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Urbanization and increasing traffic intensity contribute significantly to heavy metal pollution in urban environments, posing potential risks to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of zinc concentrations in snow water within Jelgava, Latvia, from 2020 to 2024. A total of 59 sampling sites in Jelgava and an additional site in Mezciems were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine zinc concentrations and identify potential pollu...

Specialization of production according to existing resources and the availability of sheep involves the use of new production systems, their readaptation to the demand for raw materials and the availability of feed resources. Depending on the existence of resources and the typology of sheep farms in the research area, production systems can be specialized for producing lamb, young sheep, and sheep reconditioned on pastures, and producing milk-meat in pastoral systems through the seasonal use of alpine pastures or ...

The aim of the study was to develop and validate analytical methods for the detection and quantification of arsenic species (As(III), DMA, MMA and As(V)) in different environmental matrices, including drinking water, surface water, groundwater, and sediments. The experimental tests were performed on a HPLC 1260 Infinity II coupled with an ICP-MS 7850 Agilent. For aqueous matrices, the method was validated within a working range of 10-50 microg/L using an Agilent G3154-65002 guard column and an Agilent G3154-65001 ...

The development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and revision of the EU policies on agriculture, including environmental and the common agricultural policy, plant protection, sustainable use of fertilizers, pesticides and veterinary drugs, requires comprehensive and reliable statistical knowledge. The introduction of Regulation (EU) 2022/2379 on agricultural input and output statistics poses a challenge as it brings significant changes to the system in Latvia by not only broadening the range of inputs and i...

The transition to renewable energy sources is a key strategy for reducing carbon emissions and ensuring energy sustainability. This study explores the integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems for hydrogen production and storage in Constan?a County, Romania. The region benefits from high solar potential, making it an optimal location for implementing solar energy solutions. The proposed system converts solar energy into electricity through photovoltaic panels, which is then used to power an electrolyzer for hydroge...

In this paper, the authors analyze methods and technologies that contribute to the efficiency of an agricultural holding, in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. The aim is to identify modern techniques (crop rotation, use of organic fertilizers, efficient irrigation, digitalization of agricultural processes, minimum sowing) that reduce the ecological footprint, as well as to compare traditional practices with modern methods of sustainable cultivation. The paper highlights solutions capable o...

A significant part of the built environment and historical architectural heritage in the EU consists of masonry structures. These old structures often undergo severe decay, reaching a critical state of deterioration and becoming highly susceptible to natural disasters, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Some of the structures hold architectural and historical value. Modernizing, repairing, and reusing the existing built environment, alongside efforts in extending its service lifespan, are among the most effecti...

This study focuses on the structural and material optimization of a composite airbox for a Formula Student vehicle from the perspective of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Three evolutionary airbox generations are analyzed, each differing in geometry, number of parts, and material configuration, while maintaining the same primary manufacturing technology, in which the core structural material is a carbon fiber prepreg cured in an autoclave. The design optimization includes shell geometry simplification, integration of...

This study examines the travel behaviour of university students and academic staff at four Slovak universities, focusing on differences in transport mode choice and perceptions of mobility factors within the broader context of sustainable mobility in Europe. An online survey was conducted among university participants, assessing their primary travel modes and the perceived importance of five key factors travel cost, travel time, parking availability, environmental impact, and sharing using a five-point Likert scal...

As the offshore oil and gas industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units are emerging as critical platforms for implementing clean energy innovations. This paper explores the potential for integrating renewable energy sources such as offshore wind, solar photovoltaic, and wave energy with advanced energy storage technologies, including lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen-based systems, within FPSO operations. The hybridization of power gen...

The paper is devoted to the study of the combustion process in fibrous organic materials based on natural fibers. The paper presents the results of research focused on the study of the relationship between the microstructure of organic fibrous insulation materials, fiber properties and their resulting reaction to fire. This is a comprehensive approach to describing the reaction to fire beyond the scope of classification according to EN 13501-1. The basic test methods used to determine the reaction to fire are used...

This study investigates the flotation-based enrichment of black shale raw materials to selectively separate uranium and rare earth metals (REMs). The efficiency of various reagent systems-xanthogenate, kerosine, and paraffin with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA)-was examined under different grinding fineness conditions. The initial material showed significant concentrations of uranium (0.188%) and REMs, with carbon content reaching up to 15%. The highest uranium removal (up to 98%) into mineral tailings was achiev...

The processing of titanium-zirconium concentrates with high chromium content presents a significant challenge due to the inhibitory effect of chromium on industrial applications. This study investigates the composition of titanium-containing concentrate from the Obukhovskoye deposit using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and thermogravimetric analysis. The findings indicate that chromium is uniformly distributed in both magnetic and non-magnetic fractions, complicating its selective removal by co...

This paper demonstrates the importance of integrating modern technologies in the management of municipal infrastructures and highlights the significant advantages of using a municipal cadastral information system and an external database. With the help of GNSS technology and the total station, this precision requirement is met. The data from the measurements formed the basis for creating municipal cadastral plans that provide a detailed and accurate representation of the municipal networks. The methodology used in...

The maritime industry represents a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels used by ship engines. As international regulations tighten and environmental awareness grows, reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from ships has become an important objective. This study explores the potential for emission reduction on passenger ships through the implementation of a hybrid propulsion system. The study methodology involves solving the following aspects...

During the process of adapting renewable energy and ensuring national energy security in the current geopolitical context, technological progress in the field of green energy has received increased attention. This has led to the development of updated policies on investment in onshore renewable energy (which uses wind and solar energy through wind turbines and photovoltaic parks) and offshore renewable energy (which uses tidal, wave, solar, and wind energy through floating photovoltaic parks and wind turbines that...

In recent years, several definitions of the bioeconomy have been developed, due to the fact that researchers have not been able to reach a common consensus. Through this study, we aim to develop this field and highlight the link between the bioeconomy and the four main resources that ensure the continuity of life on earth: air, water, soil and biodiversity. The main goal of the bioeconomy is to protect nature and biodiversity, by using resources that generate environmentally friendly products, but which also impro...

Due to limited resources, development is associated with a process of transformation, including the performance of the transformation. In 2015, following the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the political agenda has shifted towards sustainable development for society, which includes environmental criteria. European Union Member States have strengthened the political agenda on sustainable development with the EU Green Deal initiative. Various development indexes could be emp...

Abandoned railway lines can be used as hiking trails for tourism development and as coherent eco-logical routes for many species of flora and fauna, such as plants, insects, and birds. The study's objective was to design a strategic plan for using unused railway lines that will increase or maintain the biodiversity in the Prefecture of Peloponnese in southern Greece. The SWOT-AHP-TOWS method analysis was used. The criteria of the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) method were recorded based o...

The design of urban drainage systems in the European Union generally follows the requirements of the EN 752 standard. Nevertheless, it uses a classical approach that aims only to convey stormwater runoff away from the settlement boundaries, thus preventing local problems. On the other hand, global tendencies are oriented towards a more sustainable approach for climate-adaptive metropolitan infrastructure. To address problems like urban expansion, expected future heavy rainfall events, sewer overloading, flooding, ...

We live in a world where, globally, the urban population represents 50% of the Earth's inhabitants, and in 2035, it is expected to represent 75%. In Romania, in 2024, 55.81% of the total population lives in urban areas and the difference in rural areas. In the paper, we set out to create an "x-ray" of the commitments that our country has assumed within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - Goal 11. Romania must find solutions for the sustainable development of communities, based on environmental education,...

Tourism is a key driver of economic growth and regional development, particularly in emerging destinations that capitalize on natural and cultural resources. This study explores the role of European-funded sustainable projects in enhancing tourism infrastructure, services, and environmental policies in the Western Region of Romania. [1] By analyzing various initiatives supported through EU funding (FEADR, EURI), the research identifies best practices and challenges in implementing sustainable tourism strategies. T...

This study addresses the limitations of conventional incentive systems in encouraging sustainable behaviors -- such as donations, ethical consumption, and CO2 reduction -- by highlighting their lack of transparency, long-term viability, and respect for privacy. To overcome these issues, we propose a decentralized reward framework built upon a blockchain-based Self-Sovereign Information Environment (SSIE). Verified actions are recorded through NFTs and smart contracts, ensuring immutable traceability without disclo...

In this paper, we present some practical considerations regarding the design of power voltage stabilizer equipment. Nowadays, technologies for raising and/or lowering the voltage to a level required by the power line or a consumer are increasingly used (in wind or solar power generation systems, or in energy conversion systems with a direct current intermediate circuit). Our study refers to a conversion solution consisting of two converter stages. The first stage consists of two boost converters operating in antip...

We present herein a thoroughly study regarding the synthesis, structure and biological activity of some hybrid diazine - polyphenols derivatives. The synthesis was performed under conventional thermal heating and microwave irradiation, by using a straight and efficient method: a N-alkylation reaction of diazine (pyridazine or phthalazine) with reactive halogenated derivatives. The structure of the hybrids was proven by elemental and spectral analysis. Under MW irradiation, the N-alkylation reaction of diazine have...

Mannitol is an important raw material in the production of resins, lubricants, coatings, surfactants, explosives, cosmetics and drugs. One of the promising ways to obtain it is the catalytic conversion of inulin, a natural polyfructosan found in large quantities in some agricultural crops. In this study a Ru-containing magnetic catalyst was proposed for the process of hydrolytic hydrogenation of inulin to mannitol. Under optimal reaction conditions a high mannitol selectivity of 44.3 % was obtained 100 % conversio...

This research examines how Earth and Environmental Sciences are woven into and how important they are within higher education, particularly as a response to today's environmental problems. It highlights the key issue of their rather limited presence in curricula, which, it's argued, hampers students- preparedness for the sustainability challenges that define the 21st century. Primary data gathered on curriculum content, teaching methods, and how students perceive these, reveals a clear gap between current educatio...

In the more developed European countries, because of the importance given to the poplar species, research in this field has increased, while feeling the need to set up an international coordinating forum. Due to the particularly rapid growth, poplar crops soon produce an important quantity of wood mass that satisfies to an increasing extent the wood needs of society. The wood of this species, with special characteristics, has multiple industrial uses: Timber and light packaging, fibro-woody plates and plywood, fur...

The need to develop an integrated testing system for explosion-protected construction equipment with the type of protection "p" arose from practical considerations. The use of a mobile, versatile and adaptable system for the field performance of tests specific to this type of protection applied to explosion-protected construction equipment brings several novel advantages, the most important of which are: grouping all the test equipment required for the tests, elimination of measurement errors by performing several...

This paper begins with an analysis of the constructive-functional characteristics of hazardous goods transport systems, as required by legislation [3]. It is observed that safety elements primarily concern the materials from which parts or subassemblies in direct contact with or in close proximity to the hazardous substances being transported are made, as well as the general measures applicable to the vehicle-s electrical system, which aim to prevent overheating or to shield and prevent the transmission of heat to...

Asphalt-resin-paraffin deposits (ARPD) are a complex dispersed system formed by substances that have separated from the oil phase according to various signs. The sediments include asphaltenes, resins, paraffins, liquid hydrocarbons, mechanical impurities and water. In conditions of intensive deposition of ARPD, normal operation of wells is impossible without carrying out work using dewaxing equipment. The purpose of the treatment is the use of chemical reagents in the composition of the emulsion to affect the bott...

The intensification of mining requires the increasingly widespread use of a high-performance transport system, i.e. the conveyor transport. At the same time, the requirements for its basic traction and load-bearing element, namely the conveyor belt, which is used in the extraction of mineral raw materials by applying both underground and surface methods, are rising. Increasing the productivity of those transport systems and longer transport distances lead to an increase in the load to which conveyor belts are expo...

Ash accumulating in a power plant-s ash pond represents a significant environmental burden for both nature and the people living nearby. For several years, we have been exploring the potential use of fungi, particularly the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), in the remediation and filtration process to ultimately achieve the revitalization of the ash pond site. The ash is mixed into a substrate based on European beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood chips, with the addition of two production strains of oyster mushroom....

The aim of the paper is to examine the role of the break-even point (BEP) as a business management tool in the conditions of natural disasters and to propose various managerial scenarios for effective decision-making after severe damage to production equipment. The break-even point of a company represents the sales volume or revenue level at which total revenues equal total costs (both fixed and variable), meaning that the enterprise neither makes a profit nor incurs a loss. Below this threshold, the company opera...

An AI camouflage design was used to create an IR camouflage textile structure, utilising Grafco screen printing inks and Chromatex HD10 pigments characterised by high brightness and colour resistance. For vector image editing, CorelDRAW software was employed. The screen-printing process was carried out following these steps: frame selection, screen selection, and image preparation. The reflection index was determined using a spectrophotometric method with a UV-VIS-NIR Perkin Elmer Lambda 950 spectrophotometer, mea...

One of a country s most valuable natural resources is its soil, and since it cannot be replaced, it must be protected. In addition to being an important part of the environment with a variety of functions, it is crucial for agricultural and forestry productivity. Nevertheless, the soil is in danger due to a number of processes. In the Czech Republic, these are primarily water and wind erosion. Agroforestry systems are one of the options to reduce them. Furthermore, they can enhance water management, mitigate the e...

The development of cements that produce less CO2 is important for the preservation of our environment. One way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to produce belite cements that contain a higher proportion of belite than alite. Although the long-term strengths of this type of cement are comparable or even higher than those of ordinary Portland cement, their disadvantage is insufficient initial strengths) due to the slow hydration of belite. In this work, the effect of adding SO3 to the raw meal on the initial st...

The walnut kernel (Juglans regia L.) is highly appreciated for its unique sensory properties and nutritional value. Walnut kernels contain around 60% oil; this varies from variety to variety. Walnut oil is cold-pressed from dried walnut kernels and has a strong and distinctive walnut flavour. The effect of adding some spices as a natural source of antioxidants on the oxidative stability of walnut oil was investigated in the present study. Three types of flavoured walnut oil were obtained: with garlic (Allium sativ...

Mollusca constitute a significant phylum within the Black Sea ecosystem. This study provides the first comprehensive checklist of the phylum Mollusca along the Black Sea Georgian coast. It is based on a collection and synthesis of data from various published sources and unpublished records. The checklist draws on material collected across diverse biotopes at depths ranging from 3 to 205 meters, over a period spanning from 1926 to 2023. These collections were conducted as part of various projects and national monit...

The extensive or intensive green roofs are today the common solution for roofs at new and retrofitted buildings in different climatic regions. In terms of region where the building is located the thermal insulation in the roof is or not. In the direction from the equator further the thermal insulation in the roof is important to decrease the heat flow from the building to the exterior during winter months. The presence of thermal insulation on the roof also influences the heat load of rooms under the roof during s...

Supporting the agricultural sector, a factor of strategic importance for ensuring food security, raw materials for the food industry and for maintaining jobs, in the sense that it must benefit from public policy from the state aimed at compensating for losses generated by the increase in prices and other costs such as labour, veterinary services, agricultural utilities, etc. European, counting over 620 000 beekeepers in the EU. The importance of this sector is much greater than could be deduced from its contributi...

The protection and maintenance of cultural heritage is an integral aspect of urban development. Preserving the original architecture, appearance, and material design of historic buildings is of a significant importance for understanding the development of society and the changes that have occurred throughout history. In the face of increasing demands for durability, mechanical strength, water vapor permeability, and compatibility with other parts of historical construction, research has focused on innovations in l...

Historical building structures are vital in illuminating human history. Ensuring their preservation and passing them down to future generations is of great importance. The preservation and restoration of historical buildings constitute a complex and highly relevant issue, wherein the criteria for compatibility in the selection and development of appropriate materials and application technologies are of significant importance. In historical context, the enhancement of lime mortar properties was achieved through the...

Aquaculture has become an essential component of global food production, offering a sustainable source of animal protein. However, the sector continues to face significant challenges related to environmental sustainability and suboptimal reproductive efficiency. In recent years, the incorporation of plant-derived bioactive compounds, commonly referred to as phyto-additives, has emerged as a promising, natural alternative to synthetic additives and chemotherapeutics. These substances can improve growth performance,...

Sustainable human capital management and green human resource management have become the trend words in business management in recent years. It cannot be denied that human resource management has become one of the leading management functions in organisations at all levels, working on the development of the organisation's most valuable resource, human resources. Consequently, the importance of human capital management and a more strategic approach focusing on the development of employees' knowledge, skills and inn...

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of digitalization in promoting sustainable economic development, focusing specifically on the contribution of digital technologies in the field of geosciences and climate analysis. By using a mixed methodology that combines documentary analysis with relevant case studies, the research explores how advanced digital solutions contribute to environmental monitoring and climate forecasting in the current context of confronting the accelerating phenomenon of clim...

Ensuring ecologically grown fodder for organic livestock farming has become an imperative matter for the development of the livestock sector in western Romania. Against this background, but also due to very good production results and the improving effects on soil fertility, more Romanian farmers are choosing to include, each year, fodder legumes in their crop rotation. The research conducted over three experimental years, in two agricultural areas from the Timis Plain, known as favorable for fodder pea crops, had...

The goal of present paper is to study the influence of investments and forest resources on gross value added in forestry. To achieve this goal are used comparable data from Eurostat for the period 2015-2022 for 12 European union (EU) member states: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden. A panel regression model with fixed time effects is specified. The dependent variable is the gross value added per hectare (euro/ha) and as regressors are used...

Previous research has shown that the properties of biomass pellets (composition, moisture, density) have a significant impact on particulate matter emissions. However, pellet length has been investigated to a lesser extent, mainly for wood pellets. This study offers a new perspective, as it focuses on non-wood biomass (red fescue pellets) and systematically evaluates particulate matter emissions in relation to pellet length. Pellets were sorted into three categories: 0.15-1.65 cm (I), 1.65-3.15 cm (II), and over 3...

The aim of the study was to monitor two types of Carpathian salami (one with a fat content of 20% and the other with 30% content). Variations in humidity, pH, fat and NaCl content were monitored, as well as changes that occurred during storage. The monitoring interval of the influence of raw and auxiliary materials on the obtained salami and the physicochemical and organoleptic changes occurred during storage was 1 - 115 days. In the case of the two types of salami, it was observed that the variation of fat conten...