European Experience in Implementing the Concept of Learning Cities

The aim of the article is to consider the sequence of formation of the concept “learning cities” and practical steps for its implementation in the world, as well as to study the European experience in the construction of learning cities. An analysis of scientific works of leading European researchers in the field of regional policy-making and practice of introducing lifelong learning has made it possible to determine the role of the educational sphere, training, and human resources as the main sources for the development of learning cities. Based on studying the experience of developed European countries in the construction of learning cities, the author identified the main factors for the effective creation of learning cities and the sequence of their transformation into learning ones. The author’s definition of the concept “learning cities” is proposed. Prospects for further research are to study the impact of learning cities on the development of human capital and the formation of the creative sector of the economy in regions

Evaluation of Energy Characteristics of High Voltage Equipment for Electro-Blasting Destruction of Rocks and Concrete

The splitting off concrete monolith via electro-blast technology is described. Highvoltage investigations were performed using the electric-discharge blasting unit with charging voltage up to 15 kV and maximum energy of 126 kJ. Several series of experiments of multiborehole electro-blast with initiation of plasma channel by wire explosion have been carried out. The combined effect of pulse electric discharge and gas generating composition allows to increase the energy of electro-blasting. According to data obtained from experiments the average value of energy for concrete monolith splitting off of 1 m3 is about 1554 kJ. The energy of electrical discharge pulse is about 95 kJ and gas-generating composition has energy contribution of 3.8 kJ/g. For carrying out of one electric-discharge blasting experiment 6-8 minutes has been spent. Therefore, the efficiency of pulse power system is about (0.85-0.9) m3/h

Generation of Shock-Wave Disturbances at Plasma-Vapor Bubble Oscillation

The complex physical and mathematical model describing all steps of plasma-vapor bubble evolution in the system of the water-ground condensed media is presented. Discharge circuit operation, discharge plasma channel expansion, its transformation into the vapor-plasma bubble and its pulsation, pressure wave generation and propagation of the mechanical stress waves in the ground are self-consistently considered in the model. The model allows investigation of the basic laws of stored energy transformation into the discharge plasma channel, next to the plasma-vapor bubble and transformation of this energy to the energy of pressure wave compressing the surrounding ground. Power characteristics of wave disturbances generated by gas-vapor bubble oscillation in liquid depending on the circuit parameters are analyzed for the prediction of the ground boundary displacement. The dynamics of the shock-wave propagation in water-ground condensed media depending on the rate of the plasma channel energy release is investigated. Simulation of the shock-wave phenomena at a plasma-vapor bubble oscillation in condensed media consecutively describes the physical processes underlying technology for producing piles by electro-discharge stuffing. The quantitative model verified by physical experimental tests will allow optimization of pulse generator parameters and electrode system construction of high-voltage equipment

A multiscale approach to evaluate the structure of diversity of Collembola in boreo-nemoral forests of the Russian Plain

Collembola is a group of numerous ubiquitous small soil-dwelling arthropods decomposing the plant residues. The study analyses the diversity structure of this group in mesic conditions of coniferous, mixed, and broad-leaved forests. Sample plots were located in three Protected Areas in the Moscow Region (Losiny Ostrov National Park and the Valuyevsky Forest Park) and Smolensk Region (Smolenskoe Poozerye National Park). In total, 70 species of Collembola were registered in the forest litter. Two Collembola species were of Asian origin, namely Appendisotoma stebayevae (noted in Europe for the first time) and Vertagopus asiaticus (the second record of this species in the study area). The number of species was close to the number of genera, indicating the allochthonous character of the forest fauna of Collembola of the central Russian Plain. A multiscale approach was applied for sampling design. This allowed us to assess the diversity of Collembola at various spatial scales: from 1 m to hundreds of kilometres. The study scheme included two regions, four localities, 12 sample sites, and 36 plots; the latter was 1 m2 (the smallest area unit). The data analysis was based on the concept of alpha-beta diversity accompanied by the additive partitioning method. The region (the largest area unit) was the most important factor in forming the species diversity. The type of forest litter (coniferous vs. broad-leaved) was less significant; the habitat heterogeneity factor made even a less contribution. On average, 1 m2 of forest litter comprised about a quarter of the entire list of Collembola species in the studied forests. The species richness of Collembola in the broad-leaved forests was more variable in space and in time compared to coniferous forests and mixed forests; a transitional pattern was observed. The species composition of Collembola varied between the seasons of the year by about a quarter when considering the same sites of coniferous and mixed forests. In broad-leaved forests of various areas, seasonal changes in species composition varied highly, from very pronounced to insignificant. The new concept of plant litter traits is discussed as a factor for affecting the patterns of the structure and dynamics of the Collembola species diversity

Experience of Pseudospark Switch Operation in Pulse Power Applications

The paper demonstrates the results of TDI1-200k/25SN-P pseudospark switch (PSS) developed by Russian company "Pulsed Technologies Ltd" application. PSS was used in pulsed power unit intended for electric-discharge fracture of rocks and concrete blocks and splitting off from monolith. The pulsed power unit has a pulse current generator with the capacity of 560 [mu]F, stored energy of up to 63 kJ, operating voltage of up to15 kV, current pulse amplitude of up to 200 kA and pulse duration more than 200 [mu]sec. The study also shows the current waveforms determined in the short-circuit experiment of the pulse current generator and in the experiments of the electric-discharge fragmentation of concrete at the charging voltage of 13 kV. PSS was operated in ringing single-pulse mode with the exceedance of more than two maximum permissible parameters: current pulse amplitude, current pulse duration and maximum pulse energy. Internal electrode erosion of PSS is shown and possible reasons of asymmetric current feed are discussed

Human capital development in a creative economy

The industrial economy is gradually disappearing. It is replaced by a creative economy, the basis of which is creative human capital. The study aims to define creative human capital’s value in an economy based on intellectual activity. Methods. The research used general scientific methods: the method of comparison, statistical analysis, assessment of dynamic structural shifts, as well as index and analytical methods. The economic research methods were also used in this work; the regression analysis was carried out by the economic-statistical method. Economic and mathematical modeling defined the influence of creative economy indicators on the GDP level per capita. Results. As a research result, the meaning of the category “human capital development in the creative economy” is established, and its basic elements are defined. It was determined what role creative economy human capital plays. Creative sector value in countries’ development was also described in the study. The analysis of the number and structure of the innovative sphere enterprises has allowed defining the features of the new economy structure type in the European countries. The study established the relative share of the population working in the creative industry. Characteristics of human capital development in European countries are presented in illustrations. Interaction between human capital and the creative economy has been defined by carrying out the regression analysis. According to the study results, the main components of the evolution and protection of human capital in a fast-growing branch of the world economy – the creative economy – have been established

Computer simulation of energy release modes in discharge channel and its influence on stress-strained state formation in solid material under electro-blasting technology

In an electro-blasting technology for the solid destruction, the pulse power generators with different types of switches is used. One of them is a triggered vacuum switch, that for an easy operation, has a suitable lifetime of 104–105 commutations in average and can pass about 100 coulombs of charge. However, in most cases it passes only a half-cycle of the current in the ringing mode operation. In this paper, the influence of the ringing current pulse duration on the stress-strained state formation is investigated. Simulation results of the energy release modes in a discharge channel are given. The crowbar mode of operation is also investigated and a comparison with the ringing mode are presented. It is shown that in a dumping oscillations mode with a damping factor of about 7, the second and the subsequent oscillations contribute only about 5 % of a total energy into the shock-wave

Arctic Shipping and Risks: Emergency Categories and Response Capacities

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)The sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk significantly in the last decades. The transport pattern has as a result partly changed with more traffic in remote areas. This change may influence on the risk pattern. The critical factors are harsh weather, ice conditions, remoteness and vulnerability of nature. In this paper, we look into the risk of accidents in Atlantic Arctic based on previous ship accidents and the changes in maritime activity. The risk has to be assessed to ensure a proper level of emergency response. The consequences of incidents depend on the incident type, scale and location. As accidents are rare, there are limited statistics available for Arctic maritime accidents. Hence, this study offers a qualitative analysis and an expert-based risk assessment. Implications for the emergency preparedness system of the Arctic region are discussed.The authors wish to acknowledge the support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nordland County Administration for their support of the MARPART project, and all MARPART partners for their cooperation.Peer Reviewe

Multifarious Trajectories in Plant-Based Ethnoveterinary Knowledge in Northern and Southern Eastern Europe

Over the last century in the European context, animal production has been transformed by the dynamics of centralization and decentralization due to political and economic factors. These processes have influenced knowledge related to healing and ensuring the welfare of domestic animals. Therefore, our study aimed to document and compare current and past ethnoveterinary practices, and to identify trajectories in ethnoveterinary knowledge in study regions from both northern and southern Eastern Europe. In the summers of 2018 and 2019, we conducted 476 interviews, recording the use of 94 plant taxa, 67 of which were wild and 24 were cultivated. We documented 452 use reports, 24 of which were related to the improvement of the quality or quantity of meat and milk, while the other 428 involved ethnoveterinary practices for treating 10 domestic animal taxa. Cattle were the most mentioned target of ethnoveterinary treatments across all the study areas, representing about 70% of all use reports. Only four plant species were reported in five or more countries (Artemisia absinthium, Hypericum spp., Linum usitatissimum, Quercus robur). The four study regions located in Northern and Southern Eastern Europe did not present similar ethnoveterinary knowledge trajectories. Bukovinian mountain areas appeared to hold a living reservoir of ethnoveterinary knowledge, unlike the other regions. Setomaa (especially Estonian Setomaa) and Dzukija showed an erosion of ethnoveterinary knowledge with many uses reported in the past but no longer in use. The current richness of ethnoveterinary knowledge reported in Bukovina could have been developed and maintained through its peculiar geographical location in the Carpathian Mountains and fostered by the intrinsic relationship between the mountains and local pastoralists and by its unbroken continuity of management even during the Soviet era. Finally, our results show some patterns common to several countries and to the veterinary medicine promoted during the time of the Soviet Union. However, the Soviet Union and its centralized animal breeding system, resulted in a decline of ethnoveterinary knowledge as highly specialized veterinary doctors worked in almost every village. Future research should examine the complex networks of sources from where farmers derive their ethnoveterinary knowledge