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Dynamic replacement (DR) is a ground improvement technique that has been used now for almost 50 years. During the formation of a DR column a crater is created which is then filled with a coarse material and compacted again. The length, diameter and shape of such a column cannot be observed directly, which makes the design and execution more troublesome. In the article presented are the dimensions and shapes of 18 columns from eight different test fields. They were formed by means of pounders of various masses (9 or 11.5 Mg) and dimensions (1.00 or 1.05 m in diameter, 1.8 or 2.0 m in height). Based on the observations and measurements, it was concluded that the shape and diameter of a DR column is influenced by the parameters of the soft soil that is supposed to be improved (its thickness, physical state and location in the profile), as well as by the diameter of the pounder. It was revealed that, as the length of the columns increased, the column shapes changed from: a cylinder, through a truncated cone, a barrel to an asymmetric barrel. The diameters of all of the columns were 1.4–2.8 times larger than the diameters of the used pounders and the largest values were noted along the depth of the weakest layer. The presented results may be useful to the profession. When the thickness of the weak soil, its type and state are known and the technological parameters are similar to the ones presented in this paper, it is possible to predict the shape and diameter of the columns depending on the diameter of the pounder.

Purpose: The basic research hypothesis is as follows ' Socio-economic cohesion has a positive, statistically significant impact on the development of sustainable entrepreneurship in Poland from 2008 to 2022'. Design/methodology/approach: We normalize diagnostic variables into synthetic indicators to verify the hypothesis. We use the classical least squares method (OLS). Findings: Sustainable entrepreneurship in Poland has a positive trend, although it should be pointed out that the ecological awareness of entrepreneurs should be significantly increased. The results of the study show that social and economic cohesion has a positive impact on sustainable entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications: The availability of data, the choice of normalization method and the estimation method for the model. Social implications: Socio-economic development that considers protecting the natural environment is a source of new entrepreneurial opportunities, generating new profits and solving social and ecological problems. It is a challenge for the entrepreneur, an opportunity, and at the same time, requires a change in the perception and understanding of his role in developing modern economic systems. Originality/value: The paper's novelty is an attempt to assess the impact of social and economic cohesion on sustainable entrepreneurship in Poland from 2008 to 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study's primary aim is to assess the impact of economic growth on the financial security of the healthcare and social assistance sector from 2008 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach: The paper consists of a theoretical background and a research part. We created a synthetic indicator of financial security and examined the correlation between it and GDP per capita. Additionally, we developed a statistical model estimated using the Ordinary Least Square method. Findings: We verify that the financial security indicator of section Q fluctuates in the examined period, although it has a slight positive trend, and that GDP per capita from the two periods before has an impact on its level (p < 0.05). Research limitations/implications: The study limitations are related to the selection of data, the method of calculating correlation coefficients and the OLS estimation method. Additionally, it should be noted that we analyzed the impact of only the level of GDP, which is an important research limitation. Practical implications: The empirical implications are related to introducing a model allowing for the assessment of the impact of GDP on the financial security of the health sector. Additionally, we have developed a synthetic indicator for assessing the sector's financial security. Social implications: The financial situation of health care depends on macroeconomic conditions and demand for medical services. Originality/value: The paper's novelty is developing a synthetic indicator of financial security in section Q and examining the relationship between this indicator and GDP per capita in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The paper aims to determine how consumer behaviour and attitudes are shaped in the framework of behavioural economics principles. It analyses input from a survey about purchase decisions, pointing out the critical role of emotional factors in impulse purchases. The survey is preceded with a background of behavioural economics as an interdisciplinary field at the interface of economics and social sciences, including psychology. Design/methodology/approach: The survey was conducted in 2024 on a sample of 120 respondents. The research tool was a survey questionnaire. The study employed the CAWI technique (Computer Assisted Web Interviewing), whereby respondents fill in an online questionnaire on a computer or mobile device. The respondents could access the questionnaire through social media. The sample consisted of adult consumers of the general product and service market. Findings: The results show that most respondents are aware of the role of emotions in purchase decisions. The same concerns applying social influence techniques in marketing; half of the respondents are aware they succumb to it. Note that emotions can be effective marketing tools, such as manipulation, when their influence is covert. Individuals with high awareness become more immune. Research limitations/implications: Behavioural economics is a developing academic field. As a relatively new economics sub-discipline, it facilitates interesting, interdisciplinary research. Today, its area of interest reaches far beyond standard marketing to neuromarketing methods or the application of behavioural tools in the public sector. Practical implications: The practical application of behavioural economics focuses on guiding purchase decisions through marketing efforts. Moreover, considering the growing interest in and awareness of the effectiveness of behavioural tools, they can be universally deployed in various fields of public policy. Social implications: Behavioural economics is increasingly widespread in modern decisionmaking in such domains as economics (financial decisions), marketing (purchase decisions), education, and health care. In general, behavioural economics focuses on all those practical instances where the human factor plays a greater role than was previously expected. Originality/value: The paper should be of interest to all researchers curious about behavioural economics, i.e. a merger of economics and social sciences. It presents the results of research on emotions and their impact on consumer purchase decisions and consumer self-awareness of susceptibility to social influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute 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.)

From time to time, some well-known terms are extended with adjectives to create new topics, which is exactly what happened in the case of regenerative agritourism. This article aims to try to explain the term "regenerative" as the next step in thinking about sustainable development and in relation to the definition of agritourism. The research methods used include the literature analysis, the bibliographic program VoSwiver (version 1.6.20), the descriptive method, and logical–comparative analysis. The authors conducted a systematic literature review to highlight the role of agritourism in supporting sustainable rural development and describe the concept of regenerative agritourism. The results of this analysis suggest that regenerative agritourism is "agritourism by another name" and is neither more sustainable nor more environmentally friendly. The characteristics attributed to the new term used to describe this form of tourism can already be found in agritourism perceived in its classical sense and in what is practiced as a tourist activity on many farms. The results of our literature research have shown that regenerative agritourism is nothing other than agritourism that takes place on traditional farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stiffness is one of the most important characteristics of geomaterials, and at the same time one of the most difficult to evaluate. It can be described by means of various stress-strain moduli, whose values strongly depend on the strain range and on the method of determination. The aim of the article is to evaluate and compare selected stiffness parameters (Young’s modulus E and shear modulus G) of an anthropogenic soil on the basis of triaxial tests. The experiments were carried out on samples consisting of loess mixed with sand. Loess is a collapsible aeolian sediment with a high calcium carbonate content and so it is a very challenging material for geotechnical applications. The addition of sand improves its properties and increases its suitability for earthworks. The specimens were compacted with normal Proctor energy at the optimal water content, which ensured repeatability of the results. Standard triaxial tests (drained and undrained) were carried out at the effective confining stresses in the range of 50 – 350 kPa. The specimens’ deformation was measured by means of external and local displacement transducers. Additionally, bender elements were used to assess the initial soil stiffness. The applied research methods allowed determination of the deformation characteristics in the range from very small to large strains. The stiffness moduli were assessed using different definitions and methods. It was confirmed that the stiffness of loess is improved by its proper compaction and addition of sand, when compared to the results available in literature for natural loesses.

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists 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.)

Mechanical soil parameters are not constants and can be defined in various ways. Therefore, determination of their values for engineering practice is difficult. This problem is discussed based on results of piezoceramic element tests and triaxial tests (unconfined and confined) on loess specimens improved by compaction and sand admixture (20% by weight). The study indicated also the effectiveness of this simple method of loess stabilization. The influence of specimen size, draining conditions, stress and strain state, and different calculation methods on the evaluation of basic mechanical parameters were analyzed. The initial shear and Young's moduli, the degradation of secant moduli with strain, tangent moduli, and Poisson' ratio were determined. The results showed that the shear strength parameters are much less sensitive to the test variables than the stiffness parameters are. In triaxial tests, the strength criterion adopted, the sample size, and the drainage conditions influenced the measured value of cohesion, with a much smaller impact on the angle of internal friction. On the other hand, the adopted definition of the parameter and the range of strains had the greatest influence on the value of the stiffness modulus. Moreover, larger specimens were usually found to be stiffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the pancreas differentiation of two species of gekkotan families—the mourning gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris (Gekkonidae) and the leopard gecko Eublepharis macularius (Eublepharidae)—based on two‐dimensional (2D) histological samples and three‐dimensional (3D) reconstructions of the position of the pancreatic buds and the surrounding organs. The results showed that at the moment of egg laying, the pancreas of L. lugubris is composed of three distinct primordia: one dorsal and two ventral. The dorsal primordium differentiates earlier than either ventral primordium. The right ventral primordium is more prominent and distinctive, starting to form earlier than the left one. Moreover, at this time, the pancreas of the leopard gecko is composed of the dorsal and right ventral primordium and the duct of the left ventral primordium. It means that the leopard gecko's left primordium is a transitional structure. These results indicate that the early development of the gekkotan pancreas is species specific. The pancreatic buds of the leopard and mourning gecko initially enter the duodenum by separate outlets, similar to the pancreas of other vertebrates. The pancreatic buds (3 of the mourning gecko and 2 of the leopard gecko) fuse quickly and form an embryonic pancreas. After that, the structure of this organ changes. After fusion, the pancreas of both gekkotans comprises four parts: the head of the pancreas (central region) and three lobes: upper, splenic, and lower. This organ develops gradually and is very well distinguished at hatching time. In both gekkotan species, cystic, hepatic, and pancreatic ducts enter the duodenum within the papilla. During gekkotan pancreas differentiation, the connection between the common bile duct and the dorsal pancreatic duct is associated with intestinal rotation, similar to other vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The egg tooth of squamates is a true tooth that allows them to break, tear, or cut the eggshell during hatching. In this clade there are some uncertainties concerning the egg tooth implantation geometry, the number of germs, and their fates during embryonic development. Here, we used X-ray microtomography and light microscopy, focusing on the egg tooth and remaining premaxillary teeth of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis , Squamata: Unidentata). The developing egg tooth of this species passes through all the classic stages of tooth development. We did not find any evidence that the large size of the egg tooth is related to the merging of two egg tooth germs, which has recently been suggested to occur in snakes. Instead, this feature can be attributed to the delayed formation of the neighbouring regular premaxillary teeth. This might provide more resources to the developing egg tooth. At the last developmental stage, the egg tooth is a large, midline structure, bent forward as in most oviparous Unidentata. It is characterized by pleurodont implantation, and its base is attached to the pleura and a peculiar ridge of the alveolar bone. The attachment tissue contains periodontal ligament-like tissue, acellular cementum-like tissue, and alveolar bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The T1 relaxation time measured in nuclear magnetic resonance experiments contains information about electric field gradient (EFG) fluctuations around a nucleus, but computer simulations are typically required to interpret the underlying dynamics. This study uses classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum chemical calculations, to investigate EFG fluctuations around a Na+ ion dissolved in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [Im21][BF4], to provide a framework for future interpretation of NMR experiments. Our calculations demonstrate that the Sternheimer approximation holds for Na+ in [Im21][BF4], and the anti-shielding coefficient is comparable to its value in water. EFG correlation functions, CEFG(t), calculated using quantum mechanical methods or from force field charges are roughly equivalent after 200 fs, supporting the use of classical MD for estimating T1 times of monatomic ions in this ionic liquid. The EFG dynamics are strongly bi-modal, with 75%–90% of the de-correlation attributable to inertial solvent motion and the remainder to a highly distributed diffusional processes. Integral relaxation times, ⟨τEFG⟩, were found to deviate from hydrodynamic predictions and were non-linearly coupled to solvent viscosity. Further investigation showed that Na+ is solvated by four tetrahedrally arranged [ BF 4 ] − anions and directly coordinated by ∼6 fluorine atoms. Exchange of [ BF 4 ] − anions is rare on the 25–50 ns timescale and suggests that motion of solvent-shell [ BF 4 ] − is the primary mechanism for the EFG fluctuations. Different couplings of [ BF 4 ] − translational and rotational diffusion to viscosity are shown to be the source of the non-hydrodynamic scaling of ⟨τEFG⟩. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in rural tourism in Poland and Romania is the result of processes originating from economic and social factors reflecting the needs of both rural inhabitants and tourists. A significant growth in the field of rural tourism leads to implementation of innovative products in the development of tourist services. The aim of the study presented in this paper is to show the essence of innovation as a component of the contemporary tourist industry, and to present the type of innovations that occur in rural tourism in Poland and in Romania. The theoretical part analyses innovation in the field of rural tourism. The empirical part, in turn, presents case studies of tourist businesses in rural areas, taking into account the implemented innovations, in both Poland and Romania. The case studies are presented based on interviews with owners of tourist facilities.

Copyright of Annals of the Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists is the property of Polish Association of Agricultural & Agribusiness Economists 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.)

Ammi majus L. (Apiaceae) is a medicinal plant with a well-documented history in phytotherapy. The aim of the present work was to isolate isopimpinellin (5,8-methoxypsoralen; IsoP) from the fruit of this plant and evaluate its biological activity against selected tumor cell lines. The methanol extract obtained with the use of an accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) method was the most suitable for the quantitative analysis of coumarins in the A. majus fruit matrix. The coumarin content was estimated by RP-HPLC/DAD, and the amount of IsoP was found to be 404.14 mg/100 g dry wt., constituting 24.56% of the total coumarin fraction (1.65 g/100 g). This, along with the presence of xanthotoxin (368.04 mg/100 g, 22.36%) and bergapten (253.05 mg/100 g, 15.38%), confirmed A. majus fruits as an excellent source of these compounds. IsoP was isolated (99.8% purity) by combined liquid chromatography/centrifugal partition chromatography (LC/CPC) and tested for the first time on its antiproliferative activity against human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29, SW620), osteosarcoma (Saos-2, HOS), and multiple myeloma (RPMI8226, U266) cell lines. MTT assay results (96 h incubation) demonstrated a dose- and cell line-dependent decrease in cell proliferation/viability, with the strongest effect of IsoP against the Saos-2 cell line (IC50; 42.59 µM), medium effect against U266, HT-29, and RPMI8226 (IC50 = 84.14, 95.53, and 105.0 µM, respectively), and very weak activity against invasive HOS (IC50; 321.6 µM) and SW620 (IC50; 711.30 µM) cells, as well as normal human skin fibroblasts (HSFs), with IC50; 410.7 µM. The mechanistic study on the Saos-2 cell line showed that IsoP was able to reduce DNA synthesis and trigger apoptosis via caspase-3 activation. In general, IsoP was found to have more potency towards cancerous cells (except for HOS and SW620) than against healthy cells. The Selective Index (SI) was determined, underlining the higher selectivity of IsoP towards cancer cells compared to healthy cells (SI = 9.62 against Saos-2). All these results suggest that IsoP might be a promising molecule in the chemo-prevention and treatment of primary osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accession to the European Union (EU) aroused diverse emotions in public debate among citizens, but the everyday experience of being an EU member is much more difficult to narrate than by relating to two contrasting views for and against European integration. The situation becomes more complicated if we analyse the emotional responses of Polish farmers, for whom joining the EU has been one more change in the last two centuries: the fall of feudalism, the agricultural reform after the Second World War, and the post-1989 political transformation. We aim to analyse personal narratives while observing how feelings about the EU have become embedded in everyday life experience narratives and how they are expressed and managed in a socio-cultural context. The presence of contradictory views was expected, as was the appearance of a combination of emotions and indifference, and, finally, the use of emotions as resistance. Based on the analysis of 55 memoirs from 1918 to 2018, we have determined the possible types of the integration experience; firstly, Poland's accession to the EU meant change and was associated mainly with positive emotions, secondly, with negative emotions, thirdly, it meant change, and was associated with ambiguous emotions; and lastly, it did not mean a change. We noted not only the contrasting positions e.g. hope and fear but also the mixture of emotions and various paths of resistance that included demonstrating the inadequacy of the master narrative to personal experience or neutralising it but also filling the intermediary space between two opposite views and finding a way out from this opposition to the higher level of division and thus narrating non-change. It is the sense of personal dignity and permanence that negates the perception of accession as a change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to assess the impact of energy economic instruments and macroeconomic stabilization on decarbonization in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) from 2005 to 2019. The central research hypothesis (H) is "The impact of economic instruments and macroeconomic stabilization on decarbonization varies in the Central and Eastern European Countries from 2005 to 2019". Design/methodology/approach: We use the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to verify our hypothesis. Findings: The impact of economic instruments is varied. The most effective instruments are the EU Emissions Trading System, outlays on renewable energy sources, and futures contracts for CO2 emissions. Research limitations/implications: The availability of data, the choice of normalization method and the choice of estimation method for both the one-equation model. Practical implications: The results show that economic instruments and macroeconomic stabilization have a positive impact on the decarbonization of economies, hence shaping their appropriate level is important for sustainable development. Social implications: Economic instruments impact on decarbonization and thus improve the quality of life. Originality/value: The impact of economic instruments is varied. The most effective instruments are the EU Emissions Trading System, outlays on renewable energy sources, and futures contracts for CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych 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.)

The examination of master narrative models of identity development seems to be an important task in each national culture, as the culturally shared stories may vary in structure and topics. This article aims to identify Polish biographical master narratives. The study focuses on life-story interviews collected from a sample of 131 Polish adults. The examination of common themes of biographical narratives in Polish culture—suffering, home, and freedom—led us to identify three different dominant positions toward them: Traditional, Romantic, and Bildung. The results revealed that 37 analyzed life stories belonged to the traditional type, 22 to Romantic, and 18 to Bildung. 54 narratives represented the coexistence of two or three of the aforesaid types. Our research revealed that it is difficult to describe the Polish biographical narratives using one main type of master and one alternative narrative, as the participants find a way of managing the deviations from one type of master narrative by using its other type (one or more) and they reach for more than one type of master narrative, even without questioning any of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]