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Modernization of aged rolling stock is one of the possibilities to adapt it to the current requirements for better environmental friendliness and economy of railway transport. However, some vehicle upgrades lead to new failures that were not observed in the original vehicles. The cause is the so-called “hybrid design”, built on a combination of original and selected new components. The aim of the work was to improve the situation with frequent failures and unavailability that occur on the modernized locomotive where a new diesel engine and new electronic control system was installed. Within the work, a simplified methodology for evaluating the outputs of diagnostic equipment was developped based on and applied to specific locomotive type and its diesel engine. The methodology resulted in a significant reduction of the time for assessing the condition of the vehicle’s diesel engine and more effective maintenance. The paper also presents other possibilities in the analysis of big data in the maintenance of rolling stock e.g. using fuzzy logic.

The paper presents the issues of metal surface treatment in fibre metal laminates (FML) to obtain high adhesion at the metal–composite interface. Aluminium 2024-T3 and titanium Grade 2 were analysed. The metal surface modifications were carried out by mechanical (sandblasting, Scotch-Brite abrasion), chemical (P2 etching, phosphate-fluoride process), electrochemical (chromic and sulphuric acid anodizing), and plasma treatment, as well as the application of sol-gel coatings. In terms of surface geometry, the analysis included roughness and 3D surface topography examination. The morphology was examined using scanning electron and atomic force microscopy. The surface free energy and its components (polar and dispersive) were determined using the Owens–Wendt method. The novelty of this study is the determination of the effect of different surface treatments on the surface free energy, topography, and morphology in terms of the possible appropriate adhesion in fibre metal laminates. Chromic acid anodizing is still the most effective in enhancing the expected adhesion. A suitable technique may be the use of P2 etching of aluminium. It results in low roughness, numerous micro-irregularities, and the presence of porosity. The obtained test results show that the application of sol-gel coating increases the surface free energy and may increase the adhesion.

Background: Cystinuria is an inherited disorder that results in increased excretion of cystine in the urine. It accounts for about 1-2% of pediatric kidney stones. In this study, we sought to identify the clinical characteristics of patients with cystinuria in a national cohort. Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 30 patients from the Polish Registry of Inherited Tubulopathies. Initial data and that from a 6-month follow-up were analyzed. Mutational analysis was performed by targeted Sanger sequencing and, if applicable, MLPA analysis was used to detect large rearrangements. Results: SLC7A9 mutations were detected in 15 children (50%; 10 males, 5 females), SLC3A1 mutations in 14 children (47%; 5 males, 9 females), and bigenic mutations in one male patient. The first clinical symptoms of the disease were detected at a median of 48 months of age (range 3-233 months). When individuals with different mutations were compared, there were no differences identified in gender, age of diagnosis, presence of UTI or urolithiasis, eGFR, calcium, or cystine excretion. The most common initial symptoms were urolithiasis in 26 patients (88%) and urinary tract infections in 4 patients (13%). Urological procedures were performed in 18 out of 30 (60%). Conclusions: The clinical course of cystinuria is similar among patients, regardless of the type of genetic mutation. Most patients require surgery before diagnosis or soon after it. Patients require combined urological and pharmacological treatment for prevention of stone recurrence and renal function preservation.

In today’s increasingly globalizing world, the demand for the transport of more and more specific kinds of goods is constantly growing. Greater diversity of the objects of transport extends the range of consignees and consignors, which implies the reduction of the number and volume of consignments. Modern enterprises are no longer interested in mass supplies of large quantities of the same material but strive for flexible supplies of smaller quantities of specific materials out of more suppliers. This manuscript deals with the streamlining of specific transport-logistics processes, including a detailed analysis of the existing pick-up system in relation to transport serviceability of the certain territory starting in the city of České Budějovice (Czech Republic) and a determination of more effective variants for supply. The primary objective will be to find and analyze specific options for streamlining the processes being optimized using the selected method of the graph theory, namely the location problem. In the context of optimization, a specific case study is elaborated with the aim to increase the efficiency of the current pickup system, i.e. serviceability of a particular territory.

The article defines rather complex and unpredictable movement of the dough in the gap between the working rolls and suggests the calculation for the optimal parameters for rolls shape (particular-ly the parameters and their effect on the dough). The functional dependences of the permissible diameter and the gap between rotating rollers are substantiated. The block diagram of the geomet-ric bounding parameters of the gradient field of the viscous fluid flow is proposed herewith and the equation on the basic constructive parameters (h, r) affecting the pouring process efficiency is presented. Analysis of experimental results revealed that the main features of the machine provide the necessary stable shape products and good rheological parameters of these products. Rheologi-cal testing indicators allow for a rational approach to decision to operate a rolling process. At the same time they improve quality control methods and will have an impact on design parameters of rollers and chambers’ modes. The proposed method not only allows obtaining a predetermined pressure, but also allows defining the optimal shape of the gap, wherein the pressure gradient is constant.

TRIstructural ISOtropic (TRISO)-particle fuel is nuclear fuel used in high-temperature reactors. During reactor operation, partial damage may occur to the covering layers of this fuel. The authors of the publication propose an ion implantation method as a surrogate for neutron irradiation in the reactor core. This method makes it possible to reflect the damage that can be caused by irradiating samples in the reactor much faster and without having to deal with radioactive material. This paper presents an experiment on the p-TRISO samples, with a focus on the level of damage to the covering layers that could occur after 1, 3 and 5 years of neutron irradiation. The paper presents research conducted on both polished and unpolished p-TRISO fuel samples implanted with ions (Ne+, He+) of appropriate fluence and energy. It is necessary to determine whether the passage of time affects the occurrence of structural changes in p-TRISO fuel layers and, at the same time, whether it contributes to an increase in the probability of damage in the examined fuel material. The result of this work is confirmation that ion implantation is an efficient tool for reflecting irradiation-induced damage in the p-TRISO samples. In addition, the assumption that the sample does not need to be polished to obtain information about damage in the p-TRISO covering layers was confirmed.

(1) Background: Professional driving is a stressful occupation that requires high levels of attention and decision-making, often leading to job stress. Impulsiveness, a personality trait characterized by a tendency to act without forethought, has been associated with negative outcomes such as anxiety, stress, and risky behaviors. Mindfulness has been proposed as a potential strategy for reducing job stress in various occupational settings. However, little is known about the relationship between these variables. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception among professional drivers. (2) Methods: A total of 258 professional drivers from Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia, have completed self-report questionnaires: Impulsiveness-Venturesomeness-Empathy; Subjective Assessment of Work; Five Facet Mindfulness. (3) Results: Results indicated a positive correlation between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception, and a negative correlation with mindfulness. Mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception. Additionally, variations were identified in the perceived work environment factors and mindfulness among drivers based on their country of origin. (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that mindfulness could be a useful approach for reducing job stressfulness perception among professional drivers with high levels of impulsiveness. Given the implications of job stressfulness for professional drivers’ health and safety, developing mindfulness interventions tailored to their specific needs could be a promising direction for future research and intervention development. Keywords: mindfulness; impulsiveness; organizational factors; professional drivers; safety; perception; stress.

Kultura Współczesna 117, 1 (2022), pp. 29-37

For internal combustion engines, many faults relating to the combustion process can occur, which affect the engine technical condition, its electrical equipment, the natural environment, etc. This article presents the results of the influence of the regulatory factor, which was the fuel dose (3 dose values), on selected parameters of the start-up process at constant settings of other control parameters (fuel injection advance angle and injection pressure). The tests of the start-up process were carried out on a four-stroke single-cylinder diesel engine. In this study, the results of the following electrical start-up parameters were analyzed: the maximum current consumed by the starter, difference of voltages on the battery before and after the start-up, voltage drop on the battery at the beginning of the start-up, average power of the starter, starter operation time, and the maximum pressure value in the first combustion cycle.

The objective of this contribution is the application of a new methodology for assessing connectivity in passenger transport regarding selected tariff points accessibility in the context of developing the selected region. From the passenger´s point of view, it is necessary to specially assess the accessibility of lines within transportation, between the selected destinations using passenger air transport. The length of the travel time, the number of necessary transfers and the number of travel opportunities affects the possibilities of transport between place A and B. The connections and lines are thus influenced by many factors. This is the basic point to consider when designing a set of evaluation criteria for assessing the connectivity and in carrying out a case study for a specific region. In this paper, Václav Havel Airport in Prague (Czech Republic) with selected air transport connections were evaluated according to the proposed methodology.