Demographic changes in Polish cities in the years 1950-2016

The study presented the demographic development of big cities (≥100,000 inhabitants) in Poland from 1950 to 2016. The article demonstrates the similarities and differences in these cities’ demographic development, showing demographic trends in Poland’s various periods of socio-economic development using the graphical trajectory method. Presented study on demographic development of Polish cities using trajectories shows it as additional useful tool in analyses of demographic development of cities, regions and other territorial units. It was indicated that this simple graphic picture opens new interpretative possibilities, it demonstrates development stages, shows both the process nature (demographic development of cities in this case), or if this nature is progressive or regressive process. Trajectory method let us read dynamics of changes of a particular process (distances between subsequent trajectories points)

Differential effect of behavioural strategies on the management of conduct disorder among adolescents in correctional centres in Lagos State, Nigeria

Adolescent period is a significant phase in human development. Empirical evidences from diverse nations revealed that the period is characterized by a number of misbehaviours of which conduct disorder is paramount. Conduct disorder is a repetitive behaviour that violates the rights of others. It entails rule violation, aggression, hostility, and deceitfulness. There are adolescents in correctional centres in several nations of the world because of their engagement in conduct disorder. Several behavioural techniques have been adopted to ensure that conduct disorder is overcome. It, however, appears from literature that concentrated attempts have not been made to treat or determine the efficacy of behavioural techniques. This study examined the efficacy of two behavioural strategies to manage maladjusted behaviour in correctional centres in Lagos State, Nigeria. Participants for the study were 90 adolescents purposively selected from two special correctional centres in Lagos State. The research design utilized for the study was 3 x 2 factorial design. Conduct Disorder Scale by Gilliam was used to generate data. The result of the two hypotheses showed that significant difference existed between participants exposed to cognitive restructuring, behavioural rehearsal and control group (F (2, 87) = 46.622, p < 0.05) while there was no significant difference between participants exposed to cognitive restructuring and behavioural rehearsal groups (t = 0.313, df = 58, p = 0.756). From the study, the two behavioural methods could be employed to manage conduct disorder. Consequently, they are recommended as techniques for handling adolescents’ conduct disorde

Wybrane aspekty zielonego budownictwa w Polsce w kontekście systemów certyfikacji budynków ekologicznych

Celem pracy jest wyjaśnienie specyfiki i ocena zielonego budownictwa w Polsce w kontekście procesu certyfikacji budownictwa ekologicznego. Ponadto w opracowaniu podjęto próbę określenia czynników tak społecznych, jak i ekonomicznych, które przyczynią się do rozwoju tego typu budownictwa w Polsce. W pracy również omówiono zróżnicowanie przestrzenne w skali województw lokalizacji budynków posiadających certyfikat budownictwa ekologicznego, a także wskazano strukturę zielonego budownictwa w Polsce. W celu realizacji zamierzonych zadań badawczych posłużono się głównie danymi z Polskiego Stowarzyszenia Budownictwa Ekologicznego. W pracy wykazano wzrost liczby wydanych certyfikatów budownictwa ekologiczne, co świadczy o rozwoju tego typu budownictwa. Stwierdzono też znaczne zróżnicowanie przestrzenne zielonego budownictwa w skali kraju. Wykazano również, że zdecydowana większość budynków, które otrzymały certyfikat budownictwa ekologicznego jest zlokalizowana w dużych miastach w Polsce

Zróżnicowanie przestrzenne płatności Wspólnej Polityki Rolnej w województwie wielkopolskim – poziom, struktura i uwarunkowania

The article analyzes the level, structure, and spatial diversity of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments in the Greater Poland Voivodeship in 2022 and their impact on the development of agriculture and rural areas in this region. The study utilized data from the publicly available online register of CAP beneficiaries, which includes the amounts of payments made, expressed as an absorption index (in PLN per capita). These data formed the basis for a spatial analysis conducted at the county and municipal levels. The results of the spatial diversity of payment levels were related to natural and non-natural conditions. Referring to the CAP funds absorption level index, a stronger influence of non-natural factors on the level of CAP payment absorption was demonstrated, particu- larly those defined by the general level of socio-economic development (Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient of −0.578). The research also indicated that an unequivocal assessment of the spatial distribution of CAP funds absorption is difficult due to their diverse structure according to the directions of impact. The presented research findings, conducted for the Greater Poland Voivodeship, indicate the need for a thorough understanding of the CAP payment mechanism and its spatial differentiation for the entire country. They also confirm the necessity to revise the Common Agricultural Policy in order to strengthen its effectiveness in protecting natural resources, the environment, and the climate, as well as to maximize social benefits in rural areas while minimizing economic losses. According to the authors, a precise understanding of the agri-environmental payment mechanism is particularly important in the ongoing discussion on the need to reform the principles of the European Green Deal in agriculture.W artykule dokonano analizy poziomu, struktury i zróżnicowania przestrzennego płatności Wspólnej Polityki Rolnej (WPR) w województwie wielkopolskim w 2022 r. oraz ich oddziaływania na rozwój rolnictwa i obszarów wiejskich w tym regionie. W pracy wykorzystano m.in. dane zawarte w ogólnodostępnym internetowym wykazie beneficjentów WPR, obejmujące kwoty zrealizowanych płatności, ujęte jako wskaźnik absorpcji (w zł na 1 mieszkańca). Dane te stanowiły podstawę do analizy przestrzennej, wykonanej w ujęciu powiatowym i gminnym. Wyniki zróżnicowania przestrzennego poziomu płatności przyrównano do uwarunkowań przyrodniczych i pozaprzyrodniczych. Odnosząc się do wskaźnika poziomu absorpcji środków WPR, wykazano silniejszy wpływ czynników pozaprzyrodniczych na poziom absorpcji płatności WPR, zwłaszcza określonych przez ogólny poziom rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego (współczynnik korelacji liniowej Pearsona −0,578). Badania wykazały również, że jednoznaczna ocena rozkładów przestrzennych absorpcji środków WPR jest utrudniona ze względu na ich zróżnicowaną strukturę według kierunków oddziaływania

World allergy organization anaphylaxis guidance 2020

Anaphylaxis is the most severe clinical presentation of acute systemic allergic reactions. The occurrence of anaphylaxis has increased in recent years, and subsequently, there is a need to continue disseminating knowledge on the diagnosis and management, so every healthcare professional is prepared to deal with such emergencies. The rationale of this updated position document is the need to keep guidance aligned with the current state of the art of knowledge in anaphylaxis management. The World Allergy Organization (WAO) anaphylaxis guidelines were published in 2011, and the current guidance adopts their major indications, incorporating some novel changes. Intramuscular epinephrine (adrenaline) continues to be the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. Nevertheless, its use remains suboptimal. After an anaphylaxis occurrence, patients should be referred to a specialist to assess the potential cause and to be educated on prevention of recurrences and self-management. The limited availability of epinephrine auto-injectors remains a major problem in many countries, as well as their affordability for some patients

Can we identify patients at risk of life-threatening allergic reactions to food?

Anaphylaxis has been defined as a “severe, life-threatening generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction”. However, data indicate that the vast majority of food-triggered anaphylactic reactions are not life-threatening. Nonetheless, severe life-threatening reactions do occur, and are unpredictable. We discuss the concepts surrounding perceptions of severe, life-threatening allergic reactions to food by different stakeholders, with particular reference to the inclusion of clinical severity as a factor in allergy and allergen risk management. We review the evidence regarding factors which might be used to identify those at most risk of severe allergic reactions to food, and the consequences of misinformation in this regard. For example, a significant proportion of food-allergic children also have asthma, yet almost none will experience a fatal food-allergic reaction; asthma is not, in itself, a strong predictor for fatal anaphylaxis. The relationship between dose of allergen exposure and symptom severity is unclear. While dose appears to be a risk factor in at least a subgroup of patients, studies report that individuals with prior anaphylaxis do not have a lower eliciting dose than those reporting previous mild reactions. It is therefore important to consider severity and sensitivity as separate factors, as a highly sensitive individual will not necessarily experience severe symptoms during an allergic reaction. We identify the knowledge gaps which need to be addressed to improve our ability to better identify those most at risk of severe foodinduced allergic reactions

Problems of city definition and urban population in the People’s Republic of China

Współczesne procesy urbanizacyjne cechują się niezwykłą żywiołowością, której odbiciem są liczne problemy w definiowaniu ludności miejskiej i wyznaczaniu rzeczywistych granic miast. Szczególnie interesujący z naukowego punktu widzenia jest przypadek Chin, gdzie dynamika przekształceń społeczno-ekonomicznych oraz kwestie polityczno-administracyjne mają konsekwencje w skomplikowanej strukturze miejskiej. Poważnym utrudnienie przy wyznaczaniu właściwej liczby chińskiej ludności miejskiej lub określaniu rzeczywistych granic tamtejszych miast jest skomplikowany podział administracyjny, objawiający się nienaturalnym niekiedy rozmiarem miast oraz włączaniem ludności wiejskiej pod miejską jurysdykcję. Ponadto, kwestia podziału społecznego między wsią a miastem, który jest skutkiem istnienia swoistego systemu meldunkowego Hukou, poważnie utrudnia dokładne oszacowanie liczby rezydentów miejskich. Masowa migracja ze wsi do miast, w większości przypadków niepociągająca za sobą aktualizacji Hukou, w przypadku migrantów wpłynęła na brak pełnych i akceptowanych statystyk liczby ludności chińskich miast. Warto również wspomnieć, że ci migranci na obszarach miejskich często stanowią drugorzędną kategorię obywateli doświadczającą tam społeczno-ekonomicznej dyskryminacji, co prowadzi do widocznej i odczuwalnej polaryzacji mieszkańców miast chińskich.Present urbanization processes are characterized by unusual spontaneity, reflected in numerous problems in defining urban population and determining real city boundaries. Of particular interest, from a scientific point of view, is the case of China, where a considerable dynamics of socio-economic transformations, as  ell as political and administrative issues are reflected in a complex urban structure. Serious complications in determining the real Chinese urban population number, or determining real city boundaries are the complicated administrative division, manifested by an unnatural size of the cities, and the inclusion of rural population under their urban jurisdiction. In addition, the question of social duality between the countryside and the city,caused by the Hukou register system, seriously hampers estimations of a city resident number. Mass migration from the countryside to cities, in most cases without updating the Hukou system, resulted in a lack of complete and accepted statistics concerning the population of Chinese cities. It is also worth mentioning, that rural migrants in urban areas are often a secondary category of citizens facing socio-economic discrimination, leading to a visible and tangible polarization among Chinese urban residents

Problematyka definicji miasta i ludności miejskiej w Chińskiej Republice Ludowej

Problems of city definition and urban population in the People’s Republic of China Present urbanization processes are characterized by unusual spontaneity, reflected in numerous problems in defining urban population and determining real city boundaries. Of particular interest, from a scientific point of view, is the case of China, where a considerable dynamics of socio-economic transformations, as ell as political and administrative issues are reflected in a complex urban structure. Serious complications in determining the real Chinese urban population number, or determining real city boundaries are the complicated administrative division, manifested by an unnatural size of the cities, and the inclusion of rural population under their urban jurisdiction. In addition, the question of social duality between the countryside and the city,caused by the Hukou register system, seriously hampers estimations of a city resident number. Mass migration from the countryside to cities, in most cases without updating the Hukou system, resulted in a lack of complete and accepted statistics concerning the population of Chinese cities. It is also worth mentioning, that rural migrants in urban areas are often a secondary category of citizens facing socio-economic discrimination, leading to a visible and tangible polarization among Chinese urban residents.</jats:p

Problemy interpretacyjne społecznej odpowiedzialności biznesu

In changing market environment it’s hard to reach sustainable competitive advantage. But there is a way in which we can help our company and also do some good to an area it operates. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be defined as the duty of organizations to conduct their business in a manner that respects the rights of individuals and promotes human welfare. In most cases it allows a company to take responsibility for the well-being of the societies and environments in a manner that generates significant returns to its business. A tool which helps us in defining the corporate responsibility from companies’ perspective is the virtue matrix. The aim of the article is to show some views onto the CSR and to describe its meaning

Immunological effect of a single dose of 100.000 I.U. cholecalciferol (vitamin D)

HINTERGRUND: Vitamin D ist ein pleiotrop wirksames Hormon. Die physiologische Wirkung von Vitamin D ist die Aufrechterhaltung des Calcium-Phosphat Stoffwechsels. Daneben ist Vitamin D immunologisch wirksam und aktuelle Studien weisen darauf hin, dass Autoimmunerkrankungen mit einer Vitamin D-Defizienz assoziiert sind. Die vorliegende klinisch wissenschaftliche Untersuchung sollte die Frage klären, ob und in welchem Ausmaß eine einmalige Cholecalciferol Gabe mit 100.000 I.E. (intramuskulär vs. subkutan) zu einem Anstieg des 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serumspiegels führt und ob sich assoziiert bestimmte immunologische Veränderungen (CD38 Expression, Frequenzen peripherer Blutzellen und humorale Immunparameter) nachweisen lassen. METHODEN: 40 Vitamin D-defiziente Probanden erhielten randomisiert placebokontrolliert eine einmalige intramuskuläre oder subkutane Injektion mit Cholecalciferol (100.000 I.E.). Die zellulären Untersuchungen erfolgten mittels durchflusszytometrischer Analyse zu 4 verschiedenen Zeitpunkten (vor, 1 Woche nach, 1 Monat und 3 Monate nach Gabe). Eine Elektrochemilumineszenz- Immunoassay-Messung wurde zur Bestimmung des 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serumspiegels durchgeführt. Mit Hilfe eines enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) wurde die Stabilität der humoralen Immunantwort gegen Epstein-Barr-Virus -, Cytomegalovirus -, und Varizella-Zoster-Antigen vor (Tag 0) und nach (Tag 28) der Vitamin D Supplementierung gemessen. ERGEBNISSE: Nach Vitamin D-Gabe stieg der 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serumspiegel im Durchschnitt in der intramuskulär- verabreichten Verumgruppe um 40,0 nmol/l ± 20,8 nmol/l (p < 0,03) (Range: 28,6 nmol/l bis 100,9 nmol/l), in der subkutan-verabreicheten Verumgruppe 44,2 nmol/l ± 16,9 nmol/l (p < 0,02) (Range: 43,4 nmol/l bis 110,6 nmol/l) und in der Vergleichsgruppe um 0,6 nmol/l ± 9,11 nmol/l (Range: 16,6 nmol/l bis 42,2 nmol/l) an. Die durchflusszytometrische Analyse zeigte einen signifikanten Anstieg von CD38+ Plasmazellen im peripheren Blut. Andere Immunzellen wie B- und T-Lymphozyten sowie Monozyten zeigten keine signifikanten Veränderungen bezüglich der Frequenz mittels durchflusszytometrischer Analyse nach Gabe von Vitamin D. Die Sicherheitsparameter (Calcium und Phosphat) blieben während der Studie im physiologischen Bereich. Die IgG Serumkonzentrationen der Epstein- Barr-Virus -, Cytomegalovirus -, und Varizella-Zoster Virus Antigene veränderten sich nicht nach Cholecalciferol Gabe. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Der 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Serumspiegel stieg signifikant nach einmaliger Gabe von 100.000 I.E. Cholecalciferol an. Im Gruppenvergleich intramuskulärer und subkutaner Verabreichung von Vitamin D zeigten sich im Verlauf keine signifikanten Unterschiede. CD38+ Plasmazellen sind vermehrt im peripheren Blut nach Vitamin D Gabe nachweisbar, korrelieren jedoch nicht mit dem Vitamin D-Serumwert.BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone. Its physiological role is the maintenance of the calcium-phosphate homeostasis. It mediates immune modulatory functions and recent clinical studies show that its deficiency is associated with an increased prevalence of autoimmune diseases. This clinical study is designed to obtain pharmacokinetics of vitamin D serum levels after a single dose of 100.000 I.U. cholecalciferol (intramuscular vs. subcutaneous) and to determine the impact of vitamin D on peripheral blood populations and antibody levels against common antigens. SUBJECTS/METHODS: 40 vitamin D deficient individuals were randomized in a placebo controlled, double-blind setting and received an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection with cholecalciferol (100.000 I.U.) Immunomonitoring by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was performed at 4 different time points throughout the pilot study (before, 1 week after, 1 month after and 3 months after the injection). 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentration was measured with an electrochemiluminescence -immunoassay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to monitor the humoral immune response against Epstein-Barr- virus -, Cytomegalovirus -, and Varizella-Zoster-antigen before (day0) and after (day 28) vitamin D supplementation. RESULTS: Vitamin D supplementation increased the 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentration on average in the intramuscular-treated group to 40,0 nmol/l ± 20,8 nmol/l (p < 0,03) (range: 28,6 nmol/l to 100,9 nmol/l) and in the subcutaneous-treated group to 44,2 nmol/l ± 16,9 nmol/l (p < 0,02) (range: 43,4 nmol/l to 110,6 nmol/l) whereas in the placebo group the levels remained low (0,6 nmol/l ± 9,11 nmol/l, range: 16,6 nmol/l bis 42,2 nmol/l). The increase of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not correlate with the increase of CD38 expression on B-cells but CD38+ plasma cells increased significantly one month after vitamin D supplementation. Other immune cells like B – and T- lymphocytes and monocytes did not show significant alterations after vitamin D supplementation. Safety laboratory serum concentrations of calcium and phosphate were in the physiological range throughout the study. Antibody serum levels (IgG) to Epstein-Barr-virus -, Cytomegalovirus -, and Varizella-Zoster remained stable after cholecalciferol administration. CONCLUSIONS: 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum concentration increased significantly after Vitamin D supplementation. There was no significant difference between the serum levels of the Vitamin D treated groups (intramuscular vs. subcutaneous). Immunomonitoring suggests peripheral CD38+ plasma cell induction by cholecalciferol