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Natural zeolites having a structure with a large number of cavities allow design lightweight plasters with improved thermal insulation parameters. Focusing on the assessment of plasters’ durability, their resistance to salt damage should to be taken into consideration, especially in case of their application in repair of salt laden masonry. Although the crystallization of salts in plasters presents a serious problem, there is as yet no standard procedure for its evaluation. To predict salt damage of lime-based pla...

The aim of this work is to optimize the growth parameters of D. salina by altering nutritional factors, in order to maximize production of antioxidants and lipid fraction by the microalgae strain. For this purpose, the concentrations of different salts in the growth medium were varied. The biomass obtained was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively in order to determine biomass concentration and bioactive compounds concentrations in respect to the growth medium composition. Pigments were extracted from the drie...

The rising global average temperature was the main topic at the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference in Glasgow during the climate summit in 2021 (COP26). The meeting aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to discuss the transfer of funds to developing countries. The Europen Green Deal has the same goals. The European Commission aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Climate change has a negative impact on environmental biodiversity, the occurrence of natural disasters, and human health...

Taking into account the sedimentation features since the last 5 decades, considerable anthropic modifications on the Danube channel are present, as the debris composition varies concerning the proportion of terrigenous minerals, lithoclasts, bioclasts and organic matter. Since the 7th decade of the last century, marked by the construction of most hydrological power plants on the Danube, Olt, Jiu, Cerna and other major rivers, a significant change of the sedimentary volume brought downstream by the Danube is assume...

An earthquake catalogue covering the seismicity on the territory of Bulgaria and adjacent lands for the period 2000-2020 is presented in the current study. In this catalogue are included events with magnitude equal to or larger than Mw ? 2.5. As a country, Bulgaria belongs to the Alpo-Hymalian seismic belt, it is also not absent of strong earthquakes. Bulgaria is an earthquake prone country taking in account that on its territory are recorded some of the strongest earthquakes from the beginning of the last century...

The forests of south-western part of Zemgale Plain in Latvia are characterized by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands on fertile, nutrient rich soils. The existing information about these sites suggests of the calcium carbonate rich loamy sand soils formed by moraine. The Scots pine stands in area of Tervete National Park reach age of 260 years. The oldest and biggest trees reach considerable dimensions – up to 70 cm in diameter and height of 47 m, thus exceeding the country's average indices. These are the ol...

Unfortunately, soil is a non-renewable resource that fulfills several vital functions such as food/biomass production, storage, filtration and transformation of mineral or biological substances, source of biodiversity and habitats, etc. Due to the development of industrial activities outside the localities, in many areas the soil is degraded. Among these degradation processes can be mentioned degradation of organic matter, contamination, soli salting, and erosion. This paper is dedicated to the presentation of the...

The efficient use and recycling of industrial water is a major challenge to the sustainability of the planet. Blast furnace slag is a by-product of metallurgical operations during the production of cast iron. The granulated slag is obtained by cooling in water. In this research we studied the cooling water of granulated slag generated from the process of making cast iron through the blast furnace route. The elemental analysis of granulated slag and of granulated slag stored in water was determined by X-Ray Fluores...

Waste steel slag is a major source of environmental pollution within the metallurgical industries. Metallurgical slags like blast furnace slag, ferroalloy slag, converter slag and copper slag are produced as by-products in metallurgical processes. During the production of steel, one ton of slag waste is generated per every three tons of stainless steel produced. In order to reuse waste steel slag, discharged at high temperature range (1250-1650 °C) and cooled in water, which is named as granulated slag, three diff...

To preserve and increase the biological and landscape diversity, it is necessary to have comprehensive information about the conditions and dynamics of changes in the study object, a specific local ecosystem. Nature reserves are created to restore habitats, to protect endangered species of flora and fauna, vulnerable or complex species. Particular attention should be paid to the study of wetlands, a stabilizer of the hydrological regime of ecosystems, and a shaping element of the regional climate. It is proposed t...

Inhibition of the coil-helix transition of gelatin and retardation of the gelation process of the system as a whole is an important scientific problem. The solution to this problem will make it possible to maintain the properties of gelatin solutions for a long time without changing their rheological characteristics. In this work, by the method of dynamic mechanical analysis, the dependences of the time profile of gelatin solutions depending on the concentration of 10, 13 and 16 wt.%, as well as the different diss...

The paper presents some aspects of an experimental research in which basic recipes have been designed in order to obtain innovative products to be used in construction as finishing coatings. Starting from sunflower seed shells, considered a waste rather a by-product resulting from the industry of edible sunflower oil, and also from rough sheep wool, an animal waste from the zootechnical field, and also from the specific thermal insulating characteristics of theese two waste materials, a serie of basic recipes was ...

The Romanian storage sites for CO2 geological storage are located in the Oltenia Region, in the south – western part of Romania, within a 50 km radius circle around Turceni Power Plant. This zone comprises a part of the Getic Depression and a small part of the western sector of the Moesian Platform, two of the main geological units bearing oil and gas deposits, which were explored and studied over the years. In this zone of investigation only aquifers in the Tertiary formations have been considered as potentially ...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the Russian steel industry perform an important function of innovative development. These enterprises produce unique products in small batches for domestic engineering and implement import substitution projects (e.g., piece products of cast-iron casting for enterprises producing agricultural machinery). At the same time foundry production makes one of the most unfavorable influence on ecology and occupational health. Waste of foundry production and emissions into the at...

In the process of hydraulic fracturing (HF), pressurized fluid is supplied to an isolated interval of the well. This causes the formation of an artificial crack, the growth direction of which greatly affects the method efficiency. It is especially important to take this into account when designing in-mine hydraulic fracturing for the solid minerals development. In this case HF is carried out close to underground workings and other inseam boreholes and these factors can influence the stress-strain state of stimulat...

Within the thermal power plants there are many places where the personnel work inimproper conditions. Depending on the concentration and toxicity of gases, duration ofexposure for the personnel, the air can have harmful effects. Currently, several specificmeasures to limit toxic gases have been introduced in the thermal energy system. Thispaper presents as example the situation in Borzesti thermal power plant, throughmodern methods of analysis, by identification and monitoring the physical and chemicalproperties o...

Using an integrated approach to evaluate the quality of the reservoir and the potential of production is getting more and more important in petroleum geology. This integrated approach was used to analyse the quality of an old Miocene reservoir in the Moesian Platform, Romania. While this paper goes through all the main components of an integrated study (seismic, petrophysics, reservoir engineering), the main focus was on well data. This research focused on modelling the structure using mainly well data. The reserv...

Due to the ever-growing importance of resource conservation and sustainable lifestyle, people are searching for new, alternative solutions that will enable a more sustainable use of resources. Because energy production is one of the most pollution-intensive industries, a major factor is renewable energy, which reduces the amount of industry pollution and facilitates sustainable use of resources. One of the sustainable energy resources are Salix and the wood chips produced from them, which are used in energy produc...

The use of information and communication technologies has many benefits. Based on many studies, their level is not sufficient. This can be caused by several factors and obstacles. Communication and ICT competencies are one of the key factors for the active use of advanced technologies for the management of sustainable construction projects. This digital age requirements systematic communication and project management. In this pandemic time, it can be considered an even more important requirement. It is the level o...

Currently, the task of modifying the technological properties of mineral raw materials for the construction industry, road construction and the oil industry based on clay in order to obtain the specified characteristics, provided that the production cost is reduced, is relevant. The results of the study of the acid-base characteristics of the clay suspension surface without and in the presence of modifying additives that improve the plasticity of the mass, reduce shrinkage and crack formation in baked ceramics are...

This article describes gas hydrates formation, with methane and carbon dioxide as guest compounds, in a small-scale experimental apparatus, appositely designed to reproduce marine offshore reservoirs. The sediment consisted of pure quartz porous sand impregnated with FeSi3 particles, which are produced via gas-atomization and are usually destined to applications in additive manufacturing. Experimental results were compared with the theoretical equilibrium conditions for both types of hydrates. It was established t...

Due to the general development of society, advanced technologies, constantly growing information and globalization, the complexity and dynamics of organizations are also increasing. In times of economic instability, organizations are clearly experiencing a chaotic period in which they try to understand what is going on, try to adapt, learn new technologies, improve, and transform communication channels and train people to share information. Such changes usually also affect the operation of the organization, often ...

Usage of new complex applications and systems will force most companies to rethink time and human resources, motivate them to automate processes where human intervention can be done or is needed at a minimum. However, safety in the technical world is a serious concern, companies that make any kind of decision cannot skip this aspect. The pace at which new technologies and methods are being adapted is currently based on very rapid external pressures. The current situation in the world is undoubtedly a huge challeng...

In 2019, a new, modern Strategy of the Environmental Policy of the Slovak Republic until 2030 (the Envirostrategy 2030) was approved. The previous one has been in force since 1993, so it was only a matter of time before implementing a strategy to address current environmental challenges and problems. Along with industry and energy, transport is one of the main producers of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the statistics of the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, the amount of greenhouse gas e...

Urban agriculture has become increasingly topical in recent years due to both social trends and challenges of sustainable development. Although functions of the urban agriculture, especially economic and social, have been widely explored since the 1990s, the focus is mostly on regions where urban agriculture practices are strategies for survival and basic food security or on highly metropolitan cities, with little focus on countries and cities with a relatively medium or even low population density, thus excluding...

The work is devoted to the assessment of the natural protection of groundwater in the Ternopil oblast (Ukraine). The evaluation is based on the parametric method of V. M. Holdberh. The characteristics of the geological structure of the aeration zone and aquifers are given. The areas of the greatest influence of karst on the protection of aquifers are determined. The stratigraphic confinedness of water intakes and large deposits of groundwater is described for further analysis of their protection. Since more than 5...

Vulnerability, land use and sustainability are some of the main elements of major concern in the last decades that can be translated in practice through efficient development and planning. The role land use plays is recognized worldwide due to the rapid and continuous urban growth and development, which determine the occurrence of new powerful forces leading to social, demographical, environmental, technological and governmental changes. The large number of disasters in recent years demonstrated that the most effe...

Among the global threats facing humanity in the 21 century, the danger of climate change on Earth occupies a prominent place. Global climate change caused by anthropogenic factors can lead to natural disasters and, as a result, have a negative impact on human life and health. Given the importance of this problem, international organizations, governments, politicians at all levels, NGOs and society as a whole are involved in solving it. The purpose of the study is to determine the forms, activities and results of t...

Many operations with flammable liquids produce flammable atmospheres by evaporation of the liquid being handled. In some circumstances, the flammable atmosphere is not due to the liquid being handled but due to residues of volatile liquid or vapor from earlier operations with the same equipment as is often the case with diesel fuel handling. This paper highlights some aspects regarding the danger of fires and explosions in the transport, storage and distribution of diesel fuel starting from the investigation of th...

The article focuses on the Landscape Architect profession and the competencies that a person must have in order to be able to conduct research and analyses of green areas, organizing the space optimally, making informed management decisions and finding economically sound solutions. A landscape architect possesses specialized knowledge and skills that are directly involved in designing and managing the green infrastructure and its various components. The importance of this profession is undoubted in the process of ...

Lakes on the Black Sea coast are the direct result of soil erosion and marine or hydrographic accumulations, consequence of the specific evolution of the nearby sea basin. They depend on the variations in groundwater levels, rainfall or other hydraulic surface sources. In recent decades, as a result of many small, local earthquakes, some deep currents have appeared. Lakes as origins, are of fluvial-marine estuary, lagoons or artificial. Many of them are tourist attractions, due to the specific microclimate establi...

Landslides and torrential erosion are among the most common geomorphological processes manifesting in the Romanian Subcarpathians, with a very high impact on the territory. The hydrographic basin of the Rau Alb stream, a left tributary of the Dambovita River, located at the western extremity of the Subcarpathians of Curvature, in the Ialomita Subcarpathians, is subject to complex processes of degradation by surface erosion, deep erosion and landslides. The research works for the analysis of morphodynamic processes...

Natural processes and human influences can cause several environmental issues upon urban and rural aquatic systems, especially in deltaic environs. This study was aimed to assess the vertical variation in the physical-chemical and lithological characteristics of core sediments. 14 undisturbed short sediment cores were collected from soft lacustrine sediments in various shallow lakes situated in the Matita-Merhei interdistributary depression, Danube Delta, Romania. Sediment samples were measured for temperature, pH...

The European Plate Observing System (EPOS), is a multidisciplinary, distributed research infrastructure that facilitates the integrated use of data, data products, and facilities from the solid Earth science community in Europe. The EPOS pan-European dimension is corroborated by 25 countries, 5 international organizations, 149 national research organizations and 256 research infrastructures involved in the data and service provision. The legal and governance framework designed during the Preparatory Phase and deve...

In the paperwork are presented aspects regarding uncertainty involved in the process of spark ignition assessment for intrinsically safe equipment. In the first part of the paper was presented the explosion risk. In the field of power generation and also, in a lot of other fields of industrial activities, the occurrence of flammable substances is a common fact. As a consequence, an explosion risk can occur. On the other hand, the installations placed in areas endangered by presence of flammable substances should b...

The purpose of this study is a spatial-dynamic and structural hygienic assessment of the impact of the activities of thermal power facilities on the quality of atmospheric air and the formation of potential risks of harm to the health of the population in a large industrial center with a population of more than 350 thousand people and a total area of more than 500 square kilometers. At present, heat and power facilities belong to the main industries and form significant potential risks of harm to public health in ...

Currently, there is a serious increase in the use of various e-learning systems. The information technologies of the Learning Management Systems (LMS) platforms should use the possibilities of extracting and analyzing a variety of educational data during learning. Complete and visual learning outcomes are possible through the use of data processing techniques, Educational Data Mining (EDM) methods, and representations in various forms. Comprehensive analysis of data statistics and learning results will ensure high...

The article deals with the issues of virtual reconstruction of memorable places associated with the life of M.V. Aseev in the Tambov province (Russia). Mikhail Vasilyevich Aseev (1858-1933) was a major Russian landowner, entrepreneur, influential industrialist and philanthropist. In 3D modeling programs (SketchUp, Blender) three-dimensional models of objects (buildings, utensils, etc.) were built according to known parameters (size, material), including both existing objects and lost or partially destroyed ones. U...

Zein proteins belong to the class of prolamin proteins which, in maize, represent more than 60% of the total endosperm protein. Based on their molecular weight, sequence and solubility, zeins are classified into four different zein structures (?, ?, ?, ?). The major maize seed storage proteins, zeins, are deficient in lysine and tryptophan content, which contribute to the poor nutritional quality of corn. Therefore, we report here on an original and novel process, which consists in successive grinding and sieving ...