Table of Contents

  • Environmental air quality monitoring system as a support for precision agriculture

    pg(s) 41-43

    In order to make better decisions in the precision agriculture the measurement of air pollution parameters such as PM10, NOx, SO2, CO, O3 and agriculture parameters such as air temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness are of crucial importance. Making analysis using different AI technics based on these parameters can bring better yield and quality in the food production process. In this paper, we present our approach in building an environmental air quality monitoring system as a support for precision agriculture by using Arduino [5] open-source electronics platform.

  • Innovative approach to contaminated soil phytoremediation: Heavy metal phytoextraction using energy crops

    pg(s) 44-47

    Heavy metal accumulation potential in the biomass and different plant parts of the selected species of energy crops cultivated on contaminated soil was evaluated. Phytoextraction potential, biomass yield and qualitative parameters of bioenergy plants grown on heavy metal contaminated soil has been measured. Finally heavy metal influence on biomass utilization possibilities, energy recovery and further safe use of the rest products has been evaluated. Demonstrated possibilities to grow bioenergy plants on moderately contaminated soil could increase the use of marginal lands, decrease land use competition between food and liquid biofuels and provide options for a gentle and cost-effective remediation.

  • Model based robust engineering approach for parameter optimization of electron beam induced grafting processes

    pg(s) 48-51

    Electron beam irradiation has the ability to modify polymer substrates by the process of graft copolymerization in order to synthesize water-soluble copolymers having flocculating properties. The influence of the variation of the process parameters acrylamide/starch (AMD/St) weight ratio, electron beam irradiation dose and dose rate is investigated. Models of the means and variances for the dependencies of the quality characteristics (monomer conversion coefficient, residual monomer concentration and apparent viscosity) from the described process parameters are estimated by implementation of the robust engineering methodology for quality improvement. Multi-criteria optimization involving requirements for economic efficiency, assurance of low toxicity and high copolymer efficiency in flocculation process is also presented.

  • Ceramic beehive – conceptual paper

    pg(s) 52-54

    The present article is a conceptual paper which aims to be a foundation for future experimental work. The conceptual work discusses different aspects of a new utility model – a ceramic beehive. The evidences are based on theoretical models based on the optimal living conditions of the bee family and the specifics of the changing external environment. Along with these factors are considered the ceramic properties and the relevance of the ceramic material as a construction material for the brood (the beehive body). In order to reach the aim of the paper are used the following empiric and non-empiric methods: literature review, expert evaluation, experiment. The results from the study confirm the conceptual model and reason the hypnotized properties of the experimental model for optimization of the living conditions of the bee family. This is supported by evidences in increasing of the honey production in the ceramic beehive.

  • Anaklia deep-water port as a major factor of increasing the transit capacity of Georgia

    pg(s) 55-57

    Anaklia Port is Georgia’s first deep-water port. Anaklia is located on an important section of the Old Trade Road and represents a new
    Silk Road’s key transport point linking China to Europe. Anaklia Deepwater Port will be built in several stages, and the process consists of 9 phases. The port is being built on the area of 400 hectares, and its construction and development cost is $ 2.5 billion. The port’s capacity is 100 million tons per year.
    In the phase I, the capacity of the Anaklia deep-water port will reach 9.3 million tons. The first phase of the construction is planned to be completed by 2020, after which the port will have a capacity to handle ships of the panamax and post-panamx types. Anaklia Port will be able to become a leader in comparison with its competitors existing in the region, with the best road, rail and communications infrastructure and innovative equipment.

  • Peculiarities of industrial enterprises` invesment resources formation

    pg(s) 58-61

    The main features of enterprise`s investment resources formation have been studied. A wide range of sources, tools and methods of investment activity funding and their impact on financial and business processes of industrial enterprises have been defined. It has been pointed out that enterprise`s capital directed to reinvestment can also act as the background of investment resources formation. Tendencies and forms of industrial enterprises` investment activity have been marked. The proposals about enterprise`s investment resources classification according to the main features have been made. This allows industrial enterprises to form investment resources taking into account their mobilization aimed at meeting goals or restructuring of enterprise`s financial tools portfolio.

  • Facilitation of SME`s development in Ukraine based on competitive fiscal environment formation

    pg(s) 62-65

    The priorities of the simplified taxation system implementation in European countries aimed at the entrepreneurial incentives development, innovation introduction, and formation and strengthening of the SMEs competitiveness and economic growth have been studied. It has been found out that empirical findings show that high taxation rates potentially negatively affect entrepreneurial environment and high tax burden has sufficient adverse impact on SMEs business environment. Instruments of business support by the state both in the EU countries and in Ukraine have been determined. The main risks of the simplified taxation system for local budgets and entrepreneurial structures have been stated. The further fiscal system reforms aimed at SMEs motivation have been suggested.

  • Impact of irrigation regimes in drip irrigation of raspberries on the yields

    pg(s) 66-68

    Berry cultures – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, etc. are of great economic importance due to growing demand and high productivity. In general, they are susceptible to droughts and are so demanding for soil moisture, and their growth and yield depend to a large extent on the presence of sufficient soil moisture.
    In order to establish the irrigation regime of raspberriesin drip irrigation conditions, field experiments were conducted on the experimental field Chelopechene-Sofia. Irrigation was carried out with a pre-irrigation humidity less than 85% of WHC and variants watered with irrigation rate reduction of 20%, 40% compared to the variant irrigated at 100% of WHC and non-irrigated variant.
    Realized irrigation regimes in individual years have had an impact on the yields obtained, with the highest yields being obtained for the irrigated variants with 100% irrigation rate and the lowest in non-irrigated variants. The highest increase in yield was obtained in 2004 (dry), which is with 67% more compared to non-irrigated variants, and the smallest increase of 33% was obtained in the humid 2005.
    The analysis of meteorological factors shows that the rainfall in the country is insufficient to satisfy the requirements of plants of soil moisture, and the temperature sums over ten-days periods over the whole vegetation period considerably exceed the respective norms. This requires the use of drip irrigation for the successful production of raspberries under conditions of water deficiency and relatively high temperatures.

  • Overview and analysis of the development of uranium mining in the Republic of Bulgaria

    pg(s) 69-72

    A historical aspect of uranium mining in Bulgaria has been made until its eradication in 1992. Described are the measures taken pursuant to Decree-Law No. 74 / 27.03.1998 on the liquidation of the consequences of uranium mining and processing and the gaps to be eliminated in this regard. Up to the end of uranium mining in 1992, the annual uranium yield was 660-680 t, of which 430 t was obtained by geotechnical method – drilling with drilling of the sand-type uranium. They are poor in uranium (below 0.05%), but with a few times cheaper yields (an average of $ 40 / kg for 1970-1990). Possible new uranium extraction from this type of field and mine wastewater could reach 350 t per year at a value not exceeding 80 $ / kg. It is possible to investigate and prove 40-50 000 tons of new uranium ore deposits in Bulgaria mainly in the sand-type deposits at a depth of up to 650 m.

  • The pro-Israeli and pro-Arab lobby in the United States

    pg(s) 73-76

    The process of decision making in developed democracies is a difficult one. Arriving at a decision or shaping new legislation is time-consuming, demanding, and requires extensive knowledge. It is a natural state that the decisionmakers and legislators need external experts to guide and advise them. That is the role of lobby groups, bodies, and individuals. The Middle East is a strategic region for the USA for a number of reasons such as: the presence of strategic natural resources; the existence and possibility of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and is the home to two of America’s most vital partners in the region, Israel and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the shape of American Middle East policy is of fundamental importance. This policy is also important for the local states in the region who want American policy to be in line with their expectations and interests. This policy is also vital for ethnic minorities and Americans who can trace their roots to the Middle East. These minorities, organized in formal and informal lobbies, work alongside the policymakers consulting and advising them, aiming for a more preferential policy towards the country of their interest.
    Therefore, comparing and contrasting the pro-Israeli and the pro-Arab lobby helps to understand the process of shaping American policy towards the Middle East. The two lobby groups, while operating in a common environment, differ significantly: the size of the lobby, the wealth, and also their place in American society, all have implications as to the effectiveness of their actions. Understanding American Middle East policy, how the USA shapes and executes its interests and policies in this strategic region, requires understanding of the pro-Israeli and pro-Arab lobby in the USA. This knowledge is also essential to formulate our own opinions and positions on this difficult subject.

  • Human intelligence in different operations

    pg(s) 77-79

    Human intelligence, or HUMINT, is the gathering of information through human contact. It is, along with signals intelligence and imagery intelligence (SIGINT and IMINT respectively), one of the three traditional means of intelligence gathering. Analysis of HUMINT training of the Humint teams is a very important part of improvement of their military training. It is a formal, cognitive process used to convert sensory stimuli into meaningful reliable and verifiable information that can be used to solve a problem, answer a question, make a decision, or add to a learner’s knowledge of the word.

  • Main motivational scientists for the selection of the military profession

    pg(s) 80-81

    Choosing a profession has always been difficult for most of young people. When choosing a profession, most of them follow the dream of a future good realization.
    The aim of the article is to outline their main motivating incentives in choosing the military profession as their professional perspective. In clarifying this objective, the main task was to outline the basic material and non-material incentives associated with the military profession.