In the paper the phenomenon of big data is presented. I pay my special attention to the relation of this phenomenon to research work in experimental sciences. I search for answers to two questions. First, do the research methods proposed within the paradigm big data can be applied in experimental sciences? Second, does applying the research methods subject to the big data paradigm lead, in consequence, to a new understanding of science?

There are different meanings and functions of what is called a “general principle of law.” This article seeks to address their importance as the basis for the systemic integration of the international legal order. When international law is considered as a legal system, its normative unity and completeness seems essential. This article argues that general principles of law are a necessary, although less visible, element of international legal practice and reasoning, which secure the systemic integration and long-lasting underpinnings of international law. In this sense they may be seen as the gentle guardians of international law as a legal system.

The paper presents functionality and operation results of a system for creating dynamic maps of acoustic noise employing the PL-Grid infrastructure extended with a distributed sensor network. The work presented provides a demonstration of the services being prepared within the PLGrid Plus project for measuring, modeling and rendering data related to noise level distribution in city agglomerations. Specific computational environments, the so-called domain grids, are developed in the mentioned project. For particular domain grids, specialized IT solutions are prepared, i.e. software implementation and hardware (infrastructure adaptation), dedicated for particular researcher groups demands, including acoustics (the domain grid “Acoustics”). The infrastructure and the software developed can be utilized mainly for research and education purposes, however it can also help in urban planning. The engineered software is intended for creating maps of noise threat for road, railways and industrial sources. Integration of the software services with the distributed sensor network enables automatic updating noise maps for a specific time period. The unique feature of the developed software is a possibility of evaluating auditory effects which are caused by the exposure to excessive noise. The estimation of auditory effects is based on calculated noise levels in a given exposure period. The outcomes of this research study are presented in a form of the cumulative noise dose and the characteristics of the temporary threshold shift.

The objective of the research in this work was the modification of structure of carbide-type chromized layers, by the combination of diffusion chromizing with subsequent PVD treatment, consisting of chromium nitride deposition, carried out to improve their tribological properties. As a result, hybrid layers on the surface of tool steel were obtained. For comparison, the properties of single chromized carbide layers obtained in a diffusion chromizing process were tested. Investigations of layer microstructure, their mechanical properties, surface topography, adhesion of layers to the steel substrate, as well as tribological properties were conducted. The layer microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Topography of the layer surface was studied by an optical profilometer. The scratch test for investigations of layers adhesion to the steel substrate was used. Testing of tribological properties (linear wear) of the layers was performed by the three-cylinder-cone method. It was shown, that hybrid layers are characterized by a significantly smaller surface roughness than that of chromized carbide layers and their wear resistance improved almost twice with respect to carbide layers.