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The 2023 election in Poland brought to an end the rule of the Law and Justice (PiS) party. With an extraordinary turnout of 74%, the highest in recent Polish history, 13.2 million voters cast their vote in support of parties other than PiS, with four liberal-democratic parties alone attracting over 11.6 million votes. This shift indicates a departure from the period of selective demobilisation of the liberal-democratic camp and selective overmobilisation of the right-wing camp inclined to protect the traditional-religious world in decline. The campaign deviated from 'normal politics', focusing instead on the principles of constitutional democracy, as the 8-year PiS rule marked the erosion of the rule of law. The election itself, while free, was unfair and unequal, attributed to the actions of the outgoing political camp. Paradoxically, however, the camp responsible for these violations failed to secure enough support to form a government. The new government now faces a complex array of challenges. It must restore the constitutional order, manage two electoral campaigns (local and European), and rebuild relationships with the EU as a pivotal objective. It also faces the necessity to foster Western support for Ukraine, which requires careful navigation of domestic and international challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some defenders of democratic rights and the rule of law are becoming increasingly frustrated by the European Union's inadequate response to democratic backsliding in countries like Poland and Hungary. This study focuses on Poland and introduces the concept of 'Eurodisappointment' to describe this new group, which is conceptually and empirically distinct from Euroscepticism. Rather than being Eurosceptic, the Eurodisappointed self-limit their Euroenthusiasm without opposing integration. Drawing on original survey data, we demonstrate that Eurodisappointment is particularly prevalent among women, opposition party voters, and those dissatisfied with the state of democracy in Poland. It is yet to be seen whether and how the concept of Eurodisappointment can be applied to studies of attitudes towards the European Union in other member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ornithology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

During the late 1800s, the Russian Empire faced two waves of anti‐Jewish violence. This led to an upsurge in communication both for and against pogroms in the western area of the Empire, which had formerly been a part of Poland. Our research has examined two archives of leaflets and reports on pogrom communication from 1881 to 82 and 1903 to 06 and revealed that the pro‐ and anti‐pogrom narratives display structural similarities across the two decades. Our analysis indicates that the established intergroup relations that led to the violence were the underlying common factor behind these narratives. Although their objectives seemed different, pro‐ and anti‐pogrom communications ultimately aimed to promote Polish identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of aquatic ecosystems was assessed for lakes in two river–lake systems: Święta Struga (Święte and Ocypelek) and Kałębnica (Czarne Południowe and Kałębie). Trophic states were determined using the Vollenweider, Nürnberg, and Carlson methods. Additionally, shoreline changes were analyzed for all lakes concerning their natural character, and physicochemical parameters were utilized as auxiliary elements in the assessment of the ecological state following the guidelines of Directive 2000/60/EC. Supplementary to these methods, the ecological evaluation of the littoral zone utilized meiobenthic organism grouping as an indicator. The results indicate significant differences among the studied reservoirs. Lake Święte is a reservoir bordering mesotrophy and eutrophy, with the ecological state of the littoral zone showing ongoing trophic development. Lake Ocypelek exemplifies a eutrophic reservoir undergoing progressive degradation. The lakes in the Kałębnica system also exhibit advanced trophic conditions, with Lake Kałębie being a eutrophic reservoir. Its shoreline has been significantly altered due to the development of the direct catchment area. In contrast, Lake Czarne Południowe serves as an example of a mesotrophic reservoir, with a substantially changed shoreline. Considering physicochemical elements and chlorophyll a concentration, the water quality for all examined lakes was found to be below the good category. The diagnosis of the condition of lake aquatic ecosystems requires an individualized approach to each of them. Therefore, employing various methods for their assessment, encompassing physico-chemical, biological, and morphological parameters, provides the opportunity to initiate potential remedial actions that will effectively contribute to their improvement. Conducting low-cost research involving a multidisciplinary approach to diagnose the state of aquatic ecosystems is becoming a crucial element in lake monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a modest attempt is undertaken to connect the rational choice theory mechanism with the sociological theory of voting, as efforts to juxtapose both theories are still rare, although some cited accomplishments offer interesting insights. Our dependent variable is participation in a local election in Poland. The local government elections in Poland seem to offer a setting particularly well-suited for a test of the rational choice hypothesis and its relation to sociological explanations of voting behavior. The essential contribution of the article derives from our conviction that social embeddedness and rooting into the social milieu and local community matter for both the cost of participating in a local election and the cost of deciding whether to participate. In the world of post-cleavage politics, individualization of political behavior and involvement in (new) social networks play an increasingly important role. The general finding can be summarized as follows: the social embeddedness of citizens does enhance the probability of participation in an election; however, it does not substitute for the impact of rational motivation factors, nor does it significantly decrease the latter's net impact on our dependent variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The accessory parotid gland differs in histological structure from main parotid tissue, making the appearance of tumours different than those in the rest of the gland. Therefore, our aim was to analyse the epidemiological and histological differences of parotid tumours located in regions I–V, with particular emphasis on the distinctiveness of region V. Furthermore, to define the epidemiological factors that will indicate the risk of histological malignancy from clinically benign appearances was our object of interest. We confirmed our hypothesis that the epidemiology, clinical behaviour, histology, tactics of the surgical procedure, route of access, and prognosis differ in the parotid gland tumours located in superficial (region I, II) and deep (region III, IV) lobes, as well as the accessory lobe (region V), despite originating from the one organ. The accessory parotid gland (APG, Vth level) differs in histological structure from main parotid tissue. This gives rise to the hypothesis, mirrored in clinical observations, that the representation of tumours is different than in the rest of the gland. The aim of the study was to analyse the epidemiological and histological differences of parotid tumours located in regions I–V, with particular emphasis on the distinctiveness of region V. To define the epidemiological factors that will indicate the risk of histological malignancy from clinically benign appearance, multicentre prospective studies conducted between 2017–2021 by five Head and Neck Surgery University Departments, cooperating within the Polish Salivary Network Database 1929 patients (1048 women and 881 men), were included. The age, gender, patient occupation, place of inhabitation, tumour size, clinical features of malignancy, histology, and facial nerve (FN) paresis were analysed for superficial (I_II) and deep (III_IV) lobes and with special regard to the tumours affecting region V. Twenty eight tumours were located exclusively in region V (1.45% total) and seventy-two tumours were found in region V exhibiting extensions to neighbouring regions (3.7% total), characterised as significantly younger and less frequent in retirees. In I–IV regions, approximately 90% of tumours were benign, with pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and Whartin tumour (WT) predominance. In region V, PA exceeded 75% but WT were casuistic (2/28). Incidences of malignancies in region V was 40% but clinical signs of malignancy were evident only in tumours > 4 cm or in the presence of FN paresis. In 19% of patients with a benign appearance, imaging revealed malignancy; however, 38% of patients showed false negative results both in terms of clinical and radiological features of malignancy. Logistic regression models in 28 patients with tumours located exclusively in region V vs. 1901 other patients and in 100 patients with V extension vs. 1829 other patients showed no clinical symptoms of malignancy binding with final malignant tumour histology as a single variable or in combination with other variables. The logistic regression models obtained in this study show strong linkage between tumour location and predictors (age, male gender, and tumour diameter) and also aimed to function as a good classifier. Our conclusion is that, despite the very clear image of the mid-cheek tumour which is easily accessible in palpation and ultrasound examination, it is necessary to improve oncological vigilance and preoperative patient preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier, we demonstrated the co-circulation of genetically distinct non-rodent-borne hantaviruses, including Boginia virus (BOGV) in the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens), Seewis virus (SWSV) in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) and Nova virus (NVAV) in the European mole (Talpa europaea), in central Poland. To further investigate the phylogeny of hantaviruses harbored by soricid and talpid reservoir hosts, we analyzed RNAlater®-preserved lung tissues from 320 shrews and 26 moles, both captured during 1990–2017 across Poland, and 10 European moles from Ukraine for hantavirus RNA through RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. SWSV and Altai virus (ALTV) were detected in Sorex araneus and Sorex minutus in Boginia and the Białowieża Forest, respectively, and NVAV was detected in Talpa europaea in Huta Dłutowska, Poland, and in Lviv, Ukraine. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods showed geography-specific lineages of SWSV in Poland and elsewhere in Eurasia and of NVAV in Poland and Ukraine. The ATLV strain in Sorex minutus from the Białowieża Forest on the Polish–Belarusian border was distantly related to the ATLV strain previously reported in Sorex minutus from Chmiel in southeastern Poland. Overall, the gene phylogenies found support long-standing host-specific adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a basic element of the natural environment and the most important component in human water management. Rainfall is the main source of water. Therefore, determining the amount of precipitation reaching the ground using sensors is crucial information. Precise precipitation data are necessary for better modeling quality, as the observation data from weather stations are used as basics for weather model assessment. The authors compared precipitation from the Hellmann rain gauge (climatic precipitation, 1.0 m above the ground surface) measured throughout the year and the GGI 3000 rain gauge (actual precipitation on the ground level) measured from April to October. Measurement sequences from the years 2011–2020 were considered. The data for analysis were obtained from a weather station located in northern Poland. The authors analyzed the relationships between data from the two sensors. A comparative study showed that the measurements of actual precipitation are higher and there are strong relationships between actual and climatic rainfall (r = 0.99). Using the introduced coefficient it is possible to determine the full–year actual precipitation with high probability, taking into account the precipitation with a correction from the winter half-year and the actual precipitation from the summer half-year, which is of great importance in the calculation of the water balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine whether the reaction time (RT) to the starting signal has an impact on the points scored by elite male motorcycle speedway riders, or whether it depends on the starting position (gate). Differences among junior and senior riders, and how it changes during a single match (15 heats) and in the subsequent phases of the competitive season (the main and knockout phases) were investigated. The database of reaction times to the starting signal obtained by motorcycle speedway riders was collected from a mobile application called PGE Ekstraliga ver. 1.0.66 (PGE Ekstraliga, Warsaw, Poland). The database included 1.261 results obtained by 65 male riders (age 25.9 ±7.6 years), competing in the highest league in Poland (PGE Speedway Ekstraliga) in the 2021 competitive season. Reaction time was measured using the Pegasus Speedway © telemetry system (Black Burst, Warsaw, PL). Riders scoring 3 points during a heat had the fastest reaction time (F(3,1257) = 8.90, p<0.001, η2 = 0.02), but RT did not influence the final result of the match (p<0.130). The times differ depending on the occupied starting position (F(3,1257) = 6.89, p<0.001, η2 = 0.02), with the fastest RT in the inner position–A compared to the B (p<0.05) and C (p <0.001) positions. Senior riders showed significantly faster RT (0.246s) compared to junior ones (0.258s) (p<0.001). The width of the starting line affects the reaction time (F(3,1257) = 7.94, p<0.001, η2 = 0.02). In the last (15th) heat of the match, RT was the fastest. The fast reaction time during the start affects the scoring of more points in a heat but depends on riders' experience, the starting position and the straight width of the motorcycle speedway stadium. Coaches should pay attention to these factors when programming training measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare body composition components and anaerobic capacity indices in elite motorcycle speedway riders before and after the competitive season. This study included 12 volunteer male motorcycle speedway riders from the highest speedway league in Poland (PGE Speedway Ekstraliga) (age: 22.7 ± 6.0 years, body height: 171.3 ± 4.0 cm, body weight: 62.5 ± 3.1 kg). Before and after the competitive season, an assessment of body composition and Wingate test (WAnT) on a cycle ergometer with analysis of acute cardiorespiratory and biochemical responses was conducted. Sport level for all riders was defined by the number of heats won (WS), the total number of points scored in all heats including bonus points (PTS + B), and the percentage of heats won (%W). The motorcycle speedway riders participated in an average of 75.3 ± 15.0 total heats (HS) and obtained PTS + B equal 136.8 ± 48.2. The anaerobic performance, body composition, cardiorespiratory and biochemical responses did not changed after the competitive season. The significant statistical correlations were noted between the differences in the Fatigue Index during WAnT and total number of heats (r = -0.61) and with PTS + B (r = -0.58). Positively correlations were observed also between HS and differences: fat mass (FM) (r = 0.60) and percentage of fat mass (r = 0.61) (all p < 0.05). These findings reveal that the HS during the competitive season is related to the stabilization of anaerobic capacity in the WAnT. The HS is positively correlated with an increase in fat mass, and additional fat mass can adversely affect athletic performance in speedway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and extreme weather events may be seen as an opportunity to help understand the mechanisms by which birds adjust their breeding parameters to environmental variability. In the breeding season of 2020, several factors, such as a prolonged drought period, a relatively warm winter with no snow cover, and a cold spring (the coldest May in Poland since 1991) affected many bird populations in Poland. The great tit Parus major tended to produce much smaller clutches, much fewer fledglings, and had very low breeding success, increasing with the progress of the breeding season in 2020, in contrast to the more typical breeding season characterised by average weather parameters in 2018. In light of the results obtained, we agree with the view that the phenotypic plasticity of the breeding parameters of the studied birds, such as phenology, may be insufficient to adjust to the upcoming extreme weather events. Additionally, further examining of the impact of extreme weather events on the breeding biology of animals is an important goal for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economists view earnings as a primary driver of migration, both actual and intended. However, studies on the relationship between migration intentions and earnings yield mixed results. We argue that earnings are an important factor, but that problems related to sample selection and the complexity of migration decision making obscure this importance. Nevertheless, periods of economic turbulence prompt people to reassess their economic situation and when a study is conducted after such economic shock, it surveys migrants who had enough time to revise their mobility intentions but who had not already moved. We used data on remain/move intentions of Polish labour migrants to the UK, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands in 2009–2016. This was a period of high economic turbulence in the four host countries (Global Financial Crisis, the Euro crises and the Brexit referendum) paralleled by a period of steady improvement for the Polish economy. We applied multinomial logistic regression to probe the Polish migrants' return/settlement intentions, our results show that, in general, higher earnings encourage settlement intentions. However, as expected, this influence tends to fade away from view in times of economic calm but gains in importance when unexpected shocks force migrants to re-evaluate their plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the long nineteenth century, Poland was divided among the Russian, Habsburg, and Prussian empires. The partition produced regional diversity in political culture and in institutional and economic development. We examine how the cultural legacies of the empires have influenced the propensity of Poles to cast a ballot in parliamentary elections since 1989. Polish National Election Study individual-level data are used to assess whether higher levels of electoral turnout in Galicia are indeed a legacy of the Habsburg rule. Our results confirm that, even after controlling for socio-demographic factors, there is a positive, substantive, and significant effect on turnout of living in the ex-Habsburg part of Poland. This effect can be explained by the frequency of religious service attendance and by ideology. Inhabitants of Galicia not only attend religious services more frequently and are more conservative than their counterparts in the rest of Poland, but also the more frequently they attend church and the closer to the radical right they place themselves, the more mobilized they are to vote. The impact of the legacies of the empires on political behavior in Poland seems persistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causes and consequences of variation in the incubation regimes of oviparous animals remain unclear, despite having important fitness consequences. Avian incubation regimes can be shortened by parents initiating incubation prior to clutch completion or prolonged when there are gaps in the laying sequence. Here, we begin by quantifying variation in the incubation regimes of three populations of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus from the UK and Poland before examining the consequences of such variation for their hatching and fledging success. We then investigate the mechanism causing such variation by exploring the impact of local weather conditions on incubation regimes. The difference between the expected and actual hatching dates of clutches was termed the "hatching deviation" and this showed considerable variation. Hatching deviation was negatively related to local temperature and clutch size. Hatching deviation affected hatching success and hatching deviation, temperature, wind speed and clutch size affected fledging success. Deviating from the expected laying and incubation regime caused lowered reproductive success. The most successful birds were those that were able to lay one egg per day and begin incubation upon clutch completion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great tit Parus major inhabits various types of forests, yet it prefers deciduous forests. In the urbanized areas it is one of the commonest bird species, even where only isolated trees are present, which seems to be a relatively recent phenomenon. This paper presents results of a long-term study (2002–2015) of variation in reproductive performance (number of hatchlings, hatching success, number of fledglings, fledging success, breeding success and nest failure rate) in first clutches of two great tit populations nesting in two contrasting habitats: a mature deciduous forest and an urban parkland, in central Poland. This study shows a clear and sustained spatial pattern of variation where the forest population of great tits produced more hatchlings and fledglings per successful nests than the urban park site population. Breeding success and fledging success demonstrate a similar but slightly less obvious pattern, with higher values for the forest site than the urban parkland area occurring consistently in the vast majority of years. Also hatching success was generally slightly higher in the forest than in the urban park but did not show such a clear spatial pattern. Only the nest failure rate was higher in the forest than in the urban parkland. We suggest that caterpillar richness in the forest compared to the urban parkland is one of the key drivers of the observed differences in the breeding performance between the study habitats. We also found positive correlations between fledgling numbers and caterpillar abundance and between fledgling numbers and mean May temperatures in the forest, whereas neither breeding nor fledging success showed such correlations. In the urban parkland, fledgling numbers as well as fledging and breeding successes were positively correlated with mean May temperatures. The between-population variation we found probably reflects a more general difference between urban and forest populations of tits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2019 parliamentary election in Poland resulted in continuity of the incumbent PiS party-coalition. The election saw, for Poland, an unprecedented turnout of 62%. The 44% support for PiS translated into a 51% majority in the Lower House. The ability of the three opposition blocs (KO, SLD and PSL) to coordinate their political campaign for the upper chamber resulted in their victory – PiS lost the majority in the Senate. This post-2019 period thus starts as parliamentary cohabitation. The preceding four years had witnessed repeated violations of the constitution by the government (including attempts to dismantle the separation of powers and to turn public media into a partisan propaganda machine) accompanied by a general anti-liberal and anti-European stance. The electorates of the two major party-blocks have polarized in terms of their socio-demographic features. The new government does not differ much from the pre-election one, with the same PM and most ministers. The first weeks of its governing indicate that the government's general as well as sectoral policies will be continued, including the controversial, illiberal ones. Finally, the election though free, was unfair, if for no other reason than the simple one of the partisan nature of the public media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dytiscus latissimus was recorded in a deep drainage ditch at the edge of the Bagno Bubnów fen in the Poleski National Park. Eight dead individuals (4 and 4) were found on 11.04.2019 in a poaching net for fish in which an otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1759) was caught and died. The remains of another three individuals (2 and 1) were found on the shore at the same site on 17.04.2020. This data is discussed on the background of data on the geographical distribution and habitat preferences of this species. The new record confirms the existence of a small island of its occurrence area in Central and Eastern Poland, the only one in the country outside the young glacial lake districts in the north-western and northern part of Poland. The new record also suggests that the habitat spectrum of the species may be at least locally wider than it is recognized - which is worth considering when looking for its potential sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that extreme weather events may be treated as natural experiments that may unravel the mechanisms by which birds adjust their phenology and breeding parameters to environmental variability. In 2017, a sudden and heavy drop of temperatures for several days affected many European bird populations. This event occurred during the laying–early incubation period in the great tit (Parus major) population in central Poland, causing a large delay in hatching and had sustained reproductive consequences. This cold snap occurring once breeding activity had already started in 2017 was followed by the warm and invariable breeding season of 2018. This natural experiment had an essential influence on great tit reproductive parameters. We found a significant difference in hatching date, number of fledglings, hatching success, and fledging success between 2017 and 2018. In 2017, there were about two fledglings per nest fewer than in 2018. Fledging success was positively associated with hatching delay in 2017, while the relation was negative in 2018. Hatching success differed significantly between both years, being higher in 2018. Mean level of hemoglobin (used as index of body, physiological condition) in the blood of nestling great tits was higher in 2017 than in 2018. We argue that the moment of hatching may be (at least in some years) more tightly related to the moment of maximum food demand of tit nestlings than the traditionally used laying date. Also in extreme years, phenotypic plasticity of hatching delays may be insufficient to adjust the timing of breeding to the upcoming extreme weather events. Further examining its limits may be an important goal for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at evaluating fruit yield and fruit quality of five Polish selective clones (S, H, N, 2/1 and 3/1) and three Canadian cultivars ('Smoky', 'Martin' and 'Pembina') of Saskatoon berry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) cultivated under the conditions of north-eastern Poland. The mean yield per shrub as well as the mean 100 fruit weight and fruit number per bunch was determined in the years 2010-2017. The contents of sugars, anthocyanins and polyphenols were examined by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Macroelements in fruits were determined after digestion by wet mineralization (H2S4) using oxidant hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The analysis of experimental data showed that the mean yields of the analysed cultivars and clones of Saskatoon berry in the first seven years of their fruiting reached 1.33 kg per shrub, which gave a yield of 5.5 t ha-1. The statistical analysis of results showed significant differences between the tested genotypes. The highest yields were reported for the Polish clones S and 3/1, whereas the lowest ones - for the clone N. The clone S belonged to one of the groups with the lowest values of 100 fruit weight and fruit number per bunch, whereas the clone 3/1 was characterized by later fruit ripening and by a higher fruit weight and number per bunch. Considering the contents of chemical components in fruits, the clone S had the highest active acidity, dry matter and sorbitol contents, but the lowest content of anthocyanins. In turn, fruits of the clone 3/1 were the richest in magnesium (Mg). Among the three Canadian cultivars analysed in our study, the highest yields were recorded for the 'Martin', whose fruits were the largest and had the highest content of anthocyanins. The lowest fruit yield was determined for the cultivar 'Smoky', but its fruits were the richest in total polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zywnosc is the property of Polish Society of Food Technologists - Scientific Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the drinking behaviours and alcohol preferences of female and male university students. A total of 5514 female and 4264 male students (Poland) participated in the study. Empirical data were collected every 2 years in 2000–2016, with the use of an anonymous questionnaire. The respondents were asked about the frequency of alcohol consumption, the preferred alcoholic beverages and their attitudes towards drinking. Data were analysed statistically by the Kruskal–Wallis test, Dunn's post-hoc test and the Mann–Whitney U test. Around 60–70% of the surveyed students were drinking sporadically, whereas 10–12% abstained from alcohol. Around 9–10% of the subjects had experienced alcohol-induced blackouts. Beer was the most popular alcoholic beverage, and it was consumed by 50–60% of the respondents. Seventy percent of the respondents were of the opinion that alcohol should be available on campus, and they had no intention to abstain from drinking. Both similar trends and inter-gender differences were observed among female and male students, most of whom had liberal attitudes towards alcohol consumption. Vodka continues to be popular among male students. Female students traditionally opted for weaker–strength alcoholic beverages and were more willing to try new types of alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2015 elections, Poland has 'enjoyed' the attention of social sciences—political science in particular—to an extent greater than at any time since the period of "Solidarity" in the early 1980s. In contrast to that period, Poland's idiosyncratic development over the last two and a half years can hardly be said to play the function of a normative role model. Political developments in Poland in recent times devolve into two stories: one of profound civilizational, economic and social development prior to the 2015 elections; the other of an unexpected and sudden shift toward the dismantling of the liberal democratic system after the Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in late 2015. The first part of this article describes the most important features of pre-2015 political developments in Poland and identifies key determinants of vote choice in the 2015 parliamentary election in Poland. In brief, this analysis shows two things: that there was no 'demand' for systemic change at these elections, and that support for the winning party was mainly determined by socio-cultural factors rather than economic ones. The second part of the article aims to answer the question of why the PiS government has embarked on a course of political action that violates both the abstract principles of liberal democracy and concrete, binding provisions of Poland's 1997 Constitution. Several theoretical and speculative ideas are offered in answer to this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gdańsk Pomerania is a region characterized by unique physiographic features and diverse flora. This region, as many other areas, is subject to numerous accelerating transformations. The occurrence of numerous species on their range edges and on isolated stands, e.g. mountain and xerothermic grassland species, was an important criterion in the development of a regional red list of vascular plants of Gdańsk Pomerania (Markowski & Buliński 2004). On this list, 648 species of vascular plants, which constitute about 39% of the regional flora and 26% of all Polish flora, are considered to be endangered at various levels. In total, 47 species have been declared extinct in the aforementioned region (RE), 39 taxa are considered as critically endangered (CR) and 109 – as endangered (EN). Further 222 plant species are classified as vulnerable (moderately endangered) (VU), 124 have low risk categories (NT or LC) and there are 107 taxa of unknown threat, due to lack of sufficient information (DD). The aim of this work was to synthesize endangered components of Gdańsk Pomerania vascular plant flora for their better recognition and characterization. Among the species varying in threat degrees, the authors identified species protected by law and endangered in Poland as well as globally. In addition, the participation of species diagnostic of individual phytosociological units was verified. Also, the share of taxa representing various geographical elements was indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined heavy-metal concentrations in feathers of nestling great tits Parus major and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus at two different sites (urban parkland vs. deciduous forest) located in the Łódź agglomeration in relation to interyear variation. We found that tit species did not differ significantly in lead and cadmium concentrations. Zinc concentration was significantly higher in blue tits. We also found that lead and cadmium levels in blue tit nestlings and the level of lead in great tit nestlings were higher in the parkland site than in the woodland site. We explain habitat variation in heavy-metal concentrations in feathers of nestlings by different levels of contamination at study sites. For both tit species, significant variation in heavy-metal amounts accumulated by nestlings was found between years with the lowest value in a year with the lowest value of rainfall. We suggest that the interyear variation may be accounted for by differences in rainfall, thus influencing quantities of trace elements bioavailable in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Polish parliamentary elections held in 2015 that resulted in victory for the Law and Justice (PiS) political party. Topics discussed include the party creating a government without coalition partners, the first in Poland's history, the PiS party list containing candidates from other parties including Polska Razem (PR) and Solidarna Polska (SP), and the poor election results of the Polish Peasant Party (PSL).

The cochlear implant treatment program was established in our Department in 2004. We have implanted almost 200 patients aged 4 to 87 years (average age 45) within 15 years. The profound hearing loss and deafness treatment program also includes replacing the speech processor with a new one in the event of its failure and the service life exceeding 5 years at the same time. At present, we have carried out exchanges with almost 120 patients with implants from various companies. After the exchange, subjective evaluation was carried out as part of surveys assessing the quality of life of patients after replacing the speech processor. Speech understanding in free field in noise was also assessed. The obtained results allow us to state that the patient's quality of life after replacing the speech processor with a new one increases. Speech understanding improves in approximately 70% of patients. Failures are associated with the lack of rehabilitation and sufficient use of the processor by the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of proper oral hygiene by dental plaque elimination is one of the most important factors affecting the healing process in postoperative oral wounds. Propolis is a substance produced by bees. Ethanolic extract of propolis has bactericidal, fungicidal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties. Moreover, it can scavenge free radicals. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the efficacy of a gel containing 3% of ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis (EEP-B) when used for maintaining oral hygiene in patients with postoperative oral mucosal wounds. The hygiene was assessed using API, OHI, and SBI followed by microbiological examinations. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of those who used a gel containing EEP-B for oral hygiene, and group 2 consisted of those who used a gel without EEP-B. Although improved oral hygiene was noted in both groups, the improvement was markedly greater in the group using gel containing EEP-B. Summing up the results of microbiological examinations, EEP-B has beneficial effect on mouth microflora in postoperative period. Propolis preparations used for oral hygiene allow eliminating microorganisms of pathogenic character and physiological flora microorganisms considered as being opportunistic, with no harmful influence on physiological microflora in oral ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to present a modernization project for the terminus at Redycka street in Wroclaw. The social amenity for the drivers and for the terminus staff has been designed. Additional equipment has been suggested, whose aim is to improve the terminus proper functioning. Also staff and passengers comfort has been taken into consideration. Proper pavement for the terminus has been designed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haematological indices have been frequently used to investigate the physiological condition of wild birds. In this respect, among many blood parameters, haematocrit has been considered to be a valuable indicator. Many studies, mostly conducted on adult birds, have discussed possible causes of haematocrit variation, pointing out several factors both natural and anthropogenic as being crucial. In this study, we examined the level of haematocrit for Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings in relation to habitat type and inter-year sources of variation. We found that the haematocrit of Blue Tit nestlings varied significantly between study years, showing an increasing trend. We explain this variation by changeable weather conditions, pointing out that temperature is a possible factor. The increase in haematocrit in subsequent study years was accompanied by a decline in the ambient temperature. No significant effect of habitat type was noted in the haematocrit variation. We also found that haematocrit values tended to be positively associated with fledging success. All this confirms that haematocrit may be reasonably used as a one of the indicators of nestling condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years 2009-2010 limnological research was carried out on 13 lobelia lakes of the Tricity metropolitan area. These lakes, of unique value not only on the scale of the country, are undergoing degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure. Grade of degradation of these lakes, depends on geoecosystem type, which they are representing. Geoecosystem type of the lake, defines the rate of natural eutrophication of reservoir. In this article types of geoecosystems of analysed lobelia lakes where defined in accordance with the guidelines of Bajkiewicz-Grabowska (1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 2002). The obtained results indicate that only one of the analysed lakes (Zawiat Lake) is likely to retain a low trophic level. Four lakes (Głębokie, Kamień, Borowo, Techlinko) represent geoecosystems with a moderate rate of natural eutrophication. The remaining of the analysed lobelia lakes are threatened with fast water eutrophication, which is demonstrated by a high catchment vulnerability to activate areal load, and a low resistance of the lakes (resulting from their natural properties) to external supply. The obtained results correspond to field measurements and make it possible to indicate actions aimed at protecting the group of the analysed lobelia lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional argument in studies of political knowledge among members of the general public is that greater interest and engagement in politics leads to a better grasp of the relevant facts. However, this may not always be the case: When the facts themselves become politicized, interest and engagement in politics may mean learning the facts not as they are, but as competing partisan and media elites want them to be. In this article, based on the 2010 Polish National Election Survey, we investigate the following questions: Does partisanship boost incorrect perceptions of contested facts when the correct answer is unfavorable to the respondent’s preferred party? Does partisan/ideological selectivity in exposure to media outlets do likewise? Are stronger partisans more likely to be misinformed about politically contested facts even if they are knowledgeable about the uncontested ones? [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Cochlear implantation is the standard procedure for severe bilateral sensory hearing loss or severe deafness. The aim of the study was to determine how implantation influences the quality of life of patients in the Department of Laryngology, SPSKM in Katowice. Material and methods: At the time of the study, our database included 100 adult patients with a cochlear implant (Cochlear Ltd.). Each of them is implanted with one of the following implants: CI24R (CA), CI24R (ST), CI24RE (CA), CI24M, CI512, CI522 or CI532. A letter was sent to all patients in the database with a questionnaire regarding their quality of life. The questionnaire was developed by the clinic team and contained questions about, among others. demographic data, professional activity, social contacts, rehabilitation, and self-perception. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first one contained closed questions, the second one contained open questions in which the patient was asked, among others. about his feelings, opinions and changes that took place in his life after implantation. The questionnaires that were sent back to the clinic were analyzed for the so-called general data, and patient activity. Results: Background information: Out of the 100 questionnaires sent out, we received back 65: 45 from women and 20 from men. The mean age was 60.5 years (min. 27, max. 81). Patients have been using cochlear implants for an average of 6.1 years (min. 1.5 months, max. 15 years). 65% of patients use their CPU for more than 12 hours a day. 23% of patients are users of the Nucleus Freedom processor, 11% are users of the Nucleus 5 processor, 55% are users of the Nucleus 6 processor, and 11% of the Nucleus 7. Of all patients who responded to the questionnaire, only 10% use wireless accessories (5% are users the MiniMic wireless mini- microphone, and another 5% use the PhoneClip phone clip). Patient Activity: The results showed a difference in patient activity before and after cochlear implantation. 71% of patients emphasize that their contact with family members is better after implantation than before. 76% of respondents declare better understanding of speech and better contact with other people after implantation. 72% of patients indicate that their self-confidence is significantly greater after surgery. Conclusions: Cochlear implantation helps patients improve their quality of life, increase self-confidence, and is recommended by patients themselves for all eligible patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and purpose: Cochlear implantation is a commonly used method of treating total and partial deafness in both children and adults. It has been performed at the Laryngology Department and Clinic of SUM Katowice since 2004. The aim of the study is to analyze the most common early and late complications. Material and methods: The study analyzed the course of treatment of all patients who underwent cochlear implantation in the years 2004-2020 at the Department of Laryngology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. In total, the study included 182 patients (87 men and 95 women) with a mean age of 48±20 years. In all patients, the procedure concerned primary implantation and was performed unilaterally. Results: In the study group, 90.1% were adults and 9.9% children. The mean hospitalization time was 6.1±2.1 days, and in the case of patients with complications, it was 6.87±2.93 (p=NS). The most common type of hearing loss was postlingual hearing loss, it affected 137 patients. The cause of the hearing loss was unknown in 53.2% of the cases. Among the remaining patients, the most common cause of hearing loss was the use of ototoxic drugs and exposure to noise. Complications occurred in a total of 19 patients (10.4%). The most common complication was dizziness -- 8 patients (4.3%) -- 5 of which concerned only the perioperative period. In 4 patients (2.2%) facial paralysis was diagnosed -- in 2 patients it resolved spontaneously. Removal of the cochlear implant was necessary in two patients due to persistent severe dizziness and headaches. Conclusions: Cochlear implant surgery is a safe procedure with a low risk of complications. The main complication in the study group was dizziness, which in most cases was transient and self-limiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is concerned with the establishment of a modern shoe manufacturing plant in the Polish town of Chełmek in the 1930s. The factory used to be a part of the international shoemaking group Baťa. The study first looks at the early years, which were associated with difficulties of building a manufacturing plant in Chełmek, and then goes on to describe the subsequent success of production of the factory on the Polish market, which was stopped only by the German invasion of Poland in 1939. The study further examines the dramatic history of the factory during World War II, as well as its fate in the second half of the 20th century as a nationalised firm, until the ultimate closure of the factory in the early 21st century. The memory of the activities of the firm Baťa in Chełmek is still very much alive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Guided by decades-old reports of hantaviral antigens in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens) in European Russia, we employed RT-PCR to analyze lung tissues of soricine shrews, captured in Boginia, Huta Dłutowska and Kurowice in central Poland during September 2010, 2011 and 2012. Findings: In addition to Seewis virus (SWSV), which had been previously found in Eurasian common shrews elsewhere in Europe, a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated Boginia virus (BOGV), was detected in Eurasian water shrews captured in each of the three villages. Phylogenetic analysis, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, showed that BOGV formed a separate lineage distantly related to SWSV. Conclusions: Although the pathogenic potential of BOGV and other recently identified shrew-borne hantaviruses is still unknown, clinicians should be vigilant for unusual febrile diseases and clinical syndromes occurring among individuals reporting exposures to shrews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the weak correlation between the hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration of nestling Blue Tits Parus caeruleus and Great Tits P. major. The researchers performed the study during the breeding season of 2010 as part of a long-term research project on the breeding biology of tits in Poland. They also used intra-class correlations to calculate within-brood repeatability. They found a significant positive correlation between hematocrit value and hemoglobin concentration for the nestlings of both species.

Background: Apples abundant in phenolic compounds show a variety of biological activities that may contribute to beneficial effects against some chronic diseases. Purpose: The aim of our study was to assess the protective effect of cloudy apple juice against chemical-induced oxidative stress in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were treated with apple juice per os, 10 mL/kg/day for 28 days and with a single dose of N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), 150 mg/kg or carbon tetrachloride (CCl), 2 mL/kg, 24 h before killing. Two groups of rats not pretreated with juice were administered each of the xenobiotics alone. Results: Microsomal lipid peroxidation in the liver was decreased in rats pretreated with juice by 52-87% when compared to animals given NDEA or CCl alone. Pretreatment with juice protected antioxidant enzymes: catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase but not superoxide dismutase. Their activity was recovered by 49-173% when compared to that in rats given either toxicant alone. The plasma activity of paraoxonase1 was reduced by both toxicants and was increased by 23% in the apple/CCl group. A rise in plasma protein carbonyls caused by the xenobiotics was reduced by 20% only in apple/NDEA-treated rats. Also, in this group of animals, a 9% decrease in DNA damage in blood leukocytes was observed. Conclusion: Phytochemicals in commonly consumed apple juice may protect some macromolecules against oxidative insult induced by xenobiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most interesting features of the 2003 Polish referendum on European Union (EU) membership was the strong link between voting behaviour in the 2003 referendum and voting behaviour in the 2001 Polish parliamentary election. In this article, we test two competing mechanisms that could account for this finding: a responsible party model, whereby citizens' attitudes towards EU membership would have been driven by their preferred party's position on the issue, and a more Downsian model, whereby the existence of an unrepresented Polish Eurosceptic electorate could have driven the success of two new Euro-sceptic parties in the 2001 parliamentary elections. Drawing upon data from the 1997, 2001 and 2005 Polish National Election Studies, we find much stronger empirical support for the Downsian approach. Far from being led to their Euroscepticism by party leaders as the 2003 referendum on Polish EU membership approached, voters for Poland's Eurosceptic parties in 2001 already possessed healthy degrees of Euroscepticism, especially when compared to supporters of other parties and even to non-voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polkowice--Sieroszowice mine in one of the seven candidates for the future pan-European underground laboratory studied in the framework of the LAGUNA project. We review the evidence that from the point of view of geology, long-term plans for the mine and existing infrastructure, and support of the authorities this is a perfect place to host the 100 kton liquid argon detector GLACIER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cloudy juices from six apple cultivars from Poland ('Ariwa', 'Gold Milenium', 'Florina', 'Melfree', 'Novamac', and 'Rajka') and four French cultivars ('Ariane', 'Chanteline', 'Judeline', and 'Judor') were produced and chemically characterised. The analyses encompassed 23 chemical parameters and phenolics profiles. The most important parameter, differentiating cloudy juice from clear juice, was turbidity. Cloudy juices were characterised by having an average total turbidity of 1,210 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) and a stability of turbidity of 42%. Some of the results deviated from the accepted ranges given in reference values for apple juices in the Code of Practice of the European Fruit Juice Association. This occurred in the cases of simple sugars and saccharose contents of the Polish apple juices (e.g., up to 56.9 mg l-1 of saccharose vs. a maximum value of 30 mg l-1, and for some mineral compounds in the French apple juices (e.g., sodium values up to 10 mg l-1). Large variations were found in case of important health-conferring components. Water-soluble pectin contents varied from 205 mg l-1 for 'Chanteline', to 1,289 mg l-1 for 'Gold Milenium'; while, in the case of phenolic compounds, the range was from 85.7 mg l-1 for 'Novamac', to 524.8 mg l-1 for 'Melfree'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on a study about Australians of Polish descent and their dual citizenship through four survey questions and official statistics. Distinctions on migrants born overseas and born in Australia are discussed as well as the two waves of Polish migration groups to Australia, reverse migration and the language and religion of different generations of migrants. It concludes that Polish migrants represent the type that policymakers in Australia aim to attract due their ability to speak English.

The article discusses the Polish Parliamentary election of October 21, 2007. Details about the election, which was held at the request of the Law and Justice party, are provided. The alliance formed between the Law and Justice party and the Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland and League of Polish Families parties is explored. The author also describes the Fourth Republic, which is the name of the visionary government establishment promoted by the Law and Justice Party. The major political issues in the 2007 election are also discussed, including a separation from post-communist influences, social injustice, and economic deterioration.

The article discusses the history of democratic party competition in Poland. It informs that the first fully democratic parliamentary election in Poland occurred in 1991 when no entry thresholds, Saint League system for transferring votes into seats and fairly large electoral district contributed to a highly fragmented system were applied. In addition, the major change in electoral rules in Poland was only introduced in the 1993 election.

Discusses concerns over electoral turnouts in Poland. Impact of low levels of electoral participation on the legitimacy of a regime; Perception of the public on the democratic process; Effect of policy distortion on social welfare issues.

Public perceptions of corruption are significant for their political consequences. But they are conceptually and empirically distinct from corruption. First, because perceptions of corruption run far ahead of experience. Second, because different factors influence the one more than the other - indeed poverty and low education increase perceptions of corruption while decreasing participation in it. Third, because the political consequences of corruption and corruption-perceptions differ not only in degree but in their targets - perceptions and experiences of corruption erode trust in different politicians and institutions. External moralising from institutions such as the EU may reduce corruption in Accession States while simultaneously increasing perceptions of it. And within these states, that moralising `culture which can resist corruption' which the EU demands, itself tends, perversely, to increase (not decrease) perceptions, suspicions, and allegations of corruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A theoretical analysis of the asymmetric rolling in The Plates Hot Rolling Mill of Tadeusz Sendzimir Steel Work in Cracow has been performed with finite element software Elroll with an assumed rigid–plastic model of the deformed metal.The theoretical analysis of the asymmetric rolling process, which was performed based on Elroll computer software, required the definition of the mechanical properties of the materials examined. Before making the selection of steel grades for analysis, data deriving from the system of controlling the finishing stand group at the Sendzimir Steel Works of Cracow were reviewed and steel grades defined in the system were analysed, the latter being grouped into sets, each with an assigned code of mechanical properties. Each of these groups is characterised by different coefficients of a general equation that defines the dependence of yield stress on temperature, strain rate, total rolling reduction, and the rolling stand number.On the base of the obtained results of the computer simulation the technology of the asymmetric rolling of plates in a continuous rolling mill has been elaborated. Within this framework results of the computer simulation are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]