Certificates and Awards as the Form of Propagating the Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility

The interest of the contemporary companies is not only in the fulfillment of social responsibility rules but also in the ways to reliably inform the community about their ‘ethical face’. Such possibility is created by, functioning in economy, systems of awarding certificates, distinctions, prizes etc. (e.g. Przejrzysta Polska, SA 8000, Filary Polskiej Gospodarki, Gender Index, Firma Fair Play etc.). The article characterizes and performs a comparative analysis of the most important initiatives of this kind in Poland

Standard zarządzania jakością dla dostawców usług szkoleniowych : krytyczna analiza

The paper discusses the usefulness of two dedicated quality management systems for learning service providers. The systems have been described in the international standard ISO 29990 and Polish national standards MSUES (Małopolska Standards for Education and Training Services). The results are based on a survey of managers who have implemented one of those systems in their training companies. It was found that the implementation of the discussed systems could contribute to success on the training market. The quality of training services is viewed as an important factor in personnel improvement. Most of the studies on that subject omit the key cause of high quality training, which is quality management in the training company. This paper attempts to bridge that gap

Olaratumab (LARTRUVO®) jako nowa opcja terapeutyczna w leczeniu zaawansowanych mięsaków tkanek miękkich

Olaratumab to nowo zarejestrowane do leczenia ludzkie przeciwciało monoklonalne klasy IgG1 przeciwko receptorowi płytkopochodnego czynnika wzrostu alfa (PDGFR-α), które w stosunkowo niewielkim liczebnie badaniu II fazy z losowym doborem chorych w skojarzeniu z doksorubicyną wykazało poprawę przeżyć całkowitych w terapii nieresekcyjnych i/lub przerzutowych mięsaków tkanek miękkich. Niezbędne są dalsze badania w celu ustalenia roli tego leku w leczeniu zaawansowanych mięsaków. W pracy omówiono dotychczasowe dane kliniczne dotyczące olaratumabu

The utility of Prostar XL percutaneous vascular closure device after stent-graft implantation for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms

Introduction. Over time, endovascular techniques of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair became the principal methods of treatment of this potentially fatal disease. Currently, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) constitutes an effective alternative to open surgery, also in cases of aneurysm rupture. Low degree of invasiveness is the main advantage of this method. Introduction of a system enabling percutaneous stent-graft implantation appears to be the next step in the development of endovascular AAA surgery. Aim of the study is to evaluate the Prostar XL® closure device with regard to clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness. Material and methods. The study included 100 patients (from January 2013 to December 2015) subject to endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in the infrarenal region of the aorta with the application of the Prostar Xl® closure device. Most patients were operated under epidural anaesthesia. Local anaesthesia (1% Lidocaine) was used in 36 patients due to comorbidities. A possible application of the closure system depended on a preoperative assessment of common femoral arteries using ultrasonography. Presence of atherosclerotic plaque on the anterior wall of the vessel disqualified the patient from percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair (PEVAR). The main part of the procedure consisted of stent-graft implantation into the abdominal aortic aneurysm. In the final stage, puncture site on the anterior wall of common femoral arteries was closed using previously placed sutures of the Prostar XL system. The wound in the inguinal region was closed with a skin suture. Results. The analysis of obtained results demonstrated significantly shorter mean hospitalization times in patients treated with PEVAR compared to EVAR. Low rates and types of observed complications in the study group (PEVAR) compared to the control group (EVAR) are strongly in favour the percutaneous technique (PEVAR) of endovascular aortic abdominal aneurysm repair in the infrarenal region of the aorta, confirming its minimally invasive character

Structural-Geometric Functionalization of the Additively Manufactured Prototype of Biomimetic Multispiked Connecting Ti-Alloy Scaffold for Entirely Noncemented Resurfacing Arthroplasty Endoprostheses

The multispiked connecting scaffold (MSC-Scaffold) prototype, inspired by the biological system of anchorage of the articular cartilage in the periarticular trabecular bone by means of subchondral bone interdigitations, is the essential innovation in fixation of the bone in resurfacing arthroplasty (RA) endoprostheses. The biomimetic MSC‐Scaffold, due to its complex geometric structure, can be manufactured only using additive technology, for example, selective laser melting (SLM). The major purpose of this work is determination of constructional possibilities for the structural-geometric functionalization of SLM‐manufactured MSC‐Scaffold prototype, compensating the reduced ability-due to the SLM technological limitations—to accommodate the ingrowing bone filling the interspike space of the prototype, which is important for the prototype bioengineering design. Confocal microscopy scanning of components of the SLM‐manufactured prototype of total hip resurfacing arthroplasty (THRA) endoprosthesis with the MSC‐Scaffold was performed. It was followed by the geometric measurements of a variety of specimens designed as the fragments of the MSC-Scaffold of both THRA endoprosthesis components. The reduced ability to accommodate the ingrowing bone tissue in the SLM‐manufactured prototypes versus that in the corresponding CAD models has been quantitatively determined. Obtained results enabled to establish a way of compensatory structural‐geometric functionalization, allowing the MSC‐Scaffold adequate redesigning and manufacturing in additive SLM technology

Adjusting the Lens - Quality Management in V4 Countries Through Times of Crises

Purpose: The idea of the study is to understand fluctuation in quality management depending on organizational context. The primary purpose of this article is to analyze changes in quality management in four countries grouped in V4 (The Visegrad Group) in the prism of macroeconomic crises, over the last five years. The following research question was formulated: What influences market saturation with a formal approach to quality management (ISO 9001 certificates), and when? Design/methodology/approach: The considerations are based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and an analysis of the long-term data of ISO survey – certifications. The data was compared among V4 countries and an attempt was made to relate the results to economy-wide indicators, especially in turbulent environments. Findings: The results show no clear and unidirectional relationships between the number of ISO 9001 certifications and macroeconomic data. This was identified for the V4 group as a whole and for individual countries, as well. Implementation of the QMS is an individual decision of each organization, depending on closely related microeconomic factors. Research limitations/implications: Research findings always represent a slice of a larger reality. In that research paper limitations concern: the period of analysis, literature review in English and supplemented locally in the native languages, focusing on the V4 area. Findings implicate quality management’s perceptions need to adjust the lens to understand macro numbers of certificates by the circumstances and adjust micro decisions in organizations in the QM area depending on the crisis phase on the market. Originality/value: The article analyses certification data in previously unpresented form. Results were compared between V4 countries in the prism of times of crisis with an indication of certificate saturation rates and an attempt to explain macroeconomic fluctuations. The research results are helpful for researchers exploring quality management issues, and all organizations that can relativize the importance of quality management

Local variation in brain temperature explains gender-specificity of working memory performance

IntroductionExploring gender differences in cognitive abilities offers vital insights into human brain functioning.MethodsOur study utilized advanced techniques like magnetic resonance thermometry, standard working memory n-back tasks, and functional MRI to investigate if gender-based variations in brain temperature correlate with distinct neuronal responses and working memory capabilities.ResultsWe observed a significant decrease in average brain temperature in males during working memory tasks, a phenomenon not seen in females. Although changes in female brain temperature were significantly lower than in males, we found an inverse relationship between the absolute temperature change (ATC) and cognitive performance, alongside a correlation with blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal change induced by neural activity. This suggests that in females, ATC is a crucial determinant for the link between cognitive performance and BOLD responses, a linkage not evident in males. However, we also observed additional female specific BOLD responses aligned with comparable task performance to that of males.DiscussionOur results suggest that females compensate for their brain’s heightened temperature sensitivity by activating additional neuronal networks to support working memory. This study not only underscores the complexity of gender differences in cognitive processing but also opens new avenues for understanding how temperature fluctuations influence brain functionality

Wyniki leczenia pembrolizumabem chorych na przerzutowego czerniaka po niepowodzeniu wcześniejszej terapii — doświadczenia dwóch ośrodków

Wstęp. Pembrolizumab [przeciwciało monoklonalne przeciwko białku programowanej śmierci 1 (PD-1)] może wywoływać długotrwałe odpowiedzi i wydłużać czas przeżycia pacjentów chorych na zaawansowanego czerniaka. W pracy oceniono skuteczność i bezpieczeństwo tego leku, stosowanego u chorych na przerzutowego czerniaka po niepowodzeniu wcześniejszej terapii. Metody. 54 pacjentów (średnia wieku 57 lat, zakres 18–77) po progresji po wcześniejszym leczeniu choroby przerzutowej (każdy chory otrzymał wcześniej przynajmniej ipilimumab) zostało poddanych terapii pembrolizumabem w zarejestrowanej dawce 2 mg/kg mc. co 3 tygodnie w ramach programu rozszerzonego dostępu. Byli oni obserwowani pod kątem czasu wolnego od progresji choroby (PFS), przeżycia całkowitego (OS), odpowiedzi na leczenie, zdarzeń niepożądanych. Średni czas obserwacji wyniósł 8,5 miesiąca. Wyniki. Oprócz 6 przypadków chorzy otrzymali pembrolizumab jako co najmniej 3. linię leczenia choroby roz­sianej. Z wyjątkiem 2 przypadków czerniaka gałki ocznej pacjenci chorowali na czerniaka skóry; u 16 chorych stwierdzono obecność mutacji BRAF (30%), u 42 pacjentów stadium zaawansowania określono na M1c (78%), 27 miało wyjściowo zwiększoną aktywność dehydrogenazy mleczanowej — LDH (50%). Korzyść kliniczną z leczenia pembrolizumabem odniosło 50% chorych — odnotowano 1 całkowitą remisję, 7 częściowych i 19 przypadków stabilizacji choroby. Spośród badanych 36 chorych otrzymało co najmniej 4 dawki leku, 13 pozostaje w leczeniu. Mediana OS nie została osiągnięta, szacowany odsetek 1-rocznych przeżyć to 48%. Nie zaobserwowano żad­nych różnic w OS pomiędzy pacjentami z obecnością mutacji BRAF i bez obecności, gorsze przeżycia dotyczyły chorych z podwyższonym wyjściowym stężeniem LDH (p = 0,009); nieznacznie gorsze wyniki zanotowano w grupie pacjentów, którzy otrzymali ponad 3 linie leczenia, i w stadium M1c. Mediana PFS wyniosła 5,6 miesiąca, szacowany odsetek 1-rocznych PFS wyniósł 40%, lepszy wynik obserwowano w grupie pacjentów z prawidłowym stężeniem LDH (7,5 vs. 4,5 miesiąca; p = 0,02). Lek był dobrze tolerowany — działania niepożądane pojawiły się u 14 pacjentów (26%), tylko w 3 przypadkach były to działania 3. stopnia (6%): biegunka, cukrzyca, zapalenie płuc. Wnioski. Potwierdzono aktywność i profil bezpieczeństwa pembrolizumabu stosowanego poza badaniami klinicznymi u chorych wcześniej przeleczonych z powodu przerzutowego czerniaka. Leczenie przeciwciałami anty-PD-1 jest preferowaną opcją terapeutyczną u chorych na zaawansowanego czerniaka