This paper presents a force-dynamics analysis of the meaning of English periphrastic causative verbs. It challenges the traditional categorization of causative semantics into direct and indirect causation and highlights the role of lexico-semantic elements such as (i) the balance of forces, (ii) the desirability of the causal effect, and (iii) the animacy of the causative entities in interaction. Combined together, these elements help define causative semantics and offer a new causative typology built on the categories of factitivity, manipulation and permission.

Zeolites, minerals with the formula Mx/n[AlO2]x(SiO2)y] zH2O, are environmentally friendly materials used as water treatment adsorbents, gas adsorbents, and petrochemical catalysts. This study used a mixture of aluminum black dross and waste glass to synthesize zeolites via a hydrothermal synthesis and analyzed the effects of varying reaction time on phase changes under different synthesis conditions. With increased reaction times, a phase change from zeolite Na-P1 to analcime was observed; on employing hydrothermal synthesis at 150°C for 96 h, the majority of the crystalline structures changed into analcime. Heavy metal cation adsorption was tested to assess the applicability of the synthesized analcime to water treatment. Zeolite adsorption of at least 95% was observed for both Pd and Cd ions. Although a higher level of adsorption was observed for Pb ion than Cd ion, Cd ion was demonstrated to undergo relatively faster adsorption when tested under optimal pulp density at the same level of adsorption (95%).

The paper presents the results of preliminary research on the application of olivine moulding sands with hydrated sodium silicate containing 1.5 % wt. of binder to perform ecological casting cores in hot-box technology using a semi-automatic core shooter. The following parameters were used in the process of core shooting: initial shot pressure of 6 bar, shot time 3 s, the temperature of the corebox: 200, 250 and 300 °C and the core curing time: 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 s. The matrix of the moulding mixture was olivine sand, and the binder of the sandmix was commercial, unmodified hydrated sodium silicate with molar module SiO2/Na2O of 2.5. In one shot of the automatic core-shooter were formed three longitudinal specimens (cores) with a dimensions 22.2×22.2×180 mm. The samples obtained in this way were subjected to the assessment of the influence of the shooting parameters, i.e. shooting time, temperature and curing time in core-box, using the following criteria: core box fill rate, mechanical strength to bending Rg U, apparent density, compaction degree and susceptibility to friability of sand grains after hardening. The results of trials on the use of olivine moulding sands with hydrated sodium silicate (olivine SSBS) in the process of core shooting made it possible to determine the conditions for further research on the improvement of inorganic hot-box process technology aimed at: reduction of the heating temperature and the curing time. It was found that correlation between the parameters of the shooting process and the bending strength of olivine moulding sands with sodium silicate is observed.

In this study, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) powder was prepared by simple precipitation and heat-treatment process of cobalt sulfate that is recovered from waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and the effect of heat-treatment on surface properties of as-synthesized Co(OH)2 powder was systematically investigated. With different heat-treatment conditions, a phase of Co(OH)2 is transformed into CoOOH and Co3O4. The result showed that the porous and large BET surface area (ca. 116 m2/g) of Co3O4 powder was prepared at 200°C for 12 h. In addition, the lithium electroactivity of Co3O4 powder was investigated. When evaluated as an anode material for LIB, it exhibited good electrochemical performance with a specific capacity of about 500 mAh g–1 at a current density of C/5 after 50 cycles, which indicates better than those of commercial graphite anode material.

On the occasion of receiving the highest distinction of the honorary professor from the Jagiellonian University at Kraków, the author looks back at his academic career and ponders how sociological wisdom has left an impact on his life. He singles out the sixteen principles and rules formulated by the eminent sociologists, both classical of the XIX century and modern of the XX century, which he believes have influenced his professional social roles of the researcher, writer and educator, as well as his private everyday life. The famous quotations drawn from the sociological literature (e.g. the Thomas theorem, C.W. Mills’ sociological imagination, C.H. Cooley’s looking-glass self, E. Goffman’s the theatre of everyday life, R. Merton’s metaphor of scholars as pigmies on the shoulders of giants etc.) are accompanied by extensive interpretations by the author, relating them to his personal life-experiences.