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The NO-17-A205:2017 “Airfield maintenance in winter. Use of de-icers. Requirements and tests” Military Standard is applicable at Polish Armed Forces airports in the process of winter maintenance of airport pavements, both in the process of supplying airports with de-icing agents based on acetates and formates, as in testing, acceptance and control of de-icing agents based on formates, acetates and urea. After the expiration date of product, the tests specified in NO-17-A205:2017 shall be repeated. Purpose of the research is to determine physico-chemical properties changes of de-icing agents applied on artificial airfield pavements, after its expiration dates. The results of research on physical and chemical parameters of de-icing agents obtained at the stage of delivery and after its expiration dates have been given. The tests included determination of appearance, density, refractive index and pH value measurement, as well as checking the freezing point temperature and, in the case of deicing agents in form of granulate, checking the granules size distribution. The requirements and test methods for deicing agents in accordance with NO-17-A205:2017 are also presented. In case of parameters changes, recommendations regarding further use of these agents shall be made. Positive tests results shall be the basis for extending the shelf life of de-icing products for the next winter season.

The natural airport pavement is formed by an adequate preparation of the ground. It should be adapted or constructed in such a way as to minimize the risk to aircraft in the event of an airplane running off the runway. Research indicates that a significant part of natural airport surfaces in Poland do not meet the requirements for load capacity and require reinforcement. The article presents methodology for reinforcing soils, describes the methods of testing the capacity of natural airport pavements and presents the results of research on the natural airport pavement, in reference to the construction with a cellular geosynthetic (geocell).

This study was conducted to research and develop recommendations for gender transformative approaches that will address misconceptions around food and nutrition, and reducing barriers around dietary diversity within rural Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Most of the population in Tajikistan live in rural areas and spend a large part of their income on food. While stunting in children under 5 years has decreased, acute malnutrition and the number of underweight children has increased. This is a qualitative, cross-sectional study that involved secondary data analysis, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs) to gauge appropriate interventions for agricultural extension agents seeking to improve the nutritional outcomes of their communities. In February of 2017, data were collected from 4 KIIs and 15 FGDs that were stratified as mothers with young children, mothers-in-law, and husbands, across 12 different villages. Analysis of the KIIs and FGDs included NVivo software for coding and to uncover the most salient themes and characteristics from each. The participants of this study reported several misconceptions and taboos surrounding certain foods, especially during pregnancy, and food practices for children under the age of 5 years. Results also indicated a household hierarchy of decision-making surrounding food that included who buys, cooks, and decides what to buy. The findings of this study will be used as a springboard to launch gender-responsive and nutrition-sensitive interventions through the local agricultural extension agents.