Koszalin University of Technology

This article examines geodesic domes in the far north using different materials (wood and steel) to determine the most effective material based on cost. The main thesis of the article is that, depending on the material selected for the frame of a geodesic dome, using the SCAD calculation and graphic complex, it is possible to determine the necessary sections to ensure the bearing capacity for the first and second groups of limit states, which in turn will allow comparing structures based on their cost criteria. The article draws attention to possible ways to optimize the cost of building geodesic domes in the far north. The SCAD calculation and graphical complex of geodesic domes with a grating frequency of 8 V, made of different materials (wood and steel) under the same operating conditions, to find the optimal design based on the cost criterion.

ABSTRACT The tourism industry is likely to face significant challenges stemming from climate change and fluctuations in travel costs. This study investigates the potential impacts of these factors on tourism demand in Fjord Norway, and shows that both environmental conditions and travel expenses play a substantial role in influencing tourism demand. However, tourists exhibit a higher sensitivity to variations in travel costs compared to changes in climatic conditions. The findings also indicate that Norwegian tourists, who possess a strong awareness of environmental issues, are less affected by the ramifications of climate change than their domestic counterparts with lower levels of environmental consciousness. In contrast, domestic tourists with high environmental awareness do not demonstrate significant differences in their responsiveness to economic changes compared to those with lower awareness. These insights hold considerable implications for the effective management of tourism in the Fjord Norway region.

At the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Międzyzdroje (approximately 6,000 permanent residents; ~370,000 people during the summer season), a tertiary treatment stage based on gravity filtration using disc filters (Mecana SF6/30; PES-13) was implemented between 2021 and 2023. Despite a twofold increase in influent flow during the summer of 2024, the quality parameters of the treated wastewater (TSS, BOD5, COD, TN, and TP) remained well below the limits specified in the water permit. The filtration process effectively stabilized effluent quality under conditions of increased seasonal load. However, only limited removal of selected pharmaceuticals was observed: 7-17% (metoprolol 7%, candesartan 17%, irbesartan 5%, venlafaxine 14%, citalopram 10%, amisulpride 14%) and 33% for clarithromycin. No removal was observed for hydrochlorothiazide, carbamazepine, or diclofenac. Benzotriazole concentrations decreased by only 3%. All 24 PFAS compounds were below the limit of quantification (LOQ), and the Σ16 PAHs concentration was <0.21 Sg/L. These results confirm that effective reduction of micropollutant emissions requires the implementation of a quaternary treatment stage (e.g., advanced oxidation processes, adsorption, or membrane technologies).

Abstract The paper presents the behaviour of samples made of self-manufactured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) grains in a photo-elastic confined uniaxial compression test. PDMS particles were produced using the water-based method, resulting in grain shapes that are close to spherical, with diameters ranging from 2.0 to 16.0 mm. The samples tested were of the same size; however, they consisted of grains of different fractions, diameter spans, and aspect ratios relative to the dimensions of the test box. They were subjected to a load-unload cycle according to several scenarios, first to determine the load that induces a measurable photo-elastic effect. To study the potential relationship between the uniaxial strain calculated based on the change in a sample’s height and the corresponding optical parameters, a parallel analysis was conducted using the average image brightness. It led to the proposal of standardised strain and brightness parameters, which reduced the influence of loading scenarios and camera settings on the test results, allowing for the study of the other factors. On this basis, a unique relationship has been found between normalised uniaxial strain and normalised relative average image brightness, encompassing both loading and unloading regimes. In contrast, two calibration curves are required to calculate stress from brightness. The most interesting finding is that, despite the different force network structures observed in the uniaxial compression test, they do not appear to affect the behaviour of the granular samples on a macro-scale. Graphical abstract

BackgroundVitamin B12 deficiency is a widespread condition, particularly among elderly individuals, patients with malabsorption syndromes, and those following plant-based diets. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of sublingual and oral vitamin B12 administration in comparison with intramuscular (IM) injections, both for improving serum cobalamin and reducing homocysteine levels.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to July 2024. Eligible studies included randomised controlled trials, cohort, and case-control studies assessing B12 supplementation efficacy via oral, sublingual, or IM administration routes. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models. Subgroup analyses evaluated four key factors: administration route efficacy, daily dosage, age group and clinical conditions that may affect vitamin B12 metabolism (e.g., underlying pathology). Sixteen studies were included in the quantitative synthesis, comprising a total of 6,098 participants.ResultsVitamin B12 supplementation was associated with a significant increase in serum cobalamin levels across all routes of administration (pooled mean difference = +402.6 pg/mL; 95% CI: 293.6 to 511.5; p < 0.001). Homocysteine levels were also significantly reduced across all groups (pooled mean difference = −4.83 μmol/L; 95% CI: −6.55 to −3.11; p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed between oral, sublingual, and intramuscular (IM) routes of administration (p = 0.270 for cobalamin levels and p = 0.485 for homocysteine levels), nor between randomised controlled trials and observational studies (p = 0.268 for cobalamin levels). No dose-response effect was observed (p = 0.485), suggesting that absorption efficiency rather than dosage may be the determining factor. Subgroup analyses by age and clinical conditions (e.g., gastrectomy, unspecified deficiency) revealed comparable efficacy across populations. However, heterogeneity was substantial (I2 > 80% in most comparisons), and Egger’s test indicated potential publication bias. Given the high heterogeneity, further studies are needed to confirm the results.ConclusionSublingual and oral B12 supplementation appear to be as effective as intramuscular (IM) injections in improving cobalamin status and reducing homocysteine levels. Given their non-invasive nature, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness of sublingual formulations, they may represent a promising approach for long-term B12 management, particularly in patients with impaired absorption or in resource-limited settings. Further high-quality RCTs are warranted to refine dosing strategies and confirm long-term outcomes.Systematic Review RegistrationCRD42024554513.

Within the energy system, agriculture represents a distinct sector, as it functions both as a consumer of energy derived from fossil fuels and renewable sources and as a producer of renewable energy. Since energy consumption is closely linked to production intensity and cost efficiency, energy costs have a direct impact on farm profitability and financial stability. The aim of the study is to analyze and assess the relationships between energy costs and the financial situation of farms in Poland in comparison to the European Union average, based on data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) and its successor, the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN), covering the years 2014–2023. The study focuses on differences in the structure and burden of energy costs and their implications for the economic performance and financial resilience of agricultural holdings. The comparative analysis revealed that farms in Poland are characterized by a higher share of energy costs in total production costs and a higher ratio of energy costs to total income compared to the EU average, indicating lower financial resilience to energy price volatility. These findings suggest that measures aimed at improving energy efficiency, supporting technological modernization, and encouraging the adoption of on-farm renewable energy could strengthen the long-term stability and competitiveness of Polish agriculture.

The Baltic Sea has become a strategic energy corridor for Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. It illustrates the dual challenge of maintaining short-term energy security while advancing long-term decarbonization. This paper investigates the role of Polish ports as critical nodes in this transformation. Using a qualitative and exploratory research design that combines policy analysis, secondary data, and case studies of oil, gas, and offshore wind facilities, the study shows how large ports consolidate their roles as gateways for fossil fuel diversification, while smaller ports are integrated into the offshore wind supply chain as service and maintenance bases. The analysis highlights the interdependence between European and national policy frameworks (REPowerEU, TEN-E, PEP2040) and port development, demonstrating how institutional conditions shape infrastructural resilience. At the same time, geopolitical risks and subsea vulnerabilities underline the necessity of treating ports as critical infrastructure requiring reinforced protection. The paper concludes that Polish ports act simultaneously as guarantors of immediate energy resilience and enablers of renewable transition, positioning the Baltic Sea as a cornerstone of Europe’s evolving energy architecture.

The aim of this study is to assess the factors determining the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of improving the productivity of agricultural inputs—land, labor, and capital—and increasing farm income, using logistic regression. The analysis is based on primary data collected in 2023 during a pilot survey of 150 farms in the Central Pomerania region of Poland, conducted using the CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview) technique and a standardized questionnaire. The study examined factors related to farm income growth and to the productivity of land, labor, and capital. Logistic regression was applied to test 28 independent variables grouped into four categories: farm characteristics, production-related characteristics, farm asset-related characteristics, and household characteristics. Income growth was found to be associated with production-related and household characteristics. Land productivity showed associations with variables from all four categories, reflecting the complexity of this outcome. In the case of labor productivity, only household characteristics were significant, underscoring the strong connections between agricultural holdings and farming households. Capital productivity was associated with household characteristics, production-related characteristics, and farm asset-related characteristics. These findings highlight the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the sustainable development of agricultural holdings, integrating economic, production, and social dimensions.

Increased material processing parameters pose new challenges for protective coatings on tools. Coatings for tribological applications, without the use of cooling and lubricating agents, especially at elevated temperatures are being intensively studied. The article presents the results of studies on coatings formed from vanadium and molybdenum nitrides, the oxides of which are classified as solid lubricants.The MoN/VN multilayer coatings with bilayer (MoN+VN) thickness from 100 nm to 500 nm, with the same thickness of the component layers, were deposited on HS6-5-2 steel substrates by cathodic arc evaporation. The effect of VN+MoN bilayer thickness on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the multilayer coatings was investigated and compared with the properties of VN and MoN single layer coatings. Microscopic studies revealed the columnar structure of both single and multilayer coatings. Multilayer coatings are characterized by almost the same hardness, approximately 30 GPa, lower than single layer VN (36 GPa) and MoN (38 GPa) coatings. The Young's modulus of the multilayer coatings is also lower (about 450 GPa) than that of the single-layer coatings, VN (523 GPa) and MoN (498 GPa). The multilayer coatings exhibited an H/E ratio of approximately 0.07 regardless of the bilayer thickness, comparable to the single-layer VN (0.07) and MoN (0.08) coatings. The tribological properties of the multilayer coatings, investigated against Al 2 O 3 ball, increased with decreasing bilayer thickness. The wear rate for the multilayer coatings with a bilayer thickness of 100 nm is in the intermediate range (4.5×10 -8 mm 3 /Nm) between the monolayer coatings, and the coefficient of friction is slightly lower - 0.4. • VN/MoN coatings were deposited using cathodic arc evaporation • A higher concentration of oxygen is observed in the friction track than on the coating surface • The wear rate of the coatings decreases with layer thickness decrease • The main wear mechanism of the coatings is abrasion • Only material transfer from the countersample to the multilayer coatings was observed

Highlights94.5% of nurses had heard of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), but only 5.5% received formal training;27.3% experienced emotional overload while caring for a crying infant;Older nurses showed better knowledge of colic and safer coping strategies;92.7% expressed interest in SBS and infant crying management training;Only 29.1% believed mothers are informed about SBS in maternity wards.Background: Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a severe form of abusive head trauma with potentially fatal consequences. Nurses and midwives play a crucial role in its prevention through early recognition and caregiver education; however, little is known about their knowledge and preparedness in the Polish context. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, perceptions, and educational experiences related to SBS among Polish nurses and midwives working with infants. Participants and Setting: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted among 110 nurses and midwives employed in neonatal and pediatric care settings across Poland. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire collected demographic data and evaluated knowledge of SBS, infant crying, coping strategies, and prior training. Associations between knowledge levels and participant characteristics were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Most participants (94.5%) had heard of SBS, and 78.2% correctly recognized shaking as more dangerous than a fall from a changing table. However, only 5.5% reported receiving formal training on SBS. Recognition of SBS symptoms was generally high (e.g., vomiting 100%, seizures 90.9%), but misconceptions persisted regarding coping with infant crying. More than one-quarter (27.3%) admitted experiencing a “breaking point,” and this group was more likely to acknowledge the risk of losing emotional control. Older nurses demonstrated significantly better recognition of crying patterns and colic (p = 0.0415), while SBS knowledge was positively associated with years of professional experience (p = 0.0484). Conclusions: Although general awareness of SBS is widespread, practical knowledge and training remain insufficient. Structured educational programs on SBS and infant crying management are urgently needed to better prepare healthcare professionals and reduce the risk of caregiver-related harm to infants.