The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Romanian: Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza"; acronym: UAIC) is a public university located in Iași, Romania. Founded one year after the establishment of the Romanian state, by an 1860 decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, under whom the former Academia Mihăileană was converted to a university, the University of Iași, as it was named at first, is the oldest university of Romania, and one of its advanced research and education institutions. It is one of the five members of the Universitaria Consortium (the group of elite Romanian universities).The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University offers study programmes in Romanian, English, and French. In 2008, for the third year in a row, it was placed first in the national research ranking compiled on the basis of Shanghai criteria. In the 2012 QS World University Rankings, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University was included in the Top 700 universities of the world, on the position 601+ , together with three other Romanian universities.The University is a member of some of the most important university networks and associations: the Coimbra Group (CG), Utrecht Network, European University Association (EUA), International Association of Universities (IAU), University Agency of Francophony (AUF), and the Network of Francophone Universities (RUFAC).
This research aims to investigate the modifications of the structural, dielectric, and sensing properties of CaFeO3-delta ceramics produced by solid-state reaction induced by varying sintering temperatures in the range of 1000-1200 degrees C. A single crystallographic orthorhombic (Pcmn) structure was revealed by X-ray diffraction with Rietveld analysis, both for the powders and sintered ceramics, irrespective of the sintering temperature. The increase in the sintering temperature induces better densification and a larger grain size. Dielectric measurements reveal a pronounced enhancement of the relative permittivity, reaching 2 & times; 10(5) at 1 kHz and 330 degrees C for the sample sintered at 1200 degrees C/4 h. This composition also displays the highest electrical conductivity, 0.4 S/m at 1 MHz. Cole-Cole analysis indicates a clear deviation from ideal Debye behavior, while the relaxational features of the dielectric permittivity suggest a strong correlation between the dielectric response and Fe-related conduction mechanisms. Gas sensing tests show that the ferrite ceramics exhibit consistent ethanol response trends. The ceramic sintered at 1200 degrees C/4 h achieved the highest sensitivity, of 56.28%, which can be attributed to its higher density, larger ceramic grains, and reduced low-frequency conductivity. The CaFeO3-delta ceramic sintered at 1200 degrees C/4 h shows a combination of high permittivity, enhanced conductivity, and strong ethanol sensitivity, making it a promising material for dielectric components, capacitive devices, and gas sensing applications.
Objective:The present study aimed to examine the association between problematic pornography consumption (PPC) and somatic symptoms, and to investigate whether difficulties in emotion regulation and moral disapproval of pornography play a role in this relationship. Method:A sample of 321 individuals, aged between 18 and 64 years (M = 24.85, SD = 8.93), completed self-report measures assessing problematic pornography consumption, difficulties in emotion regulation, somatic symptoms, frequency of pornography use, and moral disapproval of pornography. Results:PPC was positively associated with somatic symptoms and difficulties in emotion regulation. Difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the association between PPC and somatic symptoms only at high levels of moral disapproval, indicating a moderated mediation effect. No significant indirect effect was observed at low or average levels of moral disapproval. Conclusions:These findings highlight the importance of integrating moral, emotional, and somatic dimensions when conceptualizing problematic pornography consumption. The role of moral disapproval suggests that individuals experiencing moral conflict may be particularly vulnerable to emotion regulation difficulties and somatic manifestations linked to pornography use, offering useful implications for future theory and clinical practice.
Climate change and altered hydrological regimes are restructuring wetland habitats globally, triggering cascading effects on colonial waterbirds. This study investigates how environmental drivers, including thermal anomalies, water-level fluctuations, and aqueous surface extent, influence the distribution and size of waterbird colonies (Ardeidae, Threskiornithidae, and Phalacrocoracidae) in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. We integrated colony census data (2016-2023) with remote-sensing-derived habitat metrics, in situ meteorological and hydrological measurements to model colony abundance dynamics. Our results indicate that elevated early spring temperatures and water level variability are the primary determinants of numerical population dynamics. Spatial analysis revealed a heterogeneous response to hydrological stress: while the westernmost colony exhibited high site fidelity due to its proximity to persistent aquatic surfaces, the central colonies suffered severe declines or local extirpation during extreme drought periods (2020-2022). A discernible eastward shift in bird assemblages was observed toward zones with superior hydrological connectivity and proximity to anthropogenic hubs, suggesting an adaptive spatial response that was consistent with behavioral flexibility. We propose an adaptive management framework prioritizing sustainable solutions for maintaining minimum lacustrine water levels to preserve critical foraging zones. This integrative framework highlights the pivotal role of remote sensing in transitioning from reactive monitoring to predictive conservation of deltaic ecosystems.
The search for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers in packaging has driven increasing interest in cellulose-based materials due to their eco-friendly nature. This study explores the advantages of coating cellulose-based packaging with citral-imine chitosan, focusing on its impact on mechanical properties, barrier performance, and food preservation capabilities. Results revealed a remarkable enhancement in tensile strength, with increases of up to 17
Advances in the understanding of exosome biology have led to their recognition as the heart of intercellular communications. Additionally, the new insights into the role of exosomes in neuroinflammation and spreading of characteristic Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathologies, open the scope for their use as a key target for diagnostic and therapeutic innovation. The immuno-engineering platforms are sensitive for detecting exosomal biomarkers including amyloid-B species, phosphorylated tau, and regulatory microRNAs, in peripheral biofluids with minimal invasion. Hence, these are potential platforms that can facilitate early diagnosis of AD. Although most supporting evidence is presently derived based on preclinical models and limited observational cohorts, these findings support minimally invasive opportunities for early disease monitoring and diagnosis, possibly even before the manifestation of clinical symptoms of AD. Alongside, another advantage of engineered exosomes is their flexible framework for targeted drug delivery. Since engineered exosomes are derived from neuronal or mesenchymal stem cells, they can cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver neuroprotective or immunomodulatory agents with high specificity. Presently, the target precision and off-target biodistribution of engineered exosomes are one of the most active areas of investigation. More encouragingly, incorporating nanotechnology for surface modification and cargo loading strategies can further enhance exosomal signaling, delivery efficiency, and cell-specific uptake by neuronal and glial cells. These applications, however, are presently challenging in terms of scalability and reproducibility. Also, a number of advancements are needed in areas of standardization of exosome isolation, scalable manufacturing, regulatory frameworks, and biological heterogeneity. Overcoming these challenges, however, is feasible with the integration of Artificial Intelligence and multi-omics profiling, and optimisation of exosome-based interventions.
