Promost Consulting (Poland)

Introduction: Observing parents’ body-focused behaviours during middle childhood is one of the initial ways in which children model their perceptions of pro-health attitudes and their connection to physical attractiveness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parents' health behaviours, their appearance, and the perceptions of adult body types (skinny, medium, obese) by their five-year-old children. Moreover, the role of gender in the above relationship for both children and parents was also examined. Materials and methods: This study participants were 680 families with five-year-old children (330 girls). Participation was limited to the moth-er-father-child triad. The Beauty and Health Scale, Healthy Behaviour Inventory, Inventory of Physical Activity Objectives, and a body composition analyser were used to measure body fat percentage. Results: Assessment of pictures of male silhouettes by five-year-old girls revealed the perception that men who exercise do not lose weight but maintain a healthy, attractive appearance. However, they believed that women should actively lose weight to achieve an attractive figure. Interestingly, women were more likely to be perceived as overweight, despite engaging in physical activity. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of integrating health education and physical activity interventions into family-oriented disease prevention programmes aimed at cultivating positive health behaviours in children as well as parents.

This study presents the results of testing for abrasive wear of Vanadis 60 SuperClean powder metallurgy steel as compared to Hardox 600 steel and PMFe60P padding weld. The testing was conducted by the “rotating bowl” method using natural abrasive soil masses. Two types of abrasive masses with particle size distributions corresponding to light soil and medium soil were used. The obtained results enable the conclusion that the weight loss for Vanadis 60 SuperClean powder steel in both types of abrasive mass was approximately seven times lower than that for Hardox 600 steel and two times lower than PMFe60P padding weld. The high resistance of powder steel to abrasive wear in abrasive soil masses is related to the presence of a large number of fine M6C (tungsten-molybdenum) and MC (vanadium) carbide precipitates in its microstructure. The obtained test results indicate that the application of Vanadis 60 SuperClean steel may be extended to working elements operating in mineral abrasive environments.

This paper presents test results of thermal treatment (combustion) of meat and bone meal (MBM) within the context of an animal waste utilization plant. The test facility was equipped with a rotating combustion chamber. The energy and ecological aspects of the operation of this facility were analyzed. This article assesses the impact of the tested system on the natural environment with regard to the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. In accordance with the chemical composition of the incinerated waste, the following compounds were analyzed: CO, NOx (nitrogen oxides), SO2, HCl, HF, TOC (total organic carbon) and dust. The concentrations recorded in periods of 0.5 and 24 h were in compliance with the admissible levels defined by European Union directives. An analysis of the energy efficiency of the energy recovery system used, which produces saturated steam for the technological needs of the utilization plant, was also carried out. The conditions for the achieved ecological and energy parameters were analyzed and presented synthetically using the multicriteria assessment method, with a simultaneous Pareto principle determination of the process optimum. The results of the research and the analyses of ecological and performance parameters presented in the paper may prove helpful in the design and operation of systems for thermal treatment of waste equipped with a rotating combustion chamber and other types of furnaces.

Fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become an integral part of the construction industry because of their versatility, high strength-to-weight ratio, enhanced durability, resistance to fatigue and corrosion, accelerated construction and lower maintenance and life-cycle costs. However, all-composite structural bridge systems have specific shortcomings such as high initial costs, low stiffness and existence of brittle failure modes. To make the best use of materials and overcoming the above shortcomings, combinations of FRP and conventional materials have recently been investigated. The innovative hybrid idea of a “FRP composite–concrete” structural system for bridges has been proposed. The objective of the paper is the description of the bridge itself and the presentation of research results on its development. The finite element model (FEM) analysis, vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM) manufacturing technique used for FRP girder production, some research results on the bridge system and demonstrative bridge construction are briefly presented.

Konstrukcje mostowe zbudowane z kompozytow FRP charakteryzują sie bardzo malym ciezarem zapewniającym latwy transport i szybki montaz, mozliwościami prefabrykacji calych przesel, bardzo duzą wytrzymalością, doskonalą trwalością, odpowiednią sztywnością i dobrymi parametrami dynamicznymi. W referacie przedstawiono wyniki pomiarow odksztalcen belkowego przesla mostu typu all-composite. Pomiary odksztalcen pod obciązeniem statycznym wykonano trzema roznymi metodami: metodą konwencjonalnej tensometrii elektrooporowej oraz za pomocą technologii strunowej i za pomocą rozlozonych czujnikow światlowodowe DFOS (ang. distributed fibre optic sensors). Przeprowadzone badania wykazaly bardzo duzą zgodnośc odksztalcen pomierzonych tymi metodami. Porownanie trzech technologii pomiarowych pozwolilo takze na wybor technologii najbardziej odpowiedniej dla mostow kompozytowych.

The article presents possibilities of using LCA analyses for roads and bridges determining core boundary conditions and functional unit. The examples of characteristic process trees were studied and fundamental for further analyses. The environmental impact assessment methods, based on LCA analyses, illustrating roads and bridges influence on environmental elements such as climate or ozone layer, were presented. The influence of boundary conditions and the process tree expansion on the results obtained was described with its reference to the scale on environmental impact. It showed how the interpretation of the results make an optimization of a design possible in order to minimize the environmental impact.

Abstract The main goal of the research project was to develop and demonstrate the first Polish FRP composite road bridge, starting from concept design and material research, and going thru manufacturing technique selection, detailed FEM analysis and structural testing of elements. The R&D project comprises also the proof test of the completed bridge as well as structural monitoring in exploitation period. The objective of the paper is the description of the bridge and its structural solutions, i.e. FRP box girders and lightweight concrete deck slab acting compositely. Further the FEM analysis of the girder and the bridge span made on design stage has been presented. The VARTM manufacturing technique was used for girders production. Its main steps have been also presented. Finally the research on the new FRP box girder with LRC slab (hybrid girder) has been briefly showed. The full scale prototype girder with the total length of 22 m was tested to evaluate its carrying capacity, modes of failure, basic dynamic parameters as well as overall behaviour under ultimate static load. The FRP girder met the prescribed serviceability and safety criteria. The FEM model of the girder was validated against testing results and was further used for bridge design. Thanks to R&D project the first Polish FRP bridge is likely to be built late autumn 2015. The output of the research project gives a very promising future for the FRP composite bridge application. The research works showed in the paper have been partially financed by the Polish National Centre for Research and Development in the frame of the research project “ComBridge” (www.com-bridge.pl).