Respiratory diseases constitute a major health problem in small ruminant herds around the world, and parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) has been shown to play a vital role in their etiology. This cross-sectional study describes the serological status of the non-vaccinated dairy goat popu- lation in Poland with respect to PIV-3 infection and investigates the relationship between the presence of antibodies to PIV-3 and some basic herd-level and animal-level factors, including small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. Serum samples from 1188 goats from 48 herds were tested for the concentration of antibodies to PIV-3 using a quantitative immunoenzymatic assay. Specific antibodies were detected in all tested goats from all herds. The concentration of PIV-3 antibodies varied from 8.4 to >240 ng/ml (median 95.9 ng/ml) and was significantly higher in goats from larger herds and from these herds in which cough was often observed by farmers. Moreover, it was noted that female goats had higher antibody concentrations than males. On the other hand, the concentration of PIV-3 antibodies did not prove to be significantly linked to the presence of SRLV infection. This study shows that PIV-3 infection in the Polish goat population is widespread and appears to contribute to the occurrence of respiratory diseases in goat herds.

An overview of the bibliography regarding the connection of knowledge about precious metal alloys and aspects of the use of computer aided technologies to the optimization of the jewelry casting processes is presented. An analysis of the usability of selected CAx systems was made: 1) for spatial design, called Rhinoceros 6 and 2) CAE system: NovaFlow & Solid (NF&S). The authors describe own research including data acquisition and evaluation of temperature variations during solidification of the selected Au-Ag-Cu alloy, with the identification of the phase transformations of this alloy. The intensity of heat exchange was changed (cooling of specimens under ambient temperature conditions – "normal" intensity and with the furnace – very slow cooling). The problem of completing the simulation database was pointed out and analyzed. Examples of simulations of casting selected jewelry (ring and signet) were given and compared with the result of the experiment realized in real conditions. It was confirmed that the optimization by combining experimental and simulation studies allows for the acquisition of new knowledge, and also facilitates the creation of new artistic designs of jewelry as well as performing the feasibility check, and then optimizing the chosen technology.

Computer simulation of involute spur gears generation was used to determine tooth profiles mapped by tools during gear machining. These profiles were computed for different combinations of geometric parameters of machined gears and tools as well as for different combinations of pretreatment and finishing processes. Results of simulations were used for generation of very precise finite element models of representative gear segments. For these models, distributions of stresses were computed for assumed load in the ADINA finite element system. The results were compared with related results of computations made in accordance with the ISO/DIS and AGMA standards. Special attention was paid to gears, in which additional notch appears at tooth root after machining. This notch causes concentration of stresses. On the basis of the above named computations an analysis of influence of technological parameters and methods of machining gears on form and bending strength properties of spur gear tooth root was performed. General conclusions were formulated. They can be useful in both gear design and gear manufacturing for proper selection of structural parameters, association of pretreatment and finishing, selection of suitable method of gear generation and parameters of applied tool. Approach suggested in this paper: setting initial structural and technological parameters, computer simulation of gear generation, computer assisted strength analysis leading to suitable modification of the design and manufacturing presumptions - establishes proper basis for optimization of gears with consideration to the maximum possible bending strength properties of spur gear tooth root.