Rural tourism and agritourism are essential drivers of sustainable economic development in mountain regions, generating income opportunities while preserving cultural and natural heritage. The North-West region of Romania has significant potential in this sector. Yet, tourism development is unevenly distributed, and the integration of local economic activities remains limited, an imbalance that reduces the overall impact of tourism on regional sustainability and economic resilience. To assess viable strategies for agritourism development, the study applies the TOPSIS method, evaluating four key criteria: infrastructure accessibility, diversity of tourism experiences, service quality, and long-term economic sustainability. A survey was conducted with 102 respondents, and the collected data were analyzed using the TOPSIS framework to determine the most effective development approaches. The findings indicated that the ecotourism trails represent the most favorable strategy (Ci = 0.678), followed by promoting local products within tourism (Ci = 0.602) and expanding rural guesthouses (Ci = 0.467). In contrast, integrated tourism packages and tourist information centers ranked lower, suggesting that infrastructure investment and the strategic use of local resources should be prioritized. These insights provide practical recommendations for policymakers, investors, and local stakeholders, emphasizing the need for targeted support in ecotourism and rural economic initiatives. Furthermore, the study contributes to academic research by offering a structured, replicable approach to evaluating rural tourism development. By highlighting sustainable investment directions, the findings support efforts to enhance Romania’s rural tourism competitiveness while fostering economic growth in mountain regions.

We evaluated patients who presented with thyroid dysfunction correlated symptoms that started when the Government took important measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures have influenced the safety of many people’s jobs. Data were collected from 378 patients that were clinically evaluated at the Endocrinology Department, between September 2020 and January 2021. Their health status modifications were statistically analyzed in correlation with their life and work changes. These changes were induced by measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The lifestyle changes correlated with the COVID-19 pandemic have been present in both categories of patients: euthyroid and dysthyroid patients; 87.50% of euthyroid patients physically felt the pandemic-induced changes in their lives. It resulted in changes in lifestyle and job insecurity has a statistically significant influence (p < 0.01) on their state of health. The presence of life/work changes in men is strongly reflected in their state of health (p = 0.0004). Work instability that occurred as a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic induced symptoms that made many people believe they have an endocrinology disorder.

Agritourism is increasingly recognized as a driver of sustainable rural development, yet research has often focused on ecological and economic outcomes while neglecting the human capital that sustains service quality. This study introduces the concept of human sustainability capital and links it with the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework and emotional labor theory, using case studies from Maramureș and Bucovina, Romania. Data were collected in summer 2025 through two surveys: one of 120 tourists assessing satisfaction, challenges, and improvement needs, and one of 45 agritourism hosts and employees examining emotional labor, job satisfaction, and ESG-related practices. Tourists reported high satisfaction with hospitality, food, landscapes, and cultural authenticity but noted shortcomings in infrastructure, activity variety, and crowding during peak seasons. Hosts and employees showed strong motivation and cultural pride, with genuine engagement more frequent than surface acting, yet many reported fatigue, low pay, and limited access to training. Social and cultural benefits were evident, environmental practices were modest, and governance emerged as the weakest pillar. Strengthening governance through professional development, fair labor conditions, and infrastructural support is crucial to maintain authenticity, protect cultural heritage, and ensure the long-term resilience of agritourism.

While accelerating globalization and technological transformation, traditional food products occupy a vulnerable yet strategically important position, straddling the line between cultural preservation and the need to remain economically viable. This study assesses both the sustainability and economic potential of traditional food items specific to Bihor County, Romania, with particular attention to their integration into contemporary value chains. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining structured surveys with 137 local consumers and semi-structured interviews with 20 regional producers. This research focused on consumer awareness, purchasing behavior, and producers’ readiness to engage with digital tools, within the broader framework of human-centered development and the Industry 5.0 paradigm. Findings reveal a modest but consistent link between familiarity and the willingness to pay a premium, although the frequency of consumption appeared to be unaffected. Sustainability emerged as a widely held value, commonly associated with seasonality, natural ingredients, and artisanal methods. On the supply side, producers showed a cautious openness to digital adoption, often tempered by a strong desire to preserve traditional practices. Based on these insights, this study outlines a territorially grounded framework for enhancing the resilience of traditional foods. Policy recommendations include support for user-friendly digital platforms, improved rural infrastructure, and initiatives that reinforce the regional gastronomic identity.

Romania faces a double challenge in the swine production sector. On one hand, the European Union’s environmental agenda demands that member states drastically reduce both the carbon footprint and the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry by 2030. On the other hand, the Romanian swine industry still grapples with long-standing internal issues such as excessive fragmentation, a strong dependence on imported piglets and feed materials, and a clear shortage of modern management experience. This study set out to explore how the ADKAR model can serve as a structured approach to help commercial swine farms in Romania transition toward sustainability. To gather relevant data, researchers distributed a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire to 83 farm managers, out of the 361 officially registered commercial swine farms. The instrument was designed to assess how each farm positioned itself across the five ADKAR dimensions. The results revealed that most Romanian farm managers are highly aware of the need for change and show a generally positive attitude toward adopting sustainable practices. However, there remain considerable knowledge gaps and practical limitations, which continue to act as major barriers to effective implementation. The composite ADKAR-S Index, which measures the “sustainability maturity” of each farm, displayed a strong positive correlation with economic performance, particularly the profit margin (r ≈ 0.45, p < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with antimicrobial use (r ≈ −0.50, p < 0.001). Simply put, farms that are better prepared for organizational transformation tend to perform better financially while also reducing their environmental footprint. The findings suggest that policy efforts should prioritize human capital development, especially through training programs and reinforcement systems such as continuous monitoring and staff incentives, to ensure that sustainable practices are not only adopted but also maintained in the long run.

Silurus glanis is a freshwater fish native to Europe and Western Asia. Its meat is highly appreciated by consumers. By smoking it, food products with particularly good sensory qualities are obtained. To carry out this study, comparisons were made between fish originated from aquaculture (A group - Aquaculture group) and from the natural environment (Prut river, Romania) (C group - Capture group). Fillets of the studied fish were smoked and stored at a temperature of +2 °C ÷ +5 °C. The samples were analyzed for sensory and physicochemical traits at 5, 15, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days of storage. The smoked catfish presented particularly good sensory qualities, and the origin of the meat did not significantly influence it. The products were considered optimal for consumption up to 30 days of storage. The chemical analysis revealed moisture loss at the end of the analyzed period by 4.78 % (A) and 4.70 % (C), whilst the dry matter compounds concentrated at a reversed pace, accordingly. The high values for PUFA (34.97 % in A and 30.68 % in C), make smoked European catfish meat an important source of “good fats”, a fact also highlighted by the values of Polyunsaturated Index (33.86 in A and 45.23 in C), Atherogenic Index (0.41 in A and 0.35 in C) and Thrombogenic Index (0.22 in A and 0.27 in C).