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The aim of this study was to determine the effects of backfat thickness (mean standardised measurement from in vivoassessment) of Polish Large White (PLW) gilts on their reproductive performance and productive lifespan. The study included 5,122 PLW gilts from 160 breeding herds in Poland, which reproductive performance was analysed on the basis of the rearing results of 20,662 litters. The gilts were divided into two groups differing in mean standardised backfat thickness (P2+P4/2) on the performance test day: I≤10 mm, II>10 mm. Sows in group I vs II had a three month shorter herd life (P≤0.001), gave birth to fewer litters and piglets (P≤0.001), but the average number of piglets born alive and reared to 21 days of age/litter was higher in them (P≤0.001). The number of live-born piglets per 100 days of reproductive life in group I was greater than in group II (P≤0.001). When culling sows in cycles 1–8 and later, there was more intensive culling in group I vs II from cycle 1 to 6 and a lower percentage of sows remaining in the herd. In group I vs II, the proportion of sows with a lifetime productivity of fewer than 30 piglets was 5.5 percentage points higher and that with a production of more than 100 piglets was 1.9 percentage points lower. Our results indicate that the level of fat reserves determined in vivo in breeding gilts can be a preliminary information about the reproductive potential of sows and their predisposition to longevity.

Nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the physical development and health of children. Education in this area and the development of proper eating habits are priorities. A prerequisite for the proper nutrition of preschool children is knowledge of proper nutrition of people working there. The aim of this study was an evaluation of the knowledge of kindergarten employees participating in the course “Diet full of life – courses in the field of children’s nutrition”. The study included 90 employees of nurseries and kindergartens, participants of the course in the field of children’s nutrition. The research tool was an original questionnaire. Study I (pre-test) was performed before the beginning of the course, while study II (post-test) was performed after its completion. Generalized Linear Models with a Generalized Estimating Equations extension was used to estimate the impact of the number of covariates on knowledge of course participants, taking into consideration the correlation between before- and after-course results. An increase in the knowledge of the participants of the investigated course on children’s nutritional standards was significant and reached 2.053 points on average. No relationship between age, job position, and knowledge level was determined. In the area of principles of proper nutrition for children, older participants had a lower level of knowledge compared to younger ones, and participants with higher education showed a significantly higher knowledge increase as compared to those with vocational education. A significant knowledge increase in the field of dietary behaviors of children was obtained during the course by all examined women, 1.6 points on average (p < 0.001). Younger participants obtained significantly more knowledge from the course than older ones (p < 0.001). Thus, it can be concluded that realization of the course entitled “Diet full of life” specifically relating to young children’s nutrition affected a significant increase in participant knowledge, particularly among the younger age groups and people with higher education. Kindergarten employees need constant supplemental education in the form of training courses, during which they acquire actual knowledge given in an accessible manner for use in practice. The proper assessment of the supplemental education course presented herein, as well as of the course participants, was performed using General Estimating Equations.

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) is a technique used for the detection of chemical warfare agents (CWA), drugs, toxic industrial compounds (TIC), and explosives, when rapid detection should be performed (from a few to several seconds) for trace amounts of these substances. An important development of IMS technology is differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS). DMS is also known as Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS). Detection possibilities of apparatus using the DMS method are based on the occurrence of the different mobilities of ions (K) in the alternating electric field. This dependence is characterized by the alpha function (α).This presentation shows methods and examples of the identification of chosen substances. The results for the dependence of coefficient α are specific for different types of substances. This specificity is used to identify vapours and gases.

This review discusses some of the recent advances in basic and clinical research focused on chronic urticaria. It is a concise summary of issues that occupied researchers' attention in the previous year, and it discusses a selection of novel findings that further our understanding of the pathomechanism of this disease.

Sedimentation of water dispersed systems of acrylate copolymers in xyleneMethyl methacrylate - butyl acrylate - methacrylic acid copolymer and butyl methacrylate - methacrylic acid amide copolymer of a different segmental structure were stabilised with non-ionic and anionic surfactants. Gel chromatography, viscosimetry, tensiometry, conductometry and sedimentation methods were applied to define the properties of the synthesized copolymers, surfactants in water solutions and water dispersions. The types and the properties of the phases being in a state of sedimentation balance were also determined. The obtained experimental data were interpreted and justified by using the copolymer and surfactants properties. The existing correlations were pointed out. The obtained results show that the stability of a disperse system considerably depends on the structure of the copolymer. The MMA/BA/MAA copolymer has monomeric units of elastic butyl acrylate. Segments containing these monomeric units adsorb surfactants much better and form more stable water disperse systems. However, the MBA/AMAA copolymer with the polarity of amide group of methacrylamide makes disperse systems less stable.

This paper presents a simple three-sector model that seeks to establish links between structural change in employment and the level of economic development. The model is a modified version of that of Rowthorn - Wells (1987). The theoretical analysis is supplemented with simple econometric tests which illustrate how the modified Rowthorn - Wells model can be used (i) to motivate empirical estimates of the link between the level of development and structures of employment, and (ii) to illustrate structural distortions under command economies.

26 lichenicole Pilze werden behandelt. Sechs Arten werden neu für Polen nachgewiesen: Bispora lichenum Diederich, Hobsonia christiansenii B. L. Brady & D. Hawksw., Phoma cytospora (Vouaux) D. Hawksw., Sphaerellothecium propinquellum (Nyl.) CI. Roux & Triebel, Syzygospora physciacearum Diederich und Vouauxiomyces - Anamorphe von Abrothallus parmeliarumx.

AbstractOne hundred and sixty-nine bank employees were investigated with the Orientation to Work Values Inventory by Seifert and Bergmann (values; Seifert & Bergmann, 1983), and the Work Description Inventory by Neuberger and Allerbeck (importance and satisfaction with work aspects, overall job satisfaction; Neuberger & Allerbeck, 1978). The data show complex connections between values and the perceived importance of work aspects and job satisfaction. The results indicate that (a) the importance of achievement and social relations values influences the importance of aspects of work, (b) overall job satisfaction depends on social relations value and satisfaction with some aspects depends on this value or on interactions of both of the values, (c) predicting overall job satisfaction from satisfaction with aspects of work is modified by the interaction of the values. However, the hypothesis that overall job satisfaction can be predicted from satisfaction with most important aspects of work is not confirmed by the data.

The aim of the study is to answer whether 2 predominant values—achievement or social relations—and reactivity influence (a) the importance of work aspects, (b) satisfaction with them and overall job satisfaction, (c) connections between overall job satisfaction and satisfaction with work aspects. Bank employees were investigated with the Strelau Temperament Inventory-Revised by Strelau, Angleitner, Bantelman, and Ruch (1990, reactivity), Orientation to Work Values Inventory by Seifert and Bergmann (1983, values), and Work Description Inventory by Neuberger and Allerbeck (1978; importance and satisfaction with work aspects, overall job satisfaction). Predominant values, reactivity, and their interaction influence the importance of work aspects. The values affect overall job satisfaction and satisfaction with Conditions. Reactivity does not affect overall job satisfaction, but it strongly influences the structure of satisfaction with work aspects, and low-reactives compared to high-reactives are more satisfied with 4 out of the 7 considered aspects. Among the high-reactives, connections between overall job satisfaction and satisfaction with work aspects depend on their predominant values. It was concluded that reactivity can modify regulative functions of personal values towards overall job satisfaction: The values have a rather declarative character for low-reactives, but meeting aspirations connected with their values is very important for high-reactives’ job satisfaction.

A new workplace is a result of changing a work post or undertaking a new job. Direct indices of adaptation to this situation (average mood at the workplace and job satisfaction) and the indirect ones (costs like health complaints and the level of depressing or facilitating anxiety) are analysed with regard to reactivity and values-motives coherence at work. Sixty bank workers were investigated. The obtained results confirm that mood and costs depend on reactivity, but satisfaction with work depends on coherence. Only achievement values-motives coherence at work differentiates direct and indirect indicators of adaptation. Considering both kinds of variables modifies dependencies. Some theoretical and practical conclusions resulting from the research are included.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the sensitivity of skin mast cells from urticaria pigmentosa (UP) patients to substance P (SP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and anti-IgE, and to compare the sensitivity of these cells with that of skin mast cells from healthy human donors. Mast cells for in vitro functional studies were obtained using an enzymatic dispersion technique from skin biopsies (from 11 patients with UP and 11 healthy donors), and the reactivity of these cells was estimated on the basis of histamine release. Our observations indicated that UP skin mast cells and healthy skin mast cells had similar sensitivities to challenge with TNF-α at a concentration 10–7M(16.4% vs 15.2%) and with anti-IgE at a dilution 1:100 (41.0% vs 37.0%). However, UP mast cells showed considerably higher sensitivity to challenge with SP at a concentration 10–4Mthan healthy skin mast cells (20.0% vs 6.8%), and the difference was statistically significant (P< 0.001). UP skin mast cells also demonstrated significantly higher spontaneous histamine release than healthy skin mast cells (32.1% vs 12.4%, P< 0.001). Our findings indicating UP skin mast cell sensitivity to SP might suggest that mechanisms involving neurogenic inflammation could contribute to the course of this disease.

This paper focuses on the application and interpretation of measures of rate of return for competition law. Amongst other results, we analyse how outsourcing and similar arrangements impact the rate of profitability and show that the measurement is more volatile the greater the rate of profit (suggesting that the measures are most problematic when they are most needed). We identify and interpret the outsourcing arrangements that provide the lowest rate of profit and show that these arrangements have a close relationship to net present value. Finally, we provide suggestions to make profitability measures more informative for competition law.