This research presents new information on the biology ofKermes quercus (L.). Observations were carried out in 2009 in the city of Warsaw and surroundings (Poland). Material was collected on Quet;cus robur L. betwe...This research presents new information on the biology ofKermes quercus (L.). Observations were carried out in 2009 in the city of Warsaw and surroundings (Poland). Material was collected on Quet;cus robur L. between the end of January until the beginning of November. The sampling each month was divided into three ten-day periods: I - from the 1st till 10th day of the month, II - from ! lth till 20th day of the month, and Ill - from 21st till 30th day of the month. The material was sampled at least once in each period. All live specimens of K. quercus were picked off and the developmental stages were identified. The observations revealed that, almost exclusively lst-instar nymphs occurred during the winter and they remained in this stage throughout the spring and summer until the last third of August. The process of moulting from 1st instar to 2nd instars started in the last third of August and lasted about 2 weeks. In autumn the 2nd-instars nymphs entered the winter diapause. The results suggest that, under the climatic conditions of Poland, Kermes quercus L. is not a univoltine species. Each generation probably develops through two years - in the first year overwintering as the lst-instar nymphs and in the second year as the 2nd-instar nymphs.展开更多
Spruce-dominated forests are commonly exposed to disturbances associated with mass occurrences of bark beetles.The dieback of trees triggers many physical and chemical processes in the ecosystem resulting in rapid cha...Spruce-dominated forests are commonly exposed to disturbances associated with mass occurrences of bark beetles.The dieback of trees triggers many physical and chemical processes in the ecosystem resulting in rapid changes in the vegetation of the lower forest layers.We aimed to determine the response of non-tree understory vegetation to the mass dieback of Norway spruce(Picea abies)in the first years after the disturbance caused by the European spruce bark beetle(Ips typographus)outbreak.Our study area was the Białowieża Biosphere Reserve covering the Polish part of the emblematic Białowieża Forest,in total 597km^(2).The main data source comprised 3,900 phytosociological relevés(combined spring and summer campaigns)collected from 1,300 systematically distributed forest sites in 2016–2018–the peak years of the bark beetle outbreak.We found that the understory responded immediately to mass spruce dieback,with the most pronounced changes observed in the year of the disturbance and the subsequent year.Shade-tolerant forest species declined in the initial years following the mass spruce dieback,while hemicryptophytes,therophytes,light-demanding species associated with non-forest seminatural communities,as well as water-demanding forest species,expanded.Oxalis acetosella,the most common understory species in the Białowieża Forest,showed a distinct fluctuation pattern,with strong short-term expansion right after spruce dieback,followed by a gradual decline over the next 3–4 years to a cover level 5 percentage points lower than before the disturbance.Thus,our study revealed that mass spruce dieback selectively affects individual herb species,and their responses can be directional and non-directional(fluctuation).Furthermore,we demonstrated that the mass dieback of spruce temporarily increases plant species diversity(α-diversity).展开更多
To analyse the association between isoflavone intake and ulcerative colitis motility symptoms in individuals in remission. METHODSCross-sectional study was conducted in a group of ulcerative colitis remission individu...To analyse the association between isoflavone intake and ulcerative colitis motility symptoms in individuals in remission. METHODSCross-sectional study was conducted in a group of ulcerative colitis remission individuals, in sub-groups characterised by various intestinal motility and functioning characteristics (abdominal pain, flatulence, constipations, tenesmus). Total of 56 individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission (19 males and 37 females) were recruited for the study. Assessment of diet was based on self-reported data from each patient’s dietary records taken over a period of three typical, random days (2 weekdays and 1 d of the weekend). The daily isoflavone intake (daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones) and daily isoflavone intake per 1000 kcal of diet were assessed. RESULTSNo correlations between isoflavone intake levels and number of bowel movements per day were observed both in the case of intake and intake per 1000 kcal of diet. In the group of individuals declaring lack of abdominal pain, the higher intakes of daidzein (P = 0.0075), daidzein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0358) and total isoflavone (P = 0.0358) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring abdominal pain. In the group of individuals declaring lack of constipations, the lower intakes of glycitein (P = 0.0213) and glycitein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0213) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring presence of constipations. No differences were observed in isoflavone intake between groups of ulcerative colitis individuals declaring lack of flatulence and declaring presence of flatulence, as well as between groups declaring lack of tenesmus and declaring presence of tenesmus. CONCLUSIONThe moderate dietary isoflavone intake may be beneficial for individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission, however, before including it into recommendations, further prospective studies are needed.展开更多
We tested the hypothesis that the biometrical characters of wood elements in ash trees(Fraxinus excelsior L.) become modified in response to the progression of disease caused by Chalara fraxinea. Anatomical analyses w...We tested the hypothesis that the biometrical characters of wood elements in ash trees(Fraxinus excelsior L.) become modified in response to the progression of disease caused by Chalara fraxinea. Anatomical analyses were performed on wood samples collected at breast height from the trunks of groups of ash trees which contained healthy, weakened and dead trees. We measured(1) treering width,(2) earlywood vessel diameter,(3) earlywood vessel element length,(4) fibre length,(5) fibre diameter,(6) fibre lumen diameter, and(7) fibre wall thickness. We showed that tree-ring width diminished in all analysed groups during disease progression. However, the greatest suppression of growth was observed in dead trees. In both weakened and dead ash trees, the reduction in tree-ring width was accompanied by diminished vessel diameter in the earlywood of the outermost annual rings. The annual rings of dead trees had shorter fibres having greater lumen diameter and thinner cell walls. Consequently, water conduction in the sapwood of dead ash trees was less efficient owing to reduced vessel diameter, and this seems to be one of the greatest disease-induced morphological modifications. All the anatomical modifications might be due to leaf loss and crown dieback triggered by Chalara fraxinea.展开更多
A hybrid intelligent method for evaluation of near optimal settings of friction welding process parameters of ductile iron was presented, The optimization of welding parameters was carried out in automatic cycle with ...A hybrid intelligent method for evaluation of near optimal settings of friction welding process parameters of ductile iron was presented, The optimization of welding parameters was carried out in automatic cycle with the use of support vector regression (SVR), genetic algorithm (GA) and imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA). The method suggested was used to determine welding process parameters by which the desired tensile strength was obtained in the friction welding of ductile iron. The highest tensile strength (TS) of 256.93 MPa was obtained using SVR plus GA method for the following friction welding parameters: heating force 40 kN, heating time 300 s and upsetting force 10.12 kN. The samples were welded by friction and subjected to the tensile strength test. The optimized values obtained by means of these hybrid techniques were compared with the experimental results. The application of hybrid intelligent methods allowed to increase the tensile strength joints from 211 to 258 MPa for the friction welder ZT-14 type.展开更多
Objective To check whether health risk impacts of exposure to airborne metals and Benzo(a) Pyrene during episodes of high PM10 concentrations lead to an increased number of lung cancer cases in Poland. Methods In th...Objective To check whether health risk impacts of exposure to airborne metals and Benzo(a) Pyrene during episodes of high PM10 concentrations lead to an increased number of lung cancer cases in Poland. Methods In this work, we gathered data from 2002 to 2014 concerning the ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM10-bound carcinogenic Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and As, Cd, Pb, and Ni. With the use of the criterion of the exceedance in the daily PM10 mass concentration on at least 50% of all the analyzed stations, the PM10 maxima’s were selected. Lung cancer occurrences in periods with and without the episodes were further compared. Results During a 12-year period, 348 large-scale smog episodes occurred in Poland. A total of 307 of these episodes occurred in the winter season, which is characterized by increased emissions from residential heating. The occurrence of episodes significantly (P 〈 0.05) increased the concentrations of PM10-bound carcinogenic As, Cd, Pb, Ni, and B(a)P. During these events, a significant increase in the overall health risk from those PM10-related compounds was also observed. The highest probability of lung cancer occurrences was found in cities, and the smallest probability was found in the remaining areas outside the cities and agglomerations. Conclusion The link between PM pollution and cancer risk in Poland is a serious public health threat that needs further investigation.展开更多
Background: Forest inventories have always been a primary information source concerning the forest ecosystem state. Various applied survey approaches arise from the numerous important factors during sampling scheme pl...Background: Forest inventories have always been a primary information source concerning the forest ecosystem state. Various applied survey approaches arise from the numerous important factors during sampling scheme planning. Paramount aspects include the survey goal and scale, target population inherent variation and patterns,and available resources. The last factor commonly inhibits the goal, and compromises have to be made. Airborne laser scanning(ALS) has been intensively tested as a cost-effective option for forest inventories. Despite existing foundations, research has provided disparate results. Environmental conditions are one of the factors greatly influencing inventory performance. Therefore, a need for site-related sampling optimization is well founded.Moreover, as stands are the basic operational unit of managed forest holdings, few related studies have presented stand-level results. As such, herein, we tested the sampling intensity influence on the performance of the ALSenhanced stand-level inventory.Results: Distributions of possible errors were plotted by comparing ALS model estimates, with reference values derived from field surveys of 3300 sample plots and more than 300 control stands located in 5 forest districts. No improvement in results was observed due to the scanning density. The variance in obtained errors stabilized in the interval of 200–300 sample plots, maintaining the bias within +/-5% and the precision above 80%. The sample plot area affected scores mostly when transitioning from 100 to 200 m2. Only a slight gain was observed when bigger plots were used.Conclusions: ALS-enhanced inventories effectively address the demand for comprehensive and detailed information on the structure of single stands over vast areas. Knowledge of the relation between the sampling intensity and accuracy of ALS estimates allows the determination of certain sampling intensity thresholds. This should be useful when matching the required sample size and accuracy with available resources. Site optimization may be necessary, as certain errors may occur due to the sampling scheme, estimator type or forest site, making these factors worth further consideration.展开更多
The article presents the example of using relations between the price of wheat flour sold by the milling companies and the price of wheat futures listed on the FOREX market to protect the companies from bakery sector ...The article presents the example of using relations between the price of wheat flour sold by the milling companies and the price of wheat futures listed on the FOREX market to protect the companies from bakery sector against adverse price movements of raw material--wheat flour. The paper aims to present a method which can help to reduce risk of changes wheat flour price in the market by using wheat futures traded at FOREX market. For the analysis authors used weekly data since January 2006 until October 2010 about wheat flour price, wheat grain price, wheat futures prices, quotes a currency pair USD/PLN. Wheat flour prices came from studies of the Department of Agricultural Markets, Ministry of Agriculture, and Rural Development in Poland and represented the average sales price of wheat flour by milling companies. Information about wheat futures and quotes a currency pair USD/PLN reflects the actual trading of the FOREX market. Authors used statistical analysis tool for determining the strength of the relationship between the price of wheat flour and the wheat price on the domestic market and the wheat futures price. The correlation coefficient between them was 0.763. For further test authors used seven different options that use future contracts to reduce fluctuations in the flour price which can be used in bakery businesses. These results of research show that someone can effectively use wheat futures contracts listed on the FOREX market to protect the bakery business against adverse movements of wheat flour prices. Application in practice chosen strategies can allow bakery companies to achieve cost advantages by reducing the adverse changes in the wheat flour prices. Chosen strategies are more efficient if the prices of flour in the domestic market are rising. If prices drop down, the effectiveness of using wheat futures contracts was lower. It should be noted that wheat futures contracts are a good tool to achieve cost advantages in the bakery industry, especially when the wheat flour prices are increased on the domestic market.展开更多
The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the distribution of energy plant moisture content along the height of their shoots and the dynamics of moisture during storage in natural conditions. The s...The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the distribution of energy plant moisture content along the height of their shoots and the dynamics of moisture during storage in natural conditions. The shoots of Spartina, Miscanthus and willow were used in the study. Entire shoots were cut into sections of 10 cm and for each set in monthly cycles for six months moisture content was evaluated. After a month's storage of freshly cut shoots the biggest decrease of content moisture in the shoots of Spartina and Miscanthus was recorded, by 31% and 22%, respectively, and the lowest in willow shoots (12%). After sixth months of shoots storage the lowest moisture content (10%-12%) was reached in miscanthus. The most uneven moisture content along the height of shoots Spartina was characterized because on one third of the height from the bottom, the moisture content of shoots was 20%, and the top had moisture content in the range 5%-10%. Willow shoots were characterized by the smallest drop in moisture, and the final moisture content was about 23%, with the top part of moisture content of 10%-20%. The dynamics of moisture change during the six months of storage of grass shoots (Miscanthus and Spartina) in natural conditions under roofing was described by one power function regression, and willow by another one. Empirical models can be used to predict changes in moisture content of these plants in experiment conditions, since the coefficients of determination were 94.66% and 89.18%, respectively.展开更多
Since several Asian pear species are considered to be potential source of fire blight resistance, we crossed “Doyenné du Comice”, the susceptible European cultivar, with four Asian pear species. The aim of the ...Since several Asian pear species are considered to be potential source of fire blight resistance, we crossed “Doyenné du Comice”, the susceptible European cultivar, with four Asian pear species. The aim of the study was to establish the level of resistance of each genotype and the mode of transmission of fire blight resistance to each F1 full-sib progeny. The best sources of resistance were P. ussuriensis 18 and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8 ranked to resistant and highly resistant, respectively. Although pear resistance to fire blight is suggested to be polygenic, distribution of phenotypes in “Doyenné du Comice” × P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8 hybrid family suggests the possibility of monogenic inheritance with the dominance of resistance derived from P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8. Polygenic inheritance of pear resistance to fire blight was identified in cross combinations of “Doyenné du Comice” with P. pyrifolia 6, and contributed by the major gene, with P. ussuriensis 18 and P. calleryana 12. Transgressive segregation was observed within the progenies of susceptible, moderately susceptible and resistant parents.展开更多
BACKGROUND Progressive malnutrition coexists with liver diseases,particularly in patients with cirrhosis.Early diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with advanced stages of chronic liver disease and the implementation...BACKGROUND Progressive malnutrition coexists with liver diseases,particularly in patients with cirrhosis.Early diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with advanced stages of chronic liver disease and the implementation of appropriate nutritional treatment for malnourished patients should be an integral part of the therapeutic process.AIM To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with various severities of advanced liver fibrosis,using various nutritional status parameters.METHODS This study involved 118 patients with liver cirrhosis who were classified into three groups according to their Child-Pugh score.The nutritional status of the patients in each group was assessed using different methods.The average values obtained from the measurements were calculated for each research group.The influence of disease stage on the examined parameters of nutritional status was determined using one-way analysis of variance.To investigate the relationship between the parameters determining nutritional status and the stage of disease advancement,a correlation analysis was performed.RESULTS The Child-Pugh A group had the highest mean body weight(76.42 kg),highest mean body mass index(BMI)(26.72 kg/m²),and largest mean arm circumference(27.64 cm).In the Child-Pugh B group,the mean scores of all examined variables were lower than those of the Child-Pugh A group,whereas the mean body weight and BMI of the Child-Pugh C group were higher than those of the Child-Pugh B group.There was a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and subjective global assessment score;a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and arm circumference;a strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and body weight,albumin concentration,fat-free mass index,muscle mass index,phase angle,and BMI;and an average correlation between Child-Pugh classification and fat mass index.Notably,these indicators deteriorated with disease progression.CONCLUSION Advanced liver fibrosis leads to the deterioration of many nutritional status parameters.The extent of malnutrition increases with the progression of liver fibrosis.The Child-Pugh score reflects the nutritional status.展开更多
Today cooperative banks belong to the most significant financial institution in the world. Moreover, they can compete with commercial banks. The own funds of the cooperative bank are important in their activity. The m...Today cooperative banks belong to the most significant financial institution in the world. Moreover, they can compete with commercial banks. The own funds of the cooperative bank are important in their activity. The main goal of this paper is to investigate how much the level of the own funds of the Polish cooperative banks influenced their efficiency. The research pertained to operating cooperative banks in Poland. The following measures of the efficiency were used in the research: return on Equity (ROE), net profit, index C/I, and financial margin. The results of the study indicate that banks from the Quartile III (highest aggregate own funds), had the highest net profits, the highest ROE, the lowest C/I value, the lowest ROE, and the lowest financial markups. On this basis, it remains to be recommended that banks of highest aggregate own funds continue expansion of own funds which will increase lending capacity and subsequently contribute to higher effectiveness.展开更多
The aim of the study was landscape evaluation of municipalities located in Ciezkowice-Roznow regional park in the southern part of Poland. The methodology includes field and indoor studies. Plant communities, natural ...The aim of the study was landscape evaluation of municipalities located in Ciezkowice-Roznow regional park in the southern part of Poland. The methodology includes field and indoor studies. Plant communities, natural 2,000 habitats, protected areas, and cultural elements have been identified. The study area has been divided into study units/plots. The next stage of research was the evaluation of landscape elements on every study unit. It distinguished areas with very high, high and moderate landscape values: Directions for shaping the landscape were formulated in the final part of the study.展开更多
Bread is still the most important food in Polish households. Staropolski and Pytlowy are two typical Polish breads, prepared with wheat and rye flour. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of volatile co...Bread is still the most important food in Polish households. Staropolski and Pytlowy are two typical Polish breads, prepared with wheat and rye flour. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of volatile contaminants such as furan and its derivatives, and present a volatile profile of the most common furan derivatives in the described products. To measure concentration of chemical compounds such as furan and furan derivatives, fast and effective solid-phase micro-extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS) methods were adapted. This study showed the differences in furan occurrence between Pytlowy and Staropolski, however, the greater differences were observed between different times and temperatures of baking rather than between the bread types. Clearly, the higher concentrations were found in products prepared during the longest baking time period of 50 min, and temperatures of 230 ℃ and 240 ℃. The highest furan level was detected in Staropolski 28.89 ± 1.16/μg/kg, baked for 50 min at 230 ℃ in bread crust. The volatile fraction of bread crust was composed of 5-9 furan derivatives while crumb layer contained only furan-2-pentyl. It was concluded that furan is present in almost each type of bread and percentage of furan derivatives in all volatile fractions ranged from 0.5 % to 60.6% in crust of examined bars.展开更多
The profitability of broiler chicken production depends on many interrelated factors, such as the size of the farm, farming system, the genetic potential, feed price and the quality of chicken meat obtained as a final...The profitability of broiler chicken production depends on many interrelated factors, such as the size of the farm, farming system, the genetic potential, feed price and the quality of chicken meat obtained as a final product, e.g., meat, and a strategy of their sales on the domestic and foreign market. Economic analysis were conducted in randomly selected farms growing commercial broilers, from April 2008 to March 2013 (28 cycles all together), at the same time in three buildings, with 46 thousands to 54 thousands one-day chickens. In the analyzed period, broilers were reared for 35-50 d. The average slaughter body mass ranged from 2.36 kg to 2.99 kg with feed conversion ratio (FCR) 1.68 kg of feed/kg of body weight gain to 1.78 kg of feed/kg of body weight gain. Stock mortality at that time ranged from 3.5% to 6.4%. On the basis of macroeconomic data, a clear relationship between the increase in the period particularly from 2004 onwards, prices of feed 33.6% and the purchase price of livestock 22.5% in the case of the evaluated farms were found. These values were 27.9% and 31.7%, respectively. From the analysis of the relationship between different types of broiler production costs, it was concluded that the main determinant of the profitability of live poultry production was the cost of feed and first of all was the prices of feed. This means that the boom in live poultry production is variable, resulting in consequences for production and income.展开更多
In their development strategy, Poland's cooperative (co-op) banks should equally consider the competition and the rising expectations of their clientele. According to bank customers, an essential element of custome...In their development strategy, Poland's cooperative (co-op) banks should equally consider the competition and the rising expectations of their clientele. According to bank customers, an essential element of customer satisfaction--which ties into their loyalty--is the cost of financial services. Currently, delivering a comfortable level of costs for financial services appears to be one of the key verifiers of a bank's offer, especially in a slowed economy. An effort was made to assess the satisfaction level of Poland's co-op bank clients from the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector based on costs for services offered by said banks. The study indicated that 2/3 of the clientele was dissatisfied with high financial service and operation charges and low interest rates on current funds deposited by businesses. Co-op banks were able to deliver satisfactory interest rates for working capital loans in current accounts to over 60% of their clientele.展开更多
The aim of this paper was to analyze and evaluate the chocolate market in Poland in years 2005-2012 with particular emphasis on older consumer purchasing and consumption behavior. In the study a secondary and primary ...The aim of this paper was to analyze and evaluate the chocolate market in Poland in years 2005-2012 with particular emphasis on older consumer purchasing and consumption behavior. In the study a secondary and primary data were used. Secondary data source was the literature, trade press, Internet publications, and the results of household budget. Primary data were obtained through a survey conducted among the participants of the University of the Third Age. The work turned out to increase the production of chocolate in Poland and increased competition in the sector as a result of changes in ownership. These changes were accompanied by increased consumption of chocolate. It was found that older consumers in their purchasing decisions are guided chiefly by the taste of chocolate, then a habit, brand/manufacturer, and price. Most of them prefer dark chocolate. Nearly half of respondents describe themselves as a reasonable consumer. Having this in mind the traditional assortment of chocolate next to innovative should be on market.展开更多
The aim of this paper is to propose a discussion about inventory control and to present a new method for testing the control process in terms of uncertainty. The subject matter is modelling for optimal control that ul...The aim of this paper is to propose a discussion about inventory control and to present a new method for testing the control process in terms of uncertainty. The subject matter is modelling for optimal control that ultimately provides the basic parameters for the level of safety stock and the cycle of deliveries. An optimisation criterion is a function minimising the total costs of storage and production coming to a halt because of depleted stock of inputs. Considering the results of the study, it is found that appropriate management process of textile companies requires determining raw materials stocks and its costs very precisely. The stream management process in the enterprise includes an element of fluctuations in demand. This is the source of "a conflict" that appears in two sub-systems: storage and production. At the same time, a systemic approach to the optimal coordination of supply/production calls for effective management of the whole system. Implementation of modem information technologies is one of the factors that support the effective control.展开更多
Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi belonging mainly to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera. They can be formed in various agricultural produce in specific conditions. These natural and zo...Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi belonging mainly to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera. They can be formed in various agricultural produce in specific conditions. These natural and zootoxic chemical compounds cause an array of diseases in people and animals, i.e., mycotoxicoses. Depending on the type and dose, mycotoxins may cause liver, kidney, and lung cancers, as well as damage to the immune system, pathological changes in the nervous system, and reproduction disorders. Many mycotoxins disrupt digestion process, cause vomiting, nausea, anorexia, skin irritation and dermatitis, and even haemorrhages. A significant threat to the health of animals and people can be observed in the case of major infestation of crop ears from which foodstuff or feed are then produced. The ear infestation is facilitated by a suitable humidity and temperature during the growing season or while harvesting and storing the agricultural produce, which enhances the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi. Suitable agricultural treatment, crop rotation, proper storing of crops in the conditions of limited humidity after the harvest as well as regular chemical analyses of the content of mycotoxins minimize their consumption and, accordingly, decrease the threat caused by these substances to the human and animal health.展开更多
Environmental impacts of using various sources of energy in heating a family house with 180 m2 of floor surface were compared by means of the SimaPro computer programme and attached to its databases, describing the en...Environmental impacts of using various sources of energy in heating a family house with 180 m2 of floor surface were compared by means of the SimaPro computer programme and attached to its databases, describing the environmental impacts of using typical materials and technologies. The set of compared heat energy sources comprised nine different sources. After normalisation (which meant recalculating the impacts into their proportions to the average impact of the kind, experienced by an average European in a year), weighting (which meant attaching arbitrary weights to three aggregate impact categories according to a methodology Eco-indicator 99 E/E) and summation of the weighted results expressed in so-called ecopoints, the coal combustion furnace turned out to have the greatest impact. It was followed by an electric stove and an oil burning furnace. The wood burning furnace and the heat pump had the smallest impact, almost equal in size. Results indicate that in case of renewable energy carriers like wood, straw and pellets, the total environmental hazard factor in 70% and more is derived from the respiratory harmful inorganic emissions. Extending the analysis by a LC assessment of equipment (boilers and pumps) might change the order of technologies.展开更多
文摘This research presents new information on the biology ofKermes quercus (L.). Observations were carried out in 2009 in the city of Warsaw and surroundings (Poland). Material was collected on Quet;cus robur L. between the end of January until the beginning of November. The sampling each month was divided into three ten-day periods: I - from the 1st till 10th day of the month, II - from ! lth till 20th day of the month, and Ill - from 21st till 30th day of the month. The material was sampled at least once in each period. All live specimens of K. quercus were picked off and the developmental stages were identified. The observations revealed that, almost exclusively lst-instar nymphs occurred during the winter and they remained in this stage throughout the spring and summer until the last third of August. The process of moulting from 1st instar to 2nd instars started in the last third of August and lasted about 2 weeks. In autumn the 2nd-instars nymphs entered the winter diapause. The results suggest that, under the climatic conditions of Poland, Kermes quercus L. is not a univoltine species. Each generation probably develops through two years - in the first year overwintering as the lst-instar nymphs and in the second year as the 2nd-instar nymphs.
文摘Spruce-dominated forests are commonly exposed to disturbances associated with mass occurrences of bark beetles.The dieback of trees triggers many physical and chemical processes in the ecosystem resulting in rapid changes in the vegetation of the lower forest layers.We aimed to determine the response of non-tree understory vegetation to the mass dieback of Norway spruce(Picea abies)in the first years after the disturbance caused by the European spruce bark beetle(Ips typographus)outbreak.Our study area was the Białowieża Biosphere Reserve covering the Polish part of the emblematic Białowieża Forest,in total 597km^(2).The main data source comprised 3,900 phytosociological relevés(combined spring and summer campaigns)collected from 1,300 systematically distributed forest sites in 2016–2018–the peak years of the bark beetle outbreak.We found that the understory responded immediately to mass spruce dieback,with the most pronounced changes observed in the year of the disturbance and the subsequent year.Shade-tolerant forest species declined in the initial years following the mass spruce dieback,while hemicryptophytes,therophytes,light-demanding species associated with non-forest seminatural communities,as well as water-demanding forest species,expanded.Oxalis acetosella,the most common understory species in the Białowieża Forest,showed a distinct fluctuation pattern,with strong short-term expansion right after spruce dieback,followed by a gradual decline over the next 3–4 years to a cover level 5 percentage points lower than before the disturbance.Thus,our study revealed that mass spruce dieback selectively affects individual herb species,and their responses can be directional and non-directional(fluctuation).Furthermore,we demonstrated that the mass dieback of spruce temporarily increases plant species diversity(α-diversity).
基金Supported by Ministry of Science and Higher Education Grant(WULS-SGGW:505-10-100400-L00332-99/2014)
文摘To analyse the association between isoflavone intake and ulcerative colitis motility symptoms in individuals in remission. METHODSCross-sectional study was conducted in a group of ulcerative colitis remission individuals, in sub-groups characterised by various intestinal motility and functioning characteristics (abdominal pain, flatulence, constipations, tenesmus). Total of 56 individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission (19 males and 37 females) were recruited for the study. Assessment of diet was based on self-reported data from each patient’s dietary records taken over a period of three typical, random days (2 weekdays and 1 d of the weekend). The daily isoflavone intake (daidzein, genistein, glycitein and total isoflavones) and daily isoflavone intake per 1000 kcal of diet were assessed. RESULTSNo correlations between isoflavone intake levels and number of bowel movements per day were observed both in the case of intake and intake per 1000 kcal of diet. In the group of individuals declaring lack of abdominal pain, the higher intakes of daidzein (P = 0.0075), daidzein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0358) and total isoflavone (P = 0.0358) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring abdominal pain. In the group of individuals declaring lack of constipations, the lower intakes of glycitein (P = 0.0213) and glycitein per 1000 kcal of diet (P = 0.0213) were stated, than in the group of individuals declaring presence of constipations. No differences were observed in isoflavone intake between groups of ulcerative colitis individuals declaring lack of flatulence and declaring presence of flatulence, as well as between groups declaring lack of tenesmus and declaring presence of tenesmus. CONCLUSIONThe moderate dietary isoflavone intake may be beneficial for individuals with ulcerative colitis in remission, however, before including it into recommendations, further prospective studies are needed.
基金partly supported by Grant No.NN309 077438 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education
文摘We tested the hypothesis that the biometrical characters of wood elements in ash trees(Fraxinus excelsior L.) become modified in response to the progression of disease caused by Chalara fraxinea. Anatomical analyses were performed on wood samples collected at breast height from the trunks of groups of ash trees which contained healthy, weakened and dead trees. We measured(1) treering width,(2) earlywood vessel diameter,(3) earlywood vessel element length,(4) fibre length,(5) fibre diameter,(6) fibre lumen diameter, and(7) fibre wall thickness. We showed that tree-ring width diminished in all analysed groups during disease progression. However, the greatest suppression of growth was observed in dead trees. In both weakened and dead ash trees, the reduction in tree-ring width was accompanied by diminished vessel diameter in the earlywood of the outermost annual rings. The annual rings of dead trees had shorter fibres having greater lumen diameter and thinner cell walls. Consequently, water conduction in the sapwood of dead ash trees was less efficient owing to reduced vessel diameter, and this seems to be one of the greatest disease-induced morphological modifications. All the anatomical modifications might be due to leaf loss and crown dieback triggered by Chalara fraxinea.
文摘A hybrid intelligent method for evaluation of near optimal settings of friction welding process parameters of ductile iron was presented, The optimization of welding parameters was carried out in automatic cycle with the use of support vector regression (SVR), genetic algorithm (GA) and imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA). The method suggested was used to determine welding process parameters by which the desired tensile strength was obtained in the friction welding of ductile iron. The highest tensile strength (TS) of 256.93 MPa was obtained using SVR plus GA method for the following friction welding parameters: heating force 40 kN, heating time 300 s and upsetting force 10.12 kN. The samples were welded by friction and subjected to the tensile strength test. The optimized values obtained by means of these hybrid techniques were compared with the experimental results. The application of hybrid intelligent methods allowed to increase the tensile strength joints from 211 to 258 MPa for the friction welder ZT-14 type.
文摘Objective To check whether health risk impacts of exposure to airborne metals and Benzo(a) Pyrene during episodes of high PM10 concentrations lead to an increased number of lung cancer cases in Poland. Methods In this work, we gathered data from 2002 to 2014 concerning the ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM10-bound carcinogenic Benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and As, Cd, Pb, and Ni. With the use of the criterion of the exceedance in the daily PM10 mass concentration on at least 50% of all the analyzed stations, the PM10 maxima’s were selected. Lung cancer occurrences in periods with and without the episodes were further compared. Results During a 12-year period, 348 large-scale smog episodes occurred in Poland. A total of 307 of these episodes occurred in the winter season, which is characterized by increased emissions from residential heating. The occurrence of episodes significantly (P 〈 0.05) increased the concentrations of PM10-bound carcinogenic As, Cd, Pb, Ni, and B(a)P. During these events, a significant increase in the overall health risk from those PM10-related compounds was also observed. The highest probability of lung cancer occurrences was found in cities, and the smallest probability was found in the remaining areas outside the cities and agglomerations. Conclusion The link between PM pollution and cancer risk in Poland is a serious public health threat that needs further investigation.
基金the research project entitled“Remote sensing-based assessment of woody biomass and carbon storage in forests”,which was financially supported by the National Centre for Research and Development(Poland),under the BIOSTRATEG programme(Agreement No.BIOSTRATEG1/267755/4/NCBR/2015)Financial support was also received from the project entitled“Rozbudowa metody inwentaryzacji urządzeniowej stanu lasu z wykorzystaniem efektów projektu REMBIOFOR”(Project No.500463,agreement No.EO.271.3.12.2019 with the Polish State Forests National Forest Holding,signed on 14.10.2019),which constitutes a continuation of the former project.
文摘Background: Forest inventories have always been a primary information source concerning the forest ecosystem state. Various applied survey approaches arise from the numerous important factors during sampling scheme planning. Paramount aspects include the survey goal and scale, target population inherent variation and patterns,and available resources. The last factor commonly inhibits the goal, and compromises have to be made. Airborne laser scanning(ALS) has been intensively tested as a cost-effective option for forest inventories. Despite existing foundations, research has provided disparate results. Environmental conditions are one of the factors greatly influencing inventory performance. Therefore, a need for site-related sampling optimization is well founded.Moreover, as stands are the basic operational unit of managed forest holdings, few related studies have presented stand-level results. As such, herein, we tested the sampling intensity influence on the performance of the ALSenhanced stand-level inventory.Results: Distributions of possible errors were plotted by comparing ALS model estimates, with reference values derived from field surveys of 3300 sample plots and more than 300 control stands located in 5 forest districts. No improvement in results was observed due to the scanning density. The variance in obtained errors stabilized in the interval of 200–300 sample plots, maintaining the bias within +/-5% and the precision above 80%. The sample plot area affected scores mostly when transitioning from 100 to 200 m2. Only a slight gain was observed when bigger plots were used.Conclusions: ALS-enhanced inventories effectively address the demand for comprehensive and detailed information on the structure of single stands over vast areas. Knowledge of the relation between the sampling intensity and accuracy of ALS estimates allows the determination of certain sampling intensity thresholds. This should be useful when matching the required sample size and accuracy with available resources. Site optimization may be necessary, as certain errors may occur due to the sampling scheme, estimator type or forest site, making these factors worth further consideration.
文摘The article presents the example of using relations between the price of wheat flour sold by the milling companies and the price of wheat futures listed on the FOREX market to protect the companies from bakery sector against adverse price movements of raw material--wheat flour. The paper aims to present a method which can help to reduce risk of changes wheat flour price in the market by using wheat futures traded at FOREX market. For the analysis authors used weekly data since January 2006 until October 2010 about wheat flour price, wheat grain price, wheat futures prices, quotes a currency pair USD/PLN. Wheat flour prices came from studies of the Department of Agricultural Markets, Ministry of Agriculture, and Rural Development in Poland and represented the average sales price of wheat flour by milling companies. Information about wheat futures and quotes a currency pair USD/PLN reflects the actual trading of the FOREX market. Authors used statistical analysis tool for determining the strength of the relationship between the price of wheat flour and the wheat price on the domestic market and the wheat futures price. The correlation coefficient between them was 0.763. For further test authors used seven different options that use future contracts to reduce fluctuations in the flour price which can be used in bakery businesses. These results of research show that someone can effectively use wheat futures contracts listed on the FOREX market to protect the bakery business against adverse movements of wheat flour prices. Application in practice chosen strategies can allow bakery companies to achieve cost advantages by reducing the adverse changes in the wheat flour prices. Chosen strategies are more efficient if the prices of flour in the domestic market are rising. If prices drop down, the effectiveness of using wheat futures contracts was lower. It should be noted that wheat futures contracts are a good tool to achieve cost advantages in the bakery industry, especially when the wheat flour prices are increased on the domestic market.
文摘The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of the distribution of energy plant moisture content along the height of their shoots and the dynamics of moisture during storage in natural conditions. The shoots of Spartina, Miscanthus and willow were used in the study. Entire shoots were cut into sections of 10 cm and for each set in monthly cycles for six months moisture content was evaluated. After a month's storage of freshly cut shoots the biggest decrease of content moisture in the shoots of Spartina and Miscanthus was recorded, by 31% and 22%, respectively, and the lowest in willow shoots (12%). After sixth months of shoots storage the lowest moisture content (10%-12%) was reached in miscanthus. The most uneven moisture content along the height of shoots Spartina was characterized because on one third of the height from the bottom, the moisture content of shoots was 20%, and the top had moisture content in the range 5%-10%. Willow shoots were characterized by the smallest drop in moisture, and the final moisture content was about 23%, with the top part of moisture content of 10%-20%. The dynamics of moisture change during the six months of storage of grass shoots (Miscanthus and Spartina) in natural conditions under roofing was described by one power function regression, and willow by another one. Empirical models can be used to predict changes in moisture content of these plants in experiment conditions, since the coefficients of determination were 94.66% and 89.18%, respectively.
文摘Since several Asian pear species are considered to be potential source of fire blight resistance, we crossed “Doyenné du Comice”, the susceptible European cultivar, with four Asian pear species. The aim of the study was to establish the level of resistance of each genotype and the mode of transmission of fire blight resistance to each F1 full-sib progeny. The best sources of resistance were P. ussuriensis 18 and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8 ranked to resistant and highly resistant, respectively. Although pear resistance to fire blight is suggested to be polygenic, distribution of phenotypes in “Doyenné du Comice” × P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8 hybrid family suggests the possibility of monogenic inheritance with the dominance of resistance derived from P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea 8. Polygenic inheritance of pear resistance to fire blight was identified in cross combinations of “Doyenné du Comice” with P. pyrifolia 6, and contributed by the major gene, with P. ussuriensis 18 and P. calleryana 12. Transgressive segregation was observed within the progenies of susceptible, moderately susceptible and resistant parents.
文摘BACKGROUND Progressive malnutrition coexists with liver diseases,particularly in patients with cirrhosis.Early diagnosis of malnutrition in patients with advanced stages of chronic liver disease and the implementation of appropriate nutritional treatment for malnourished patients should be an integral part of the therapeutic process.AIM To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with various severities of advanced liver fibrosis,using various nutritional status parameters.METHODS This study involved 118 patients with liver cirrhosis who were classified into three groups according to their Child-Pugh score.The nutritional status of the patients in each group was assessed using different methods.The average values obtained from the measurements were calculated for each research group.The influence of disease stage on the examined parameters of nutritional status was determined using one-way analysis of variance.To investigate the relationship between the parameters determining nutritional status and the stage of disease advancement,a correlation analysis was performed.RESULTS The Child-Pugh A group had the highest mean body weight(76.42 kg),highest mean body mass index(BMI)(26.72 kg/m²),and largest mean arm circumference(27.64 cm).In the Child-Pugh B group,the mean scores of all examined variables were lower than those of the Child-Pugh A group,whereas the mean body weight and BMI of the Child-Pugh C group were higher than those of the Child-Pugh B group.There was a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and subjective global assessment score;a very strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and arm circumference;a strong correlation between the Child-Pugh classification and body weight,albumin concentration,fat-free mass index,muscle mass index,phase angle,and BMI;and an average correlation between Child-Pugh classification and fat mass index.Notably,these indicators deteriorated with disease progression.CONCLUSION Advanced liver fibrosis leads to the deterioration of many nutritional status parameters.The extent of malnutrition increases with the progression of liver fibrosis.The Child-Pugh score reflects the nutritional status.
文摘Today cooperative banks belong to the most significant financial institution in the world. Moreover, they can compete with commercial banks. The own funds of the cooperative bank are important in their activity. The main goal of this paper is to investigate how much the level of the own funds of the Polish cooperative banks influenced their efficiency. The research pertained to operating cooperative banks in Poland. The following measures of the efficiency were used in the research: return on Equity (ROE), net profit, index C/I, and financial margin. The results of the study indicate that banks from the Quartile III (highest aggregate own funds), had the highest net profits, the highest ROE, the lowest C/I value, the lowest ROE, and the lowest financial markups. On this basis, it remains to be recommended that banks of highest aggregate own funds continue expansion of own funds which will increase lending capacity and subsequently contribute to higher effectiveness.
文摘The aim of the study was landscape evaluation of municipalities located in Ciezkowice-Roznow regional park in the southern part of Poland. The methodology includes field and indoor studies. Plant communities, natural 2,000 habitats, protected areas, and cultural elements have been identified. The study area has been divided into study units/plots. The next stage of research was the evaluation of landscape elements on every study unit. It distinguished areas with very high, high and moderate landscape values: Directions for shaping the landscape were formulated in the final part of the study.
文摘Bread is still the most important food in Polish households. Staropolski and Pytlowy are two typical Polish breads, prepared with wheat and rye flour. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of volatile contaminants such as furan and its derivatives, and present a volatile profile of the most common furan derivatives in the described products. To measure concentration of chemical compounds such as furan and furan derivatives, fast and effective solid-phase micro-extraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME/GC/MS) methods were adapted. This study showed the differences in furan occurrence between Pytlowy and Staropolski, however, the greater differences were observed between different times and temperatures of baking rather than between the bread types. Clearly, the higher concentrations were found in products prepared during the longest baking time period of 50 min, and temperatures of 230 ℃ and 240 ℃. The highest furan level was detected in Staropolski 28.89 ± 1.16/μg/kg, baked for 50 min at 230 ℃ in bread crust. The volatile fraction of bread crust was composed of 5-9 furan derivatives while crumb layer contained only furan-2-pentyl. It was concluded that furan is present in almost each type of bread and percentage of furan derivatives in all volatile fractions ranged from 0.5 % to 60.6% in crust of examined bars.
文摘The profitability of broiler chicken production depends on many interrelated factors, such as the size of the farm, farming system, the genetic potential, feed price and the quality of chicken meat obtained as a final product, e.g., meat, and a strategy of their sales on the domestic and foreign market. Economic analysis were conducted in randomly selected farms growing commercial broilers, from April 2008 to March 2013 (28 cycles all together), at the same time in three buildings, with 46 thousands to 54 thousands one-day chickens. In the analyzed period, broilers were reared for 35-50 d. The average slaughter body mass ranged from 2.36 kg to 2.99 kg with feed conversion ratio (FCR) 1.68 kg of feed/kg of body weight gain to 1.78 kg of feed/kg of body weight gain. Stock mortality at that time ranged from 3.5% to 6.4%. On the basis of macroeconomic data, a clear relationship between the increase in the period particularly from 2004 onwards, prices of feed 33.6% and the purchase price of livestock 22.5% in the case of the evaluated farms were found. These values were 27.9% and 31.7%, respectively. From the analysis of the relationship between different types of broiler production costs, it was concluded that the main determinant of the profitability of live poultry production was the cost of feed and first of all was the prices of feed. This means that the boom in live poultry production is variable, resulting in consequences for production and income.
文摘In their development strategy, Poland's cooperative (co-op) banks should equally consider the competition and the rising expectations of their clientele. According to bank customers, an essential element of customer satisfaction--which ties into their loyalty--is the cost of financial services. Currently, delivering a comfortable level of costs for financial services appears to be one of the key verifiers of a bank's offer, especially in a slowed economy. An effort was made to assess the satisfaction level of Poland's co-op bank clients from the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector based on costs for services offered by said banks. The study indicated that 2/3 of the clientele was dissatisfied with high financial service and operation charges and low interest rates on current funds deposited by businesses. Co-op banks were able to deliver satisfactory interest rates for working capital loans in current accounts to over 60% of their clientele.
文摘The aim of this paper was to analyze and evaluate the chocolate market in Poland in years 2005-2012 with particular emphasis on older consumer purchasing and consumption behavior. In the study a secondary and primary data were used. Secondary data source was the literature, trade press, Internet publications, and the results of household budget. Primary data were obtained through a survey conducted among the participants of the University of the Third Age. The work turned out to increase the production of chocolate in Poland and increased competition in the sector as a result of changes in ownership. These changes were accompanied by increased consumption of chocolate. It was found that older consumers in their purchasing decisions are guided chiefly by the taste of chocolate, then a habit, brand/manufacturer, and price. Most of them prefer dark chocolate. Nearly half of respondents describe themselves as a reasonable consumer. Having this in mind the traditional assortment of chocolate next to innovative should be on market.
文摘The aim of this paper is to propose a discussion about inventory control and to present a new method for testing the control process in terms of uncertainty. The subject matter is modelling for optimal control that ultimately provides the basic parameters for the level of safety stock and the cycle of deliveries. An optimisation criterion is a function minimising the total costs of storage and production coming to a halt because of depleted stock of inputs. Considering the results of the study, it is found that appropriate management process of textile companies requires determining raw materials stocks and its costs very precisely. The stream management process in the enterprise includes an element of fluctuations in demand. This is the source of "a conflict" that appears in two sub-systems: storage and production. At the same time, a systemic approach to the optimal coordination of supply/production calls for effective management of the whole system. Implementation of modem information technologies is one of the factors that support the effective control.
文摘Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungi belonging mainly to the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera. They can be formed in various agricultural produce in specific conditions. These natural and zootoxic chemical compounds cause an array of diseases in people and animals, i.e., mycotoxicoses. Depending on the type and dose, mycotoxins may cause liver, kidney, and lung cancers, as well as damage to the immune system, pathological changes in the nervous system, and reproduction disorders. Many mycotoxins disrupt digestion process, cause vomiting, nausea, anorexia, skin irritation and dermatitis, and even haemorrhages. A significant threat to the health of animals and people can be observed in the case of major infestation of crop ears from which foodstuff or feed are then produced. The ear infestation is facilitated by a suitable humidity and temperature during the growing season or while harvesting and storing the agricultural produce, which enhances the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi. Suitable agricultural treatment, crop rotation, proper storing of crops in the conditions of limited humidity after the harvest as well as regular chemical analyses of the content of mycotoxins minimize their consumption and, accordingly, decrease the threat caused by these substances to the human and animal health.
文摘Environmental impacts of using various sources of energy in heating a family house with 180 m2 of floor surface were compared by means of the SimaPro computer programme and attached to its databases, describing the environmental impacts of using typical materials and technologies. The set of compared heat energy sources comprised nine different sources. After normalisation (which meant recalculating the impacts into their proportions to the average impact of the kind, experienced by an average European in a year), weighting (which meant attaching arbitrary weights to three aggregate impact categories according to a methodology Eco-indicator 99 E/E) and summation of the weighted results expressed in so-called ecopoints, the coal combustion furnace turned out to have the greatest impact. It was followed by an electric stove and an oil burning furnace. The wood burning furnace and the heat pump had the smallest impact, almost equal in size. Results indicate that in case of renewable energy carriers like wood, straw and pellets, the total environmental hazard factor in 70% and more is derived from the respiratory harmful inorganic emissions. Extending the analysis by a LC assessment of equipment (boilers and pumps) might change the order of technologies.