DSpace 7
DSpace is the world leading open source repository platform that enables organisations to:
- easily ingest documents, audio, video, datasets and their corresponding Dublin Core metadata
- open up this content to local and global audiences, thanks to the OAI-PMH interface and Google Scholar optimizations
- issue permanent urls and trustworthy identifiers, including optional integrations with handle.net and DataCite DOI
Join an international community of leading institutions using DSpace.
The test user accounts below have their password set to the name of this software in lowercase.
- Demo Site Administrator = dspacedemo+admin@gmail.com
- Demo Community Administrator = dspacedemo+commadmin@gmail.com
- Demo Collection Administrator = dspacedemo+colladmin@gmail.com
- Demo Submitter = dspacedemo+submit@gmail.com
Recent Submissions
Which color are you?: A pilot study on microplastic accumulation in sediments from the Bulgarian Black Sea
(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-11-11) Yancheva, Vesela; Stoyanova, Stela; Georgieva, Elenka; Valkanov, Kiril
Microplastic (MP) pollution in marine sediments is an emerging environmental concern, yet data on MP color and size in the Black Sea are scarce. This pilot study analyzed sediments from five Bulgarian coastal locations. These results provide baseline information on MP color and size in Bulgarian Black Sea sediments and highlight the importance of further studies on the environmental behavior and management of colored MPs.
Assessment of some ecosystem services in the region of Rhodope Mountain, Bulgaria
(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-09-23) Petrova, Slaveya; Zlatkova, Meglena; Nikolov, Bogdan; Dakova, Megi
Human society directly depends on a number of natural products and services such as plant and animal resources, mushrooms and herbs, wood and aggregates, water for drinking and non-drinking purposes, fuels and others. For these reasons, in the last decade, intensive work has been done to deepen understanding of human dependence on natural processes at different temporal and spatial scales, as well as to search for appropriate economic and management criteria and indicators by which to measure the value of these ecosystem services. All of the above mentioned determines the relevance of the current study, related to the analysis of ecosystem services on the territory of two villages, situated into the region of the Rhodope Mountain - Brestnik and Belashtitsa, as a resource for social and ecological development. A total of 22 ecosystem services were identified, of which material ecosystem services include 9 classes, regulating and supporting services - 7 classes, and cultural services - 6 classes. These ecosystem benefits are an object of consumption and a resource for social and ecological development not only for local residents and agricultural producers, but also for visitors to the study area, which highlights their exceptional intrinsic value and the need for their conservation and sustainable use.
A toolkit for assessing cultural ecosystem services at a community level
(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-08-10) Petrova, Slaveya; Valcheva, Ekaterina; Bileva, Tatyana; Dakova, Megi
Agricultural systems provide people with multiple benefits (both commodity and noncommodity products). Agroecosystem services in this context describe the anthropogenic contribution to the generation of agroecosystem services. Agroecosystem services include a range of services from agricultural ecosystems – provisioning, regulation, maintenance and cultural services. Agroecosystem services adapt the ecologically based concept of ecosystem services to the specifics of managed agricultural ecosystems, thus making this concept more applicable to economically oriented agricultural production systems and agricultural policies. Based on their specific features and nature, it is accepted to group ecosystem services into four categories – material, regulating, supporting and cultural. The majority of benefits from the group of cultural ecosystem services (e.g., leisure and recreation, aesthetic interactions, traditions and rituals) are intangible and therefore often remain undervalued by society. For these reasons, in the last decade, intensive work has been done to deepen understanding of human dependence on natural processes at different temporal and spatial scales, as well as to search for appropriate economic and management criteria and indicators by which to measure the value of these ecosystem services. In this study, we aimed to present a toolkit for assessing cultural ecosystem services provided by agroecosystems. The data obtained through the proposed toolkit can serve to shape recommendations for the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems, protecting livelihoods and natural resources, so that agro-ecosystems can continue to deliver ES in addition to food production.
Influence of dietary disaccharides on glycosyl hydrolase profile in ecologically distinct Lactobacillus strains
(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-10-22) Ivanova, Lidia; Mollova, Daniela; Dimcheva, Nina; Vasileva, Tonka; Bivolarski, Veselin; Nikolova, Mariana; Iliev, Ilia
This study examines glucosyl hydrolase enzymes from Lactobacilli strains isolated from probiotic foods and beverages (kefir, pickles and sauerkraut). Glycosyl hydrolases play a key role in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, supporting gut health and finding wide biotechnological applications. During the screening stage, the metabolic potential of the strains to utilize various carbohydrates in modified, glucose-free media containing specific carbon substrates is tested. This points to the search for specific enzymes such as α-/β-glucosidase and α-/β-galactosidase. The results indicate that glycosidase activity in Lactobacillus varies by strain and is influenced by the available substrate, highlighting their potential applications in functional foods, prebiotic conversion, and the metabolism of polyphenolic compounds.
Implementation of an eco-friendly hybrid vehicle in engineering education: a case study
(Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-09-22) Shehova, Daniela; Asenov, Stanislav; Kanevski, Hristo; Raydovska, Velislava; Parushev, Anatoliy
This paper aims to present the integration of an ecological hybrid car test bench allowing for real-environment measurements and analyses into engineering education. The hybrid car test bench – Toyota C-HR Hybrid 1.8 (2019), equipped with the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, has been tested in the training of students from the Bachelor programs "Automotive Electronic Systems” and “Automotive Engineering” at the Faculty of Physics and Technology of Plovdiv University “Paisii Hilendarski” (Bulgaria). The implementation of the hybrid platform in a learning environment proved its potential as a teaching and technological tool, providing opportunities for students to measure exhaust gases emissions, fuel mixtures, fuel consumption and plan models related to the recovery. The inclusion of the hybrid platform in engineering education creates conditions for the development of knowledge and skills related to electromobility, energy efficiency and sustainable technologies, which directly correspond to the optimization of the environmental characteristics of hybrid vehicles.