An extensive literature exists regarding the cellular, physiological, and genetic effects of cadmium (Cd)—A highly toxic, but commonly used trace metal in modern industry. However, limited data are available on its epigenetic effects, especially for terrestrial sentinel invertebrates. We determined Cd retention, total DNA methylation, and the methylation status of 5′ end of the Cd-MT gene in the hepatopancreas of the brown garden snail, Cornu aspersum, fed Cd sulfate for four weeks. Bodyweight changes and survival were also measured. Hepatopancreas cadmium increased in a dose-dependent manner from the third-lowest dose onward, with very large amounts being found for the highest treatment group. However, no mortalities occurred, irrespective of dietary Cd dose. We identified significant genome-wide hypermethylation in specimens given the highest dose, which overlapped with a significant bodyweight decrease. The Cd-MT gene showed an unmethylated 5′ end of the Cd-MT gene and this status was not affected by cadmium exposure. Hepatopancreas DNA methylation is as sensitive as bodyweight to non-lethal concentrations of dietary Cd given as cadmium sulfate but less responsive than tissue accumulation. Such an exposure event, by contrast, does not affect the methylation status of the Cd-MT gene 5′ end.

A method and procedure for automatic calculation of field capacity and fuel consumption of mobile machinery with tanks, hoppers and bunkers is suggested. They are based on a combination of two well-founded approaches: East-European and North-American. To increase its calculation area some applications for machines with containers as grain, fertilizer, solution, etc. are added. An example of five linked field operations, namely potato transportation, fertilization, spraying, planting and harvesting is presented. A list of needed information with relations between them and main indices of agricultural aggregates is prepared. For convenience and objectivity calculations are automated with spreadsheets.

Recognizing the factors stimulating the student's academic performance requires investigating different learning strategies influencing teachers' self-efficacy. With the growing diversity of teaching methods, motivational and instructional strategies have gained significant attention, potentially leading educationists to use them as the critical benchmark of superior student performance. This study’s primary objective is to analyze the impact of teaching strategies on student academic performance while considering the mediating role of teachers' self-efficacy. The data was collected from 260 students from different universities and colleges by using the convenience sampling method. The study results reveal that motivational and instructional strategies significantly affect teacher self-efficacy and student academic performance. Teacher self-efficacy mediates the relationship between instructional strategies, motivational strategies, and student academic performance.

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The 10-th (Jubilee) International Conference on Thermal Equipment, Renewable Energy and Rural Development (TE-RE-RD 2019http://www.tererd.pub.ro/) was launched in December 2020 in order to be organized in the period 26-27 June 2020 at University Politehnica of Bucharest, but, due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemics, it was shifted Online (powered by Microsoft Teams) TE-RE-RD is an International pluridisciplinary Conference aimed to be a forum for information exchange between scientists from academic, research and development communities around the world on topics related to thermal machines, equipments and technologies, equipments, technologies and policies for rural development, renewable energy sources conversion and other technical domains.Another target of the Conference is to offer to the young people involved in research activities (PhD, Master, and regular students) the opportunity to disseminate their work results and learn from experimented scientists.We also welcome people and entities from industry, agriculture, administration, trade, politics and media who want to cooperate with academic and R&D organizations in the fields of the Conference.