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The issue of food security, in the face of threats as resource scarcity, climate change, population growth, pollution etc confronts the agri-food systems all over the world with the challenge of pursuing resilience and sustainability. Western populations do not currently experience food shortages, but others do not have enough food available and some others suffer from hunger. Besides, a topic gaining much attention is the malnutrition condition of the global population. International research present fortificatio...

The continuous rise in global population necessitates the prediction of food resources, among which milk stands out as one of the staples. Dairy farms and processing plants need to know how much milk they will have available to manage their storage and processing capacities efficiently. Overestimating production can lead to wastage, while underestimating can lead to shortages. Knowing the expected milk quantity helps in planning the transportation, processing, and distribution of milk and milk products. This study...

Many international, European, regional, and national organizations are active in spatial data collection and analysis. Their activities for spatial data management as well as the implementation of geoportals outline the need for harmonization of the infrastructures with existing data in different areas and in the forestry. The forests spatial data in Bulgaria are part of various information systems, specialized projects, and active national portals. The information process is characterized by rapid technological p...

Agricultural activity accounts for two-thirds of the total anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (N2O) emissions worldwide. Most of the N2O emissions from agricultural soils come from the use of inorganic fertilizers and/or manure. As agricultural activity intensifies worldwide, N2O emissions are currently increasing by 0.25% per year. In order to investigate the feedback of soil N2O emissions with changes in environmental conditions, an improved understanding based on the wider use of isotopic tracer methods is needed. Th...

The aim of the study was to characterize the gelling effect of candelilla wax (DW) using different types of cold-pressed vegetable oil (sunflower oil, olive oil, walnut oil, grape seed oil and hemp seed oil). The structuring of the oleogels was achieved by hot incorporation of oil with different percentages of carnauba wax, as follows: 3%, 5% and 11%. Characterization of the oleogels was done by determining the chemical and physical properties of the oleogels, the oil binding capacity and the texture of the oleoge...

A case study for a public library which aim to become nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) is presented. Due to building-s location in the city center of a medium sized municipality from Romania, important site limits have to be considered, as well as other pre-existent conditions. These conditions significantly limit the technological options that can be implemented to ensure nZEB compliance. Also, the destination itself of the building (library with free access to the shelves), imposes a specific energy profile (c...

This paper refers on the result of an experimental work developed at an Italian limestone quarry. In such a site the pollutant emissions connected with standard activities such as drilling, blasting or crushing materials represent primary dust sources and contribute to determine the PM10 concentration all over the quarry plant and the surrounding area. Moreover many studies underlined the important contribution of secondary sources in the assessment of airborne dust climate. These ones, generally constituted by st...

Volcanic sites on Earth provide valuable insights into the geological processes that shape our planet and can also serve as effective analogs for studying similar volcanic activity on other celestial bodies, such as the Moon. This work aims to discuss the general characterization of the Capelinhos volcanic site, in the archipelago of Azores in Portugal, showing the potential as a planetary analog. It-s barren landscape, covered with pyroclastic rocks can lend itself the purpose of becoming a lunar planetary analog...

Identification and quantification of the factors that influence genetic diversity is particularly important for the representatives of the genus Quercus L. In this genus, the characterization of the genetic diversity correlations can serve as a basis for predictive models of its distribution. The adaptive and neutral genetic variability of four autochthonous oak species (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. - sessile oak, Q. pubescens Willd. - pubescent oak, Q. frainetto Ten. - Hungarian oak, Q. cerris L. - Turkey oak) ...

The article considers the intensity of the subsidence process of the given surface of the territory of the Central coal-mining district of Donbas from 2015 to 2021, according to radar data from the Sentinel-1 satellite. There are 26 mines on this territory, most liquidated by completely uncontrolled flooding of mining operations without further control of the hydrodynamic regime. This study aims to determine the dangerous zones formed due to soil subsidence to rank the territory, particularly minefields, according...

Tailings in Kosovo as in any other country in the world look like an asset and mineral resources, but despite this, these Tailings have a very large impact on the process of environmental pollution. In addition to the chemical and mineralogical research of the Artana Art-1 Tailings, we have conducted research on the geostatistical distribution of most pollutants and chemical elements of this tailing. The flotation process of the Artana mine builds tailing Art-1 and the waste released from this process is dumped in...

The increased demand for raw materials requires to reassess some deposits that were not of economic interest in the past. Complex of modern geochemical and mineralogical methods (SEM-EDS, LA-ICP-MS, QUEMSCAN) are used to study the ore mineralization in the small scale Pozharevo manganese deposit, Western Srednogorie Zone, Bulgaria. The deposit is formed in the contact zone between Late Cretaceous andesite pyroclastic rocks and overlying volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks. Manganese mineralization forms colloform textu...

High concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) today led to the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which is based on the concept of mineral carbonation in peridotites, enabling CO2 sequestration. In the Philippines, several opportunities for CCS in ophiolites and associated springs are yet to be studied. Therefore, this paper examined the geochemistry of alkaline springs and ultramafic to mafic rocks in Botolan, Zambales and determined its significance to carbon sequestration. Res...

In 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN) declared soil a finite natural resource in the face of anthropogenic use, occupation, and exploitation. The importance of soil for maintaining life and other natural resources must be adequately addressed in the curricula for natural sciences and geography teaching. The National Common Curricular Base - BNCC, defined for elementary education in Brazil, and the Paulista Curriculum, specific for the state of Sao Paulo, imply that full trai...

Granitoids are very developed and widespread geological formations on the territory of Kazakhstan. Many mineral deposits are associated with them, in addition, they themselves are useful minerals, like building materials. The Shu-Ile tectonic belt in Kazakhstan is a large region of the Paleozoic granitoid massif. Many deposits of gold, non-ferrous metals and rare earth elements are associated with them. One of them is the Jeltau leucogranites complex, with which most of the facing stone objects are associated. In ...

The studied intrusive massif is an ellipse elongated in the sublatitudinal direction. Only the eastern part, 2.2x4 km in size, is exposed on the earth surface. Under the sediments, the intrusion was traced by boreholes and aeromagnetic survey. The intrusion is a sheetlike body of a fractured nature, inclined to the southwest. A zone of marmorized limestones, as well as tremolite and wolastonite hornfelses, formed at the contact with the intrusion. Among the intrusive rocks that make up the massif, three successive...

Geopark networks are expanding globally, with the main purpose to protect geoheritage. In many places of the world geopark sites are associated with local cultural heritage and indigenous people. These links sometimes are synergistic, whereby geoparks serve as important protected areas that allow for preservation of important cultural objects and even support livelihoods of indigenous people. However, in some cases geopark development is perceived negatively by local communities and might have potentially damaging...

In this paper, the main maritime exploration techniques have been analyzed, the seismic refraction, and the seismic reflection. Pursuant to the performed research, we considered the seismic reflection to be of interest, for which we shall suggest improvement in how the data is collected by proposing a hydrophone design. At present, the continuation of exploitation of the traditional basins of natural resources (gas, oil), as well as the emergence of new reserves, such as those in the Black Sea, make it compulsory ...

Geothermal energy sources in Albania are estimated as warm water sources of the underground layers of the earth, which have a sufficient temperature to be used as a source of energy. The area of Elbasan is a special area because it has a significant number of sources with geothermal potential. This area, as part of the Kruja geothermal area, has a length of 180 km and a width of 4-5 km. The current average flow of thermal water is about 15-18 l/s and temperatures vary from 55-65oC. It is estimated that the resourc...

Reducing GHG emissions from soil is crucial for mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable agriculture, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, ensuring food security, and improving public health. The effectiveness of GHG mitigating strategies may vary depending on local conditions, soil type, and agricultural practices. It is recognized that conventional farming practices may lead to increased GHG emissions compared to more sustainable farming systems. Therefore, the aim of this study is to research the GHG...

In recent years GNSS studies play an increasing role in studding of natural risk hazards and active tectonics. The area of Sofia is part of the broad South-Balkan Extensional Tectonic System. This highly populated area of economic significance, even showing to be not so active as other parts of the System is also affected by natural hazards, as active seismicity, landslides, rock falls, debris, etc. GNSS studies are extremely important for understanding of natural hazards and recent geodynamics of the area, especi...

With the ever-increasing number of cars in cities, it is essential to find innovative and sustainable ways to address parking. Green parking in cities is an innovative concept that is becoming part of the modern urban environment and contributing to the creation of sustainable and green communities for the future. It aims to minimise the negative impacts of asphalt surfaces that are common in traditional car parks, but above all it is about the environment and human health. They provide many benefits for cities an...

In 2019, the Green Cities submitted the first proposal for the Green Norm. The Green Norm is a set of practical recommendations mainly for politicians, officials and urban development officials. Green cities introduce this norm as a critical strategy for competitiveness. More and more people are moving to big cities, so we must consider climate-neutral solutions as the municipalities set an example. The number of green and climate-neutral towns in Europe and Latvia has constantly been increasing over the last deca...

Climate change and the deteriorating state of the environment pose a serious threat to the European Union and the entire world. The Green Deal for Europe sets a potential goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This agreement aims to promote a green economy, create sustainable industry and transport, and reduce pollution. The main intention is to turn climate and environmental challenges into opportunities and ensure that the transition is fair and inclusive. The European Commission supports EU Member States...

We present a study on the responses of plants from three functional groups: grasses, forbs, and legumes, deriving from a coal mining waste heap, to changes in environmental stress factors. The aim of this work is to identify plant responses to environmental stress resulting from the transfer of plants from the waste heap to the waste substrate and an extensive green roof with a thickness of 15 cm. After one year of growth, selected functional traits were analysed: including height, specific leaf area (SLA), and ch...

The article includes the results obtained in the growth experiments during the postembryonic development period of the North American sturgeon species Polyodon spathula. The experiments took place in the years 2020 and 2021. Sturgeon larvae aged 5 days old, obtained through artificial reproduction at SCDP Nucet, were stocked and raised until the age of 35 days in two variants, in concrete tanks (useful volume -120 m3 /tank), located in the pilot station intended for fish culture experiments from the SCDP Nucet gen...

This article outlines time series analysis of sea level data from Varna tide gauge stations, to solve for short and long term sea level variations. The period of observations span to 1928 - 2022. Monthly sea level data were processed using a linear regression model includes mean sea level, trend, annual, semiannual and decadal variations. Analysis of monthly sea level data for period 1928-2022 clearly indicates annual and decadal variations of mean sea level. Hourly sea level data of radar tide gauge include the p...

The continuous development of human society from a technical-economic point of view is closely related to the increase in energy consumption. However, this implies the rapid depletion of existing fossil fuels and an accelerated increase in global pollution. At the moment, to counteract these impediments, one of the most important sources that can be used for the purpose of energy production, without having a negative impact on the environment, is hydrogen. Due to the fact that, when mixed with air, hydrogen can ge...

With the rapid growth of the population and urbanization, the demand for industrial production has continued to increase, and industrial solid waste has become more and more abundant. Industrial solid waste mainly includes fly ashes, slags, tailings, red mud, bottom ashes and other wastes, which account for approximately 80% of the total waste produced on Earth. Industrial wastes generally contain various heavy metal components such as Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, As, Ba and Mn. The low recycling rate of solid waste result...

The high jewelry industry, and its supply chain, are considered complex systems that have positively affected the global economy as well as potentially harmed the environment and society due to its resources exploitation. As a consequence, consumers are increasingly demanding for sustainable processes that guarantee traceability through the extraction and manufacturing phases. The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate potential solutions for the traceability of high jewelry raw materials. First of all, this...

Going green ... So many projects to reduce environmental impact start this way and continue with the first task being to eliminate printed communication and go paperless and digital. All this is not driven by thoughtful environmental considerations, but by an aversion to paper-based communication that is wrongly anchored in the social consciousness. The authors draw attention to the misconceptions that people have about paper-based communication, showing that they are untrue and that they are often used to greenwa...

In recent years, the maritime industry was shifting towards sustainable practices, focusing on minimising environmental impact and maximising energy efficiency. Fishing vessels are increasingly adopting hybrid energy systems to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. However, finding the optimal hybrid energy configuration specifically determined for a certain vessel type, its technical specifications, and operational requirements remains a complex challenge. This paper presents the development of an user-friendly...

Hypospadias is a developmental abnormality in which the male urethra opens on the underside of the penis or on the perineum and can be accompanied by penile aplasia or hypoplasia, hypoplasia of the corpus cavernosum, incomplete formation of the prepuce, or cryptorchidism [1]. In animals, it rarely appears in horses, sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, and cats as isolated cases with urogenital anomaly or with other abnormalities [2,3]. The aim of this paper is to present the hystological results in a crossbred calf seen w...

Water transport in icy environments necessitates specialized infrastructure to facilitate safe and efficient movement. Ice piers, vital components in these regions, serve as critical pathways over frozen water bodies, enabling the traversal of ships and vessels. This overview encapsulates the scientific exploration of ice piers, focusing on their design, construction, functionality, and the advancements revolutionizing water transport in challenging icy terrains. The design of ice piers requires a holistic approac...

Water transport in icy conditions presents intricate challenges that significantly impact navigability, safety, and operational efficiency. This article delves into the complexities of navigating icy waters, focusing on the diverse forms and compositions of ice that pose formidable obstacles to maritime operations. Pack ice, icebergs, and frazil ice represent distinct challenges, restricting access, threatening safety, and impeding the fluidity of water transport routes. The challenges for water transport in icy c...

The golden jackal (Canis aureus), a mesocarnivore, is currently spreading from eastern to western Europe. In Europe, the golden jackal is considered an invasive species, as in recent years it has managed to populate extensive territories in Greece, Turkey, Slovenia, Serbia and Hungary. Bulgaria is considered the country with the largest population of jackals in Europe. In Romania it is frequently found from the plains of Dobrogea to Banat. The present work aimed to study and observe the newly developed antibiotic ...

Water and sediments in coastal areas interact at different scales, thus shaping the marine environment and providing physical habitat for ecosystems. Hence, the hydromorphological conditions represent a key aspect of aquatic ecosystems considered in the Water Framework Directive as supporting quality elements (alongside the physicochemical), which are expected to provide the boundary conditions for the biological quality elements. Any alteration in those can reshape the corresponding biological conditions at vario...

The variety of urban landscapes, especially of urban green spaces provide a wide range of human well-being opportunities, physical recreation, sport activities, and urban heat mitigation. Therefore, there are many studies applying remote sensing and GIS methods, which were related to the sustainable city development focused on the -green network-, -green spaces- and land use. Conversely, illegal landfills in and around settlements and rivers have a negative anthropogenic impact on the environment. Therefore, their...

One of the important environmental protection problems in Romania is air pollution, which is an extremely complex phenomenon. Industrialized urban settlements are susceptible to the phenomenon of pollution given the presence of various types of polluting species. The area of interest, where the study was carried out (Jiu Valley), is a mountainous region located in the southwestern part of Romania, known for its mineral resources and for the mining industry that dominated the region for several decades. Currently, ...

A novel composite matrix composed of Portland cement (PC) and municipal solid waste incineration ash (MSWIA) was developed for the simultaneous immobilization of three heavy metals - Ba, Pb and Zn. The main motivation for the research was to exploit and reuse MSWIA to design alternative composite matrix with the ability to immobilize hazardous pollutants, such as heavy metals, which might be used as filler for the cement-based construction materials. In composition of prepared composite matrix, MSWIA was used as a...

Since putting in operation of Chernomorets fishing port (Sozopol municipality, southern Bulgarian Black Sea coast) in January 2016, a number of negative effects have been observed in the area. The disturbance in the existing hydrodynamic balance led to intense coastal erosion and unwanted sand accumulation in the wave shadow area. Additionally, the coastal water quality has deteriorated in the port area. In order to undertake measures to mitigate the observed adverse effects, it is necessary to assess in detail th...

Asclepias syriaca is a perennial species, native to North America. In Romania, being introduced as an ornamental species, in present being found in different habitats (agroecosystems) and on ever wider areas causing damage. Although the basic biological characteristics of Asclepias syriaca are known, its control is a significant problem. As a result, we hypothesized that temperature and sowing depth can be used to reduce the population of Asclepias syriaca. To test this, the seeds were put at 5?C, 27?C, room tempe...

The research on the development of new robot control systems is currently underway. The interest in this area stems from the need for practical, user-friendly means of transport adapted to people with physical disabilities. The application of these devices will allow disabled people to manipulate external devices using EEG of both brain activity and eye movement. It is still possible for people with disabilities to partially apply their gaze in order to control and communicate with an assistive device. However, th...

The challenges of economic growth in today's economy are to create optimistic cooperation between industries and the state, local authorities and to maintain sustainability by balancing economic, environmental and social interests. The transition to a circular economy is in many cases understood only as an unnecessary barrier rather than as a new business model. Production based on a linear "take, make, dispose" model is no longer feasible on the grounds of environmental degradation. The aim of the study is to dev...

Cemented paste backfill (CPB) is an engineering mixture of mine tailings, cement and water. Tailings can commonly contain sulphidic minerals. In this case, acid mine drainage (AMD) may occur due to the oxidation of sulphidic minerals present in the body of the CPB. In general, AMD lowers the pH of the medium and water environment and may cause heavy metal release. Therefore, AMD potential is an important parameter to be considered with regard to environmental aspect. Static tests are widely used to determine the A...

The task of developing carbonate reservoirs has now become extremely important. Low technological indicators of development are explained, as a rule, by an inefficient well placement system, complex geological structure, high oil viscosity, water breakthrough and the occurrence of technological complications in the process of field development. The aim of the work is to refine the geological and reservoir simulation model of a complexly built carbonate reservoir, in terms of areal coverage of wells by hydraulic fr...

The work is devoted to increasing the service life of PDC bits when drilling rocks alternating in hardness by equipping tools with additional superhard elements. Experimental data have shown (ISM NAS (Ukraine)) that superhard elements have the following composition: diamond, tungsten carbide, cobalt, chromium diboride and zirconium dioxide, and the latter two components are included in the composite in a ratio of 2:4. Inserts made of a new composite have minimal cracking, increased wear resistance and cutting abil...

Tomatoes (Solanum Lycopersicum) are fruits rich in bioactive substances, especially compounds with antioxidant characteristics. Tomato fruits are a source of vitamin C, having beneficial properties for health. Current indications lead us to the conclusion that tomato fruits are potential candidates for the study of bioactivity, as well as for functionally developed fruits. The activity of these bioactive compounds is to combat the activity of free radicals. Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop in the world...

In 2021, economic growth in Latvia recovered slowly after the Covid-19 crisis. At the beginning of 2022, energy and food prices increased significantly, intensifying inflationary pressure. The volume of foreign direct investments decreased, lending to companies decreased. A new approach to business promotion is needed. An industrial park is a territory set aside for economic activity, which has one manager who takes care of its infrastructure, performs construction or renovation or repair of premises according to ...

The Cultural Heritage Act regulates the preservation and protection of the cultural heritage of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the State ensures the protection of cultural heritage regardless of its location. The procedure for identifying, declaring and granting the status of sites as immovable cultural property, as well as the procedure for establishing temporary protection regimes for declared immovable cultural heritage sites and for the protection regimes for immovable cultural property, are also laid down in s...