Search Results (353)

Small-scale prosumer installations are playing an increasingly important role in the Polish electricity sector. These primarily include photovoltaic systems and heat pumps installed for internal use. Noticeable losses for individual investors, generated by the power flow mechanism during peak production hours (connection to the grid) and peak demand (drawback from the grid), as well as the issue of fluctuating grid capacity and the observed redispatch procedures for photovoltaic installations, are driving increased interest in equipping home energy installations with energy storage systems, strengthening the aspect of sustainable energy development in this dimension. The impact of energy storage on investment motivation and the actual effects of incorporating it into home energy installations have not yet been sufficiently researched, particularly in Poland. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the use of energy storage in home installations as a socio-technical direction of power development at the micro level, in light of the constantly increasing energy demand observed worldwide in line with the challenges of sustainable development. The results of a survey of 206 individual users of power installations equipped with energy storage systems in Poland were used for this study. The research was qualitative and quantitative in nature, with descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model used in the in-depth section, and the findings were supported by PQStat software. The research revealed that the selection of energy storage systems in home power grids is related to the potential for prosumer optimization. On the other hand, they are seen as a path towards increasing energy security at the household level. Supporting this direction of installation development at the micro level is a justified concept for the development of green energy in Poland, socially and environmentally beneficial as well as economically justified, i.e., in line with the trend of sustainable development. The information campaign, combined with financial support for this type of investment, should be continued and strengthened in Poland. Full article

The article presents the preliminary data from the excavation of the Azurrague 1 Dolmen (Ourém), carried out within the MEDICE II project, highlighting the importance of its location in a karstic landscape marked by a strong tradition of funerary cults in natural cavities. The dolmen structure features a heptagonal chamber and a short passage, with ritual deposits that include macrolithic tools, polished axes, ceramics, and human remains dated between the beginning of the Late Neolithic and the Middle Chalcolithic. The data indicates practices of secondary burial, continuity of regional lithic traditions, and a symbolic integration between exogenous architectural forms and endogenous ritual content established in caves. The proximity to caves with contemporary chronologies, such as Lapa da Furada, reinforces the coexistence of differentiated yet interconnected ritual spaces. Analogies with the Rego da Murta Megalithic Complex, caves and other sites in the Alto Nabão region support the hypothesis of a hybrid, long-lasting cultural system in which megalithic monumentalization is associated with ancestral symbolic practices. Full article

To produce strong and wear-resistant tools for the rock drilling industry, the most commonly used metal matrix composites contain the reinforcing phase of cemented carbide. There are numerous research reports on attempts to improve the performance of WC-Co composites. The paper is a continuation of previously reported research on the SPS-processed WC–6 wt.%Co metal matrix composites with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) addition in amounts of 4 wt.% and 10 wt.%. The sintered specimens were polished and underwent the microindentation tests with a Vickers shape diamond tip. The following parameters were measured: stiffness S, the Poisson number ν, indentation creep C_IT, relaxation R_IT, indentation hardness H_IT, indentation Vickers hardness HV_IT, Martens hardness HM, reduced modulus E*, and indentation elastic modulus E_IT. The tests revealed hardness values of 16.2–17.0 GPa and indentation elastic moduli in the range of 607–670 GPa. Moreover, respective plastic and elastic parts of the indentation work W_plast and W_elast were determined. It was found that YSZ addition slightly reduced hardness and modulus, but all the three wear parameters, H/E, H³/E², and 1/(E²H), increased after addition of zirconia. Specifically, for 10 wt.% ZrO₂ H/E increased by 5%, H³/E² by 7%, while 1/(E²H) by 27% compared to 94WC–6Co composition. Full article

As semiconductor devices continue to scale down and integrate more densely, the atomic-level planarization of metal interconnects and dielectric layers is critical. Consequently, the development of chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) materials must address both high polishing performance and environmental sustainability. In this study, γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂ core–shell abrasive particles were designed to overcome the performance and recyclability limitations of conventional SiO₂ abrasives. The γ-Fe₂O₃ core enables an efficient magnetic separation from spent slurry, while the tunable SiO₂ shell enhances the dispersion stability and modulates the polishing characteristics. When applied to the CMP of tungsten (W) thin films, the optimized γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂ abrasives achieved a higher removal rate and lower surface roughness than commercial SiO₂-based slurries. Notably, the abrasives maintained a high performance even after 10 reuse cycles through simple magnetic recovery. This demonstrates a highly efficient and sustainable design strategy for next-generation CMP materials. Full article

Hydrogen production via water electrolysis using desalinated seawater offers a sustainable energy solution and has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, its efficiency depends heavily on the quality of water. Many studies have not explored the relationship between treated water quality and hydrogen generation efficiency at each stage of the seawater desalination process. This study examines a three-step seawater desalination process comprising softening with ballasted flocculation (SBF) as a pretreatment, reverse osmosis (RO) as the main desalination step, and ion exchange as a polishing step to provide high-quality water for electrolysis. Water from each purification stage was supplied to the electrolyzer to compare the impact on water quality and hydrogen generation efficiency. The SBF process removed magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) from seawater, as well as turbidity and bacteria, but hydrogen production via water electrolysis continued for no more than 10 h. However, when feeding RO water and RO water processed by ion exchange after the SBF process, hydrogen was generated stably and continuously for 70 h, achieving high efficiency comparable to that of commercial pure water. High production of green hydrogen by water electrolysis is possible through RO seawater desalination combined with SBF pretreatment. Full article

Lightweight artificial aggregates (LWAs) are key materials for sustainable construction, offering reduced structural self-weight, improved thermal performance, and enhanced resource efficiency. However, their production remains geographically concentrated and largely dependent on virgin raw materials, while significant volumes of industrial waste continue to be landfilled. This study addresses these challenges by developing regional LWAs through the incorporation of high levels of porcelain polishing residue (PPR) into red clay matrices, promoting waste valorisation within a circular economy framework. Four mixtures were produced with 20, 40, 60, and 80 wt.% PPR replacing red clay and sintered at 1220 °C and 1240 °C. Raw materials were characterized by laser granulometry, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction, while the produced aggregates were evaluated in terms of bloating index, mass loss, bulk density, water absorption, modulus of deformation, crushing strength, and visual morphology. A full factorial experimental design coupled with analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to quantify the effects of mixture composition, firing temperature, and aggregate size. All formulations exhibited significant bloating (>35%), with expansion intensifying as PPR content and firing temperature increased, reaching up to 140.6% for mixtures with 80% PPR at 1240 °C. Bulk density values ranged from 0.53 to 1.14 g/cm³, and water absorption remained below 20% for all compositions, confirming their classification as lightweight aggregates. Mechanical performance was strongly dependent on the balance between expansion and matrix densification. The mixture containing 40% red clay and 60% PPR sintered at 1220 °C showed the most favourable performance, achieving crushing strengths of approximately 5.00 MPa while maintaining low density, outperforming commercial reference aggregates. Statistical analysis identified mixture composition and firing temperature as the dominant factors governing expansion and density. The results demonstrate that porcelain polishing residue is a technically viable and sustainable raw material for high-performance LWA production, enabling regional manufacturing routes with reduced environmental impact and strong potential for structural and non-structural construction applications. Full article

The main aim of this study was to determine the share of Polish household income allocated to energy, taking into account socioeconomic diversity and income quintile distribution, as well as to identify changes in the burden of energy expenditures on budgets. The importance of this topic stems from the energy transformation of the European Union and the significant increase in energy prices in recent years, which may exacerbate existing energy poverty in Poland. The study utilized numerical data on household budgets published within Polish public statistics. The following measures were used: mean, quintiles, structure indicators, and fixed- and chain-based indices, as well as the relationship between income and expenditure (correlation coefficients). The research was conducted using data from 2014–2022 or selected years within this period. The highest share of energy expenditures in total expenditures was recorded among households of annuitants and farmers. However, annuitant households have the lowest incomes and are most vulnerable to energy poverty. The disparity in energy expenditure between the wealthiest and poorest households has narrowed. Educational efforts on energy efficiency in households should therefore continue, alongside the development of support mechanisms for those with the lowest incomes. Full article

(1) Pome fruits (apples and pears) are among the most frequently consumed fruits in Europe and may contribute to dietary exposure to pesticide residues. Although residue levels generally comply with maximum residue limits (MRLs), even low concentrations may cumulatively contribute to chronic health risks under conditions of frequent and long-term consumption. This study aimed to quantitatively assess dietary exposure and the potential non-carcinogenic health risks associated with pesticide residues in apples and pears, using representative monitoring and consumption data. (2) The assessment was based on results of the Polish national official monitoring program for pesticide residues in food, specifically apples and pears sampled in 2022, as reported by the National Institute of Public Health (NIZP-PZH). These data were combined with age- and body weight-specific consumption scenarios derived from FAO/WHO GEMS/Food cluster diets and national Polish statistics. For the most frequently detected pesticides (captan, flonicamid, acetamiprid and fosetyl-Al in apples; captan and acetamiprid in pears), the mean and 95th percentile concentrations were used to estimate the estimated daily intake (EDI). Non-carcinogenic risk was characterized using the hazard quotient (HQ = EDI/ADI) and the cumulative Hazard Index (HI). The hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated as the ratio of estimated daily intake to the acceptable daily intake (HQ = EDI/ADI), while the Hazard Index (HI) was defined as the sum of individual HQ values for pesticides detected in a given commodity and exposure scenario (HI = ΣHQ). Calculations were performed separately for children and adults under several dietary scenarios (Polish general population, German child, German general population, GEMS/Food G08). (3) For all pesticides and exposure scenarios, the HQ values were well below 1, indicating no exceedance of the acceptable daily intake (ADI). The highest chronic exposure was observed for apples in children (German child scenario), with the HQ values for captan, flonicamid and acetamiprid in the approximate range of 0.01–0.05, while the HI remained < 0.1 even under high-consumption conditions. In adults (Polish and German general populations, GEMS/Food G08), HQ values were approximately one order of magnitude lower than in children, and the cumulative HI values for both apples and pears were far below 1. The contribution of pears to total exposure was limited, reflecting lower consumption and fewer active substances detected. (4) This quantitative risk assessment, based on Polish monitoring data from 2022, indicates that under current residue levels and consumption patterns, chronic dietary exposure to pesticide residues from apples and pears does not pose a relevant non-carcinogenic health concern for either children or adults. Nevertheless, children consistently showed higher relative exposure than adults, underscoring the importance of age-stratified risk assessment and continued monitoring of residues in commonly consumed fruits. The findings support existing regulatory frameworks while justifying sustained, targeted surveillance of key active substances in pome fruits as part of public health prevention strategies. Full article

This study investigates whether the moderate geomagnetic storm of 14 November 2012 was associated with measurable variability in selected power-quality parameters of the Polish National Power System, utilising anonymised, standardised hourly transmission data alongside solar-wind and geomagnetic drivers. Cross-correlation analysis reveals location-dependent, time-lagged couplings, with the strongest correlation, r = 0.74, between a current-harmonic component and the Dst index at a lag of −8 h. The most pronounced anticorrelation, with r = −0.66, occurs between current harmonics and the Ap index at lags of −9 to −11 h during a storm interval that reached $Ds{t}_{min}=-108$ nT. Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering distinguish internally driven grid variability from externally driven storm-time signatures, demonstrating that seven principal components capture $89.54\%$ and $86.47\%$ of the variance at the two most responsive locations. These findings indicate that moderate storms can coincide with detectable changes in power-transfer and harmonic-related parameters at specific substations, supporting the need for multi-event studies and physics-based geoelectric or geomagnetically induced current (GIC) modelling to assess operational significance. Overall, this analysis demonstrates that space weather may contribute to observable variability in the Polish power grid. However, further research incorporating additional geomagnetic events, seasonal variability, and geophysical modelling is necessary to fully assess operational impacts and inform potential mitigation strategies. The findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and interdisciplinary analysis to support long-term resilience planning. Full article

Wine processing industries require a substantial amount of water and generate considerable volumes of wastewater. Winery wastewater (WWW) is notable for its high concentrations of biodegradable organic matter, while containing relatively low levels of nutrients. Due to seasonal variability in wastewater generation, treatment processes must be both efficient and adaptable. A range of wastewater treatment technologies are currently implemented at pilot and full scales, and ongoing research continues to yield innovative solutions in laboratory settings. This paper provides a comprehensive review of advancements in WWW treatment technologies, pinpoints gaps, and highlights future research directions. The treatment methods discussed include aerobic reactors, anaerobic systems, constructed wetlands (CWs) and biosand filters (BSFs), as well as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The advantages and limitations of these techniques, along with key factors affecting their performance, are examined. CWs are regarded as cost-effective and efficient solutions for small to medium wineries, whereas activated sludge and anaerobic digestion processes, which require a smaller footprint, are suitable for managing higher loads at large wineries. While anaerobic processes offer reduced operating costs, they often produce effluents of lower quality compared to aerobic processes, necessitating subsequent polishing prior to discharge. Advances in AOPs present promising alternatives for pre/post-treatment, facilitating the breakdown of persistent organics and achieving acceptable chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels. Nevertheless, further research is required to address operational optimization and reduce associated costs. Full article

The rapid development of medical technologies requires architects to implement a future-proofing approach while designing medical facilities, despite the inherent uncertainty of long-term change. This challenge is particularly visible within hospital emergency departments (HEDs), which play a critical role as first-contact units and life-saving infrastructures. Due to their specific function, HEDs are a challenging environment for implementing new solutions, as they rely on proven frameworks designed to ensure continuity of care and operational efficiency. This raises the key question: how can modern technologies and architectural strategies streamline workflows in HEDs without overwhelming medical staff? Considering current challenges, an equally important factor in the development of emergency departments is their preparedness for crisis situations, such as pandemics, war threats and natural disasters. How can architectural design enable the implementation of given design strategies, aiming to ensure opportunities for development while simultaneously preparing for all-hazard scenarios? The authors gathered existing trends and solutions aimed at preparing hospital emergency departments for future challenges: positive/neutral, such as technological development, but also negative, such as currently ongoing war threats or risk of the next pandemic. Despite the apparent thematic extremity, certain systematic architectural solutions using a transdisciplinary approach may be the answer to these occurrences. The mentioned architectural solutions and factors were synthesized and subjected to design-oriented review based on existing case studies of a few Polish hospitals, which are simultaneously studied as case studies for broader doctoral research in the field of effectiveness assessment. The selected Polish hospital emergency departments are used as an illustrative, analytical reference to support the interpretation and synthesis of the reviewed literature. The contextual analysis enables the identification of transferable, design-oriented strategies relevant to broader emergence medicine architecture and applicable within European units. Examples from Polish units in particular are used as reference and background for discussion, rather than as empirical case studies. The study provides an overview of contemporary and future-oriented solutions in hospital architecture, focusing on the impact and feasibility within the hospital emergency departments. The synthesis highlights the importance of designing flexible spaces prepared for future technological advances, such as oversized service shafts, increased floor heights, and modular layouts. Additionally, the study focuses on the spatial connotations of emerging technologies like medical robotics, their maintenance areas and possible challenges. All of this is interrelated to social, demographic, and economic trends. These include the development of hospital networks, the evolving patient profile, inter-hospital information flow, and the growing role of highly specialized medical units. In terms of rapid challenges like wars or armed threats, factors revealed within the review indicate levels of HED readiness to face the conflict, mainly in terms of surge capacity but also structural durability and reserve resources. The post-pandemic context, in turn, assumes rapid expansion of the hospital into temporary and flexible structures and reversible zoning allowing for patient segregation and separation. Together, these insights outline pathways for creating resilient, adaptable, and efficient emergency care environments resilient to unforeseen challenges. Considering future scenarios of emergency departments, two main scenarios were identified: “the hospital of the future”, continuing overall development and adapting to rapid technological innovations, and “the crisis-resilient hospital”, resistant to various crisis scenarios, such as pandemics or war threats. The optimal development of the unit assumes both openness to technological changes and preparation of key zones for all-hazard scenarios. This review aims to synthesize architectural implications of technological and socio-demographic changes, not to provide a full empirical study. Adopting an exploratory framework, the review refers to technological innovations and crisis preparedness as external drivers shaping the spatial organization of hospital emergency departments and their adaptability to future challenges. Because of various inhibitors (economic, political, hierarchical), not all hospitals can introduce the described improvements, but the synthesis may serve as a knowledge source for future investments. The review was also conducted to support design decisions under conditions of uncertainty. The choice to address all the external factors collectively was induced to provide transferability of solutions and coherence of possible scenarios, which may happen simultaneously. Full article

Recent developments in all-ceramic restorative materials have enhanced the clinical applicability of lithium disilicate for aesthetic dental restorations. The current study explores the influence of sintering parameter modulation over the translucency and color change of Amber Mill and IPS e.max CAD ceramics at baseline and following simulated aging through thermocycling and simulated toothbrushing. Sixty discs of lithium disilicate were assigned to two groups according to material type (Amber Mill; E-max), then according to translucency level (HT: high translucency; LT: low translucency). All specimens were sintered, polished, and ultrasonically cleaned in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. Optical properties—including translucency parameter (TP), color difference (ΔE), and color coordinates (L*, a*, b*)—were measured using a spectrophotometer at baseline and after a five-year clinical simulation. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was performed. Amber Mill-HT demonstrated the highest initial translucency (15.48 ± 0.89), followed by Amber Mill-LT (12.52 ± 0.61). Aging increased TP values in Amber Mill groups, while a slight reduction was observed in E-max groups. Amber Mill-LT exhibited the lowest color change (ΔE = 0.80 ± 0.10), reflecting superior color stability, whereas E-max-LT showed the highest ΔE (1.43 ± 0.21). SEM analysis demonstrated distinct microstructural differences between materials and translucency levels. High-translucency ceramics exhibited finer, more uniform lithium disilicate crystals and continuous glassy matrices, whereas low-translucency groups showed larger crystals, increased heterogeneity, and greater surface irregularities after aging. Overall, Amber Mill-LT displayed the greatest color stability, whereas E-max groupsretained translucency more consistently. All evaluated ceramics showed optical alterations within clinically acceptable limits, confirming their suitability for aesthetic restorative applications. Full article

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) represent one of the most promising emerging material families, particularly for advanced surface engineering applications. In this work, a near-high-entropy alloy (near-HEA) coating was produced on a 316L stainless steel substrate using laser metal deposition (LMD) from a powder mixture of Inconel 625, Cr and Mo, without the intentional addition of Fe. Due to dilution from the substrate, the resulting alloy contained elevated Fe content while maintaining Cr, Ni and Mo concentrations within the generally accepted compositional range of HEAs. The deposited layer exhibited a dual-phase microstructure consisting of a face-centered cubic (FCC) phase and a highly distorted tetragonal phase forming a periodic network with a characteristic length scale of several hundred nanometers. The hardness of the coating increased to approximately three times that of the substrate, reaching values of 600–700 HV. To further modify the surface properties, laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were generated on the polished coating using femtosecond pulsed laser irradiation at different energy densities. The morphology and subsurface structure of the resulting periodic patterns were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. LIPSS with characteristic dimensions ranging from the micrometer to nanometer scale were successfully produced. Cross-sectional analyses revealed that the underlying dual-phase microstructure remained continuous within the laser-structured regions, indicating that LIPSS formation occurred predominantly via metallic ablation without significant phase transformation or amorphization. These results demonstrate the combined applicability of LMD and femtosecond laser structuring for producing mechanically enhanced, micro- and nanostructured near-HEA coatings with potential for advanced surface-related functionalities. Full article

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based optical fibre sensors have transformed label-free biosensing; however, single-interface evanescent field interactions continue to limit their sensitivity. This study presents a novel π-configuration optical fibre-based surface plasmon resonance sensor that greatly increases sensitivity by enabling dual plasmonic excitation on two symmetrically polished surfaces coated with optimized metallic thin films (Ag, Au, or Cu). We show, using finite element method simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics v6.3, that the π-configuration increases the interaction volume between the analyte and guided light, resulting in an enhanced sensitivity of 3300 nm/RIU for silver at refractive index (RI) 1.37–1.38, which is a 120% improvement over traditional D-shaped sensors (1500 nm/RIU). The maximum field norm for the π-configuration sensor is approximately 1.4 times greater than the maximum observed for the D-shaped SPR sensor at an analyte RI of 1.38. The sensor’s performance is evaluated using full-width half-maximum, wavelength sensitivity, and wavelength interrogation metrics. For the π-configuration sensor at an analyte RI of 1.38, the values of the FWHM, figure of merit, detection accuracy, and confinement loss were 36 nm, 94.29 RIU⁻¹, 0.94, and 38.5 dB/cm, respectively. The results obtained are purely simulated using COMSOL. With the support of electric field confinement analysis, a thorough theoretical framework describes the crucial coupling regime that causes ultra-high sensitivity at low RI. This design provides new opportunities for environmental monitoring, low-abundance biomarker screening, and early-stage virus detection, where it is necessary to resolve minute RI changes with high precision. Full article

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with strong climate and health impacts, largely originating from coal mining, agriculture, and waste management. This article aims to assess methane emissions at the global, regional, and national levels, with a particular focus on coal mining and its mitigation potential in Poland and Spain. The analysis integrates data from authoritative international and national databases, including time-series evaluation, spatial visualization, and comparative case studies. Results indicate that agriculture, energy, and waste remain the dominant global methane sources, while coal mining continues to play a significant role in Europe, especially in Poland. Case studies from Polish coal mines demonstrate that substantial emission reductions can be achieved through methane drainage, ventilation air methane oxidation, and energy recovery systems, often at low or negative net cost. In contrast, Spain’s coal-related methane emissions are now primarily associated with abandoned mines, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring and post-mining management. The findings confirm that targeted technological measures combined with robust monitoring, reporting, and verification frameworks and supportive regulation can significantly reduce methane emissions and transform coal mine methane from a climate liability into a valuable energy resource. Full article