Ovidius University

Interannual and Cultivar-Related Variation in Sunflower Productivity and Seed Quality Under Long-Term Rainfed No-Till Management in the Semi-Arid Dobrogea Region of Romania

Seasonal climatic variability represents a major constraint on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) production in semi-arid environments, yet interannual and cultivar-related variation under long-term no-till management remains insufficiently characterized. This study evaluated inter...

Mapping Digital Influence in Tourism and Hospitality: A Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review Toward a Tri-Channel Framework

This study integrates the fragmented literature on digital influence in tourism and hospitality by combining a bibliometric analysis with a PRISMA 2020-guided systematic literature review (SLR), examining how creator-mediated, peer-mediated, and platform-mediated influence jointl...

Limited global awareness of invasive alien species and little support for their management

Invasive alien species (IAS) are one of the main drivers of global change and can cause a wide range of negative ecological and social impacts. Addressing these impacts requires management actions, which can fail to be effective when not supported by the public. Here, we conducte...

From Environmental Biomonitoring to Soil Fertility: Assessment of PAHs, Pesticides, and PCBs in Algae and Their Valorization as Fertilizers

Algae and aquatic macrophytes are increasingly recognized as valuable bioresources with applications in environmental monitoring and sustainable agriculture. The present study investigates algae collected from Romanian and Bulgarian coastal areas (Stuckenia pectinata, Cladophora...

Locked in, Left Behind: Clinical, Psychosocial, and Ethical Dimensions of Prison Health—A Narrative Review

The global prison population has expanded over recent decades, straining correctional systems and positioning detention facilities as critical, yet frequently overlooked, sites of health inequity. With an estimated 11.5 million people currently incarcerated worldwide, prisons hav...

The Role of Interleukin 17 in Association with Systemic Parameters in Severity Stratification and Mortality Prediction in Moderate and Severe Acute Pancreatitis

Introduction: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory lesion that can lead to multiple organ dysfunctions and has an increased mortality rate. The pathogenic mechanisms are complex. A central element is represented by systemic inflammation. This exploratory study aims to identify p...

Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Romania and South-Eastern Europe: A Multilingual Narrative Review of Pandemic-Era Trajectories, 2020–2025

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is the pathogen driving the deterioration of the European antimicrobial resistance landscape, and the burden falls disproportionately on Romania and South-Eastern Europe. The objective of this review was to synthesise evidence pub...

Tobacco and Color Parameters of Lateral Incisors in Young Adults.

This study aims to identify the disparities in tooth color between young adult consumers and non-consumers of tobacco and/or nicotine products. The study population included healthy young individuals aged 18 to 30 years. Participants were instructed to refrain from smoking for at...

Salivary Inflammatory Mediators and a Tongue-Coating Dysbiosis Index as Mechanistic Correlates of Adjunctive Halitosis Therapy: A Randomized Pragmatic Trial

Background: Intra-oral halitosis is sustained by tongue-coating biofilm, but ecological and host inflammatory responses to adjunctive therapy remain unclear. Methods: In a 4-week randomized pragmatic trial (117 adults; 39 per arm; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05876321), we compared stan...

Molecular profiling of thalassemia in Southeastern Romania

Abstract Background Thalassemias represent a major group of hereditary hemoglobin disorders with significant global health impact, yet molecular data from Eastern European populations, particularly from Romania, remain limited. Purpose This study was aimed at comprehensively char...

Mesenteric Panniculitis and the Gut–Mesentery–Metabolic Axis: A Hypothesis-Generating Narrative Review

Mesenteric panniculitis (MP) is an uncommon inflammatory disorder of mesenteric adipose tissue. Its pathophysiology remains unclear. Gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, metabolic endotoxemia, glycemic variability (GV), and vascular dysfunction have been implicated in i...

Comparative Analysis of Phenolic Acid Profiles, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antimicrobial Activity of Honeys from Different Botanical and Geographical Origins

The composition of honey is complex and can vary depending on its botanical and geographical origin. This study evaluated the phenolic acid profile (PAP), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial properties of honey samples from different geographical origins, such as Romania (nin...

Exploring the association between environmental exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A and changes in reproductive hormones in women: a cross-sectional study

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can harm the female reproductive system by disrupting hormonal balance. This study investigates the association between exposure to EDCs)- specifically, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), and serum concentrations of estrogen (ES) and progester...

Streamlining Habitats Directive Reporting with Open Biodiversity Data: Evidence for the Nature Directives Stress Test [Policy Brief]

Biodiversity monitoring under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) remains inconsistent across European Member States. Although all Member States follow the same reporting framework, national assessments are based on national monitoring programmes...

Rectal Surveillance for Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: Prevalence and Clinical Relevance in a Multidisciplinary Tertiary-Care Hospital

Background/Objectives: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a high-priority healthcare-associated pathogen. This study aimed to estimate rectal CRKP carriage and characterize same-patient clinical-site CRKP detection. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospe...