Potential of Pyrolysis for valuable products obtaining from wheat straw lignin produced by CIMV technology

Two configurations of fast pyrolysis realized in flowing (inert gas flow) and ablative-type reactors were used for phenolic fraction obtaining. The maximum yield of phenolic compounds was achieved at 450 degrees of Celsius in the case of ablative reactor usage (7,6%). Application of catalysts (Na+ and K+) allowed to increase the yield of phenolic compounds up to 8,5%

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Waste Biomass after Harvesting as a Source of Valuable Biologically Active Compounds with Nutraceutical and Antibacterial Potential

Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by ERDF project nr. Nr.1.1.1.1/19/A/146 “Biorefinery processing of sea buckthorn non-fruit biomass using innovative techniques and comprehensive analytical investigation, for obtaining prospective for Latvian bioeconomy high value-added products, including serotonin”. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.For sustainable sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berry production, the task at hand is to find an application for the large amount of biomass waste arising at harvesting. Sea buckthorn (SBT) vegetation is currently poorly studied. The purpose of this research was to assess the composition and potential of SBT twigs as a source of valuable biologically active substances. Water and 50% EtOH extracts of twigs of three Latvian SBT cultivars with a high berry yield and quality, popular for cultivation in many countries (H. rhamnoides ‘Maria Bruvele', ‘Tatiana', ‘Botanicheskaya Lubitelskaya'), were investigated for the first time. The phytochemical composition (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis) and biological activity of the obtained hydrophilic extracts were determined. The highest yield of polyphenolic compounds and serotonin was observed for ‘Maria Bruvele'. Hydrophilic extracts were investigated for radical scavenging activity (DPPH' test), antibacterial/antifungal activity against five pathogenic bacteria/yeast, cytotoxicity, and the enzymatic activity of alpha-amylase (via in vitro testing), which is extremely important for the treatment of people with underweight, wasting, and malabsorption. The results showed a high potential of sea buckthorn biomass as a source of valuable biologically active compounds for the creation of preparations for the food industry, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Theatre Direction of Vladislavs Nastavševs in the Context of Postdramatic Theatre

Maģistra darbs „Vladislava Nastavševa režija postdramatiskā teātra kontekstā” veltīts režisora Vladislava Nastavševa mākslinieciskās prakses izpētei, skatot to vācu teātra teorētiķa Hansa Tīsa Lēmana (Hans-Thies Lehmann) izvirzītās postdramatiskā teātra teorijas koordinātēs, kā arī divas nodaļas darbā veltot režisora darbības vērtējumam Antonēna Arto attīstīto Nežēlības teātra ideju un zilo jeb queer teorijas kontekstā. Kā analīzes objekts darbā izmantotas V. Nastavševa Latvijā un ārpus tās tapušās izrādes, kā arī paša režisora publiski paustie mākslinieciskie uzstādījumi un mērķi, kas aplūkoti viņa režijas prakses un jau nosaukto teorētisko diskursu gaismā. Postdramatiskajā teātrī, Nežēlības teātrī un zilo teorijā aktuālo aspektu izpausmes V. Nastavševa režijā analizētas, pētot telpas funkcijas, teātra pašrefleksijas motīvus, teksta un vizuālās dramaturģijas attiecības, ķermeņa un telpas mijiedarbības stratēģijas, izrāžu skaniskā līmeņa nozīmi, kā arī aktiera funkcijas un skatītāja lomu.Master thesis „Theatre Direction of Vladislavs Nastavševs in the Context of Postdramatic Theatre” is dedicated to the research of theatre directors’ Vladislavs Nastavševs artistic practices in the context of postdramatic theater theory which is defined by German theater theorist Hans-Thies Lehmann. Also two chapters in the work are devoted to the analysis of director’s artistic practises in the context of Queer theory and Antonins’ Artaud Theater of Cruelty. The objects of analysis are V. Nastavševs’ performances made both in Latvia and in foreign countries, as well as directors’ publicly made statements about his artistic methods and goals, which are considered in the context of his directing practices and theoretical discourses mentioned above. Manifestation of different Postdramatic theater, Theater of Cruelty and Queer theory aspects in the artistic practises of V. Nastavševs has been analyzed by examining the functions of space and time, theater self-reflexitivity, relationships between text and visual narrative, reciprocity between actors’ body and theatre space, importance of sonic level in the performance, as well as actors’ functions and the role of spectator

Dystopia Motifs in Margarita’s Perveņecka’s Novel ”Gaetāno Krematoss”

Bakalaura darbā pētītas literārās distopijas žanra teorētiskās nostādnes un tam raksturīgo motīvu (identitātes zuduma, pārspīlētas industrializācijas vai ekoloģiskas katastrofas rezultātā iznīcinātas dabas, tehnoloģiju dominances pār cilvēcisko u.c.) realizācija Margaritas Perveņeckas romānā „Gaetāno Krematoss”. Darba mērķis ir noskaidrot, kādi distopijas motīvi izmantoti romānā radītās mākslinieciskās fantāzijas pasaules uzbūvē un kā tie realizējas romāna žanram raksturīgajā poētikā, par pētījuma hipotēzi izvirzot pieņēmumu, ka romānā „Gaetāno Krematoss” tēlota postmoderna distopija ar kritiskās distopijas iezīmēm. Pētījuma rezultātā romānā fiksētas vairākas postmodernisma literatūrai un kritiskajai distopijai raksturīgas iezīmes, kā arī konstatēta eshatoloģiskā un kosmogoniskā mīta klātbūtne vēstījuma uzbūvē. Atslēgvārdi: literārā distopija, utopija, kritiskā distopija, postmodernisms, salīdzinošā literatūrpētniecības metode, eshatoloģiskais mīts, kosmogoniskais mīts.This bachelor’s degree work uncover the theoretical approaches of dystopian genre and the implementation of its characteristic motifs (identity loss, destructed nature, dominance of technology over the human, etc.) in Margaritas Perveņeckas novel "Gaetāno Krematoss". The aim of the study is to find out what dystopian motifs are used in the artistic structure of the fantasy world created in the novel and how they unfold in the poetics typical to the novel genre. Study is based on an assumption that the novel "Gaetano Krematoss" is a postmodern dystopia which contains some features of critical dystopia. Study results showed that there are several characteristics of postmodern literature and critical dystopia and also motifs of eschatological and cosmogonic myths present in the narrative structure of the novel. Keywords: literary dystopia, critical dystopia, utopia, postmodernism, comparative literature, cosmogonic myth, eschatological myth

Simulation-Based Analysis of the Goldmine System Operation

The research demonstrates the efficiency of the simulation technique application for the analysis of goldmine system operation with a particular focus on truck-shovel system. The research has been carried out within the modelling competition “IIE/Rockwell Student Simulation Competition” arranged by an international organization IIE (Industrial Engineering). The information on the goldmine system structure and operation has been provided by the competition organizers, thus allowing the authors of the article to analyse the system operation based on real data and to propose recommendations and solutions for increasing goldmine efficiency through the optimization of technical resources used. A simulation model of the goldmine system is developed by means of Arena simulation environment

Simulation-Based Analysis of the Goldmine System Operation

The research demonstrates the efficiency of the simulation technique application for the analysis of goldmine system operation with a particular focus on truck-shovel system. The research has been carried out within the modelling competition “IIE/Rockwell Student Simulation Competition” arranged by an international organization IIE (Industrial Engineering). The information on the goldmine system structure and operation has been provided by the competition organizers, thus allowing the authors of the article to analyse the system operation based on real data and to propose recommendations and solutions for increasing goldmine efficiency through the optimization of technical resources used. A simulation model of the goldmine system is developed by means of Arena simulation environment

Comparison of Growth and Physiological Effects of Soil Moisture Regime on <i>Plantago maritima</i> Plants from Geographically Isolated Sites on the Eastern Coast of the Baltic Sea

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the morphological and physiological responses of P. maritima plants from five geographically isolated sites growing in habitats with different conditions to different substrate moisture levels in controlled conditions. Plants were produced from seed and cultivated in a greenhouse at four relatively constant soil moisture regimes: at 25, 50, and 75% soil water content and in soil flooded 3 cm above the surface (80% F). The two morphological traits that varied most strikingly among P. maritima accessions were the number of flower stalks and the number of leaves. Only plants from two accessions uniformly produced generative structures, and allocation to flowering was suppressed by both low moisture and flooding. Optimum shoot biomass accumulation for all accessions was at 50 and 75% soil moisture. The Performance Index Total was the most sensitive among the measured photosynthesis-related parameters, and it tended to decrease with an increase in soil water content for all P. maritima accessions. The initial hypothesis—that plants from relatively dry habitats will have a higher tolerance against low soil water levels, but plants from relatively wet habitats will have a higher tolerance against waterlogged or flooded soil—was not proven. The existence of three ecotypes of P. maritima within the five accessions from geographically isolated subpopulations on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea at the level of morphological responses to soil water content can be proposed. P. maritima plants can be characterized as extremely tolerant to soil waterlogging and highly tolerant to soil flooding and low soil water content

Structural Properties of Siliceous Lignins Made Them Useful for Soil Quality Management

Technical lignins were modified in order to improve their lipophillic properties, to develop porosity and to increase the matrix surface affinity towards selected contaminants. With this aim, the incorporation of Si-contaning building blocks into lignin matrix was accomplished using mild sol-gel process. The siliceous lignin-based products obtained (Si-lignins) were characterized by elemental and functional analysis, spectroscopic techniques (29Si- and 13C solid state NMR, FTIR and XPS), nitrogen gas, normal paraffins and water vapors adsorption/desorption isotherms. Sorption tests with potential contaminants (copper and manganese ions, and 2,4-pesticide) and a set of biological tests were performed to characterize the targeted properties of Si-lignins

Products of Fast Pyrolysis of Wood, Their Properties and Applicability

Bio-oils of different hardwood species were obtained in a 2-stage ablative pyrolysis reactor. The GC/MS analysis of the bio-oils has shown a different content of products of degradation of carbohydrates and lignin depending on the wood species. Bio-oils were dispersed in water and separated to soluble (Py-C) and insoluble (Py-L) fractions. The fractions were characterised by the Py-GC/MS method. It is shown that the Py-C fraction contains, besides products of carbohydrate origin, phenolic products, which are represented mainly by syringyl derivatives. The antioxidant properties of Py-L and Py-C isolated from bio-oil of different wood species were characterised using three assays such as ABTS●+/ DPPH●/superoxide radical scavenging