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Soil pollution by petroleum hydrocarbons is a problem of concern to researchers in various domains. Many depollution methods exist for these situations, but not in all cases can the pollutant be recovered. Soil, an important environmental factor, has to be kept clean and often has to be returned to agricultural use. A common situation of accidental soil pollution is the transportation of petroleum products through pipelines. In this paper, a study is presented that highlights a fast-acting option for significant pollutant recovery, thus limiting major soil pollution. A study on the use of electrodes to help achieve these objectives is proposed. Three working variants have been established, with different electrodes (stainless steel and copper). The degrees of depollution achieved during one week with a working voltage of 12 V were determined. The highest degree of depollution (52.94%) was obtained for copper electrodes. Although electrokinetic depollution is mainly applied to polluted waters and for the removal of metals, the method proved to be efficient also for an agricultural soil polluted with 7% diesel oil. Nutrients (NPKs) and wash water were analyzed before and after depollution to verify if secondary pollution was present.

Phytochemicals are plant-derived bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and epigenetic modulatory effects that may contribute to the prevention and management of chronic diseases. This review synthesizes recent evidence on the molecular mechanisms through which phytochemicals influence oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, and epigenetic regulation. A targeted literature search of the PubMed and Web of Science databases (2015–2025) identified over 400 experimental and review studies investigating phytochemicals with documented antioxidant and epigenetic activities. Eligible articles were selected based on relevance to oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA or histone modification pathways in chronic diseases. Data were qualitatively analyzed to highlight mechanistic links between redox balance, transcriptional regulation, and disease modulation. The results indicate that several phytochemicals, including hesperidin, phloretin, lycopene, and silybin, modulate signaling cascades—NF-κB, Nrf2, and PI3K/Akt—while also influencing DNA methylation and histone acetylation to restore gene expression homeostasis. Despite strong in vitro and in vivo evidence, translation to clinical practice remains limited by low bioavailability, lack of standardized formulations, and insufficient human trials. Future research should prioritize integrative study designs linking molecular mechanisms to clinical endpoints. Understanding the epigenetic actions of phytochemicals may guide the development of nutraceutical strategies for chronic disease prevention.

Grape marc is a by-product resulting from the winemaking industry that still contains beneficial compounds that can be valorized. Thus, we report here the possibility of using polyphenolic extracts of grape marc origin to obtain sun protection creams. The extractions were performed in ethanol and acetone solutions using pomace from different grape varieties (Merlot, Bläufrankisch, Fetească Neagră, Isabella) as a raw material. The obtained extracts were analyzed in order to determine the total phenolic content, the antioxidant activity, and the sun protection factor (SPF) via Mansur spectrophotometric assay. The best results were achieved using 70% ethanol in water as a solvent. The extracts with the highest potential photoprotective effects are from the Merlot variety (SPFspectrophotometric = 7.83 ± 0.76). The sunscreens were prepared using the 70% ethanolic extract of the Merlot variety evaporated to dryness, redissolved in either distilled water or ethanol. The SPF estimated in vitro via the COLIPA method showed values of 14.07 ± 1.50 and 11.46 ± 1.32 for the aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively, when working with a cream to polyphenolic extract a ratio of 1/1 (w/w). At the same time, the use of aqueous polyphenolic extracts ensures the better stability of creams compared with the ethanolic ones.

Today’s geopolitics has become more and more complicated, alliances change and the geopolitical actors shift from the background to the spotlight very quickly. In such a volatile environment, communication is a critical tool wielded by states and non-state actors alike. The tension between maintaining communication ethics—grounded in truth, transparency, and respect—and the urgent demand for communication efficiency—speed, clarity, and impact—has become increasingly pronounced. This article analyzes the complex interplay of these forces, with a focus on the influence of digital technologies, social media and information warfare. Drawing on case studies of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and global COVID-19 messaging, it tries to illustrate how ethical compromises can undermine efficiency in the long term and argues for a balanced communication strategy that upholds ethical standards without sacrificing strategic effectiveness.

Ischemic stroke triggers a dynamic immune response that influences both acute damage and long-term recovery. This review synthesizes a decade of evidence on immunological and inflammatory biomarkers in ischemic stroke, emphasizing their prognostic and therapeutic significance. Following ischemic insult, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chemokines like interleukin-8 (IL-8) rapidly rise, promoting blood–brain barrier disruption, leukocyte infiltration, and neuronal death. Conversely, anti-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) facilitate repair, neurogenesis, and immune regulation in later phases. The balance between these pathways determines outcomes and is reflected in circulating biomarkers. Composite hematological indices including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) offer accessible and cost-effective prognostic tools. Several biomarkers correlate with infarct size, neurological deterioration, and mortality, and may predict complications like hemorrhagic transformation or infection. Therapeutic strategies targeting cytokines, especially IL-1 and IL-6, have shown promise in modulating inflammation and improving outcomes. Future directions include personalized immune profiling, real-time cytokine monitoring, and combining immunotherapy with neurorestorative approaches. By integrating immune biomarkers into stroke care, clinicians may enhance risk stratification, optimize treatment timing, and identify candidates for novel interventions. This review underscores inflammation’s dual role and evolving therapeutic and prognostic relevance in ischemic stroke.

Selecting factors that significantly affect the extraction process and optimizing them are essential to obtain high extraction efficiency. This study aimed at optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols from Romanian blackthorn fruits using aqueous solutions of ethanol as green extraction solvents. Six process factors, including solvent/plant material ratio (RLS = 4.95–15.1 cm3/g), ethanol concentration in the extraction solvent (cet = 16.4–83.6%), extraction temperature (t = 30–70 °C), pH of the solvent (pH = 2–7), amplitude of the ultrasonic probe (A = 30–70%), and extraction time (τ = 5–15 min), were screened and optimized based on a Plackett–Burman design (PBD) and a central composite design (CCD). Statistical analysis indicated that RLS, cet, and t significantly affected the process response variables in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), and antioxidant capacity (AC). Under optimal conditions (RLS,opt = 15.1 cm3/g, cet,opt = 33.2%, topt = 66.8 °C, pHopt = 7, Aopt = 50%, and τopt = 10 min), the following levels of response variables were experimentally determined: TPCopt = 14.45 ± 0.718 mg GAE/g DM, TACopt = 0.405 ± 0.057 mg C3GE/g DM, and ACopt = 16.75 ± 1.144 mg TE/g DM. Six phenolic compounds were identified in the extract obtained at optimal levels of process factors, i.e., rutin (7.12 ± 0.06 mg/100 g DM), protocatechuic acid (6.83 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), neochlorogenic acid (4.88 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), vanillic acid (3.70 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM), chlorogenic acid (1.93 ± 0.02 mg/100 g DM), and caffeic acid (1.51 ± 0.01 mg/100 g DM).

Occupational health and safety (OHS) is essential for protecting the life, health, and physical integrity of workers. In a complex and dynamic professional context, the prevention of occupational risks has become a priority for employers and decision-makers, going beyond legal compliance to create a safe and efficient work environment. This article explores the history and the main theoretical aspects of OHS and explores the implementation of the ISO 45001 standard and introduces managing workplace health and safety (WHS) risks based on the 5M Method and a weighted composite algorithm for OHS risk assessment integrating factors such as severity, probability, frequency of exposure, number of exposed employees, organizational response capacity, and incident history. Applied in a mixed industrial case study, this approach demonstrated superior risk prioritization compared to the classic severity–probability model. The findings have practical applications: organizations can use the Weighted Composite Score to prioritize interventions, allocate resources efficiently, and prevent high-risk incidents. The approach is adaptable across industries, supporting data-driven safety decisions. The integration of this method supports ISO 45001’s principles of a systematic, proactive, and continuous improvement approach to OHS management.

The influences resulted from the strategy of sustainable development of a country represents a challenge for both the research and all those interested. This paper researches how the non-financial information is relevant in reflecting the sustainability of Romanian economic entities’ performances. In this context, reference is made to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) and to the extent that the economic entities listed at the stock exchange draft sustainable reports in compliance with the international reporting requirements. The hypotheses formulated are related to the specific characteristics of the economic entities listed on the BVB. The research was done on a sample consisting of all economic entities contained by the International Reporting System of Issuers (IRIS) platform of the BVB, the sustainable reporting was analysed through the Pearson correlation coefficient and the ANOVA test. Following the research, results were obtained that made it possible to validate/invalidate the hypotheses. One of the specific characteristics that has been noted refers to the size of the economic entity; this has been shown to influence the extent to which the sustainable report drafted complies with the requirements of the international reporting frame.

Background Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is studied from many perspectives and has gained unprecedented importance in recent years, especially in emerging economies. Pharmaceutical companies play a very important role in a population’s well-being and health through the CSR and corporate governance practices that they apply. Methods We used an exploratory approach to measure compliance with the Corporate Governance Code of pharmaceutical companies listed on the Romanian capital market and with practices declared through CSR. Results The results show that pharmaceutical companies are involved in actions that consider the well-being of society by offering financial support and managing various sustainable projects, targeting social and economic issues, leading public health awareness campaigns, and investing in health projects. Conclusion This study highlights the increasingly important role played by corporate governance and corporate social responsibility in pharmaceutical companies in improving public health in countries with emerging economies.

This study aimed at establishing the optimal conditions for the classic extraction of phenolic compounds from Prunus spinosa L. fruits. The effects of different parameters, i.e., ethanol concentration in the extraction solvent (mixture of ethanol and water), operation temperature, and extraction time, on process responses were evaluated. Total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), antioxidant capacity (AC), and contents of protocatechuic acid (PA), caffeic acid (CA), vanillic acid (VA), rutin hydrate (RH), and quercetin (Q) of fruit extracts were selected as process responses. A synergistic effect of obtaining high values of TPC, TAC, AC, PA, and VA was achieved for the extraction in 50% ethanol at 60 °C for 30 min. At a higher level of process temperature, the extraction of protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid was enhanced, but the flavonoids, i.e., rutin hydrate and quercetin, were degraded. A lower temperature should be used to obtain a higher amount of flavonoids. TPC, TAC, AC, and phenolic acid contents (PA, CA, and VA) in the extract samples obtained at an ethanol concentration of 50–100%, a temperature of 30–60 °C, and an extraction time of 30 min were strongly directly correlated.