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HYBRID FIBER-REINFORCED SPECIAL CONCRETES FOR UNDERWATER CONCRETING
Get PDFThe forthcoming repair works on the pier wall of the port of Bourgas envisage the construction of a combined structural and protective barrier against the ongoing processes of suffusion from the quay wall to the sea. On the water side of the quay, the construction of a pilot system with two types of poured concrete piles with different diameters for barrier counteraction against suffusion is envisaged. The forming wavy vertical protective wall is at a distance from the existing quay wall, built of concrete blocks with relatively displaced geometry, which does not provide a smooth vertical surface for direct contact with the pilot system. In this regard, the need to design a technological option for dense filling of the volume between the existing concrete blocks and the pilot system designed for construction is in favor of the effective solution of the complex technical task. The report proposes an innovative technical solution based on the specific characteristics of specially designed sulphate-resistant hybrid fiber-reinforced concrete for underwater concreting with high strength-deformation characteristics, resistant to the aggressive effects of operation in seawater. The developed working concrete mix design includes special corrosion-resistant steel fibers and special chemical admixtures – high range water reducing admixture (HRWRA), internal crystallization chemical one and anti-washout admixture (covering the specific requirements of the US Army Corps of Engineers - CRD - C661-06 Specification for Anti-Washout Admixtures). The obtained main strength-deformation indicators of the proposed composition of the special concrete are discussed, which confirms the possibility of satisfying all technological requirements for the project
MORPHO-BIOLOGICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME VARIETY TOBACCO OF THE PRILEP TYPE
Get PDFThe creation and introduction into production of new tobacco genotypes with superior properties in relation to the varieties grown in practice is a permanent task of the selection, which is outlined in the long-term work program of the Department of Genetics and selection at the Scientific Tobacco Institute (Department for oriental tobacco). Our oriental tobacco is mainly an export-oriented culture and any insufficient attention to the maintenance of varieties and preservation of the variety structure in primary production can have a negative impact with unforeseeable consequences for the tobacco economy. The promising and commercialized varieties that will be presented in this paper as our creations, largely possess the basic characteristics of the appropriate commodity type, which in turn is due to our scientific work and many years of experience in the field of tobacco selection. The main purpose of this paper is to present the basic characteristics of some newly recognized promising varieties of tobacco, creations of scientists in NITP, which will serve as a basis for introducing new varieties in the primary production of tobacco, and will also be examined of young agricultural graduates working in tobacco purchasing companies, who are directly involved in the primary production process
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INFLUENCE FACTORS OF THE SOIL TILLAGE PROCESS
Get PDFIt is known that the soil tillage process for the sowing of the crops is one of the most important agricultural works involving both large energy consumption and high costs. The quality of seed-bed preparation influences the degree of germination and crop productivity. The soil tillage process is influenced by many factors. Usually, these factors are: pedological factors (soil texture, organic matter, clay mineralogy, soil structure, soil bulk density, moisture content, respectively: external friction, soil- metal adherence, soil cohesion, soil resistance to penetration), technological factors (forward speed, working depth, working width), and constructive factors (type of tool, geometry of tool, technical condition of tool, adjustment mode of tool). All these factors determine the mechanical energy necessary to effectuate the soil tillage process, energy which contain the following terms: energy required to cut the soil, energy required to overcome the external friction forces, energy required to move the soil, energy required to overcome the adhesion forces, energy required for displacement of the tools, and the energy required to overcome the inertia forces (if the speed of the agricultural machine is not constant). In this paper, more complex scheme of the soil tillage process and the relationships between the factors of influence are presented, with concrete application for the agricultural vibro-cultivator used in conservation tillage systems, which can make the preparation of the seedbed for sowing in one pass with minimum consumption of energy, without causing the degradation of agricultural soil
COLOR AND HEAT STABILITY CHANGES OF ANTHOCYANINS IN WILD BERRY (BILBERRY AND STRAWBERRY) JUICES
Get PDFColor degradation, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity were determined spectrophotometrically in wild strawberry and bilberry juices. The structure of anthocyanins influences pigment stability and color variation. Anthocyanins made up 43-49% of the content of total phenols in bilberry juices at the beginning of the heat test. The effects of the temperature on the degradation of anthocyanins in strawberry juices were determined at 85 oC and respectively for bilberry juices at 95 oC. Color and anthocyanins in juices were thermally degraded in a first-order kinetic degradation. Total anthocyanin degradation had a strong positive connection with chroma value (C*). The findings are part of a study that used CIELCH and CIELAB color coordinates to characterize the quality of heat- treated bilberry and wild strawberry juices
CRISIS MANAGEMENT - ETHICAL DILEMMAS AND LESSONS LEARNED
Get PDFCrisis management has been a central topic for organizations not only in the years of pandemic or war. And it will continue to be a topic of development and deep analyses, resulting in protocols to be followed in turbulent times. Even the best developed protocols hardly ever include the ethical dilemmas which emerge, and even more rarely provide solutions for when and how to act upon the collision of demands, resources, organizational plans and human ethics. Even the best of leaders are not always equipped with the right skills, mental resilience and the moral compass to proceed with pressing matters. This article aims to explore the up-to-date elements of crisis management, and to focus on the moral grounds and ethical aspects of the topic
ELIMINATION OF SHADOW DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Get PDFDigital technologies have affected every industry, and digitalisation has become a strategic priority for business process optimisation. Along with technologies introduced by Industry 4.0, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted organisations around the globe. The concept of work from home was introduced, and later the hybrid work model became the new normal. Digitalisation facilitates a foster increase in efficiency and competitiveness of a company, emergence of new business models, and origin of new opportunities for value creation and innovation. The more digital technologies are involved, the higher the associated risks. Even though current and potential advantages of digital transformation are outstanding in process optimisation, only a certain number of companies have realised and developed strategies to gain from the disruptive technologies. Others fail to capitalise upon digital technologies or resist transforming; meanwhile, employees are induced to turn to workaround solutions to support them in their daily processes. Adopting unauthorised devices and software - shadow information technology (IT), such as cloud-based applications, has grown drastically, and companies face increasing information security vulnerabilities. To identify changes and threats brought by the digital transformation of business processes, operations and value chain, the authors propose a conceptual review of disruption by the transformation of the processes. Through a literature review, authors have explored the primary artefacts of the digital transformation and risks related to implementing unauthorised devices and software - shadow IT
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF LARGE COMPANIES IN TAIWAN
Get PDFThe outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019 spread over the world extensively and quickly. The daily lives are affected by lockdowns, work-from-home, and travel bans. The economic growth is stagnated. To investigate the impact of this pandemic on the productivity of the industries in Taiwan, samples of the top 1000 manufacturing companies and the top 500 service companies before the pandemic, in the period of 2016-2019, and during the pandemic, in the year of 2020, are studied. The results show that the overall productivity of all companies in 2020 has not decreased. By classifying the sampled companies into different industries, there are four industries, including textile, automobile, tourism, and electronic products distribution, showing a decrease in productivity. There are also five industries, including electronic parts/components, optoelectronic, electrical and cable, rubber, and oil, gas and electricity, whose productivities are unexpectedly increased. The reasons that the productivities of these industries are affected by COVID-19 are discussed. They shed some light on how the government can help these industries to overcome the crisis and to recover the country’s economy
PEDAGOGICAL PARTNERSHIP: A MINDFULNESS PERSPECTIVE
Get PDFThis case study is based on the phenomenological-qualitative paradigm. Its purpose is to examine how may mindfulness practices can help lead a Pedagogical Partnership in teacher training colleges. A Pedagogical Partnership is a partnership focusing on learning-teaching processes between faculty and students at academies. Mindfulness is a method of achieving conscious attention to the present, in a deliberately non-judgmental way. The participants in this research were three lecturers and three students, who were not involved in a teacher-student relationship. Our research tools included lesson observations written by students; reflective dialogue held between these lecturers and students at the end of each lesson; reflective diaries written by the lecturers; and semi-structured in-depth interviews at the end of the semester. The collected data was analyzed, using a qualitative content analysis method, based on open content analysis. The research findings indicate that lecturers described their Pedagogical Partnership experiences with the use of four concepts of mindfulness principles Compassion; Beginner’s Mind; Non-judgmental State and Delay of Response; Non-Attachment. The analysis of the students\u27 data revealed only two concepts of mindfulness Non-judgmental State and Delay of Response and Non-Attachment. Institutions of higher education that operate Pedagogical Partnership programs may consider incorporating mindfulness practices into their programs. They may greatly benefit for all partners both from the personal and the professional aspects
CONTRIBUTION OF INNOVATIVE EXAMINATION FORMATS TO INCREASED CHEATING IN UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS
Get PDFThe Covid-19 pandemic poses challenges to universities worldwide. Resulting from the need to comply with distance requirements and hygiene rules, universities implemented more and more distance learning and online examination formats. This was intended to reduce the risk of infection for students and staff. In these pandemic times, replacing on-site examinations by alternative testing types and adjusting examination procedures have become necessary to allow students to continue their studies and to avoid infections among examinees and university staff. Beside the advantages innovative examination types offer, several disadvantages exist, such as their increased susceptibility to cheat. With this paper, the authors analyze if and why innovative examination types have supported and increased examinees’ motivation to cheat. As higher education institutions moved online in the COVID-19 pandemic, several universities are reporting significant increases in academic misconduct. The paper informs about that increase of dishonest practice in university examinations worldwide in the last years. By the means of literature review and from their longstanding experience, the authors analyze possibilities for cheating in traditional and new test formats. They discuss reasons why candidates use cheating to improve their examination results. Conclusion is that innovative examination types are susceptible to cheat and universities, in the interest of all honest examinees, have to ensure an equal treatment of all candidates even under the pandemic conditions. That means they have to undertake any efforts to prevent academic misconduct. In doing that, however, they shall respect students’ fundamental rights and the data protection law. It will be a challenge to develop technical solutions that comply with candidates’ rights and the examination law. Without any doubt, this problem will accompany universities in the next years if they will continue to use online examinations
REPLACING MICROPROCESSOR SIMULATORS: DEVELOPING HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN MODERN EDUCATION
Get PDFSimulators are the most popular tools for learning microprocessor architecture and programming in higher education. On the other hand, specialized training hardware platforms (known as hardware trainers) have been used from the late 70’s. Simulators are mainly based on hypothetical microprocessor models, while hardware trainers are based on real microprocessors but are too complicated for inexperienced users. Moreover, simulators and hardware trainers have many limitations (e.g. microprocessor model, complexity, cost) and thus a new approach is needed to effectively face these issues. This paper presents a new simple and low-cost hybrid educational platform/tool for learning microprocessor architecture and programming using a real microprocessor and overcoming existing tools limitations. The developed educational tool is suitable for all students and teachers and can be easily reproduced for supporting many university classes. This paper also presents some preliminary results of the developed educational platform