Institutul de Cercetari Electrotehnice

The Arieș River, in the Apuseni Mountains of Romania, has been historically impacted by gold mining, resulting in elevated concentrations of metal trace elements. This study assessed the river’s ecological status between 2022 and 2024 by integrating physico-chemical parameters at four sites and diatom-based bioindicators at the same sites in 2024 across monitoring sectors. Key results showed strong mining influence downstream of Baia de Arieș, with episodic acidification (pH down to 5.7), elevated conductivity (>400 μS/cm), and notable exceedances in metal trace elements, particularly Cu (up to 237 μg/L) and Cd (up to 4.18 μg/L). Analysis showed a dominance of α-mesosaprobic taxa (e.g., Amphora ovalis, Navicula cryptocephala, Nitzschia inconspicua), including teratological forms, at polluted sites, while sensitive species persisted upstream. Multivariate analyses indicated that metal trace elements and nutrients are the main drivers of chemical and biological patterns. These findings highlight diatoms as sensitive bioindicators of mining-related impacts. Incorporating diatom-based monitoring into management strategies can support early detection of pollution and more effective protection of freshwater ecosystems.

Preeclampsia is a common pregnancy complication that may threaten the health of pregnant women and their fetuses. Intrauterine growth restriction is the most serious complication in fetal development observed in preeclampsia. In their later years, women with preeclampsia are at risk of cardiovascular disease. The use of multiple biomarkers can usually improve diagnostic performance. Currently, S100A8 and S100A9 are gaining increased attention as inflammatory markers of preeclampsia. Our review aims to present an integrated view of the potential role of S100A8/A9 in the physiopathology of preeclampsia. We also explored the potential role as biomarker or in targeted treatment. At the moment, there is no efficient treatment for PE other than birth. Understanding the pathological mechanisms and the importance of calprotectin can shape a new strategy for large-scale approaches to change diagnostic and therapeutic management. The value of the calcium binding proteins S100A8/A9 as a potential prognostic biomarker in placental disfunctions based on malperfusion has not yet been investigated. Encouraging results have been obtained in experimental and clinical interventional studies with S100A8/A9 blockers as a form of therapeutic management for autoimmune disease and cancer. It may also be limited because of safety issues for the fetus. However, future investigations can emerge.

Involuntary urinary leakage due to stress urinary incontinence in women represents a widespread health condition that reduces quality of life. Background: Treatment with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) remains the most used procedure, although its impact on quality of life, specifically regarding sexual function effects, has not been thoroughly investigated. The aim of our study is to achieve a broader understanding of the full range of outcomes after surgery, emotional well-being, and sexual function. Materials and Methods: The present prospective cohort study was conducted between 15 July 2023 and 15 June 2024 in the Emergency County Clinical Hospital Targu Mures, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is an investigation of TVT surgery and its impact on urinary incontinence, conducted by evaluating bladder dysfunction and sexual function before and after surgical intervention, as well as considering physical and psychological outcomes using specific questionnaires. Results: There was a 91.7% objective cure rate for incontinence, while urinary symptoms, sexual function, and emotional health significantly improved, urine leakage associated with strong urgency (p = 0.0002), urine leakage associated with coughing, sneezing, or laughing (p ≤ 0.0001), and patient sexual activity and emotional health also improved after surgery (p ≤ 0.0001). Furthermore, colorectal symptoms improved. Conclusions: This study emphasizes that for the best recovery of sexual and emotional health post-surgery, complete symptom removal is a requirement. Additionally, the significance of combined questionnaires in assessing treatment efficacy is highlighted. A larger sample size of patients and a longer follow-up are required before recommending this procedure as a standard treatment.

Phosphates pollution, primarily from agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge, is a major contributor to water eutrophication, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and phosphates adsorption performance of a MgAlFe-layered double hydroxide (MgAlFe-LDH) with a 2:1:1 cationic ratio. The material was prepared via co-precipitation and characterized using digital microscopy, XRD, BET, XPS, and FTIR. Adsorption experiments were conducted at pH 3 and 9 to investigate equilibrium, kinetics, and reusability. The MgAlFe-LDH exhibited a high maximum adsorption capacity (q_max ≈ 215 mg/g) largely independent of pH, with adsorption well described by the Langmuir model. Kinetic studies revealed a pseudo-first-order mechanism, indicating that adsorption is dominated by surface diffusion and electrostatic interactions. Phosphate removal occurs through a dual mechanism involving rapid electrostatic attraction at protonated surface sites and slower ion exchange in the LDH interlayers. The material retained over 75% of its adsorption capacity after five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles, highlighting its potential for sustainable phosphate recovery. Overall, the MgAlFe-LDH represents a promising, reusable adsorbent for phosphorus removal from wastewater, supporting circular economy strategies.

We prove some inequalities for moments related to concave functions.

The placenta, the foremost and multifaceted organ in fetal and maternal biology, is pivotal in facilitating optimal intrauterine fetal development. Remarkably, despite its paramount significance, the placenta remains enigmatic, meriting greater comprehension given its central influence on the health trajectories of both the fetus and the mother. Preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR), prevailing disorders of pregnancy, stem from compromised placental development. PE, characterized by heightened mortality and morbidity risks, afflicts 5–7% of global pregnancies, its etiology shrouded in ambiguity. Pertinent pathogenic hallmarks of PE encompass inadequate restructuring of uteroplacental spiral arteries, placental ischemia, and elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), also recognized as soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). During gestation, the placental derivation of sFlt-1 accentuates its role as an inhibitory receptor binding to VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF), curtailing target cell accessibility. This review expounds upon the placenta’s defining cellular component of the trophoblast, elucidates the intricacies of PE pathogenesis, underscores the pivotal contribution of sFlt-1 to maternal pathology and fetal safeguarding, and surveys recent therapeutic strides witnessed in the past decade.

Primary neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the breast are considered a rare and undervalued subtype of breast carcinoma that occur mainly in postmenopausal women and are graded as G1 or G2 NETs or an invasive neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) (small cell or large cell). To establish a final diagnosis of breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation, it is essential to perform an immunohistochemical profile of the tumor, using antibodies against synaptophysin or chromogranin, as well as the MIB-1 proliferation index, one of the most controversial markers in breast pathology regarding its methodology in current clinical practice. A standardization error between institutions and pathologists regarding the evaluation of the MIB-1 proliferation index is present. Another challenge refers to the counting process of MIB-1′s expressiveness, which is known as a time-consuming process. The involvement of AI (artificial intelligence) automated systems could be a solution for diagnosing early stages, as well. We present the case of a post-menopausal 79-year-old woman diagnosed with primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast (NECB). The purpose of this paper is to expose the interpretation of MIB-1 expression in our patient’ s case of breast neuroendocrine carcinoma, assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) software (HALO—IndicaLabs), and to analyze the associations between MIB-1 and common histopathological parameters.

"By analyzing the situation in the industrial practice, was established that the structure obtained at the rolling mill rolls manufactured in the country according to classical technology does not ensure the necessary hardness and durability in operation. The research carried out in operating conditions ensured the obtaining of structures that would give the rolls hardness as high as possible without diminishing the imposed toughness characteristics (resilience, elongation). From the variants experienced in operation, those with high technological and scientific value were selected, resulting that with the increase of resistance characteristics, the resilience did not decrease, and the exploitation durability doubled compared to the rollers processed by classical technology."

Acute respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2, has become a public health issue in our country. It mainly affects the vulnerable population, especially those with comorbidities. In this retrospective study, we set out to explore the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy, with the vulnerability of pregnant women to SARS-CoV-2 infection also representing a main focus. We included 39 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 39 control subjects recruited from the Emergency County Hospital of Hunedoara, Romania. Our aim was to explore the indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy, as our patient group was included in the “high-risk” category. As a result, cesarean section prevailed, the main reason being fetal hypoxia. Newborns were evaluated by real-time postnatal polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) viral testing: none exhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection, with no vertical transmission of the virus being detected. Moreover, we observed no maternal or neonatal deaths resulting from COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 has been found to cause a heterogeneity of manifestations with damage to multiple organs, and its evolution remains unknown. In our study, the need for antiviral treatment was limited, but anticoagulants proved effective in terms of improving the outcome.