Technical University of Moldova

This work focuses on the preparation and characterization product of a double coupling of 2‐methylaniline (2‐MeAn) with 1,3‐benzenediol (1,3‐BD) under ultrasound, using potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) as an oxidant. The structure, morphology, and properties of the nanocomposite were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), NMR (¹³C‐NMR, ¹H‐NMR, DEPT, HSQC, HMBC) analysis, mass spectroscopy (MS), and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopies. The FTIR and NMR analysis revealed the presence of amin (─NH) and hydroxyl (−OH) groups in the synthesized product. UV–vis spectroscopy analysis demonstrated various electronic transitions at π–π* and n–π* levels, indicating poly‐conjugated systems within the compound. TGA results indicated good thermal stability. The conductivity of nanocomposites was 4.6 × 10⁻⁷ S/cm. SEM examination of the synthesized material revealed that its morphology mainly consisted of fibers and a diameter in the range of 100–400 nm. XRD analysis revealed that synthesized nanocomposites showed a semicrystalline pattern. Electron spin resonance data further validated the existence of unpaired electrons on the nitrogen atoms within the material. Thus, a compound was obtained that, despite its low‐molecular structure, forms nanosized aggregates, which exhibit properties such as electrical conductivity similar to known oligomers.

Adsorption and corrosion caused by Cl− are the main reasons for the low performance of Pt-based catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in seawater. Although the introduction of hydroxyl species is an ideal approach to enhance HER kinetics and resist harmful Cl−, achieving this goal in Pt-based catalysts is challenging. In this study, we developed a high-temperature reduction process to generate PtNi alloy particles that contain Ni vacancies (Lewis acid sites) that participate in transforming lattice hydroxyls to dissociative hydroxyls on Ni layered double hydroxides (Ni-LDH). The hydroxyls in Ni-LDH bind with Lewis acid active sites to form hydroxyl rich species, a process which enhances the hydrophilicity of PtNi/Ni-LDH to promote water adsorption and enhance resistance to Cl− absorption. Owing to these properties, PtNi/Ni-LDH exhibits superior performance as an electrocatalyst for the HER in alkaline natural seawater as reflected by a low overpotential of 19 mV to drive a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 31 mV dec−1, and an only slightly elevated overpotential after 100 h of operation. This study throws light on the development of new strategies for the design of high-performance catalysts for hydrogen production by electrolytic seawater splitting.

Photo‐assisted electrocatalysis provides an effective approach to remarkably improve the performance of electrocatalytic reactions in seawater. However, the application of this technology requires the catalysts to exhibit high photo‐responsiveness, efficient carrier transfer, and strong resistance to Cl–‐induced corrosion. Moreover, the fundamental mechanisms that drive the performance enhancement in optical fields still need to be further investigated. This study presents a novel design of a dual fractal RuO2/NiO heterojunction with sheet‐like fractal NiO support and branched fractal RuO2 load (denoted as RuO2(B)/NiO(S)), possessing the features of enhanced photogenerated carriers, efficient directed carrier transfer, and inhibition of Cl⁻‐induced corrosion. In comparison to its single‐fractal and non‐fractal counterparts, RuO2(B)/NiO(S) exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic activity, superior durability, and morphological and chemical compositional stability during the photo‐assisted oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in seawater. Both experiments and theoretical calculations indicate that the significant improvement in photo‐assisted OER performance of RuO2(B)/NiO(S) results from the synergistic effects associated with dual fractal structures, which include more photogenerated carriers in the sheet‐like fractal NiO support, rapid directed carrier transfer into the branched fractal RuO2 load, and its high resistance to Cl⁻‐induced corrosion.

Evaluating the effects of nanoparticles on biomass growth and astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus lacustris is crucial for optimizing the production of astaxanthin, a valuable carotenoid with numerous industrial applications. Identifying the life stages at which these nanoparticles exert stimulatory or toxic effects will aid in formulating effective production strategies. This study investigated the effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles on biomass growth, astaxanthin biosynthesis, and lipid accumulation in Haematococcus lacustris, with a focus on their stage-specific impact throughout the algal life cycle. The nanoparticles were added at the start of cultivation, and the microalgal cultures developed continuously in their presence. Sampling for biochemical analyses was performed at distinct life stages (green motile, palmella, and aplanospore), enabling the assessment of stage-dependent responses. TiO2NPs significantly stimulated biomass accumulation during the green motile stage. In the palmella stage, astaxanthin levels decreased in the presence of all nanoparticles, likely due to the absence of a stress signal required to activate pigment biosynthesis, despite ongoing biomass growth. In contrast, the aplanospore stage exhibited reactivation of astaxanthin biosynthesis and increased lipid accumulation, particularly under TiO2NPs. Astaxanthin content increased by 21.57%. This study highlights that TiO2, ZnO, and CuO nanoparticles modulate growth and astaxanthin biosynthesis in Haematococcus lacustris in a life cycle-dependent manner.

In a global context marked by food insecurity and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, this study proposes a healthy food basket (HFB) model tailored to the demographic, cultural, and economic specificities of the Republic of Moldova which is aligned with international standards. The research employed a comprehensive methodology, including estimations of daily energy requirements using revised Harris–Benedict equations, food selection based on nutritional value, economic availability, and cultural relevance, and nutritional validation through the mean adequacy ratio (MAR), which was derived from nutrient adequacy ratios (NARs) and dietary reference values (DRVs) established by the EFSA. Nutrient intake calculations were based on food composition data and not population-level dietary surveys. Fat-soluble vitamins were excluded due to insufficient available data. The results indicate adequate intake levels of vitamins (B1, B2, B3, and C) and minerals (iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium) while highlighting deficiencies in calcium and sodium that require dietary adjustments. The inclusion of traditional foods, such as kefir and salted or raw pork fat, underscores the model’s cultural acceptability and economic relevance, strengthening the integration of global nutritional principles with regional dietary habits. This study’s limitations, including the use of secondary data and the lack of empirical validation, highlight the need for longitudinal studies. The HFB model offers a replicable solution for other regions facing similar challenges, contributing to global efforts to reduce malnutrition and promote sustainable diets.

Objectives: The high incidence of sepsis necessitates the development of practical decision-making tools for intensivists, especially during the early, critical phases of management. This study evaluates a multi-agent system intended to assist clinicians with antibiotic therapy and adherence to current sepsis management guidelines before diagnostic results become available.Methods: A multi-agent system incorporating three specialized agents was developed: a sepsis management agent, an antibiotic recommendation agent, and a sepsis guidelines compliance agent. A sepsis case from the MIMIC IV database, organized as a clinical vignette, was used to integrate and test these agents for generating management recommendations. The system leverages retrieval-augmented generation to improve decision-making through the integration of current literature and guidelines.Results: The application produced management recommendations for a sepsis case associated with pneumonia, including early initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics and close monitoring for clinical deterioration. Two expert intensivists evaluated these recommendations as “acceptable” and reported moderate interrater agreement (Cohen’s kappa = 0.622, p = 0.003) across various aspects of recommendation usefulness.Conclusions: The multi-agent system shows promise in enhancing decision-making for sepsis management by optimizing antibiotic therapy and ensuring guideline compliance. However, reliance on a single case study limits the generalizability of the findings, highlighting the need for broader validation in diverse clinical settings to improve patient outcomes.

Gluten-related disorders (GRD), including celiac disease, are managed through a strict gluten-free diet (GFD), the only established treatment. However, widespread awareness and understanding of GFD remains limited, particularly in countries like the Republic of Moldova, where celiac disease prevalence is under-researched. The primary objective of this study is to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and challenges associated with the adoption of a gluten-free diet (GFD) among the Moldovan population. A stratified sampling method was employed to collect 778 responses via an online questionnaire distributed across social media and educational platforms. The questionnaire assessed respondents’ knowledge of gluten and GFD, perceptions of wheat and gluten, and purchasing behavior regarding GF products. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA to explore differences across education levels and professional domains. Of the respondents, 77.3% could correctly define gluten, yet only 16.1% achieved a knowledge score above 50% regarding gluten-containing products and hidden gluten sources. Education level significantly influenced GFD knowledge (p < 0.05), with respondents holding postgraduate degrees demonstrating higher knowledge scores. Perceptions of gluten and wheat were predominantly neutral among GFD followers and non-followers. However, 21.1% of GFD followers perceived maintaining the diet as highly difficult, primarily due to limited availability and high costs of GF products.The study revealed a significant gap in knowledge of gluten and GFD in the Moldovan population, despite general awareness. Education level and profession were critical determinants of understanding. There is a clear need for targeted educational programs and improved access to GF products to enhance GFD adherence and management of GRD in Moldova. Public health interventions must prioritize raising awareness and addressing the economic barriers associated with GFD.

The detection of hydrogen gas is crucial for both industrial fields, as a green energy carrier, and biomedical applications, where it is a biomarker for diagnosis. TiO2 nanomaterials are stable and sensitive to hydrogen gas, but their gas response can be negatively affected by external factors such as humidity. Therefore, a strategy is required to mitigate these influences. The utilization of organic–inorganic hybrid gas sensors, specifically metal oxide gas sensors coated with ultra-thin copolymer films, is a relatively novel approach in this field. In this study, we examined the performance and long-term stability of novel TiO2-based sensors that were coated with poly(trivinyltrimethylcyclotrisiloxane-co-tetrafluoroethylene) (P(V3D3-co-TFE)) co-polymers. The P(V3D3-co-TFE)/TiO2 hybrid sensors exhibit high reliability even for more than 427 days. They exhibit excellent hydrogen selectivity, particularly in environments with high humidity. An optimum operating temperature of 300 °C to 350 °C was determined. The highest recorded response to H2 was approximately 153% during the initial set of measurements at a relative humidity of 10%. The developed organic–inorganic hybrid structures open wide opportunities for gas sensor tuning and customization, paving the way for innovative applications in industry and biomedical fields, such as exhaled breath analysis, etc.

After the winemaking process, the residues formed are called wine lees, which represent a mixture of autolyzed yeasts deposited at the bottom of wine-storage tanks. Approximately 2.96 million tons of yeast result from the vinification of 49.4 million tons of grapes. The increased costs of removing these by-products from the wine industry, which is no longer required in the production process, offer us the opportunity to capitalize on various bioactive compounds through the circular economy concept and circular process. Wine lees resulting from the large-scale production of wine represent a raw material for the valorization of phenolic compounds, proteins, and polysaccharides, as well as pigments or organic compounds. The substantial nutrient resources available from wine lees are described extensively in this manuscript and range from vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids to food supplements, edible packaging, or food products such as bakery products. This review article explores the emerging horizons of winery waste utilization, unveiling the abundance of bioactive compounds and their manifold applications across the industrial realm.

Background: Food security and sustainability are interconnected, yet the integration of nutritional and environmental metrics into food security assessments remains insufficiently explored. Objectives: This scoping review maps the literature on the integration of nutritional and sustainability metrics in food security, investigating the methods used, existing findings, and research gaps. A special focus is placed on Eastern Europe, including the Republic of Moldova, due to shared challenges in food security and the potential for adapting validated methodologies from this region. Eligibility Criteria and Sources of Evidence: His study includes articles from Web of Science and Scopus (2015–2025), published in English and Romanian, that analyze food security alongside nutritional and sustainability factors, following the Population, Concept, Context (PCC) framework. Charting Methods: The extracted data were synthesized narratively and visualized thematically, analyzing temporal trends and the geographical distribution of studies. Results: Out of 247 identified publications, 115 were included. The use of sustainability indicators has increased since 2020; however, economic and social dimensions remain underexplored. Conclusions: Developing an integrated methodological framework is essential for correlating the nutritional, ecological, and economic impact of food consumption. Future research should prioritize the development of standardized methodologies and broaden the scope of analysis, particularly in underrepresented regions such as Eastern Europe.

The work is devoted to preparation and optical study of thin solid films of pseudo-binary AsS3 - GeS4 glasses, which are remarkable as topologically belonging to isostatic materials from intermediate phase (IP) region. The glasses from IP are stress free due to their structural self-organization, consequently have to be more stable and viable. To maintain the composition of the bulk source material, the films were grown via a very fast thermal vacuum evaporation of powder of relevant glasses onto optical quartz substrates. The optical properties of (GeS4)x(AsS3)1-x films (x = 0 ÷ 1) were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry in the spectral range 0.35 ÷ 1.77 µm. It was pointed out that the films under investigation are entirely transparent in the visible and IR spectral region λ = 0.45 ÷ 1.77 µm. The refractive index follows the usual curves of a normal dispersion, reaching the maximal value around n = 3.0 at λ = 0.35 µm for AsS3 and the minimal one around n = 1.97 at λ = 1,77 µm for Ge17.2As3.5S79.3. The glass composition strongly influences the refractive index in the visible spectral range but this influence becomes must more moderate in the IR one. It was pointed out that independent on wavelength, both the extinction coefficient and refractive index nearly linearly falls with germanium concentration increase, with an exception related to ternary Ge17.2As3.5S79.3, in which the extinction coefficient shifts toward higher values but the refractive index toward lower values than those expected from aforementioned linearities. The Raman spectra analysis of the studied thin films allowed explanation of this feature in terms of inhomogeneity of the Ge17.2As3.5S79.3 films, caused by a great quantity of the nanoscale - separated stoichiometric As2S3 forming in Ge17.2As3.5S79.3 films during their growing.

The quality characteristics of seven triticale grain varieties were determined by different physiochemical analyses. For this purpose, the content of protein, wet gluten, fat, ash, moisture, carbohydrates, test weight, and thousand-kernel mass; mineral elements Ca, Na, Zn, Fe, and Cu; and total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), free radical scavenging activity (DPPH assay), and phenolic profile (4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rosmarinic acid) were analyzed. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to evaluate the quality parameters of triticale grains. According to the chemical data obtained, all triticale varieties may be used for breadmaking. A high variability was obtained among triticale varieties for mineral elements and antioxidant compounds. The highest values were recorded for Ca, followed by Fe, Na, Zn, and Cu. The TPC, TFC, DPPH, and phenolic compounds of the analyzed triticale samples increased with the increasing temperature used in the extraction method. Generally, the highest value for phenolic acid was obtained by p-coumaric acid followed by rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, and chlorogenic acid. Principal component analysis of triticale cultivars related to their physicochemical data showed close association between some varieties such as Costel; Ingen 54, Ingen 35, Ingen 33, and Ingen 93, and Ingen 40; and Fanica varieties.

Nanocomposites of tellurium and sodium nitrate were synthesized via a simple thermal dissolution of polycrystalline tellurium powder in nitric acid, followed by tellurium reduction in the presence of sodium dithionite solution. Thin solid films based on these composites have been fabricated and characterized. The morphology, composition and structure of the films were investigated by SEM, EDS, and XRD methods and the possible chemical reactions for the synthesis of relevant nanocomposites were formulated. It has been established that composites consist of nanowires with a diameter of ~100 nm and lengths up to 1,0 micrometers and nanoparticles of 100 ÷ 300 nanometers comprising about 35 at% Te and 7.0 at% of sodium nitrate. It is expected that nanocomposites synthesized via this method can be of interest in producing functional thin films, having both electronic and ionic conductivity.

The impacts of copper, gold, and silver nanoparticles on calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) and soil microbial activity were studied. The nanoparticles were introduced into soil in concentrations of 1–100 mg/L by root irrigation. Their size and shape were determined by transmission electron microscopy, while the uptake by the plant was determined by proton-induced gamma emission (PIGE) for silver and gold, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) for copper. The accumulation of the gold nanoparticles in the aerial parts of calendula was 1–33 mg/kg. It was comparable to the parallel cases with the copper nanoparticles and significantly exceeded the corresponding data for the silver nanoparticles, which in the maximal cases were 3.59 ± 0.10 mg/kg in leaves and 3.96 ± 0.12 mg/kg in flowers. All nanoparticles provoked changes in the antioxidant activity in the aerial parts of the plant and significantly suppressed the soil microbiological activity. The silver nanoparticles had the greatest negative effect on the plant pigment content and on the soil respiration rate. The obtained results present interest for plant nanotoxicology.

Provided that, if made in a sustainable way, urban planning contributes to urban sustainability and to the welfare of urban populations, comparative applied planning studies have a societal relevance in addition to the scientific one. Nevertheless, while theoretical urban studies, including those comparative, are relatively well represented, there is a scarcity of comparative studies based on planning practices. Our study fills in this gap comparing Bucharest (Romania) and Chisinau (Moldova) by their experience in planning for the green infrastructure using geospatial technologies and data-driven approaches. The methodology integrates data-based comparisons between the two cities (wherever possible) and qualitative approaches. The results of the comparison indicate that in Bucharest, a proposal for a green infrastructure network could be drafted, provided the availability of scientific results from several projects and institutions. However, a similar proposal could not be drafted for Chisinau due to lacking data. The comparison sustains the initial goal, demonstrating the usefulness of using data and scientific results in planning. At the same time, the results show that countries that share many things can have different approaches to planning. Our study opens new avenues for future research, including the extension to different topics and more diverse countries compared.

Introduction Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are increasingly explored for their biological interactions with various organisms, including cyanobacteria, due to their unique properties and potential applications. This study investigates the effects of CuNPs and CuONPs on the cyanobacterium Nostoc linckia (Roth) Born et Flah CNMN-CB-03, focusing on biomass accumulation, biochemical content, pigment composition, and microscopic structural changes. Methods Nostoc linckia cultures were exposed to CuNPs and CuONPs at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 30 mg/L. The impact on biomass, protein, pigment, lipid content, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and bioaccumulation of copper was assessed, alongside microscopic analysis to observe any structural modifications in trichomes. Results The effects of CuNPs and CuONPs on Nostoc linckia were distinct. Under high concentrations of CuNPs exposure, reductions in biomass, protein content, and pigments were observed, whereas lipid and MDA content increased significantly. Similarly, CuONPs caused a marked increase in lipid and MDA levels, suggesting oxidative stress despite the comparatively moderate alterations in other biochemical parameters. Both nanoparticle types, however, caused notable bioaccumulation of copper and structural modification in Nostoc linckia cells expressed in trichome fragmentation, chromaticity changes, and variations in heterocyst numbers and size in treated samples. Conclusion CuNPs and CuONPs exhibit differential effects on Nostoc linckia, influencing biochemical composition, pigment profiles, and cellular structure. These findings contribute to understanding nanoparticle interactions with cyanobacteria and highlight the distinct impact of nanoparticle composition on microbial systems.