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The outburst of the coronavirus pandemic in Poland has led to specific measures related to COVID, which affected unequally different age groups. Children were presented as "spreaders" of the disease, and a threat to the societies' safety. Such fears led to new disciplining practices, such as prohibiting children from leaving the house without adult's supervision during the first wave of pandemic in Poland. In the consequence of those special measures, the pandemic crisis challenged and blurred some previously existing boundaries, such as those between home and school, private and public, health and illness, online and offline, etc. In this paper, we examine how Polish children experienced their childhood through playful activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from three different research projects conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, we reflect on the children's understandings of what is safe. Our focus is on various spaces which either enabled or restrained such activities, and on active work of children in finding and creating a safe space. We argue that, in the circumstances in which known-to-date divisions blurred, children's seeking of safe spaces, in literal and metaphoric sense, were the means to deal with the new realities. These were primarily negotiable spaces, created through various social practices such as play.

The aim of the paper is to diagnose the entrepreneurship competency levels among students to identify differences in competencies and their levels regarding gender, material status, and professional situation. In addition, the goal of the analysis is to indicate the competencies that need to be strengthened among individual groups of students. The research was conducted using a questionnaire by The European Entrepreneurship Competence (EntreComp) framework that was sent to students at the Pedagogical University of Cracow and the Rzeszow University. The rule induction method enabled us to discover dependencies that were not obvious among different competencies of respondents and their status. The research revealed that the surveyed women had completely different competencies than men. Good financial status has a positive impact on the self-assessment of competencies and worse-cause difficulties in assessing business ideas. Unemployed students need stimulation to take action, seek funding, share ideas, and protect them. Students running their businesses are able to identify market needs. The results revealed the following implications: It is important to verify the EntreComp methodology to examine how different groups are evaluating their entrepreneurial competencies; the data mining technique enables discover of new knowledge based on regularities hidden in data; and the results can be used to tailor special teaching programs for developing skills that individual subgroups lack.

The relationships between creativity and tourism are commonly discussed. The article, rooted in the experience of post-soviet countries, presents an experiment carried out within the course "Creativity in tourism" at the University of Lódz, Poland. The objective was to perform two psychometric tests to verify the level of students' creativity: Test of Creative Imagination and "Creative "versus" Imitative Attitude Scale Test". The aim was to answer the research question: may the introduction of the element(s) of creative pedagogy impact creativity of students. The main objective of this paper is to prove the necessity of taking similar actions and including methods and tools from the creative pedagogy framework in teaching processes at the academic level. The students achieved a high increase of fluent thinking. The high rate of the course given by the students may encourage looking for new solutions within the scope of stimulating creativity. The experiment thus constitutes an example of the introduction of a subject satisfying the needs of a dynamic job market and tourism into the academic teaching program.

In elite volleyball, the serve takes an offensive form, aiming to directly score a point or significantly hinder the opponent from launching an attack. Which is why the research aimed to compare the type and effectiveness of the serve in the main round of Tauron and PlusLiga in the 2021/2022 season and update the current knowledge on the types of serves by function and gender. The study analysed observation consisted of 314 women's and men's matches. VolleyStation Pro v 1.29.5; Volleystation z o. o. Poland. Data from the main round matches that took place in the 2021/2022 season in the Polish elite league PlusLiga (182 men's matches) and Tauron Liga (132 women's matches) were used, and the regular season consisted of 2 rounds. The average percentage effectiveness of the serve in women was higher (E = 22%) than in men (E = 15%). In women, only 3 types were observed (JS, JF and W), as much as 86% of all the serves were JF serves. In men, as many as 5 types (JS, JF, FJS, FJF and W), of which over 67% were dynamic JS serves (jumping serve). The serve element has been modified over the years to obtain better effects conducive to winning. Ranging from increasing the speed of the serve, eliminating the serves from the spot in favor of the jump serves, to the use of serves to hide the correct hit of the ball ("Fake"—FFJ, FJS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essay "Early agricultural settlement of the periphery of the loess uplands and its paleoecological context - a case study of the Iłża Piedmont (southern Poland)" examines the relationship between the settlement of prehistoric agricultural societies and the occurrence of local loess deposits in Central Europe. The results show that there was already a close connection between the settlement of these areas and the fertile soils, favorable geomorphological, and hydrological conditions in the early Neolithic period. The research findings indicate the flexibility and adaptability of early farmers, which allowed them to settle even less fertile areas outside the loess uplands. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Environmental Medicine / Medycyna Środowiskowa is the property of Witold Chodzki Institute of Rural Medicine 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.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Oeconomia is the property of Wydawnictwo SGGW 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 assess the energy consumption of production in selected branches of the food industry in Poland and to identify its changes after Poland's accession to the EU. This issue is particularly important in the period of energy transformation and soaring energy prices. The novelty of this article is the determination of changes in the energy efficiency of various branches of the food industry. The main source of data was mass statistics data and unpublished data from the Central Statistical Office for 2004–2020. Descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, and strategic group mapping were used in the data analysis. The research shows that the production of foodstuffs is one of the most energy-intensive processing sectors. This results, among others, from many active enterprises in this sector and a large variety of industries. Individual food-processing industries are characterized by large differences in the energy consumption of production, which determines the different levels of electricity costs and affects the competitiveness of enterprises. In 2004–2019, the average electricity consumption in the food industry in Poland decreased by 31.5%. A greater increase in the value of sold production compensated for the higher energy consumption. This indicates an improvement in production efficiency and contributes to greater environmental protection. In the food sector, simple comparative advantages disappear in the form of lower production costs. This situation encourages processing companies to look for energy savings. The research results can be useful not only in Poland but also in other countries in shaping economic policy. The energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine may require different actions to be taken against various sectors of the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turner syndrome (TS) is a genetic condition that affects only girls and women, leading to health issues including infertility. Patients usually require recombinant growth hormone, and sex hormone therapy. Based on our anthropological research in Poland, we posit questions regarding the management of societal expectations by female parents regarding the femininity of their daughters, especially within the context of infertility. We query: Is it possible to understand TS and its consequences as not only being an obstacle to future plans, but also having emancipatory potential? To answer this question, we refer to the concept of hope and analyze the interpretative work of mothers of girls with TS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, an amendment to the Act on the Protection and Care of Monuments of 2003 was introduced in Poland, aimed at combating the problem of treasure hunting and its impact on national heritage. Despite the consequences, especially a potential penalty of up to eight years in prison, treasure hunting remains an attractive pastime for some. The article aims to find motives of treasure hunters through literature review and studying online forums, including a Facebook groups, to gather information for further action to protect the archaeological heritage. The author identifies seven main motivators of individual treasure hunters, which include: passion for history, adventure seeking, intellectual challenge, collecting, need for fame and recognition, personal satisfaction, and finally financial gain. Each of the above is explained and showed though treasure hunters own public admissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the American Association of Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

This article is an attempt at investigating new meanings and significance of computer-based entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors explore how and to what extent students in Poland have been using electronics for entertainment during the global crisis, what emotions appeared and whether they were able and willing to engage in an auto-reflexive process. The article presents the results of the questionnaire interview designed for the purposes of this particular study. The authors chose to reveal the multi-facetedness of the theme in question, i.e. focus on the possibilities and the future that computer-based etertainment offers, leading to transformations both externally and internally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents 66 radiocarbon (14C) dates obtained at 33 key sites from the Polish part of the European Sand Belt. These calibrated dating results were compared to 34 high-resolution 14C dates obtained from a fluvial-aeolian sediments to identify pedogenic phases from the late Pleniglacial interval to the early Holocene. These identified pedogenic phases were correlated with Greenland ice-core records, revealing high sensitivity of the fluvio-aeolian paleoenvironment to climate changes. Two pedogenic phases were identified from the late Pleniglacial interval (Greenland Stadial GS-2.1b and GS-2.1a), three from the Bølling-Allerød interstadial (Greenland Stadial GI-1), one from the late Allerød–Younger Dryas boundary, and at least one from the Younger Dryas. The ages of these pedogenic phases reveal a distinct delay of 50–100 calendar years after the onset of cool climate conditions during GI-1, reflecting gradual withdrawal of vegetation. Soil horizons from the early Holocene do not show any clear relation with climate change, where breaks in soil formation were caused by local factors such as human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe outcomes of COVID-19 account for up to 15% of all cases. The study aims to check if any gene variants related to cardiovascular (CVD) and pulmonary diseases (PD) are correlated with a severe outcome of COVID-19 in a Polish cohort of COVID-19 patients. Methods: In this study, a subset of 747 samples from unrelated individuals collected across Poland in 2020 and 2021 was used and whole-genome sequencing was performed. Results: The GWAS analysis of SNPs and short indels located in genes related to CVD identified one variant significant in COVID-19 severe outcome in the HADHA gene, while for the PD gene panel, we found two significant variants in the DRC1 gene. In this study, both potentially protective and risk variants were identified, of which variants in the HADHA gene deserve the most attention. Conclusions: This is the first study reporting the association between the HADHA and DRC1 genetic variants and COVID-19 severe outcome based on the cohort WGS analysis. Although all the identified variants are localised in introns, they may be correlated and therefore inherited along with other risk variants, potentially causative to severe outcome of COVID-19 but not discovered yet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Work / Praca Socjalna is the property of Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im Marii Grzegorzewskiej 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.)

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of the research is to assess whether the young generation in Poland has the potential to build sustainable companies by evaluating the attitudes of university students towards sustainable entrepreneurship.. THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The readiness to create a sustainable enterprise was assessed on the basis of self-assessment of prosocial attitudes, business intentions and knowledge of social and environmental aspects in business with the use of multidimensional analysis based on machine learning methods. THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: A significant challenge for policymakers, scientists and entrepreneurs is solving important social and environmental problems through the development of sustainable entrepreneurship. The implementation of this concept requires efforts to educate and shape pro-social attitudes, especially among the young generation. Therefore, the research focuses on identifying and assessing the attitudes and awareness level of pro-social aspects in business and recognition of entrepreneurial intentions among representatives of this generation. RESEARCH RESULTS: The research results show that young people have an intuitive sense of what sustainable business is all about, but the formal knowledge in this area is low. Financial aspects, i.e. the possibility of obtaining significant income from own business, as well as independence and the possibility of being a manager, turned out to be much more motivating for entrepreneurship than the possibility of changing the world for the better, helping local communities or protecting the environment. CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The innovative approach to multidimensional data analysis highlighted the lack of knowledge and insufficient level of pro-social attitudes among the young generation, which is a particularly worrying phenomenon in the context of formulated challenges and social and environmental needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of Douglas-fir (Df) to European forests is likely to increase as the species is a potential adaptation option to climate change. In this study, we investigated growth and survival of Df seed sources to fill a knowledge gap regarding recommendations for the future use of Df provenances in Poland. Our experimental test site represents the most continental climate among all Df trials installed in the IUFRO 1966–67 test series in Europe. At this unique single site, we evaluated the performance of 46 Df provenances from North America, and nine local landraces of unknown origin. Repeated measurements of tree diameter, height, and volume were analysed, to age 48, representing integrated responses to geographic and climatic conditions. Significant variation in survival and productivity-related traits were found, with the interior Df provenances performing best, in contrast to previous European reports. The higher survivability and volume of the interior provenances resulted from their superior frost resistance. The low precipitation seasonality at the location of seed origin provided an additional advantage to the trees at the test site. Geographic and climatic factors of seed origin explained most of the variation in productivity (77 and 64%, respectively). The tested landraces exhibited diverse performance, implying that naturalized local seed sources in Poland need improvement and perhaps enrichment with new genetic material from North America, while considering geography and climate. Assisted migration programs should consider the limitations imposed by both frost and drought events in guiding future Df selections for continental climates. Further field testing, early greenhouse screening and DNA testing are also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A musician's many years of professional experience may contribute to the development of pain and musculoskeletal disorders. There are a few studies in Poland on gender differences in musculoskeletal pain among adult professional musicians. Aim of the study: This study aimed to assess and compare pain in Polish women and men who are professional musicians, as well as to analyze the relationships between the intensity and frequency of pain and the time spent playing each week and the experience of playing the instrument in years. Material and methods: Sixty professional musicians were examined (26 men and 34 women). Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Participants reported the frequency of musculoskeletal system ailments, the location of the pain, the number of hours of playing the instrument per week, and the playing experience in years. In addition, body weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results: Most of the participants (94% of women and 69% of men) reported pain in the musculoskeletal system (p=0.010). Women experienced significantly greater pain in the musculoskeletal system assessed using the VAS (p=0.036), and also declared pain significantly more often compared to men (p=0.002). Significant positive correlations were found between frequency of symptoms per week with the number of hours of playing per week (r=0.28), year of playing the instrument (r=0.38), and pain assessment on the VAS (r=0.57). Moreover, negative correlations were found between frequency of symptoms per week with body height (r=-0.45) and body mass (r=-0.36). Conclusions: Musculoskeletal disorders are very common among professional musicians, especially among women. In general, the greater the number of hours playing per week and the longer the history of playing, the greater the pain intensity. Future research should aim to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders associated with playing an instrument in different groups of musicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: American football is becoming a more and more popular sport in Poland. People practicing this sport have specific nutritional needs. A balanced and rational diet is very important in the process of training an athlete. Not only composition of the body, but also the proper diet is important of the results achieved, deciding on the athlete's success or failure. The aim of the study is to assess the body composition and nutritional behavior of American football players. Materials and methods: The study was conducted among 46 participants from the American football club 'Towers Opole'. They were split into 2 groups, senior (n = 31) and junior (n = 15). The following measurements were taken: height, weight, body composition (body fat - BF, fat mass - FM, fat free mass - FFM, muscle mass - MM, total body water - TBW) and body mass index (BMI). An evaluation of nutritional behavior through the author's questionnaire was also conducted. Results: Seniors compared to juniors had - body height (BH): 183.1 cm vs. 174.7 cm (p < 0.01), body weight (BW): 94.5 kg vs. 81.6 kg (p < 0,01), BMI: 28 kg/m2 vs. 26.5 kg/m2 (ns), BF: 21.9% vs. 20.9% (ns), FM: 20.8 kg vs. 17.6 kg (ns), FFM: 74.9 kg vs. 66 kg (p<0.01), MM: 71.6 kg vs. 62.6 kg (p < 0.01), TBW: 56.6% vs. 57.9% (ns). The analysis of eating behavior showed that seniors consumed meat and cold cuts every day significantly more often than juniors - 66.7% vs. 28.6% (p < 0.01), they consumed cheeses as well as cream and blue cheese more often - 99.33% vs. 71.43% (p < 0.05), they mainly supplemented liquids with mineral water - 63.33% vs. 14.29% (p > 0.05), and occasionally or not at all with energy drinks - 83.33% vs. 50.00% (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Seniors have higher values of somatic variables than juniors. The prevalence of normal eating habits among seniors and juniors is at a similar level, although the group of seniors had more favorable eating habits than the juniors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes three interlaboratory experiments concerning 222Rn determination in water samples. The first two experiments were carried out with the use of artificial radon waters prepared by the Laboratory of Radiometric Expertise (LER), Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Kraków in 2014 and 2018. The third experiment was performed using natural environment waters collected in the vicinity of the former uranium mine in Kowary in 2016. Most of the institutions performing radon in water measurements in Poland were gathered in the Polish Radon Centre Network, and they participated in the experiments. The goal of these exercises was to evaluate different measurement techniques used routinely in Polish laboratories and the laboratories' proficiency of radon in water measurements. In the experiment performed in 2018, the reference values of 222Rn concentration in water were calculated based on the method developed at LER. The participants' results appeared to be worse for low radon concentration than for high radon concentrations. The conclusions drawn on that base indicated the weaknesses of the used methods and probably the sampling. The interlaboratory experiments, in term, can help to improve the participants' skills and reliability of their results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Efficient functioning at work depends on social/emotional competence, understood as a set of complex skills that determine the effectiveness of behaviors in various professional and social situations. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the social competence of physicians, nurses, and paramedics with regard to sociodemographic contributors and social training. Material and methods. The study involved 303 medical workers, including 90 physicians (29.7%), 112 nurses (36.96%), and 101 paramedics (33.3%). The Social Competence Questionnaire (SC Q) and a questionnaire developed by the researchers were completed. The diagnostic questions included three types of situations: intimate situations (I), situations involving social exposure (SE ), and situations demanding assertiveness (A). Results. The majority of healthcare workers had average general social competence, over one-fifth had high competence, and one- -sixth had low competence. Low competence in social exposure situations (SE ) was observed in nearly one-fourth of the participants. One in six respondents had low competence in situations demanding close interpersonal contact (I) and assertiveness (A). Medical workers aged 45 years and up had lower general competence as well as lower I and SE competence. Social training associated with scientific and social activity develops SE competence in physicians and A competence in paramedics. Conclusions. The low and average scores for social competence achieved by physicians, nurses, and paramedics demonstrate the need for more social training, especially involving professionals in scientific activity and the education of medical staff and various social groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-distance running and, in particular, running marathons has become an increasingly popular activity among the elderly. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a marathon effort on the psychomotor performance and catecholamine concentration in runners over 50 years of age. The participants were male runners (n = 28) who completed the 32nd Wrocław Marathon in Poland. The runners' psychomotor performance was assessed on the basis of their choice reaction times (CRT), heart rate (HR) and running speed measurements. In addition, the adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) as well as lactate (LA) levels and anaerobic threshold (AT) were measured. The runners' CRT after crossing the finish line was significantly longer by 50 ms (p < 0.05) in response to each emitted audiovisual stimulus, as compared with baseline. The mean running speed was reduced by 1 km/h between the first speed measurement (5th km of the run) and the last (42.195 km) (p < 0.05). The observed three-fold increase in adrenaline and noradrenaline levels indicates an intense activity of the sympathetic–adrenergic system. The cognitive function levels in the studied marathon runners returned to baseline after 30 min of recovery, and the function of the sympathetic–adrenergic system by seven days after completing the marathon race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated different specific jumping performances of high-level male volleyball players. The aim of this study was to assess covered jumping distance, jump height, and number of jumps performed at certain positions by volleyball players competing at the 2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in Poland. A total of 140 male volleyball players from national teams participated in the study. The analysis was performed for jumping flying distance (JFD), jump serve height (SJH), attack jump height (AJH), block jump height (BJH), and quantity of jumps (JC). The analysis of JFD of attack jumps showed that the middles covered a shorter distance than the other players. When analyzing the block jump lengths, distance during jump performance covered by the receivers (R1) was shorter than that of the opposites. Analysis of SJH by volleyball players at various positions showed statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) among the middles (M1, M2), receivers (R1, R2), and opposites (O). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in BJH were found between the middles and the rest of the players. The results of the experiment show a high degree of reliability for jump height during serve and attack, jumping flying distance covered during an attack, and number of block jumps. The strongest relationship was seen between jump components, which predominantly depend only on a volleyball player performing a specific action (e.g., jump serve or attack jump). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast growth of the service sector is one of the characteristic features of the contemporary economy. Amongst other CEE countries, Poland is one of the emerging locations for this sector. The aim of the paper is to examine and compare the business service sector in India, Ireland and Poland. Both India and Ireland are exceptional locations for this industry, so comparing the state and operating conditions in Poland with those countries can be insightful. A literature study is used to determine the motives of companies undertaking offshore investments, upon which a selection of location factors is made. In the empirical part, those factors are analyzed in a descriptive way. This allows us to draw conclusions concerning this sector in Poland. This country, to some extent, possesses selected positive features of both India and Ireland, which explains the current growth of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who were born used IVF in Poland are subject of vivid discussion nowadays. In this article, we probe the ontology of the in vitro child: do in vitro children exist? If so, how and where? We analyse how an 'IVF child' is constructed through public discourses and private narratives. We explore media publications, as well as doctors' and parents' narratives concerning IVF children. A very strong voice in the debate has Catholic Church, which opposes medically assisted reproduction. Our main interest in this text are the answers of children and adults born using in vitro. Even young children recognize some focal points from the debate over assisted reproduction and refer to them. Their narratives show that they feel interpellated into existence by various discourses. In this manner, we argue, being an 'in vitro child' in Poland is a political status, not a biological one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to examine the effects of clustering industrial activity in some selected regions of Poland. Industrial clusters are recognised to be core entities of economic growth and innovation in the global economy (Njøs and Jakobsen, 2016). As theoretical considerations suggest, industrial clusters understood as a concentration of specific kinds of industry in particular locations generate some positive externalities. The companies belonging to those industries may benefit from the fact that they are spatially concentrated. To determine the existence of such externalities, the data on industrial value added per working person, GDP per capita and GDP growth was used as indicators of the condition of the economy in particular area (NUTS 3 level). Then it was confronted with the results of own research on industrial clusters to determine whether the latter may be a source of competitive advantage of the area. The existing studies dealing with industrial clusters mainly use the case study method or quantitative approach based on one particular cluster. In this paper, a more general approach is used and it tries to identify the influence of clusters on economies on a broader level. The results show that on one hand, no connection between the cluster creating and value added was revealed, on the other hand, the connection with both GDP per capita and GDP growth was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ethnologia Polona is the property of Instytut Archeologii I Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk 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.)

Background: The most common risk factors for running-related injuries are mistakes, such as insufficient warm-up and stretching exercises, during training. Good preparation and proper training reduces the risk of sport-related injuries. Aim of the study: To examine fundamental movement patterns and likelihood of injury in amateur runners. Material and methods: Twenty-four amateur long-distance runners from Opole region (Poland) were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 12 runners from the club "Kotwica Brzeg", who did a proper warmup before training and stretching exercises after training. The second group comprised 12 runners from other clubs who did not undertake any warm-up or stretching exercises (control group). Fundamental movement patterns were tested by the Functional Movement Screen test (FMS). Results: The mean FMS test score was higher in "Kotwica Brzeg" runners (17.08 points) than in the control group (15.50 points), but this was not statistically significant. The "Kotwica Brzeg" runners performed better in five of the FMS tests, but this was only significant for the rotational stability test. Conclusions: Runners who did a proper warm-up and stretching exercises achieved better results in the FMS test, which may reduce the risk of running-related injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home physical therapy is considered the most important health experience ensuring independence for disabled or older people. This aim is achieved by providing steady long-term care focused on the individual needs of patient and helping them improve their health literacy. The aim of this article is to discuss the possibility of using standardized questionnaires to measure changes in health status and the functional abilities of patient based on experiences in other countries. The article describes the home physical therapy system in Poland and the United States, based on current laws and scientific research. The following terms were included: outpatient physical therapy, home physical therapy, health literacy, tests to evaluate functionality of patient. The Barthel scale, used in Poland, does not take into account all elements of functional evaluation, and thus it does not allow authors to measure and evaluate changes in the functional abilities of the patient. One example of such a questionnaire is the Outcome and Assessment Information Set-C1 (OASIS -C1), used in the US . Realization of home physical therapy for patients requiring help may be an important factor in changing the range of their independence, thus having an influence on improving their quality of life. The use of a validated OASIS questionnaire and the Barthel scale to perform a functional evaluation of patients will lead to providing services more suitable to the health status of patients and a systematic evaluation of changes in the functional abilities of patients. Improving the health competence of patients will have an impact on the conscious use of health services financed through public and private funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Insomnia is described as an insufficient amount or quality of sleep that lasts for at least a month. Sleeplessness in the group of professional drivers may lead to accidents and other road incidences. Factors influencing the work of drivers include their work time - the amount of time they spend driving their vehicle. Objectives. The aim of the study was to estimate the frequency of the occurrence of insomnia among professional drivers, taking into consideration daytime sleepiness, socio-demographic variables and hourly work organization. Material and methods. Study was conducted on 94 professional drivers from the Zachodniopomorskie region: 25 (26.60%) paramedics, 24 (25.53%) police officers, 23 (24.47%) fire fighter drivers and 23 (24.47%) truck drivers. A questionnaire was used with the following components: Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS ), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS ) and an original questionnaire containing questions regarding socio-demographic data and health behaviors. Results. Insomnia was diagnosed in 12 professional drivers (12.77%). Among them the majority were truck drivers - 4 respondents (4.26%). A relationship between the age of respondents and occurrence of insomnia measured with the AIS scale was found. A relationship between insomnia and drivers posing a threat to road traffic was also found (χ2 = 19.95; p = 0.005). People suffering from moderate daytime sleepiness are 35 years old on average. Conclusions. Drivers older than 35 and those with BMI above 28 are groups with the highest risk of suffering from insomnia. Drivers with insomnia more frequently pose a threat to road traffic. Drinking coffee has no impact on insomnia and daytime sleepiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Comparative Economic Research is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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.)

Copyright of Comparative Economic Research is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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.)

Seed management carried out by The State Forests National Forest Holding is an integral part of rational forest management. Seed collection takes place mainly from stands belonging to first category of forest reproductive material, which is the largest seed base in Poland. In smaller amount, seeds are collected in selective objects of highest forest reproductive material category (selected seed stands, seed orchards). The previous estimation methods of seed crop were based on visual assessment of cones in the stands for their harvest. Following the rules of FRM transfer is additional difficulty of rational seed management which limits the possibility of the use of planting material in Poland. Statements concerning forecast of seed crop and monitoring of seed quality is based on annual reports from the State Forest Service. Forest Research Institute is responsible for preparing and publishing above-mentioned statements. A small extent of its automatization and optimization is a large disadvantage of this procedure. In order to make this process more effective web-based GIS application was designed. Its main performance will give a possibility to upload present-day information on seed efficiency, their spatial pattern and availability. Currently this system is under preparation. As a result, the project team will get a possibility to increase participation of seed material collected from selected seed base and to share good practices on this issue in more efficient way. In the future this will make it possible to obtain greater genetic gain of selection strategy. Additionally, first results presented in literature showed possible use of unmanned aerial system/vehicle (UAS/V) for supporting of seed crop forecast procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade was a period of intense development of the Polish food industry, which was primarily involved with Poland's accession to the European Union. There has been a large investment boom, and right after it a rise in the value of fixed assets of food industry enterprises. In addition, the value of sold production has increased and work productivity has increased. These were common phenomena and covered virtually all sectors of the food industry. The total investment value in the entire food industry in 2001-2014 amounted to approx. PLN 100.0 billion, and Polish food companies have become some of the most modern among the countries of the community. Companies in the food industry, that they can sell their products on the expanded EU market had to meet specific production standards, which was associated with the introduction of quality management systems and the safety of produced food. This process mainly involved obligatory quality management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the frequency of aggressive behaviors in health care institutions, and determine their influence on emotional reactions of medical workers. Materials and methods: The study involved 201 health care professionals from the regions of Lower Silesia and Opole in Poland. The authors employed the exposure to patient aggression inventory, based on the questionnaires of Merecz and Nowicka & Kolasa; this inventory divides patient aggression towards medical workers into seven different forms. Results: In over 90% of cases, health care professionals fell victim to patient aggression in a workplace. It mostly took forms of verbal aggression, a raised voice and shouting. A physical attack was reported by 45.6% of the surveyed; it resulted in physical injuries in 27.9% of psychiatric hospital workers and 24.7% of general hospital workers. As a reaction to patients' verbal aggression, medical workers usually calmly explained that such behavior was improper. Violence and aggressive behaviors of patients evoked workers' anger, fear, a feeling of resignation and the loss of their sense of safety. In most case's victims of patient aggression either coped with the problem themselves or asked their co-workers and superiors for help. Conclusions: Aggressive behaviors of patients arouse in medical staff, mostly anger. Medical workers usually cope with patient aggression themselves; nurses more often than other health care professionals ask their superiors and coworkers for help. It is necessary to conduct further research into the problem of patient aggression towards medical staff so that actions ensuring safety for workers can be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The subject of the study was a gentle and smooth loess slope, featuring a Magdalenian culture site, located near the northern edge of the loess belt in eastern Poland. Based on the probing of 130 soil profiles across a 10×10mmesh within an area of 1.2ha, the land surface after the deposition of Weichselian loess was reconstructed. Soil mapping indicated the patchwork character of the present soil cover, which consists of Luvisols of varying degrees of transformation resulting from agricultural use. Partly eroded and buried soils co-occur in the upper part of the ridge flat, non-eroded soils in the middle part, and eroded soils in the lower part, in the archaeological site area, with buried soils at the foot of the slope. The thickness of the primary soil cover was reconstructed by means of geostatistical analyses. This was used to reconstruct the primary, undulating land relief characterised by numerous small convex forms (small hillocks and hummocks) and concave forms (closed depressions and slope troughs). These forms were levelled out by soil erosion in the course of agricultural use. The planation of relief caused a decrease of the mean inclination by 25% and elevation difference by 13%. The greatest changes occurred on the ridge flat where the denudation of small hillocks and the filling of closed depressions took place. Local inclinations decreased by up to fourfold and in some places the inversion of slope exposure occurred. During the 210years of agricultural use, the eroded surfaces subsided by an average of 0.32m and, at most, by 0.92m, which corresponds to an average of 1.5mm and 4.3mm per annum respectively. Less than 50% of the eroded soil material was deposited within the investigated slope; most of the material was carried off beyond it. The accumulated surface, however, is 2.5 times smaller than the eroded surface. Hence the accumulation indicators are slightly higher than the erosion indicators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to analyse the associations of emotional control with sociodemographic and clinical variables in a sample of patients with a range of chronic somatic diseases. The relationships between emotional control, coping styles and adjustment to the disease were investigated. The sample consisted of 300 patients with the mean age of 54.60 ± 17.57 years. Courtauld Emotional Control Scale was used to measure the patients' tendency to suppress negative emotions, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations was used to measure coping styles and Acceptance of Illness Scale was applied to determine adjustment to the disease. Patients with neurological conditions showed significantly lower suppression of anger. Levels of emotional control were found to be related to gender, age and educational level but not to the place of residence. Task-oriented style of coping with stress correlated positively with suppression of depression and anxiety, whereas acceptance of illness correlated negatively with suppression of anger. Levels of emotional control are only weakly related to the type of diagnosis; however, some clinical samples may show lower suppression of anger. Suppression of negative emotions is weakly related to adjustment indicators such as certain coping styles and acceptance of illness. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have found that reaction time and movement time increase with fatigue (measured by blood lactate concentration) in laboratory situations. The study tested whether these relationships occurred for reaction time and movement time of elite volleyball players during a training game. Components of the players' psychomotor performance (reaction time, movement time) and physiological parameters (heart rate, blood lactate concentration) were analyzed. Fourteen male, adolescent volleyball players participated in the study. Reaction time and movement time were measured with the Optojump measurement system during the game in off-the-court periods. All measurements were performed during a pre-game test and during each of the four sets of the game. During Set 1, players' reaction time decreased significantly compared with the pre-game test indicating a likely warm-up effect. Blood lactate concentration increased significantly across sets. However, the players' reaction times remained constant across sets. The studied players did not exceed the psychomotor fatigue threshold anytime during the entire game. These findings indicate that the amount of training (20 hours a week) done by elite players is sufficient to prevent threshold fatigue levels that create significant decreases in psychomotor performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze psychosexual needs of nursing care home residents in Poland. The authors attempted to answer the question ‘how do residents satisfy their psychosexual needs?’ This survey-based study was performed with respect to the residents’ right to privacy and intimacy. The residents were also informed that they could withdraw from the study at any stage. The history was taken from 85 subjects (60% women, 40% men). The mean age was 74.2±11.2. The most important psychosexual needs included: conversation, tenderness, emotional closeness (empathy, understanding), sexual contacts and physical closeness. As the most important elements of the relationship, respondents mentioned mutual respect and conviction that they can rely on their partners. Most respondents felt sexual tension occasionally, others once a week or less frequently. They relieved sexual tension through intimate contacts with their long-term partners, watching erotic films, masturbation, walking and diverting attention to other activities. Every fourth respondent was satisfied with his/her sexual life. The majority of seniors repeated stereotypes about sexuality of the elderly. Almost 71% claimed that sex in elderly people was taboo, 64% said that sex was for young people only, and 51% thought that sex was not important in life. Old age makes little difference to psychosexual needs. Most seniors need closeness manifesting as tenderness and conversations. Many old people are sexually active. Thus, it is worth considering whether people living in cohabitation should not have the possibility of staying together in nursing care home. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The archaeological site in Klementowice is the north-easternmost settlement point of the Magdalenian technocomplex in Europe. The paper presents the results of geoarchaeological investigations focused on recognition, identification, and interpretation of environmental determinants of the site location. The specific and favourable geographical position of the site in the Late Glacial is distinctly visible at the macroregional scale (at the border of contrasting megaregions – highlands/lowlands with different environmental conditions) as well as the microregional scale (specific local conditions). The site has been known since the early 1980s. In 2007, excavations were resumed and a new, previously unknown concentration of artefacts was discovered. The flint inventory from the site exhibits close analogies with the areas of Moravia and Central Germany. The new data from several thousands of flint artefacts and first discovery of faunal remains (Equus ferus) indicate that there was multi-seasonal hunting camp in this area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors discuss the strategy of use of incretin hormones in type 2 diabetes treatment in the context of cardiovascular complications. The results of the phase III study on human GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide-1) analogue-liraglutide have been presented under common acronym LEAD (Liraglutide-Effect and Action In Diabetes). The liraglutide therapy improved glycemic control with low hypoglycemia risk and decreased glycated hemoglobin by an average 1,13%. Decreases in systolic pressure and significant body weight loss were observed. Not only did the index describing beta cells function HOMA-B improve but also did the ratio of insulin to proinsulin. Summing up, incretin hormones beneficially influence blood glucose level, moreover, their use decreases blood pressure and body weight which might indicate their positive influence on cardiovascular system in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The acceleration of the aging rate of the population, the associated risk of frailty syndrome and the increase in the number of people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mean that future health policy should focus on activities in the field of health promotion, enhancing health behavior, and maintaining or improving the functional fitness of aging people. Aim of the research: To analyze the coexistence of frailty syndrome and the severity of health behaviors in elderly patients with COPD as well as established factors determining the severity of health behaviors. Material and methods: A hundred COPD patients (mean age: 72.82 ±8.31 years) hospitalized in the Independent Public Healthcare Center in Kępno, Poland were examined. The COPD Assessment Test (CAT), mMRC Dyspnea Severity Scale, Tilburg Frailty Index (TFI), and Health Behavior Inventory were used. Results: Ninety-two percent had frailty syndrome. The mean value of the TFI index was 9.31 ±2.97. A group of 53% had high intensity, 35% had average intensity, and 11% had low intensity of health behaviors. The strongest positive predictors of health behaviors were the presence of two or more chronic diseases in addition to COPD itself (ßstd = 0.42; p < 0.001) and higher results obtained on the CAT scale (ßstd = 0.38; p < 0.001). The severity of most health behaviors decreased with the duration of COPD, while the severity of health practices increased with age. Conclusions: Health promotion and health education activities should be aimed at those COPD patients who have been ill for a long period of time as well as at younger patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the newly discovered Epigravettian site situated in the San river valley in the Carpathian foreland close to the Przemyśl Gate – sub- and cross-mountain route. The site lies at the edge of that culture's post-LGM re-settlement of that area. It is a unique remnant documenting the presence of an Epigravettian Culture community in areas at the very same time occupied by Magdalenian Culture people. The geological multiproxy record allows for the reconstruction of a loess plateau with an open landscape, with marked presence of trees, plus a short episode of more favourable climatic conditions following shortly after Heinrich event 1. At that time, a group of Epigravettian hunters established a short term camp close to the edge of the loess terrace on the left San River bank. [Display omitted] • Post-LGM resettlement of areas north of the Carpathians. • Unique example of an Epigravettian camp in the large Subcarpathian river valley. • Inventory made from the Volhynian (Ukrainian) flint, proving eastern provenance. • Open landscape around the camp-site with mosaic of steppe, grassland, park tundra. • Area inhabited by the Magdalenian and Epigravettian people at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowa Biała 1 is a unique site of the Federmesser culture in the area of Carpathian Mountains, and also one of the few Final Palaeolithic sites known from this territory. From taxonomic point of view the artefacts represent the Federmesser culture as an element of Arch-backed points technocomplex (APT) – well known from the European Plain and practically quite unknown from the mountains till now. Hunters' camp, with the dwelling structure and workshop, was situated on a terrace of the Białka River close to its gorge, and in the proximity of a rocky hill (the Obłazowa Rock) – which itself was a great observation spot. The cultural layer found in the site was connected with an initial soil, the presence of which was observed within the aeolian loess-like deposits. Thie age of pedogenic processes (based on OSL dating) was undoubtedly younger than 14.7 ka and older than 11 ka. Radiocarbon dating suggests the Late Allerød age of the site. The present paper contains the results of fieldwork as well as geological and palaeobotanical analyses, provided data on the natural environment at the time when prehistoric hunters settled and also in the preceding period. According to study results, in the Late Glacial, during the time of this settlement in the vicinity of the Białka River gorge the patches of coniferous forests grew, in the valley habitats – alder and willow, and mires formed in the wetlands, rocky hills were covered with open plant communities with steppe and tundra elements. Variability of surrounding environs resulted in diversity of animal species and allowed Final Palaeolithic people to explore differentiated geoecosystems. Access to water and possibility of fishing was provided by the proximity of the river. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the well-known settlement micro-region of the Małopolska Upland - known for extensive studies into the Neolithic agricultural anthropopressure - the authors have re-examined three selected Holocene soil-sediment sequences derived from soil erosion by water. The macroscopic features of both colluvium and proluvium (deposits of gully erosion) from an area of very strong Neolithic anthropopressure in the Nidzica River Basin have been described, and analyses of the basic characteristics of sediments and fossil soils as well as micro-morphological analyses performed. 40 samples were dated with the SAR OSL method. The results of 14C and OSL dating point to the stabilization of loess slopes in the Holocene until the intensification of agricultural activity in the Funnel Beaker Culture (TRB, Neolith, about 3900 cal BC). Apart from the Neolithic colluvium and proluvium, only colluvia accumulated during the last millennium were found. The presence of Bronze Age colluvium remains a possibility. OSL dating confirmed a strong link between the increase in prehistoric farming activity and the growing intensity of Holocene water erosion. It also revealed the presence of colluvial sequences of erosion gaps, with the geologic record obliterated by later pedogenic processes, and impossible to identify on the basis of classical macroscopic and micromorphological analyses. The study has also shown that the OSL method is an important tool in chronostratigraphy of the Holocene colluvia as long as it is supported by deep paleo-geographical analysis of the entire basin and knowledge of colonization history. This method is not suitable for dating gully erosion sediments - thus the age of the oldest Neolithic gully erosion deposits in Bronocice was determined on the basis of dating of the overlaying colluvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although debris, loams and clays are usually regarded as typical cave sediments, loess and loess-like sediments are common among clastic cave deposits in the near-entrance facies of caves and rock shelters. Late Weichselian loess layers are very common in caves from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and were recognized in almost each excavated cave and rock shelter. These layers were initially dated to the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum), but new chronometric dating results are available that allow us to present a more detailed scheme of the geological age of the series. This paper evaluates the significance of Polish in-cave loess layers as correlative horizons. We present the lateral and vertical stratigraphy and lithological variability of cave loesses and their usefulness as lithostratigraphic markers. These features are especially important for archeology and paleontology, as cave sediments, including loess, are usually the carriers of archeological and paleontological material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) is a widely applied method in geological research, useful in, e.g., stratigraphical correlation, determination of basic lithological features, and weathering processes. This paper aims to put a new perspective on the handheld gamma-ray spectrometry method, concentrated on application to the glaciogenic depositional systems in contemporary exposures. The study was held in northern and central Poland within the limit of successive Fennoscandian Ice Sheets (FIS) advances and retreats. Fifteen profiles comprising sediments deposited in typical Pleistocene environments were subjected to handheld GRS measurements. The study indicated vertical, lateral, and lithofacies variability of results and revealed the potential for determining particular sedimentary palaeoenvironments with handheld GRS. Aeolian deposits showed the lowest concentration of K, U, and Th radionuclides. Relatively low radioactivity was revealed for fluvioglacial and fluvial deposits. Notable radionuclide concentrations were indicated for glaciogenic and subaqueous fan deposits, while the highest radioactivity was found in lacustrine and loess successions. K, U, and Th concentrations also indicated weathering processes and soil profile development within glacial tills. • Handheld gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) results reflect the complex nature of sediments deposited in glaciogenic systems. • Radionuclides concentration in glaciogenic systems varies vertically, laterally and depends on lithofacies assemblages. • Cross-sites results of GRS indicate the possibility of sedimentary palaeoenvironments distinction. • Radionuclides concentration in till profiles show promising potential in studies of weathering processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Loess sediments have proved to be the most significant palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental archives on land and thus present an important part of the Earth''s geodiversity. Apart from their scientific values, loess areas could be developed for geotourism. However, before this development can occur, several other initiatives must be initiated and completed; these include for geosites: their scientific investigation and inventorying; their statutory protection and active geoconservation; the development of didactic and promotional activities. This paper presents an overview of the loess deposits of Poland as a precursor to a consideration of their protection, conservation and development for geotourism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Marine, lacustrine and terrestrial records from many sites located in various regions of the world suggest that the climate amelioration at the end of MIS-6 (Late Saalian) was interrupted by the short-termed cooling just prior to the MIS-6/MIS-5e boundary (Saalian/Eemian). This climatic event might be similar to the transition between interstadial conditions of the Allerød and stadial conditions of the Younger Dryas at the end of the Last Glacial (MIS-2). On the other hand, the results of quite numerous palaeobotanical studies show no stadial-interstadial oscillations below the Saalian/Eemian boundary, but reflect the gradual improvement of climate and increasing density of vegetation at that time. In western and central Europe, environment changes at the end of the Late Saalian are poorly recognized. Therefore, each new record illustrating this part of the Late Pleistocene is extremely important. We examined two profiles at the Wola Starogrodzka site, central Poland, by high-resolution analyses of pollen, Cladocera, plant macroscopic remains, mineral grain size and distribution, and organic matter content. The studied sequences represent the closing phase of the Late Saalian (in Poland called the Warta Stage of Odranian), and the early to middle part of the Eemian Interglacial. Change of the stadial-interstadial-stadial type at the end of the Late Saalian was registered both in aquatic and terrestrial environment. The recorded interstadial was correlated with Zeifen interstadial, while the following stadial – with the Kattegat stadial. Quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction based on pollen data (modern analogue technique) showed the change in mean annual temperature by ca. 3 °C at that time. • We document three stages of environmental changes during the Late Saalian (MIS-6). • We affirm a presence of forest period related to the Zeifen Interstadial. • It was followed by Kattegat Stadial with more open vegetation. • We reconstruct quantitatively climatic parameters for each of these stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]