Chambers of commerce play an important role for entrepreneurs and the economy. However, their position, organization, effectiveness and tasks vary from country to country. The challenges of the ...21st-century economy require the strengthening of chambers so that they can effectively support business. We should look for possible improvements. Chambers are usually categorized into three main models: Anglo-Saxon, continental and mixed. An additional public (or administrative) model is sometimes added. The analysis of the literature shows, however, that the assignment of chambers to models is sometimes arbitrary or customary. This results in different classification of some countries into specific models – e.g. Poland is assigned to the Anglo-Saxon or mixed model, while Spain is placed in the continental model, although some features of their chambers indicate the properties of the mixed model. The systematic confusion stems from the fact that the current taxonomy is too general to address effectively some of the most important differences between chambers operating in more than 200 countries. But more important is that its design does not provide tools and information that (in the increasing complexity of today’s economy) could support the development of chambers based on the results of comparative research. This article outlines a set of the key differences between British, Polish and Belgian chambers of commerce with several references to Canadian and US chambers. They are all private law and generally listed as Anglo-Saxon model members. But there are major differences between them. It’s important to examine foreign systems when changes to the domestic chambers are considered. It should be clear that there is no single and common framework that can be just replicated. Each country’s history, economy and social norms must be considered before changes are made. This is why comparative studies are the key to finding the best improvements for local needs.
In September 2022, a new shipping canal was opened connecting the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon to the Baltic Sea. Largely political, the project links the lagoon and the port in Elbląg to the ...southern part of the Baltic, independent of the Russian Federation. In addition, its economic dimension enables the handling of small ships, as well as supporting tourism and yachting without the need to pass through the Russian-controlled Piława Strait. The scale of the new canal is relatively small—one and a half kilometre long and 25 metres wide. Nonetheless, it is sufficient for the navigation of small marine vessels of up to five-metre draft. The shipping canal through the Vistula Split is certainly not as important as the Corinth or North Sea Canals, still, it frees maritime and tourist traffic from Russian jurisdiction. The planned key port in the Vistula Lagoon is the port in Elbląg, a historic city that was once a member of the Hanseatic League, which brought together all the major cities of the Baltic Sea basin in the 14th and 15th centuries. The purpose of this article is to present the project’s historical context, its urban, technical, and shipping solutions, as well as the correlations between the new transport development and its anticipated impact on the environment (including the natural environment). The findings are complemented by a PESTEL analysis which shows the leading trends that are relevant to the implementation of the project in the region. The analysis identified areas that have a significant effect on the social, political, and economic settings of the new canal.
As part of the assumptions of Industry 4.0. many modern technologies are developing. One of them is robotic process automation (RPA). It allows the replacement of human labor with robots, thus ...increasing the production capacity of enterprises. In practice, the implementation of RPA takes place through two solutions (models): using the services of an external entity offering RPA (service insourcing) or creating your own center of excellence (CoE). The use of both solutions is influenced by numerous conditions (determinants), among which we can mention benefits on the one hand and threats on the other. They are very different and depend on the model used. In this article, attempts were made to identify and determine their impact on the selection of the appropriate model from the point of view of the company (the purpose of the article). The research used two cases of entities implementing RPA on the basis of opposites, i.e., two different models, in which the discussed technology is treated as an important element of their automation. The achieved results indicate that there is no universalism, and their dominant feature is individualism concerning both enterprises and the solutions they implement. This is undoubtedly the effect of the currently too shallow RPA market, as well as the small number of entities using technologies based on intelligent systems. This is a serious research gap, which along with RPA growth will be reduced as a result of more and more intensive research in this field.
To support the conservation efforts regarding a wooden church in Domachowo, extensive research and design work was required to strengthen its weakened structure. A variety of data and analyses are ...necessary to make an accurate assessment, including obtaining a dimensional model, monitoring the behavior of the structure and its response to external forces, and also performing strength analyses and verifying them with measurement data. For accurate geometric evaluation, static and dynamic measurements were required. A mathematical model and a flowchart of the necessary tasks were developed, along with the selection and installation of measuring devices. For this particular structure, static measurements were made using an automatic total station, and dynamic measurements using tilt sensors. The purpose of the analysis was to correlate the inertia measurements with the absolute tachymetric observations related to reference points fixed outside the object in order to accurately assess the behavior of the object. Another important issue was to model the column element under study in such a way that its horizontal displacements could be determined from the measured inclinations. The obtained results indicated the need to strengthen the joints of the two main parts of the structure in order to minimize the impact of dynamic weather conditions. The paper describes the measurement process, the method of calculating displacements, and the correlation of both types of data. Selected results confirming the conclusions are also presented.
In this study, the influence of carbonate lake sediments (Polylactide/Carbonate Lake Sediments–PLA/CLS) on the mechanical and structural properties of polylactide matrix composites was investigated. ...Two fractions of sediments originating from 3–8 and 8–12 m were analysed for differences in particle size by distribution (Dynamic Light Scattering–DLS), phase composition (X-ray Diffraction–XRD), the presence of surface functional groups (Fourier Transform-Infrared–FT-IR), and thermal stability (Thermogravimetric Analysis–TGA). Microscopic observations of the composite fractures were also performed. The effect of the precipitate fraction on the mechanical properties of the composites before and after conditioning in the weathering chamber was verified through peel strength, flexural strength, and impact strength tests. A melt flow rate study was performed to evaluate the effect of sediment on the processing properties of the PLA/CLS composite. Hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties were also investigated, and fracture analysis was performed by optical and electron microscopy. The addition of carbon lake sediments to PLA allows for the obtention of composites resistant to environmental factors such as elevated temperature or humidity. Moreover, PLA/CLS composites show a higher flow rate and higher surface hydrophobicity in comparison with unmodified PLA.
W artykule, na podstawie analizy sytuacji miasta Poznania, wykazano, że status pomnika historii nie musi prowadzić do zahamowania rozwoju miasta w obszarze historycznym, ale pozwala także na jego ...wielokierunkowy i dynamiczny rozwój. Miasto w naturalny sposób podlega żywotnym przekształceniom i zabiegi ochronne nie stają w kontrze do tego zjawiska. Poznań, szczególnie w obszarze, które było areną wydarzeń historycznych od najdawniejszych jego dziejów, miał szansę wykształcenia specyficznego ducha miejsca, którego zachowanie stało się celem służb konserwatorskich już od lat 70-tych XX wieku. Rozwijane od tamtego momentu instrumenty planistyczne umożliwiają rzeczywistą ochronę dziedzictwa, jednak nie stają na drodze modernizacji przestrzeni publicznej. W artykule omówione zostały istniejące narzędzia konserwatorskie, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem roli miejscowych planów zagospodarowania przestrzennego, i podkreślona została rola zarządzania i finansowania na poziomie zarówno samorządowym jak i prywatnym.
In this study, composites containing polylactide and carbonate lake sediment in concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% by weight were prepared by a 3D printing method. The material for 3D printing was ...obtained by directly diluting the masterbatch on an injection moulder to the desired concentrations, and after granulation, it was extruded into a filament. The material prepared thusly was used to print standardised samples for mechanical testing. To compare the mechanical properties of the composites obtained by 3D printing and injection moulding, two sets of tests were performed, i.e., mechanical tests (tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength) and hydrophobic-hydrophilic surface character testing. The degree of composite waste in the 3D printing was also calculated. Mechanical and surface tests were performed for both systems conditioned at room temperature and after accelerated ageing in a weathering chamber. The study showed differences in the properties of composites obtained by 3D printing. Sedimentary fillers improved the hydrophobicity of the systems compared with pure PLA, but it was not a linear relationship. The PLA/CLS sedB composite had higher strength parameters, especially after ageing in a weathering chamber. This is due to its composition, in which, in addition to calcite and silica, there are also aluminosilicates, causing a strengthening of the PLA matrix.
Despite the growing body of knowledge on requirements engineering and business analysis, these areas of software project are still considered problematic. The paper focuses on problems reported by ...business analysts and on applicability of available business analysis techniques as solutions to such problems. A unified set of techniques was developed on the basis of 3 industrial standards associated with IIBA, REQB and IREB certification schemes. A group of 8 business analysts was surveyed to list problems they encounter in their work and to assess their frequency. Selected problems were further analyzed and most suitable techniques were proposed to address them. These proposals were validated through follow-up discussions with business analysts. The main results of research reported in this paper are: the comparative analysis of techniques included in IIBA, REQB and IREB standards and the list of problems reported by practitioners associated with techniques suggested as effective solutions.
The purpose of the study was to determine whether lake sediments could be a potential raw material for the plastics industry. The examined samples were obtained in a complex process of sediment ...collection from Lake Swarzędzkie located in the region of Wielkopolska, Poland, followed by granulometric analysis by sieving and quartz grain shape analysis, with preparation of geotechnical sheets. The works involved the examination of physico-chemical characteristics of carbonate lake sediments and the analysis of impact of the sediments’ depth extraction on their chemical composition and physico-chemical properties. The lake sediment consists mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO
) and can be a potential filler for plastics. Tests were carried out to determine chemical composition of the sediments and their thermal stability. The thermogravimetric analysis showed the three stages of the thermal decomposition. Sediments in deeper layers of the lake are characterised by the presence of not only CaCO
and silica, but also other chemical compounds, including aluminosilicates. In addition, as the depth increases, the average size of sediment particles changes, with the main fraction particle size being the smallest for the material from the 6–12 m depth. Additionally, carbon content systematically decreases with increasing depth.
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