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This paper presents a novel predictive model for advertising campaigns in IPTV networks that uses the advanced geolocation-based display of advertising messages. Thanks to advanced data analysis and modern geolocation technologies, the proposed model enables the more precise planning and optimisation of advertising campaigns. Advertisers can thus better understand the preferences and behaviours of audiences in different geographical regions. This allows the creation of more tailored and engaging content of programmes and advertisements, leading to higher levels of viewer engagement in the content presented and increasing the effectiveness of campaigns.

This paper explores some of the ways in which international central banking can contribute to containing the imminent worldwide climate crisis in a context in which the role of national central banks is important but effectively limited to employing two new stabilization policy tools: macroprudential policy and QE programmes. The authors argue in favour of institutional reform that would gradually transform the IMF into an international central bank and the SDR into a genuine international currency. Even its limited scope would substantially increase the IMF’s capacity to solve one of the key problems of the global climate policy, namely the shortage of funding for the decarbonization of developing economies.

Every real-estate related investment decision making process calls for the careful analysis of available information even though it is often carried out in conditions of uncertainty. The paper attempts to minimize the impact of the factor on the quality of real estate investment decisions through the proposal of application of tools based on the simulation of the process of natural selection and biological evolution. The aim of the study is to analyze the potential of methodology based on genetic algorithms (GA) to build automated valuation models (AVM) in uncertainty conditions and support investment decisions on the real estate market. The developed model facilitates the selection of properties adequate to the adopted assumptions, i.e. individuals best suited to the environment. The tool can be used by real estate investment advisors and potential investors on the market to predict future processes and the proper confrontation of past events with planned events. Even though genetic algorithms are tools that have already found particular application on real estate market, there are still areas that need further studies in the case of more effective uses. The obtained results allow for the possibilities and barriers of applying GA to real estate market analyses to be defined.

In this paper we present an algorithm for precise estimation of moving objects density (typically people and vehicles) in indoor and outdoor scenes. Automatic generation of the so-called density maps is based on video sequences acquired by surveillance systems. Our approach offers two types of solutions. The first one increments the accumulation table when a moving object is detected in a location of interest, delivering a density map of the presence of moving objects. The second algorithm increments the accumulation table only in cases of detecting a new moving object, resulting in a density map of the count of moving objects. The proposed algorithms were tested with the use of PETS 2009 database and with our own database of long-term video recordings. Finally, results of the density maps visualization and determination of the “busy hours” are presented.

This paper presents a novel predictive model for advertising campaigns in IPTV networks that uses the advanced geolocation-based display of advertising messages. Thanks to advanced data analysis and modern geolocation technologies, the proposed model enables the more precise planning and optimisation of advertising campaigns. Advertisers can thus better understand the preferences and behaviours of audiences in different geographical regions. This allows the creation of more tailored and engaging content of programmes and advertisements, leading to higher levels of viewer engagement in the content presented and increasing the effectiveness of campaigns. For the purposes of the project, data from the IPTV advertising campaign covering from 50,000 to 500,000 displays between 23rd January 2024 and 20th March 2024 were used. The TERYT database and the list of counties were used to increase the precision of target group targeting. Viewer rating and interaction data were collected and analysed to assess the effectiveness of the campaign. The methodology included monitoring the number of channel switches, advertising message views, complete views, the average display time of the advertising message and unique reach in different time periods. The results of the test of the advertising campaign based on switching channels using a remote control show that increasing the number of ad plays clearly improves the effectiveness of reaching the audience. In the beginning, with fewer displays, the chances of an ad being noticed by viewers are moderate. However, as the number of displays increases, these chances increase exponentially, reaching nearly 45% at 500,000 ad plays.The analysis of these results is very important for the effective planning of advertising campaigns. Thanks to these data, advertisers can determine more accurately the number of displays that needs to be planned in order to achieve their marketing goals. The significant increase in the likelihood of reaching the audience with a bigger number of displays indicates that investing in additional views can be cost-effective and lead to the better use of the advertising budget. The project confirmed that precise targeting and optimisation of the number of displays in IPTV advertising campaigns significantly increase the effectiveness of the advertisements. The high rate of complete views and the wide reach of the advertisements attest to the effectiveness of the strategy used. The test results show that smart campaign planning in IPTV can lead to better audience engagement and the more efficient use of the advertising budget. These findings suggest that IPTV has great potential as a modern advertising medium, offering advertisers the tools to effectively reach specific target groups and increase their engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this review was to evaluate the botanical and pharmacological description of Petasites species. Petasides (butterbur) as a perennial shrub which was found in Europe and also in a parts of Asia and North America, has been widely used medicinally for centuries. At present, the main phytopharmacology uses for Petasides extracts are for prophylactic treatment of migraines, as well as an antispasmodic agent for bronchial asthma and pertussis. Furthermore, it has been used effectively in preventing gastric ulcers, and in urinary tract spasms and treating patients with irritable bladder. But still, there is a need for more studies on the potential applications of butterbur extract in medicine.

The study aimed to interpret the results of cone penetration tests with pore pressure measurement (CPTU). Tests were performed on a section of the designed road about 200 m long. The subsoil under consideration was characterized by organic soils deposited to a depth of approximately 8 m. Due to the problematic soil and water conditions, improvement with geosynthetic encased columns (GEC) was performed. According to the Recommendations for Design and Analysis of Earth Structures using Geosynthetic Reinforcements – EBGEO, the constrained modulus Eoed and effective friction angle φ' of soil below the GEC column base should be higher than 5 MPa (Eoed > 5 MPa) and 30° (φ' > 30°), respectively. In this study, the Eoed and φ' parameters were determined based on CPTU tests conducted in 12 locations. Analysis of the CPTU data showed that the constrained modulus and effective friction angle of the soil deposited below the GEC column base did not meet EBGEO requirements in most locations. It was also concluded that the minimum value of the constrained modulus required by EBGEO is too low compared with the requested value of the effective friction angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine the geotechnical properties of peat and relate them to the fibre content. Peat soil tested in this study was collected from the peatland in the north-eastern Poland, 250 km north-east of Warsaw. Peat samples were taken from eight different depths below the ground surface over an area of approximately 2500 m2. The research programme consisted of laboratory tests of the physical properties of peat and compressibility tests conducted in oedometers. Tests were performed in accordance with the current international and European standards using specialised research equipment. Based on the degree of decomposition, peat was divided into fibric (with more than 66% of fibres), hemic (fibre content from 33% to 66%) and sapric (less than 33% of plant fibres). The bulk and particle densities, natural water content, organic content, initial void ratio and the degree of decomposition were investigated as the physical properties of peat. Based on the oedometer tests, the constrained modulus, compression and secondary compression indexes were determined. It was concluded that the fibric peat is characterised by the lowest bulk and particle densities, the highest water and organic contents, void ratio and compressibility in comparison to hemic and sapric peat. The characteristics of peat have been related to the results presented in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Conference on Development and Applications of Nuclear Technologies, NUTECH 2023, was held in Krakow, Poland from September 20-22, 2023. The conference aimed to bring together scientists working in the field of nuclear and radiation technologies to facilitate scientific contacts and collaboration. Over 100 scientists from 28 countries participated, presenting their research through oral and poster presentations. The conference covered topics such as nuclear energy, medical applications of radiation, dosimetry, and radiation technologies. This special issue of "Nukleonika" contains a selection of papers presented at the conference, showcasing international contributions to research on nuclear and radiation technologies. The conference was supported by various institutions and sponsors. [Extracted from the article]

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the demand for medical masks and respirators exceeds the current global stockpile of these items, and there is a dire need to increase the production capacity. Considering that ionizing radiation has been used for sterilization of medical products for many years and electron beam (EB) irradiation enables the treatment of huge quantities of disposable medical products in a short time this method should be tested for the mask's decontamination. In this work, three different filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) were irradiated with electron beams of 12 kGy and 25 kGy. The results confirmed that the decrease in filtration efficiency after irradiation of all respirators results from the elimination of the electric charge from the polypropylene (PP) fibers in the irradiation process. Moreover, the applied doses may affect the thermal stability of PP fabrics, while filtering materials structure and integrity have not changed after irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone is not harmful itself; however, it directly oxidises biomolecules and produces radical-dependent cytotoxicity. Exposure to ozone is by inhalation and therefore the lungs develop the main anti-inflammatory response, while ozone has an indirect impact on the other organs. This study investigated the local and systemic effects of the ozone-associated inflammatory response. Three groups each of 5 Wistar Han rats aged 6 months were exposed for 2h to airborne ozone at 0.5 ppm and a fourth identical group were unexposed controls. Sacrifice was at 3h after exposure for control rats and one experimental group and at 24 h and 48 h for the others. Lung and liver samples were evaluated for changes in expression of transforming growth factor beta 1, anti-inflammatory interleukin 10, pro-inflammatory tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta and two nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of B cells subunit genes. Total RNA was isolated from the samples in spin columns and cDNA was synthesised in an RT-PCR. Expression levels were compared to those of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and analysed statistically. All variables changed non-linearly over time comparing experimental groups to the control. Conspicuous expression changes in the subunit genes and cytokines were observed in both evaluated organs. Locally and systemically, inflammation responses to ozone inhalation include regulation of certain genes' expression. The mechanisms are unalike in lungs and liver but ozone exerts a similar effect in both organs. A broader range of variables influential on ozone response should be studied in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a waste management system requires considering many aspects for the assessment of its functioning. The transition from a linear system to a circular economy requires taking into account not only technological but also economic and social factors. The waste management system in Krakow is a comprehensive solution that considers all factors and aspects, allowing for the assessment of technology, economic justification of costs and social acceptance. The paper presents a comprehensive structure of the system with all the factors enabling the transition from a linear to a circular economy. In Kraków, over 200,000 tonnes of mixed waste are collected annually and almost 150,000 tonnes of selectively collected waste. Such potential allows for a landfill reduction below 10% by weight and the achievement of the required recycling levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the aging population in Europe, where the number of old people exceeds the number of young people, much attention is paid to the issue of the elderly. The studies conducted so far in Poland show that the health behaviour of seniors is inadequate, which may result in a low quality of life. The aim of this paper was to determine the health behaviour of students at the University of the Third Age (UTA). Materials and methods: Surveys were conducted among the 83rd group of the UTA in Police (Poland). Based on the surveys, the frequency of participation in classes, the form of classes, sex and education were scrutinized in order to examine the background of the respondents and their declared health behaviours. Results: Assessing the level of health behaviours in the students showed that respondents mostly presented a high rate of healthy behaviour (63.86%). Gender is significantly correlated with the overall participation in health-related behaviours. The respondents are also found to underestimate the role of physical activity in shaping positive health behaviours. Conclusions: The obtained research results indicate the usefulness of the activities of the UTA in the field of promoting appropriate health behaviours among older people, particularly in those who have a lower level of education. The educational offering at the UTA should be expanded to include knowledge about health behaviours, especially in the field of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borreliosis (Lyme disease) is a chronic multisystem infectious disease transmitted by Ixodes ticks. The etiological agent of borreliosis is the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The symptoms of borreliosis can vary depending on the attacked system and length of infection. Diagnosis is based mainly on clinical symp- toms and immunoserological tests. The clinical symptoms of borreliosis also include dysfunction in the tissues and organs of the stomatognathic system. This paper describes a case of a female patient who had experi- enced a long-term dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). After careful analysis, the symptoms were found to be caused by a chronic form of neuroborreliosis with exacerbations. The findings in this case study show that borreliosis should be considered by doctors and dentists in the differential diagnosis of pain in the area of the TMJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Advancements of Microbiology is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Advancements of Microbiology is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Dracocephalum moldavica is a valuable reward plant for flower visitors. The aim of the study was to ecologically characterise its flowers and leaves and assess the seasonal and daily dynamics of flowering in two white- and blue-flowered forms of this species in 2004 and 2005. Additionally, the duration and abundance of plant flowering as well as the nectar amount and sugar content were analysed. The signalling attractants of the plant include an intense scent emitted by trichomes located not only on its flowers but also on its stem and leaf surfaces. The average corolla length is 24 mm and the corolla tube, which can be completely filled with nectar, is 8.6 mm long. The floral lifespan was shown to reach 2-3 days and the mean blooming duration of both forms of dragonhead 45-48 days. The white-flowered plants produced a substantially greater number of flowers (5352) than the blue-flowered form (2965). The nectar amount obtained from ten blue flowers was 15.33 mg and that extracted from white flowers reached 17.56 mg, with 49.4% and 51.5% content of sugar, respectively. The total sugar mass produced by one white-flowered plant was 4656 mg, while one blue-flowered plant yielded 2164 mg of sugars. The sugar yield calculated in the study for the white-flowered form (586 kg · ha-1) was two-fold higher than that in the blue-flowered plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A great number of hereditary diseases have been correctly diagnosed and treated recently as a result of the rapid progress and constant development of genetic research. Case report: This study presents the case of 24-year-old female patient suffering from MELAS syndrome, which is inherited in the maternal line - as are other mitochondrial diseases. This disorder was first described in 1984 by Steven G. Pavlakis et al. Our paper describes prosthetic procedures that were undertaken as treatment for the patient mentioned above, who had been referred from a hospital neurological clinic for consultation and possible treatment due to her refractory migraines. Regardless of the previously noted symptoms, the patient was examined for bruxism, and considering the positive outcome of the test, typical treatment, including a stabilization appliance was implemented. It gives significant improvement and lesser occurrence of neurological symptoms. Conclusions: The patient stays under the constant, periodic control of our department. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hosts of Hantavirus are rodents, while they are transmitted to humans via aerosol, or by direct contact with them. The primary goal of the study was evaluation of the state of health of forestry workers by laboratory diagnosis of the diseases caused by Hantavirus Dobrava/Hantaan. The study covered a group of 820 randomly selected employees of the State Forests from 32 Forest Districts located in the area of the whole of Poland. The results of the study show that the largest number of positive results were registered in the Augustów Forest District - 3 cases (10%), and in Piotrków Trybunalski - 3 cases (11.5%). For the whole of Poland, 25 seropositive results were noted (3%) and 76 results were doubtful (9.3%). The results of the conducted study suggest the occurrence of Hantavirus Dobrava in large forest complexes on the territory of Poland. People residing and working in these areas are exposed to infection, and this exposure seems to be comparable with data from other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A method was elaborated to determine phenolic compounds (vanillin, caffeic, p-coumaric and salicylic acids, and flavonoids: rutin, hesperetin, quercetin, pinocembrin, apigenin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, chrysin, and acacetin) in bee pollen loads using highperformance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Phenolic compounds from bee pollen were isolated on Cleanert C18-SPE columns (500 mg/6 mL, Agela Technologies). Polyphenols were identified by comparing the retention times and spectra of compounds found in pollen load samples with the ones of the standard mixture. Quantitative analysis was conducted using the external standard method. In addition, basic validation parameters for the method were determined. For the identified compounds (except for the salicylic acid), satisfactory (≥0.997) linear correlations were obtained. The elaborated method showed high repeatability and inter-laboratory reproducibility. Variability coeffcients of the majority of phenolic compounds did not exceed 10% in conditions of repeatability and inter-laboratory reproducibility, and for the total polyphenolic content they were 1.7 and 5.1%, respectively. The pollen load samples (n = 15) differed in qualitative and quantitative composition of the phenolic compounds. In all the samples, we identified the p-coumaric and salicylic acids and flavonoids rutin, hesperetin, and apigenin nevertheless, these compounds' contents significantly differed among individual samples. The total phenolic content in the tested samples of pollen loads ranged from 0.653 to 5.966 mg/100 g (on average 2.737 mg/100 g). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Estrogens belong to a group of sex hormones, which have been shown to act in multidirectional way. Estrogenic effects are mediated by two types of intracellular receptors: estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2). There are two basic mechanisms of estrogen action: 1) classical-genomic, in which the ligand-receptor complex acts as a transcriptional factor and 2) a nongenomic one, which is still not fully understood, but has been seen to lead to distinct biological effects, depending on tissue and ligand type. It is postulated that nongenomic effects may be associated with membrane signaling and the presence of classical nuclear receptors within the cell membrane. Estrogens act in a multidirectional way also within cell organelles. It is assumed that there is a mechanism which manages the migration of ESR into the mitochondrial membrane, wherein the exogenous estrogen affect the morphology of mitochondria. Estrogen, through its receptor, can directly modulate mitochondrial gene expression. Moreover, by regulating the level of reactive oxygen species, estrogens affect the biology of mitochondria. The considerations presented in this paper indicate the pleiotropic effects of estrogens, which represent a multidirectional pathway of signal transduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pomeranian Journal of Life Sciences is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

All lindens provide Apidae insects with nectar, pollen, and honeydew. Lindens are important melliferous trees in Poland. The first purpose of the study was to carry out phenological observations of the flowering in ten linden taxa. The second aim was to analyse the content of linden pollen grains in the air of Lublin. A correlation between the parameters of the pollen season and meteorological factors was also determined. This study was conducted in the city of Lublin located in the central-eastern part of Poland. The flowering phenophases were analysed, using the method developed by Łukasiewicz, during the growing seasons of 2012-2015. Aerobiological monitoring, which was based on the volumetric method, was carried out over the 2001-2014 time period. As shown in the study, the flowering period of all the analysed linden taxa lasted 7 weeks, on average, from June 7 to July 24. The average length of the flowering period of the investigated taxa and hybrids was in the range of 12-17 days. Their flowering periods overlapped. The atmospheric pollen season lasted, on average, from mid-June to the second 10-day period of July. The highest concentration of airborne pollen was noted at the end of June. The pollen season pattern was significantly affected by temperature and relative air humidity as well as by rainfall in May and June. The investigations indicate a 9-day acceleration of the pollen season, which may be associated with global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 102 honey samples collected from small apiaries (≤ 20 hives) in Poland were analysed for the presence of Clostridium botulinum spores. The samples were prepared using the dilution centrifugation method and cultured in parallel in cooked meat medium (CMM) and tripticase peptone glucose yeast (TPGY) enrichment broths. Identification of toxin types A, B, and E of Clostridium botulinum strains was performed with the use of the multiplex PCR method. Positive samples were also subjected to quantitative analysis with the use of Clostridium botulinum Isolation Agar Base (CBAB). The prevalence analysis showed 22 (21.6%) samples contaminated with C. botulinum spores. The major serotype detected was botulin neurotoxin type A - 16 (72.7%) whereas type B was found in 3 (13.6%) honey samples and type E also only in 3 (13.6%) honey samples. Dual-toxin-producing strains were noted. The average quantity of spores in PCR - C. botulinum positive samples was 190 in 1 gram of honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the gas chromatography - mass detector (GC-MS) technique for the detection of beeswax adulterated with paraffin, was evaluated. For this purpose, beeswax samples with paraffin additions (3, 5, 10, 30, 50%) were analysed. Since not enough is known about paraffin compositions, and since it is difficult to detect paraffin in beeswax, the aim of our research was also to compare the hydrocarbon composition of different types of paraffin. The analysis showed that the types of paraffin available on the market, differ qualitatively and quantitatively as far as their hydrocarbon compositions are concerned. In all kinds of paraffin, we found homologous series of n-alkanes that were much longer than those in beeswax. In beeswax, the amount of added paraffin that is possible to detect, differs and depends on the kind of paraffin used for adulteration. In this study, the minimum estimated percent that was detected using the GC-MS technique, was 3%. The adulteration is indicated by the presence of hydrocarbons containing over 35 carbon atoms in the molecule, and by the higher contents of n-alkanes (C20H42 - C35H72), in comparison to the concentration of these compounds determined in pure beeswax. We also presented the results of the quality control of commercial beeswax. Based on our results, it can be stated that beeswax adulteration is currently a problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Different types of organisational behaviours have become a very popular research topic, particularly the search for behavioural pattern of effectiveness: the degree to which objectives are achieved. Research aims. The study explores gender differences in expression of organisational citizenship behaviours and counterproductive work behaviours, investigating chosen antecedents of the issues. Methodology. Structural equation modelling was used to examine data based on 327 responses from 165 female and 162 male employees. Key findings. It emerges that while citizenship is the "core" organisational behaviour for women, counterproductivity is for men, and there are different antecedents for both types of behaviour, depending on the gender. Women's OCBs could be increased by elevation of their job satisfaction and remuneration. Men's OCBs depends on job satisfaction that does not rely on salary. Men's CWBs depend on citizenship performance, but women's CWBs are not related to any factors included in our models. Considering citizenship and counterproductivity, both women and men differ rather in specific behaviours than in the dimensions of OCBs and CWBs. The results could be useful in building employees' motivational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To detect beeswax adulteration with hydrocarbons of alien origin (e.g. paraffin), gas chromatography with mass detector (GC-MS) technique was used. The method has been verified here on beeswax samples with different addition (3, 5, 10, 30, and 50%) of paraffin and validated under the conditions of repeatability and within - laboratory reproducibility. The addition of paraffin to beeswax can already be detected on the basis of an analysis of the chromatograms. The intensity of individual alkane peaks increased with the increase of the amount of paraffin added to the beeswax. This increase was the mostly visible for the alkanes with even numbers of carbon atoms in the molecule: C24H50, C26H54, C28H58, C30H62, C32H66, and C34H70. These observations have also been proven by quantitative analysis performed using the internal standard method. Adding paraffin to beeswax resulted in an increase in the total contents of n-alkanes as well as individual alkanes, and in particular, of the even-numbered alkanes. The addition of paraffin to beeswax also resulted in the appearance of alkanes containing over 35 carbon atoms in the molecule, which were not detected in beeswax. The method for determination of beeswax hydrocarbons with the GC-MS technique is characterised by satisfactory repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility. This method can be used for the detection of beeswax adulteration with hydrocarbons of alien origin (e.g. paraffin). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of steroidal medications on the structure and mechanical properties of supporting tissues of sheep under experimentally-induced osteoporosis. A total of 21 sheep were used, divided into three groups: a negative control (KN) (n = 3), a positive control (KP) (n = 3) with ovariectomy, and a steroidal group (KS) (n = 15) with ovariectomy and glucocorticosteroids. All animals were kept on a low protein and mineral diet and had limited physical activity and access to sunlight. Quantitative computed tomography was the examination method. The declines in the examined parameter values in the KS group were more than three times higher than in the KN group. The study suggests that a glucocorticosteroidal therapy accelerates and intensifies processes taking place in the course of osteoporosis. The combination of glucocorticosteroids with ovariectomy, a restrictive diet, limited physical activity, and no access to sunlight leads to a decrease in radiological bone density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]