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SOIL FUNGI RESISTANT TO ORGANIC POLLUTANTS AS A POTENTIAL SOLUTION FOR AIR BIOFILTRATION
Get PDFHuman activity leads to the production and release of many aliphatic and aromatic compounds that have long been considered a major source of pollution that needs to be addressed. Especially those substances that possess one or several aromatic rings (MAHs and PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of concern, and numerous studies have tried to understand mechanisms of degradation and develop biological solutions to this problem. Many microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi have been documented to be able to degrade and even use as a source of carbon and energy these types of organic pollutants. White-rot fungi are well documented for their ability to degrade aromatic compounds due to their enzyme system involved in lignin decomposition. However, several less studied anamorphic fungi and yeasts can grow on different organic compounds (including PAHs and VOCs) as a sole source of carbon. These species are of a great importance for developing strategies for organic pollutants biodegradation, and have often been isolated from sources traditionally contaminated, such as soil and industrial debris. In this study, mycobiota from different types of soil contaminated with aromatic compounds has been studied to understand the way the pollutants affect the microbiome and fungal communities’ composition. Several fungi have been demonstrated to grow well on contaminated soils and their potential for biodegradation of organic compounds is discussed. These insights contribute to moving forward the possible biological pathways involved in the biofiltration of the gaseous pollutants from urban automotive underground spaces and other related applications
ACTIVITY ANALYSIS OF HEALTH TOURISM AGENCIES: AN APPLICATION ON HEALTH TOURISM AGENCIES IN ISTANBUL
Get PDFIn this study, the activities of health tourism businesses in Istanbul will be examined. The study examines the health tourism sector and the potential of Istanbul, and evaluates the functioning, services, customer satisfaction and future potential of health tourism companies operating in Istanbul. The aim of the study is to provide in-depth information about the activities of health tourism businesses and to evaluate the future growth potential of the sector. Therefore, it has been determined that health tourism businesses in Istanbul are in a good position and promising for the future. However, it was also emphasized that quality standards and customer satisfaction should be improved. The data shows that Istanbul\u27s health tourism sector is growing rapidly and various health service providers have benefited greatly from this expansion. These agencies collaborate with healthcare providers such as hospitals, clinics, thermal and spa centers to offer various healthcare services to foreign patients. These services include dentistry, cancer care, cardiac surgery and other medical procedures. In the study, the operation and functioning of health tourism agencies in Istanbul were examined in detail. The duties of the agencies include bringing patients to Istanbul, providing accommodation, transporting clients to and from the airport, arranging medical appointments and providing translation services. Agents are also responsible for how long their clients spend in Istanbul and customer satisfaction is very important. The findings of the study show that Istanbul is an area for future expansion of health tourism businesses. However, agencies should continue to improve customer satisfaction and service quality. The higher the service quality of agencies, the more likely customers are to choose health tourism in Istanbul. Agencies should therefore take the necessary actions to raise the quality standards of their services and continue their customer-oriented work
POSSIBILITIES OF USING FOREST ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ON THE EXAMPLE OF RECREATIONAL FUNCTION
Get PDFRenewable resources and their efficient, sustainable use are coming to the fore. Forest ecosystems provide a wide range of services that are vital for both human well-being and the health of the planet. As the recognition of the importance of ecosystem services grows, various financing strategies have been developed to support conservation efforts. The forest’s recreational function can serve as an additional financial source for both public and private entities. Forests offer a wide range of recreational opportunities and experiences that attract visitors and tourists, generating revenue and supporting local economies. The article analyzes the question of the use the forest\u27s recreational function, using the example of a treetop sidewalk in Bachledova dolina. The aim is to analyze the benefits and hazards related to the development of a treetop sidewalk as an object supporting the forest\u27s recreational function. Economic research indicates that such a project would be both economically and financially efficient. Additionally, some positive socio-economic consequences on the investigated locality were observed, such as employment creation directly tied to the attraction\u27s provision of services, as well as related occupations in gastronomic establishments and tourism. On the other hand, it is important to note that there are several undesirable consequences. These effects are mostly influenced by increased tourist traffic in the area, but they may also be influenced by a potential conflict between the project\u27s owner and the impacted owners and users of forest land. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that it\u27s important to manage the recreational use of forests sustainably to avoid negative impacts on the natural environment and to maintain the long-term attractiveness of the area. Balancing the conservation of ecosystem services with recreational activities can ensure that forests continue to provide economic benefits while preserving their ecological value
EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS FROM TWO TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMS IN SHARED COURSE
Get PDFThis qualitative research is action research that examined the learning experiences of teaching students from two different training programs who participated in the "learning based on physical activity" course. Ten students in the "Physical Education Training Program" (PETP) and twenty-seven students in the "Elementary School Teaching Training Program" (ESTP) participated in the study. The research tools included a reflective diary that each student wrote weekly during the semester as part of the course assignments and semi-structured interviews with each participant. The research questions are: 1. How do students from two training programs perceive the learning experience in a shared course? 2. What are the students\u27 perspectives of the two training programs after participating in a shared course ?The research findings indicate the complexity of cooperative learning that at the beginning of the course, the students expressed dissatisfaction with the partnership in the course, while later in the course, they cooperated and noted the mutual learning and their professional development. The study recommends that teacher training colleges and universities initiate joint courses for students from different training programs to promote integrative student learning. Such an experience the teaching students will lead to significant integrative learning and later will also be transferred to children in the schools
THE “ROSE AND CAMEL” METHOD: TEACHING HEBREW TO YOUNG CHILDREN IN ISRAEL
Get PDFThe article describes a new approach to teaching Hebrew to young children. The pupils are children aged 5-7 from different cultures (Jews, Arabs, immigrants) who are studying as part of extra-mural studies at the "Mofet" Centre in Jerusalem. From the beginning, the children learn to read and write in Hebrew. In the first stage of instruction in reading Hebrew nikud diacritical marks (vowel marks), the children learned to associate the vowel sound in the language, which is usually marked by a diacritical mark under the written letter, with a physical gesture. This gesture was invented as a parallel sign to the diacritical mark. In Hebrew, there are several diacritical marks for the same sound. For this reason, the emphasis in learning is placed on a mark that is repeated as a part of a diacritical mark within the different diacritics to signify the same vowel sound. The children were asked to identify and display the repeated diacritical mark and to know how to relate it to a vowel sound that exists in the spoken language. Instruction was carried out by accelerating the learning of the Hebrew alphabet through learning the letter R (resh) outside its alphabetical order, to give children a larger vocabulary during the early stages of instruction, and to teach the writing of several letters whose written form is based on the written form of that letter. Next, the children learned several consonants by creating words that do not exist in the living language. The letters were joined into words according to their original sequence and these sequences were given an invented meaning. The children knew the word and only then learnt the letters that it is built from. The acceleration was done so that the children could switch to reading expressions and short sentences as quickly as possible. By the end of the first school year, the children were able to read the printed letters and write in written Hebrew letters, not only single words but also expressions and short sentences
EDUCATING EXPERTS. TRAIN-THE-TRAINER APPROACH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PREVENT ONLINE ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
Get PDFIn the contemporary digital era, children are more exposed to online platforms than ever before, increasing their vulnerability to various forms of abuse and exploitation. The challenges posed by online exploitation and abuse are profound and complex, demanding comprehensive and holistic solutions. One of the promising strategies that has emerged within the school system is the "Train the Trainer" approach, aiming to capacitate teachers and school staff with the necessary skills to educate children about online safety. By equipping educators with specialized knowledge and skills, a safer learning environment can be created that fosters the holistic development of students. This article aims to elucidate the Train-the-Trainer approach as a comprehensive solution to empower educators to recognize, address, and ultimately prevent abuse and exploitation. Furthermore, it will present the case of a project funded by the European Commission, which successfully addresses the problematic areas through trainings and education
ADAPTING AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING EDUCATION TO AUTONOMOUS DRIVING REQUIREMENTS
Get PDFAutomotive engineering education of the past was based mainly on mechanical items like chassis, powertrain and internal combustion engines. Due to powertrain transformation towards hybrid and electrical systems as well as more and more driver assistance systems including more and more sensors and actors, the electronic and IT fraction in modern cars increased over the past years from nearly nothing up to approximately 35 % of the automotive value creation chain. Hence, the curriculum of study courses related to automotive engineering has to be endorsed with electronic and IT based course topics. This endorsement has to cover lectures and additionally laboratory exercises. Especially the laboratory exercises should be adapted to requirements of mechanical engineering students. The conversion of laboratory exercises was very challenging, as previous knowledge of mechanical engineering students differ completely from those of electronics or informatics students. Therefore, the existing laboratory exercises has to be converted to appropriate laboratory exercises using microcontrollers as well as electrical and hybrid powertrains. New laboratory exercises from simple level like "read a sensor and control an actor" up to CAN bus communication between three controllers - all based on Arduino microcontrollers - were designed, constructed and tested with first groups of mechanical engineering students. Furthermore, laboratory exercises with a hybrid RC vehicle were established and tested. Student’s feedback was used to optimize these new laboratory exercises in an educational manner
NARRATIVE TENSION AND THE STYLISTICS OF CRIME IN PATRICIA HIGHSMITH’S THE BLUNDERER
Get PDFThe purpose of this article is to examine narrative tension and the stylistics of crime in Patricia Highsmith’s early psychological crime thriller, The Blunderer (1956). The article is divided into three parts. In the introductory section the Author outlines the background of Patricia Highsmith’s literary output. The second part is devoted to the generic elements of The Blunderer. The third and simultaneously main part of the article brings into focus the narrative perspectives of three protagonists of the novel, being three actors of the crime drama: the murderer Melchior Kimmel, the guilt-stricken innocent suspect Walter Stackhouse and the detective Lawrence Corby. The research proves that the narration of Highsmith’s novel is not homogenous but constitutes an intriguing amalgam of various consciousnesses and conflicting narrative positions. This reflects both the structural and thematic complexity of the novel which builds and develops the suspenseful tension affecting the narrates and the reader
ACADEMIC ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN LITHUANIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Get PDFThe global mobility of people and globalization contribute to a more intensive migration of international students in pursuit of learning in a foreign country. Since the number of international students continues to grow worldwide, it is critical to develop an understanding of their adaptation issues. One of the major concerns of international students is their adaptation to the reality and specifics of a new host society. Hence, the focus of the present article is to analyse international students’ academic adaptation issues in the Lithuanian system of higher education, highlighting the potential challenges and opportunities as viewed by full-time international students. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten international students, who assumed full-time studies in one of the Lithuanian universities. A thematic analysis was employed for data analysis, which yielded two major themes: concerns expressed by international students regarding their academic adaptation to the Lithuanian system of higher education, and barriers that they encountered in the process of their adaptation at university. The first theme was concretized in the following sub-themes: academic threats and bureaucratic restrictions that the interviewees had to encounter during the process of their adjustment process, whereas the second theme was exemplified by three sub-themes, namely assimilation into the study process, linguistic adaptation to the study process, and interaction with people in the academic environment
NEW NATURAL FEED SUPPLEMENT FOR DOGS
Get PDFDogs fed an appropriate balanced commercial diet should not require any supplements such as vitamins and micronutrients.On the other hand, everyday life stresses can lead to various violations. Consequently, a requirement appears to enrich the diet of animals with antioxidants, immunomodulating and biologically active substances. R&D Сenter of Enzym Company in Lviv developed natural feed additive for dog’s everyday diet. The additive combines components to act in synergy: inactive dry yeast – with high antioxidant and prebiotic activity, organic essential microelements – with high bioavailability rate and natural phytocomponents – that provide antioxidant and immune modulating action