Coastal ecosystems (beaches and sand dunes) deliver a wide range of ecosystem services and support to biodiversity and human well-being. Public awareness and engagement on the value of these ecosystems, especially in protected areas, is essential for their proper management and conservation, but also for resisting the increasing interest in coastal development. This is the case of Vadu Beach, a wild beach located in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR), which became a tourist attraction in the last few years, mostly preferred by camping enthusiasts. The study aims to evaluate tourists' perception of the socio-cultural values provided by the coastal ecosystems of Vadu Beach, focusing on intangible benefits such as recreational, aesthetic, spiritual, or cognitive ones. An online questionnaire was distributed to the Facebook groups of visitors (June-September 2022) to assess their familiarity with the place, the degree of awareness regarding the specific rules of a wild protected beach, their perception of cultural ecosystem services, as well as their satisfaction regarding the management of the ecosystem. The study shows that an important factor influencing people's willingness to preserve the sociocultural values of the beach and their pro-environmental behaviour is linked with the familiarity and attachment to the place, expressed in the survey by items analysing visit characteristics. The survey results indicate a high emotional attachment of repeat visitors to the Vadu beach and the concern about maintaining its spirit, limiting development, and being involved in the conservation and protection of the place. Tourists suggested a variety of management options to better preserve and protect its wilderness and promote sustainable tourism without compromising the uniqueness of the space. In this sense, tourists have specified the need for greater involvement of the management authorities in awareness raising, education and control, as well as better collaboration between authorities and tourists for the proper conservation of the coastal ecosystems.

The last decade was characterized by an intensification of the debate on climate change, both in the public context and in the academic environment. The research on the potential physical impact of climate-related hazards became more sophisticated and methodologically complex. On the other hand, the literature on the societal impact of these processes expanded to incorporate different approaches, including the growing area of intersectionality and climate change studies, with roots in climate adaptation, critical climate justice, feminist literature, indigenous studies, and environmental policy, to name just a few. The purpose of this paper is to explore the main topics highlighted in the field of intersectionality and climate change during the last ten years to underline the theoretical and methodological contribution of this field to the broader area of climate change research. We carried out a rapid literature review by building a database consisting mainly, but not entirely, of open-access papers published in English between 2014 and 2023. We pointed out the valuable insights provided by intersectionality studies in assessing the multiple facets of human vulnerability to climate change. We also emphasized the diversity of perspectives and the transition from predominantly conceptual approaches to qualitative research aimed to make an impact at the local level. The heterogeneity of approaches is beneficial in understanding the intersectionality and climate change nexus. However, good practice guides and methodological landmarks could support more scholars in incorporating the intersectionality lens in climate change research.

The present study focuses on a sample of118leaders from over 70 Romanian pre-university and higher education institutions. Based on a non-probabilistic sample, the survey is not representative for the entire Romanian field of education, but it still emphasizes interesting results on leadership culture in a country where educationleaders are facing multiple challenges such as frequent legislative and curriculum changes. We investigate the correlations among several socio-demographic variables (i.e. gender, age, type of education institution and length of service in leadership positions) and the leaders’ favouritepractices. Our results suggesta preference of the educationleaders towards full-range leadership practices, which is to be confirmed by further research.

AbstractThe paper emphasizes the methodological steps undertaken in the assessment of floods perception, which was conducted in tree study areas from Romania (Banat Plain, Bend Subcarpathians and Siret river basin). The reasons behind the design of the questionnaire and interview guide are explained, in relation with the research objectives. The research endeavor allows not only to better understand the local context of vulnerability to floods and flash floods, but also to incorporate the results in a broader framework of vulnerability assessment, enhancing the quality of scientific services provided to stakeholders.

Abstract While extensively employed in the mainstream literature focused on earth system science and sustainable development, the concepts of resilience, vulnerability and adaptation are still difficult to operationalize given the different conceptual frameworks proposed in various scientific fields, such as ecology, disaster reduction and global change. Although multiple points of view are, to a certain degree, beneficial to an in-depth understanding of the dynamics of the coupled human-environmental systems, there is a need to correlate the theoretical frameworks of the two sustainability pillars, resilience and vulnerability, in a coherent and efficient manner.

Abstract Acquired von Willebrand disease (AvWD) represents a rare, potentially severe and most likely underdiagnosed category of hemorrhagic syndromes determined by quantitative, qualitative or functional, nonhereditary, alterations of von Willebrand factor (vWF) that occur in the context of various underlying diseases. It is diagnosed mainly in adults, without any personal or familial history of bleeding. The etiopathogeny of AvWD is complex, marked by the intervention of multiple mechanisms, occuring in the evolution of neoplasia, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases and other conditions. The clinical and laboratory manifestations are similar to the congenital form with mucocutaneous hemorrhage in patients without bleeding history and demonstration of quantitative and/or functional anomalies of vWF. Treatment has two major objectives: control of bleeding and therapy of the underlying condition. As a practical illustration of the theoretical aspects we present 3 clinical cases of AvWD diagnosed in the Colţea Hospital Department of Hematology during the last 10 years.

Reducing the impact of climate change and related hazards is one of the current concerns of the international scientific community and decision makers. Given the complexity of the causes and consequences of the climate change, there is a need of integrated approaches, bringing together the expertise of natural and social sciences. Among the latter, psychology could have a significant role in analyzing and reducing the human vulnerability to climate change. Incorporation the results of the psychological research in the assessment of human vulnerability to climate change will improve: a. understanding of the factors generating the response of human communities to natural disasters; b. identification of the groups with a high degree of vulnerability to climate change and related extreme events; c. awareness to climate change exposure, as well as planning and implementation of the early-warning systems; d. efficiency of post-disaster intervention, following the occurrence of a climate-related natural hazards. Thereby, a psychological approach will not only increase the applicability of the current research on climate change and related hazards, but will also contribute to increase the resilience and adaptability of local communities to natural disasters.

The article focuses on identifying the socio-demographic variables which are inducing statistically significant differences on environmental perception in an urban area. It also aims to highlight the correlations between socio-demographic features of the respondents and two main components of environmental perception: the perceived level of environmental quality and attitude towards volunteering in programs aimed to improve the quality of environment The study allows the detection of effective ways of communicating environmental issues and involving the population in environmental programs, in accordance with the socio-demographic profile of the targeted groups.

The Banat Plain is currently exposed to multiple pressures associated to anthropogenic environmental changes, climate change related signals and extreme events with significant impact at local scale (floods, storms, hail). All these factors are jeopardizing the livelihoods of the local communities. Recently, a participatory assessment of the exposure to the above mentioned stressors was carried out, in a broader framework, focused on assessing the vulnerability of human communities to environmental change and extreme events in the Banat Plain. The research, conducted in May 2013, directly involved local stakeholders, through a questionnaire-based survey, applied in about 100 households from 15 villages, and through structured interviews with local decision makers. Results showed that local people perceive landscape changes as consequences of human intervention and of socio-economic changes produced after the collapse of the communist regime, in 1989 (e.g. the emergence of agricultural associations; degradation of drainage infrastructure; and upgrading settlements as a result of financial investments). Regarding the awareness of exposure to floods, the local population does not perceive flooding as a significant threat to the region, although the most recent event occurred 9 years ago. This attitude is highly harmful in terms of individual adaptation to flooding and it can be explained by the sense of security offered by institutional measures implemented post-event.

Patients with acute leukemia develop abnormalities of haemostasis, leading not only to bleeding, but also to thrombotic complications. The pathogenesis of these complications is complex and multifactorial. Because platelets and platelet derived microparticles are key players in haemostasis and thrombosis, we presumed their roles in the prediction of bleeding and thrombotic complications. Our study groups included 24 patients with acute leukemia and 16 healthy volunteers. Platelet aggregation evaluation was performed by impedance whole blood aggregometry and the ennumeration of platelet derived microparticles was done by means of flow cytometry. Eight patints developed hemorrhagic complications associated with reduced platelet aggregation response at hospital admission. Major thrombotic events occurred in 5 patients, being preceded by increased platelet aggregation in 3 cases and high level of platelet derived microparticles in 2 cases. Our findings reveal that whole blood platelet aggregometry could be a valuable tool especially in the detection of platelet hyperreactivity and in the prediction of thrombotic events. A high level of platelet derived microparticles could also predict thrombosis. These hypotheses need further evaluation and confirmation on larger number of patients.

Dambovita County (4054 sq km, 527000 inhabitants in 2013) is located in the south-central part of Romania. The high share of rural population (69%), the population density (130 inhabitants/sq km), as well as the dominance of intensely humanized plains and hills, are creating the premises of significant anthropogenic pressures, likely to put their mark on land use and vegetation cover. These factors are completed with socio-economic, political and legislative changes that affected Romania after 1990, such as: urban industry restructuring; migration of redundant labour force towards villages; restitution of agricultural and forestry land; and abandonment of agricultural land, due to low income level.In this context, we investigated the changes occurred in land use and land cover in Dambovita County, during the last two decades. The changes have been highlighted by analyzing statistical data and also through field observations and analysis of Corine Land Cover data for 1990, 2000 and 2006. Statistical analysis did not reveal significant changes in land use within 1990-2012, in the main categories of surfaces (agricultural and non-agricultural land). Within these categories, the most significant changes are found in the areas occupied by pastures (increase of approx. 19%), vineyards (decrease by 70%) and orchards (19% reduction). Analysis of Corine Land Cover data (level 1) emphasized small-scale changes in the sense of transfers from one category to another. Significant changes occurred generally within the same category (e.g. reducing of orchards and vineyards in favour of pastures and meadows).In terms of land cover changes, a real threat is the loss of biodiversity due to natural factors (e.g. oak drying tendency; warping of some lakes; the decrease of swampy areas) and anthropogenic factors (e.g. issues of land ownership; the lack of an effective security system of protected areas, so that some reserves have been severely affected by poaching, grazing in forests or illegal cutting of trees). Also, phenomena of vegetation degradation occurred, as well as the replacement of some species by others. The last phenomenon was generally accompanied by a decrease in forest productivity and sometimes a worsening of stationary conditions.

Eosinophils are leukocytes with multiple functions in physiologic and pathologic circumstances. Eosinophilia is typically associated with reactive conditions (helmintic infections, allergic or drug reactions and atopic disorders) and sometimes with hematologic and non- hematologic malignancies. Evaluation of a patient with eosinophilia requires numerous imaging investigations and laboratory tests for establishing the right treatment. We measured the degree of eosinophilic activation using serologic biomarkers such as serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and eosinophilic cationic protein/eosinophil count (ECP/Eo) ratio in order to differentiate earlier among distinct eosinophilic conditions: clonal, non-clonal with malignancy and reactive eosinophilia with inflammation. The median ECP value in eosinophilic patients was significantly higher when compared to that of the control group (19.55 vs. 4.93 ng/mL, p<0.05). Within patients with eosinophilia, the clonal eosinophilia group showed a significantly higher median ECP value compared to the median ECP values of the non-clonal eosinophilia groups - (30.15 vs. 19.5 ng/mL, p<0.05 and respectively 30.15 vs. 13.3 ng/mL, p<0.05). Also patients having non-clonal eosinophilia with malignancy had a significantly higher median ECP value compared to those of reactive eosinophilia and inflammation (19.5 vs. 13.3 ng/mL, p<0.05). While ECP serum levels seemed to be a discriminatory tool for different groups of eosinophilic patients IL-5 and ECP/Eo were less useful for this purpose. However our results must be confirmed in larger studies.

The first description of microparticles dates back to 1967, when Wolf reported platelet membrane fragments in human plasma and called them “platelet dust”. These vesicles were later called microparticles and the knowledge about their characterization and function has advanced since then. The generation of microparticles represents a mechanism of intercellular communication, playing various roles in both physiological and pathological conditions. Besides other multiple roles in pathology such as inflammation, atherogenesis and cancer spreading, platelet-derived microparticles are involved in thrombogenesis. Tissue factor and phosphatidylserine are both exposed on the outer membrane of platelet-derived microparticles, providing catalytic procoagulant surfaces. The evaluation of microparticles may represent a possible investigation and diagnostic tool. Their enumeration and characterization is challenging and flow cytometry remains the most widely used method for the analysis of microparticles. The aim of the authors is to review the most relevant information on the main properties, mechanisms of generation, and clinical relevance of platelet-derived microparticles, since their evaluation is increasingly considered as a diagnostic biomarker.