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MODELING OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROCESSES BASED ON MASS BALANCE AND GENERALIZED EQUATIONS FOR MULTICOMPONENT TWO-PHASE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
Full text linkThe paper presents a model of physico-chemical processes in aquatic ecosystems, utilizing mass balance equations for multicomponent two-phase systems. This model aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interactions and dynamics within aquatic environments. It presents original mass balance equations within the residual concentration method to analyze thermodynamic functions for various natural chemical equilibria, described by the developed generalized equations. By incorporating mass balance equations, the study addresses the distribution and transformation of various chemical species between natural waters and sediment phases. The approach allows for the simulation of complex processes such as adsorption, desorption, and chemical reactions in a detailed and systematic manner. The method demonstrates the ability to handle simultaneous formation of multiple chemical species and derive specific thermodynamic relationships. It provides a comprehensive analysis of thermodynamic conditions, estimating solid phase quantities based on initial composition and pH values. Applied to several real systems, the approach shows strong agreement with experimental findings, validating its robustness and applicability. The developed model can be used to predict the behavior of pollutants, nutrients, and other substances in aquatic ecosystems, offering valuable insights for environmental management and conservation efforts
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE - STAGNANT OR DYNAMIC?
Full text linkThe subject of the analysis is the phenomenon of unemployment in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe of the European Union in 2011-2022, considered both from the stock and flow perspective. The flow approach allows to assess whether unemployment is stagnant or dynamic. The article shows the differences between the studied countries in terms of unemployment rates, indicators of people\u27s flows between employment and unemployment, and the determinants influencing both variables. The analyses show that the lowest unemployment rates occurred in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Poland, and the highest were in Slovakia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In contrast, the highest dynamics of flows of people on the labour market occurred in Estonia and the lowest in Bulgaria and Romania. This indicates a stagnant nature of unemployment in the latter two countries. The econometric analyses show that the factors significantly influencing the increase in the dynamics of the flow of people in the labour market were the increase in the share of temporary employment, the increase in the share of part-time jobs and the increase in investments in the economy
OPTIONS FOR ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF ENTERPRISE AGILITY
Full text linkFlexible and agile methods are nowadays, in a volatile market environment, at the forefront of the minds of academics, researchers, professionals, managers and business owners. Efforts to become agile and to gradually increase the level of agility should be a part of the enterprise\u27s activities, which will enable the enterprise to secure the conditions for long-term and successful operation. The aim of the paper is to present the possibilities and methods of evaluation and self-assessment of the level of agility achieved by the enterprise based on the summarization of theoretical and scientific knowledge
THE AI-EDUCATION NEXUS: CONSTRUCTING A BLUEPRINT FOR TOMORROW\u27S LEARNING
Full text linkThis study introduces a novel framework to enhance research in the intersecting areas of education and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), focusing on the evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). With AI becoming an integral part of ICT in educational research, there is a clear need for a comprehensive framework that effectively unifies these two domains. The absence of such a framework in current literature has prompted the development of this structured approach, designed to guide researchers in the complexities of integrating AI within educational settings. Our framework offers a methodological synergy between educational and technological aspects, providing a clear, understandable guide for researchers. It responds to the increasing demand for integrative methods in these fields, proposing new ways to blend AI\u27s technological advancements with educational insights. For researchers interested in employing this framework, it will facilitate a deeper understanding of both domains, allowing for a more holistic view of how AI can be effectively utilized in educational research and practice
PERCEPTIONS OF STUDENTS REGARDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR CASE MANAGERS IN ESTONIAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
Full text linkForeign language proficiency among prison staff is of crucial importance in the correctional environment in Estonia. A significant number of inmates in Estonian prisons speaks native languages other than Estonian. This creates a communication barrier, particularly for case managers. The successful rehabilitation and integration of inmates into society hinge on effective communication between prison staff and inmates. This paper examines the perceptions of students regarding the significance of foreign language proficiency for case managers in effectively fulfilling their professional responsibilities. The key findings are derived from a qualitative study conducted by the author from 2022 to 2023 among students at the Prison Service College of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences. The study results highlight several reasons supporting the necessity for case managers to master foreign languages and communicate in a manner understandable to inmates. Foreign language skills among prison staff facilitate cooperation, enhance understanding of the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of inmates, alleviate tensions, and stimulate interest in acquiring the national language of the sentencing jurisdiction, among other benefits. Analysis shows that case managers’ linguistic proficiency plays a vital role in engaging and aiding in the rehabilitation of inmates. It provides essential support for interventions aimed at reducing recidivism. The findings underscore the importance of prioritising foreign language proficiency in the training and professional development of case managers within the Estonian correctional system
FEELING DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES? WHAT DO POLYGLOTS SAY ABOUT IT?
Full text linkThis study focuses on multicultural polyglots who have lived in different countries and languages throughout their lives, maintaining strong ties to multiple countries. It is a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Forty-seven adult polyglots from various countries were interviewed. Participants speak between 4 and 35 languages and use several languages daily. Among the questions asked, one explores self-perception in different languages: do polyglots feel different when switching languages? While this question is not new in scientific literature, studies often focus on bilinguals or trilinguals. I propose to examine the perceptions of adult polyglots: do they feel different when using different languages? I will only analyze cases where mastery of the language is not an issue. Many respondents report feeling the same regardless of the language they use. I analyze the reasons provided for feeling different or not
EXPERIMENTAL AND STATISTICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SURFACE QUALITY OF ORGANIC PLANT-BASED FILAMENT MATERIALS USED IN 3D PRINTERS
Full text linkNowadays, additive manufacturing methods have started to become popular. The fact that it does not produce waste material such as machining methods and does not require molds as in classical plastic production methods makes these methods popular. In addition, the variety of materials used is increasing. Polylactic acid (PLA) material, produced from commonly used materials such as corn starch, is a plastic produced from organic materials and harmless to humans and the environment. In addition, the newly produced STH-coded material is produced on an organic basis and is harmless to the environment and humans. The advantages of STH material over PLA material are that it can work at higher temperatures and increase mechanical strength. In additive manufacturing methods, final product quality is generally controlled in terms of surface roughness. Because, in additive manufacturing, the molten material covers the surface in the form of a pattern, creating a surface with a certain roughness. For this reason, in this study, cube-shaped samples were produced by using PLA and STH materials, selecting three different variable production parameters (material type, filling shape, and extruder temperature), and determining a total of 18 test parameters at three different levels. After production, surface roughness values were measured from the upper surface. In line with these values, the Taguchi L18 experimental setup was applied and the best production parameters were examined in terms of surface quality. An equation that will predict the surface quality to be obtained with the selected parameters was derived through regression analysis. As a result of this study, the surface quality can be reduced below 1 micron surface roughness values in additive manufacturing and the surface quality is almost close to plastic injection molding
APPLICATION OF BEAUVERIA BRONGNIARTII AGAINST WHITE GRUB LARVAE IN FOREST NURSERIES IN THE N-E PART OF ROMANIA
Full text linkIn Romanian forest nurseries, May beetle larvae cause significant damage by gnawing on the roots of seedlings in their early planting years. The use of bioinsecticides represents an alternative, especially in nurseries certified in accordance with FSC criteria (which prohibits certain chemicals and active ingredients). Beauveria brongniartii is an entomopathogenic fungus most commonly used in the biological control of May beetle larvae. During 2017-2023, the efficacy of an native strain of B. brongniartii applied as a sporulated barley kernels was evaluated in some forest nurseries from the N and N-E part of Romania against different white grub species (Melolontha melolontha, Amphimallon sp. and Anomala sp.), in doses varied from 150- 200 kg/ha (1x1015 spores/ha), soil treatments were applied annually for seven years.The requirements of certain pedoclimatic conditions, larval age and mechanical treatments for causing a successful epizootic with this fungus will be discussed
EXAMINATION OF SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS IN AN ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) BUSINESS WITH SUSTAINABLE VALUE STREAM MAPPING DESIGN (SUS-VSM)
Full text linkSustainability in the forest products sector in Turkey depends on the sustainable management of the country\u27s forests, but its importance has been increasing in recent years. Various practices are implemented in the sector for sustainability. However, little is known about the consequences of these practices in forest products businesses. Oriented Strand Board (OSB), an output of the forest products sector, is produced by mixing the chips obtained by chipping small-diameter round wood raw material in the longitudinal direction with glue and wax, and then pressing them under certain pressure and temperature. This study aims to examine sustainability indicators in an OSB business with Sustainable Value Stream Mapping Design (sus-VSM). The research was carried out in a business that has been producing OSB for more than 10 years in Turkey. The business has high quality efficiency (99.7%) in the economic indicator and high material efficiency (97.8%) in the environmental indicator. The safety efficiency level, one of the social indicators, is low (70%). The results showed that the business can be an exemplary business in terms of sustainable production by making improvements in the safety level. It is recommended to add efficiency regarding waste use by sector as a variable to the sus-VSM design in future studies
EFFICIENCY OF THE ADVERTISING USE OF CARTOON MASCOTS IN THE LUXURY FOOD INDUSTRY
Full text linkThis paper deals with the use and effect of cartoon mascots in the field of the luxury food industry. The aim of the paper is to check the efficiency of the artefact. For this purpose, the paper is divided into two areas. The first section deals with the design and effect of cartoon mascots on the child consumer in order to find out how and in what way companies in the luxury food industry influence the perception and purchasing decisions of the target group. For this purpose, secondary data from specialist literature in the fields of marketing, economics, graphics / design, pedagogy and psychology is used to prove the efficiency of the packing medium on the child market. The second area of the paper deals with the target group of adults and is intended to answer the question whether, how and to what extent the emotional relationships of the test subjects to the mascots established in childhood have withstood and had an impact on brand loyalty, as well as the perception and purchase decision of adult consumers. For this purpose, primary data will be used, which will provide the data that can be used to verify or falsify the hypotheses made about the efficiency of the medium by means of an online survey. The underlying knowledge from the first area of the bachelor thesis was used to narrow down the research framework of the survey and to design the structure and orientation of the questions. As a result of the survey, it was shown that the efficiency and effectiveness of cartoon mascots, in the field of the luxury food industry, could be demonstrated in 3 out of 4 of the hypotheses presented, although it should be noted that the fourth hypothesis could be at least partially verified with the available data. While the representative qualities of the mascots as spokespersons of their brands, the emotional attachment of the test subjects, as well as the influence on their perception and purchase decision with regard to the mascots depicted could be demonstrated, the increased consumer behavior of the products triggered by the mascot could not be proven without exception. It turned out that several factors play a role in this area and it is not possible to say with absolute certainty which of the factors achieves which effect. Accordingly, it would be instructive to continue research in this area in order to gain more precise insights into the relationships between the individual factors and to find out what role cartoon mascots ultimately play in this process