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Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), provides unmatched design flexibility for creating intricate steel structures with minimal post-processing. However, adopting L-PBF for high-performance applications is difficult due to the challenge of predicting microstructure evolution. This is because the process is sensitive to many parameters and has a complex thermal history. Thin-walled geometries present an added challenge because their dimensions often approach the scale of individual grains. Thus, microstructure becomes a critical factor in the overall integrity of the component. This study focuses on applying cellular automata (CA) modeling to establish robust and efficient process–structure relationships in L-PBF of 316L stainless steel. The CA framework simulates solidification-driven grain evolution and texture development across various processing conditions. Model predictions are evaluated against experimental electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data, with additional quantitative comparisons based on texture and morphology metrics. The results demonstrate that CA simulations calibrated with relevant process parameters can effectively reproduce key microstructural features, including grain size distributions, aspect ratios, and texture components, observed in thin-walled L-PBF structures. This work highlights the strengths and limitations of CA-based modeling and supports its role in reliably designing and optimizing complex L-PBF components.

In light of alarming climate change and the worsening water crisis, the use of ultra-low volume applications is essential for modern agricultural practices. Given that sunflower cultivation is widespread in Romania, our study focused on analyzing the effectiveness of chemical treatments for controlling pathogens in this crop using drone-spraying technology. We applied chemical treatments with the DJI Agras T50 drone to compare the efficiency of fungicides applied at reduced volumes to those applied at normal volumes, simulating traditional ground application methods. Our findings showed that applying fungicides at ultra-low volumes increased their effectiveness by 23–35% compared to normal volumes. With a spray rate of 10 L per hectare, we achieved fungicide efficiencies exceeding 90%, depending on the specific pathogen. This experiment demonstrates that applying fungicides at low (LV) and ultra-low volumes (ULV) can significantly enhance their effectiveness. Drones are uniquely capable of uniformly distributing these small quantities of solutions over extensive areas.

During the hot pressing of pure titanium and different carbon steels in a temperature range of ϑ = 950–1050 °C, a compound layer up to dL≈10 μm thick is formed at the titanium–steel interface. With a higher carbon content of the used steel, the layer thickness increases. The carbon concentration within the layer is in the range of stoichiometry for TiC. Apart from TiC, no other phases can be detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements inside the formed layer. The calculation of the activation energy for the TiC layer formation is Q = 126.5–136.7 kJ mol−1 and is independent of the carbon content of the steel. The resulting microstructure has a grain size gradient, wherein the mechanical properties, such as hardness and Young‘s modulus, are almost constant. Statistical analysis using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) indicates that the carbon content of the steel has the most significant influence on layer thickness, followed by annealing temperature and annealing time. By selecting the appropriate carbon steel and the subsequent removal of the steel, it is possible to produce targeted TiC layers on titanium substrates, which holds enormous potential for this material in wear-intensive applications.

The common agricultural policy represents one of the main and the oldest initiatives developed by the European Commission to improve the people’s lives. In recent years, in the context of strong environmental changes, the attention addressed by policy makers to the agricultural sector increased significantly. If we consider the political and economical changes on a global scale, the European discourse on agriculture and food should be substantially updated. This article is studying the newest European discourse on assuring a more sustainable future for European consumers, but also for the European farmers who need protection in the new political, economic and climate changes. The methodology used is focused on analysing, processing and interpreting the data provided by the European institutions, especially by the European Commission. Following the research carried out based on the article, the following result is revealed: the European Commission has a real desire to improve the common agricultural plans and strategy through the money allocated in this direction.

One of the fundamental challenges in L-PBF of filigree geometries, such as aortic stents used in biomedical applications, is the requirement for a robust yet easily removable support structure that allows each component to be successfully fabricated without distortion. To solve this challenge, an integrative experimental approach was attempted in the present study by identifying an optimal support structure design and an optimized support removal strategy for this design. The specimens were manufactured using four different support structure designs based on the geometry exposed to the laser beam during the L-PBF. Support removal procedures included sand blasting (SB), glass bead blasting (GB), and electrochemical polishing (ECP). The two best-performing designs (line and cross) were chosen due to shorter lead times and lower material consumption. As an additional factor that indicates a stable design, the breaking load requirement to remove the support structures was determined. A modified line support with a 145° included angle was shown to be the best support structure design in terms of breaking load, material consumption, and manufacturing time. All three procedures were used to ensure residue-free support removal for this modified line support design, with ECP proving to be the most effective.

IN THE LAST DECADES EUROPEAN UNION WAS FORCED TO COPE WITH MULTIPLE EXTERNALCHALLENGES. NOWADAYS, THE PROFOUND TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMAND THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALISATION AND INTERNATIONALISATION ARE MAKING THE RISKS ANDTHREATS HARDER TO MANAGE. FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE A HUGE PRESSURE IS EXERCISED ONTHE DECISION MAKING SYSTEM, BOTH AT NATIONAL AND EUROPEAN LEVEL. THIS ARTICLEFOCUSES ON THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN DEVELOPING AN EFFICIENTMANAGEMENT OF MIGRATION FLOWS. OUR ANALYSIS IS CONSIDERING THE STATUS OF THE E.C.WITHIN THE E.U.`S STRUCTURE AND THE INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR NOW.

BEING GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION AT EUROPEAN LEVEL, THE ARTICLE REPRESENTS ANEFFORT TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN TERRORISM AND THEEUROPEAN SOCIO-POLITICAL STRUCTURES. FOR THIS WE CHOSE THE SCHENGEN AREA AND WEANALYZED ITS MAIN ISSUES ON THE ONGOING CONTEXT AND AFTERWARDS WE TRIED TO FINDTHE BEST SUITABLE OPTION AVAILABLE (REFORM OR DISSOLUTION).

Party leaders continue to be crucial players in politics. The theories of personalization and presidentialization of party politics reflect the centrality of leaders’ roles. Little attention has been paid to the effects of leaders on the formation and development of newly emerged parties. This article aims to fill that gap by analyzing the effect of leaders on the formation, intra-party cohesion, and membership organization of three newly emerged Romanian parties between 2015 and 2019. The qualitative analysis uses content from primary (party documents and elite discourses) and secondary sources (media reports). The findings indicate that the leaders’ approaches towards party formation and organization differ substantially across the examined parties and explain their cohesion and electoral appeal.

Political parties and candidates are engaging various methods and efforts to mobilize voters during electoral campaigns. Some of them are buying votes, offer jobs while others are using threats, intimidation and violence. All of these are components of more complex phenomenon, known as political clientelism. Much scholarly attention is paid to why political parties use clientelism, what are the costs and benefits and what are the implications for democracy. However, we know little about the forms in which this occurs. The paper addresses this gap in literature and analyzes what types of clientelism exist and what are its main forms of manifestation, in various political and social contexts. It reviews the extensive literature on clientelism and focuses on two major categories: positive clientelism and negative clientelism.

In the most recent two decades, the political campaigns conducted by the Social Democratic Party in Romania targeted specific groups of voters, with little intention to attract new voters. The reason behind their strategy is that they could secure a relatively constant support of roughly one third of the electorate and so win the popular vote in every election since 2000. However, the 2016 parliamentary elections marked a turning point in this approach and the party used almost exclusively online marketing to organize, streamline and channel its messages. This article seeks to understand why this change occurred although it did not seem to be necessary. This change is more surprising in a context in which the main political competitors were weak and disorganized. Our qualitative analysis aims to identify and explain the main elements that determined this change. It accounts for three main variables: experiential learning, the role of a new party leader and the use of new opportunities.