Technical University of Moldova Press
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THE IMPACT OF EUROPEAN VALUES ON YOUTH MINDSETS IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
This study was motivated by evolving perspectives in historical and anthropological discourse, which emphasize the importance of understanding collective mentalities for interpreting social transformations and assessing the feasibility of reforms. The research hypothesis postulated that the dominant principles and values in a society significantly influence individual behaviors and attitudes, especially among young people. The main objective of the research was to analyze the role of European values in shaping the mentality of young people in the Republic of Moldova. To achieve this, the research explored how values underlie behavioral norms and influence social cohesion, highlighted the main manifestations of the modern crisis of cultural values, including in Moldovan society, and outlined the specifics of two types of mentalities among Moldovan youth: the flexibleautonomous and the rigid-collectivist mentalities. The main findings indicated that certain fundamental values have a strong impact on young people’s attitudes and that shared values promote greater cultural understanding and social solidarity. The study concluded that identifying and promoting common values is crucial for supporting social cohesion and guiding effective social reforms and highlighted the importance of interconnecting fundamental values with national and European values to develop a sense of belonging to European culture and civilization
PARTICULARITĂȚI PRIVIND EVALUAREA CALITĂȚII MATERIALULUI SEMINAL LA TAURI ÎN FUNCȚIE DE PERIOADA DE PĂSTRARE
This study presents the evolution of the quality of bull semen frozen between 1978-1986 and thawed in the present - 2022-2024, evaluating the essential parameters of reproductive performance, such as: sperm motility, sperm concentration, progressive movements and advanced movements (VAP, VSL, VCL) etc. The results obtained demonstrate a significant fluctuation of these parameters, with a general trend of decreasing sperm motility and concentration. Sperm mobility has recorded a constant decrease, with a notable reduction during storage up to the present 2022-2024. This is also manifested in the sperm concentration which has recorded a continuous decrease over time, which indicates possible fluctuations depending on environmental conditions and sperm preservation technologies. Progressive movements recorded significant values, suggesting the need for further investigations to identify the specific factors that influence semen quality. Regarding advanced movements (VAP, VSL, VCL) the same trend of decrease in semen frozen in 1982-1986 and thawed in the period 2022-2024 was recorded. These results highlight the importance of constant monitoring of semen quality and the need to optimize preservation technologies to ensure reproductive success in production and teaching farms.
Acest studiu prezintă evoluția calității materialului seminal congelat de taur între anii 1978-1986 și decongelat în present - 2022-2024, evaluându-se parametrii esențiali ai performanțelor reproductive, precum: motilitatea spermatozoizilor, concentrația spermatozoizilor, mișcările progresive și mișcările avansate (VAP, VSL, VCL) etc. Rezultatele obținute ne demonstrează o fluctuație semnificativă a acestor parametri, cu o tendință generală de scădere a motilității și concentrației spermatozoizilor. Mobilitatea spermatozoizilor a înregistrat o scădere constantă, cu o reducere notabilă în timpul depozitării până în prezent 2022-2024. Acest lucru se manifestă și asupra concentrației spermatozoizilor care au înregistrat o scădere continuă în timp, ceea ce indică posibile fluctuații în funcție de condițiile de mediu și de tehnologiile de conservare a spermei. Mișcările progresive au înregistrat valori semnificative, sugerând necesitatea unor investigații suplimentare pentru a identifica factorii specifici care influențează calitatea materialului seminal. Referitor la mișcările avansate (VAP, VSL, VCL) s-a înregistrat aceeași tendință de diminuare a materialului seminal congelat în 1982-1986 și decongelat în perioada anilor 2022-2024. Aceste rezultate evidențiază importanța monitorizării constante a calității materialului seminal și necesitatea de a optimiza tehnologiile de conservare pentru a asigura succesul reproductiv în fermele de producție și didactice
AGRICULTURA CONVENȚIONALĂ VERSUS AGRICULTURA CONSERVATIVĂ: DIFERENȚE ȘI PERSPECTIVE
In the Republic of Moldova, a new agricultural system is emerging, based on a new development paradigm that promotes biological processes, maintains permanent soil cover, and rejects soil tillage. Conservation agriculture is globally recognized and accepted by the FAO. However, it is often confused with conservation tillage and is not fully acknowledged. Based on two field experiments – one under conventional agriculture and the other under conservation agriculture – the differences between these two systems are presented, along with their potential to address key issues related to climate change adaptation and soil degradation prevention. Conventional agriculture is viewed as a compromised system that contributes to soil degradation, whereas conservation agriculture is seen as a system with potential for climate change adaptation and halting degradation. Conservation agriculture should only be considered valid when all three principles recognized by global organizations are applied: minimal mechanical soil disturbance (no tillage) by direct placement of seeds and fertilizers; permanent soil cover with plant residues (at least 30%) and/or cover crops; species diversification, through varied crop successions and associations involving at least three different crops
ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY OF OPENSTREETMAP DATA COMPLETENESS (CASE STUDY: CHISINAU CITY)
In recent years, special attention has been paid to free and open geospatial data sources accessible to the whole world, which have benefits for all sectors of the national economy. Taking into account the interest in this topic, the article proposes a data completeness analysis for OpenStreetMap, that is based on crowd sourcing, compared to data sources available at the national level, such as statistical information from Public Institution Real Estate Cadastre registers or the Spatial Data Infrastructure of the Republic of Moldova (NSDI), Agency Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre. Thus, a general methodology for completeness analysis framework is designed based on the characteristics of OSM data, since is a well-known standard. Secondly, an attempt was made to apply a quality assessment model for OSM data through three different quality elements: completeness, thematic accuracy and positional accuracy based on the visual and quantitative analyses taking into account the spatial data that already exists on national platforms. The Chisinau city was selected as a case study/area of interest, and the results of the presented research can subsequently be applied to the entire Republic of Moldova. Based on the analysis performed, it can conclude that spatial data sources, whether from official sources or those based on crowd sourcing, still need to be supplemented with both spatio-temporal and qualitative information
REDUCING CYBER RISK THROUGH A HUMAN–CENTRED APPROACH
This paper investigates the complex challenges professionals face in managing cyber risks and implementing human risk management programs. Emphasizing the crucial role of human behavior in effectively mitigating cyber risks, the paper highlights the transformative impact of utilizing the „Golden Circle” methodology. This human-centered methodology initiates discussions with the question „WHY”, articulating the fundamental purpose of human risk management and promoting an „inside-out” approach, starting with employee motivation and engagement. This approach ensures the sustainability of human risk management practices by fostering a sense of responsibility and belief in the mission. Furthermore, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is explored to enhance human risk management, with AI techniques such as machine learning analyzing behavioral patterns to predict potential risks and automate responses. However, the paper also addresses the drawbacks of AI, including sophisticated phishing attacks and deepfakes exploiting human vulnerabilities. Combining AI with the „Golden Circle” allows organizations to identify why employees are susceptible to attacks and how to tailor training, achieving a more robust and proactive risk management strategy. The paper offers tips and recommendations for evolving and sustaining this integrated methodology over time, ensuring its continued effectiveness in the dynamic cybersecurity landscape
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ENERGY POTENTIAL AND COMPOSITION OF WALNUT, HAZELNUT, AND ALMOND RESIDUES FOR SOLID BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
Interest in renewable energy, particularly biomass-derived energy, has significantly increased in recent decades. As one of the most readily available resources in the Republic of Moldova, biomass energy plays an essential role in the country's evolving national energy framework. This study aims to evaluate the quality of tree biomass generated by nut trees, specifically walnut, hazelnut, and almond, considering its potential use as raw material for solid biofuel production. A comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessment was conducted, focusing on calorific value, ash content, volatile matter content, and the concentrations of C, H, S, N, and Cl—key components contributing to pollutant emissions (CO, CO₂, NOₓ, SO₂, etc.). The findings highlight that nut residues meet quality standards for solid biofuels derived from non-woody biomass, showcasing their significant potential for sustainable energy production
ADVANCED DRONE-BASED MONITORING OF AGRICULTURAL, FORESTRY, AND AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS: TECHNICAL FRAMEWORK
The rapid advancement of drone technology has significantly transformed environmental monitoring, enhancing capabilities for observing and managing agricultural, forestry, and aquatic ecosystems. This paper presents a comprehensive technical framework for implementing advanced drone-based systems into ecosystem monitoring, focusing on integrating high-resolution sensors, data processing, and artificial intelligence-based analytics. The framework incorporates modern technologies, including drones from Da-Jiang Innovations or First-Person View drones equipped with metric cameras for aerial photogrammetry. These can be further enhanced with multispectral and Light Detection and Ranging sensors to acquire real-time data, enabling more effective analysis. Furthermore, the Proxmox Virtual Environment is the core of the system’s architecture, increasing effective virtualisation and deployment. Core data processing technologies include Python scripts, Quantum Geographic Information System, and Pix4D software for photogrammetric reconstruction, as well as Elasticsearch for database management, acquisition, and storage. The Kibana platform ensures interactive data visualisation and supports evidence-based decision-making. The service-oriented structure and system modularity enable the rapid integration of new analytical tools that are adaptable to diverse ecological contexts. Validation in operational environments confirms the framework’s ability to address challenges in ecosystem management, particularly in remote areas. This integrated approach contributes to more sustainable and adaptive ecosystem monitoring and management practices
SAFETY AND MICROBIAL DYNAMICS OF HIGH-MOISTURE EXTRUDED PROTEIN SYSTEMS UNDER CHILLED STORAGE
Growing consumer demand for environmentally sustainable protein alternatives has intensified research into the safety and quality of plant-based meat alternatives. This study evaluates the microbiological stability of extruded products with high moisture content obtained from soy and pea protein isolates, as well as composite formulations with the addition of soryz flour, hazelnut meal, and chickpea flour. Ten samples were produced using two industrial extrusion temperature profiles (40–60–80–100 °C and 60–80–100–120 °C) and stored in a refrigerator (+4 °C) for 24 days. Pea protein izolate blends with grain and nut components processed at a milder temperature profile demonstrated excellent microbiological stability, which can be explained by improved water-binding and microstructural properties. These results highlight the practical importance of formulation and extrusion parameters in the development of microbiologically safe plant-based meat alternatives. The study provides industry-relevant information for the development of stable, high-moisture extruded protein products without the use of chemical preservatives
ACCESSING THE IMPLICATION OF PENSION REFORMS ON THE WELFARE OF RETIREES IN NIGERIA
Pension reforms have always been a critical aspect of economic policy. The purpose of this article was to examine the effect of pension reforms on the well-being of Nigerian pensioners. The paper evaluates some hypotheses, including: an increase in the minimum pension contribution is not related to the well-being of Nigerian pensioners; a reduction in the waiting period for accessing benefits has no impact on the well-being of Nigerian pensioners; extending the mandatory retirement age has no influence on the well-being of Nigerian pensioners; upward revision of penalties/sanctions applied by pension payers does not affect the well-being of Nigerian pensioners. Logistic regression was applied to analyze a sample of 150 respondents from the implemented survey. The following were analyzed: the impact of increasing the minimum pension contribution in the system, the effect of reducing the waiting period for access to the benefit (IPMC), the influence of extending the mandatory retirement age (RWPB), how the upward revision of pension debtor penalties/sanctions (URPP) affects the well-being of retirees. The effect of the Temporary Retirement Savings Account (TRSA) on the well-being of retirees was assessed. The findings demonstrate a positive association between good governance and the independent variables, with marginal impact coefficients of 0.606, 0.059, 1.048, 0.301 and 0.053 and p-values of 0.000, 0.045, 0.021 and 0.033, respectively. It is concluded that the more generous the pension benefits, the higher the incomes of the elderly population, which may have a redistributive impact of income among the elderly
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR INTEGRATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INTO TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING EDUCATION
This study introduces the "student equation" assumption to represent the individualized learning pathways of each student, highlighting their unique needs, challenges, and potentials. Standardized educational approaches, resembling to an "arithmetic mean solution", often fail to address the diverse cognitive abilities and developmental needs of students due to their one-size-fits-all nature. The basic hypothesis posits that standardized methods primarily serve the average student, neglecting individual learner diversity. The research aims to explore the complexities of student learning by acknowledging variations in reasoning processes, errors, and cognitive dilemmas influenced by known and unknown variables in their educational journey. The findings suggest that educators must evolve beyond traditional methods to guide students through personalized learning experiences, akin to explorers navigating unknown territories. This educational paradigm seeks to cultivate a more adaptable and inquisitive student body, prepared for discovery. By aligning teaching methods with individualized student needs, this approach aims to enhance learning outcomes and bridge the gap between standardized education and the unique learning equations of each student