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The Sredogriv low-grade metamorphic rocks belongs to the Montana unit of the Western Balkan Zone in northwestern Bulgaria. The low-grade rocks mainly consist of metamorphosed greenschist facies clastic-marly-tuffaceous precursors and minor basic to acidic, presumably olistostromic magmatic rock bodies. Here, we present whole-rock geochemistry of metabasic dyke-like bodies in the Sredogriv metamorphic rocks. Field observations revealed that the dyke-like bodies are intruded into the Sredogriv sedimentary succession...

The paper explores the utilization of modern measurement technologies, particularly drones and GPS systems, in the process of mineral resource exploitation. These technologies have revolutionized the way topographic surveys are conducted, providing efficient and precise solutions for land mapping and mineral deposit evaluation. Drones, equipped with RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) modules, enable rapid collection of geospatial data, facilitating the acquisition of high-resolution aerial images and digital terrain models...

In previous studies, when conducting a geospatial analysis of 297 degraded territories in Latvia, it was found that 6.7% of them would be suitable for electricity production with renewable energy resources and approximate calculations of the possible electricity production potential were made. The task of the study was to conduct an in-depth study of the degraded territory found in the previous analysis in an area of 11.0 ha, taking into account the location of the territory in relation to the daily movement and a...

The integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) into higher education represents a transformative pathway for preparing students to address global environmental challenges. While GIS training traditionally emphasizes spatial data handling and map-making, its potential for capacity building is significantly enhanced when combined with emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This paper presents an interdisciplinary educational model that aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action),...

The growing need for a sustainable and climate-resilient future places green energy and digital transformation at the heart of the European Union-s long-term strategic plan. Policies such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Europe Programme envisage a synchronised "twin transition", one that aims to decarbonise the economy and modernise its digital infrastructure simultaneously. While significant attention has been directed towards centralised digital solutions and large-scale grid management systems, less ...

Urban ecology examines the intricate interactions within socio-ecological urban systems, with green infrastructure (GI) emerging as a vital tool for sustainable development by enhancing ecosystem services and promoting human well-being. This study aimed to provide a comparative assessment of moss-based GI, focusing on its capacity to reduce particulate matter (PM10) and absorb rainwater. To evaluate PM10 absorption, laboratory experiments were conducted in a controlled pollution chamber using a vertical barrier de...

With a growing global population and rapid urbanization, cities around the world are facing a multitude of challenges, including climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Green infrastructure, a term that encompasses natural and semi-natural systems integrated into urban spaces, provides solutions that not only address these issues but also contribute to creating sustainable and livable cities. Green infrastructure includes a variety of elements, and they work together to provide ecosystem services, includ...

Green growth is defined as a way in which the economy can continue to grow while ensuring the preservation of natural resources for the future. The concept of a green economy, which focuses on economic growth while preserving the natural capacity for renewal, has become a central element of sustainable development policy. The development of a green economy is not limited to energy and infrastructure, but affects all economic development processes, including business communication and market processes. One of these...

Achieving sustainable development - as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - requires not only visionary targets but also effective implementation tools. One such tool is Green Public Procurement (GPP), which enables public authorities to influence production and consumption patterns in favour of climate action, resource efficiency, and social equity [1, 2]. In Latvia, municipalities play a critical role in promoting sustainability through GPP, particularly in sectors such as food an...

This study examines the causes of maritime safety accidents in the fishing industry, focusing on situations where excessive onboard noise acts as a significant factor contributing to human error. Elevated noise levels, primarily generated by vessel engines, impair communication, mask alarms, and reduce attention, thereby increasing the likelihood of accidents. Prolonged exposure also leads to hearing loss and reduced well-being, further affecting safe work performance. Considering the specific working conditions o...

Intensive physical activity develops healthy habits and increases population health. Healthy population has a higher probability to be productive and public health is one of public goods. Walking is one of the physical activities easy to practice in public open spaces. Walking experiences in urban environments support green-blue infrastructure and its quality. Pedestrian habits relate to a set of conditions, shaped by motivation and available opportunities. A sedentary lifestyle has an array of adverse health effe...

This paper emphases the synergistic nature of greenhouses, underlining their role in feeding the population and optimizing energy, water, and gas fuel consumption. Several synergies associated with greenhouses are listed: that of recoverable energies, that of water, that of carbon offset, that of trophics, that of economics and that of politics. The most significant greenhouse configurations are reviewed: the passive greenhouse, oper-ating exclusively with renewable energies, the cogenerating greenhouses, producin...

Groundwater represents a vital yet often overlooked source of freshwater, essential for public water supply, agriculture, industry, and maintaining ecosystem functions. In the context of accelerating climate change, overexploitation, and water quality degradation, the sustainable management of groundwater resources is becoming increasingly important. The aim of this study is to analyze current approaches to groundwater governance based on case studies from California, Orange County, the Netherlands, and India, and...

The growth course properties of grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench) on different site types are still insufficiently researched, especially, if to compare the forest and abandoned agricultural lands. Due to the species relatively high prevalence in private forest areas in Latvia, which according to the forestry statistics data, equaled 11% in 2023, it has crucial significance to the economy. The paper analyses 40-year-old grey alder stands on abandoned agricultural land, forest land, and forests along the rivers...

Heavy metals as persistent pollutants of the aquatic ecosystems become a global issue of concern and are consistently increasing due to urbanization and industrialization. The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metals content in the water of the Mati River. Heavy metal levels were monitored during 2024 on four campaigns along the Mati River. Water samples were collected from five stations, covering the whole watershed area. Sample analyses were performed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, (GF-AAS). This ...

Hermaphroditism in the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus), manifested as intersex conditions, is linked to various environmental factors and anthropogenic pressures. Key contributors include exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), heavy metals, and pollutants that disrupt hormonal regulation, leading to sexual development abnormalities. Research indicates that Mugil cephalus is particularly sensitive to EDCs in coastal and brackish ecosystems. Our findings reveal that 19% of male individuals from the...

This study presents a hexagonal-based geoinformation approach for monitoring forest ecosystems and detecting anomalous changes in Ukraine, where forest resources are under severe anthropogenic and military pressure. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, vegetation indices were processed to classify vegetation dynamics and identify areas of significant degradation. A hexagonal spatial partitioning method was applied to improve spatial accuracy, reduce edge effects, and support the quantitative assessment of forest co...

The study focuses on the assessment of geosites in the Doln- Spis region of eastern Slovakia as a foundational framework for the establishment of a potential geopark. This region is characterized by significant geological diversity, notable geomorphological features, and substantial anthropogenic heritage, particularly related to historical mining activities. Based on the inventory of 42 geosites, a typological classification was conducted, dividing the sites into six main types and several subtypes. The evaluatio...

We present herein a thoroughly study concerning synthesis, structure and fluorescent properties of two classes of pyrrolodiazine derivatives: pyrrolopyridazine respectively pyrrolophthalazine cycloadducts. The synthesis is straight and efficient, consisting in a 3+2 dipolar cycloaddition reaction of diazinium ylides to dipolarophiles with triple bound. The structure of compounds was proven by elemental and spectral analysis. The fluorescence studies reveal that the pyrrolodiazine compounds are intense blue emitter...

It is well established that the farther a benchmark is from the datum point in a leveling network, the greater its standard error of adjusted height tends to be. To explore the optimal datum point location for minimizing height uncertainty, we performed 11 separate adjustments of the Second Bulgarian Leveling Network. Each adjustment used a different nodal benchmark as the datum point. While all adjustments yielded identical benchmark elevations and the same mean adjustment error of 2.14 mm/km^0.5, the sum and ave...

The role of a ventilation system is to establish or maintain conditions of temperature, humidity, dust content and gaseous products compatible with a certain degree of comfort [2], in the presence of various external inputs, respecting the noise level and air speed compatible with this comfort. In order to obtain prescribed (previously fixed) temperature, pressure and humidity conditions in ventilated premises, the air must first be subjected to a complex treatment process, a process that may include heating, cool...

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is an enzyme belonging to the oxidoreductase class with applications in biotechnology and the food industry, environmental depollution and clinical diagnosis. HRP is an effective biocatalyst in the oxidation of organic compounds. Many biotechnology fields, such as environmental applications and the pharmaceutical industry, require stable peroxidase-based biocatalytic systems. The goal of our work was to develop efficient immobilized biocatalysts containing HRP. HRP immobilization was p...

Accurate solar power forecasting is essential for grid stability and efficiency. Precise generation forecasts help balance electricity supply and demand, prevent overloads, and support renewable energy integration. It enables to optimize bidding strategies and reduce penalties for imbalanced production. This study presents a solar power forecasting approach that integrates deterministic models with machine learning. The system utilizes the pvlip Python library for deterministic calculations. XGBoost-based machine ...

Hydrogen integration represents a promising strategy for decarbonizing Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) operations, which traditionally rely on gas turbines and diesel generators. This study proposes a hybrid FPSO concept combining renewable energy generation with onboard hydrogen production, storage, and utilization. The system emphasizes green hydrogen produced by renewable-powered electrolysis of desalinated seawater, supported by blue hydrogen from associated gas reforming with carbon capture...

The spatial and temporal relationship between petroleum and ore deposits has attracted the attention of scientists since the 1960s, when a connection was determined between oil-gas formation processes and ore-forming processes, which led to the formation of Pb-Zn Mississippi-type deposits, Carlin-type gold deposits, and stratiform copper deposits. These studies concluded that there is a paragenetic relationship between petroleum fluids and ore mineralization. To date, studies concerning the relationship between se...

Rapid growth of world population and economic activities continue to cause the increase of anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. To mitigate GHG emissions and limit global warming, researchers and practitioners around the globe search for clean energy solutions. Many researchers believe that hydrogen (H2), with its high energy density, has a promising potential. Yet, practical implementation of H2-based energy generation faces technical and economic challenges. So far, over 95% of global hydrogen product...

This paper analyses the current development status of hydrogen production technologies and projects global demand growth through 2050. Production costs and CO2 emissions per kilogram of hydrogen are identified as key factors influencing the adoption of hydrogen technologies. While fossil-based methods currently offer cost advantages, electrolysis and biological processes demonstrate superior performance regarding CO2 emissions. Provided that sufficient investments are made, the cost of renewable energy production ...

Levulinic acid (LA) obtained by processing of plant biomass is used to synthesize many important compounds, among which is gamma-valerolactone (GVL) - a platform chemical. At present, bifunctional catalysts based on inorganic supports are the most widespread in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of LA to GVL. Polymers can serve as promising alternative to inorganic supports. In the framework of the presented study, the series of amorphous aromatic polymers was synthesized using different monomers: phenanthren...

Hydrological droughts are formed by different processes, but how strong and heterogeneous they are, leading to different hydrological droughts characteristics and propagation. Droughts have no distinct starting date, but different methods gives a course of action that may help to identify dry signals and possible, drought conditions for drought early warning and predict to some certain level the magnitude and water required for hydrological drought recovery. We choose hydrological drought indices system that are a...

To investigate the reactivity of various mineral groups with oxalic acid, a series of long-term beaker experiments were conducted using a saturated solution of oxalic acid dihydrate (~50 g/100 mL) in distilled water, heated to >100 -C to enhance dissolution efficiency. The selected samples represented a broad range of mineralogical classes: brochantite (hydroxy-sulfate), malachite (carbonate hydroxide), pyrite (sulfide), chrysotile (silicate), and a Fe- and Cu-rich metallurgical slag containing complex, heterogene...

In this article we started from the global warming trends due to climate change. These are leading to an increase in the heat risk index, particularly in areas where green infrastructure is lacking, where the population is dense and multi-storey residential buildings are dense. This is the reason why we first proposed a bibliometric study resulting from the growing interest in such analyses using GIS technology. The next step was the development of an automatic model based on specific features and its application ...

Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a vegetable with high nutritional value, which is cultivated mainly for the consumption of its roots, used as a spice in the preparation of dishes, being appreciated for its rich fiber content, as well as for vitamins and bioactive compounds. The paper aims to assess the differences between raw and cooked parsnip, based on its nutritional composition, focusing on the content of amino acids, fatty acids and essential vitamins, as well as on how these components influence health. Parsni...

Nanotechnology is increasingly being integrated into modern industrial applications, including the development of next-generation nanofertilizers (NFs) containing essential and non-essential elements such as zinc and silica. These NFs often intensify yield forming attributes without compromising the final crop quality. Larger knowledge about NFs application is still lacking in agronomic academic literature. It is particularly relevant for soybean cultivation, given its importance in human nutrition, feed industry ...

This paper analyses the implementation of recent geospatial technologies to map and model underground natural gas networks in three dimensions, with a focus on the use of mobile LiDAR scanning systems. The research focuses on the Subcetate area in the municipality of Arad, a representative example for the technical-urban networks in western Romania. The main objective is to create a geospatial database (GIS) with a high degree of accuracy, which would include the information collected from the site about the route...

Background: This paper explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing rural tourism management, highlighting the potential of this technology in the sustainable development of rural communities. AI can contribute to the efficient management of tourist flows, resource optimization, and improving visitor experiences. Methods: The study presents a detailed bibliometric analysis of the existing literature, using relevant keywords extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Moreover, AI ...

Within the core project called "Geomagnetism, a modern tool in space weather forecasting and rapid response to associated natural hazards for the protection of critical infrastructures and national air traffic security", we implemented a Web-GIS platform with ARCGIS Server, which can be viewed in an internet browser at: http://harti.igr.ro/masuratori_aeroporturi. The thematic layers in the application, at the level of the entire country, are the locations of magnetic declination measurements for all airports in Ro...

Floods are worldwide among the most significant natural hazards. They can result from various causes, including severe storms, intense or prolonged rainfall, and landslides. The damage they cause is substantial, both economically and in terms of human life and wellbeing. Modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), offer wide-ranging opportunities in this domain. AI can help forecast the weather, rainfall amounts and intensity, and other variables influencing flood occurrence. When integrated in...

This research was conducted for six years, in experimental fields located in B-rzava Plain, West part of Romania. The purpose of this research was to observe if a mixture of manure and calcium carbonate can improve some fertility indicators of soil. The monitored soil fertility indicators were: pH, humus content and nitrogen index. The mixture applied on the experimental field contain 20 t/ha cow manure and 4 t/ha calcium carbonate, being distributed in the first experimental year and in the fourth experimental ye...

The authors of this paper review the main factors of management in general (planning, organization, leadership and control) and environmental management in particular (environmental impact assessment, environmental legislation, pollution control, resource conservation, sustainable development, waste and wastewater management), with a focus on pig farms and their characteristics (biosecurity and health, growth and reproduction and reproduction, housing and food and water management, feed and feed management facilit...

Currently, investment volumes in Latvia are declining and investors are less willing to invest. However, it is essential for regional development to create business agglomerations with a large number of different types of entrepreneurs. Business industrial and logistics parks are a modern solution. Over time, industrial parks have become industrialised cities because of the proximity of the park-s employees, municipalities and various social amnesties. This location reduces real estate cost, health care and educat...

Apple juices are already well-known and appreciated products, which under certain conditions can be enriched with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, contributing to increasing nutritional intake as well as to completing some nutritional deficiencies. Such an approach often constitutes sustainable solutions from an economic and process point of view. Obtaining these new types of apple juices ensures the completion of their already known nutritional benefits with the therapeutic ones brought by the intake of ho...

Corrosion is one of the most important causes of failures of reinforced concrete building structures, reduces their service lifetime, reliability and increases the economic complexity of subsequent reconstructions and renovations of buildings. This paper is devoted to the investigation of aggressive environmental influences on building structures. The research is closely linked to long-term measured data of the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMI), which are used to calculate corrosion losses per year and t...

Carrot pomace is considered a promising by-product due to its health-benefit nutrients such as fibers, vitamins, polyphenols, carotenoids, and minerals. Incorporating pasta with healthy ingredients such as carrot pomace could be a good idea to enhance its nutritional value. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of carrot pomace on durum wheat flour dough rheological properties. In this study, carrot pomace from four varieties was used. Carrot pomace was incorporated at levels varying from 0 to 12%. D...

This study examines the influence of cutter geometry on cutting forces and rock destruction efficiency in drilling, with relevance beyond geological applications. We explored optimizing geometric parameters - attack angle (0--45-), cutting edge width, and profile shape (straight, wedge, radial) - to boost efficiency and cut energy use. Numerical simulations via SolidWorks finite element analysis (FEA) used a tetrahedral mesh (0.1-0.5 mm elements) and the Mohr-Coulomb criterion to model cutter interactions with roc...

This study evaluates the influence of dietary supplementation with royal jelly on growth dynamics in sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), a species of significant interest in aquaculture. Throughout a controlled experimental period, juvenile sturgeons were fed diets containing varying concentrations of royal jelly and were monitored for key growth performance parameters, including weight gain, specific growth rate, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio. The results revealed a significant impact of royal jelly sup...

ABSTRACT Fish and seafood represent some of the most nutritionally dense and well-balanced food sources, forming one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the global food market. Recent advancements in food science and technology have enabled innovative solutions to enhance the quality, extend the shelf life, and ensure the safety of fish products. The evolving fish and seafood market has spurred the development of novel products to meet increasing consumer demand for healthy, diverse, and convenient dieta...

The green economy is a concept that seeks to ensure sustainable development, in which economic growth is in sync with environmental protection. Innovative educational approaches can foster the knowledge and skills needed to build a sustainable economy. This article examines some of the most effective innovations in education that support the green economy. Project-based learning is an approach that allows students to work on real-world problems and cases. By participating in projects related to sustainable develop...

The growing amount of waste and the pressure to transition to a sustainable and circular economy create the need to modernize waste management through technological innovations. This article focuses on the analysis of selected innovative technologies and waste processing, namely plasma gasification, hydrothermal carbonization, chemical recycling of plastics, robotic sorting systems using artificial intelligence and biological processes such as enzymatic degradation of plastics. Based on a systematic literature sea...

Since the primary purpose of an education system as a whole is to provide education to students, this paper, as the first part of a larger study, is devoted to a detailed analysis of the size of general education schools, teachers and students who form the basis of the entire education system. The paper analyses up to date available almost 2800 data entries from Latvian National Education Information System about general education institutions, which are maintained by municipalities from 2019 - 2023. Statistical m...

The Fourth Industrial Revolution enables in depth assessment of technology prospects by systematising social, environmental, and other measurable indicators while sustaining economic growth. Although these categories can be integrated into a monetary framework, such unification fails to account for dependencies among resource costs, geographical variations, and business paradigms, thereby introducing significant uncertainties. Economic growth models have long attempted to incorporate social factors. Growth is a fu...