Alexandru Rusu - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Alexandru Rusu

Sustainability

The main quality condition in street lighting is luminance distribution. During the carrying out ... more The main quality condition in street lighting is luminance distribution. During the carrying out of the literature, average luminance is the most important parameter to check. The standard BS EN 13201-3 imposes that average luminance must be calculated for the observer placed in the center of each circulating lane. As a consequence, according to these standards, the measurements can be done only on streets without traffic. Stopping the traffic on all lanes is very difficult. This paper proposes a solution for measuring the average luminance from outside the carriageway. The research was performed by simulations/calculations and was validated by field measurements. Imaging sensors were used to measure average luminance, while DIALux EVO 9.1 was used for the simulations. For symmetrical, opposite, and staggered lighting arrangements, average luminance measurements were performed with a digital camera positioned outside of the traffic area, with the equipment placed at the edge of the ...

Foods

The circular economy action plan involves principles related to food waste reduction and integrat... more The circular economy action plan involves principles related to food waste reduction and integration of recovered nutrients to the market. In this context, the present study aims to highlight the valuable bioactive components found in tomato processing by-products (carotenoids, phenolic compounds and fatty acids) influenced by industrial pre-treatments, particularly cold break (CB) process at 65–75 °C and hot break (HB) process at 85–95 °C. The fatty acid profile of the tomato seed oil was examined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), individual carotenoid and phenolic compositions were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the viscoelastic properties were evaluated by rheological measurements. The physicochemical properties revealed appropriate characteristics of the tomato seed oil to fit the standards of generally accepted edible oils, for both CB and HB derived samples, however, significant qualitative and quantitative differences...

Proceedings of 1st International Electronic Conference on Microbiology

Proceedings of 2nd Coatings and Interfaces Web Conference

Tannins are the secondary metabolites of plants, and are polymers consisting mainly of glycosides... more Tannins are the secondary metabolites of plants, and are polymers consisting mainly of glycosides, found in nature as hydrolysable tannins or condensed tannins, as well as a combination of them. In the European Horizon 2020-funded Stance4Health project, one of the objectives is to develop special tannin extracts (from chestnut wood, quebracho wood, oak wood, tara pods, Chinese gallnuts) with differential effects on the gut microbiota and human health, aiming for a personalized modulation of gut microbiota activity at the individual level.

Proceedings

Personalized dietary supplements adapted to the individual needs of athletes and the elderly enri... more Personalized dietary supplements adapted to the individual needs of athletes and the elderly enriched with microbial propionic acid were produced in form of a powder, ready to be mixed in drinks such as orange juices. Studies have shown that fresh and pasteurized orange juices have a positive influence on gut microbiota, and exhibit selective prebiotic activity, particularly in terms of gut microbiota, by increasing Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., and Clostridium spp., and reducing Enterobacteria. Besides, studies been reported the effect of the combined use of probiotics and organic salts, such as propionic acid salts, on the in vitro inhibition of microorganisms. Additionally, the short chain fatty acid propionic acid influences the gut-mediated immune regulation of people, reduces lipogenesis, and inhibits serum cholesterol synthesis.

Materials Proceedings

The main goal of the ELBE-NH (Increased effectiveness of lignin-biorefineries by valorization of ... more The main goal of the ELBE-NH (Increased effectiveness of lignin-biorefineries by valorization of hydrolysates) project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany, is the utilization of the by-products of lignocellulosic biorefinery as high valuable compounds. One of the targeted compounds selected is propionic acid (PA) (obtained by microbiological conversion of the hydrolysates). PA is particularly suitable for use in industrially produced bread and baked goods, for preservation (antifungal abilities) as free acid or as sodium/calcium salts. Due to its astringent smell and strong acid taste, PA is rarely used in the food industry as a free acid. Our aim is to test the possibility of (a) using encapsulated hydrophilic PA (0.3% w/v) in β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/maltodextrin blends as the wall materials (19:1 or 17:3% w/v), spray-dried as additives incorporated directly into texture-defined bread products, and (b) incorporating it into polysaccharide-based (e...

Candidiasis [Working Title]

The presence of Candida in the gut is normal, but an overproduction may lead to serious health pr... more The presence of Candida in the gut is normal, but an overproduction may lead to serious health problems due to an imbalanced gut, causing gut-related symptoms such as bowel movement changes, excessive gas, etc. Some diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are associated with an overgrowth of Candida in the gastrointestinal tract. Several recent studies have shown that a prolonged candidiasis within the intestines is associated with Candida overgrowth syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome. A healthy digestive system relies on a good balance of bacteria that live in the gut, and an important role in maintaining this balance is having the ingested type of food. Candida overgrowth can be prevented first of all by healthy eating patterns, as susceptibility is increased by a high-sugar diet and diabetes or nutritional deficiencies causing a dysregulated immune system. In general, Candida-associated conditions have a high impact on performance. Recent research has shown an increasing interest in the Candida-related conditions and diseases.

Remote Sensing

During the last 30 years, the Romanian economy has faced different challenges due to structural r... more During the last 30 years, the Romanian economy has faced different challenges due to structural readjustments, overcoming crisis and globalization. The share of primary and secondary sectors in the gross domestic product have strongly decreased, while the services have taken off. The main objective for this study is to observe how these economic readjustments can be assessed and measured using the Corine Land Cover datasets from 1990, 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018 (with special observation on the range 2006 and 2018, after Romania was included in European Union). Despite some of the methodological limitations (like the minimum surface change), the Corine Land Cover turned out to be a powerful tool and it allowed us to detect an intense correlation between the socioeconomic and the structural trends in land use, in specific spatial contexts. The artificial surfaces are constantly increasing and this trend is rather visible as a distance function to the major Romanian cities. The most int...

Polymers

In the current work the physicochemical features of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) biofilms, enriched... more In the current work the physicochemical features of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) biofilms, enriched with eco-friendly polyols and with carotenoid-rich extracts, were investigated. The polyols, such as glycerol (Gly), 1,3-propanediol (PDO), and 2,3-butanediol (BDO) were used as plasticizers and the tomato-based pigments (TP) as coloring agents. The outcomes showed that β-carotene was the major carotenoid in the TP (1.605 mg β-carotene/100 DW), which imprinted the orange color to the biofilms. The flow behavior indicated that with the increase of shear rate the viscosity of biofilm solutions also increased until 50 s−1, reaching values at 37 °C of approximately 9 ± 0.5 mPa·s for PVOH, and for PVOH+TP, 14 ± 0.5 mPa·s in combination with Gly, PDO, and BDO. The weight, thickness, and density of samples increased with the addition of polyols and TP. Biofilms with TP had lower transparency values compared with control biofilms (without vegetal pigments). The presence of BDO, especially, but ...

Journal of Population Ageing

Healthy diets have been demonstrated to complement benefits of physical activity, physical condit... more Healthy diets have been demonstrated to complement benefits of physical activity, physical condition and mental wellbeing, all of them being important factors influencing the quality of life of elderly. Unfortunately malnutrition is a serious threat and an increasingly prevalent condition among the fast-growing elderly population. The present work addresses the identification of important factors contributing to decreased appetite and food intake as well as the development of approaches towards a healthy diet and personalised nutrition in elderly. Within the present study semi-structured interviews with elderly and elderly suffering from swallowing and mastication difficulties have been performed, results being used for the development of food provision modules and the corresponding recipes addressing the nutritional requirements of elderly. The social context and the swallowing and mastication difficulties influence the eating behaviour as well as the motivation to eat. On the othe...

Molecular Aspects of Medicine

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Therefore, for the prevention, diagn... more Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Therefore, for the prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of lung cancer, efficient preventive strategies and new therapeutic strategies are needed to face these challenges. Natural bioactive compounds and particular flavonoids compounds have been proven to have an important role in lung cancer prevention and of particular interest is the dose used for these studies, to underline the molecular effects and mechanisms at a physiological concentration. The purpose of this review was to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding relevant molecular mechanisms involved in the pharmacological effects, with a special focus on the anti-cancer role, by regulating the coding and non-coding genes. Furthermore, this review focused on the most commonly altered and most clinically relevant oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and microRNAs in lung cancer. Particular attention was given to the biological effect in tandem w...

Microorganisms

Used kitchen oil represents a feasible and renewable biomass to produce green biofuels such as bi... more Used kitchen oil represents a feasible and renewable biomass to produce green biofuels such as biodiesel. Biodiesel production generates large amounts of by-products such as the crude glycerol fraction, which can be further used biotechnologically as a valuable nutrient for many microorganisms. In this study, we transesterified used kitchen oil with methanol and sodium hydroxide in order to obtain biodiesel and crude glycerol fractions. The crude glycerol fraction consisting of 30% glycerol was integrated into a bioreactor cultivation process as a nutrient source for the growth of Candida zeylanoides ATCC 20367. Cell viability and biomass production were similar to those obtained with batch cultivations on pure glycerol or glucose as the main nutrient substrates. However, the biosynthesis of organic acids (e.g., citric and succinic) was significantly different compared to pure glycerol and glucose used as main carbon sources.

Coatings

The aim of this study was to encapsulate the oleoresins rich in carotenoids extracted from sea bu... more The aim of this study was to encapsulate the oleoresins rich in carotenoids extracted from sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) fruits into a blend of sodium-alginate and κ-carrageenan microbeads (2% w/v) coated by a sodium-alginate (2% w/v) layer prepared using an ionotropic gelation technique with calcium chloride (2% w/v) by dropping method. The fresh obtained coated microbeads had a “fried eggs” like appearance with a size distribution ranging from 4 to 6 mm. The coated microbeads were analyzed for their SEM and fluorescence. The encapsulation efficiency was 92%. Their stability was investigated by evaluation of the physical integrity performance in aqueous media with different pH to mimic the gastrointestinal tract for 24 h at 37 °C under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated the limitation of the coated microbeads swelling ability under pH 7. The coated microbeads could be a good tool to guarantee oleoresins rich in carotenoids stability and colon delivery. The prese...

$Research paper thumbnail of Valorification of crude glycerol for pure fractions of docosahexaenoic acid and β-carotene production by using Schizochytrium limacinum and Blakeslea trispora$

Microbial cell factories, Jan 16, 2018

The goal of this research is the investigation of a way to maximize the production of docosahexae... more The goal of this research is the investigation of a way to maximize the production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and β-carotene by optimizing the culture conditions of their sources, microalgae Schizochytrium limacinum and fungus Blakeslea trispora respectively, in a fermentation medium. The influencing factors in the fermentation process for producing DHA and β-carotene have proven to be: the concentration of carbon source (different glycerol crude and pure concentrations) for both of them, and in particular temperature for DHA and pH for β-carotene. Testing the effect of these parameters was determined: biomass, DHA and β-carotene concentration. The highest production by S. limacinum was obtained at 25 °C, while using a quantity of 90 g/L of glycerol (crude or pure) as a carbon source. Temperature was the main factor that influenced the biosynthesis of DHA. The quantification of DHA was made by GC-MS chromatography, followed by a purification process, with the end result of DHA in...

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Food Science and Technology

The EU funded ENTHALPY project aims to significantly reduce the consumption of water and energy i... more The EU funded ENTHALPY project aims to significantly reduce the consumption of water and energy in milk powder production to increase efficiency in the dairy production chain. Using a systematic approach, ENTHALPY project focusses on innovations within the post-harvest chain representing the highest energy and water consumption such as RF heating, solar thermal energy, mono-disperse atomising, dryer modelling, inline monitoring, enzymatic cleaning and membrane technology,

2016 International Conference and Exposition on Electrical and Power Engineering (EPE), 2016

SIMI 2015, 2015

In the processing of grapes and the production of alcoholic beverages, a total of about 100,000 c... more In the processing of grapes and the production of alcoholic beverages, a total of about 100,000 cubic meters of wine lees, vinasse, grain mash and molasses are annually formed and accumulated in the Republic of Moldova. These wastes are characterized by a highly acidic chemical reaction and a high content of water-soluble salts. The pH ranges from 3.4 to 3.8 units. The mineral residue constitutes: 1.9 g/dm 3 in vinasse; 12.0 g/dm 3 in wine lees; and 14.9 g/dm 3 in grain mash. In the composition of monovalent cations, sodium and potassium cations predominate, which may form toxic salts if they penetrate into the soil. The cereal mashes are characterized by a higher potential of salinity and sodium enrichment. Also, these wastes contain primary nutritive elements (NPK) absolutely necessary for plant nutrition and soil fertilization. The total content of NPK in kg/m 3 in these wastes constitutes: 1.8 in vinasse; 5.1 in grain mash; 10.6 in wine lees. The dehydrated wine lees and grain mash have a high content of organic matter, 34 % and 51 % respectively. Due to their chemical composition and the highly acidic environment, they have a toxic impact on flora and fauna and a polluting action on surface and ground waters. The administration of two doses of lees (13 and 26 t/ha), of vinasse (300 and 600 m 3 /ha) and of grain mash (50 and 100 m 3 /ha) favoured the significant increase of the content of organic matter, mobile phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium in the arable soil layer. The application of wine lees in the dosage of 13-26 t/ha ensured a significant increase of grapes by 1.4-2.4 t/ha, or by 15-25 % more than on the unfertilized control variant, on which 9.5 t/ha were harvested. The vinasse incorporated in a dosage of 300 and 600 m 3 /ha had a significant impact on the plant productivity as well. The grape harvest constituted an average of 1.0-1.1 t/ha or by 11-12 % more than on the unfertilized control variant.