bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography detects the elevation of cerebral blood flow during ictal-phase of pentetrazol-induced seizures in dogs
Authors: Sasaoka Kazuyoshi , Ohta Hiroshi , Ishizuka Tomohito , Kojima Kazuki , Sasaki Noboru , Takiguchi Mitsuyoshi
Published: January 2022

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between changes in cerebral blood flow and electrographic epileptic seizure in dogs using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD).

ANIMALS

6 healthy Beagle dogs.

PROCEDURES

Each dog was administered pentetrazol (1.5 mg/kg/min) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution under general anesthesia with continuous infusion of propofol. Both pentetrazol and saline solution were administered to all 6 dogs, with at least 28 days interval between the experiments. Blood flow waveforms in the middle cerebral artery and the basilar artery were obtained using TCD at baseline, after pentetrazol administration, and after diazepam administration. TCD velocities, including peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and mean velocity and resistance variables, were determined from the Doppler waveforms.

RESULTS

During ictal-phase of pentetrazol-induced seizures, the TCD velocities significantly increased in the basilar and middle cerebral arteries while TCD vascular resistance variables did not change in either artery. The TCD velocities significantly decreased after diazepam administration. Systemic parameters, such as the heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac index, end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation, and body temperature, did not change significantly during seizures.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study showed that cerebral blood flow, as obtained from TCD velocities, increased by 130% during ictal-phase of pentetrazol-induced seizures in dogs. The elevated velocities returned to baseline after seizure suppression. Thus, TCD may be used to detect electrographic seizures during the treatment of status epilepticus in dogs, and further clinical studies clarifying the association between changes in cerebral blood flow and non-convulsive seizure cases are needed.
Sources of Finance for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Poland
Authors: Osinski Roman
Published: January 2022

This paper aims to present and discuss the already existing studies and try to uncover possible potential for further research on the topic of financial resources in public–private partnership (PPP) projects. The article presents the main relevant papers regarding financial resources and examines how deep the topic of financial sources has been explored in both academic and practical literature. Moreover, the article reviews Poland’s PPP market and, particularly, types of used financial sources. The ‘Literature review’ results show that there is a gap in studying the private sector and financial resources, especially in Polish PPPs. We attempt to close this gap by summarising the main factors that influence the choice of the source of financing PPPs. The Polish case shows that the main source of financing of PPP projects in Poland is bank loans and many projects have partial funding from various European Union (EU) programmes. Policymakers should pay attention to other financial resources in PPPs. Moreover, it would be fruitful to extend the Polish database of PPP projects with new factors that can simplify ex-post and ex-ante analysis.
Bertrand competition under asymmetric conditions
Authors: Vintila Alexandra , Roman Mihai Daniel
Published: January 2022

Analyzing price competition through game theory is one of the most important frameworks of oligopoly theory, especially in industrial organizations. Numerous studies have been conducted in this direction, as companies are forced to adjust their sustainable pricing policy to operate in the long term. Thus, the players make a regular adjustment of the pricing strategy. Of all the models developed based on Bertrand’s reference model (1883), the most analyzed were those in which informational symmetry predominated. Since informational symmetry presents only a theoretical framework, economists have turned their attention to information asymmetry. This type of information best describes a complex economic game, as it creates an information gap between players and generates opportunities in the decision-making process. Thus, asymmetric information is the main parameter of the decision-making process that determines decision makers to resort to different decision strategies than those assumed by the analytical model. Any asymmetric Bertrand model predicts competitive and efficient market outcomes, a direct relationship between a firm’s conduct, market structure and finally market performance. This paper undertakes an analysis of the Bertrand model in the case of demand and asymmetric costs. We determine the Bertrand-Nash equilibrium under the scenario in which close, but not perfect substitutes exist for the differentiated product with hypothetical data. Then we highlight what happens with profits when we consider that discrete cross marginal demand gradually increases. For more research, there are numerous studies based on sequential games, Bayesian games and signaling games both in discrete time and in continuous time.
Millennials’choices in applying digital techniques for tourism purposes
Authors: Băltescu Codruța Adina
Published: January 2022

Digitisation is a constant of contemporary life. The generation most accustomed to using online resources and electronic devices is that of Millennials.Considered a rebel generation, Millennials have strong believes and values, are deeply connected to their peers and to the world, and also, important users of electronic devices and online sources for entertainment purposes. Although considered a labor industry, tourism is increasingly adapting to the new trends of the activity’s digitisationThe paper presents two types of researches. The first one aims to emphasize Millennials’ habits in the tourism consumption. In this respect, the results of a qualitative research were presented. The second objective highlights which are the most famous museums in Romania and evaluates the 11 selected museums based on specific criteria on their digitisation progress. At the same time, the 11 museums were assessed based on the number of reviews and the average scores recorded on Google and TripAdvisor platforms. The results obtained show a little interest of the millennial consumers in applying digital techniques for visiting tourist attractions, mainly museums. They majority considers virtual visits as temporary habits, and only as a consequence of crisis situations. On the other hand, the process of Romanian museums’ digitisation is in progress, managerial transformations being valuable. The main contribution of the paper consists in the x-ray performed on the digitisation process of the Romanian museums.
Big data and AI: a potential solution to end the conundrum of too big to fail financial institutions?
Authors: Mitrache Gabriel Razvan
Published: January 2022

The “too big to fail” institutions are a widespread concern, especially in the financial world. Their failure can create severe economic downturns and social turmoil. In past bank failures, governments intervened with public funds to save such institutions from collapse to avoid economic downturns. Since, measures have been put in place to prevent bank failures and limit the utilisation of public funds. However, failures cannot be prevented and risks of affecting the economy are always present in the case of too big to fail institutions. This article explores the possibilities offered by recent advancements in the fields of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, widely implemented by the financial institutions themselves, as tools to be used by authorities in ending the too big to fail conundrum. The adequate implementation of these technological capabilities will contribute to the areas already targeted by governments – reducing the probability of failure and providing tools to limit negative externalities and spillover effects – and will also introduce a new capability that could address the too big to fail matter. Since financial institutions are, in their essence, data hubs, now in a digitalised format, the possibilities to automate tasks and provide insight for decisions should address the issue. The actual transfer of assets and liabilities to institutions that can carry on the activity, currently need years to be handle:. Big Data and Artificial Intelligence technologies could make such operations a matter of hours or days.
A Panorama of Digitalization Tendencies in the European Agriculture Sector
Authors: Șerbănel Cristiana-Ioana
Published: January 2022

Digitalization in the agricultural sector is an imperative upgrade required to confront the predicted food security challenges announced by the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization. Smart agriculture goes beyond primary production (crop diseases, crop production), influencing the complete agricultural value chain, including sustainability and the environment. The present paper results were obtained through a well-documented literature review of European smart-farming projects and a quantitative analysis of the actual status of information, communication, and technology practices implemented among the member states. The research questions aimed to assess the European smart-farming projects’ distribution among the agricultural value chain and to evaluate digitization’s current status at the country-level among member states. At first glance, European Union has implemented over 30 projects with the primary scope to streamline the agricultural sector through massive investments in high-tech technology, autonomous robots, special workshops, and multiple training pieces for farmers and other parties involved along the value chain. The outcomes indicate that the European efforts were mainly orientated towards adding value to the “input-supply” stage. The following immediate focus was to support the entire agricultural supply chain. This article enriches the current literature through a unique combination of the European agricultural value chain and a structured review of the main digitalization projects implemented or which are under-implementation processes among the value chain.
The impact of WOM on the acceptance of mobile banking
Authors: Zarnadze Giorgi , Pereira Inês Veiga
Published: January 2022

Purpose: This study is focused on researching the impact of WOM on the acceptance of mobile banking. This research offers insights into factors that affect the implementation of mobile banking applications.

Methodology: The research’s inclusion was based on relevancy, authenticity, and reliability of information extracted from publication journals, and exclusion was based on non-relevancy and lack of authentic research. For the analyzes, consumer data were collected through a survey, and structural equations modelling, and path analysis were employed to test the research model.

Findings: The findings showed that WOM was the critical factor influencing consumer perceptions towards mobile banking. WOM also positively affects other factors impacting mobile banking acceptance, such as Ease of use, Perceived usefulness, Social Norms, Trust, Attitude, and intention.

Limitations: The most significant limitation of this study is that it only concentrates on internet users. Non-users are not considered.

Value: Many researchers studied the number of effects on mobile banking, but this work’s uniqueness is that this paper focuses on WOM impact on mobile banking adoption. Its impact factor is considered the main contribution of this research.
The Importance of fiscality for Economic Development. Case study – Republic of Moldova
Authors: Francu Laurentiu Gabriel , Buzoianu Ovidiu Andrei Cristian , Oancea Negescu Mihaela Diana , Troaca Victor Adrian , Gombos Carol Cristina
Published: January 2022

The topicality of the topic lies in the importance of taxation and reforms in this field for the economic development of any state. For the EU, as a conglomeration of states and as an exponent of economic globalization, taxation has a strong influence on the multiple economic processes that take place within this structure, as well as within each member state. Undoubtedly, from the perspective of the possible association with the European Union, for the Republic of Moldova, the fiscal changes with subsequent impact on the socio-economic development have a special importance. However, Community tax policy is difficult to impose in the European area, especially because of the obstacles it faces, especially those caused by the Member States themselves, which are reluctant to apply common rules, in particular to the elimination of various forms of tax discrimination, double taxation or tax evasion. The main tools that the European Union intends to use to bring Member States’ taxation closer together are tax harmonization and tax cooperation between Member States.
Critical infrastructures development aligned with European union procedures. Evidence from Romania
Authors: Savu Ionut-Catalin , Militaru Gheorghe
Published: January 2022

This paper aims to emphasize the significance of the Critical Infrastructures in a general European context, as well as a divided approach on the Romanian types of critical infrastructures and their specifics.

The main topics approached in the article are analyzing the processes undergone to identify and regulate Critical Infrastructures in the field of Transportation, Energy production, Water and sanitation, Nuclear Industry in Romania, as well as to adapt and standardize the Romanian legislation to the legislation of the European Union.

Although in the international literature the Critical Infrastructures are fully covered, the Romanian literature is scarce and not unified, due to the fact the Critical Infrastructure notion is new and in ongoing development.

The source that legislates which infrastructures are considered of critical importance in Romania is the emergency ordinance 98/2010, that has been repeatedly altered and is still subjected to critique and amendment attempts.

The author, as security representative of a private infrastructure in the energy field, proposes completions of the procedures that determine the criticality of an infrastructure in the energy field through the ACIS methodology.

There was proposed a set of directions for the Romanian Critical Infrastructures alignment, with the rules introduced by the European Critical Infrastructure Protection Program, and, as well, adaptations of the requirements of the European Commission in relation to the Council Directive no. 2008/114 / EC.

We were aiming to strengthen and increase the resilience of Romanian Critical Infrastructures, making them more efficient, smart and robust.
The role of Aggregators in DSM in the context of Business Digitization
Authors: Puskás-Tompos András , Tantau Adrian
Published: January 2022

Nowadays electricity trading and supply are evolving rapidly due to the digitalization of the electricity industry. This evolution is also generated by the development of many new business models in the field and also by new technologies in the form of smart meters, smart grids, smart homes, demand response, artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer trading, Internet of Things or Blockchain. All these technologies together have a huge contribution to the field of electricity and jointly create the digitalization of the electricity generation, transportation, supply and trading.

The aim of the research paper is to determine the degree to which consumers agree to work with an Aggregator to implement demand response. In addition, we have an interest in searching what makes them more attractive to electricity prosumers and consumers (both households and industry) as well as identifying those triggers which make electricity consumers or prosumers to start utilizing them.

We have to bear in mind that Demand Side Management besides offering incentives and monetary benefits also assists end consumers and prosumers in energy management in the meaning of decreasing energy wastes and increasing the level of optimal generation and consumption. Beyond the above mentioned facts, the focus is on the decrease of carbon dioxide emissions generated by pollutant fossil fuel electricity generation and positively affecting global warming, without endangering the proper functioning of electricity systems. Education and awareness have a huge role in achieving a more rational, optimal and conscious consumption of electricity through Demand Side Management. The issue has to be raised to the level of importance and acceptance similar to what recycling of other recyclable materials have nowadays, such as paper, plastic, various metals and glass.
Innovation and opportunity in Romanian agricultural policies: from the agrarian reform in the 19th century to the digital era
Authors: Dorneanu Mihai
Published: January 2022

In the current global context, agriculture should develop both interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary. Digitalization and innovation represent the key drivers of evolution. Agriculture must become more flexible and adaptable to the current challenges, integrating eco-friendly solutions that can maintain production at optimal capacity for a longer period. This paper aims to review the Romanian agricultural policies from the 19th century to the present, bringing perspective on the international practices and focusing on the technological innovations that occurred in the past years. The research follows the evolution of agriculture on the European agenda. There are now new challenges imposed by the need for modernization and reconfiguration of farming into an integrated system with performance parameters and development routes. Romania has followed the trends and implemented several policies which aim to help farmers integrate the new technologies into their day-to-day work.
Opportunities for smart tourism: from human tourist guiding to virtual guiding in Bucharest
Authors: Marin-Pantelescu Andreea , Popescu Rodica Claudia , Ștefan Hint Mihaela
Published: January 2022

Tourist destinations are based on new technologies to facilitate access of visitors to tourist attractions. The mobility of the tourists together with the access infrastructure to the tourist objectives is important in the coordination of the tourist flows. More and more self-organized tours will overshadow the travel agencies tours in the demand and preferences of tourists. As technology advances, the curiosity and need of tourists to experience something new develop. The stringent health security requirements in the ‘new normal’ social life during and post-pandemic times enforce radical changes of tourism, among which virtual tourism gains solid grounds. Virtual tours accessed via smartphones have largely replaced the classical guided tours, lately. Our research is aimed at finding new ways to help Bucharest turn into a smart tourism destination. Bucharest is a European capital that needs modernization, innovation, digitalization and greater exposure and promotion internationally. The paper discusses the new trends of smart tourist destinations, the ways and means by which a destination may become smart and attractive for tourists and proposes a virtual signposting for visiting tourist attractions in Bucharest. Through our research we contribute to the intelligent tourism development in Bucharest and we offer ideas for future smart tourism projects.
Consumers’ perception on the use of cognitive computing
Authors: Pelau Corina , Barbul Maria
Published: January 2022

In a world dominated by data, information is one of the most important resources. But simply collecting and storing data is not enough, as data has to be transformed into information. Researchers agree on the fact that both computing power and analytical methods allow this at an unprecedented level. Given the consistent and wide applicability of such systems and technologies today, the present work goes into possible uses of cognitive computing and sets its focus on the retail sector. Cognitive computing generally helps with consumer profiling, deriving their preferences, delivering suitable product recommendations, and contouring the consumer experience when interacting with companies. The main aim of the present work is to investigate consumer experiences with the help of cognitive computing and lay ground for further research on this topic. In the following sections of the present article, we define the concept of cognitive computing, with regard to its meaning for multiple, diverse data streams and types. We then empirically investigate the use of CC for shaping and enriching consumer experiences with the help of cognitive virtual assistants (CVAs). After conducting quantitative research, we discuss differences in perceptions between two age groups (under and over 40 years).
AR & VR Marketing: when and where?
Authors: Silvestru Cătălin Ionuț , Ifrim Ana Maria , Oncioiu Ionica , Lupescu Marian-Ernuț , Ramido Steliana
Published: January 2022

Marketers have been trying to find the means to innovate and introduce technology as much as they can in their line of work in order to convince consumers to acquire their products or services and due to recent outcomes, it has become harder for certain fields to benefit from conventional marketing strategies and implementations. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality have the possibility to help fields that are overlooked in Online based marketing and even bring new light to presenting products and services to consumers. In this article, we will try to identify the advantages and disadvantages of using these technologies in marketing strategies, where they have been used successfully and where they can be used to innovate. We will be reviewing research papers that have been published in the field of virtual reality and augmented reality that are connected with marketing strategies with an emphasis on tourism, education and marketing, presenting the findings and relating our opinions on further developing these aspects.
Modern forms of value creation in the global agri-food chain – Perspectives from the facebook ads market
Authors: Constantin Marius , Rădulescu Iuliana Denisa , Vasić Mile , Andrei Jean Vasile , Pistalu Maria
Published: January 2022

Competitiveness has always been considered a vector of innovation that is centered around economic performance; constantly pushing companies to achieve better performance results. In such a modern society deeply marked by digitization, value creation has expanded its scope and it is no longer involving only harnessing customer satisfaction through the quality of the products or services marketed to customers, but it is also involving the permanent digital connection and engagement between the links of any value chain. Digital platforms, including social networks, are major sources of economic concentration where different forms of value emerge. For example, Facebook Inc. runs a business model that involves selling online media space for companies willing to pay money to have consumers of goods and services engage with the ads displayed on Facebook platforms, based on specific group targeting. Taking all of this into consideration, the scientific interest in exploring the nature of an emergent form of value along the chain is implicit. This paper brings its unique contribution to the existing literature concerning the topic of agri-food value chains by providing a niche marketing approach on a paradigm shift at the level of the nature of value generated in the chain in the case of highly digitized societies. The research objective was to bring the sustainability factor into the spotlight of the analysis concerning the paradigm shift of the nature of the value generated in the agri-food value chain. Research results show that some multinational corporations active in the Romanian agri-food sector use the Facebook Ad Market to reach consumers and call for them to engage in activities specific to building a sustainable agri-food system. Thus, by engaging in such activities, consumers feel that they contribute to the corporations’ effort in achieving sustainability. Consequently, a different form of value is generated along the chain.
Final Consumption and Foreign Trade for Romania and European Union – A Granger causality-based analysis
Authors: Păunică Mihai , Manole Alexandru , Motofei Cătălina , Tănase Gabriela-Lidia
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the authors seek to analyze if the relationship between final consumption and foreign trade indicators, at a macroeconomic level, manifests as a Granger causality. The graphical representation of the datasets reveals that the evolutions follow a similar pattern (with the exception of the net export). The indicators on both sides of the causality have been widely approached by researchers, as they contribute to the formation of the Gross Domestic Product. The research methodology follows the Toda-Yamamoto procedure for measurement of Granger causality, as the variables were expected to be (and were found to be in the initial step of the data analysis) non-stationary, and the results on the processing in levels can provide more accurate information. The research hypotheses were designed in order to detail the main topic of the paper on foreign trade indicators. None of the hypotheses has been validated, and the authors consider, in the future, the application of other methods to assess the quantitative side of the links between foreign trade and final consumption. The authors consider that a significant contribution brought by this study is the type of data analysis method applied and the approach towards the two macroeconomic components of the economy, for the cases of Romania and the entire European Union, of which Romania is a member.
Factors, challenges and obstacles for internationalization of Romanian agro-food products
Authors: Saracutu Ionut
Published: January 2022

The world-wide process of structural transformation is a result of the emergence of new challenges with long-term effect; which requires a strategic vision in the agro-food trade, together with the implementation of concrete actions by the authorities. Increasing global population, increasing pressure on natural resources and global warming are leading to a new framework at international level. In Europe, the aging process is an additional challenge. All these aspects will have profound implications for agriculture and rural areas. Global food demand is increasing, a large scale of urbanization, rising input prices, pressure on water resources and increasing vulnerability of crops and animals to climate change will limit food production.

Even in these conditions agricultural sector of Romania has a huge potential. Domestic food demand could be covered if this potential will be exploited with technological resources and would not depend so much by climatic factors. Also Romania could export significant quantities of agro-food products. On the other hand, Romania suffers from one of the most pronounced structural divisions of agricultural land between all EU member states and also between the new member states. Precisely for this reason, Romania loses a lot in terms of production and export of agro-food products, in competition with developed countries. This paper analyzes the competitive position of Romanian companies in agro-food value chains. The article also answers to one of the most important questions. Are Romanian companies competitive in the agro-food value chains? What are the factors, challenges and obstacles for internationalization of Romanian agro-food product? In order to answer these questions, a quantitative research was performed using statistical data obtained from International Trade Center, for the year 2019 and Romanian National Committee for Macro prudential Supervision, 2020.
Transfer of seat within European Union. The latest developments on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions of companies
Authors: Dumitru Ovidiu Ioan
Published: January 2022

Transfer of seat of companies remains one of the debated issues at European Union level as more and more cross border transactions are taking place and the shareholders try to take advantage of the rights of free movement provided by the treaties. The recent caselaw brought the European Union in a difficult position, having to accept the existing lacks in the treaty’s provisions and come with specific legislation to cover the consequences raised after Polbud case. The caselaw on transfer of seat of companies from one member state to another was not very complex and numerous at the beginning, but became incisive with the development of the internal market and increase of cross-border transactions, becoming more open towards the acceptance of the freedom of establishment in most cases of transfer, forcing the national company law, especially the rules on conflict of law, to encounter a new challenge in the harmonisation of the provisions related to incorporation, functioning, merger/division/conversion or the creation of secondary establishments. This article wants to be an overview on the reaction of the European Union, especially through the latest Directive in the field, Directive on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council (Directive (EU) 2019/2121), but taking into account the caselaw in the field and trying to project future evolution of the new provisions.
Some considerations of Romanian legal framework on online sale of OTC medicine. Coordination or contradiction to European legislation?
Authors: Guţiu Simona
Published: January 2022

The present work is aimed to answer a very interesting and sensitive legal issue in the Romanian pharmaceutical field. This issues regard mainly the existence of coordination or contradiction between Romanian (i.e. Romanian Pharmacy Law no. 266/20081) and European legislation (art 34 TFEU2) in respect of the delivery of the online sale of OTC medicine only from pharmaceutical units.
Methodology of the Austrian School of Economics from the perspective of Georg Henrik von Wright’s philosophy of science
Authors: Isaic Radu
Published: January 2022

Through this article we will try to get into the way of thinking of one of the most important economic schools, namely the Austrian School. Over time, many mistakes have been made by various economic schools because the fundamentals of thinking were not clear or the concepts used were not properly defined. Here we will try to clarify the foundation in general of the socio-human sciences and in particular of the mentioned school. Building theories or opinions on a fragile foundation will certainly give rise to a friable architecture. Among the various philosophers who have approached science, we believe that von Wight has a direct and clear approach to the type of human social thinking. From the information we have we do not know an approach similar to this article. The Austrian School has hitherto been understood as a methodology from the perspective of Aristotelianism. The question is whether a new perspective can make more sense. The methodology of presenting the article is narrative argumentation. The questions we try to answer in the conclusions are those related to understanding the present moment and discerning the future moment through the fog. The conclusions will be critical regarding the use of mathematics in the socio-human sciences, and the socio-human sciences must be understood only from the perspective of human motivations and intentions. Clarifying the starting point in economic thinking makes us more modest in drawing conclusions and making predictions about the future.
Constructivism and competitive intelligence, new economic model during Covid-19 crisis
Authors: Păduraru Mihail
Published: January 2022

Currently, the dynamics of new generation threats have deeply influenced the economic stability in several areas of the world, especially with the onset of the Covid-19 health crisis. Moreover, the nature and the plurality of the new hybrid risks and threats demands a stringent need to deepen the studies on new models used in competitive assessments.

This paper proposes integrating core ideas of constructivism into the new model of competitive intelligence in order to improve the process of economic resilience building.

That being said, the current research aims to bring into the light a complementary approach which could improve the competitive intelligence practices through economic constructivism.

The economic constructivist approach will provide additional conceptual tools to understand business and economic issues related to human consciousness, national identity, and interest formation after the state of entropy generated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This academic approach aims to highlight several particular topics, such as the relationship between competitive intelligence and economic constructivism, as well as the implications of economic constructivism for competitive intelligence.
Framework for assessing innovation capacity and business efficiency in Romanian SMEs
Authors: Onea Ioana Alexandra
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new framework for assessing the innovation capacity and efficiency in Romanian small enterprises and start-ups. In this sense, a systematic literature review has been employed in order to obtain a clear understanding of the existing knowledge and to critically evaluate the existing solutions. In addition, considering the European Union objectives regarding innovation and sustainable development, this paper investigates the present situation of Romania by interpreting the official European Commission reports and current research papers. Considering the importance of regional innovation advancement and that of creating economic growth through competitiveness, this paper scrutinizes several concepts from the scientific literature, including regional innovation governance, entrepreneurship and innovation efficiency with the final purpose of developing a framework applicable for Romania. Taking into consideration the relatively low scores of Romanian regions regarding innovativeness and technological advancement, this paper attempts to provide a clearer understanding of the applicable factors that can be used for measuring innovation performance. The proposed framework focuses on the importance of entrepreneurship and the development of new business models in order to efficiently assess the innovative endeavors of enterprises. All things considered, this paper provides both theoretical and managerial contributions and possibility for further investigations addressed at specific Romanian regions and business sectors.
Comparative study of front-of-pack nutrition labels at global level, a social responsibility issue
Authors: Dumitraşcu Luminița-Mihaela
Published: January 2022

At the global level, there are many different front-of-pack nutrition labels and there is not yet established a convergence. To promote healthier food, Governments and manufacturers try to provide more nutritional information on food labels. Changes in food labeling policy depend on how consumers and companies react to changes in the market. The paper is based on the current regulations that exist worldwide. The analysis covered the period between 1980 and 2021. This study increases the attention of all stakeholders involved in the front-of-pack nutrition labelling debate. In this regard it is relevant to present the advantages and disadvantages, the similarities and the differences of front-of-pack nutrition labelling, because each one is unique, so it is hard to compare them by using the same criteria. The paper brings into the spotlights different policies from different countries that aim to educate the consumers about the content of food, the case of front-of-pack food labeling, that represents a social responsibility issue, especially for health and obesity prevention, no communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, due to the important role played. Our results show that there are key items, in terms of social responsibility, companies should take into account when planning their strategies and may help also the investors in food manufacturing companies with an increased interest in social information to request and understand the importance of the front-of-pack nutrition labelling of companies they want to invest in. It is important to understand the label of products that we buy, to be able to choose wisely. Our research is important for the business to advance in disclosure on the pack of food of relevant information, as well for the academic community regarding the front-of-pack nutrition labelling, as a responsibility issue. Future research is needed since there is a variety of front-of-pack nutrition labelling and is changing constantly.
Sustainable purchasing role in the development of business
Authors: Toma Simona , Deaconu Alecxandrina , Radu Catalina
Published: January 2022

A general preoccupation of many local companies is to design and implement sustainable strategies. In this context, managers are seeking to identify the potential of different factors to facilitate the effective integration of sustainability into their business practices. In the present paper, we clarify the sustainable purchasing concept and we analyse this activity run within several corporations from the local banking field, IT&C and pharma. The literature review served as a basis for an empirical investigation among local large organizations. The methods used were in-depth bibliographic documentation, companies’ analysis and semi-structured interviews performed with purchasing heads. The result of the research confirms the important role of the purchasing activity and shows us how this field can contribute to a sustainable development of business. Despite the general interest and the motivation to use sustainable principles, effective incorporation of sustainable purchasing principles into business practices may encounter some obstacles, raising the need for more research.
Causes of Sustainable Tourism Resilience in Central and Eastern Europe. The Case of Three Countries: Romania, Bulgaria and Poland
Authors: Haller Alina-Petronela , Hârşan Georgia-Daniela Tacu
Published: January 2022

Resilience is a concept that reflects the ability to cope with change; sustainability is the ability to preserve the beneficial aspects associated with economic activity. Regarding the last decades, we assess the extent to which the resilience of sustainable tourism depends on labour market, economic growth, energy consumption, and renewable energy consumption. We used Granger causality applied to indicators correlated with sustainability (number of international tourism arrivals, labour force, GDP, total energy consumption, renewable energy consumption) for the period between 1995 and 2014. The time interval could not be extended because of the lack of recent data. The main result is that for Romania, Bulgaria and Poland the resilience of sustainable tourism depends on the indicators we analyzed, all of which playing the role of generator or “cause” for the numbers of arrivals. Bicausality was noticed for Romania and Poland and partial bicausality for Bulgaria because labour force and economic growth are not the causes of total energy consumption and neither are the number of tourists, labour force and economic growth the causes of renewable energy consumption. The resilience of sustainable tourism is dependent on the situation in other fields of activity since the tourism sector does not have the capacity for self-regeneration.
What contingency reward indicates – evidence from Bulgaria
Authors: Pencheva Miglena , Ghinea Valentina
Published: January 2022

Systems diagrams allow one to model the way in which complex systems work. They support thinking through the way in which the factors within a system interact and feedback upon themselves. Leadership, followers’ engagement and performance are depicted via Systems diagram approach. Current survey examines leadership behaviour toward followers, i.e. transformational and transactional styles. Full Range Leadership Model is employed to explore leader behavior with respect to Contingency reward. Objective of the paper is to examine Contingency reward within a framework of two surveys. The first one is conducted in 2017 in leading manufacturers in the light industry located in Northeastern Bulgaria. The second study was conducted in 2015 in public administrations located in the North central and Northeastern region in Bulgaria. Respondents in both are first line managers. Average values and validity analysis are performed. As a result, Contingency reward is consistent with transformational leadership.
Enredos perrunos: el perro de caza mayor en Uruguay desde diferentes colectivos sociales
Authors: Poliak Leticia , Dabezies Juan Martín
Published: January 2022

El perro es un elemento clave en la práctica de diversas modalidades de caza mayor. Es utilizado mayormente para la caza del jabalí, actividad en la cual muchas veces los perros mueren o salen heridos. En este sentido existen colectivos sociales que están en contra de la caza con perros ya que argumentan que existe una amenaza al bienestar de ese animal, o que la caza con perros genera impactos negativos en la conservación de especies nativas. Este trabajo se centra en la representación del perro de caza mayor en diferentes colectivos sociales en Uruguay. Analizamos los significados del perro en este entramado social y las tensiones entre cazadores, colectivos animalistas y el Estado. Proponemos que el perro de caza mayor es por un enredo de prácticas y representaciones en relación a la caza, el bienestar animal y la conservación de la naturaleza.
La vida de una perra guía : entre lo animal, lo humano y lo instrumental. Una aproximación desde la etnografía visual digital
Authors: Lázaro Terol Surama
Published: January 2022

En este artículo se abre la puerta a una investigación antropológica en profundidad sobre una particular relación humano-perro. Desde el marco de la etnografía visual digital y los estudios críticos animales se toma como punto de partida una imagen con una perra guía en primer plano. La producción, inserción y circulación de la imagen por la red revela los diversos propósitos y significados que se otorgan, no solo a esa imagen, sino a los perros empleados para guiar a personas invidentes. Esto nos permite llegar a otros contenidos donde se explican las prácticas realizadas para obtener perros guía. Posibilita también la observación de espacios virtuales donde se construyen narrativas y representaciones en torno a sus vidas, así como el análisis de discursos y controversias sobre la legitimidad de usarlos. En este recorrido las historias de estos canes han de transitar entre lo animal, lo humano y lo instrumental.
Influence of Mixture Proportions on Fresh and Mechanical Properties of Self-consolidating Concrete
Authors: Ahmed Ghafur H.
Published: January 2022

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) is a concrete that able to flow and consolidate under its own weight, and it is cohesive enough to fill spaces of almost any size and shape without segregation or bleeding. In this study, workability and strength characteristics of seven SCC mixes were examined and compared with two additional vibrated mixes of normal and high strength. For this purpose, the flowability, deformability, and passing ability of fresh concrete mixes were tested through slump test, slump flow, T500, and the J-ring tests. Furthermore, the hardened concrete specimens were tested for mechanical properties with the variation in shape and size of the specimens at six different ages. The results revealed that addition of micro-silica is more effective in improving concrete workability and strength than blended micro-silica and fly ash. A well-designed SCC could have an excellent flow (730 mm) and passing ability (ΔH = 4 mm), without sacrificing the early strength (22.3 MPa in 1 day), or long-term strength (107.7 MPa in 90 days). Results also showed that the compressive strength and the tensile strength of SCC mixes were less affected by specimen shape and size compared to conventional concrete mixes.
Allelopathic Potential of Foliar Application of Aqueous Extracts of Chickpea on Growth and Yield of Chickpea
Authors: Ali Kawa A. , Miran Kawa K.
Published: January 2022

A pot experiment was executed in the college of science, Salahaddin university glass house to investigate the allelopathic potentiality of aqueous chickpea Cicer arietinum L. seed extracts that was foliar sprayed on chickpea plants 45 days after sowing to estimate growth, yield, yield components, and seeds chemical characteristics. Results showed that the allelopathic effect was significant on chickpea plant height, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, shoot dry weight, seed yield per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index, hundred seeds weight, nitrogen, protein, and phosphorus content. The allelopathic effect was on its own species, and the effect was percentage dependent which, means increasing extract percentage elevated allelopathic impact. The allelopathic index was at the maximum level when the plants were sprayed with the highest extract percentage.
Effects of two resistance exercise programs on the health-related fitness of obese women with pain symptoms in the knees
Authors: Rodrigues Cambiriba Ayanne , Santos Isabella Caroline , de Souza Marques Déborah C. , Mendes de Oliveira Fabiano , Marques Gomes Bertolini Sonia M. , Alves Araújo Cynthia G. , Assaly Vania , Magnani Branco Braulio
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Overweight negatively impacts the cardiovascular system and osteomyoarticular, promoting pain in the joints of the lower limbs. Therefore, strategies have been applied to reduce overweight through lifestyle changes. Objective: to investigate the effects of two multidisciplinary intervention programs on the health-related physical fitness of obese women with pain symptoms in the knees. Methods: Women between 40 and 59 years of age with obesity (n=59) were evaluated in the pre- and post-intervention time regarding anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, level of disability in the knee and hip, and health-related quality of life. A randomized clinical trial of parallel groups was conducted, using two resistance exercise programs and food re-education, for eight weeks. All participants received the same nutritional intervention content and for physical exercises were randomized into two groups, G1 being the "strength group" using machines (n=30), and G2 being the "functional training" group (n=29). Twenty-eight women (G1=18 + G2=10) were included in the final analyses. The groups and time were evaluated by two-way analysis of variance, with repeated measures. A p < 0.05 was assumed for all analyses. Results: a time effect was identified, with higher values for maximum isometric lumbar-traction strength (MILTS), after the intervention period in both groups (p < 0.05). However, for the other variables investigated, no significant differences were identified (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The absence of significant results for all variables, except FIMTL, may be justified by the moderate adherence of the participants to interventions (~59% to 66%) since the study was conducted during the period of social isolation (COVID-19). However, it is believed that the intervention models were positive in maintaining the variables studied.