Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science

Circular economy development in the context of war: Global challenges

2024-05-09T08:14:16-03:00

The problem of resource scarcity is one of the most pressing in the world, and therefore conserving them through the introduction of a circular economy is an important factor in human development. The full-scale war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has had a significant impact on Europe’s energy balance, and the importance of implementing a circular economy has grown even more. The study aims to investigate the impact of the war on the implementation of resource efficiency programmes in Ukraine and the European Union. The methods used in the research process include analysis, synthesis, and statistical research. In addition, the method of open-source intelligence and the method of remote online survey were used as part of the empirical research. As a result, the dynamics of harmful emissions into the atmosphere and water resources of Ukraine from 2015 to 2022 were determined, which revealed a pronounced downward trend. The actual production of clean energy, the dynamics of fossil fuel use and the amount of carbon emissions in the European Union were also analysed, which showed positive development. In the process, data on relocated Ukrainian enterprises that were moved away from the combat line to safer regions was used. The survey received qualified responses from the heads of large Ukrainian industries on the current situation with the implementation of measures to introduce a circular economy, the dynamics of financing these processes in recent years, and the impact of digitalisation of production processes on business efficiency during full-scale hostilities. The respondents’ answers were mostly positive about the existing measures and prospects. The practical significance of the study is to highlight the priorities of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in the context of the circular economy concept.

Clinical characteristics of allergic reactions to seeds and analysis of prevalence and severity

2024-04-16T12:13:50-03:00

Seeds allergens are widespread factors of food allergy, for the targeted treatment of which accurate identification of the provoking product is necessary. Clinical cases of allergy to seeds, which are manifested by an allergic syndrome, are quite common. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of allergic reactions to seeds, as well as to study clinical cases to better understand the causes of seed allergies and their prevention. To this end, this study selected 146 published scientific papers that were relevant to the topic of seed allergy and met all the criteria. Of these, 46 studies were studied and analysed, which were available in English and published in the public domain on various databases. The biological characteristics of these seeds, their distribution in the world, and their use in various spheres of life were studied in detail. The results of the study determined that pumpkin and fenugreek seeds cause the least number of allergic reactions, followed by poppy seeds sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds provoke the remaining reactions. The degree of damage caused by an allergic reaction can vary from the mildest in the form of hives and food reactions to severe anaphylactic reactions and even death. Thus, the collection of complaints, medical history, family and allergic history is an important part of the diagnosis, but additional methods of examination in the form of skin tests, determination of specific immunoglobulin E and experimental testing with certain seeds are crucial in the diagnosis.

Sociopsychological factors and trends in information addiction development among youth in modern societies

2024-02-27T14:48:45-03:00

The primary sociopsychological factors of the current spread of information addiction are as follows: expanded access to information, the popularity of social networks, marketing influence, Fear of Missing Out (hereinafter - FOMO) syndrome, which is a fear of lagging behind events or losing opportunities, desire for positive feedback and constant monitoring of news, and feelings of loneliness and depression. In this context, research in the fields of psychology, sociology, medicine, and related sciences that analyze the changes in human behavior regarding information consumption are relevant. This change may be manifested as satisfaction of the social need for moderately consumed information or as a psychological disorder – excessive consumption of information that harms the mental health of a person. Children, adolescents, and youth are the social groups that are the most vulnerable to information addiction in modern societies. The relevance of studying sociopsychological factors of information addiction is determined by the need to constantly monitor, prevent, forecast, and solve the problems of information addiction facing young generations to improve their quality of life, mental health, and full social integration into society.

Juridification of grant support for higher education under martial law

2024-02-27T14:56:19-03:00

The study aims to determine the possible ways to implement grant support for higher education under the legal regime of martial law. The achievement of the aim set implies solving such research problems as identifying the legal framework for grant activities at the national level and the characteristics of the application of national and international experience. The methodological framework of the study encompassed general and special methods of scientific knowledge, including the method of scientific observation, analysis-synthesis, methods of processing, comprehension, and interpretation, dialectical method, formal-logical method, and structural-functional method. The authors concluded that there was no standard procedure for implementing grant activities in the field of higher education. It is possible to increase the positive effect of the attraction of private entities to the sphere of higher education and its improvement if human-centric approaches to grant activities duly enshrined in the legislation are systematically adhered to.

Professor Francisco Catelli: um físico “pop star”

2023-12-14T11:34:08-03:00

This article pays tribute to a generous, intelligent professor who is passionate about teaching Physics. Spectacular human being, owner of a serene countenance and a smile that he presents to everyone he meets. With a special interest for Optics and Astronomy, as a professor, he stands out for his commitment to teaching Physics and his ability to enchant young students. Owner of sharp critical thinking, as a colleague, he stands out for his generosity and kindness, knowing how to work in a team like few others. When guiding, he knows how to create a light atmosphere, shares ideas and thoughts, does not spare his praise and knows how to criticize with elegance. In general, he is a professor who is very concerned about the development of his students, always showing love and interest in what he does, a happiness to be with the students, to be talking about Physics or teaching Science.

Removal of antibiotics form water by nanofiltration

2024-01-08T19:25:14-03:00

Conventional methods usually employed in water and wastewater treatment plants have presented low effectiveness in removing antibiotics and other contaminants of emerging concern. Therefore, in view of the problems associated with these contaminants (toxicity, carcinogenic potential, development of bacteria that are super resistant to antibiotics, endocrine disruption, etc.), it is necessary to study new technologies for treating water and wastewater. In this context, the present study evaluates nanofiltration, a membrane technology, for removing three widely consumed antibiotics (Tetracycline, Norfloxacin and Sulfamethoxazole) from water. The NF270 membrane (DOW – FilmTec), a polyamide membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 400 Da, was used and evaluated in terms of productivity and ability to remove antibiotics at pressures from 2 to 8 bar. High productivity was obtained, with permeate fluxes around 100 kg h^–1 m^–2 at a pressure of 8 bar, and antibiotic removals of up to 95%, demonstrating the effectiveness of nanofiltration in removing these contaminants. It is important to point out that under the evaluated conditions, no fouling of the membrane was observed, a very important fact as it allows for a longer useful life of the membranes, reducing operation and maintenance costs.

The use of superplasticizer for concentrated slurry density control

2024-04-16T15:09:35-03:00

Given the constant development of the oil and gas industry and increasing requirements for well drilling efficiency, the study of concentrated slurry density control is critical to ensure drilling processes’ safety and stability and prevent adverse environmental impacts. The study aims to investigate the possibility of using an additive to pure Portland cemented slurry to form high-density concentrated slurry. The mentioned groups are crucial for creating robust cement formulations to line the wellbore at intervals with abnormally high pressure effectively. Laboratory experiments were conducted utilizing various equipment such as the ZM-1003 consistometer, “Sroki” autoclave, “Vicat apparatus,” and AzNII cone. These experiments were based on standard methodologies for analyzing cement slurry and paste properties. During these tests, a particular reagent was introduced, demonstrating the ability to plasticize cement slurries, enhancing their fluidity and enabling precise control over the density of concentrated slurries. The laboratory findings regarding the control of concentrated slurry density were particularly noteworthy. These experiments involved analyzing compositions consisting of pure Portland cement and cement slurries augmented with the hyperplasticizer reagent. The results underscored this additive’s significance in enhancing cement slurry properties, offering improved fluidity and enabling effective density control. This contextualization highlights the pivotal role of the mentioned reagent in optimizing cement formulations for the challenging conditions encountered in well drilling and cementing operations. The added reagent was found to effectively plasticize the pastes, increasing their fluidity and reducing the water-cement ratio, which leads to the formation of paste with increased strength. The results of industrial testing of the reagent during cementing of production string in one of the wells confirmed the possibility of preparing concentrated slurry with a density of 2.4 g/cm³, thus ensuring successful cementing operations under high-pressure conditions. This study provides practical value for well drilling companies and cementing service providers, justifying the use of reagent-hyperplasticiser in concentrated slurries, which opens new perspectives for the creation of high-strength cement slurries when drilling wells, especially in conditions of abnormally high-pressure zones, thus improving cementing technologies and providing more reliable casing slurry strength.