The paper deals with a magnetostrictive fast-acting actuator applied as a driving device for plasma valve designed for so called ``high intensity plasma pulses gun''. The actuator is characterized by a small displacement, but with a very short respon

Journal of the Operational Research Society (JORS) is the world's longest established OR journal and an official journal of The OR Society. It is the aim of the Journal to present papers which are relevant to practitioners, researchers, teachers, students and consumers of operational research, and which cover the theory, practice, history or methodology of OR.

The mastic asphalt mixture (MA) is one of the first mineral and asphalt mixtures used in history. Its composition and structure allow it (the mixture) to be produced both in industrial conditions (in mineral and asphalt mixing plants) and in field conditions—in mobile boilers (especially when the produced mixture is used to repair damaged surface). The high proportion of the sand fraction makes the mixture highly workable, allowing it to be laid/incorporated without special equipment. MA, however, also has some drawbacks. The asphalt content is higher than in other mixtures, which can make it prone to plastic deformation. Mastic asphalt requires higher processing temperatures than other “hot” mixtures. Mastic asphalt mixtures are installed as road pavement layers and, because of their high density, as the protective layer on roof felt isolation on bridge decks. The high temperature of embedding creates a risk of damaging the roof felt, as its typical temperature resistance is lower than 180 °C, whereas the temperature of the mastic asphalt mixture is higher. The use of zeolites can enable reconciliation of technological requirements of mastic asphalt and asphalt roof isolation. The mixes MA 8 and MA 11 containing 0 and 5% of two types of zeolites and asphalt binders 35/50 or elastomer-SBS-modified asphalt binder PMB 25/55-60 were used in the research. Laboratory tests revealed that the addition of a 5% amount of zeolite by asphalt mass makes it possible to reduce the mastic asphalt laying temperature by up to 30 °C, which seems to be very important from ecological, economical, and pavement durability points of view.

Compression therapy along with the use of compression materials is one of the main prevention methods against scars and keloids. Compression knitted fabrics must be characterized by parameters that enabling to reaching class I compression (16–24 mmHg). When constant pressure higher than capillary vessels pressure is applied to scars, it will have a negative influence on formation of keloids and significantly prevents their hypertrophy. Long-term pressure causes tissue hypoxia, slowed-down metabolism, and reduction of the amount of fibroblasts. One of key elements of compression therapy is choosing the required knitted fabric with necessary structure and physicomechanical parameters as well as designing methodology based on Laplace law, which will ensure the application of desired value of single-unit pressure on post-burn scar. Apart from physicomechanical parameters, a medical device, such as compression garment, must be characterized by high level of biocompatibility. An added value in terms of functional parameters is the antibacterial action of the product. It was obtained from the fibers used which contain a compound in their matrix and out of which silver ions are released. Additionally, the antibacterial action was also obtained via impregnation of the knitted fabric in RUCO-BAC AGP which contains silver. In the course of the research presented in the article, compression fabric was designed with a special construction—a knitted fabric comprising two layers. The first layer, which is in direct contact with human skin, is manufactured out of a yarn with conductive-diffusive characteristics. The second layer is made of microfibers which keep the moisture out of skin surface and also diffuse it to the outside. The following article describes the final stage of developing a compression garment aiding the external treatment process; the mentioned stage is related to biological tests such as microbiological contamination, cytotoxicity, sensitization, and irritation. The article closes a series of publications presented by the Authors in bibliography. It also presents the antibacterial activity tests done on the developed double-layer knitted fabric enriched with silver. The obtained results suggest that the fabric may be used not only in compression therapy, but also in the field of cosmetics and aesthetics.

W budownictwie drogowym w Polsce asfalt lany nie jest mieszanką wiodącą. Prym wiodą tradycyjne mieszanki, głównie betonu asfaltowego oraz mieszanki mastyksowo-grysowe SMA. Ze względu na niską zawartość wolnych przestrzeni oraz możliwość rozkładania bez zagęszczania, asfalt lany wciąż pozostaje atrakcyjnym materiałem, szczególnie w nawierzchniach mostowych. W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań nad zastosowaniem wybranych dodatków: asfaltu naturalnego Trinidad Epuré (TE), zeolitów oraz gumy pochodzącej ze zużytych opon samochodowych. Analizowano wpływ dodatku asfaltu naturalnego (10 i 20% masy lepiszcza) na właściwości mieszanki MA 11 w porównaniu z mieszanką referencyjną. Wyniki wykazały poprawę odporności na koleinowanie, zwłaszcza przy wyższej zawartości lepiszcza. Badania obejmowały również zastosowanie zeolitów naturalnych (klinoptylolit) i syntetycznych (NaP1). Dodatek 5% pozwolił obniżyć temperaturę wytwarzania z 215°C do 180°C, przy zróżnicowanym wpływie na odporność na deformacje. Ponadto przeanalizowano działanie gumy w mieszance MA 8 z asfaltem 35/50, wprowadzanej metodą „na mokro” oraz „na sucho”. Dodatek gumy zwiększał sztywność i odporność na deformacje, szczególnie w przypadku modyfikacji lepiszcza. Wyniki badań potwierdzają, że zastosowanie opisanych dodatków może poprawić właściwości mechaniczne i technologiczne asfaltu lanego, poszerzając zakres jego praktycznego zastosowania.