Recent publications
This paper considers the theoretical and practical aspects of public sustainability policy, analyzing in particular the elements related to recycling. From a theoretical perspective, the article aims to present the existing legislative framework at the level of the European Union regarding the recycling obligations that large companies from emerging markets have. From a practical perspective, we have made a case study that reflects how the existing legislation at the EU level is applied by retailers, especially by the company that has the largest number of employees. In the case study, we analyzed the main actions that the organization implements to encourage consumers in the recycling process. For this research, we took into account the situation in emerging markets, in the process of development, where consumers have not fully acquired their recycling behaviour. As a result of the research carried out, we observe the actions regarding recycling initiated by the retailer, even before the adoption of the legislative framework. For the time period considered, the conducted research showed that the amount of recycled plastic packaging in Romania increased by 1.65%, while paper/cardboard packaging recorded a decrease in recycling by 7.98%. For this research, we monitored the implementation of the guarantee-return system (GRS), taking into account the measures implemented by the selected retailer, as well as the level of convenience experienced during the process. The conducted research demonstrated that the highest number of people who recycle (69%) carry out this action at least once a week, with plastic packaging being the most frequently recycled, accounting for 81%. Thus, we can conclude that large companies are aware of the role they have at the community level, aiming to educate and support consumers in adopting a sustainable behaviour.
Banat and Danubian regions are among the most active zones in terms of crustal seismicity in Romania. Even though active seismic monitoring started in the early 20th century, the data sets got more performant with the development and expansion of seismic network monitoring in the late 1970’s. One particularity regarding seismic data acquisition is that in many cases anthropogenic activity, such as mining and quarry exploitation, interferes with natural seismicity. We aim to bring forward a series of data extracted from the ROMPLUS catalog to identify anthropogenic interference. To this aim, we propose a procedure based on multiple discrimination criteria, such as local time of event occurrence, magnitude, location concerning the nearest exploitation site, depth, and P wave input analysis (polarity and waveform). Identifying and filtering the anthropogenic events from the catalog will result in better imaging and characterizing of the natural seismic phenomenon in Banat and Danubian zones, improving the regional seismic hazard assessment this way.
This paper conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore the existing literature on the interrelation between climate change and economic growth through the prism of environmental policies. Utilising both VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software, we analyse 2,131 articles from the Web of Science database between 2000 and 2024, focusing on the fields of Economics, Social Sciences, and Environmental Science. Our investigation identifies key trends, research hotspots, patterns, and gaps in the literature, highlighting the significant impact of climate change on the macroeconomic environment. Bibliometric networks created on account of keywords such as “climate change risks,” “macroeconomy,” and “environmental policy” reveal strong interconnections among research clusters, particularly emphasising the role of public policy in managing climate-related risks. Notably, our findings evidence the geographical distribution of research on this topic, which is more prominent in non-EU countries despite the European Union’s recent policy focus on sustainability. This paper underscores the necessity for targeted research and policy measures to address the economic implications of climate change, emphasising the role of consumer behaviour, uncertainty, and expectations with a country-specific focus. Our research contributes to the existing literature by providing a detailed mapping of the intellectual landscape and suggesting directions for future research to support effective climate policies.
This research examines the impact of climate change risks on the macroeconomic situation and the security of the economic system in the EU-27 during the 2002-2020 period. By employing methodologies such as the Ordinary Least Squares and Principal Component Analysis, the study evaluates the interrelationship between Climate Change Risk (CCR), Macroeconomic Situation (MS), and Economic System Security (ESS). The research develops composite indicators to analyse these phenomena in detail, while results reveal significant variations in CCR, MS, and ESS among EU member states, indicating a heterogeneous response to climate risks and economic stability and highlighting the need for differentiated policy approaches. Our research contributes to understanding the impacts of climate change on economic structures by providing insights into policy formulation and strategic planning to strengthen economic resilience and emphasising the need for an interdisciplinary approach that connects climate variables with economic indicators. The strategic alignment at national levels supports global sustainability efforts and ensures a unified and effective response to climate risks within the European economic system.
The idle crayfish (Austropotamobius bihariensis Pârvulescu, 2019), endemic to Romania's Apuseni Mountains, urgently requires a specific conservation plan. Due to its recent description, conservation efforts have been limited, highlighting the need for immediate and practical recommendations to ensure its protection. Over 13 years, field observations were conducted to evaluate population trends and identify threats following IUCN standards. Additionally, geospatial assessments and predictive modelling were employed to estimate both the optimal habitat and current population size under three distinct scenarios. The primary threats identified include poor forest management, extreme drought, anthropogenic development and riverbed alterations, all contributing to declines in crayfish abundance. The most severe impacts arise when these pressures converge at a single site, compounded by a chronic, low-virulence crayfish plague infection (A-haplogroup). The total population is estimated at 31,150 (± 449.9 SE) individuals, with 1,163,754 m 2 of suitable habitat, of which only 37.9% lies within 13 protected areas under the most realistic scenario. Poor water quality was found to significantly reduce the modelled population size. In light of these findings, we propose a series of targeted conservation actions tailored for each protected area and highlight the importance of extending measures beyond their current boundaries. Additionally, we recommend implementing the 'ark sites' concept in regions with optimal ecological conditions, stable populations and genetic diversity, to reduce pressures and safeguard the species through effective field management.
In this paper, we consider the effect of interactions on the local, average polarization of a quantum plasma of massless fermion particles characterized by vector, axial, and helical quantum numbers. Due to the helical and axial vortical effects, perturbations in the vector charge in a rotating plasma can lead to chiral and helical charge transfer along the direction of the vorticity vector. At the same time, interactions between the plasma constituents lead to the dissipation of the helical charge through helicity-violating pair annihilation (HVPA) processes and of the axial charge through the axial anomaly. We will discuss separately a QED-like plasma, in which we ignore background electromagnetic fields and thus the axial charge is approximately conserved, as well as a QCD-like plasma, where instanton effects lead to the violation of the axial charge conservation, even in the absence of background chromomagnetic fields. The non-conservation of helicity and chirality leads to a gapping of the Helical, Axial, and mixed Axial-Helical vortical waves that prevents their infrared modes from propagating. On the other hand, usual dissipative effects, such as charge diffusion, lead to significant damping of ultraviolet modes. We end this paper with a discussion of the regimes where these vortical waves may propagate.
The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset–with data collected between 2020 and 2022 –to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis indicated that configural and metric invariance was upheld across all nations, languages, gender identities, and age groups, suggesting that the unidimensional SWLS model has universal applicability. Full scalar invariance was achieved across gender identities and age groups. Based on alignment optimisation methods, partial scalar invariance was achieved across all but three national groups and across all languages represented in the BINS. There were large differences in latent SWLS means across nations and languages, but negligible-to-small differences across gender identities and age groups. Across nations, greater life satisfaction was significantly associated with greater financial security and being in a committed relationship or married. The results of this study suggest that the SWLS largely assesses a common unidimensional construct of life satisfaction irrespective of respondent characteristics (i.e., national group, gender identities, and age group) or survey presentation (i.e., survey language). This has important implications for the assessment of life satisfaction across nations and provides information that will be useful for practitioners aiming to promote subjective well-being internationally.
Cryptocurrencies have rapidly become popular as digital assets, and as the market evolves, it is of great importance to understand their volatility and risk behavior. They present specific challenges and opportunities given that are operating within a decentralized and fast-changing ecosystem. Thus, their volatility affects risk management, investment strategies, and market stability. Cryptocurrency volatility can create both opportunities and risks. While it can provide substantial returns, it also presents challenges in terms of investment strategy, regulatory frameworks, business operations, and economic stability. As the cryptocurrency market matures, it’s likely that solutions to manage volatility will evolve, but it remains a key concern for participants in the ecosystem. In this respect, the aim of the paper is to examine the volatility behavior of the main cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin), for a recent period, i.e. from June 2018 to June 2023. Using both traditional and advanced GARCH models, the results show that these cryptocurrencies experience periods of high and low volatility, but there is no significant asymmetry effect in their responses. This suggests a balanced risk-return profile for investors. Furthermore, there is no evidence for risk premium within the sample, that is no link between risk and return. Additionally, past volatility has a greater impact on current volatility than new information, since GARCH coefficients are significantly higher than the ARCH coefficients. These insights can help investors, policymakers, and researchers to manage the cryptocurrency markets more effectively.
This paper presents insights into the various challenges managers and employees encounter in implementing and using Performance Management Systems (PMS) within their organizations. The analysis draws on a decade of qualitative data collected from participants of The KPI Institute’s training programs. The primary objective of the paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by professionals in the field. Data was collected qualitatively, through focus groups organized at the beginning of each training session between 2012-2022. The research employs a thematic analysis approach to categorize and interpret the data collected through focus groups. In addition to the thematic analysis, a narrative analysis provides a richer, contextual understanding of the data. Data reveals seven key themes where participants encountered challenges. The study identified the primary challenges in performance management systems as KPI selection, organizational culture, system implementation, KPI activation, measurement process standardization, learning and improvement, and employee performance management. Participants emphasized that addressing these challenges requires aligning KPIs with strategic objectives, fostering a supportive organizational culture, ensuring accurate data collection and standardization processes, and mitigating subjectivity in employee performance appraisals.
The continuous development of money and payment instruments is a matter of concern for each central bank. As a response to the use of cryptocurrencies, more and more central banks intend to issue digital currencies - the so-called Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Information Technology progress and new financial elements determine central banks’ adaptation to these new challenges. All over the world, central banks have explored the opportunity of issuing CBDC at different stages; some banks are conducting research, others are in the testing phase, and only a select few have begun distributing digital currency to the public. Against this background, our review paper aims to analyze the existing literature about central bank digital currency and contextualize it with financial stability. On the one hand, we underline the main research directions on this topic. On the other hand, we use VOSviewer software to identify the most frequent and essential keywords and the nodes between keywords characterizing the link between CBDC and financial stability. We show that CBDC issuance has complex implications for the economic and financial system. Central banks must carefully consider the design features of digital money and the potential benefits and risks of CBDC.
Introduction: T2DM mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health issue associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. While the role of lifestyle factors in glycemic control is well-established, the influence of oral health behaviors remains underexplored. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the interplay between lifestyle habits, oral health behaviors, and glycemic control in patients with T2DM. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 132 patients (66 men and 66 women) with T2DM at the Pius Brînzeu Emergency Hospital in Timișoara, Romania. Data on smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, tooth brushing frequency, and dental visits were collected using structured questionnaires, and glycemic control was assessed through HbA1c measurements. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlations and linear regression, were performed. Results: Among men, HbA1c levels were negatively associated with exercise frequency (ß = −0.26, p < 0.05) and education level (correlation coefficient −0.27, p < 0.05), and positively associated with dental visits and tooth brushing frequency (correlation coefficient 0.26, p < 0.05). In the combined analysis, education level positively correlated with both dental visits (correlation coefficient 0.24, p < 0.01) and alcohol consumption (correlation coefficient 0.22, p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of integrating oral health and lifestyle interventions into diabetes management to optimize patient outcomes.
This study investigates the development and comprehensive characterization of innovative thermoresponsive gels incorporating rosemary essential oil (RoEO) encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles, with a focus on their potential applications in topical antimicrobial and wound healing therapies. RoEO, renowned for its robust antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties, was subjected to detailed chemical profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), which identified oxygenated monoterpenes as its dominant constituents. PLGA microparticles were synthesized through an optimized oil-in-water emulsion technique, ensuring high encapsulation efficiency and structural integrity. These microparticles were thoroughly characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm functional group interactions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for surface morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystalline properties, and thermal analysis for stability assessment. The synthesized microparticles displayed uniform size distribution and efficient encapsulation, demonstrating compatibility with the gel matrix. Two distinct thermoresponsive gel formulations were developed using varying ratios of Poloxamer 407 and Poloxamer 188 to achieve optimal performance. The gels were evaluated for key physicochemical properties, including pH, gelation temperature, viscosity, and rheological behavior. Both formulations exhibited thermoresponsive gelation at skin-compatible temperatures (27.6 °C and 32.9 °C), favorable pH levels (6.63 and 6.40), and shear-thinning behavior suitable for topical application. Antimicrobial efficacy was assessed against common pathogens associated with skin infections, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. The RoEO-PLGA-loaded gels demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, confirming their potential as effective carriers for controlled and localized drug delivery. These findings underscore the promising application of RoEO-PLGA-loaded thermoresponsive gels in addressing challenges associated with topical antimicrobial therapies and wound care, offering an innovative approach to enhancing therapeutic outcomes. By integrating the bioactive potential of RoEO with the advanced delivery capabilities of PLGA microparticles and thermoresponsive gels, this study paves the way for the development of next-generation formulations tailored to meet the specific needs of localized drug delivery in skin health management.
Utilising the TVP-VAR-SV approach, this article aims to reveal the dynamically evolving relationships among forest investment (FI), climate uncertainty (CU) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU). The results indicate that FI benefits CU in the early stages, whereas this positive trend reverses over the medium and long terms. This observation suggests that the positive effects of forestry investment on climate security are delayed. FI consistently negatively influences EPU, highlighting the role of forestry investment in enhancing economic security. Notably, the impact of FI on EPU is more substantial than its impact on CU, primarily due to the more direct and correlated nature of investment in the economy. Conversely, CU has mixed effects on FI, showing climate insecurity can either boost or hinder forestry investment. EPU, however, hinders FI, implying economic insecurity blocks forestry investment. These findings suggest valuable suggestions to ensure China’s climate and economic security through forestry investments.
This paper aims to appraise the impact of ESG credentials on the financial performance of agricultural companies with main headquarters in Europe by examining the strategic ESG investment behaviour of firms in twelve specific sectors. The methodology consists of a two-fold approach: first, cross-sectional FGLS regression with generalised least squares; second, overall interlinkages between considered variables through Bayesian network analysis. The research questions focus on the implications of each ESG pillar – environmental, social, and governance – on the performance of agricultural companies. Key findings entail that the environmental dimension strongly relates to agricultural companies’ outcomes, such as toxic chemicals reduction strategies, waste recycled to the total waste contribution, biodiversity impact reduction, and eco-design products. As regards the social pillar of ESG, salaries and wages positively relate only to shareholders’ earnings, while governance factors like CEO compensation, board structure type, and board’s gender diversity favourably influence the financial performance of agricultural companies. ESG implications for agricultural companies are beneficial when they implement sustainable strategies. These strategies include establishing targets for water efficiency policies, increasing employee turnover, maintaining a steadfast water efficiency policy, enhancing the use of environmentally-friendly products, and reevaluating board structures from unitary to two-tier or mixed types.
Individuals are the driving force that sustains and helps a company succeed (Mura et al., 2021). Previous research from the organizational behavior domain sustains that management’s emotions are of great importance in the performance of organizations (Lee et al., 2023; Minárová et al., 2020). The role of emotions in an organization is highlighted by Reynolds and Vince (2004) who sustain that “Every organization is an emotional place because it is a human invention, serving human purposes and dependent on human beings to function” (p. 443). In family businesses (FBs), the strength of family bonds and the inclusion of certain family members in the management and work process, strongly impact the organizational processes (Babet, 2020). Worldwide, FBs constitute the dominant organizational structure, with more than 60% of global businesses, contributing over 50%–75% of the gross domestic product (GDP), and workforce employed in any state (Gagné et al., 2021). The specificity and uniqueness of the FB are given by the different reasons that support a family and non-family firm (Chaudhary et al., 2021). The main characteristics are represented by socioeconomic wealth (Craig & Newbert, 2020), strong and trustful relationships between managers (Cunningham & McGuire, 2019), long-term orientation (Chaudhary et al., 2021), strongly connected with their traditions, values, and culture (Minárová et al., 2020), and respect for their business reputation, often associated with family reputation (Beck & Prügl, 2018).
Semantic segmentation is an important computer vision task due to its numerous real-world applications such as autonomous driving, video surveillance, medical image analysis, robotics, augmented reality, among others, and its popularity increased with the development of deep learning approaches. We provide a detailed review comprising the most significant methods for both heavy and lightweight two-dimensional (2D) semantic segmentation, starting with the introduction of convolutional neural networks until the use of Transformer architecture, the latter being a widely adopted model with state-of-the-art results in several artificial intelligence fields. The methods involved are described from the architectural design perspective, including encoder-decoder architectures, multi-resolution branches approaches, two-pathway encoder architectures, attention-based models, and pyramid-based models. Additionally, some of the most popular datasets and performance metrics are presented. Further, we investigate the limitations of these methods, compare their performance on Pascal VOC 2012, Cityscapes, and ADE20K datasets, and finally indicate future research directions.
This chapter reviews factors that are rarely considered as the focus of empirical research, yet they likely impact the outcome of neuropsychological assessments and are often recognized as relevant clinical variables by practitioners. Carefully considering their impact on the results of the assessment can enhance the overall case conceptualization and the validity of the clinical interpretations. In addition to a review of relevant literature, the chapter includes case studies and new data to illustrate key concepts. Complicating factors are grouped into three categories: (1) Examinee-related variables, (2) Contextual variables, and (3) Assessment artifacts. Tentative solutions to managing these confounding variables are discussed.
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