When dealing with everyday life problems, people use a variety of coping strategies, depending on the actual situation and on their psychological and biological constitution. Biological variables may have a role in influencing the stress response and, thus, the use of specific coping mechanisms. The aim of our study was to examine this association. We have measured the preference for specific coping strategies using The Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Carver, Scheier, Weintraub, 1989). As biological variables we have considered the ABO blood type, the RH, sex and age of our respondents. Our sample is composed of 265 people, 85 from Bulgaria and 180 from Romania. Out of them, 62 of are men and 203 women. The mean age of the respondents is 32,08 years. The distribution of the blood types in our sample is: 90 blood type O, 113 blood type A, 42 blood type B and 20 blood type AB. A number of 173 respondents have positive Rh, while 54 have negative Rh (38 of the respondents do not know their Rh). Descriptive analysis shows that the most used coping mechanisms are: positive reinterpretation, planning and direct approach of problems. Seeking instrumental social support or emotional social support and acceptance are also preferred. The strategies less preferred are denial, behavioral disengagement and substance use. While the Rh shows no relevance for coping in the univariate analysis, the blood type appears to create a difference in using the social support dimension (F=2.742 p=.044), with the A blood type being the last willing to make use of such support. We have also found differences between men and women. Women obtain significantly higher scores (p<.05) on the scales measuring venting of emotions, the use of social support, active coping, planning and religious coping. Age shows positive correlations with active coping, planning and religious coping (p=.001), and negative correlations with mental disengagement and substance use (p=.01). We have also considered the joint influence of the biological variables upon the coping style, using GLM ANOVA-based statistical models. We have found some interaction effects, mainly for Rh and sex; for example, for the problem-focused dimension, we have found the highest mean for women with negative Rh (F=5,60, p=.019). Based on the results we can conclude that the coping profile of each person is complex and can be linked to specific biological variables.

Eurygaster integriceps, commonly known as the sunn pest, begins its biological activity in the second decade of April, when adults emerge from hibernation at temperatures of 12–16°C, with mass flights occurring on sunny days at temperatures above 18°C. Males appear a few days before females, and the migration to wheat fields is completed by May. After feeding, mating takes place, and females lay between 70 and 100 eggs, grouped in batches of 14, on leaves, stems, and preferably on emerging spikes. Egg hatching occurs within 7–15 days, from early May to mid-June. The larvae go through four instars and three molts, followed by the nymph stage. The full development cycle lasts 30–40 days, with new adults emerging between the second half of June and July. These adults feed intensively for about 10 days to accumulate fat reserves necessary for hibernation, after which they migrate to deciduous forests. Comparative studies between Gorban and Țuțora (2020–2024) reveal differences in the development rate, influenced by microclimatic conditions: maturation occurs faster in Gorban, while delays in hatching, larval development, and adult emergence are observed in Țuțora.

Previous studies indicated that massage relieves pain and fatigue, reduces blood pressure, decreases heart rate, decreases cortisol release and depression, and regulates sleep. Therefore, massage is a method that is frequently used to overcome sleep problems. But previous studies were mostly conducted in various pathological conditions and in infants. The aim of the current study is to determine the impact of the main parameters of the massage on the quality of sleep. Materials and methods: An online self-report questionnaire was administered to clients of four massage therapists with more than 10 years of practice and to first-year students at the National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria, after practicing back and low back massage under the supervision of their instructor. The questionnaire contains 4 sections collecting personal information and information about massage parameters, sleep quality on non-massage days and sleep quality on the night following massage session. 74 healthy volunteers completed the questionnaire. Results: 74 healthy volunteers completed the questionnaire. We excluded 2 participants younger than 18 years old. Statistical analysis showed a significant improved of quality of sleep based on the studied sleep parameters: time for transition to sleep (with - 6,16 min), sleep duration (with 39 min), need for more sleep (increasing “no” answers from 25 to 46 after massage) and self-reported sleep rate (with 1,42). We also find correlation between massage duration and falling asleep during massage and the time for transition to sleep, sleep duration, and sleep rate with better results for 60- and 90-min massage duration and drifting off during massage. CONCLUSIONS: Massage is a useful non-pharmacological method for improving the quality of sleep the night after especially 60- and 90-min massage duration and drifting off during massage. More studies are needed to evaluate the delayed effects of massage therapy on sleep parameters and quality of sleep as well as to establish the neurophysiological and biochemical mechanisms of this effects.

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is a perennial legume used for forage production. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different basal media (Murashige&Skoog-MS, Schenk& Hildebrant-SH, Gamborg-B5 or CHU-N6), explant types (cotyledon and hypocotyl), and growth regulators (kinetin and thidiazuron) on the induction of somatic embryogenesis in sainfoin. For this purpose, hypocotyl and cotyledon explants isolated from in vitro grown sterile seedlings were cultured in solid MS, SH, B5, or N6 basal media supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.2 mg/L kinetin or thidiazuron, and 1 g/L proline. The developing embryonic callus was then transferred to a solid MS medium containing 3% sucrose. As a result of the experiment, callus weights per explant varied between 248.3-534.7 mg, 408.7-609.1, 220.3-537 mg and 127.3-428.3 mg in MS, B5, N6, and SH basal media respectively, depending on explants and growth regulators. Average callus weights were higher in B5 and N6 basal media than in MS and SH media, TDZ-containing media than kinetin containing media and cotyledon explant than hypocotyl explant. The highest frequency of explants developing somatic embryos (mean 33.3%) was obtained from kinetin-containing MS or B5 basal media, while the highest embryo per explant (mean 2.6 somatic embryo per explant) was obtained from kinetin-containing MS medium. The somatic embryo number per hypocotyl explant was higher than that of cotyledon explants.

The observations were made in a sunflower crop in the north-western extremity of Arad County, in the immediate vicinity of the town Adea, using two variants: Variant 1 (V1), where there were no treatments for the chemical control of the pathogenic agents of the pests; Variant 2 (V2), where chemical treatments were made to the seeds and during the vegetation period against pathogens and pests. In the ecological variant, a larger number of specimens and species were collected in each of the 10 collections compared to the conventional variant, where chemical treatments were carried out to combat pathogens and pests. The most frequently collected carabid species were Pterostichus cylindricus, Pseudophonus pubescens, and Pseudophonus griseus, in both variants. In total, 501 carabid specimens belonging to 16 species were collected in the ecological variant, and 243 specimens belonging to a total of 10 species were collected in the conventional variant.

At the worldwide, the alien plant species represent a real threat to biodiversity and not only it. These species have a negative impact on agriculture, natural habitats, touristic activities, transport industry and human health. Agriculture is one of the most affected economic sector by the alien species, causing the productivity decrease and high economic costs for their prevention, eradication and control. This paper presents a briefly review regarding the alien plant species from croplands in Dâmbovița county. The investigation in this territory revealed the presence of 23 allogenic and potentially allogenic plant species that vegetate in different types of agroecosystems, most of them have been recorded in the maize crops. Due to their invasive character, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Sorghum halepense and Xanthium orientale subsp. italicum, with high population densities in some areas, are required specific measures for their control.

Almond is a type of fruit that grows both economically and naturally in many regions of Turkey. In this study, leaf and fruit characteristics of 3 different almond varieties of foreign origin grown in Ürgüp district of Nevşehir province in the Cappadocia region in 2021 and 2022 were determined. Ferragnes variety with a value of 23.47 mm in terms of leaf width, Ferragnes variety with a value of 67.9 mm in leaf length, and Ferraduel variety with a value of 13.62 in terms of petiole length formed the highest values in the leaf characteristics examined. Considering the fruit data, it was determined that Ferragnes variety had the highest value in terms of fruit length with 40.62 mm, Ferragnes variety had the highest value in fruit width values with 23.99 mm, and Ferragnes variety had the highest value in terms of fruit weight with 6.24 g. When the kernel weight data were examined, the highest value was found in Ferragnes variety with 1.61 g, and when the kernel width and kernel length data were examined, the highest values were determined in Ferragnes variety with 14.55 mm and 27.70 mm, respectively. The results of the study are thought to be important in terms of shedding light on future studies, especially since limited studies have been carried out in this region.

Since ancient times, plants were used for different purposes: even we talk about medicine, construction materials, food or feed. In modern times, plants are a huge factory of compounds which can replace synthesis and hazardous compounds, being appreciated like raw materials in different fields. In the field of cultural heritage protection there is an urgent need to develop innovative, eco-sustainable, and safe solutions, so, plants’ constituents can be an excellent choice. In this context, our short review intends to present a critical opinion on aspects regarding obtaining methods of plants extract, some aspects regarding chemical active compounds, and their application in the cultural heritage domain, being a starting step for a future trans disciplinary study, which offers links between multy disciplinary sciences: chemistry, biology, restoration and conservation.

Menstrual pain is a common socially significant problem that leads to discomfort and absence from work, with a negative impact on health status, improvement of life, and personal and public finances. The review of the scientific literature aimed at the concepts in world research related to menstrual pain and its impact on a better life. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between menstrual pain and quality of life. The study contingent is physically active women of reproductive age. 125 physically active female students at the Vasil Levski National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria, were studied. The contingent was characterized by age, duration of bleeding in days, amount of menstruation, degree of menstrual pain, and self-assessment of the effect of menstrual pain on workability. We use the Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life scale (BBQ) in the study. A study conducted by us demonstrated a high prevalence of dysmenorrhea among young women. We consider it necessary to compile and approve a PROGRAM of physical exercises for personal and professional use by women with menstrual pain and specialists. Any effort in this direction will have an indirect benefit for personal and public finances, by preserving the working capacity of the women concerned.

In the assortment of cut flowers, carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) fall in the first places, with a large number of varieties, of various colors, being appreciated on the cut flowers market. Carnations flowers that cannot be sold immediately after harvest, being a time of year when the market offers an abundance of cut flower species, they are prone to rapid depreciation under normal environmental conditions. Carnation is an important ornamental plant, which is used as a potted plant as well as a cut flower. One factor that influences the shelf life is temperature. From the flowering stage to the total depreciation of the inflorescence, it plays an important role. In this experiment, the flowers were harvested on two different dates for about a month. The temperatures at which the varieties were kept had 6 graduations (from 10 to 22 °C). The parameters followed were: bud height, corolla height above the calyx, bud diameter and flower stem length. Storing flowers in water at 4 °C for 6 to 15 days, did not increase the diameter of the flower bud. In flowers kept at 22 °C for 6 days, the values of several parameters of cell senescence fell below the values of fresh flowers. However, in flowers kept at 4 °C there was no expected slow decrease in these parameters, but rather an increase above the levels found in fresh flowers. We conclude that storage at low temperatures has effects on carnation cut flowers, other than slowing down the aging process.