The economical combustion of gas fuel implies that it takes place with a minimum coefficient of excess air and minimal losses. Constructive, aerodynamic and physical factors have a determining influence on the completeness of combustion and the conditions of ignition. Using the ANSYS software program, the main characteristics of the combustion process in the cylindrical mixing section of a flat flame injection burner are investigated through computer simulation. A geometric model was created on which it is possible to study both straight and rotating jets. The possibility of numerically investigating the combustion of gaseous fuel (C ₃H ₈) in a confined air flow produced by injection is considered. A k-ε model of turbulence was used, which is based on the equation for turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate. The purpose of the work is to study and analyze the changes and distribution of temperature and speed as well as the concentration of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide along the axis of the combustion chamber. The results are presented for the angles of inclination of the nozzles of 45° and 0°. Based on these, an analysis was made, where it was found that with the increase in the degree of rotation, the absolute values of the temperature increase and the change in the mass concentration of the fuel along the length of the mixing section can be used to regulate the combustion process. The created numerical model can be successfully used to determine the main parameters of the burner under the same initial conditions, changing the angle of inclination of the nozzles. The obtained results can be considered as a basis for further research related to increasing the efficiency of the combustion process and lowering the harmful emissions produced by it.

Bacterial infections that are due to consumption of poor quality water are still an important threat to human health and life. The aim of the article was to investigate the bacteriological threat of water from home wells. The results of water testing from individual wells constituted research material. On their basis, the health risk of fecal streptococci, coliforms and Escherichia coli was assessed and an attempt was made to assess the impact of pollution on the health of residents. The results of water testing in private wells showed unacceptable values for bacteriological pollution. A signifi cant health risk was found for fecal streptococci, coliforms and Escherichia coli. The authors pointed out the need to take extensive actions aimed at raising environmental and health awareness of the inhabitants in terms of water quality used for living purposes, in particular for consumption.

The currently applicable legal provisions and also the economic concepts emphasize the importance of circular economy. In this aspect, it is very important to reduce the waste production respectively planning and running a business. Technical research is the key to finding a new applications for waste, in particular disposed on landfilling. Mining and energy industries belong to the biggest producers of waste in Poland. The total share of these two branches in waste production is up to 70% (mining and quarrying 53%; electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supplay 17%). In environment, economy and social aspect, it is very important to develop this waste. The paper presents research on the physico-mechanical properties of the aggregates based on colliery shale supplemented by fly ash (20% - 40% supplement of fly ash). The following tests should be mentioned among performed: particle size distribution, the sand equivalent test, freeze resistance and direct shear tests. Also the chemical properties found in the literature was invoked. The research shows good physico-mechanical properties of the mixes, such as cohesion (44.62 kPa - 68.57 kPa) or internal firiction angle (34.74° - 40.52°). Though low resistance to weathering and a large susceptibility to frost heave (the mass loss after the freezing cycles is 76%) may limit its applicatin in road engineering. The sand equivalent tests were made only for aggregates. Tested materials shows usefulness for earthen structures. However, the research should be supplemented by chemical tests and also observations of the material properties changes as the effect of time. The research on the leachability of chemical pollutants, which will determine the acceptable share of ash in the mix, could be especially significant. The fact that fly ash contains a lot of sulphates and chlorides, which leach into the environment may pose a threat to living organisms.

The investigations conducted in 1994 and 1996 concerned aphids infesting fields and neighbouring semi-natural habitats – midfield thickets with trees and the vegetation growing on the ditch margins. Aphids were caught into Moericke traps placed at the plant level. The material collected was studied to determine aphid number, dominance of individual species, similarity of dominance structure of aphid communities (Renkonen Index) and diversity of aphid communities (Shannon-Weaver Index). Aphids were collected in the field and in the natural habitats neighbouring the field. In both years black bean aphid (Aphis fabae Scop.) was either the dominant or sub-dominant species in every habitat studied. A relative species diversity of aphids occurring in semi-natural habitats was significantly highe rthan that in the adjacent field. The results of these investigations indicate that the crop affects aphid fauna flying onto neighbouring midfield thickets.

Electrical circuits with state-feedbacks are addressed. It is shown that by suitable choice of the gain matrices of state-feedbacks it is possible to obtain the closed-loop system matrices with nilpotency indices equal to two and their state variables are linear functions of time. The considerations are illustrated by linear electrical circuits.

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify if the exposure to the pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) infl uenced the release of proinfl ammatory cytokines from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) of normal and overweight rats of various age and sex. Moreover, we compared body temperatures of normal-weight and overweight rats.

Methods: ADSCs of Wistar rats were isolated from the subcutaneous area in females and paratesticular region in males, cultured and exposed to PEMF (7 Hz, 30 mT). Concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines were determined in rat sera and supernatant from ADSCs cultures exposed and non-exposed to PEMF. Body temperature (BT) was measured twice a week, using an infrared and rectal thermometer.

Results: Irrespective of age and sex, animals maintained on low-fat (LF) diet had higher BT than those grown on high-fat (HF) diet. Exposure to PEMF reduced the release of TNF-α and enhanced the production of IL-6 in ADSCs cultures from female pups maintained on LF diet. In contrast, a decrease in IL-6 level was observed in PEMF-exposed ADSCs cultures from female pups grown on HF diet. A similar phenomenon, i.e. a post-exposure increase in IL-6 level was also observed in male pups fed with the LF diet. In the case of ADSCs cultures from adult rats maintained on an HF diet, either males or females, PEMF exposure contributed to a dramatic increase in TNF-α production.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PEMF exposure may affect the production of proinflammatory cytokines in ADSCs cultures. The intergroup diff erences in BT may result from the presence of an underlying inflammation in obese rats.