The aims of this study were to determine the radon concentration in natural mineral and tap water and to estimate the resulting ingestion doses received by adults. Physical-chemical characteristics ...of water samples have also been investigated. In the last years have been an increase of water consumption of both, natural mineral and tap, many sources and producers being available on the market. Thus, the physical-chemical and radiologic parameters of water must be in compliance with the Drinking Water Directive (DWD). Thus, the study presents an assessment of the radioactivity due to 222Rn and 3H in several mineral natural water samples from the north region of Romania, but also in several tap water samples. The methods used were based on gamma spectrometry, gross alpha-beta measurements and beta spectroscopy, but also ICP-MS for chemical parameters. The results of this work showed that the geology and rock types clearly influence the water radon concentration. The radon concentration is lower in the water that passes through sedimentary rocks than that passing through granitic rocks. An important aspect of this work is to provide reliable information regarding radon and tritium concentrations. Radon concentration varied between 0.15±0.05 Bq/L and 11.35±2.97 Bq/L in the natural mineral water samples and between 0.17±0.05 Bq/L and 8.51±2.34 Bq/L in the tap water samples. An estimation of annual effective radiation dose based on the sample results was also made. Calculated values for ingestion dose due to regular consumption of water does not induce a health risk because of the intake of various radionuclides contained in the water. The maximum values being of 47.38 µSv/y. The determined values for the collected samples are below recommended reference levels, but more important aspect is that this study emphasise environmental sustainability in the investigated area.
When establishing the constructive structures that must reach the required levels of fire performance, one must start from the fact that the fire is an accident. The structures must remain viable for ...the normal fire time considered. The behaviour of the construction to the fire is dependent, besides other factors, on the contribution to the fire of the elements and parts of the construction, of the materials and products for the construction, as well as on the fire resistance of some of them. Due to the fact that the initiation and evolution of the fires is different, it was imposed that the determination of the fire behaviour of the constructions and the materials that enter their composition should be done under specified conditions, by exposing them to a specified ignition source, in a good context.
This research presents a new testing method in a natural scale for external cladding systems tested on buildings with minimum than 3 floors 1. The testing method is unique in Romania and it is ...similar about many fire testing current methods from European Union states. Also, presents the fire propagation and the effect of fire smoke on the building façade composed of thermal insulation. Laboratory of testing and research for building fire safety from National Institute INCERC Bucharest, provides a test method for determining the fire performance characteristics of non-loadbearing external cladding systems and external wall insulation systems when applied to the face of a building and exposed to an external fire under controlled conditions 2. The fire exposure is representative of an external fire source or a fully-developed (post-flashover) fire in a room, venting through an opening such as a window aperture that exposes the cladding to the effects of external flames, or an external fire source. On the future, fire tests will be experimented for answer demande a number of high-profile fires where the external facade of tall buildings provided a route for vertical fire spread.
Background: Social and vocational reintegration of persons with brain injury is an important element in their rehabilitation.
Aims: To evaluate the 5-year outcome of persons with brain injury ...included in 2008 in the Aquitaine Unit for Evaluation, Training and Social and Vocational Counselling programme (UEROS).
Method: 57 persons with brain injury were recruited from those who completed the 2008 UEROS programme. Five years later, an interview was done to assess family and vocational status, autonomy and life satisfaction. These results were compared with those from persons completing the 1997-1999 programme.
Results: The typical person entered the 2008 UEROS programme 6 years after a severe brain injury (42%) and was male, single and 35 years. At the 5-year follow-up, more persons lived with a partner (+23%) and lived in their own home (+21%). 47% were working vs 11% on entering the programme. Approximately half were satisfied or very satisfied with their quality of life. Having a job in 2013 was associated with a high education level, less cognitive sequelae, having a job in 2008 and no health condition.
Conclusions: The UEROS programme is effective with regard to return-to-work and improvement of autonomy in persons with brain injury, irrespective of length of time from injury.
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•Gd or/and Dy containing silica submicronic particles obtained by Stöber method.•Investigation of structure, morphology and NMR relaxivity.•Potential applications as contrast agents ...for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Silica submicronic particles doped with Dy and Gd paramagnetic ions were successfully synthesized by using chemical synthesis based on the modified Stöber method, having potential applications as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Structural characterization analyses show an amorphous character of the particles (XRD), good thermal stability (DTA), and spheroid shape (SEM). The integration of paramagnetic ions into the silica network was demonstrated by the TEM, EPR and FTIR spectroscopies.
The magnetic resonance (MR) relaxivity examinations of the samples show a high rate of relaxivity for the particles doped with Dy, making them suitable as T2 contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. This is in contrast to the results obtained on the particles doped with Gd, which are an effective T1-weighted MRI contrast agent. Notably, if the silica structure incorporates both Gd and Dy the particles are suitable for contrast enhancement in both T1 and T2 weighted images. These characteristics of the samples are also supported by the value of the relaxivity ratio (r2/r1) for the three samples doped with paramagnetic ions. The results confirm the sustainability of MRI contrast agent applications for all three synthesized samples.
The Romanian norms and technical regulations do not provide the obligation of compartment fire tests for composite facade insulation systems "ETICS". Unfortunately, only after these tests can result ...reliable data on the performance evaluation of ETICS under the effects of compartment fires, and there is still no harmonized European standard requiring such tests (in 2018 the first part of a European project that aims to harmonize the fire exposure test of façades was completed). In this context, researchers from the INCERC Fire Security Research and Testing Laboratory in Bucharest, tested experimentally the exposure to compartment fire of two types of ETICS, according to the test method set out in BS 8414. The climate test conditions of both systems were similar, and after the tests (for the first time in Romania) a series of data were obtained on the behaviour of ETICS under the action of compartment fires. With these results, the Romanian fire research aims to bring its contribution at European level, for the large-scale fire performance assessment of ETICS and the identification of innovative solutions for limiting fire propagation on building facades.
The objective of this study was to identify spatial disparities in the distribution of cancer hotspots within Romania. Additionally, the research aimed to track prevailing trends in cancer prevalence ...and mortality according to a cancer type. The study covered the timeframe between 2008 and 2017, examining all 3,181 territorial administrative units. The analysis of spatial distribution relied on two key parameters. The first parameter, persistence, measured the duration for which cancer prevalence exceeded the 75th percentile threshold. Cancer prevalence refers to the total number of individuals in a population who have been diagnosed with cancer at a specific time point, including both newly diagnosed cases (occurrence) and existing cases. The second parameter, the time continuity of persistence, calculated the consecutive months during which cancer prevalence consistently surpassed the 75th percentile threshold. Notably, persistence of elevated values was also evident in lowland regions, devoid of any discernible direct connection to environmental conditions. In conclusion, this work bears substantial relevance to regional health policies, by aiding in the formulation of prevention strategies, while also fostering a deeper comprehension of the socioeconomic and environmental factors contributing to cancer.
Plain Language Summary
This study presents the inaugural spatial geographical map of cancer fatality and the distribution of high cancer prevalence across all types of cancer in Romania. Conducted between 2008 and 2017, this research aimed to identify patterns in the territorial distribution for all reported cancer within the country's territorial administrative units, by calculation of the two main parameters, namely cancer persistence and the time continuity of its persistence. The findings reveal a decline in total cancer cases, while certain subcategories displayed an upward trend. The analysis of mortality demonstrated a pronounced increase in overall prevalence. By emphasizing the connection between cancer prevalence, outcomes, and geographical factors in Romania, this study provides crucial insights for refining national and European policies in the fight against cancer.
Key Points
This study reveals geographical disparities in the prevalence of all cancer types in Romania
The analysis spans the period from 2008 to 2017
It was observed that cancer prevalence increased in correlation with anthropogenic interventions in the region
The façade fire simulation of buildings is carried out with Pyrosim numerical fire modeling program, following the implementation of a fire scenario in this simulation program. The scenario that was ...implemented in the Pyrosim program by researchers from the INCERC Fire Safety Research and Testing Laboratory complied with the requirements of BS 8414. The results obtained following the run of the computational program led to the visual validation of effluents at different time points from the beginning of the thermal load burning, as well as the validation in terms of recorded temperatures. It is considered that the results obtained are reasonable, the test being fully validated from the point of view of the implementation of the fire scenario, of the correct development of the effluents and of the temperature values 1.
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