METHODS OF INTRODUCING ALLOYING ELEMENTS INTO LIQUID MAGNESIUM

In recent years, magnesium alloys have gained widespread popularity as construction materials. This is due to their low density, high strength properties, and advances in their production technology. Properties of magnesium alloys depend primarily on the type, quantity, and quality of elements present in their composition. It is therefore necessary to carry out research on the further optimisation of the production technology of these alloys.This article presents the results of studies carried out in order to determine the type, form, and parameters of the process of introducing selected alloying elements to magnesium in a manner which enables the manufacture of alloys with predetermined chemical composition. As partof the work, elements such as Al, Zn, Mn, Zr, Si, Cu, Ca, as well as rare earth elements (RE) were introduced into the liquid magnesium. The alloying elements were introduced into the melt at different temperatures in either a metallic form or as master alloys. While conducting studies, respective solubility graphs were plotted for the alloying elements showing the time taken for each element to dissolve to the required form at a specific temperature and concentration. The studies resulted in the development of several techniques of introducing selected alloying elements, which enabled the manufacture of various types of alloys

Motywacja i zaspokojenie potrzeb w pracy a work-life balance i poczucie satysfakcji z życia pracowników polskich korporacji w okresie przed pandemią Covid-19

Introduction: Maintaining a balance between personal and professional life (work-life balance, WLB) is one of the key factors important for the effectiveness of functioning in the professional area and also has a direct impact on the sense of satisfaction with life. The article explores the relationship between motivational factors and needs satisfaction at work and WLB and life satisfaction.Research Aim: The aim of the research was to determine the relationships between the different types of motivation regulation postulated in the theory of self-determination by Deci and Ryan (2000) and the satisfaction of needs at work (autonomy, competence and bonds with other people) and WLB and the sense of life satisfaction of corporate employees.Method: The study covered 82 employees of five institutions from the financial sector, aged 22 to 62.27 (33%) of the respondents held a managerial position. The following questionnaires were used in the study: “Work-Life Balance” (Hill Hawkins, Ferris, Weitzman, 2001), “SWLS” (Juczyński, 2012), Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) Tremblay, Blanchard, Taylor, Pelletier, Villeneuvei (2009), and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale – Work Domain (Deci et al., 2001).Results: Among the respondents, a negative relationship between amotivation – lack of motivation to work and WLB was found. The factor that turned out to be positively associated with WLB was the satisfaction of the need of autonomy at work. Positive relationships were also found between intrinsic motivation and life satisfaction, as well as WLB and life satisfaction.Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that it is not so much the specific type of motivation that affects the maintenance of WLB, as the lack of motivation is associated with the disturbance of this balance. The key need that is met at work translates into WLB is the need for autonomy. Our study reported a positive relationship between WLB and life satisfaction. This means that maintaining a work-life balance can be considered as one of the important aspects of well-being.Wprowadzenie: Utrzymanie równowagi pomiędzy życiem osobistym a zawodowym (work-life balance – WLB) jest jednym z kluczowych czynników istotnych dla efektywności funkcjonowania w przestrzeni zawodowej i ma także bezpośrednie przełożenie na poczucie satysfakcji z życia. W artykule są eksplorowane związki pomiędzy czynnikami motywacyjnymi i zaspokojeniem potrzeb w pracy a WLB i satysfakcją z życia.Cel badań: Celem badań było określenie związków pomiędzy poszczególnymi typami regulacji motywacji postulowanymi w teorii autodeterminacji Deciego i Ryana (2000) i zaspokojeniem potrzeb w pracy (autonomii, kompetencji i więzi z innymi ludźmi) a WLB i poczuciem satysfakcji z życia pracowników korporacji.Metoda badań: Badaniem objęto 82 pracowników pięciu instytucji z sektora finansowego w wieku od 22 do 62 lat; 27 (33%) respondentów było na stanowisku menedżerskim. W badaniu wykorzystano kwestionariusze: Work-Life Balance (Hill, Hawkins, Ferris, Weitzman, 2001), SWLS (Juczyński, 2012), Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) Tremblay, Blanchard, Taylor, Pelletier, Villeneuve. (2009) oraz Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale – Work Domain (Deci i in., 2001).Wyniki: Wśród respondentów stwierdzono negatywny związek amotywacji – braku motywacji do pracy z WLB. Czynnikiem, który okazał się pozytywnie powiązany z WLB, było zaspokojenie potrzeby autonomii w pracy. Wykazano też pozytywne związki pomiędzy motywacją wewnętrzną a poczuciem satysfakcji z życia oraz WLB i satysfakcją życia.Wnioski: Wyniki badania wskazują, że nie tyle konkretny rodzaj motywacji ma wpływ na utrzymanie WLB, co brak motywacji jest związany z zaburzeniem tej równowagi. Kluczową potrzebą, której zaspokojenie w pracy przekłada się na WLB, jest potrzeba autonomii. W naszym badaniu odnotowano pozytywny związek pomiędzy WLB a satysfakcją z życia. Oznacza to, że zachowanie równowagi między życiem prywatnym a zawodowym można uznać za jeden z istotnych aspektów dobrostanu

Molluscs and ostracods of the qarun lake:preliminary report from fa-1 core in faiyum oasis, Northern Egypt

A research was conducted on the Holocene lake sediments from the full-cored FA-1 drilling at the southern shore of the Qarun Lake in the Faiyum Oasis in northern Egypt. Altogether 10 taxa of molluscs and 8 taxa of ostracods were identified in the examined deposits, with total amounts of 768 and 2872 individuals, respectively. The fauna was investigated with palaeoecological purpose and allowed for preliminary reconstruction of sedimentary environment in the lake. The occurrence of Valvata nilotica Jickeli, 1874 and Gomphocythere sp. in the lower part of the core and a low proportion of carapaces (2.4–28%) indicated freshwater and higher-energy conditions, respectively. Rapid expansion of Cyprideis torosa (Jones, 1850) at a depth of 18 m could point to very short saline episode in the lake. The increase in salinity and drop of water level were evidenced in the uppermost part of the core (4–3.5 m), when the lake was dominated by Hydrobia ventrosa (Montagu, 1803), Cerastoderma glaucum (Poiret, 1789) and C. torosa. The steady sedimentation in a shallow lake was also supported by considerable amount of complete ostracod carapaces (45%). The faunal assemblage and smooth valves of C. torosa suggested salinity of 14–25‰

Early and Middle Pleistocene climate-environment conditions in Central Europe and the hominin settlement record

International audienc

Motywacja i zaspokojenie potrzeb w pracy a <i>work-life balance</i> i poczucie satysfakcji z życia pracowników polskich korporacji w okresie przed pandemią Covid-19

Wprowadzenie: Utrzymanie równowagi pomiędzy życiem osobistym a zawodowym (work-life balance – WLB) jest jednym z kluczowych czynników istotnych dla efektywności funkcjonowania w przestrzeni zawodowej i ma także bezpośrednie przełożenie na poczucie satysfakcji z życia. W artykule są eksplorowane związki pomiędzy czynnikami motywacyjnymi i zaspokojeniem potrzeb w pracy a WLB i satysfakcją z życia. Cel badań: Celem badań było określenie związków pomiędzy poszczególnymi typami regulacji motywacji postulowanymi w teorii autodeterminacji Deciego i Ryana (2000) i zaspokojeniem potrzeb w pracy (autonomii, kompetencji i więzi z innymi ludźmi) a WLB i poczuciem satysfakcji z życia pracowników korporacji. Metoda badań: Badaniem objęto 82 pracowników pięciu instytucji z sektora finansowego w wieku od 22 do 62 lat; 27 (33%) respondentów było na stanowisku menedżerskim. W badaniu wykorzystano kwestionariusze: Work-Life Balance (Hill, Hawkins, Ferris, Weitzman, 2001), SWLS (Juczyński, 2012), Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) Tremblay, Blanchard, Taylor, Pelletier, Villeneuve. (2009) oraz Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale – Work Domain (Deci i in., 2001). Wyniki: Wśród respondentów stwierdzono negatywny związek amotywacji – braku motywacji do pracy z WLB. Czynnikiem, który okazał się pozytywnie powiązany z WLB, było zaspokojenie potrzeby autonomii w pracy. Wykazano też pozytywne związki pomiędzy motywacją wewnętrzną a poczuciem satysfakcji z życia oraz WLB i satysfakcją życia. Wnioski: Wyniki badania wskazują, że nie tyle konkretny rodzaj motywacji ma wpływ na utrzymanie WLB, co brak motywacji jest związany z zaburzeniem tej równowagi. Kluczową potrzebą, której zaspokojenie w pracy przekłada się na WLB, jest potrzeba autonomii. W naszym badaniu odnotowano pozytywny związek pomiędzy WLB a satysfakcją z życia. Oznacza to, że zachowanie równowagi między życiem prywatnym a zawodowym można uznać za jeden z istotnych aspektów dobrostanu.Introduction: Maintaining a balance between personal and professional life (work-life balance, WLB) is one of the key factors important for the effectiveness of functioning in the professional area and also has a direct impact on the sense of satisfaction with life. The article explores the relationship between motivational factors and needs satisfaction at work and WLB and life satisfaction. Research Aim: The aim of the research was to determine the relationships between the different types of motivation regulation postulated in the theory of self-determination by Deci and Ryan (2000) and the satisfaction of needs at work (autonomy, competence and bonds with other people) and WLB and the sense of life satisfaction of corporate employees. Method: The study covered 82 employees of five institutions from the financial sector, aged 22 to 62.27 (33%) of the respondents held a managerial position. The following questionnaires were used in the study: “Work-Life Balance” (Hill Hawkins, Ferris, Weitzman, 2001), “SWLS” (Juczyński, 2012), Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS) Tremblay, Blanchard, Taylor, Pelletier, Villeneuvei (2009), and Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale – Work Domain (Deci et al., 2001). Results: Among the respondents, a negative relationship between amotivation – lack of motivation to work and WLB was found. The factor that turned out to be positively associated with WLB was the satisfaction of the need of autonomy at work. Positive relationships were also found between intrinsic motivation and life satisfaction, as well as WLB and life satisfaction. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that it is not so much the specific type of motivation that affects the maintenance of WLB, as the lack of motivation is associated with the disturbance of this balance. The key need that is met at work translates into WLB is the need for autonomy. Our study reported a positive relationship between WLB and life satisfaction. This means that maintaining a work-life balance can be considered as one of the important aspects of well-being

Depositional conditions of the Upper Younger Loess during the Last Glacial Maximum in central and eastern Europe

This paper is a summary of the results of research on the accumulation conditions of the Upper Younger Loess (LMg) in Poland and Bug loess (bg) in Ukraine from the maximum stage (MIS 2) of the Vistulian (Weichselian) Glaciation in central and eastern Europe. These studies included an analysis of the morphological (topographic) situation of the loess cover, its grain size and heavy mineral composition, the preserved structures of loess sedimentation as well as mollusc and pollen analyses of this loess. They revealed that the accumulation of Upper Younger Loess (UYL) might have been more dependent on the prevailing moisture conditions than previously thought. These conditions could have been caused by cold air masses from an ice sheet and warm air masses from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic coming together in the Carpathians and the Holy Cross Mountains and favouring the formation of dust storms and precipitation. In this process, a loading of loess dust (formed from local rocks weathering in periglacial conditions) by atmospheric moisture particles was especially significant. The moist substrate not only favoured the periodic development of vegetation and molluscs but also enabled the interception of dust and the accumulation of an increasingly thick loess cover. Westerly and south-westerly winds predominated in the UYL as indicated by the topographic position of loess patches and the mineral composition of the studied loess. Periodically an increased air circulation from the east and northeast occurred

Shelter in Smoleń III - A unique example of stratified Holocene clastic cave sediments in Central Europe, a lithostratigraphic stratotype and a record of regional paleoecology.

A cave site Shelter in Smoleń III (southern Poland) contains an approximately 2-m-thick stratified sequence of Upper Pleistocene and Holocene clastic sediments, unique for Central Europe. The sequence contents abundant fossil fauna, including mollusk, rodent and bat remains. The cave sites with long profiles of subfossil fauna present a great value for reconstructions of regional terrestrial paleoenvironment. We explore the stratigraphy of this site through analyses of the lithology and geochemistry of sediments, radiocarbon dating of faunal and human remains and charcoals, and archaeological study, as well as the paleoecology derived from the taxonomic composition of fossil faunal assemblages. Our data show that the entire period of the Holocene is recorded in the rockshelter, which makes that site an exceptional and highly valuable case. We present paleoenvironmental reconstructions of regional importance, and we propose to regard Shelter in Smoleń III as a regional stratigraphic stratotype of Holocene clastic cave sediments

La Baume de Monthiver : nouvelles données d’un site Mésolithique préalpins récentes

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A multiproxy record of the Younger Holsteinian Oscillation (YHO) in the Ossówka profile, eastern Poland

International audienceThe laminated lacustrine succession at Ossówka in eastern Poland, which is largely the equivalent of MIS 11c, is amongst the best‐developed sites in Europe that cover this time period. Close inspection of the depth interval between 35.0 and 42.5 m in a 55‐m‐long core shows an environmental crisis at a depth of 40.95 m that lasted approximately 800 years and resulted in almost complete extinction of fir (Abies) from the communities existing at that time. Geochemical analyses reveal a simultaneous increase in sulphur in the deposits and a change in stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios towards higher values, as well as a significant increase in the thickness of the laminae (up to 5 mm). Diatom studies show a clear increase in benthic diatoms in this interval, implying a decrease in water level. However, the predominance of such forms was probably caused by the elimination of planktonic diatoms by invasive blooms of Tetraedron, rather than lower lake levels, evidence of which was not noted in the pollen spectra. Hence, all these changes in the lake may have been triggered by the destruction of fir trees, the gradual decomposition of dead trunks and some inconspicuous geomorphological disturbances caused by wind throw. They resulted in a supply of micronutrients to the basin, an increase in varve thickness and rapid oscillations in the abundance and composition of algae and changes in the geochemical status of the lake. Rapid and significant drops in winter temperatures appear to be responsible for the extinction of fir. Alternatively, late frost in spring or hot and dry summers may have affected microsporophyll growth and the fir physiology as known from extant Abies populations. This environmental crisis, which is termed the Younger Holsteinian Oscillation (YHO), is noted at only a few sites. At Dethlingen (Germany), where hornbeam communities disappear at that time, a drop in summer temperatures is suggested to have been the driving force. We suggest that, at Ossówka, a drop in winter temperatures, late frost, or summer drought at the very start of the YHO are possible causes of the near‐extinction of fir