Spatial potential and limitations for the mountain bike turism in the municipalities of Tolmin and Kobarid

In the thesis we have analysed spatial possibilities for the development of mountainbiking tourism in municipalities of Tolmin and Kobarid. The development of the region, which has all natural, spatial and relief features, is currently slowed down by slovenian legislation. The main purpose of this thesis is to raise the awareness of the possibilities that mountain biking as a tourist product represents to the\ud entire Soča Valley and to help developing this activity in the area. The focus with formulation of proposals for the development of mountain biking is on searching and solving conflict parts of cycling routes, as this is the main precondition for the successful development of this activity. \ud The thesis is divided into two parts. Firstly, a theoretical basis of biking tourism and problems of\ud mountain biking in Slovenia is presented. In the second part we have focused on making concrete proposals for the development of mountain biking in the discussed region. We collected and digitalised different cycling routes. Based on this we proposed possible course of cycling routes across\ud the areas where biking is not legally permitted (yet). We also analysed other infrastructure needed and give suggestions for the most attractive cycling routes. In the conclusion we have suggested selection of cycling routes based on professional criteria, which could be, with additional actions, routed even in sections where currently mountain biking is not allowed

Bled – Pristava. Naselbina iz starejše železne dobe

From July to December 2019, archaeological research took place at Pristava in Bled, in the former craft zone and medieval manor. The research was conducted ahead of construction of the future museum of Contemporary art Lah Contemporary. The excavations revealed a complex stratigraphic sequence. Six settlement phases were defined based on a more precise chronology of the discovered finds and the results of radiocarbon dating. In the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages the steep slope of the Pristava hill was levelled with settlement terraces. On terraces, numerous wooden objects were constructed, between which layed hearths and pits. This article focuses on the newly discovered remains and finds of an Iron Age settlement.V obdobju od julija do decembra 2019 so na Pristavi na Bledu, na območju nekdanje obrtne cone in srednjeveške pristave, potekale arheološke raziskave v okviru gradnje muzeja sodobne umetnosti Lah Contemporary. Izkopavanja so razkrila zapleteno stratigrafsko sliko. Na podlagi natančnejše časovne opredelitve odkritih najdb in rezultatov radiokarbonskega datiranja je bilo ugotovljenih šest naselbinskih faz. Strmo pobočje hriba Pristava je bilo v pozni bronasti in starejši železni dobi terasirano. Na izravnavah je bilo postavljenih več lesenih objektov, kurišča in številne jame. V članku so predstavljene novoodkrite ostaline ter najdbe železnodobne naselbine

Use of steel slag for the synthesis of belite-sulfoaluminate clinker

Belite-sulfoaluminate (BCSA) cements are low-carbon mineral binders, which require low energy consumption and allow the incorporation of various secondary raw materials in the clinker raw meal. In this study two types of unprocessed steel slags, coming from stainless steel production, were incorporated in the BCSA clinkers. The clinker phase composition, clinker reactivity, and the compressive strength of the cement were studied to evaluate the possible use of the slag in BCSA clinkers. The cement clinkers were synthesized by using natural raw materials, white titanogypsum, mill scale, as well as two different steel slags: (i) EAF S slag, which is a by-product of melting the recycled steel scrap in an electric arc furnace, and (ii) la dle slag as a by-product of the processes of secondary metallurgy, in various quantities. Raw mixtures with two different targeted phase compositions varying in belite, calcium sulfoaluminate and ferrite phases were sintered at 1250 °C. Clinker phases were determined by Rietveld quantitative phase analysis, while their distribution, morphology and incorporation of foreign ions in the phases were studied by SEM/EDS analysis. The clinker reactivity was determined by isothermal calorimetry. BCSA cements were prepared by adding titanogypsum. The compressive strength of the cement pastes was determined after 7 days of hydration. The presence of a predicted major clinker phases was confirmed by Rietveld analysis, however periclase was also detected. Microscopy revealed subhedral grains of belite and euhedral grains of calcium sulfoaluminate phases, while ferrite occurred as an interstitial phase. The results showed differences in the microstructure and reactivity of the clinker and cement, which can be attributed to varying amounts of ettringite due to different slag type

Bled – Pristava. Naselbina iz starejše železne dobe

V obdobju od julija do decembra 2019 so na Pristavi na Bledu, na območju nekdanje obrtne cone in srednjeveške pristave, potekale arheološke raziskave v okviru gradnje muzeja sodobne umetnosti Lah Contemporary. Izkopavanja so razkrila zapleteno stratigrafsko sliko. Na podlagi natančnejše časovne opredelitve odkritih najdb in rezultatov radiokarbonskega datiranja je bilo ugotovljenih šest naselbinskih faz. Strmo pobočje hriba Pristava je bilo v pozni bronasti in starejši železni dobi terasirano. Na izravnavah je bilo postavljenih več lesenih objektov, kurišča in številne jame. V članku so predstavljene novoodkrite ostaline ter najdbe železnodobne naselbine

Fostering Coexistence Between People and Large Carnivores in Africa: Using a Theory of Change to Identify Pathways to Impact and Their Underlying Assumptions

Coexistence with large carnivores poses challenges to human well-being, livelihoods, development, resource management, and policy. Even where people and carnivores have historically coexisted, traditional patterns of behavior toward large carnivores may be disrupted by wider processes of economic, social, political, and climate change. Conservation interventions have typically focused on changing behaviors of those living alongside large carnivores to promote sustainable practices. While these interventions remain important, their success is inextricably linked to broader socio-political contexts, including natural resource governance and equitable distribution of conservation-linked costs and benefits. In this context we propose a Theory of Change to identify logical pathways of action through which coexistence with large carnivores can be enhanced. We focus on Africa’s dryland landscapes, known for their diverse guild of large carnivores that remain relatively widespread across the continent. We review the literature to understand coexistence and its challenges; explain our Theory of Change, including expected outcomes and pathways to impact; and discuss how our model could be implemented and operationalized. Our analysis draws on the experience of coauthors, who are scientists and practitioners, and on literature from conservation, political ecology, and anthropology to explore the challenges, local realities, and place-based conditions under which expected outcomes succeed or fail. Three pathways to impact were identified: (a) putting in place good governance harmonized across geographic scales; (b) addressing coexistence at the landscape level; and (c) reducing costsand increasing benefits of sharing a landscape with large carnivores. Coordinated conservation across the extensive, and potentially transboundary, landscapes needed by large carnivores requires harmonization of top-down approaches with bottom-up community-based conservation. We propose adaptive co-management approaches combined with processes for active community engagement and informed consent as useful dynamic mechanisms for navigating through this contested space, while enabling adaptation to climate change. Success depends on strengthening underlying enabling conditions, including governance, capacity, local empowerment, effective monitoring, and sustainable financial support. Implementing the Theory of Change requires ongoing monitoring and evaluation to inform adaptation and build confidence in the model. Overall, the model provides a flexible and practical framework that can be adapted to dynamic local socio-ecological contexts. large carnivore conservation, African semi-arid, community-based conservation, human wildlife conflict, community-based natural resource management, adaptive co-management, rangeland management, climate change adaptationpublishedVersio

Technical and radiological characterisation of fly ash and bottom ash from thermal power plant

Huge quantities of fly ash and bottom ash are generated from thermal power plants and it presents great concern for country, mainly due to the environmental effects. In this study, fly ashes and bottom ash were characterized from technical and radiological aspects. Health effect due to the activity of radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K was estimated via radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazards index (Hex), the external absorbed dose rate (D) and annual effective dose rate (EDR). The specific surface area (40.25 m2 g−1), particle density (1.88 g cm−3) and LOI (23.49%) were typical for bottom ash. Siliceous fly ash contained 32% reactive silica. The annual effective dose rate for all ashes is ≤ 0.2 mSv y−1. Both, fly ash and bottom ash present potential secondary raw materials to be used for building purposes as result of their technological and radiological assessment

The Acute Physiological Responses to Traditional vs. Practical Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Exercise in Untrained Men and Women

This study compared the acute physiological responses of traditional and practical blood flow restriction resistance exercise (tBFR and pBFR, respectively) and high- and low-load resistance exercise without BFR (HL and LL, respectively), as well as the potential sex differences within the aforementioned exercise methods. Fourteen men and fifteen women randomly completed the following experimental conditions: (1) tBFR, consisting of four sets of 30-15-15-15 repetitions of the bilateral horizontal leg press and knee extension exercises, at 30% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), with a 13.5 cm wide pneumatic cuff placed at the most proximal portion of each thigh and inflated to a pressure equivalent to 50% of the participant’s total occlusion pressure; (2) pBFR, which was the same as the tBFR condition, except that an elastic band wrapped around the proximal portion of each thigh at a tightness of 7 on a 0 to 10 perceived pressure scale was used to reduce blood flow; (3) LL, same as the tBFR and pBFR protocols, except that no BFR was applied; and (4) HL, consisting of 3 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of 1-RM, with the same 1-min rest interval between sets and a 3-min rest period between exercises. At baseline, immediately post-, 5 min post-, and 15 min post-exercise, whole-blood lactate (WBL), indices of muscle swelling (muscle thickness and thigh circumference), hematocrit and plasma volume changes, were measured as well as superficial electromyography (sEMG) amplitude during exercise. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the tBFR and pBFR exercise protocols for any of the physiological parameters assessed. However, significantly greater (p < 0.05) WBL and sEMG values were observed for HL compared to the remaining exercise conditions. Finally, males displayed greater WBL levels than females at 15 min post-exercise. Interestingly, males also displayed significantly (p < 0.05) greater sEMG amplitude than females within the low-load trials during leg press, but no significant (p < 0.05) sex differences were observed during knee extension. In conclusion, tBFR and pBFR seemed to be capable of inducing the same acute physiological responses. Furthermore, males displayed greater responses than females for some of the physiological parameters measured.Financial support was provided from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Partnerships and the Office of the Provost, University of Oklahoma. Open Access fees paid for in whole or in part by the University of Oklahoma Libraries.Ye