Zuzanna Zysk

The aim of this study was to analyze the activation of selected upper limb muscles. For the purposes of this article, we present results concerning the following muscles: triceps brachii, anterior and posterior deltoid, and trapezius in women aged 50 and above during simulated riding of the Torqway device, using surface electromyography (sEMG). The primary objective was to compare muscle activity across two movement phases: active and passive. Accordingly, the following research hypotheses were formulated: muscle activity (measured by RMS values) will be significantly higher during the active phase compared to the passive phase, and MPF (mean power frequency) values will decrease over time, indicating the onset of muscle fatigue. Additionally, the potential of surface electromyography was assessed as a diagnostic tool for evaluating ergonomics and muscle effort in the context of designing personalized mobility devices for older adults. As the study of the Torqway device represents a pioneering research effort, this publication makes a significant contribution to the biomechanical analysis of new forms of active mobility supported by wearable sensor technologies.

Air pollution poses a growing threat to public health and the environment, highlighting the need for continuous and precise urban air quality monitoring. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate an autonomous air quality monitoring platform developed by the University of Ruse, “Angel Kanchev”, under Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (project BG-RRP-2.013-0001), co-financed by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU initiative. The system, based on Libelium’s mobile sensor technology, was installed at a height of two meters on the university campus near Rodina Boulevard and operated continuously from 1 March 2024 to 30 March 2025. Every 15 min, it recorded concentrations of CO, CO₂, NO₂, SO₂, PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀, along with meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, and pressure), transmitting the data via GSM to a cloud-based database. Analyses included a distributional assessment, Spearman rank correlations, Kruskal–Wallis tests with Dunn–Sidak post hoc comparisons, and k-means clustering to identify temporal and meteorological patterns in pollutant levels. The results indicate the high operational stability of the system and reveal characteristic pollution profiles associated with time of day, weather conditions, and seasonal variation. The findings confirm the value of combining calibrated IoT systems with advanced statistical methods to support data-driven air quality management and the development of predictive environmental models.

Background: The work of a paramedic, is characterised by a high risk of injury. Ergonomic, psychological, and biomechanical factors are considered risk factors in the profession of emergency medical technicians. Ensuring ergonomic working conditions for emergency medical technicians is a...

The article discusses the issue of how potential users perceive automated and autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, emphasizing that its sophistication and reliability are crucial for the safety of driving vehicles with a level of automation starting from the third degree. Safety plays a significant role in determining public acceptance of autonomous vehicles. Without the acceptance of potential users and their willingness to use smart electric vehicles, it is challenging to talk about the rapid implementation of autonomous vehicles, despite their undeniable benefits. The article presents an analysis of survey results regarding public opinion in Poland on this matter. The survey utilized various methods, including CAWI surveys, Focus Group Interviews (FGI), and Individual In-depth Interviews (IDI). The CAWI survey involved 1067 respondents in Poland, with a 95% confidence level and a maximum margin of error of 3%, representing a representative sample of the Polish population aged 16 and above. The article examines issues that illustrate respondents’ acceptance levels concerning perceived security and trust in AVs. The obtained results are compared with opinions from surveys conducted in other countries. Additionally, the article attempts to identify reasons for the low assessment of the technologies among respondents and proposes measures to boost confidence in automated and autonomous vehicles.

Medical developments have led to lower mortality rates but have increased the proportion of people with disabilities or mobility dysfunctions. A higher level of awareness of the general need to perform physical activity, in different spheres of life and at any age, is necessary. A device produced in response to the growing need of supporting active participation in activities of daily life is the Torqway. The aim of this research conducted at the Faculty of Transport, Warsaw University of Technology, was to evaluate the kinematic of users’ upper and lower body muscles motion while riding the tested device. The research was carried out using the MyoMotion system on a stand designed for the purpose of the experiment. Analysis of the results showed a high level of activity in the muscles of the upper limbs, demonstrating that the device can be used to train muscle strength and mass, prevent muscle atrophy, improve the elasticity of periarticular soft tissues and improve the action of the muscle pump (increasing blood flow to the muscles and, with it, the flow of oxygen and nutrients, which promotes the development and subsequent regeneration of muscles). The device can not only serve as a form of recreation but also be used to promote convalescence.

Safety is one of the most important needs of all people, but especially those with limited mobility, who face barriers of all kinds on a daily basis. The article includes a review of organizational and legal solutions for the safety of people with special needs in public transportation, as well as preliminary research aimed at identifying and classifying barriers in public transportation that limit the independent movement of people with special needs. The obtained results will be used in the development of the methodology for assessing the degree of accessibility of the studied objects and will form the basis of guidelines formulated in order to modify the existing and design the future elements of the transport system according to the principles of universal design. The problem of the lack of accessibility of public transport is the center of interest of many entities. Its solution requires a complex approach in the design process, taking into account both engineering knowledge and knowledge of the needs and constraints of different user groups. The results obtained from the study will allow the categorization of public transport modes in terms of their accessibility.