International Scientific Publications
Not a member yet
2817 research outputs found
Sort by
CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION POTENTIAL OF SOME PLANTS INVOLVED IN THE REMOVAL OF AIR POLLUTANT MIXTURES BY BIOFILTRATION
Get PDFThe beneficial role of plants in earth’s atmosphere revitalization is a driving force for developing specialized plant-based air treatment biosystems. In this study, the biofiltration performance of some plants (Hedera helix, Dypsis lutescens, Chlorophytum comosum) is assessed, by their exposure to a gas stream containing either sole atmospheric carbon dioxide (plant mixture and individual plants) or both organic and inorganic compounds (toluene, xylene, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide) (plant mixture). The influence of the biological matrix components (compost-based substrate, plant), plant density and the light conditions is observed, allowing pointing out some key process aspects. Except carbon dioxide, all other gaseous contaminants were completely removed under the studied conditions. The biodegradation of volatile organic compounds is an in-situ source of carbon dioxide in botanical biofilters, but this issue can be overcome by stimulating the photosynthesis process through appropriate illumination. For instance, about 60% carbon dioxide removal was reached, with the possibility to extend this performance via the specific system conditions. These results show that such plant-based designs can be considered as an emergent and affordable environmental-friendly option for simultaneously removal of carbon dioxide and other gaseous contaminants in the same unit, solving issues related to indoor or outdoor air pollution. Particularly, implementation of such biosystem for diminishing the gaseous pollutants generated from the auto traffic in urban automotive underground spaces, could significantly contribute to the efforts of reducing the environmental impact associated with auto emissions in urban places
CHILDHOOD IN CHILDREN THEATRES OF LATVIA SINCE 1991
Get PDFThe article focuses on Latvian schools\u27 theatre repertoire from 1991 to today. The study aims at analysing school theatre movement in Latvia over the span of 30 years to reveal (1) how the repertoire of school theatres meets children\u27s educational needs, and (2) how the repertoire of school theatres communicates childhood concerns. The article defines four dimensions of the analysis of school theatre repertoire: (1) educational goals of school theatres; (2) production budgets; (3) stage and technical facilities; (4) selection of play genres. The study pools in the data from programmes of 40 school theatre festivals, media publications, photographs, theatre festival regulations and video materials from shows at theatre festivals. The study reveals that the repertoire of school theatres is in line with the educational needs of children only in part, i.e. that creativity prevails over technical constraints. Likewise, a certain “monopoly” of local writers, which affects the boundaries of childhood cultural space is worth mentioning. Additionally, the study suggests that repertoire of school theatres should address childhood realities more convincingly in the future
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GREEN CONSTRUCTION ECONOMY IN THE LIGHT OF GLOBAL TENDENCIES
Get PDFThe construction industry is an industry of outstanding importance both on a global and national economic level. At the same time, its environmental burden and raw material demand are also significant. Recognizing this also steered the construction industry in the direction of sustainability. One of the tools for this is the circular economy, the implementation of which brings enormous benefits on the way to sustainability. The aim of the study is to examine the environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainability in the construction industry, as well as to outline the most important factors hindering the transition to a circular economy. Our study shows that what need to be developed are knowledge sharing related to sustainable construction, support for the market access of green innovations in construction, knowledge sharing related to sustainable technologies, materials and processes, information dissemination and training supporting the sustainability knowledge of all players in the sector, flexible regulatory and licensing procedures, and last but not least, connection and more significant cooperation of the participants in the value chain. These few aspects contribute to that those directly or indirectly in contact with construction processes review their tasks and possibilities. The fragmentation of the value chain can end if everyone realizes that they can do something to put the construction industry on a sustainable path
CLIMATE CHANGE PERCEPTION AND THE INFORMATION SOURCES USED BY MAIZE PRODUCTION FARMERS
Get PDFWhile 3.54 billion people lived in the world in 1950, this number reached 7.78 billion in 2020. The increase in human activities due to the rapidly increasing world population increases the share of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and causes climate change by causing global warming. Today, climate change is increasing its impact and sectors are negatively affected. Agriculture is a sector that both affects and is affected by climate change. Due to climate change, soil and water resources are damaged, agricultural production decreases and food security is endangered. Farmers\u27 willingness and ability to adapt to climate change depend on their knowledge of climate change. This information is closely related to the information sources used by the farmers. In the study, the perception of climate change of farmers producing corn will be determined and the information sources used will be examined. 27% of the maize produced in the world is used in human nutrition and 73% is used as animal feed. Therefore, the perception of climate change and the information sources used are very important in maize producers. In the study, the sample size was determined as 77 with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error, according to the stratified sampling method, which is one of the simple random sampling methods. The questions about the climate change of the maize producers were analyzed with the Likert type scaling method. Agricultural enterprises perceive climate change as drought (4.78), global warming (4.65) and seasonal change (4.61). Looking at the information sources used, neighboring farmers, family members (4.61), television (3.79) and internet (3.78) were identified. Leading farmers in the research area should be informed about climate change. In addition, information that will raise awareness about climate change should be included on television and the internet
ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF OLEA EUROPEA L. ‘DOMAT’
Get PDFAlthough there are many studies on the biological activities and chemical profiles of Olea europaea, changes in its activities and chemical contents can be observed according to the characteristics of the region where it grows (environmental conditions such as soil composition, climate type, altitude, rainfall etc.). Therefore, in this study, it was aimed that the antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activities of leaves of the Domat cultivar of Olea europea L. collected in Akhisar province were determined by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and MTS methods, respectively. In addition, the phenolic constituents of the olive leaves were determined by HPLC. Cytotoxicity of the olive leaves prepared ethanol and methanol extracts (0-100 mg / L) on healthy human lymphocyte cells was investigated. The antioxidant activity results showed to be effective both of the DPPH and ABTS radicals. IC50 values were determined for DPPH between 0.16– 0.20 mg/mL. IC50 values were determined for ABTS between 0.023 – 0.079 mg/mL. The most effective extract was determined as ethanol extract. Moreover, all extracts of olive leaves were determined to scavenge both DPPH and ABTS radicals with quite strong activity. According to the MTS test results, it was observed that ethanol and methanol extracts of Olea europea preserved lymphocyte cell viability at all dose ranges, and cell viability varied only depending on the incubation period. It was observed that 0.5 mg/L dose of ethanol extracts increased lymphocyte cell viability in the 24-hour incubation period, and 1 mg/L dose in the 48-hour incubation period. Oleuropein, 5-hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol and rutin hydrate were found highest proportions as the phenolic constituents of the leaves, respectively
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN A POPULATION OF LUSITANO STALLIONS BORN OVER THREE DECADES
Get PDFThe Lusitano Horse (LH) is a Portuguese equine breed, with special economic relevance in the national and international scene and one of the most ancients in the world. A group of 2699 males of the LH breed, representatives of all possible paternal lineages of the breed, born over three decades (between 1985 and 2010) and registered as stallions in the Studbook, were genotyped with the current and the additional panel of microsatellite markers recommended for horse genotyping by the International Society for Animal Genetics. All loci were polymorphic and informative. The genetic diversity, quantified by the expected heterozygosity, was 70 %, which is above the average estimated for the genetic diversity for American and other European breeds. The mean allelic richness was 8.19 for the whole group and the mean inbreeding index value was 3.4 %, which is within the average values for other equine breeds. All loci but two showed deficit in heterozygotes and only four were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. Monitoring the genetic diversity of males along the years could contribute to informed decisions in the management of paternal lineages and for LH breeding and conservation strategies
YIELD AND AGRONOMIC PARAMETERS IN DURUM WHEAT (TRITICUM DURUM L.) GENOTYPES UNDER RAINFED CONDITION
Get PDFThe experiment was carried out to asses of yield and yield components of advanced durum wheat genotypes under rainfed conditions. A total of 15 durum wheat genotypes were examined during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 growing cycles in the Edirne location in the Trakia region, Turkey. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with four replications. In the experiments, grain yield, days of heading, plant height, peduncle length, spike length, kernel number per spike, spikelet number per spike and flag leaf area were investigated. The results of variance analysis revealed significant differences (p<0.01) among genotypes and year × genotypes interaction for yield and yield component. The mean grain yield was 6675 kg ha-1 in 2016-2017 and 5905 kg ha-1 in the 2017-2018 cycles. The highest grain yield was performed by G9 (6826 kg ha-1) and the lowest by G14 (6798 kg ha-1). In the experiment, G4 had the longest peduncle length (34.65 cm) and G11 had the longest spike length (9.43 cm). The highest spikelet number per spike and kernel number per spike was found in G3 Genotype G15 had the highest flag leaf area (59.57 cm2). In the study, flag leaf area in durum wheat genotypes significantly affected kernel number in spike. Tall and late maturing genotypes had higher spike length and spikelet number per spike. Grain yield was negatively correlated with spike length, days of heading and plant height. The fact that there was a different correlation between the parameters revealed the importance of genotype and environmental effects. In the study, it was found to be significant genotypes and year genotype interaction among the parameter peduncle length, spike length, kernel number per spike, spikelet number per spike and flag leaf area. Therefore, it was concluded that these parameters can be used in selection in breeding studies
GREEK FARMING IN NATIONAL AND EUROPEAN CONTEXT: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL IN AGRICULTURE TRANSFORMATION
Get PDFThis work reviews the present status of the agriculture in Greece both in national and European framework. Greece is a mountainous country with the agricultural land covering almost half of the total area of the country (arable, permanent crop and pastureland). The greater part of the agricultural land belongs to Northern Greece, with the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace being one of the most fertile areas. Most of the arable land is used for the cultivation of crops mainly for human and animal consumption, followed by the area covered by permanent grasslands and crops (olives, grapes, fruit and berry trees). Based on the database of the Statistical Office of the European Union, the cereal, fodder and industrial crops are the most abundant crops that are cultivated in Greece. Additionally, grapes, raisins, fresh vegetables, aromatic, and medical plants possess an important role in the agricultural production list of the country. However, the Greek agricultural output is much lower than in other European countries. Over the last two decades the agricultural land and the production of various products is declining in Greece. Even though the whole EU confronts a similar declining trend, Greece must deal with a more serious situation. Greek farmers daily face up to economic challenges such as high taxes and the rising costs of energy, fertilizers, and other raw materials, as well as to other environmental challenges like climate fluctuations (e.g., aridity) and soil erosion. Precision farming is the solution for innovative crop cultivation, production, and management with respect to the environment. By applying high-tech techniques and climate smart practices during the agriculture procedure, the efficiency of the agricultural production would be increased, while the consumed amount of money, energy, water and fertilizers would follow the opposite direction
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN 2 SOUTH-EAST REGION AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LABOR FORCE
Get PDFIn this paper we aim to study the contribution of vocational and technical education to the development and growth of a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovation. The main goal of the development of vocational and technical education is the need for rapid adaptation to an efficient and competitive economy. This article identifies the current and future situation of the following sectors, such as the economy, the labor market and vocational and technical education in 2 South-East Region, but especially in Galati County. Following a demographic analysis, we see a general decline in the region\u27s population, especially among young people. We have included in this paper the state of demographic developments and forecasts, the analysis of the structure of vocational and technical education and the identification of the needs of 2 South-East Region, but also the current state of higher education and its contribution to regional development
INCOME INEQUALITY IN ASIA - MAJOR TRENDS AND CHALLENGES
Get PDFIncome inequality in Asia is high and it is growing in recent years. Economic research shows that ever since the beginning of the 1990s, developing Asia achieved significant economic growth. It has reduced poverty faster than any other region of the world, but for many countries this was also a period of experienced rising income inequality. The main drivers for the speedy economic growth of the region were foreign direct investments along with technological change, globalization, and market-oriented deregulation. Yet, they also contributed to income disparities, especially in terms of prioritising skilled over unskilled workers, owners of capital over labor, and coastal urban areas with industrial clusters when compared to rural and agrarian inland regions. Additionally, the process was aggravated by in- stitutional weaknesses and the prevalence of extractive institutions, which were never reformed to pro- vide for a just distribution of opportunities and create a favourable business environment. In this paper we discuss the source of inequalities in Asia, their key drivers as well as the approaches needed to be implemented and good examples when trying to deal with high inequality levels in Asia