This study investigates the effectiveness of intra-mammary ozone administration in the dry period and at the time of delivery for preventing against mastitis in herds with contagious mastitis. The cows were divided into five groups with 10 cows in each. Group 1 was administered an ozone-containing foam preparation via the teat canal into four udder quarters for 5 seconds at the beginning of the dry period; Group 2 was administered ozone at the beginning of the dry period and at the time of delivery; Group 3 was administered ozone at the time of delivery; Group 4 was administered a dry period udder preparation at the beginning of the dry period; and Group 5 was administered only teat seal at the beginning of the dry period. No statistically significant difference was found between the cows with regard to the SCC values at the beginning of the dry period and at the time of delivery (in cows without clinical mastitis, n=25). The SCC values were reported to decrease when the values at the beginning of the dry period and at the time of delivery were compared. All cows except two in Group 1 were detected to have clinical mastitis according to the frequency of microbial isolation in milk at the time of delivery. In conclusion, intra-mammary ozone administration did not prevent mastitis in the dry period or at the time of delivery in herds with contagious mastitis; moreover, it was determined to increase the rate of clinical mastitis in the postpartum period.

I n t r o d u c t i o n: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially life-threatening condition. According to current ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis should only be reserved for specific dental procedures with interruption of consistency of the oral mucosa such as extractions and should be reserved for patients with the highest risk of developing IE. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of need for IE prophylaxis in defi ned clinical settings among Polish dentists.

Ma t e r i a l a n d Me t h o d s: A specially self-designed internet questionnaire was created concerning the topic of infective endocarditis prophylaxis in specifi c clinical scenarios for patients undergoing dental extractions during outpatient visits. Th e survey was made available to the dentists via internet and was active in March 2018.

R e s u l t s: There were 352 Polish dentists who completed the survey. Antibiotic prophylaxis for IE during dental extractions was used in 93% of cases with prior IE, 89% with artifi cial heart valve, 69% with biological valve, 28% with pacemaker, 54% with coronary stent, 73% with cyanotic heart defect, 58% with diabetes mellitus, 20% after prior myocardial infarction and 54% with heart valve disease. There was a significant relationship between the time of working as a physician (>15 years) and more outdated or improper IE prophylaxis (p = 0.04).

C on c l u s i o n s: The management of patients for infective endocarditis prophylaxis undergoing dental extractions is suboptimal. Antibiotic therapy is overused in some clinical scenarios and on the other hand underutilized in those recommended by the current ESC guidelines.

However we are still facing unforeseeable disasters, there is no possibility to leave seashores and riversides as the places of peoples activity of any time. Also there is no chance to implement everywhere more or less sophisticated systems of anti disaster preventions, mostly because of fi nancial shortages. But the other problem is lack of understanding that more important than prevention is so called “cooperation with water”. Such an approach is a part of sustainable development, and is creating safe conditions for any waterside localisation.

Parasitosis in horses may be uncontrolled and expose breeders and owners to serious financial losses or, possibly, to the loss of animals. Therefore, the prevention and monitoring of the development of parasitic diseases should play an important role in the breeding process. The aim of this study was to confirm the influence of factors such as age, breed, herd size, deworming program, and type of anthelmintics, on the prevalence and intensity of parasites (helminths) in domestic horses in Lower Silesia. The study was carried out between August and November of 2020. The samples of horse feces were collected from 50 different stables in the area of Lower Silesia, Poland. A total of 286 individuals from various breeds were examined. Detailed analysis revealed that the mean age of infected horses was significantly lower than in uninfected horses. The mean time since the last deworming procedure was almost twice as low in uninfected horses than in infected ones. Additionally, the deworming agent affects the prevalence of infection. The analysis was also performed for the same factors in reference to quantitative data. The mean EPG was four-fold higher in juvenile horses than in adults and three-fold higher when the horses were dewormed with the use of fenbendazole instead of ivermectin or ivermectin with praziquantel combined.

Methane is accompanied by most of the coal deposits. The methane hazard is excessive content of this gas in the mining excavations. This is a source of high risk security and continuity of the mine. The Piast–Ziemowit is the only non-methane mine in the Polish Mining Group. In 2015, 66,4% of the coal mined in Kompania Węglowa S.A. mines comes from methane coal seams. Methane drainage is the most effective but very costly method of combating methane hazard.The costs of prevention and eradication of methane hazard is charged to the costs of coal mining. Therefore, performance of methane drainage in the mines of the Polish Mining Group is adapted to the scale of the methane hazard. The article presents an analysis of the costs of prevention of methane hazard for mines with different absolute methane and its impact on the level of these costs.

The landslide is located in Wronki. It covers the southern side on the bank of the Warta River and occupy an area of 500 m in length. The landslide was once again activated on August 22-23, 2018, causing numerous failures. The Warta River slope in the area of mass movements is built by non-construction embankments, under which the Poznan Miocene–Pliocene of quasi-layered structure lie. There are horizontal interlayers of sandy silts in these clays. The Warta drains water from a large area, and the runoff takes place mainly on the roof of clays. The slide surface of the landslide was precisely the roof of the Poznan clays. Bearing in mind the properties of the Poznan clays, such as relaxation, block disintegration, expansiveness features, the following were considered the direct causes of the failure: heavy rainfall that occurred after a drought, loading of the slope with indiscriminate cubature buildings, construction of a linear sewage system and periodically repeated vibrations caused by the implementation of neighboring investments. In order to identify the area, test boreholes were made, samples were taken for laboratory tests, and geodetic measurements were taken. Based on the obtained results, slope stability calculations were made and a measurement network was developed for systematic monitoring of geodetic displacements of control points. It was recommended to perform drainage to drain the slope and side of the Warta River, plant bushes, and make changes to the land development plan in order to prohibit further development of the area in the endangered zone.

We address one of the weaknesses of the RSA ciphering systems i.e. the existence of the private keys that are relatively easy to compromise by the attacker. The problem can be mitigated by the Internet services providers, but it requires some computational effort. We propose the proof of concept of the GPGPU-accelerated system that can help detect and eliminate users’ weak keys. We have proposed the algorithms and developed the GPU-optimised program code that is now publicly available and substantially outperforms the tested CPU processor. The source code of the OpenSSL library was adapted for GPGPU, and the resulting code can perform both on the GPU and CPU processors. Additionally, we present the solution how to map a triangular grid into the GPU rectangular grid – the basic dilemma in many problems that concern pair-wise analysis for the set of elements. Also, the comparison of two data caching methods on GPGPU leads to the interesting general conclusions. We present the results of the experiments of the performance analysis of the selected algorithms for the various RSA key length, configurations of GPU grid, and size of the tested key set.

Readiness and reliability is a special attribute of rescue systems (army, police, fire service), where performance at the highest level is more important than economic efficiency. For this reason, special attention is given to the process of renewal of technical objects. In such systems, a preventive strategy is most often used. Though this is a safe model, it does not always take into account the specifics of the use of a technical object. Moreover, in some situations, it forces the end of life of a device that could still continue to operate as intended. The article analyzes precisely such technical objects, removed from operation after just 10 years of use. It was shown that such approach is not justified and that modern management strategies must be implemented also in relation to machinery and equipment operating in rescue systems. The most important achievements of the article are the use of reliability analysis methods in the systems where it is not common, and the indication of the benefits of such analysis. It has been shown that knowing the characteristics of reliability, you can consciously control each process and make decisions in this regard based on the technical condition of the facility and not on instructions. In the case under study, this would make it possible to undermine the decision to withdraw the analyzed objects from operation.

A lot of heat will generate in mass concrete after pouring to form temperature cracks, which will reduce structural stiffness. This paper briefly introduces the principle of solid heat conduction and the cause of temperature crack formation and then used COMSOL software to simulate and analyze the mass concrete. The results showed that the simulation model had enough reliability to analyze the temperature change; the internal and external temperature of concrete rose first and then decreased; the formation of temperature crack was related to the internal and external temperature difference; the internal and external temperature difference was inversely proportional to the heat conductivity coefficient of concrete and directly proportional to the pouring temperature. Then, according to the analysis results, two measures were put forward to prevent temperature cracks in mass concrete: selecting concrete materials with high thermal conductivity, i.e., selecting coarse aggregate and fine aggregate with larger heat conductivity coefficient and reducing concrete pouring temperature, i.e., selecting cement with lower hydration heat, paying attention to temperature reduction in the process of concrete stirring, and reducing the amount of cement.

FMEAs have been prioritized using RPN; however, a new standard has introduced AP for prioritization. This study seeks to determine if the number of required improvement actions increases, decreases, or stays the same when using AP in place of RPN. Statistical software was used to simulate 10,000 combinations of severity, occurrence, and detection. Both AP and RPN were calculated for the 10,000 combinations. Statistical hypothesis testing was performed to determine if there was a difference between RPNs when sorted by AP and to determine if there was a difference in actions required using RPN or AP. There is a statistically significant difference between RPNs when sorted by high, medium, and low AP. Using an RPN threshold equal to or greater than 100 would result in no change in the number of actions required if prioritizing by high and medium, but would result in fewer actions required if only high is used.

In response to the urgent need for sustainable energy, this study addresses a critical challenge in wind turbine optimization. It focuses on developing a nuanced preventive maintenance strategy to minimize costs and mitigate energy losses. Within this framework, our paper introduces a novel approach employing a Monte Carlo simulation to identify the optimal preventive maintenance frequency, striking a balance between cost efficiency and energy loss mitigation. The results show, that grouped maintenance approach, pinpointing an optimal frequency of 93 months. This strategic configuration minimizes costs to $9997 while concurrently maintaining an average energy loss of 32.014 MWh, resulting in a notable 4.29% increase in total energy production. Variability analysis reveals that increasing maintenance frequency reduces cost fluctuations, while energy loss remains relatively stable. These findings elucidate the interplay among preventive maintenance strategies, cost, and reliability in the realm of wind turbine performance optimization

Based on data collected during an UCG pilot-scale experiment that took place during 2014 at Wieczorek mine, an active mine located in Upper Silesia (Poland), this research focuses on developing a dynamic fire risk prevention strategy addressing underground coal gasification processes (UCG) within active mines, preventing economic and physical losses derived from fires.

To achieve this goal, the forecasting performance of two different kinds of artificial neural network models (generalized regression and multi-layer feedforward) are studied, in order to forecast the syngas temperature at the georeactor outlet with one hour of anticipation, thus giving enough time to UCG operators to adjust the amount and characteristics of the gasifying agents if necessary.

The same model could be used to avoid undesired drops in the syngas temperature, as low temperature increases precipitation of contaminants reducing the inner diameter of the return pipeline. As a consequence the whole process of UGC might be stopped. Moreover, it could allow maintaining a high temperature that will lead to an increased efficiency, as UCG is a very exothermic process.

Results of this research were compared with the ones obtained by means of Multivariate Adaptative Regression Splines (MARS), a non-parametric regression technique able to model non-linearities that cannot be adequately modelled using other regression methods.

Syngas temperature forecast with one hour of anticipation at the georeactor outlet was achieved successfully, and conclusions clearly state that generalized regression neural networks (GRNN) achieve better forecasts than multi-layer feedforward networks (MLFN) and MARS models.

Forty years of research on Unrealistic Optimism - a delusion that negative events are less likely and positive events are more likely to happen to oneself (in comparison to others) - has proved to be robust. Importantly, as a result, people holding this bias reduce their engagement in health prevention and following medical recommendations, etc., leading to the conclusion that this bias is dangerous. However, there is hardly any research on how to reduce this bias. To address this issue, an experiment in the real-life context of the COVID-19 pandemic was run. It was found that participants’ Unrealistic Optimism was reduced when they were exposed to the behavior of others who did not follow medical recommendations.

Human activities in relation to aquatic ecosystems result in significant economic losses in the form of contamination of water sources, deteriorating its quality and therefore its availability in lakes, water bodies and even in soil. Hence the need for systematic revitalisation or reclamation of water ecosystems. Such actions, in order to be rational, require a detailed understanding of the causes, and then the use of appropriate technology. The need for the above-mentioned actions result from the weather changes that have been noticeable in recent years, as well as environmental pollutants increasing water eutrophication in reservoirs and stimulating the development of some species of cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria can cause serious water poisoning, especially in water supply systems. Therefore, a rational, comprehensive technology for the removal of bottom sediments and their processing into organic and mineral fertiliser has been developed with properties similar to manure. It also creates opportunities to improve the structure of soils thanks to the supply of organic carbon, the loss of which was found, among others, in also in soils of Poland and EU. These new possibilities of revitalisation hitherto unknown make it possible to a large extent, compliance with environmental requirements when revitalising water reservoirs and soil.

Currently, overhead lines dominate in the Polish medium and low voltage distribution networks. Maintaining their high reliability constitutes a very important challenge, especially under the severely changing climate conditions. An overhead power line exposed to high ice and rime loads has been considered. Using the finite element method (FEM), mechanical reliability of the distribution infrastructure was examined under various atmospheric conditions. Loads under the stressful conditions of rime, ice and wind were determined for the weakest section of the 30 kV overhead line, which consisted of concrete poles and ACSR conductors. SAIDI and SAIFI reliability indices and costs were determined for several variants of object reconstruction. The results allowed for determination of a solution relying on relocating the cables of all lateral branches and main line ice protection, through a system based on a weather-coordinated increase of the electrical load. To verify the solution proposed, a field experiment was conducted. The experiment confirmed the effectiveness of the solution proposed that appears to be universal. The paper is a result of synergic cooperation of two academic teams, i.e. a mechanical and electrical power engineering one, and the distribution system operator (DSO).

This research paper presents the results of the analyses of the course of technical wear over time carried out for residential masonry buildings located in the mining area of the Lublin Coal Basin (LCB). As a result of the conducted analyses, models of the course of technical wear over time were obtained for the entire building development and for groups of buildings, taking into account the conducted renovation works and preventive structural protection. By comparing the parameters of the developed models, statistically significant differences in the course of technical wear resulting from the quality of maintenance and the use of preventive measures were identified. In addition, the durability of individual groups of structures was estimated and compared. Based on a comparison of the course of technical wear of 22-year-old building structures, unrenovated and with similar structural and material solutions, it was found that the rate of increase in technical wear after 50 years of use is on average 3.5% lower than in the case of unprotected buildings. In addition, the use of preventive structural protection extends the durability of the analysed building structures by an average of over 13 years. The obtained results may e.g. help owners or managers optimise the Maintenance Management of building structures.

Electrocution is one of the main causes of workplace deaths in the construction industry. This paper presents a framework for identifying electrocution risk factors and exploring the correlations between them, with the aim of assisting accident prevention research. Specifically, the Haddon Matrix is used to extract the risk factors from 193 investigation reports of electrical shock accidents from 2012-2019, and the Apriori algorithm is applied to examine the potential relationships between these factors. Based on association rules using three criteria: support ( S), confidence ( C) and lift ( L), the betweenness centrality is then introduced to optimize association rules and find the most important rules though comparison. The results show that after optimization, some of these critical rules rise significantly in rank, such as Workplace: indoor → No CPR provided. Through these ranking changes, the focus of safety management is clarified, and finally, based on a comprehensive analysis of association rules, targeted accident prevention measures are suggested.

The article deals with the problems of prevention in the preservation and development of idioms in the multilingual territory between the Dniester and the Danube rivers, based on the sociolinguistic situation of the region, the language and educational policy in the area and their dynamics, and a search for a solution. The goal involves modeling forecasts (possible development vectors) of the ethnolinguistic situation within the investigated area, in order to be able to avoid negative scenarios, but to move along the path of its harmonious development, to find tools and measures for its constructive management. It is considered that the problems preventing the preservation of this continuum’s linguistic diversity, as well as the development of idioms in a multilingual environment, are caused by both internal (problems of effective implementation of the language and educational policy of Ukraine) and external factors. In order to ensure the preservation and development of the area’s idioms, some negative, unfavorable scenarios in the development of the ethnolinguistic and political situation were modeled. In our opinion, a number of measures should be taken to prevent the ethno‑linguistic situation from developing along such destructive vectors. First of all, it is necessary to form, in some ways reanimate, a positive image of the Ukrainian Language, at least – it should not be perceived by minorities as an imposed language. If the Ukrainian authorities do not have an understanding of this necessity, the European Union could influence the resolution of many partial issues with the linguistic life of the region.

We explore how conspiracy beliefs change the effectiveness of gain- vs. loss-framed messages in promoting health-protective behavior. We focused on various recommended COVID-19 protective measures, not only vaccinations but also other preventive (like wearing masks) and detection behaviors (like testing). Our results indicate that conspiracy beliefs moderate the effectiveness of gain vs. loss framing. When participants endorse conspiracy worldviews above the average level, the gain frame may be more effective than the loss frame. In other words, in the loss frame condition, conspiracy beliefs negatively and significantly predicted attitudes toward the behavior recommended. However, in the case of the gain frame, the relationship between conspiracist views and attitudes toward promoted behavior was weaker or even nonsignificant. We also found, although only in the case of one behavior, that when participants' eagerness to look for conspiracies almost does not exist, the loss frame may be a better option than the gain frame. Finally, neither of these effects was mediated by emotional reactance or anxiety.

Marine casualties, at sea or in port waters, are not only caused by large passenger or cargo vessels, which, due to their size, may have difficulty in giving way or stopping safely, but also small vessels such as marine yachts or jet skis, which have a high manoeuvrability but mistakes made when navigating or manoeuvring by the operators of these vessels can be serious. The aim of this article is to analyze the collision of two such crafts in port waters in the aspect of criminal liability of the perpetrator of the accident for causing it.

This issue, Chronicles of a Pandemic, is a collection of 27 position statements published by the Interdisciplinary COVID-19 Advisory Team to the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, set up in July 2020. This publication is our team’s second comprehensive compilation (after Understanding COVID-19) of information about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Published in September 2020, Understanding COVID-19 aimed to sum up the first months of the pandemic and prepare the public in Poland for the difficult fall and winter 2020–2021. The present study, in turn, was written after two years of the pandemic, which first began in Wuhan in December 2019. We hope that ongoing reports on the course of the pandemic and the dilemmas faced by the public will help us learn from those difficult and important experiences, should similar challenges arise in the future.