Board game for the engineering students to promote interest in city infrastructure courses

[EN] Learning is a complex process that includes self-motivation, self-control and self-discipline. The efficiency of learning depends on the motivation of students and overall atmosphere in the classroom. At the same time, promotion of interest to communicate out of the classroom is of the same importance. Furthermore, if students find an interest in a specific professional field during the out-of-classroom activities, the study process in engineering sciences becomes easier and more enjoyable.To promote the interest in engineering studies at Riga Technical University study programme Heat, Gas and Water Technology, workshops at the infrastructure units of the related industry representatives, summer workshops in the sports, seminar and recreation centre, as well as basketball and table tennis competition between teachers and students are organized on a regular basis. Through the thematic games, teachers find the motivation to upgrade the quality of the study process and students gain more information on the topic and ability to achieve higher results. The proposed board game for the out-of-classroom activities is a successful method to facilitate the communication between lecturers and students in practice. At the same time, the game contains control questions that allow to stimulate and promote the knowledge level of the students.Kokina, K.; Mezule, L.; Borodinecs, A. (2021). Board game for the engineering students to promote interest in city infrastructure courses. En 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1149-1156. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.13027OCS1149115

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The inhibition effect of rapid variations of pH in wastewater on activated sludge was investigated in laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR). The toxic influence of pH 6.5 and 8.5 was examined. The experiment with pH 8.5 was preferable to formation of high FA concentration and showed a low risk of inhibition of second step nitrification (conversion of nitrites to nitrates). However, the reactor at pH 6.5 showed inhibition of first-step nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrites) caused by FNA formation. High ammonia levels caused a decrease in the overall microfauna population, whereas low–enhanced gymnamoebae, Zoogloea, and Chilodonella sp. population increased after 72 h of inhibition. Destructive acidic pH influence caused sludge washout from the reactor and, therefore, higher organic load on ASP and intensive sludge foam due to Zoogloea higher population

Impact of Rapid pH Changes on Activated Sludge Process

The inhibition effect of rapid variations of pH in wastewater on activated sludge was investigated in laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR). The toxic influence of pH 6.5 and 8.5 was examined. The experiment with pH 8.5 was preferable to formation of high FA concentration and showed a low risk of inhibition of second step nitrification (conversion of nitrites to nitrates). However, the reactor at pH 6.5 showed inhibition of first-step nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrites) caused by FNA formation. High ammonia levels caused a decrease in the overall microfauna population, whereas low–enhanced gymnamoebae, Zoogloea, and Chilodonella sp. population increased after 72 h of inhibition. Destructive acidic pH influence caused sludge washout from the reactor and, therefore, higher organic load on ASP and intensive sludge foam due to Zoogloea higher population

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