Search

This systematic review examines groundbreaking advancements in hand rehabilitation, driven by significant progress in medical technology. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, the review surveyed articles from various databases, emphasizing the utilization of advanced technologies for hand rehabilitation across diverse conditions such as fractures, burns, amputations, and postoperative care. Out of the 1562 studies analyzed, ten articles that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Key technologies like IMES (Implantable Myoelectric Sensor) technology are scrutinized for their potential to transform prosthetic control, providing intuitive functionality and substantial physiological hand function for individuals with limb loss. Similarly, ad-vancements in orthotic devices like the VacoHand Orthosis are showcased for their improve-ments in stabilizing and aiding the healing process in wrist immobilization and rehabilitation. The integration of virtual reality (VR) emerges as a pivotal convergence point, offering sup-plementary therapy to enhance direction-specific improvements in wrist and forearm mobility, hand function, and work-related tasks. Additional advantages include program customization, heightened engagement through interactive approaches, and improved functional outcomes such as hand strength and range of motion. While showcasing transformative potential, the re-view acknowledges the need for further research through larger sample sizes, standardized methodologies and more in-depth investigations to optimize these technologies. Overall, this review underlines the remarkable advancements achieved in hand rehabilitation through technological innovations, offering hope and improved outcomes for individuals grappling with various hand-related challenges.

Introduction: Initially considered the “hidden victims” of the pandemic, children have come into the spotlight regarding the impact of COVID-19 since spring 2020. Against this background, a new entity of multisystemic hyperinflammatory syndrome in the pediatric population with manifestations that overlap with Kawasaki disease has become an increasing focus of attention. Objectives: The current study was intended to identify some indicators of the severity of pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2/multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children post-COVID-19 (PIMS-C/MIS-C) and factors predictive of its prognosis, paying attention to both already established factors (cardiac injury markers) and less used parameters (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) that could provide valuable information for predicting severe disease development. Materials and methods: This study was based on a descriptive observational analysis of a group of pediatric patients (0-18 years) in whom the following were identified: persistent fever, the presence of single/multiple-organ dysfunction, a significant biological inflammatory syndrome, a temporal association with SARS-CoV-2 infection (infection/exposure 2-6 weeks previously), and an absence of other conditions that could explain this pattern. Results: The patients who met the criteria for inclusion in the study during the analyzed period were children aged between 4 months and 17 years and 10 months, with a median age of 5 years (IQR, 3-8.75). All enrolled patients presented fever (with a maximum duration of 9 days) at admission, which was associated at varying rates with digestive, neurological, and skin-mucosal changes, and cardiac manifestations. Three main phenotypes of the condition were outlined (Kawasaki-like, shock-like, and a non-specific form). In the evaluated patients classified into the Kawasaki-like phenotype, higher median values of NLR but lower values of PLR were observed compared with those in the other forms of PIMS-C/MIS-C. Conclusions: The current study outlines the spectrum of PIMS-C/MIS-C while also emphasizing the importance of establishing certain correlations between biological markers and the evolution of the disease. The use of certain parameters easily obtained from the blood count (NLR, PLR) as well as determining their correlation with disease severity could offer new directions to treat this condition.

In the domain of the equipment and apparatus construction, a permanent preoccupation worldwide is ensuring technical performances and high fiability in exploitation. The users’ requirement growth in this field led to producing materials with high characteristics such as iron-nickel alloys having a high nickel content with special magnetic, thermal, or elastic properties. The theoretical and experimental researches had the aim of obtaining cold rolled strip, thin (2.6 mm) and narrow (86 mm) from iron-nickel alloys with 41% Ni (low content of C: 0.02-0.04%; Fe: 58%; other elements: Mn, Si, Cu, Cr, Al: under 1%). Our own experiments aimed to establish an optimal cold rolling technology of hot rolled strips of iron-nickel alloys, in order to obtain cold rolled strips with superior mechanical and technological characteristics, strip profile according to current standards, including a finished product characterization.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is a compressive mononeuropathy affecting approximately 3-6% of the adult population, having a strong physical, psychological, and economic impact on the patient. The high intensity electromagnetic field applied with Super Inductive System (SIS) therapy has effects on pain relief, myorelaxation or miostimulation. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical outcome of patients with CTS after SIS therapy. Material and method: An observational prospective study was conducted between 2021-2022 on a cohort of 56 patients admitted to the Balneal and Rehabilitation Techirghiol Sanatorium for 2 weeks, with specific symptoms of CTS. The patients underwent treatment for two weeks at the sanatorium, receiving three SIS therapy sessions per week with the BTL-6000 device, and also other daily physical therapies. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients who experienced pain and paresthesia before treatment and the proportion of patients who experienced the same symptoms after treatment p

Introduction. Fractures of the distal radius epiphysis are the most common fractures of the upper limb, present both in the general population active following major trauma and in the elderly population in minimal trauma due to osteoporosis. Among the adjuvant therapies for orthopedic treatment of distal radius epiphyseal fracture we can list Super Inductive System (SIS), a therapy based on the interaction between the electric field and the human body with the improvement of the healing process by acting on the pathophysiological stages of bone callus. Material and method. A clinical case study was performed on a 28-year-old patient, hospitalized and treated in the neurosurgery department of the Constanta County and Emergency Hospital for a polytrauma by road accident (passenger) with amyelotic cervical vertebral trauma, thoracic trauma and trauma to the right upper limb, subsequently performing 12 SIS therapy sessions at the Balneal and Rehabilitation Sanatorium of Techirghiol. CT examination of the cervical spine reveals fractures of C4 vertebra (the blade and pedicle) and C5 vertebra (vertebral body, lamina and pedicle). Right forearm radiography reveals fracture of the right radial styloid. After conservative treatment of the cervical injury and orthopedic treatment of the upper limb injury, the clinical evolution is favorable, allowing the patient to be discharged and allowed to do 12 sessions of SIS therapy, 3 times a week, within 4 weeks. The subsequent clinical and paraclinical evolution was favorable for the outpatient orthopedic ambulatory reevaluation performed at 5 weeks. Results and discussions. Due to the type of fracture of the radial distal epiphysis (linear fracture without displacement), absence of comorbidities and young age, led to the indication of orthopedic treatment with immobilization in the antebrachio-palmarcast, which allowed subsequent physiotherapy.

The case was found on an organic sample consisting of the two kidneys with the renal pedicles and the corresponding segments of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava. From the inferior face of the left renal vein, on the lower side of the aorta, a venous branch with an upward path of 8.02 mm was detached, passing on the anterior face of the aorta, passing before its right side, in order to end on the left side of the inferior vena cava, 13.9 mm above the end of the left renal vein in the inferior vena cava, this branch thus describing a periaortic ring (necklace), in which on the left side of the aorta the inferior adrenal vein ends. The periaortic ring (necklace) had a cross-sectional dimension of 3.2 mm and a vertical one of 1.7 cm. On the right side of the aorta, a 2.9 mm venous branch came out of the renal vein, ending on the left side of the inferior vena cava, 1.2 mm above the end of the left renal vein. At the level of the right kidney there were two renal arteries, superior and inferior. Between the two arteries there was an interval of 5.1 cm.

Introduction: Acute mesenteric ischemia represents one of the most severe pathological entity that needs rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment in order to reduce the mortality rate and the long-term morbidity. Material and method: A monocentric, retrospective study that included 68 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia with or without bowel infarction has been undertaken within the General Surgery Department of the “Sfântul Pantelimon” Clinical Emergency Hospital from Bucharest, Romania, between January 2014 and January 2019, a 2nd grade hospital, according to the provisions of the Order of the Ministry of Public Health no. 1764 of 22 December 2006 on the approval of criteria for the classifi cation of local, county and regional emergency hospitals in terms of competences, material and human resources and their capacity to provide emergency medical care and medical care for patients in critical condition, published in the Federal Law Gazette of Romania, Part I, no. 63 of 26 January 2007. Results and conclusions: Acute mesenteric ischemia is associated with poor outcomes, high morbidity and mortality rates, making the early diagnosis and treatment initiation imperative in order to prevent severe complications, such as transmural bowel infarction, and, thus, potentially decreasing the morbidity and mortality rates.

This study examines the influence of authentic leadership on employees from public organizations analyzed through self-determination theory. Over the years, researchers analyzed different particularities of authentic leadership and its importance in nowadays’ society. However, fewer researchers were interested in analyzing the influence of authentic leadership on employees through self-determination theory, especially in the perception of public ethical behavior. The theoretical model of this study proposes that authentic leadership is negatively correlated with public employees’ positive attitude toward unethical behavior, namely corrupt acts. Also, authentic leadership and job satisfaction are positively related with public employees’ work motivation. This positive relationship contributes to the decrease level of public employees’ positive attitude toward corruption acts. The study was realized in different public organizations from Republic of Moldova. The total sample is composed by 98 participants. The hypotheses were tested through Multiple Hierarchical Regression. The study results showed that authentic leadership has a positive impact on work motivation. However, job satisfaction does not have any influence on public employees’ perception of corruption acts. By contrast, authentic leadership behavior does have a positive impact on public employees’ perception of corruption acts, but only when they perceive these acts as less serious.

Rendezvous process of spacecrafts is one of major issues in study of aerospace engineering. Tracking control in Rendezvous process is very complex due to the need to fulfill the conditions and constraints to determine the control forces to bring Chaser toward Target. The paper will implement the control of the trajectory of the relative translation movement between Chaser and Target in the Closed-Rendezvous stage through two different approaches: the first using PID Controllers, and the second using the SDRE (State Dependent Riccati Equation) technique. Then based on obtained results, a comparison between two methods is carried out.

Introduction: The present study aims to determine the mean duration of the conservative management that can be tolerated by the patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to the postoperative peritoneal adhesions, in order to postpone the surgical intervention. Material and method: The data of the patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions were retrospectively collected and analysed. The number of readmissions, the type of the therapeutic management, the duration of the conservative treatment, the number of surgical reinterventions and the intraoperative aspect represented the studied variables. Results: 543 patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions, admitted in the Surgical Department of “Sfântul Pantelimon” Emergency Hospital from Bucharest, Romania, between January 2014 and July 2018, were enrolled in the study. 233 patients underwent conservative treatment, 310 patients being surgically treated. The mean interval necessary for the monitoring of the patients non- operatively treated was 7 days, within a range of 2 to 14 days. For the surgically treated cases, the mean monitoring interval was 5 days, within a range of 1 to 14 days. Among the patients that underwent surgical treatment, there were 276 cases of adhesiolysis, 31 cases of intestinal resection with anastomosis and 3 cases of intestinal resection with terminal ileo- or colostomy. Conclusion: Under strict monitoring, a signifi cant number of cases of intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative peritoneal adhesions can, successfully, be treated using conservative management, within 7-10 days.

Introduction: The presence of the peritoneal adhesions during surgery represents an element that can negatively influence the intra- and postoperative evolution of the patients. This article aims to evaluate the impact of the peritoneal adhesions on the postoperative recovery of the patients. Material and method: The data of 1407 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2014 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were organized into two groups: the case group, consisting of patients for whom peritoneal adhesions were identifi ed during the surgical intervention, and the control group, with patients that had no postoperative peritoneal adhesions. The degree of association between the presence of the peritoneal adhesions and the operative time, the risk of laparoscopic conversion to laparotomy and the risk of intra- or postoperative complications was analyzed. Results: For 537 patients (38.16%) included in the study postoperative peritoneal adhesions were identifi ed at the time of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A direct association was observed between the presence of postoperative peritoneal adhesions and the risk of conversion, a longer operative time or period of hospitalization and the risk of postoperative ileus. Conclusions: Postoperative peritoneal adhesions represent an independent risk factor for the increasing morbidity and mortality rates in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

In continuous casting it is very important that the cooling system is correctly dimensioned. Improper cooling conditions can reduce the quality of the finished product and cause perforations of the solidified crust. In order to be able to minimize the occurrence of defects, it is preferable that, under the conditions of a given cooling system, the temperature distribution in the steel wire be known. It is also necessary to know the thickness of the solidified crust, especially immediately below the crystallizer, because a thin crust at this level can be perforated due to the ferrostatic pressure of the steel. The knowledge of the thermal state of the steel in the continuous casting installation is necessary for the transposition on mathematical bases of the technological process and the elaboration of some models of simulation of the solidification, which would allow to optimize the operation of the afferent installations. By considering the convection motion can be explained the influence of electromagnetic agitation and deformation of the steel wire on the incompletely solidified area on the quality and structure of cast steels; convective currents reduce overheating, which leads to a decrease in columnar crystallization in favour of axial crystallization. By running the simulation program were determined the variation of the thermal flux at different levels in the tundish, as well as the evolution of the temperature at the surface of the continuously cast steel thread.

The continuous casting of the steel can cause cracks on the surface or inside, which arise due to thermal and mechanical stresses. To eliminate these defects, mathematical models are drawn up with which temperature fields, expansions and stresses can be determined. The purpose of making these models is to locate the areas with a high risk of cracking so that, finally, the continuous casting machines and working conditions can be modified, so as to eliminate, or at least diminish, the defects. The knowledge of the thermal state of the steel in the continuous casting machine is necessary for the transposition on mathematical bases of the technological process and the elaboration of some simulation models of the solidification, which would allow the optimization of the afferent plant. The proposed mathematical model takes into account - when studying the heat transfer phenomena in the tundish - the convective motion of the steel, which influences the thickness of the solidified crust and the evolution of the temperature in the section of the continuously cast steel thread. By running the simulation program were determined the variation of the thickness of the solidified crust as a function of time, overheating in the crystallizer and convection coefficient.

During the casting process, the crust of the steel wire is permanently subjected to thermo mechanical stresses (temperature variations, pulling, bending and straightening forces, ferrostatic pressure), which, when exceeding the deformation capacity of the crust, can lead to cracks. Therefore, it is necessary to know what kind of stresses act on the crust and how the steel behaves at high temperatures at certain process parameters (extraction speed, cooling intensity, etc.).

The normalizing of ferritic-pearlitic steels is a heat treatment, which consist of reheating into the austenite and subsequent air-cooling. For greater thickness, e.g. 100 mm, variations in the requirements may be permitted or required for particular applications but a reduction of the required impact energy is not allowed. The most important cote of the cost can be eliminated if the process normalizing rolling is applied.

The paper presents the stability analysis of the equilibria in a longitudinal flight of an unmanned aircraft with constant forward velocity. The motion of the aircraft is described using delay differential equations with constant delays, the delay being considered in flight control compartment. The goal is to study the effects of the delays for the stability of the equilibrium points. It is eventually proved that a Hopf bifurcation appears.

Background and Objectives: Knowledge of the internal carotid artery’s (ICA) morphometric features is influential in outlining surgical and minimally invasive procedures in the neurovascular field. Many studies have shown divisive numbers regarding the ICA’s caliber, with the measuring point of the artery sometimes differing. This study presents ICA dimensions based on computed tomography angiography in each of its seven segments as per Bouthillier’s classification, correlating vascular dimensions with anthropometric parameters. Materials and Methods: A thorough CT angiography analysis was performed on 70 patients with internal carotid vessels unaffected by atherosclerotic disease. The extracranial part of the ICA was measured in four locations—carotid bulb, post-bulbar dilation, at its cervical midpoint, and below its entrance into the carotid foramen. Single landmarks were used for measurements in the intracranial segments. ICA length was assessed in the neck region and also in the cranial cavity. Craniometric measurements were performed on sagittal and coronal CT reconstructions. Patient height was taken into consideration. Results: The largest ICA portion is near its origin in the carotid sinus area (7.59 ± 1.00 mm), with a steep decline in caliber following its extracranial course. Distal ICA presented values somewhat similar to its proximal intracranial segment diameters (4.67 ± 0.47 mm). Dimensions of the ICA in the intracranial segments start from a value of 4.53 ± 0.47 mm and decrease by approximately 40% when reaching the origin of the middle cerebral artery (2.71 ± 0.37 mm), showing a marked decrease in caliber after the emergence of the most critical collateral artery, the ophthalmic branch. The length of the ICA varies between genders, with the male ICA being about 10 mm longer in total length than female ICA; this difference is also correlated with patient height and skull dimensions. Conclusions: Both intra- and extracranial ICA have variable dimensions and length related to gender and anthropometric parameters, with no significant differences obtained concerning side or age.

(1) Background: The research aims to find new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease. (2) Methods: This article presents a bioinformatics and pathology study of new Schiff bases, (EZ)-N′-benzylidene-(2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanehydrazide derivatives, and aims to evaluate the drug-like, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmacogenomic properties, as well as to predict the binding to therapeutic targets by applying bioinformatics, cheminformatics and computational pharmacological methods. (3) Results: We obtained these Schiff bases by condensing (2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanehydrazide with aromatic aldehydes, using the advantages of microwave irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized spectrally, using FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed their structure. Using bioinformatics tools, we noticed that all new compounds are drug-likeness features and may be proposed as potentially neuropsychiatric drugs (4) Conclusions: Using bioinformatics tools, we determined that the new compound 1e had a high potential to be used as a good candidate in neurodegenerative disorders treatment.

This paper represents a brief though concentrated review on the common aspects that are pursued when dealing and talking about the concept of cluster, also displaying some motivating reasons for the companies, institutions and all related entities to choose and support the clustering process. The clusters represent geographical concentrations of companies that are interrelated, which have developed connections with other organizations, such as professional agencies, governmental agencies, research and development institutions and educational institutions. Possessing their feature of competences concentration poles, they nowadays represent key players on the international economic and competitiveness stage, promoting a series of objectives such as the development of industries, environmental technologies, the reduction of production costs and the most important, the enhancement of the cooperation between the business environment, universities, research and development institutions and governmental institutions.

This paper comes to describe the relation between two representative concepts within the wide literature in the field of regional development and cooperation. As many of concepts that are used in our times, the regional competitiveness and the regional convergence are two notions that have a transdisciplinary feature, a phenomenon that emphasizes the fact that the approaches in the literature are different and are the results of the researches in different field, though approaching the same two aspects. Regional competitiveness regards the ability of one region to compete and develop itself through the products and services it produces and provides, which are the ultimate result of the cooperation between the companies, institutions, socio-political policies within that region, while maintaining or developing the living standards of its population. On the other hand, regional convergence is the result of a series of policies and decisions made by a superior institution, that are designed to reduce the differences between the development level between the economic regions within a certain area.

The cluster type initiatives represent concentrated efforts for the improvement of well-being and competitiveness in a certain area, including companies, local administration, research and training societies. The new approaches regarding regional development raise the question – “Which is the role of clusters in regional development?”. The analyses of a cluster can support the diagnose of the threats and opportunities of an economic region and the identification of the measures one region can adopt in order to influence its economic future. The general thinking on clusters shows that these are essential to the economy and development. They create competitive advantages for their members, influence the structural changes, revive the industrial sectors and insure the needed framework for development, innovation and regional development. The objectives to be reached aim at the review of some studies regarding the relation between clusters and regions and the displaying of the clusters’ activities benefits on the regional development.

Global competition has evolved from the competition between companies to the competition between regions. In this context, clusters play an important role as competences’ concentration poles. The cluster initiatives represent concentrated efforts to increase the wealth and competitiveness in a certain region including companies, local administration, research and training institutions. This paper proposes the analysis of the European clusters’ role in ensuring the regional development. Resulted conclusions emphasize both the positive results of clusters’ existence, as well as the fields where improvements can be made in order to increase the clusters’ impact on the economic development.

In this paper, we aimed to exploit and combine in the same molecule the carbazole and the 1,3,4-oxadiazole pharmacophores, to obtain novel carprofen derivatives, by using two synthesis pathways. For the first route, the following steps have been followed: (i) (RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanonic acid (carprofen) treatment with methanol, yielding methyl (RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanoate; (ii) the resulted methylic ester was converted to (RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propane hydrazide (carprofen hydrazide) by treatment with hydrazine hydrate; (iii) reaction of the hydrazide derivative with acyl chlorides led to N-[(2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanoil]-N′-R-substituted-benzoylhydrazine formation, which; (iv) in reaction with phosphorus oxychloride gave the (RS)-1-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)-1-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)ethane derivatives. In the second synthesis pathway, new 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring compounds were obtained starting from carprofen which was reacted with isoniazid, in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride to form (RS)-1-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)-1-[5-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl]ethane. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, screened for their drug-like properties and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. The obtained compounds exhibited a good antimicrobial activity, some of the compounds being particularly active on E. coli, while others on C. albicans. The most significant result is represented by their exceptional anti-biofilm activity, particularly against the P. aeruginosa biofilm. The cytotoxicity assay revealed that at concentrations lower than 100 μg/mL, the tested compounds do not induce cytotoxicity and do not alter the mammalian cell cycle. The new synthesized compounds show good drug-like properties. The ADME-Tox profiles indicate a good oral absorption and average permeability through the blood brain barrier. However, further research is needed to reduce the predicted mutagenic potential and the hepatotoxicity.

The required profile of the cylinders is achieved by their proper correction after the change due to wear. In this paper I studied how the profile of the working cylinders can influence the profile of hot rolled steel strip.

Steel remains the most used material in the machinery industry, the construction of oil and gas pipelines, etc. Hot rolling is no longer a simple means of obtaining the final geometry of products in the steel industry, but in some way leading to the lamination process, it is possible to obtain a given structure which gives the rolled products the desired mechanical characteristics. In this paper we analyzed the technological parameters which influence the properties of the materials, the technological measures for obtaining the appearance and structure of the steels can be deduced.

This paper had as a starting point the broken down through explosion suffered by the coat of a cylinder made of cast iron. The cylinder coat material must provide the necessary resistance to dynamic and static stresses and, especially, to wear, taking into account the operation in particularly unfavorable friction conditions. Analyzes have been made on the quality of the material in terms of chemical composition and microstructural analysis. For comparison, the same investigations were carried out on samples taken from a cylinder coat with a good functioning (blank samples). This paper presents the analysis and conclusions regarding the chemical composition of the material from which the landmark chrome cylindrical coat was used for combustion engine, in order to determine the causes of its breakage and the excessive wear of the segments.

The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional quality of four botanical mixtures (AFC): AFC 1 (containing red corn, pumpkin pulp and marigold), AFC 2 (containing alfalfa meal, pumpkin pulp and marigold), AFC 3 (containing kale, alfalfa meal, marigold and spinach leaves), AFC 4 (containing buckthorn, red corn, pumpkin pulp and marigold), in terms of proximate analysis (crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash), amino acid (AA) profile, vitamin E concentration and lutein and zeaxanthin content, in order to determine the potential of AFCs as feed additives in laying hens nutrition. The crude protein content for the analysed botanical mixtures ranged between 9.07-18.18% DM, and crude fiber between 10.41-30.83% DM. The amino acid profile of the mixture AFC 4 revealed a content of limiting essential amino acids required for laying hens: lysine 5.719% CP, methionine 1.058% CP and threonine 4.415% CP. The highest content of lutein and zeaxanthin was found in the mixture AFC 4 (66.659 mg/100 g), which also had the highest amount of vitamin E (640.93 mg/kg). With regard to safety of the botanical mixtures, lead and cadmium concentrations were determined. Concentration of lead ranged from 0.28-0.75 µg/g DM and 0.06-0.09 µg/g DM for concentration of cadmium, which was within the legislation of maximal limits of EU regulations. It can be concluded that the botanical mixture AFC 4 had the highest concentration of lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin E, with an adequate content of essential amino acids. Furthermore, all four botanical mixtures had high amounts of xantophylls and should be tested in laying hens trials in order to establish their effects on lutein and zeaxanthin concentration in egg yolk.

This paper proposes an overview of the evolution in the automotive sector in the process of regional development. The fundamental changes made by the component supplier sector improved the regional development and manufacturing process. Automotive industry is one of the modern sectors in many countries that benefits of a high technology impact and creates jobs that reduces unemployment across Europe. The auto industry changed cities, regions and countries into poles of development and it becomes more and more efficient. The high foreign direct investments from the automotive sector play an important role in regional development process. Continuous changes are being made in the economy, society, and company; in conclusion the automotive clusters will always be a subject of analysis.

The paper presents experiments conducted with disruptor THOR-1, a new type of gas-dynamic device used to neutralize improvised explosive devices. Disruptor THOR-1 [1] was designed and practically built as a gas-dynamic device that propels jets using colloidal particulate blast.

The paper presents a type of recoilless disruptor developed according to the studies of two disruptors performance and shortcomings currently used DR2 and RICHMOND, respectively. In creating the new disruptor, there were kept some common elements of the two disruptors taken as models of operation (ex. dimensions from RICHMOND were used to design the new system of disruption).

The problems related to the protection of the environment are regarded especially as a result of the local pollution by the industry and agriculture or by the overcrowded areas, which have led to the disturbance of some ecosystems and to worse living conditions of people. The extensive use of chemical substances in the technological processes demands special measures concerning the protection of the environment. A major problem is the purification of industrial waste water.

Regarding the reduction of the carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere, this paper is going to present a system of propulsion with compressed air used for medium-sized commercial vessels. In the transport domain, Romania holds a key position at the eastern border of the European Union, a transit area, both in the east-west direction (connection with Asia via the Black Sea), and north-south (from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea). Three of the priority axes TEN-T cross the territory of Romania. We believe that using compressed air instead of fossil fuels will also determine a fuel economy of approximately 42% leading to the improvement of the companies finances which use these systems.

This study presents a possibility to predict the connection between the cooling regime and the properties of steel. An important factor to enhance the properties of steel is the speed of the cooling regime. To be in accordance with the experimental results, this study considered a correlation between the speed of cooling for laminated steel with a low carbon content and other properties of steel. It is important to choose the optimal cooling regime because the steel was laminated at high temperature.

The study of ballistic phenomena (interior ballistics, exterior ballistics and terminal ballistics) is an activity that involves the use of complex and at the same time very expensive equipment. Also, another aspect worth taking into account is the existence of risks when it comes to investigating the phenomena in this area. The use of numerical methods for making the pre-digital tests can be seen as a logical and inexpensive approach. Furthermore, besides these advantages, the simulations of various ballistic phenomena allow for an otherwise impossible observation of different sizes and details regarding the polygon tests. In the case studied in this paper, the numerical modelling of the phenomenon of the charge of water propulsion allows for, as an example, the average speed evaluation of the whole amount of water, while in the case of polygon tests only the speed of peak flow value may be shown. This paper is a numerical study on disrupting agent propulsion (internal ballistics), the speed water flow development and its distribution within the flow (the balancing kickback agent) being observed.

Recently, in 2005, a new method for monitoring the rheological properties of the dough on the entire technological process of bread making became available through Mixolab at an international level. This laboratory equipment has amazing possibilities for the research and development, enabling a complex analysis of flour. It allows the analysis of flour proteins quality (water absorption, stability, elasticity, weakening), the analysis of starch behaviour (gelatinisation, gelatinisation temperature, the modification of its consistency on additives addition) and the analysis of enzymatic activities (proteolytic, amylolytic). The objective of this study is to establish a relation between the alveograph, Falling Number, and Mixolab values. Sixty flours, collected around the Romanian country, were analysed simultaneously on alveograph (standard protocol), for the Falling Number, and on Mixolab ("Simulator" and the standard option "Chopin+" protocol). A selection of principal factors based on the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied which allowed the building of an efficient predictive model for each parameter. There were significant correlations between most of the Alveograph parameters: maximum pressure (P), deformation energy (W), extensibility (L), alveograph ratio (P/L) and Simulator Mixolab stability. Using the Mixolab standard option "Chopin+" protocol a close association was found between some Mixolab parameters: stability and protein weakening (C2, difference of the points C1-C2 abbreviated C12) and the alveograph values (P, W). From the point of view of the correlations established with the Falling Number index, very good results were obtained with the parameters obtained with Mixolab that measures starch gelatinisation (C3, difference of the points C3-C2 abbreviated C32), amylolytic activity (C4, difference of the points C3-C4 abbreviated C34), and starch gelling (C5, difference of the points C5-C4 abbreviated C54).

Improving the safety and health at work is important not only in terms of human view, in order to reduce possibilities of accident to workers, but also as a way to ensure the success and durability work for a worker in drilling for methane gas. Although considerable effort is undertaken, the number of working accidents and occupational diseases remains high. The cost that these involve for the society, businesses and individuals is high. Accidents at work can have a major financial impact. Some costs are evident, for example loss of production and revenue, or the number of working days lost by taking medical leave. This loss can be expressed easily in financial terms.

In hospitals crisis conditions, in Romania, it is necessary along with the implementation of a correctly medical act, applied to patients and security measures relating to the employment for staff involved. The work shall be reviewed at all risks to which complexity is exposed a medical assistant when practicing in a hospital emergency department in infectious diseases. Assessment of the risk of workplace division of infectious diseases, for workers involves analysis of all factors and conditions in accordance with their respective internal rules and European ones.

Neutralizing improvised explosive devices (handmade) by mechanical separation of the elements which are part of their composition can be achieved by the following methods: - generation of shock waves by means of the impact method between a projectile or a jet formed from diverse disrupting backgrounds and the improvised explosive device. It is known that after impact we must have at the interface projectile (jet)–target the same pressure and material speed; they characterize the equilibrium that is established at the interface; - generation of shock waves by detonating explosives placed in direct contact with parts subject to shock. This method is destructive and it must take into account the combined effects of explosive load that we want to neutralize and cargo of explosives used in neutralization; it can be used only in special places which can provide a range of effective safety; - generation of shock waves using lasers; at this stage, this method is only used in laboratories through fundamental research. The most used method for neutralization of an improvised explosive device is the first one. The neutralization systems (gas-dynamics systems) that propel the kinetic projectiles using explosives are used to transmit large shocks to various inert or reactive targets. These shocks have a significant impact on the targets, transmit changes in state and kinematic parameters, leading to either dismantling of targets or initiating explosive charges receivers. Initiating the explosive to the receiver detonation devices that can be parts of improvised explosive devices happens because the incident shock wave has exceeded the critical threshold of initiation. The initiation of detonation is, generally, an undesirable event, as explosive charge mass, although part of it, may not make it possible to take appropriate safety distances and thus material damage and human injury can be induced. Given the complexity of improvised explosive devices, the impossibility of knowing the exact explosive charges and the initiation ones in their composition, we cannot say that there existsa neutralizing thruster jet to meet all technical requirements specified above. In an attempt to simplify and systematize the study, we are going to present a summary classification of explosive jet engines means, capable of being used to neutralize improvised explosive devices.

Coupling the continuous casting installations with the rolling ones is a modern process that brings considerable economic benefits. During the continuous casting process of steel slabs, necessary technological conditions must be met in order to obtain some semi-finished products with minimum probability of defect appearance, under the conditions of a maximum amount of heat conservation in development without negatively affecting the productivity of the continuous casting machine.

This paper presents the characterization, from the materials science point of view, of an object found in an archaeological vestige of the 14th century. The object studied (an iron nail used in constructions) proves that the inhabitants of those lands were very good craftsmen, capable of performing useful products for everyday life, who worked with precision, ingenuity and ability. The analysis of the archaeological relic led to the conclusion that plastic deformation was achieved by successive cycles of hammering (driving) applied after repeated heating meant to enable the material to regain its deformability so that, through low repeated deformation, it could finally reach the requested shape. The process is revealed by microstructural analysis and by the value obtained for hardness.

Most work place risks are spatially and temporally determined, so a critical early need is to establish the risk of what (is happening) to whom (which part of the environment is affected), where (location) and when (in time). Environmental factors that can be damaged are: soil, water, air, noise, biodiversity, landscape and human settlement. Formulating the problem in clear and unambiguous terms will assist in selecting the level and types of assessment methodology used and will improve, in the context of sustainable development, the risk management decision.

Worldwide, the series of attacks "with bomb" are the most common, accounting for over 80% of terrorist attacks. The many constructive solutions of Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D), would require for defusing sequence at least as many variations of cancellation. To anticipate in a shorter time (intervention time) the manner in which an explosive device was made (possibly, up to several months) is another factor leading to the adoption of a uniform neutralization solution by mechanical disruption (mechanical separation of the constituent elements of a hand made explosive device, using different agents of disruption). In this paper, we analyzed the possibility to improve performance of a neutralizing gas dynamics system.

During the metallurgical processes of iron and steel elaboration, besides the basic products, it results a serious of secondary products (wastes) in high quantities but with a high recycle – recovery potential, and their reintroduction in the economic circuits. In this paper, we are going to refer strictly to the working and the recovery of the blast furnace slags, respectively to LD converter slags, without insisting on the formation mechanism and slag reactions.

The loading zone furnace is the place where we find work belt conveyors, vibrating screens and feeders, 5-ton hoist, cyclone, scale hoppers, troughs for routing and carriage of waste materials. The work consists in storing the sorts of raw materials and of used coke and in delivering them to the furnace load recipes.