bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Analysis of Workplace Accidents in Polish Mining Industry
Authors: Strzalkowski Pawel
Published: November 2019

The publication presents a statistical analysis of workplace accidents in Polish mining in 2009-2017. Collecting and studying information on accidents at work is essential element necessary to improve the organization of work and to introduce preventive activities that will reduce the probability of the workplace accident. The analysis was based on the data of the Statistics Poland and the State Mining Authority. Based on the collected data, it has been shown that the number of workplace accidents and persons injured in these accidents in the studied years decreased and amount to 30% (according to the Statistics Poland) less in 2017 than in 2009. Whereas, the incidence rate of accidents at work (defined as the number of injured people per 1000 persons employed) in Polish mining ranges from 13.97 (in 2013) to 17.82 (in 2010) and is twice higher than the incidence rate of workplace accidents for all industries in Poland. The accidents at workplace in the mining industry in the analysed period occured on average every 137.88-223.43 thousand Mg of mined minerals. Additionally, the causes of workplace accidents and the number of persons injured were analysed depending on the age of the persons injured, length of work seniority, specific physical activities performed by the persons injured at the moment of workplace accident and the type of injuries. The highest number of accidents at workplace is related to inappropriate behaviour of a person at work and workplace accidents were most often suffered by persons injured aged 20-49 years (89.47%), who performed different activities at the moment of an accident at workplace: movement (31.46% persons injured), handling of objects (20.22% persons injured), carrying by hand (19.91% persons injured) and working with hand-held tools (13.26% persons injured). The most frequent types of injuries suffered by persons injured at the moment of accident are wounds and wounds and superficial injuries (34.05%), fractures of bones (30.12%) and dislocations, sprains and strains (20.91%).
Planning Tools for Agricultural Territory in Bulgaria
Authors: Moteva Milena , Parashkevova Desislava
Published: November 2019

Agricultural territory planning is the omitted item of land management in Bulgarian legislation. This causes unofficial, chaotic and non-holistic use of the Agricultural Territory with future negative consequences for farm, regional and state economy development. The objective of this study is to present a concept for strategic and on-farm planning of the Agricultural Territory and to suggest changes in legislation. Documentary analysis of normative, strategic, historical and other documents in respect of spatial and land-use planning has been conducted, including the National Strategy for Regional Development 2012-2022 and the National Concept for Spatial Development 2013-2025, Ordinances of the Council of Ministers, acts of Municipal Services of Agriculture, Analytical Reports on sustainable agriculture management on municipal level, land use plans and maps. Quantitative and qualitative methods for collecting and processing economic, geographic and statistical information were used. The paper presents an outline of a modern Agricultural Territory Development Concept (ATDC). Approaches for long-term strategic land planning on municipal level and short-term land planning on farm level are proposed. ATDC offers completion of Spatial Development Plan on municipal level with details of Agricultural Territory; includes recommendatory development zones that are based on the natural recourses distribution, quality of land and zoning of agricultural production in the country; outlines regimes and optionality of the territorial elements and development zones. The Concept gives general characteristics of a Land Use Plan (instead of Specialized Detailed Development Plan) and its territorial elements on farm level. As a result of the study, amendments to the regulatory framework are proposed too.
Mineralogical Features of Ultrahigh Pressure Impact Glasses of the Kara Astrobleme (Pay-Khoy, Russia)
Authors: Shumilova Tatyana , Zubov Alexandr , Isaenko Sergey , Shanina Svetlana
Published: November 2019

The behavior of the disordered systems in the conditions of the strong compression attracts particular interest in materials science. Natural impact glasses, being with a metastable state, can keep features of the structure for millions of years, form essential volumes compare to experimentally possible high-pressure products. The complex analysis of geological, mineralogical-petrographic, petrochemical features and degree of crystallinity of tagamites, vein glasses and vitro-clastic formations of the origin type of melt impactites of the Kara astrobleme including their phase state composition have been studied. The melt Kara impactites have dependence on the initial character of the melted sedimentary target and cooling velocity of an impact melt. The lowest order has been described for ultrahigh pressure vein-type glasses which contain silica drops with single crystalline coesite and firstly found melt-crystallized high pressure variety of smectite. The vein melt impactites consist of solidified impact melt presented by totally amorphous alumina silicate glass with augite microcrystallites and ultrahigh pressure silica glass with coesite microcrystals and “drops” of firstly found melt-crystallized high pressure variety of smectite. The boundary between alumina silicate and silica glass is characterized with liquated amorphous Fe-rich drops. The special feature of the studies melt impactites is low alteration in spite of 70 Ma age and high content of water. The large volumes of an impact melt created massive tagamite bodies have longer cooling underwent with the almost complete crystallization. The obtained data indicate the specific nature of melt glasses of vein type and prospects of their further research for fundamental study of amorphous state under ultrahigh pressure and propose new materials.
Impact of Biochar on Soil Water Content and Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Gliniak Maciej , Sikora Jakub , Sadowska Urszula , Klimek-Kopyra Agnieszka , Latawiec Agnieszka , Kubon Maciej
Published: November 2019

The article presents the possibilities of using time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to determine the water content and electrical conductivity of mineral soil with biochar addition. The TDR method consists in measuring the time of electromagnetic pulse transmission and reflection from the obstacle back to the source point. The impulse is a step signal of voltage. The reflected signal contains information on the dielectric properties of the material being tested. Therefore, qualitative, and quantitative properties of the material can be detected. The tests were carried out using a mobile reflectometric device as an electronic humidity and conductive meter. Based on the obtained results, the usefulness of reflectometric methods in the study of the water content and electrical conductivity of mineral soil was determined.
Impact of Biochar on Water Retention in Soil
Authors: Gliniak Maciej , Sikora Jakub , Sadowska Urszula , Klimek-Kopyra Agnieszka , Latawiec Agnieszka , Kubon Maciej
Published: November 2019

The article presents analysis of retention properties of mineral soil formations enriched with biochar and an attempt was made to characterise the states of hydration. Due to a complex and time-consuming process of direct measurement of hydration and retention soil characteristics (the so-called pF curve). The paper investigates the relation between a biochar dose and the amount of water retained in soil at the set capillary potential (pF).
Mitigation Effects of a Water Barrier on Dynamic Loads on the Human Body at Explosions in Tunnels
Authors: Bochorishvili Nika , Mataradze Edgar , Chikhradze Nikoloz , Tavlalishvili Karlo , Chikhradze Mikheil , Akhvlediani Irakli
Published: November 2019

According to the standards ISO 6184/4 and EN 14373, the efficacy of explosion suppression systems is estimated by maximum reduced (suppressed) shock wave overpressure, recorded in a suppressed explosion event. In addition to this, a significant interest is the capability of explosion protection systems to reduce the dynamic loads on the human body. This task is not considered in standards. The G. Tsulukidze Mining Institute has been studied mitigation of dynamic loads on human by water barrier, generated using the protective system. The system composed of a blast detector, a wireless device for activation and an absorber. During an accidental explosion, the proposed system immediately forms a protective water barrier in the zone to be protected to reduce the overpressure generated by a shock wave. A prototype model has been manufactured, installed and tested under real explosion conditions in the underground experimental base of the G. Tsulukidze Mining Institute. An anthropomorphic test device Hybrid III 50th was used during testing. To register dynamic load generated during an explosion, 7 sensors were installed in different zones of the dummy. Tests were conducted both with the use of the protective system and without it, in conditions when the charge weight was 2 kg, and the distance from the charge to the dummy was 8,5 m. Comparative analysis showed that the protective system, which contains one absorber (may contain several absorbers), reduces the dynamic loads generated in different zones of a human body by 30-50%.
Adsorption of Lead on Agricultural Land at Žitný Ostrov (Slovakia)
Authors: Kovacova Viera
Published: November 2019

Heavy metals are important environmental pollutants threatening the health of human populations and natural ecosystems. Like other inorganic and organic contaminants, the fate of heavy metals in the environment is largely controlled by sorption reaction with soil colloids. The ecological effects of heavy metals in soils are closely related to the content and speciation of the elements in the solid and liquid phases of soils. In connection with the possible binding mechanisms of heavy metals in soils, the concept of specific and non–specific adsorption was discussed. Recent results have indicated that the adsorption of heavy metals on the soil particles is not only restricted to the formation of surface complexes but can also take place in the interior of minerals. Heavy metal sorption by the organic residues at all concentrations was very high. A positive relationship between the rate of adsorption and dosage was obtained indicating that the adsorption process was influenced by increasing the dosage of the residue as well as the shaking period. The sorption data obtained were fitted Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms out of which the Freundlich adsorption model was found to have the best fit for Pb. Movement and attenuation of heavy metals in soils are among other processes controlled by sorption onto the surfaces of soil particles. Processes like precipitation/coprecipitation, complexation and competitive effects of other cations may also influence the attenuation, but in all cases, sorption will be involved, and at natural and slightly polluted concentration levels sorption may be the predominating attenuation process. The Pb sorption on ten investigated soils from the Žitný ostrov area (Slovakia) has been studied in laboratory conditions. The aims were the estimation of adsorbed amount of lead S, determination of adsorption parameters for several soil types (L1, L2, L3, L4 loam soils, SL1, SL2, SL3, SL4 sandy-loam soils, CL5 clay-loam soil, C6 clay soil) and comparison of the obtained results with the results introduced in publishing works. Batch adsorption experiments were performed with a very wide range of lead concentrations (0,01-500 mg/l Pb2+) at a constant soil/solution ratio. The parameters KF, n of Freundlich isotherm and parameters Qmax, KL of Langmuir isotherm were determined experimentally.
Selected Characteristics of Atmospheric Precipitation on the Polish Coast of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Malinowska Miroslawa
Published: November 2019

The characteristics of extreme precipitation, including dominant trends, were analyzed for eight stations located on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea for the period 1951-2010. Maximum 1-day and 5-day precipitation totals, events exceeding the 90th and 95th percentile calculated for the period 1961-1990 applied as indices enabling the assessment of the frequency of wet conditions. Annual trends were calculated using the standard linear regression method, while the fit of the model was assessed with the t-test at the 95% confidence level. Annual precipitation reaches values from 775 mm on the east coast to 683 mm on the central coast and shows positive trends on six out of eight analyzed stations, from 0.8 mm·year-1 in Swibno to 2.5 mm·year−1 in Dziwnow. The maximum 1-day precipitation totals range between 58.7 mm on the western coast to 105.0 mm on the central coast and show statistically significant trends (0.1 - 0.2 mm·year−1) in this area. There are, on average, six to seven 5-day rainfall periods recorded annually in the investigated area. The annual number of 5-day precipitation periods shows positive statistically significant trends in the central and eastern part of the South Baltic coast (0.2-0.3 per 10 years). The median of the maximum 5-day precipitation totals ranges from 21.6 mm in Swinoujscie to 78.6 mm in Ustka. Trends in changes in maximum 5-day rainfall totals reach the level of 0.1-0.2 mm·year−1 and are statistically significant in stations from Swinoujscie to Ustka and in Gdynia. The values of the 90th percentile of 1-day precipitation total are equal to 8-10 mm. Annually, there are about 16-18 days with such precipitation recorded in the area under investigation. The trends are positive (0.1-1.0 day per 10 years) on the central coast. The values of the 95th percentile of 1-day precipitation totals reach 11.5-14.0 mm. Annually, there are about 8-9 days with such precipitation recorded in the area under investigation. The trends are positive (0.3-0.4 days·10 years−1) on the western and central coast.
Next Generation Sequencing Data and its Compression
Authors: Carpentieri Bruno
Published: November 2019

Over the past few years the amount of digital memory and network traffic used by sequenced biological data has increased dramatically. Genomic projects such as HapMap, 1000 Genomes, etc., have come to the collection and description of genomes of 2,504 individuals from 26 populations, and they contributed to exponential growth of databases of this type and to the development of increasingly efficient technologies. Thanks to the large-scale sequencing of samples of DNA, the interest and the new research in these areas by the scientific community are suddenly grown. In a very short time researchers have developed hardware tools, analysis software, algorithms, private databases and infrastructures to support genomics. In this paper we analyse different approaches for compressing digital files generated by Next-Generation Sequencing tools containing nucleotide sequences and we discuss and evaluate the compression performance of generic compression tools such as gzip and bzip2 by confronting them with a specific system that was designed specifically for genomic file compression: quip.
The traces of Mining in Lubsko (western Poland) - proposal of the geotouristic path
Authors: Kaczan Wojciech
Published: November 2019

Lubsko is a city in the Lubuskie province (western Poland) with a population around 15 000. The use of raw clay minerals in this region has its beginning in the Middle Ages. Through the years the production has changed to the centralised mining industry. The end of this branch has begun in the late 1980s due to the political changes in Poland. Nowadays, the signs of this significant history of the city are ruined or in bad conditions. The reason for organising geotouristic path is to protect the geoheritage of this region, mainly old open-pits and the infrastructure. Proposed stops will teach about the mining heritage in Lubsko, the geology of the glacial region, the processing of raw clay minerals and various usages of this material. Moreover, connecting both didactic and recreational use may give the chance to integrate touristic sites in the city. The development of such a path may attract tourists from Poland and Germany, which may result in an improvement of the financial situation of Lubsko. Considering the possible benefits and obstacles the SWOT analysis is presented in the article.
About the Microstructure of the Graptolite Periderm - Examples from the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland)
Authors: Morga Rafal
Published: November 2019

Graptolite reflectance is one of the main parameters for assessing thermal maturity of pre-Devonian rocks in which vitrinite does not occur. However, microstructure of the graptolite periderm has been known only recently, and still little is known about low-reflectance graptolites. The purpose of the work was to determine microstructural features of the graptolite periderm in the oil window shales and compare them to those known from the previous studies, in which more matured organic matter was investigated. Four samples were collected in the Holy Cross Mountains (Central Poland), in two localities (Bardo Stawy and Prągowiec ravine). Reflectance (Rr) measurements as well as micro-Raman analysis were carried out on the sections parallel to the bedding. Micro-Raman analysis was performed on unpolished surfaces to exclude influence of polishing on microstructure. The obtained spectra were curve-fitted using four Lorentzian (G, D1, D2 and D4 band) and one (D3 band) Gaussian lines. Graptolites (Rr=0.70-0.77%; Vitrinite Reflectance Equivalent VRE=0.67-0.72%) occur in the Silurian dark grey clay shales of the Llandovery (Bardo Stawy) and Wenlock - Lower Ludlow (the Prągowiec ravine) age. Graptolite periderm represents poorly organized carbonaceous material, which is inferred from the occurrence of the D3 and D4 bands, and overlapping D2 and G bands. Microstructure does not vary significantly between the samples from the two considered localities (the exception being the D1 band FWHM), which corresponds to the narrow range of graptolite reflectance. Compared to the Raman spectra obtained from graptolites with higher reflectance, the G peak is significantly moved to the lower and the D1 peak to the higher wavenumbers. The FWHM of the G band is higher, while the ID1/IG ratio usually smaller. Taking into account the results from the previous study, it can be concluded that in the reflectance range of 0.7-1.8% the G band position first moves to the higher, and at Rr>1.2% to the lower wavenumbers, while the D1 peak gradually shifts to the lower wavenumbers. The G band FWHM decreases with increasing graptolite reflectance, which reflects improvement in structural ordering, while the ID1/IG ratio starts to increase at Rr≈1.5%, indicating the growth of the coherent domains within the graptolite periderm.
Comparison of the Curve Number Method (SCS-CN) Modifications and the Application of Measures for Soil Erosion Reduction and Flood Protection in Small Ungauged Catchments in the White Carpathian Mountains in Slovakia
Authors: Rattayova Viera , Hlavcova Kamila , Labat Marija Mihaela , Kohnova Silvia
Published: November 2019

Knowledge of soil erosion and runoff processes leads to changes in attitudes towards a rational use of soil. Agricultural practices have a wide range of negative environmental impacts, including accelerated soil erosion, degradation, and increases in the volume of surface runoff. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate these negative influences on arable land. The study area is the municipality of the village of Vrbovce. It is situated in the north-western part of Slovakia in the White Carpathian Mountains. Due to its specific geological (heterogeneous rock masses of flysch) and geomorphological conditions (hilly country, uplands), that part of Slovakia is prone to accelerated soil erosion and mud flood formations. Nevertheless, a significant part of the municipality of Vrbovce is classified as agricultural land. The aim of this study is the soil erosion and runoff volume modelling that is focused on changes in the land cover/land use. We calculated soil loss with the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for agricultural parcels in the cadastral area of the village of Vrbovce. We are offering a set of suitable measures and agricultural procedures for this area as a result of our research. We estimated the direct runoff for the Teplica River basin up to the Teplica water gauge and five ungauged subcatchments in the cadastral area of the village of Vrbovce (Haluznikov creek, Lulovský creek, Zahutník creek, Zápasečník, and an unnamed creek). The Teplica river is poorly gauged with only a 10-year observation period. That length of hydrological measurements is not enough for the required period for calibrating a hydrological model. We used 3 modifications of the curve number (CN) method for estimating the volume of the direct runoff with various return periods, i.e., the standard CN method with values for the current land use, the worst land use an alternative, and the DesQ program method. We also applied the Pearson Type III distribution for the estimation of the peak flow with a higher frequency of occurrence for the Teplica gauging station. The results of the specific runoff were compared with the values of the specific runoff calculated for the Sobotište water gauge, which is situated downstream of the Teplica river. The results show that the most suitable modification of the CN method is the standard CN method with the use of the values for the current land use. The predictions of the long-term average annual rate of erosion on each parcel from the land parcel identification system (LPIS) were calculated by the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE).
The Conditions of Sedimentation of Gdańsk Bay Sediments (Baltic Sea, Poland) in the Light of Lithological Features and Carbon Content
Authors: Burska Dorota , Szymczak Ewa
Published: November 2019

The research has been carried out for many years, the aim of which is to thoroughly identify sedimentation conditions in the area of the Gulf of Gdańsk. This process is conditioned by many factors, among which the quantity, type and quality of sedimentary material subject to sedimentation, the dynamics of the reservoir, its depth as well as the morphology of the bottom should be mentioned. Research sediments were collected in April 2014, during a research cruise on ORP Heweliusz. Sediment cores with a length of approx. 25 cm were taken in parts of the basin characterized by a different bathymetry, dynamics and a different distance from the main sources of supply of the terrigenous material. The GD core was taken from the Gdańsk Deep, the PB from the Puck Bay and the other two cores within the Gdansk Deep slope: UP near Hel and VR at the level of the Vistula estuary. The sediments from collected cores were subjected to wet sieve analysis and pipette analysis. The obtained results allowed to determine the type of lithological sediment and the calculation of graining indices, on the basis of which the interpretation of the sedimentation conditions was carried out. In the sediments, the carbon content was determined using the Perkin Elmer 2400 CHNS / O elemental analyzer. It was found that clayey silts and silty clays dominated in the PB, UP, GD core throughout the profile. Only in the VR core, there was a clayey sand, which proved that the sedimentation environment is more dynamic, conditioning the deposition and the periodic redeposition of sediments. It is the shallowest located station near the source of supply with terrigenous sediments (estuary of the Vistula). In the surface layer of the cores, the total organic carbon (TOC) content exceeds 4.7% and reaches up to 8.3%. The lowest TOC content, ranging from 0.8 to 2%, was found in the VR core. The total inorganic carbon (TIC) ranged from 0.18% (VR) to 1.77% (UP). In all profiles, both carbon forms decreased with depth. The greatest dynamics of changes in the surface layer of sediments (10 cm) characterized the UP core (4.1–6.6%), while the smallest changes characterized the PB station (4.7–4.9%). The parameter relations indicate a close relationship between the carbon content and the dynamics of the sedimentation environment and the proximity of the power sources.
Geochemical phases of aluminum in the river sediments as indicators of its environmental availability
Authors: Rodriguez-Blanco M. Luz , Taboada-Castro M. Mercedes , Taboada-Castro M. Teresa
Published: November 2019

Natural fluvial sediments are predominantly composed of river transported debris resulting from weathering and erosion of the basin. Understanding both the concentration and the distribution of metals in the river bed sediments in headwaters is essential to provide a scientific reference for the protection of water resources and the control of water pollution downstream. Sequential chemical fractionation studies of elements in various phases in the environment are widely used in investigating the effects of a particular element in the ecosystem. In this study, determination of aluminum (Al) bound to six phases operationally defined (soluble/exchangeable/specifically adsorbed, bound to manganese oxides, associated with amorphous compounds, bound to oxidizable organic matter, associated with crystalline iron oxides, and residual fraction) in the river bed sediment samples was performed in order to evaluate its potential environmental availability in the monitoring area. Aluminum contents were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The pattern of fractionation of Al in the sediments that are studied suggests that this element does not pose a risk to the aquatic environment under the current environmental conditions since it is mainly part of the potentially less bioavailable geochemical fractions.
Using a small UAV for nautical ports inventory
Authors: Popielarczyk Dariusz
Published: November 2019

Reliable knowledge of marinas is crucial for the water tourism. The tourist information base of sailing ports on inland waterways should be updated every year. In addition to the basic information about the marinas, aerial photographs of the port and its surrounding are now in demand. A small four-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can be an ideal tool for such an inventory. Unlike airplanes or fixed-wings, small and cheap unmanned aircrafts do not require much open space to start an air mission. A properly configured Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) can bring camera equipment to the location where the pictures are to be taken. The drone can hover over an object allowing the operator to take the right shots. After the mission, a UAV can automatically return and make a safe landing. Photos taken with the drone provide potential users (sailors or fishermen) with basic information about the object’s location: size, number of mooring spaces for boats, the difficulty of manoeuvring in the ports, as well as attractiveness of the adjacent area. The article presents an example of the application of DJI Phantom 4 Pro to the inventory of sailing ports on the route of the Great Masurian Lakes in Poland.
Densification of cities as a method of sustainable development
Authors: Pelczynski Janusz , Tomkowicz Bartlomiej
Published: November 2019

The way of the Earth’s resources are used is one of the basic elements determining the quality of today’s economy. Problems related to the urbanization are among the main areas affecting the preservation of development potential for the future generations, which from the start have been taken into account in the doctrine of sustainable development. The growth of the human population and also civilizational transformations require an increase in the volume of buildings and urban areas, which is an inherent part of the development. However, it is important in what way the development of the built environment takes place. The problem of urban sprawl occurs globally not only in regions with high and increasing population density, but also in regions with a declining population, e.g. in Europe. The urban sprawl reflects an inappropriate and unsustainable way of using the environment and its resources, not only depleting the Earth’s natural assets and reducing ecosystems, but also adversely affecting people’s quality of life and health, and contributing to the social problems. This creates specific requirements for a spatial policy regulating not only the design and implementation of new cities and settlements, but also the management of already urbanised areas, which are also undergoing development and transformation processes affecting on the way they are used on. The article focuses on a strategy of densification of cities, as a method of ensuring their sustainable development allowing better use of the potential of the natural assets which are already being exploited, and to reduce the need for new resources. Four methods of densification the urban areas were distinguished and characterised: - increasing the efficiency of the use of the existing buildings by transforming their functions (changing functions, adapting unused space), - building up on free spaces in the city (construction, extension, infill), - transforming space below and over existing buildings (downward and upward extensions), - replacement of existing buildings (demolition of existing and construction of new buildings). Advantages and disadvantages of the relevant methods were discussed and the determinants for their application were defined. In each case, in order to use the methods of urban densification, it is necessary to perform a proper diagnosis of the initial situation and prediction of a development scenario and also appropriate formal regulations allowing for densification within the limits set by the sustainability criteria. Reasonable densification of cities or their parts is an important and effective way to support sustainable development.
Removal of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water by Iron-based Sorption Materials
Authors: Barlokova Danka , Ilavsky Jan , Marton Michal , Kunstek Michal
Published: November 2019

Adsorption on a suitable adsorption material is the most frequently used methods in water treatment. In terms of plant operation, filtration (sorption) process represents a simple, effective and economical friendly method of heavy metals removal namely for the possibility of using a large scale of substances with a sorption ability - sorbents. Oxides, oxyhydroxides and hydroxide containing iron are among the most frequently used sorbents of the heavy metal removal. The quality of the treated water (pH, silica, phosphorus, fluorides, sulphates, total mineralization, iron and manganese, organic matter, etc.), redox conditions, the valency of metal and filtration conditions has the impacts on heavy metal removing efficiency. The objective of this work was to verify the sorption properties of granular iron-based sorption materials (CFH12, CFH18, Bayoxide E33, GEH) in removal of arsenic, antimony and nickel from drinking water. Under the given operational conditions (average concentration of arsenic in raw water 52,96 μg/L, average velocity 5.6 m/h, concentration As 10 μg/L at the outlet of media) adsorption capacity of filtration material CFH12 and Bayoxide E33 for arsenic was 1.203 mg/g and 1.463 mg/g, respectively. The limit of 10 μg/L of as was exceeded after 24048 BV and 28623 BV (Bed volume), respectively. According to the model tests (concentration of nickel in raw water of about 50 μg/L, filtration rate 5.8 m/h, concentration Ni 20 μg/L at the outlet of media, pH 7.0) the adsorption capacity of nickel for Bayoxide E33 was set to 198 μg/g, for CFH18 107.5 μg/g, GEH 97.5 μg/g and CFH12 38.1 μg/g. The limit of 20 μg/L of Ni was exceeded after 4808 BV for Bayoxide E33, 1409 BV for CFH12, 3007 BV for CFH18 and 3218 BV for GEH. For the average antimony concentration of 58.35 μg/L in raw water and filtration rate between 4.27-4.51 m/h, the limit concentration of 5 μg/l at the outlet of the sorption column was reached at the bed volume 3470 for GEH, 2225 for CFH 12 and 1274 for Bayoxide E33. The adsorption capacities were as follows: 167.8 μg/g for GEH, 105.7 μg/g for CFH12 and 90.9 μg/g for Bayoxide E33. The experiments proved that iron-based sorption materials GEH, CFH12, CFH18 and Bayoxide E33 can help reduce the concentration of heavy metals in water below the limit of the Slovak Republic Decree No. 247/2017 on Drinking Water.
The analysis and assessment of grain size distribution on the example of a chosen granite mine
Authors: Kawalec Witold , Krol Robert , Suchorab Natalia , Szymanski Michal
Published: November 2019

The rock blasting is the first phase of production in the surface and underground mining operations. Because blasting works affect the efficiency of every activity that follows it, they are considered to play a significant role in the whole mining process. Furthermore, it is stated that the most significant parameter is an ore material fragmentation. Information about particle size distribution is relevant from blasting methods point of view. It enables not only to examine the results of blasting operations but also to select proper parameters of blasting operations. This paper presents the analysis and the assessment of grain size distribution of blasted rock in open pit granite mine using the indirect image analysis method. The photogrammetric techniques and the Split Desktop 4.0 computer application were used to perform the research. The photographic documentation of the entire blasted muck pile was prepared in two variants: the first one after blasting operations and the second one after removing 50% of the blasted ore material. Moreover, the whole process of preparing photographs, scaling and delineation are discussed as well as results generated by Split Desktop 4.0. The main objective of the paper is to determine the particle size distribution and the percentage share of oversized fraction both in two variants individually and in the entire blasted muck pile. As a result of the analysis, some relationships between particle size distribution and blasting operations parameters are outlined. The obtained values of size distribution analysis of the rock fragmentation may play a significant role in the blasting operations optimization in the analysed granite mine.
Energy Efficient Processing of Geotermal Water for Energy-Heating Objects of the Building Industry
Authors: Zhuravska Nataliia , Malkin Eduard , Sobczak-Piastka Justyna
Published: November 2019

Due to the energy crisis in Ukraine, the problem of significant increase in the efficiency of production, transportation and use of energy is of particular importance. Considering the significant role in energy supply of the country, the issues of efficient use of heat energy in all areas of these systems are solved: generation for heating water or for steam generation; transportation to the consumer, as well as when using it by the consumer. On the heat exchange surfaces of the systems, scale occurs, which leads to deterioration of heat and mass transfer processes and heat energy indices [6]. This affects the overall performance of the process. In this paper, the question of determining the parameters of an electromagnetic field in the process of treatment of pure water is solved and physical models of the change of the structure of pure water after treatment in the electromagnetic field and the change in the nature of its interaction with different surfaces are developed. To improve the efficiency of the system perform preliminary cleaning and softening water before feeding it to the heat pump by the method of processing it in fields of constant current and in the field of permanent magnets. Next, filtration and water treatment in the field of electromagnets with certain parameters of high frequency of electric current and field induction are carried out. The scientific principles of changes in structural and thermophysical properties of water, ecological and technical technologies, which include the implementation of its basic principles, in which environmental and anthropogenic factors perform a functionally unifying role, are developed.
Estimation of the Dynamic Characteristics of the Foam Concrete
Authors: Valaskova Veronika , Vlcek Jozef , Drusa Marian
Published: November 2019

Dynamic properties of the building materials are not often under investigation because of complexity and difficulty of the dynamic problems, which need to be solved. Foam concrete (FC) is a material that has wide application and utilization in the civil engineering structures. FC is a mixture of cement, water, additives and technical foam and principle of fabrication is well known for more than 30 years. Currently, it is mainly used in the floor structures of the buildings, thus static parameters are investigated. Its usability can be much wider thanks to its specific properties. A research aimed at the application of the foam concrete in the pavement structures takes place at our workplace. FC could be utilized as a sub-base layer at the road reconstructions, excavations or as a structure layer of the new pavements. This paper presents the preliminary outputs of the experimental and numerical analyses of the selected dynamic properties of the FC. Results were obtained from the dynamic hammer testing and the Finite Element (FEM) simulation as a background for the design procedure of the pavement structures. Relevant dynamic parameters such as dynamic modulus of elasticity at low strain or damping parameters were determined in this article. This paper is also aimed at the estimation of the Rayleigh damping coefficients. For the Rayleigh damping coefficients, a half-power bandwidth method was selected. Conclusions indicate some dispersion of the observed quantities and further testing and analysis to increase the reliability of the determined characteristics is required. Obtained dynamic parameters will be a background for the pavement design using the FC.
Retrieving Spatial Variation of Land Surface Temperature Based on Landsat OLI/TIRS: A Case of Southern part of Jember, Java, Indonesia
Authors: Sholihah Rizqi I. , Shibata Shozo
Published: November 2019

The study analysis of the land surface temperature (LST) is crucial to maintain the environmental quality of climatic conditions, particularly in Jember as the forest buffer region in the eastern part of Java, Indonesia. In this paper, the land surface temperature (LST) distributions were investigated using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS images in about 24,008.67 ha of the southern part of Jember. The land surface emissivity (LSE) is also provided in deriving the land surface temperature (LST) from satellite images. The LSE value in the Earth’s surface is retrieved from NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and fractional vegetation cover (Pv). In this case, the reflectance of NIR (Near Infrared) and red bands of Landsat 8 OLI sensor have been acquired to derive NDVI and Pv distribution. Therefore, the LST can be obtained from the LSE coefficient result and brightness temperature (BT) of Landsat 8 TIRS. The results showed that the LST average in the study area increased significantly from 20°C in 2013 to 26°C in 2018. This condition was triggered by the decreasing area with a high vegetation density about 5% of the study area from 2013 to 2018, which was figured out from the spatial distribution of NDVI and LSE.
Management measures for the restoration of degraded ecosystems in order to increase biodiversity conservation in the Târnava Mică catchment area. Case study Bălăuşeri section, Târnava Mică River, Romania
Authors: Ioana-Alina Cretan , Cristian Bratanovici , Albert-Titus Constantin
Published: November 2019

The paper examines the possibilities of maintaining the longitudinal connectivity of the Târnava Mică R water courses in the context of hydrotechnical works execution. The main reason why the longitudinal connectivity needs to be analysed is that the transverse obstacles may prevent the migration of upstream fish species in order to reproduce the species concerned. In this way, the state of aquatic ecosystems is affected, which the Water Framework Directive aims to protect. The European Commission has launched two infringement procedures against Romania due to the destruction of unique habitats by not ensuring the longitudinal connectivity. The current methodology for the restoration of longitudinal connectivity provides that the longitudinal connectivity of a water body is ensured if there are no transverse obstacles on the river, or if these obstacles meet certain criteria which make the pressure given by them insignificant. In addition, longitudinal connectivity is an important criterion for defining the natural water bodies and heavily modified water bodies. The most widespread measure is the fish scale. The advantage is given by the lowest cost compared to the other variants and the fact that in many cases, it can be applied to the already existing constructions. However, there is a construction height limit for which it is recommended. In the National Administration of Romanian Waters methodology, the height limit is 15 m. The case study in this paper will also present the numerical modelling (1d) for a fish scale at Bălăuşeri on the Târnava Mică water stream from the Mureş River catchment area. The purpose of the case study of the longitudinal connectivity of the Târnava Mică River was to restore water connectivity to ensure favourable conditions for aquatic species dependent on riparian habitats.
Fe-Ti-V Deposits of Eastern Siberia: Their Similarities and Differences
Authors: Gongalsky Bronislav , Krivolutskaya Nadezhda , Yakushev Anton , Taskaev Vladimir
Published: November 2019

Fe-Ti-V deposits related to the basic-ultrabasic intrusions are widespread within eastern Siberia, in its northern and southern parts. Two large massifs are located in the Kodar-Udokan trough Siberian Platform, and in the Taimyr Peninsula. They are the Chineysky intrusion and the Dyumtaleysky massifs consequently. The problem of ore origin includes an estimation of parental melt composition and its evolution. To solve it, we have studied the internal structure, composition of rocks and ores from these massifs. The Chineysky lopolith has a thickness of 2.5 km and consists of four rock groups formed during different stages. Layering is a typical feature of the second group of rocks enriched in titanomagnetite. Economic Cu-Ni sulfide mineralization (Cu/Ni=10-100) concentrates within the lower boundary of the massif and includes the endo-and exocontact ore. Chineysky massif consists of basic rocks with typical crustal characteristics (Ta-Nb negative and Pb positive anomalies). The Dyumtaleysky intrusion represents a tabular body of 600 m in thickness. It consists of two groups of rocks - gabbro (upper zone, 300 m) and peridotites (lower zone, 300 m). It was suggested that they were formed at two stages. The upper zone is characterized by thin layering which is similar to the layering of the Chineysky massif. Sulfides are concentrated within the massif (between upper and lower zones) and in its endocontact zone. The mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite, millerite, cubanite; Cu/Ni= 1-0.5. In contrast to the rocks of the Chineysky massif, the rocks of the Dyumtaleysky intrusion are characterized by patterns without Ta-Nb anomaly. Gd/Yb ratio demonstrates the origin of these two massifs from different magma sources: shallow for the Chineysky intrusion and deep (with garnet) for the Dyumtaleysky one. Thus, Fe-Ti-V deposits could be formed from different magmas but contain the same type of ores because the leading process of ore formation is a multiple fractional crystallization.
Analysis of a single-family building life cycle – case study
Authors: Lis Anna , Warzeszak Anna , Gliniak Maciej
Published: November 2019

Increasing the ecological awareness of society has contributed to the fact that the natural environment is no longer perceived only as a resource, but above all as a system necessary for protection and preservation for the future generations. Particular branches of industry, as well as consumption, cause multidimensional environmental damage. One of the industries that raise the standard of living, but also plays a significant role in environmental degradation is the construction industry. It is, therefore, necessary to strive to mitigate the effects of erecting building objects. The article made an environmental assessment of the life cycle of a building using the One Click LCA software, which was officially approved by BRE to categorize objects according to the Mat 01 procedure. The evaluation covered the production of construction materials, transport, construction process, use of a residential building, maintenance, repairs and replacements, operating energy and water consumption, total energy consumption and demolition phase.
Lithofacies and Biofacies Characteristics of Lower Carboniferous Carbonates in Central Taurides, Turkey
Authors: Atakul-Ozdemir Ayse , Altiner Demir , Ozkan-Altiner Sevinc
Published: November 2019

The studied successions in the Central Taurides were mainly deposited in a shallow marine environment during the Early Carboniferous time. Conodonts are one of the most important microfossil groups for the Lower Carboniferous biostratigraphy. The measured sections are not rich in conodonts but important species including those of the Lower Carboniferous boundary conodonts. The conodont elements recorded in this study include Gnathodus cuneiformis, Gnathodus girtyi girtyi, Gnathodus girtyi simplex, Kladognathus sp., Lochriea commutata and Vogelgnathus campbelli. Based on the recovered conodont assemblages, Visean - Serpukhovian boundary has been recognized by the first occurrence of Gnathodus girtyi simplex. Conodont faunal variations in Paleozoic to Triassic marine deposits are generally environmentally controlled. Within the context of paleoenvironmental interpretations, different microfacies types could be determined by microfacies criteria reflecting patterns of the depositional environments. The types of microfacies and their environmental interpretations can provide a framework for conodont paleoecology. The defined facies types in BSE section are mainly crinoidal bioclastic packstone, bioclastic grainstone, sandy oolitic grainstone, quartz-peloidal grainstone and quartz arenitic sandstone facies. Crinoidal bioclastic packstones and bioclastic grainstones are suitable facies for conodonts owing to environmental conditions. Bioclasts associated with the conodonts are mainly crinoids, fusulinids, algae, echinoids, brachiopods and ostracods. Conodont elements could not be recorded from sandy oolitic grainstone and quartz arenitic sandstone facies due to the deposition in high energy environments under unstable conditions.