The energy security of the European Union is still a concept, rather than the actual action. It was confirmed by legal regulations that give Member States the possibility of individual control of energy security. Furthermore, EU Member States can perform unilateral energy policy, which is often in the interest of the most powerful countries. The concept of energy solidarity, solidarity mechanisms of energy flows directly from the Treaty of Maastricht. This was intended to help to increase energy security, and above all, its construction at the EU level. The functioning of the European Communities and the European Union is showing that the goal of building energy security of the European Union is still in the process of creation and still remain a certain course of action. Following th energy crisis of 2009 we can observe discussion about the concept of energy union, as a way to build energy security of the European Union. Currently, its energy security is limited to the definition adopted by the European Commission and activities aimed at the development of energy infrastructure of Community interest, which contributes to improving EU energy security. The aim of this article is analyze the concept of energy union and attempt to answer the question whether it has a real chance of success, and whether the concept of the proposed shape will be effective and necessary. These questions are important because of we can observe discrepancies between the regulations, promotion of building a common energy security and the practical action of individual Member States of the European Union.

The author discusses in detail the project o f the new convention for cargo transport wholly or in part by sea. The UNCITRAL Working Group for Transport has been dealing with this matter since 2002, and has now finished its work. This paper is the first o f its kind in Polish legal literature. The future convention is to constitute the basis for regulation within the convention of matters connected with transport by various transport branches, for it establishes the extension of its application beyond transport by sea. The convention project has two aims: a. the establishment of a unified regime of liability; and b. the definition of the principles behind the use up to now of one transport document for an entire transport route. From the start it was known that the convention should apply to line transports, because these are marked by inequality in the positions of the parties involved. It may also, exceptionally, have application to tramp shipping in which there is equality of parties.

During the last few years, the City of Bechar in Algeria has witnessed some extreme events, such as the great flood of the year 2008 in which an exceptional amount of rain was recorded with a flow rate of 830 m3∙s–1 (hwater = 4 m, b = 200 m); similar flooding also occurred in 2012 and 2014. The problem is that most of the City of Bechar has an urban sprawl that extends to the banks of Wadi Bechar, which represents a huge risk for the lives of the inhabitants of the region. The present work aims to assess the flood risk through flood hazard mapping. This method consists in determining the flow rates for the return periods of 25 years (Q25 = 388.6 m3∙s–1, hwater = 3.5 m, b = 200 m, Sspot = 55.35 ha), 50 years (Q50 = 478.3 m3∙s–1, hwater = 5 m, b = 200 m, Sspot = 66.48 ha) and 100 years (Q100 = 567.3 m3∙s–1, hwater = 7 m, b = 200 m, Sspot = 133 ha). For this, it is necessary to adjust the flow rates using Gumbel law along with some computer supports such as HEC-RAS, HEC- -GeoRAS and ArcGis for mapping the event. Finally, this work enables us to determine the zones exposed to risk of flooding and to classify them according to the flood water height.

Egyptian writer ʼIhsān ‛Abd al-Quddūs is one of the most prolific contemporary Arab writers and gained great popularity, especially in his country, but also all over the Arab world. The author deals with issues considered by society, including literature, taboos as the relationship between man and woman outside the context of marriage, the description of physical contacts, carnal and passionate love, prostitution, drugs, and the emancipation of women. In his stories he was interested in the feelings of the human being and in his relationship with the society. Al-Quddūs can be regarded as one of the most multifaceted intellectuals in the whole Arab world: in addition to being a writer and journalist of great popularity, he also occupied a prominent place in Egyptian cinema. ʼIhsān ‛Abd al-Quddūs was a provocative artist of great popularity in his time, but little known in the West, because of the scarceness of translated texts. Through the translation and analysis of his works it is possible to open up a wider glimpse into the knowledge of contemporary Arab literature.

The article deals with the issue of illness and suffering in Carmelite sermons of the 17th–18th centuries. The question of the origin of suffering is considered along with the role of God’s mercy and justice in the preaching discourse about the rightness and purposefulness of suffering of the human being. In addition, an analysis of the views of preachers about topics related to passing away and the attitude they advocate in the face of death is included.

The aim of the article is to discuss and assess the diversification of renewable energy sources consumption in European Union member states. The time scope covers 2005 and 2015. The data comes from Eurostat. The analysis was based on synthetic indicators – using a non-standard method. Synthetic indicators were assessed based on three simple features such as: the share of renewable energy in energy consumption in 2015, the difference between the share of renewable energy in energy consumption in 2015 and in 2005 (in percentage points), deficit/surplus in the 2020 target reached in 2015 (in percentage points). The European Union member states were divided into four diversified group in terms of renewable energy sources consumption (first class – a very high level, second class – quite a high level, third class – quite a low level, fourth class – a very low level). Then the divided groups were analyzed according to the share of renewable energy sources in the primary production of renewable energy and the consumption of individual renewable energy sources. During the research period renewable energy consumption increased in the European Union, but individual member states are characterized by a diverse situation. The type of energy used depends largely on national resources. The countries of Northern Europe are characterized by a greater share of renewable energy sources in consumption. Biomass is the most popular renewable source of energy in the European Union. Depending on the conditions of individual countries – it is agricultural and forest biomass.

ln laboratory electrically heated entrained flow reactor with quasi one-dimensional laminar flow the influence of fuel properties on the nitrogen oxide emission for 23 coals of various rank from brown coal, bituminous coal to anthracites has been examined. For one brown coal type twofold increase of nitrogen content resulted in NO, emissions increase of about 30%. Increasing rank from brown coal to bituminous coal increases NO emissions and next a fall in the anthracites range. With nitrogen content increase NO - emission grows a~d the ratio of fuel nitrogen conversion to nitrogen oxide decreases. Experiments results and their statistical analysis were used to determine relationships describing NO, emissions and conversion ratio of fuel nitrogen to nitrogen oxide as functions of two variables. describing coal properties, i.e. nitrogen content and fuel ratio (fixed carbon to volatile matter ratio).

The study discusses an experimental method for treatment of high strength domestic sewage on biofilters filled with polyurethane (PUR) waste in the form of trims of upholstery foam. We determined effectiveness of two biological preparations containing effective microorganisms in elimination of organic and biogenic compounds, indicator bacteria and total suspended solids from the sewage pretreated in a septic tank. After four months of work under a hydraulic loading of 76.4 mm∙d ^-1 we found the filter with 60 cm foam layer to be the most efficient in the elimination of BOD ₅, COD _Cr, NH ₄ ⁺-N and coliform bacteria. An average reduction in these pollutants reached 79.4%, 67.8%, 58.0% and 88.0%, respectively. Vertical filters filled with trims of upholstery foam and supplied with effective microorganisms ensured favorable conditions for development of heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria without any need for additional aeration.

The necessity of empirical determination of impact energy of hydraulic hammers prompted the Author to analyse the methods that had previously been used to determine this quantity. Based on the results of the analysis, the Author developed a new method of measurement of impact energy by means of force converter with an embedded elastic element, Taking into consideration the structural scheme and the principle of measurement, one derived analytical relationship that make it possible to calibrate the measuring system in energy units. A practical example of application of the developed system was in measurements of impact energy of hydraulic hammers used in Polish copper mining industry.

B a c k g r o u n d: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of the modified Peyton’s four-step approach in the teaching of cardiac auscultation and to determine students’ perception of Peyton’s four-step approach.

Me t h o d s: The opinion of the participants on the usefulness of the modifi ed four-step approach was attained through the use of anonymous questionnaires, voluntarily completed by students, and on the basis of semi-structured interviews conducted with a subset of students. 187 second-year students of our 6-year long curriculum were enrolled. They attended an obligatory Laboratory Training of Clinical Skills course. The average group size was 16 students.

R e s u l t s: The survey findings identified that 88.1% of participants found it helpful in developing their understanding of cardiac auscultation. 89.8% of all participants claimed that the new modified four-step approach facilitated memorization. The modified Peyton’s four-step method allows for better organization of classes in the opinion of 87.6% students. The advantages of the method were noticed by the majority of students.

C on c l u s i o n s: The modified Peyton’s four-step approach in the teaching of cardiac auscultation under laboratory conditions was perceived by students to be a comprehensible method that facilitates understanding and memorization. Th is approach allows for improved organization of classes. From the student’s perspective this method allows one to master the technique of cardiac auscultation in the classroom, through the increased demand of the participants’ attention, activity and involvement.

Qualitative and quantitative composition of phytoplankton of the Olaf

Prydz Bay (Indian Ocean, East Antarctica) was determined on the basis of 49 samples collected at 34 sampling stations during the period from the 15th to 24th February 1969. Altogether 59 taxa of algae were identified — among them: 57 taxa of the class Bacillariophyceae, 1 species of the class Chrysophyceae and 1 genus of the class Dinophyceae. Species occurring most frequently and most abundantly in the Olaf Prydz Bay are diatoms: Thalassiothrix antarctica, Chaetoceros criophilus, Nitzschia curta, Rhizosolenia alata. At some stations Chaetoceros dichaeta occurred in great numbers. A decrease in phytoplankton numbers in the areas south of 67 S is associated with the lack of neritic algae among dominant species.