In the world, hydrological models are often used in the modelling of ecological components. In the context of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, it is necessary to develop GHG emission modelling capabilities. The development and refinement of the conceptual model METQ is necessary not only for the quantitative analysis of flow, but in addition to its refinement, it is possible to conduct interdisciplinary research in the subfield of ecohydrology, which studies the interaction of water and ecosystems, and in environmental engineering, which addresses the issues of reducing diffuse pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, technology implementation issues, where water content in the soil and groundwater fluctuations play one of the main roles, for example, in the processes of the formation of nitrous oxide emissions. This paper examines potential GHG emission calculation algorithms used to successfully model GHG emissions from soils, with a particular focus on agricultural soils, which contribute one of the largest amounts of GHG emissions in national emission reports for the agricultural sector. Available algorithms for nitrous oxide nitrification calculations are reviewed and possible algorithms that can be used for modelling emissions from soils and integrated into the conceptual hydrological model METQ are discussed. The developed conceptual solutions for modelling GHG emissions from soils will develop a modelling tool that will be used to estimate the volumes of GHG emissions and evaluate the effectiveness of various GHG emission reduction measures, as well as to perform a complex assessment of the soil GHG balance.

In planning active leisure areas, the main emphasis is placed on the elements used in the infrastructure of childrenʼs playgrounds and recreational sports areas, their functionality, and compliance with various safety requirements in the public outdoor space. However, there are no uniform requirements for the aesthetics of the elements or the visually coherent inclusion of such infrastructure in the surrounding environment and existing infrastructure. The study aims to evaluate the impact of the infrastructure of active leisure areas on the visual quality of the public outdoor space and possible improvements by choosing alternative elements with a different visual design but similar functionality and to distinguish the main characteristic features for determining the visual quality of elements and characterize the impact on the surrounding environment. The research uses the descriptive or monographic method to collect and analyse the elements and functionality included in the surveyed territories in the summer and autumn of 2022, evaluating the aesthetic quality of the elements in active leisure areas in the public outdoor space of Riga and Tallinn. The studyʼs main results reflected several problems related to integrating active recreation areas into the surrounding environment. They highlighted issues related to the quality of the existing environment, which can be described as insufficient or low and which characterizes the planned development as coming into conflict with the existing environmentʼs aesthetic qualities or their absence.

This paper provides an overview of recent progress reached in semi-transparent photovoltaic systems (STPV), which are being assessed as a potential solution to enhance the productivity of plant grown in greenhouses. Utilizing this kind of renewable energy resources, relating with plant growing is attractive solution to increase sustainability for citizens. The aim of this study is to find out recent advances for application of various semi-transparent photovoltaic systems which can be integrated in greenhouses. Solar PVs are among dependable, mature and cost-effective renewable energy systems and solutions, which are promising for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) application. The main emerging photovoltaic candidates for BIPV are amorphous silicon, kesterite, chalcopyrite, CdTe, dye-sensitized, organic and perovskite based systems. A monographic study approach has been utilized in this investigation, in ordain to compile and analyse the photovoltaic systems for BIPV mainly investigating and comparing two main parameters: average visible transmittance (AVT) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The rapid development of new materials and structures for the manufacture of semi-transparent solar panels allows a balance to be struck between AVT, PCE and a comparison of the reviewed materials indicates that organic and perovskite are the most promising for semi-transparent solar panel production and application in greenhouse constructions, based on their PCE and AVT results.

In our republic in the process of preparing students for professional activity one of the urgent tasks is considered to be the development of their professional speech. It is very important for todayʼs specialist to be competent, competitive and able to communicate effectively in his future activity. However, the main problem is the teaching of professional culture and the holistic development of professional communicative competences. The aim of the article is to develop recommendations and methodological guidelines to ensure the cultural communication of future professionals. In particular, the experiment proves that the student should feel the benefit of learning a foreign language in the future and get used to independent work on the subject, and gradually the motivation to learn the language will appear. The study highlights the role of foreign language teaching in the interdependence of ‘language – communication – profession – cultureʼ, the interdependence of language and culture in the development of language skills, the systematic approach to the study of professional terms. It is a well-known fact that students, in addition to acquiring lexical and grammatical knowledge of a foreign language, should also have a perfect command of the culture and values of their country and of the country where the language is learnt. In order to effectively implement the business communication situation in the classroom, it is desirable for the student to ‘understand the foreignerʼ, to study and master the culture of the foreign country, the accepted rules and values. While doing research, the methodological recommendations and instructions for the systematic organization of foreign language teaching are given.

This article examines the importance and necessity of high-level mathematical skills in engineering studies. It analyses the specific mathematical skills required for successful engineering education and their role in engineering studies. The results provide insight into how high-level mathematical skills contribute to the development of engineering competencies and enable engineers to solve complex problem scenarios. Key findings reveal that high-level mathematical skills are indispensable in engineering education, providing the tools needed to solve real-world problems and drive innovation in engineering. Mathematics is the language of engineering. It provides the analytical and problem-solving tools necessary for engineers to design, analyse, and optimize systems, ensuring that they meet safety, efficiency, and performance requirements. Engineers use math as a fundamental tool to make informed decisions and drive technological advancements across various engineering disciplines. Without math, engineering would be severely limited in its ability to design safe, efficient, and innovative solutions to the complex problems that engineers encounter in various industries. The questions contained in the article are investigated using survey data of university students. The purpose of this study is to research the relative applicability and level of knowledge of the learning material learned in secondary educational institutions in mathematics, based on the experience of school graduates and engineering students.

The broadbean seed beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) is a significant pest of faba bean (Vicia faba) both in Latvia and in many other parts of the world. The objective of this study was to check the susceptibility of the faba bean variety ‘Merkurʼ to the broadbean seed beetle in Latvia, comparing it with other popular varieties: ‘Boxerʼ and ‘Lauraʼ. The trials were conducted in 2021 and 2022 at the Research and Study Farm ‘Peterlaukiʼ in Jelgava County and at a commercial farm in Cēsis County. The larval infestation rate of seeds of different varieties, the survival rate of individuals (larvae, pupae, imagines) in the seeds, as well as the percentage of seeds damaged by the pest in the yield were compared. It was observed that ‘Merkurʼ seeds were significantly less infested than ‘Boxerʼ and ‘Lauraʼ seeds. However, the survival rate of larvae in the seeds of ‘Merkurʼ was similar to that in ‘Lauraʼ seeds and higher than in ‘Boxerʼ seeds. The highest proportion of seeds damaged by the pest was found in the ‘Merkurʼ and ‘Boxerʼ yields, varying between 5–75% between years and trial locations. Therefore, it was concluded that the variety ‘Merkurʼ, evaluated from a practical point of view, does not differ from the other two varieties. Without taking additional plant protection measures, the percentage of seeds damaged by the broadbean seed beetle can significantly exceed the maximum limit (3%) specified in the buyersʼ quality criteria.

Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is a minor but prospective fruit crop due to the value of fruits and suitability for processing. Research aimed to clarify the incidence of quince leaf and fruit diseases depending on the year and plantation and determine the critical periods of diseases. The study was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in eight commercial Japanese quince plantations across different regions of Latvia. The incidence (%) of leaf and fruit spots and fruit rot was assessed several times during vegetation period. Considerable rot development was observed in only the first year of the study. The incidence of fruit rot in the middle of 2017 ranged from 0.7 to 11.7% depending on the plantation, while in 2018–2019 did not exceed 2% in any of the plantations. The critical period of fruit rot development was determined in the middle of fruit development and time closer to ripeness. Development of fruit spots increased closer to ripeness. In 2017, the incidence of fruit spots fluctuated from 0.7 to 44.0%, in 2018 – 7.7 to 46.0%, and in 2019 – 0.7 to 24.0%, depending on the plantation. The incidence of leaf spots reached high levels at the end of the vegetation periods (21–100% depending on year and plantation). The most critical periods of leaf spot development were the end of fruit development and full ripening of fruits. Determination of the critical periods of quince disease development could be used to create an effective and environmentally friendly disease control system.

Sambucus nigra has garnered attention in the food industry for its natural colouring and antioxidant properties, mainly due to its high content of anthocyanins, other polyphenols, and vitamins. These bioactive compounds not only contribute to the nutritional impact of food products, but also make it possible to replace synthetic additives that meet the current consumer demand for natural and functional foods. This study provides an overview of the bioactive compounds in Sambucus nigra (black elder) fruits, highlighting their potential health benefits and toxicity concerns. It examines the effect of different processing technologies on the phenolic and cyanogenic glycoside composition of elderberry, emphasizing the need to balance microbial decontamination with the sensory quality and nutritional value of food products. The study also reviews the mechanism of ultrasonic inactivation of microorganisms and the potential of fermentation to reduce toxic compounds in Sambucus nigra fruits, thus contributing to the improvement of food safety and nutritional quality, emphasizing the importance of considering the potential limitations of ultrasound and the use of combined methods to increase efficiency while minimizing the negative impact on both the product and the consumer. Additionally, the study discusses the significance of selecting appropriate processing methods to ensure the safety of elderberry products, given the presence of potentially harmful cyanogenic glycosides and lectins, which can be mitigated through heat treatment and fermentation.

Digital progress in the European Union is a catalyst for economic development. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the pace of digitalization, thereby creating not only challenges for the European Union but also new opportunities for economic development in Europe. The present research focuses on an analysis of digital economy and society index scores for Latvia and Lithuania, comparing the performance of both countries with the European Union average. The research aims to identify the critical areas that hinder digital progress in Latvia and Lithuania. Accordingly, the digital economy and society index was analysed for the period from 2018 to 2023. The empirical part of the research includes a sociological survey, and the survey data were analysed in order to identify population needs for and experience in using digital technologies in Latvia and Lithuania. The survey involved 146 respondents. The research results allowed us to identify the critical areas for Latvia and Lithuania to focus on for further digital progress. Latvia and Lithuania both show high scores, well above the EU average, in the ‘digital public servicesʼ component, indicating that both countries have a high level of e-government users and widespread access to digital public services. The results of the sociological survey further confirm this, showing that a large majority of 84.25% of respondents in both Latvia and Lithuania use digital solutions in their daily lives.

This study explores the impact of climate change, social capital, and gender differences on the resilience of smallholder farmers in South Asia. Analysing data from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan from 2000 to 2020, the researchers have found that climate change significantly reduces agricultural productivity, while social capital acts as a crucial support mechanism. The paper summarizes gender-sensitive interventions in the improvement of adaptive ability and equality in the agriculture sector. It describes innovative farm-level practices and policy measures at various levels to strengthen resilience from environmental challenges. This approach gives room for researchers to find how the elements of climate change, put together with social capital and gender disparities, influence agricultural resilience. The present analysis recaps gender-sensitive interferences aimed at improving adaptive ability and equality in the agriculture sector, describing ground-breaking farm-level performs and policy measures to strengthen resilience against environmental tasks. Data shows that the climate change has a negative impact on agricultural output; therefore, any rise in temperature, change of precipitation, and extreme weather events worsen susceptibility. Social capital is also an essential part in resilience, being a source of resources, information, and support networks that can be drawn on. It calls for the interaction with the opposite gender and gender-sensitive interventions that increase adaptive ability and equality between men and women in agriculture. This study reveals that agri-diversification is pivotal for conservation agriculture enhancing climate resilience in South Asia.