Search

Performance and success of energy geostructures systems are already facts proven by research and practice. The number of implementations is in constant grow and due to their advantages, such systems have started to be implemented in a variety of structural elements. Among the various types, energy piles are the most common type of energy geostructures. However, most of the existing research, experimental sites and case studies refer to energy piles as a foundation element. This paper presents the concept and implementation steps of a different type of energy piles system which is a retaining wall of piles built in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The paper is based on a real project case study, where large diameter piles are used as retaining wall for an urban excavation on a steep slope with high slope failure potential. The piles from the retaining system have been energy equipped in order to be used as an energy exchange element with the ground for heating and cooling demand of 3 new residential buildings from the same site. The paper will present the concept of an urban energy retaining wall and implementation stages of the project.

Caloric restriction (CR) has long been known to increase median and maximal lifespan and to decreases mortality and morbidity in short-lived animal models, likely by altering fundamental biological processes that regulate aging and longevity. In rodents, CR was reported to delay the aging of the immune system (immune senescence), which is believed to be largely responsible for a dramatic increase in age-related susceptibility to infectious diseases. However, it is unclear whether CR can exert similar effects in long-lived organisms. In rodents subjected to CR, the onset of age-related pathology is delayed and its frequency is reduced. The mechanism by which simple under-nutrition exerts these beneficial effects is not understood. One of the major age-related pathological aspects refers to the regress of cognitive functions and it is currently believed that CR might delay or even cancel the onset of such disturbances. A modality to assess the cognitive is through using one or more mazes (swimming T-maze, radial maze). In our study, spanned over 6 week's period, we used 23 Wistar rats subjected to different levels of calorie intake (ad libitum, 100%, 75% and 25% of normal calorie intake). The rats subjected to different levels of CR were more successfully (statistically significant) at completing the tasks given by the types of mazes employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calorie Restriction (CR) is a diet in which calorie intake is reduced, also defined as under-nutrition without malnutrition. In this experiment we used two levels of calorie restriction: 25% and 40% of calorie intake reduction than normal. We used 24 male Wistar rats, divided in 4 groups: ad libitum fed, 100% of normal calorie intake, 75% and 60% of normal calorie intake, for a period of 30 days. After harvesting the blood samples and hematological and biochemical analisys of the blood, we statistically interpreted them by calculating the mean, standard deviation, standard eror of the mean and "t' test (Student). After the statistical interpretation of the result, we concluded that acute mild and moderate CR did not have any negative effects on hematological and biochemical parameters comprised in this study. Moreover, it suggests beneficial effects regarding the fat and glucose metabolisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth dynamics of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), superior to other salmonids species, led to the exploitation of this species in the most countries of the world. The individuals of this species, depend on many factors, like environment, nutrition and genetics. In this study, authors have followed over 540 days, the evolution of body mass and average daily gain at the specimens of rainbow trout from Fiad-Telcisor salmonids complex, Bistrita-Nasaud county, from the larval stage and up to the stage of trout for consumption with an average weight of 250 gr. These studies are necessary to prepare a strategy on fisheries production planning, depending on market demand of these products and eliminating additional costs due to over production. Fish and fish products always represented a staple food in human nutrition. The aquatic resources of continental and oceanic natural waters, have permanently assured the humanity's food needs, but today, on the conditions of the demographic boom, may be destroyed the ecosystems balance, on the strenght of irrational exploitation of their (Svennevig & co., 2000). For this reason, specialists' attention bound for aquaculture, field of the last years a real progress (Goldburg & Naylor, 2005). On this economic stage, a fierce commercial competition and significantly reduction of the market price, involving development and alignment a new concept of strategy, to decrease the production price. For this, aquaculture producers focus their efforts to obtain high yields at a high quality level and in conditions of maximum efficiency. A common situation on the fish market in Romania, is to sell products. Lack of strategy on the relationship between production capacity of fish farms and marketing opportunities of these products, lead to the accumulation of hardly marketable stocks which involving additional financial burden (Popescu, 2009). To avoid such situations, are requested market studies and research on the possibilities to obtain rhytmic and constant productions. They involve serious knowledge about factors which influence the physiology of fish growth (Cocan & co., 2009). In Romania, but also in many other countries around the world, salmonid species predominantly found in farms are rainbow trouts (Oncorhynchus mykiss). It is successfully exploited, due to its plasticity and resistance to changes in environmental conditions and diseases, and due to efficient conversion of feed (Cocan, 2008). There have been numerous studies on the factors that influence the growth of rainbow trout, including: growth density, environmental conditions, water quality, the rate of removal of water or operating system adopted (North & co., 2006; Roque d'Orbcastel & co., 2009; Sørensen & co., 2005; Matthews & co., 1997; Clark, 2003). Leatherland (1993), has conducted studies on interaction between plasma growth hormone, thyroid hormones and cortisol concentrations in rainbow trout, depending on the density of growth (150 kg/m³, respectively 60 kg/m³). The results demonstrated that to a high density, the growth rate drops significantly, due to high concentration of cortisol, but also due to restricted diet because of the high density. Because are poikilotherms, trouts shows changes of behavior and some physiological parameters according to season (Gallardo, 1997). Temperature is one of the abiotic factors with a major influence on the development of metabolic processes. Farming system adopted are also greatly influence on the growth dynamics of rainbow trout, each showing the advantages and disadvantages. Recirculating systems (RAS) providing optimal growth conditions, medial parameters being monitored continuously (Sirakov & Ivancheva, 2008), but inefficient water filtration systems can affect meat quality (Rønsholdt & McLean, 1999), or may give rise to health problems (Svobodova & co., 2005). Classical breeding systems are often at risk of contamination by polluted waters (Moogonei & co., 2010), and environmental conditions can not be controlled. In this study, authors have monitored the growth dynamics, body mass evolution and average daily growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), from Fiad-Telci or salmond complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aims to evaluate, by a hematological point of view, the consequences (biocompatibility) of-subcutaneous implantation of some dental composites (Ivoclar, Noritake, Vita, Vitadur) special prepared for this purpose, on blood cells (RBC, WBC and PLT). The experiment was conducted on 45 healthy Wistar adult rats, randomly and equally distributed in 9 groups of 5 animals per group. The implantation of dental composites was made subcutaneously, in the dorso-thoracic region of the rats. Subsequently, the rats were observed during the experiment (10 weeks) for any clinical (local or general), pathological and hematological reactions. The results obtained did not show any clinical or pathological effects, neither locally or even less systemic. As for hematological parameters investigated, the values obtained in experimental groups comparatively with the reference one did not show, with a very few exceptions, statistically significant differences, which indicate a possible pathogen effect of the studied dental composites on the bone marrow hematopoietic centers, or on the cellular components of blood, whether it's red, white blood cells or platelets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment is a biocompatibility study performed on Wistar rats. The goal of this experiment was to evaluate the physiological and pathological effects of some human dental materials implanted subcutaneous in Wistar rats. Were measured the serum levels of some biochemical constituents, such as enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, PAL, GGT), proteins (total serum proteins, albumins, globulins and A/G ratio) and minerals (Ca2+, Mg2+), which could provide some information on the tissues responses to implantation of these dental composites (Ivoclar, Noritake, Vita, Vitadur). The experiment was performed on 45 healthy Wistar adult rats, females, randomly and equally distributed in 9 groups, each of them containing five animals. The dental materials were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region of the rat's thorax. Subsequently, the animals were observed during the whole period of the experiment (10 weeks), from the clinical (local or general), pathological and serum biochemical changes point of view. The clinical evaluation didn't show any hannful effects on the animals. Concerning the biochemical parameters investigated, the variations recorded in the inoculated animals groups comparatively with the reference group didn't show, except some isolated cases, significant statistically differences, which could suggest a pathogen effect of the studied materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researches were made between February and May 2009 within the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. A number of 6 B. bronchiseptica free adolescent female Wistar rats were infected intranazally with a field isolate of B. bronchiseptica isolated from a pneumonic pig and the same B. bronchiseptica strain was ultrasound disintegrated for the preparation of the acellular vaccine. Three rats were subcutaneously vaccinated in days 14 and 28 after infection and in day 60 after infection all rats were euthanized through atlo-occipital dislocation under ethylic ether anaesthezia. Blood samples, lung and trachea portions were collected for bacteriological and serological tests. Clinical observations, serological and bacteriological findings showed a good protection given by the vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was made during October 2008- February 2009 within a farm from Cluj County, on 20 cattle presenting or not clinical ringworm lesions. The determination of the parameters was realized within the Immunology and Psychophysiology departments of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. We obtained an increase of the total leucocytes number during the infection that confirmed the existence of an immune response from the organism in order to limitate the cutaneous lesions gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypericum perforatum or St. John's wort is a medicinal plant with a long history of use in traditional medicine all over. Because of both Romanian and European Pharmacopoeia accept as officinal only H perforatum L, the aim of the present study is to compare the botanical and physiochemical characteristics of the H. perforatum and H. maculatum. The experiment was carried out on 40 white NMRI male mice, for 14 days long; each animal received 106 ascitic cells i.p., in the first day. Animals were divided in four equal experimental groups, First group (HM) received daily 500 mg/kg b.w. H maculatum, the second group (HP) 500 mg/kg b.w. H perforatum, the control group alcohol 70°, and the last group Doxorubicin 0.1 mg/animal in day 6 of experiment. The body weight varied in insignificant manner, however HM, seems to provided some protective effect as compared to control and even to D group. The viable cell concentration of EAC, as expected, was the lowest in D group (highly statistical significant), followed by HM, HP was less effective. The average life span was higher in D group, but HM seems to provide also some protective effect, however the survival rate varied insignificant among the groups in study. HM provides some protection against hematological side effects of EAC, mainly at MCH and MCHC levels. In conclusion, both extracts provides some promising antiproliferative effects, despite the fact that not all experimental data are statistically covered, therefore future research should be done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peucedanum oreoselinum L. Moench, (fam. Apiaceae), belongs to a large group of medicinal plants, spread around the world, used for wide range therapeutic purposes. The aerial part (Herba) was collected, from a couple of areas of Transylvania; the compounds were initially identified by chromatography, and then measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Latter a tincture 1:5 in ethylic alcohol 50°was made. After the toxicity tests, the experiment was carried out for 10 days, on 20 white Swiss male mice, each animal received, intraperitoneally 106 cells from Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma, in the first day. Experimental group received daily 0.1 ml P. oreoselinum 1:5 in ethylic alcohol 50° while control group 0.1 ml alcohol 50°. Total amount of ascitic fluid was measured, and viable tumour cell concentration was counted, production of tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was used to evaluate the plasma lipid peroxides levels. HPLC analysis revealed a significant content of phenols, flavonoids and coumarins, strongly related to the place of harvesting. Acute toxicity tests revealed no signs of toxicity. Ascitic Ehrlich carcinoma model provided no significant antiproliferative activity (even the ascitic volume and tumour cell concentration is lower in treated animals as compared to control, it was not statically covered), but P. oreoselinum therapy had an important antioxidant effect (p<0.05), treated animals shown lower TBARS levels (2.4±33 nmol/1) as compared to control group (6.1±1.54 nmol/1). Therefore, P. oreoselinum might be a useful tool in palliative cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]