions that are not predisposed to recombination through crossing-over, forming a major gene, more precisely the sex-determining locus. In this region, where genetic recombination is restricted, sexually antagonistic genes tend to accumulate. Such linkage of sexually antagonistic genes to the sex-determining locus will further promote the restriction of genetic recombination, rendering most of the sex chromosomes unable to recombine through crossing-over. The lack of genetic recombination will further promote the accumulation of non-functional DNA sequences and to the degeneration of the non-recombinant sex chromosome region. Sometimes, the decay affects the whole chromosome and the system is aborted. Therefore, some systems of sex determination have in the case of individuals of one sex, with a chromosome less than in the case of the opposite sex. In other cases, the obsolete sex-determining system is replaced by a new one, from a new pair of autosomes. We may conclude that emergence, evolution and replacement of sex chromosomes in fish is a cyclical process, which happens faster than we believed. Although mutations occur randomly, the evolution of sex chromosomes is directly correlated with the species history and ecological context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses two types of rabbit breeding considered by the authors to be in line with the ethological welfare requirements of the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The two farming variants we propose are: the classic system, criticized by many, but which ensures the minimum comfort to all individuals, and the free range system, or in landscaped spaces which effectively simulate the natural habitat. This last option obliges the farmer to provide the rabbits with a minimum of conditions. Otherwise, comfort will benefit only a small part of the rabbit herd, and the economic damages can be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic food consumption has increased during the last years as a consequence of its direct impact on consumer health, life style, and social convenience as well as on the environment and sustainable development. Compared to the European level, the consumption of organic food products is quite low in Romania. This paper investigates the perception and attitudes of the organic food consumers from the North-West Development Region of Romania. Consumers’ perception towards organic food products was measured using 30 items. The data were collected from 568 respondents and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. A factor-cluster approach was used to identify consumer groups. The findings indicated that health concerns, sensory appeal, sustainable consumption and weight concerns are the main reasons for consuming organic food products. Three main groups of organic food consumers were identified: “gourmand”, “environmentally concerned” and “health concerned”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there were many attempts of the local breeders to create a first Romanian Rabbit breed during the last century, they failed to finish it. Before the 2000's Romania had no certified rabbit breed. All three rabbit breeds produced and certified in Romania so far have been recently created and consolidated: the Transylvanian Giant Rabbit, the Rabbit of Cluj, and the Szekler Rabbit. These three breeds were certified by the National Livestock Production Agency in 2016 and, having in view the present EU legislation, it is debatable if the forms of "homologation" according to the old Romanian legislation are necessary as long as the term "breed homologation" does not exist in the EU legislation. The previous experiences of livestock conservation showed us that large number of breeds and relatively low numbers of breeders can produce populational bottleneck in some breeds, followed by decline and extinction. Therefore, in our opinion three native rabbit breeds are enough for the Romanian rabbit breeders carrying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is a multi-faced activity that links the economic, social and environmental components of sustainability. This research analyzes rural residents' perceptions of the impact of tourism development and examines the factors that influence the support for sustainable tourism development in the region of Nord-Vest in Romania. Residents' perceptions towards tourism development were measured using 22 items, while their support for tourism development was determined using 8 items. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Principal component analysis grouped the first 22 variables into 4 factors, and the following 8 variables into 2 factors (sustainable development, destination development). Findings indicate that residents see tourism as a development factor. The natural, economic, and social-cultural environment as well as infrastructure, age, gender and education are factors that influence the sustainable development of tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]