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The purpose of the presented research was to determine the effectiveness and sufficiency of measures put in place to protect the business continuity of critical infrastructure (CI) and key services (KSs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide variety of research conducted in the area of business continuity maintenance during the COVID-19 pandemic does not change the fact that there is still a research gap in this area, particularly in terms of issues related to CI and KS protection. A systematic review of scientific publications revealed the need for continued research into this topic given the fact that only 19 papers related to CI continuity and 8 directly to KS operators could be identified. Holistic and interdisciplinary research is particularly needed to organize and systematize the existing scientific knowledge on the subject, and in practical terms, help organizations and institutions to better prepare for future continuity disruptions. A survey conducted between March and May 2021 among entities operating in Poland and classified as critical infrastructure operators as well as key service operators, subcontractors, and suppliers crucial to maintaining the continuity of critical infrastructure operations revealed that entrepreneurs, surprised by the speed and aggressive nature of the pandemic, mainly resorted to protective measures that were immediately available, standard solutions that did not require excessive financial and organizational effort. But in the face of long-term pandemic threat, such measures may no longer be sufficient, so it is important to intensify research into those precautions that require readaptation of work organization and organizational processes to protect key workers, increase supply chain resilience, and protect the work process.

This study aimed to (a) identify the differences in the preferred, practiced, and organized physical activity (PA) between high and low physically active Czech and Polish boys and girls and to (b) identify which types of PA are likely to be recommended by low active boys and girls. The research was carried out between 2010 and 2019 in the Czech Republic and Poland and included 6619 participants aged 15 to 19 years. The preferences and practices of the different types of PA and participation in organized PA were identified using a PA preference questionnaire and weekly PA was identified using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form. Czech and Polish boys and girls who were low active preferred less physically demanding and more health-oriented PA compared with high active individuals. Power exercises and participation in organized PA are the most significant predictors of achieving at least 3 × 20 min of vigorous PA per week among low active individuals in both countries. Monitoring the trends in the preferred and practiced types of PA among boys and girls is crucial for the effective promotion of PA to low active boys and girls and positive changes in physical education and school health policy.

This study aimed at determining the survivability of probiotic bacteria cultures in model non-dairy beverages subjected or not to the fermentation and storage processes, representing milk substitutes. The experimental material included milks produced from desiccated coconut and non-dehulled seeds of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). The plant milks were subjected to chemical and microbiological evaluation immediately after preparation as well as on day 7, 14, and 21 of their cold storage. Study results proved that the produced and modified plant non-dairy beverages could be the matrix for probiotic bacteria. The fermentation process contributed to increased survivability of Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus in both coconut and hemp milk. During 21-day storage of inoculated milk substitutes, the best survivability of Lactobacillus casei was determined in the fermented coconut milk. On day 21 of cold storage, the number of viable Lactobacillus casei cells in the fermented coconut and hemp milks ensured meeting the therapeutic criterion. Due to their nutritional composition and cell count of bacteria having a beneficial effect on the human body, the analyzed groceries—offering an alternative to milk—represent a category of novel food products and their manufacture will contribute to the sustainable development of food production and to food security assurance.

The application of multi-floor manufacturing (MFM) in huge cities is related to the rational use of urban areas and the solution to traffic problems. The operation of the city MFM clusters depends on the efficiency of production and transport management considering technical, economic, environmental, and other factors. The primary goal of this paper was to identify and analyze the drivers of sustainable supply chains (SSCs) that influence or encourage the design of sustainable processes in city MFM clusters under uncertainty in supply chains. This paper presents an SSC performance model for city MFM clusters under uncertainty. The proposed model is universal and is based on material flow analysis (MFA) methodology. The presented analysis helps to determine the conditions for rhythmic deliveries with the use of the multi-IRTs. The coefficients of rhythmic deliveries for multiple intelligent reconfigurable trolleys (IRTs) and the capacity loss of freight elevators allow us to periodically assess the sustainability processes in city MFM clusters related to the flow materials. These assessments are the basis for the decision-making and planning of SSCs.

In 2021, the European Commission set out the direction of changes in the field of European enterprise activities by establishing the principles of Industry 5.0. One of the indicated directions was the implementation of sustainable development principles in European industry. The aim of this article is to examine the level and nature of competences in the field of sustainable development among students at two Lublin universities: the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. This is to enable the assessment of students’ preparation for the implementation of sustainable development principles in their future professional activities. The research sought to determine the relationship between the type of university and the competences of students, through the self-assessment of competences. The conceptualization and operationalization of competences in the field of sustainable development was based on the de Haan and Cebrian models, respectively. The tool used was the author’s own questionnaire based on the self-assessment of 25 statements, grouped into five areas of competence: knowledge, action, values and ethics, emotions and systems thinking. The results of the study confirmed differences between students in the areas of knowledge and activity. However, a relationship between the type of university and self-esteem in areas related to systemic thinking, emotions, and ethics and values was not found. Various self-assessment patterns (clusters) were observed in individual areas among the respondents. Differences in the assessment of the statements indicated the existence of factors that influenced responses. The results of the study confirmed the usefulness of the tool in identifying competency gaps of students based on which the tool can be recommended for use in the design of study programs.

In researchers’ work nowadays there is a big and increasing amount of stress. In this paper, we have conducted an analysis of this problem because we think it is necessary to cope with it to increase the academic workers’ quality of working life. The aim of this paper is to assess the level of stress load of Polish researchers concerning subsequent academic degrees and titles. Based on research, we can say that the level of stress load of Polish researchers concerning subsequent academic degrees and titles is differentiated—the least stressful is professorship, then doctoral thesis, and the most stressful is the habilitation. When analyzing the most frequently observed afflictions that the respondents associate with scientific procedures, it can be stated that these are irritation, nervousness, and aggression, as well as mild stress in the form of headache or stress, which was observed for at least half of the researchers. Almost every three respondents suffered from some kind of psychological problems (depression, depressed mood for a longer period, addictions, the necessity to undergo therapy), and 28.9% suffered from psychosomatic disorders (for example, pain of unknown source of limbs and of internal organs).

For many years, geothermal energy has been successfully used for both energy as well as balneological, healing, and recreational purposes. It should be emphasized that, along with the great interest in geothermal investments, the development of other economic sectors (i.e., tourism, cosmetology, food production, and many other sectors related directly or indirectly to geothermal waters) are also noted in this paper. That kind of development is seen both in regions where centers using geothermal energy are created, as well as in their immediate vicinity. An important aspect of the use of geothermal energy is also its positive impact on the environment by reducing the emission of pollutants that could end up in the environment as a result of using conventional energy sources, namely coal or natural gas. Given the high level of air pollution in Poland, according to data from the European Environment Agency, 12 Polish cities are among the 20 most polluted cities in Europe (data for 2021–2022), and this aspect seems to be key for achieving sustainability while maintaining economic balance. In this article, a new approach to the development of geothermal water utilization in the context of identifying and meeting the social needs of local communities in the Mogilno–Łódź Trough region is described.