Efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in road transportation will lead to an estimated thirtyfold increase of the number of EVs by 2030, and consequently an estimated 12.85 million tons of Li-ion batteries from EVs will go offline between 2021 and 2030. Therefore, end-of-life, waste management schemes should be put in place to success-fully deal with the battery ‘waste’. Knowing full well that bringing down the levels of GHG emissions in the atmosphere is the only way to truly mitigate the destructive effects of climate change and the recycling industry has an important role to play in the effort, this paper aimed at reviewing different Li-ion EV battery recycling procedures. The findings showed that recycling Li-ion batteries helps prevent the shortage of critical minerals from a mass flow perspective, however, from an environmental perspective, the current available technologies are not recommended to recover the base materials from Li-ion batteries since they lead to more consumption of energy and higher air emissions than primary production.

North Macedonia’s recent steps towards clean energy have mirrored the country’s ambitions to join the European Union and have included a significant revamp of its 2030 energy development strategy putting a lot of emphasis on the liberalization of the energy sector and an increase in the share of renewables in energy production. However, facilitating this energy transition that seeks to embody the postulates of the European Green Deal, as pre-dicted in the newly adopted, 2040 energy strategy would encompass the combined efforts by existing and newly created entities (both government and private) that form the energy sector in the country. This in turn requires the unification of their efforts through the creation of a legislative framework that will include major regulation changes to ensure that the focused actions of the energy sector entities are controlled, and do not overload the grid, or endanger its stability. Analyzing the successful outcomes provided by regulation advancement in the last 5 years, while relying on the lessons learned principle, will provide the backdrop against which these new regulation changes can be proposed.

As global concerns about climate change and air quality intensify, nations are increasingly adopting sustainable transportation solutions, with electromobility emerging as a key alternative. This article examines the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in Poland, a member state of the European Union (EU) historically reliant on fossil fuels, where the former government aimed to achieve one million electric vehicles by 2025, but is now seeing that it is failing to reach a number even close to this one. Using a mixed methods approach through a survey of academic representatives, the study investigates public perceptions, motivations, and challenges associated with the adoption of EVs in Central Europe. Key factors influencing consumer behaviour, such as government policies, infrastructure development, and societal readiness, are analysed to understand this transition's complexities. The findings reveal significant barriers, including range anxiety, inadequate charging infrastructure, and cost concerns, consistent with global research. However, the study also highlights that a lack of environmental consideration in car purchase decisions further impedes the transition to more sustainable powertrain options. By identifying the dynamics shaping the adoption of electric vehicles in Poland, this research aims to inform policymakers and stakeholders, highlighting tailored approaches to promote electromobility as a cornerstone of the country's environmental strategy and economic future. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable transportation in the EU, underscoring the potential of electromobility to enhance the environmental sustainability of Poland while navigating the challenges of transitioning from fossil fuel dependency.

This paper proposes a model for a Smart Field Artillery Information System (SFAIS) that can be used in a military environment. It is based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Information Systems (C4I), as well as Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. The system aims to contribute in increasing the level of the military's capacity in the execution of operations in a multinational or a regional environment. In this context, the SFAIS provides a well-designed platform for interoperability with other actors in the same theater of military missions and joint operations. Moreover, the system will be used for educational purposes by being implemented in simulation centers and computer laboratories. This system will provide artillery personnel with proper education which will rely on - and is going to be conducted in - a simulated operational environment which will include the whole operational range of the artillery systems used (field of fire) and the process of preparation of the elements as well as conducting the firing in a virtual environment. Additionally, and even more importantly, the probability of collisions in hash functions during Single Sign-on authentication is presented for proving existing security shortcomings in distributed computer systems. Also, studying specific security issues with the SOA based artillery information system emphasizes the significance of applying a military information system in a security environment.

The resilience of critical energy infrastructure has become an increasingly important component of national security, particularly in the context of growing energy demand, geopolitical uncertainty, and the ongoing transition toward renewable energy systems. In North Macedonia, the partial blackout of 18 May 2025 exposed vulnerabilities within the national power system when an overvoltage event resulted in the separation of the 400 kV and 110 kV networks and the loss of approximately 79% of the national electrical load. The event highlighted the potential consequences of infrastructure disruptions on the continuity of essential services and the functioning of society. This paper examines the role of renewable energy sources (RES) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure. Using a resilience based framework grounded in critical infrastructure protection principles, the study analyzes how decentralized renewable generation, energy storage technologies, and microgrid architectures can reduce vulnerability to technical failures, supply disruptions, and cascading effects within the electricity sector. In particular, emphasis is given to the contribution of solar photovoltaic systems, wind energy, and BESS in improving operational flexibility, supporting voltage and frequency stability, strengthening energy security, and enabling the continued operation of critical facilities during grid disturbances. The analysis demonstrates that the strategic integration of RES and BESS can enhance the robustness and adaptive capacity of critical energy infrastructure by reducing dependence on centralized generation and imported fossil fuels while increasing the ability of the power system to withstand and recover from disruptive events. The paper argues that renewable energy technologies and energy storage should be considered not only as instruments of decarbonization but also as key components of national resilience and critical infrastructure protection strategies.

This report describes an 18-year longitudinal clinical course of a patient with a rare single coronary ostium originating from the right coronary sinus. The patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare-metal stents (BMS) to the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and proximal right coronary artery (RCA) in 2007, with complete long-term patency and no restenosis for nearly two decades. In August 2025, he presented with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) caused by a new, heavily calcified 99% mid-LAD stenosis. PCI required high-pressure plaque modification using OPN super-high-pressure balloons up to 50 atm, followed by deployment of a drug-eluting stent (DES) with an excellent angiographic result. One month later, elective PCI addressed severe proximal circumflex (LCx) stenosis and a high-grade obtuse marginal (OM) branch lesion, treated with DES and drug-eluting balloon (DEB) therapy, respectively. This case highlights the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis in congenital coronary anomalies, the long-term durability of early-generation BMS, and the technical challenges posed by extreme calcification. It underscores the importance of lifelong surveillance and tailored revascularization strategies in patients with single-ostium coronary anatomy.