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Gills are major targets for acute metal toxicity in fish, due to their permanent contact with aquatic pollutants. To assess the effects of metals on gills of the Leuciscus cephalus (chub), fish individuals were collected from two sites in the Tur River, Romania, in upstream (site 1) and downstream (site 2) of a metal pollution source. Quantitative and hyperspectral analyses showed that Zn, Sr, and Fe concentrations were significantly higher in gills from site 2 compared with site 1. Malondialdehyde and advanced oxidation protein products levels increased 17 and 28%, respectively, whereas reduced glutathione level diminished significantly in the gills of fish collected from site 2 compared to site 1. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase increased significantly at 41, 21, and 28%, respectively. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein levels, as well as the amount of DNA damage, were significantly increased for site 2 compared with site 1. The induced oxidative stress generated hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and inflammation in the epithelial cells and apoptosis. Hence, this could suggest that gill cells have tried to counteract the oxidative stress-induced DNA fragmentation by PCNA up-regulation, but the PCNA expression decreased on longer time due to the low level of GSH, resulting in apoptosis.

The objective of this study is to determine flavonoids and polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of extracts of figs growing in Romania. The content of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds was determined according to the Romanian Phar?macopoeia, the 10th edition, using the standard rutin for flavonoids, catechol for polyphe?nols and HPLC for flavonoids quantification. Determination of antioxidant activity was done by DPPH scavenging method and at cellular level by attenuation of oxidative damage in human erythrocytes. The experimental results reveal that Ficus carica extracts may be a potential source of natural antioxidants.

Entrepreneurship is a topic much debated and analyzed by many research institutions and organizations. In recent years, the total number of entrepreneurs has been increasing significantly, female entrepreneurship being the one that has increased a lot. In this study, we are going to present and analyze the results of studies conducted at European level regarding the comparative evolution of male versus female entrepreneurship. The main conclusion that emerges from the analysis of the results obtained is that the number of women entrepreneurs is almost equal to that of men entrepreneurs in many European countries.

The emergence of the female entrepreneurial social class is certain and convincing in many countries, including Romania. Through this study we wish to portray a relevant image regarding the situation of female entrepreneurship in Romania. The starting point and a question to which many seek answers are: What was and is the economic strength of female entrepreneurship in Romania? After a short historical presentation regarding the evolution of feminine entrepreneurship, we presented the analysis of results after 25 years of democracy and capitalism. The main inference that we have deducted was: that the number of female entrepreneurs is on ascending path.

Abstract:The aim of this article is to present the youth unemployment problem that the European Union countries are facing nowadays. To this end, we investigate the competencies and skills considered necessary in the 21 Century. We do this by presenting the competencies considered important by European employers versus Romanian employers. Not least, we reveal future directions in terms of skills required by employers.

Whereas the energy sector is, currently, mainly described as a vertically monopolistic structure, one may expect that during the course of this century it will rapidly shift towards a decentralized system that appears to be more efficient and cleaner. In this context, the third millennium exhibits as new challenges for our civilization and its mentality: the adaptation and implementation of technologies such as high-performance gas turbines, wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels and solar thermal collectors, capture of geothermal energy etc. Although the share of energy produced by these sectors is still relatively small, possibilities exist for the extensive implementation of such type of energy sources; this would result in a less expensive and more decentralized energy system, particularly in Romania, as is demonstrated in this work, on the basis of a case-study. This paper is aimed at assessing the possibility to produce hot water in a household located in a city in the North West of Romania by using the solar energy captured through solar thermal collectors. The necessary collector area per person and the corresponding values of the unit thermal load per m 2 have been calculated on the basis of measurements carried-out on solar collectors placed on houses from Zalau city. The calculated values have been extrapolated for the whole area (67512 households). The results were converted in carbon dioxide which is considered the main responsible for greenhouse effect. From this study case, one may conclude that during 2007-2010, which is the period when this study was conducted, the hot water production using solar panels led to a decrease of CO 2 emissions by 8.92 kg/house. Replacement of fuel based technologies would have a beneficial impact on the energy situation, since alternative energies (especially solar energy) are available throughout the whole country. This fact provides the perspective for an optimistic and constructive approach that allows everyone to contribute, by direct and/or indirect actions, to the limitation of adverse global phenomena or even to the elimination of polluting activities that are harmful to humans and to the environment.