Ecologia Balkanica

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https://doi.uni-plovdiv.bg/handle/store/4
p-ISSN: 1314-0213 / e-ISSN: 1313-9940

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Browsing Ecologia Balkanica by Author "Assenov, Stanislav"

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    IoT sensor node for ammonia monitoring in livestock
    (Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-11-19) Assenov, Stanislav; Tokmakov, Dimitar; Bekyarova-Tokmakova, Anna; Shotarova, Snezha; Lyubomirov, Slavi
    Increased concentrations of ammonia (NH₃) in livestock buildings pose significant risks to animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and worker safety. The current study presents the design and validation of an Internet of Things (IoT) based sensor node to monitor ammonia concentration (NH₃) in real time in agricultural environments. A microcontroller for local data processing and a wireless communication module that transmits measurements to a cloud platform or mobile application. The prototype has been tested both in controlled laboratory conditions and on real livestock farms, demonstrating high accuracy (±5 ppm), low power consumption (battery power and additional solar panel), and resistance in dusty and humid environments. The collected data is analyzed using machine learning algorithms to predict dangerous levels of NH₃ and automate ventilation controls. The results show that the proposed solution offers a cost-effective and scalable approach to reduce NH₃ emissions, improve animal welfare, and ensure regulatory compliance. Future work includes the integration of additional parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity) and implementation in smart farming systems.
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    Resistance of 3D - printed PVA filaments to bacterial degradation
    (Plovdiv University Press "Paisii Hilendarski", 2025-11-20) Bashev, Anton; Assenov, Stanislav
    This study systematically evaluates the resistance of 3D-printed PVA filaments (Bambu Lab) to bacterial biodegradation and their potential antimicrobial activity against two widespread environmental strains: Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative). Using the standardized agar diffusion method, a 15% PVA solution was tested against a positive control (gentamicin). The results showed no inhibition zones around the PVA samples for either bacterial strain, which clearly confirmed the lack of statistically significant antimicrobial activity (p > 0.05). These findings unambiguously demonstrate that under the experimental conditions, the 3D-printed PVA material not only lacks bactericidal or bacteriostatic properties but also exhibits resistance to the metabolism of the test microorganisms. From an engineering and ecological perspective, this implies that although PVA is water-soluble, its ultimate biodegradation in nature may be slow and inefficient in the absence of specialized microbial consortia. Consequently, the widespread use of PVA in 3D printing could contribute to its accumulation in soil and aquatic ecosystems. This highlights the need for a re-evaluation of its environmental compatibility and the development of improved composite formulations or end of life management strategies aimed at ensuring true biodegradability.