The aim of this study was to detect and identify the volatile compounds in coffee that was obtained in defect roast processes versus standard roasting and to determine the type and strength of the correlations between the roast defects and the volatile compound profile in roasted coffee beans. In order to achieve this goal, the process of coffee bean roasting was set to produce an underdeveloped coffee defect, an overdeveloped coffee defect, and defectless coffee. The “Typica” variety of Arabica coffee beans was used in this study. The study material originated from a plantation that is located at an altitude of 1400–2000 m a.s.l. in Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala. The analyses were carried out with the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and an electronic nose. This study revealed a correlation between the identified groups of volatile compounds and the following coffee roasting parameters: the time to the first crack, the drying time, and the mean temperatures of the coffee beans and the heating air. The electronic nose helped to identify the roast defects.

Background: The impact of light on the content of undesirable substances is particularly important in the case of potatoes available in store where the tubers are exposed to continuous light access. Both washed and unwashed potatoes are available, hence the hypothesis that the amount of harmful substances stored in tubers depends not only on the time of their exposure to light, but also on whether they were washed or not. Methods: In order to verify the hypothesis, laboratory tests were carried out on the tubers of five potato varieties originating from a univariate field experiment. The aim of the study was to analyse the change in the content of total glycoalkaloids (TGA) and nitrates (V) in tubers of five potato varieties depending on the time of light exposition (0, 7, 14 days) and pretreatment of tubers. Results: It has been demonstrated that the content of glycoalkaloids and nitrates in potato tubers depended significantly on the variety, time of exposure to light and pretreatment. Most glycoalkaloids were accumulated in the tubers of the Lord (89.67 mg·kg⁻¹) and Irga (89.05 mg·kg⁻¹) varieties. The time of light exposure significantly influenced the increase in glycoalkaloids and nitrates in the studied potato tubers. The increase in TGA after 14 days ranged from 20.67 mg∙kg⁻¹ for variety Vinieta to 54.67 mg∙kg⁻¹ for variety Irga. The increase in nitrates ranged from 11.67 mg∙kg⁻¹ for variety Bellarosa to 27.50 mg∙kg⁻¹ for variety Irga. Exposure time affected the content of glycoalkaloids in a parabolic manner and the content of nitrates in a linear manner.

The field experiment was carried out in 2015–2017 on a family farm in Toczyski Czortki, in the Mazovia voivodeship in Poland. The experiment was set up in a split–split–plot system in three replications. The area of one plot was 30 m⁻². The studied factors were: I—two maize varieties: PR38N86 (medium late hybrid cultivar 280 FAO), P8400 (medium early hybrid cultivar 240 FAO); II—four doses of nitrogen fertilization: 1. control object—without the use of nitrogen (0 kg N·ha⁻¹), 2. nitrogen dose—80 kg N·ha⁻¹ (applied once before sowing), 3. nitrogen dose—120 kg N·ha⁻¹ (applied once before sowing), 4. nitrogen dose—160 kg N·ha⁻¹ (applied once before sowing); III—four types of biostimulants used: 1. control object—without using a biostimulant, 2. Asahi^®SL biostimulant: I term—four-leaf phase (BBCH 14) at a dose of 0.60 dm³∙ha⁻¹, II term—eight-leaf phase (BBCH 18) at a dose of 0.60 dm³∙ha⁻¹, 3. Improver^® biostimulant: I term—four-leaf phase (BBCH 14) at a dose of 1.00 dm³∙ha⁻¹, II term—eight-leaf phase (BBCH 18) at a dose of 0.60 dm³∙ha⁻¹, 4. Zeal^® biostimulant: I term—six-leaf phase (BBCH 16) at a dose of 2.00 dm³∙ha⁻¹. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization and the use of biostimulants on the size and quality of yield of two varieties of maize grown for grain. Based on the conducted research, it was found that nitrogen doses influenced the amount of maize grain obtained. The highest yields were obtained using 120 kg N∙ha⁻¹. Nitrogen doses significantly affected the studied maize yield components. The dose of 120 kg N∙ha⁻¹ increased the number of grains in the cob, while the dose—160 kg N∙ha⁻¹ exerted the best effect on obtaining the highest values of a thousand seeds. The biostimulants used in the experiment significantly affected the mass of one thousand seeds and the number of grains in the cob. In addition, Asahi^®SL, Improver^® and Zeal^® biostimulants increased maize yield in each growing season studied.

The aim of the paper was to determine the level of reliability of a carousel type device. Considering the improvement of reliability, we decided to use the basic tools of FMEA and FTA. Using FMEA, we identified the most critical part of the equipment, namely welding (RPN=320). The proposed measure only solved the improvement of detection. Based on the FMEA analysis, we chose the TOP event for FTA - bad weld. The detected probability of peak event failure by quantitative FTA analysis was at the level of 0.58%. We identified the basic events leading to the TOP event, i.e. an allowed sonotrode, incorrect position of the membrane during sampling, short welding time and insufficient weld depth. Subsequently, reliability indicators were quantified. We achieved almost 100% availability values. Despite this, the aim was to find out a more comprehensive level of reliability and follow up findings from FMEA. We used the DEMATEL model and our own proposed economic model. Using the DEMATEL model, we found out that short welding time and an insufficient weld depth are the causative modes, that means, they significantly influence other failure modes and do so with a high significance. The creation of an economic evaluation model based on the quantification of direct costs for failure modes with the consequences of a certain number of defective products contributed to the fact that we again determined that the failure modes short welding time and insufficient depth are the modes with the highest priority for solving the bad weld event. The costs incurred as a result of their occurrence and as a result of the occurrence of downtime were the highest with these regimes. These models create space for us to more effectively design measures to improve the level of reliability and production quality, what is a prerequisite for ensuring a reduction in downtime, an increase in production quality and reliability, and an overall cost reduction. This also leads to an increase in the reputation of manufacturers.

The paper discusses supplier evaluation as a tool for controlling the level of service in a production enterprise based on data from the selected production company. The suppliers were assessed and analyzed based on their respective assortment groups and strengths and weaknesses of their activity were indicated. It was found that the supply chain in the analyzed company is largely determined by the type of ordered goods, the place of its production and the method of its distribution to the customer.

The field experiment was conducted in the years of 2013-2016 at the Agricultural Experimental Station – Zawady belonging to the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce. The experiment was set in the split-split-plot system in three repetitions. The studied factors were: I –...