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The aim of the research was to investigate teachers' perspectives on the elements of emergency e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted with 134 teachers from different types of schools in Poland during the first wave of crisis e-learning (March - May 2020). The variables included in the analysis comprise teachers' use of differentiated teaching methods, student collaboration, school support for modern ICT, and teachers' digital competence. The findings are summarized as follows: (1) about a third of students did not develop the ability to work together in emergency e-learning; (2) more than two-thirds of teachers underlined that their schools actively promoted the idea of implementing ICT in education; (3) more than two-thirds of teachers emphasized that their school principals had systematically modernized the IT facilities necessary for effective teaching; (4) approximately half of the teachers were supported by the school authorities in strengthening their digital competence; and (5) teachers used various teaching methods in emergency e-learning, and the most popular methods were videos, presentations, e-learning platforms, and interactive games and applications; (6) teachers who did not differentiate digital teaching methods did not believe in the development of opportunities for soft skills among students; (7) the schools invested in technological facilities and supported the development of digital competence among teachers; and (8) the intensive use of e-learning platforms by teachers increased their positive attitude towards the development of soft competences (e.g., collaboration skills) among students.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the transfer of the educational system in Poland to the online realm. This had a massive effect on the way in which lessons were taught, as well as on the communication system within the schools themselves. This study sought to understand the shift from offline teaching to online through the perspective of the leadership style of the head of the school, and what that style meant for the school's teachers. In moving to a different delivery method, teachers were required to be creative -- but not all teachers were equally creative or equally adaptable.

In this study we examined how specific personality traits are related to psychosocial adjustment in people with intellectual disability. We studied 73 students with mild intellectual disability and 25 students with moderate intellectual disability who attended special schools in Poland. Personality traits were assessed with the Revised Edward Zigler-Yale Questionnaire (EZPQ-16R) and to assess adjustment we used a total-difficulties score in Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We hypothesized a predictive relationship between the specific personality traits and adjustment. The relation between personality and adjustment was stronger in people with moderate intellectual disability than in people with mild intellectual disability. In students with moderate intellectual disability the relation between personality and adjustment was significant for each of the studied traits and in students with mild intellectual disability it was significant for negative-reaction tendency, and assignment alacrity. Obtained results indicate that specific traits are important to adjustment of people with intellectual disability.

The aim of this study was to determine the predispositions of the studied groups of students to work in the IT sector. The basis for predisposition assessment was their voluntary self-assessment of certain preferences, which are related to the theory of multiple intelligences of Professor Gardner. The study was conducted on a reference group of IT sector employees, assuming that they will be the model, to which the results of the study will be related. The method used to obtain data about the students' predispositions was a test carried out in an auditorium mode or online. More than 500 students from several countries were surveyed and interesting statistical material was obtained allowing for comparison between groups. The most important result was to find a way to sort the students into groups in order from most similar in their aptitude to the market pattern to least. This made it possible to determine the boundary beyond which students could be considered selected for a job in the IT sector. Statistical hypotheses about the similarity of the student groups to the reference group were verified. The results were both positive, confirming that a large percentage of students have predispositions to work in the IT market, and less promising. The authors are convinced that the method can be applied all over the world, as they examined groups in very diverse countries, taking into account, for example, location, education system, culture or religion.

The aim of this research was to compare the level of digital competence of future pedagogical staff (students of pedagogical faculties) in Italy and Poland. The research was conducted using original measurement tools and knowledge tests. The triangulation of techniques and research tools made possible the determination of the level of knowledge of the positive and negative features of the development of the information society, as well as the proficiency and frequency of use of the most popular websites and software. The research was conducted in the first half of 2022 using stratified sampling in both countries (N = 1209, IT = 604, PL = 605). Based on the data collected, it was noted that: (1) Pre-service teachers most often use software such as word processors and presentation creation tools; (2) This group very rarely uses software to create web pages, create visual material, or edit video; (3) The least problematic software that students use are word processors and multimedia presentations; (4) Among the typical ICT mediated activities that cause problems are: searching for and installing freeware (PL), installing and configuring parental control software (PL, IT), creating websites (PL, IT), searching for freely licensed images, and identifying plagiarism (PL); (5) Polish students have more theoretical knowledge about e-risks and the possibilities of the digital world than their Italian counterparts; (6) In most domains, the Italian future teachers rate their competences higher; (7) 53.81% of the respondents in IT and 38.68% in PL received lower results in competence tests, and handling ICT in selected areas causes problems for these students; (8) Both in PL and IT the frequency of ICT use and its seamless integration are predictors for assessing the effectiveness of ICT use in education.

In this article we present the level of knowledge and literacy held by the parents of primary school students regarding internet safety (online safety, digital safety) in the context of digital literacy (DL) in terms of both technical skills and knowledge. The study reported on here was conducted in Poland, and was commissioned by the Ministry of National Education. The research involved measuring the knowledge and skills regarding the prevention of electronic threats (e-threats) which are defined as problematic situations and behaviour mediated by digital media and the internet. E-threats are related to mental and physical health, social aspects and technical matters related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). In order to narrow down the research area, 6 components related to e-threats were selected, namely: the ergonomics of using digital media; the evaluation of the reliability of online information; the influence of advertising on consumers' choices; risky online relationships; understanding the mechanisms of secure logging-in; and protection against malware. The DL level was measured using a competence test. An analysis of 514 tests revealed that the most neglected areas were the protection of children against unwanted communication with other users, and secure logging in. The strongest component was the ergonomics of using ICT. We also noted that more than one fifth of parents showed a satisfactory level of DL related to online safety. Another observation was that DL is a complex and heterogeneous concept. The DL components are related with one another to different extents. Some DL elements are determined by the level of education, place of living, subjective sense of own well-being or intuitive perception (self-evaluation).

Digital competence is undoubtedly one of the key skills that teaching staff should possess. Currently, there are many theoretical frameworks and ways to measure skills and knowledge related to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This article is an attempt to show the real and declared level of digital skills among future teaching staff. The research was conducted in Poland among 128 students of pedagogical faculties (first-year undergraduate studies). The research used a triangulation of research methods and techniques: diagnostic survey and competency tests related to the use of word processors and spreadsheets, and the level of knowledge about the use of ICT. Competency tests were in accordance with the European Computer Skills Certificate (ECDL) standard. The collected data showed the following: (1) more than half of the students rate their own skills in the use of word processors and spreadsheets, and their overall theoretical knowledge as high or very high; (2) in the case of the real assessment of digital competence, only less than 20% reached the passing threshold in the areas of word processors and theoretical knowledge, with only 1.6% passing in the area of spreadsheets; (3) the declared and actual levels of digital competence were moderately related in the surveyed group; and (4) attitudes towards new media, self-assessment of digital skills, and previous learning experience in handling ICT are not predictive factors for ECDL test results.

In this article, we focused on the nature of the relationship between research evaluation systems that are based on metrics and those that are based on a critical comprehensive judgment of scientific content with researchers' burnout and work engagement. The research was conducted on a sample of 1,191 Polish researchers in the context of a highly metricized research evaluation system. Our contribution to the field of research evaluation is fourfold. First, we provide empirical support for the recent call for more nuanced views on publication metrics in research evaluation, showing that evaluations lacking in the judgment of scientific content are associated with higher demands and lower job resources. Second, our study focuses the attention of various policymakers on the fact that performance measurement should not be confused with performance management and that thoughtless use of performance publication metrics might lead to research performance deterioration instead of improvement. Third, our findings illustrate the tensions between different views on publication metrics as means of research evaluation; this tension might be observed among researchers and their supervisors but also within the research community as a whole. Fourth, our article may inspire further research of evaluation systems, as we design measures of demands and resources generated by the evaluation system based on Job Demands-Resources theory. Moreover, based on the Leiden Manifesto and Royal Society Resume for researchers, we have validated an evaluation based on a judgment scale that might be used in further research and practical settings to audit research evaluation systems.

The objective of this paper is to explore the role of student theses developed in response to specific firms' problems under the supervision of university teachers as an innovative teaching method with a high level of personal engagement. The paper presents the results of research based on 150 interviews conducted in Krakow with team members engaged in preparation of student theses (each consisting of a university teacher, a master or bachelor student, and a company representative). The statistical analysis is based mainly on the Regression Tree Method and Spearman correlation coefficient. The interview-based research among key actors involved in preparation of firms' problem-oriented student theses confirmed the high effectiveness of this method of knowledge transfer from universities to industry. Thesis knowledge generated in this process brings positive effects to firms, university supervisors and students. Along with an increase in the assessment of practical skills obtained by students, the assessment of the suitability of work for the enterprise increases. Also as the satisfaction rating for cooperation increases, the benefit rating in the form of closer contacts with companies also increases. Satisfying results of university-industry relations obtained through the process of applied thesis preparation could be achieved if different kinds of stimulation types were implemented. On the side of the university, there should be incentives dedicated to the institutional level as well as tools dedicated to individual researchers. Studies have shown high usability of problem-oriented student theses. All parties to this process recognize significant benefits, which confirms that this type of collaboration is a WIN-WIN situation.

The phenomenon of increasing tuition fees is one of the factors which reinforce the increasingly consumerist attitudes among students towards the product (understood as a whole process of university education) they receive from universities. The aim of the study is to characterise the difference between the expectations of students and the extent to which those expectations are met by universities. This analysis also focuses on the conditions that determine this perception of what universities offer and discusses selected issues concerning the relations between universities and industry. The findings demonstrate why creativity, apart from practical knowledge, is one of the most important aspects in the process of education, where a student's graduation work is aimed at solving specific problems in companies and institutions. In the empirical part of the paper, students' opinions about the importance of selected aspects of the education process are compared with the level of support provided by universities. The research covered 505 students of economics from 10 different countries. Their expectations of the educational process with regard to the majority of its aspects (apart from theoretical knowledge) proved to be higher than those of their universities. The findings of this research may thus be useful in formulating optimal study plans.

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) has of late come to the major attention of researchers of risky behaviours. For parents and teachers in turn, the various pathological forms of Internet use have become more and more noticeable. In recent years, the operationalisation of the term PIU has also been discussed and attempts to measure its various phenomena have been made. In our study, we used the quantitative method--a diagnostic survey designed on the basis of a tool of the Supreme Audit Office and Scientific and Academic Computer Network (Naukowa i Akademicka Siec Kompureowa NASK), The survey was conducted in the first half of 2017 in Poland, among 3569 adolescents (median 16, SD = 1.28). The purpose of the research was to investigate the scale of PIU among Polish youths. For most young people, PIU is a major social problem. The majority also declare that more than half of their friends have problems with using electronic media (smartphones and the Internet in particular). On the basis of the data collected, it is estimated that 60% of adolescents use media in a functional way, whereas 40% of young electronic media users show visible PIU symptoms, of which 5% do so at a destructive level (all symptoms). Gender does not co-occur with PIU; however, family structure (where both parents are present), the setting of rules for the use of electronic media, and the place of residence are all protective factors. There is a need for constantly improved tools for measuring PIU, as well as preventive programs focused on developing self-control and helping young people understand their own emotions.

The aim of the article is to determine in the studied groups the multiple intelligence distribution defined in the 1980s by Howard Gardner. The research was conducted in three groups of respondents. The first study group was first-year students of computer science, the second was master (2nd degree) students, educationally 4 years older than the first group. Their intelligence distributions were compared with the intelligence distributions of the third group -- graduates of the same university, the same field of study after several years of work in positions consistent with their education. Participants filled one of the multiple intelligence tests selected by answering 24 questions. A group of approximately 110 students and approximately 40 IT employees were examined. As there were statistically justified differences in several significant sub intelligences, a discussion was held on the forms of educational impact on student development paths. The research was carried out in conditions of full voluntary participation in the test and on the basis of self-assessment according to questions suggested in one of the online sources. According to the authors, the results seem interesting, although surprising.

The article elaborates upon a successful model of postgraduate studies on lean manufacturing. The subject of the research was nine editions of the Kaizen Academy postgraduate studies organized by the Warsaw University of Technology and the Kaizen Institute in the years 2009-2018, that still enjoys interest in the market. A detailed qualitative analysis of this case, followed by a comparative analysis with other post-graduate programs of this type on the national, European, and global level should make it possible to find what is necessary to launch and actively operate for a long time in the (considerably competitive) market of qualification raising programs related to Lean Management (critical success factors). The study has also identified the differences between a successful program, analyzed in detail, and other available programs described in the literature and on the Internet. This has been achieved through a structured analysis of thirty-nine postgraduate programs identified by querying scientific databases and the Google Internet search engine. Best practices and models of postgraduate education on Lean Management have been discussed, and the thirty-nine programs comprising the identified sample have been compared. Considering the very general level of the data available in terms of the organization of postgraduate programs, it has also been assessed if they follow constructivism and experiential learning paradigms. This has been achieved by including the industrial days/visit indicator in the comparison. Given its high value, it has been identified as a success factor of the postgraduate curriculum on Lean Management.

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is one of the most notable of all Internet threats. Young people are one of the groups at particular risk of PIU. PIU has become a research and educational priority due to its scale and the accompanying shifts in the media pedagogy paradigm. PIU is also the subject of many discussions and raises many methodological questions. The goal of the present study was to highlight the scale of PIU, and its accompanying protective factors related to interests, emotions and offline time spent on developing hobbies and passions. The study was conducted in 2016 in Poland, among 663 school students aged 17.93 (SD = 1.46), by means of triangulation of quantitative research methods. The scale of PIU was determined using a shortened version of Young's Internet Addiction test. Warning symptoms of PIU were found in 23.52% of the respondents ("yellow light"), whereas full PIU can be observed in 5.88% of the students (the results are independent of gender). Thus, the stereotypical view that PIU is common is not true. PIU is connected with negative emotions offline (mostly boredom and a lack of self-control) and too little time spent on developing passions and interests. PIU presents a challenge in terms of both research and prevention. Depending on the criteria adopted, the scale of young people at risk of PIU changes. PIU is connected with offline activities. Failure to provide effective media education (focused on strengthening self-control when using new media) and neglecting individual passions and interests intensify PIU. Further discussion of the key factors that would allow PIU to be more clearly determined is also necessary.

In the recent decade Polish universities have undergone a series of reforms limiting their independence from the state. This provoked protests from the humanities faculty and led to establishing organizations that actively opposed the reform. The purpose of this paper is to present a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of press articles describing a process of organizing resistance to the reform of the higher education and science system in Poland. The 'revolt of the humanities' is examined in the perspective of Bob Jessop's theory of social crises. The outcome of the study is a description of the discursive reduction of the complexity of political actors' demands. The result of complexity reduction was creation of a better organized and more politically effective forms of opposition to the reform agenda.

Prosocial behaviours appear very early in a child's development, suggesting that they are the basis for building social relationships. Previous studies have shown that two main factors influence decisions about pro-social behaviour: in-group membership and reciprocity. The main aim of this study was to investigate which of these motives children consider more important in making decisions about who to ask for help, resources, cooperation, or comfort. Children were given a choice to ask for those favours from either a friend or an out-group child who was recently a recipient of the child's prosocial behaviour. In a study on children aged 4 to 6 years old with two research samples (sample 1: n = 60, sample 2: n = 71), we showed that reciprocity of recent prosocial behaviour is a stronger predictor than friendship when choosing a character in a helping need, resource sharing or cooperation related need, but not for a comforting need. Furthermore, this effect seems to be limited to reciprocating only the same type of pro-social behaviour.

The aim of the study was to understand the relationship between shyness in school-age children and variables such as teacher perception of school achievement, fluid intelligence and self-efficacy in various areas of functioning. The participants were 466 Polish primary school children (boys n = 239, girls n = 227; M age = 9.55 years, SD =0.9). Shyness was negatively associated with school achievement as reported by teachers, fluid intelligence, and self-efficacy. Results from mediation analyses demonstrated that self-efficacy in learning mediated the relationships between shyness and school achievement and fluid intelligence. In addition the relationship between shyness and school achievement was also mediated by the self-efficacy with respect to self-control in school and social situations. The results indicate that shy children's relatively low school achievement and low scores in various standardised tests may be the result of personality differences, e.g. in self-efficacy. Future studies are needed to explore the relationship between shyness and self-efficacy.

The preferences in the use of ICT at school and at home are varied among young people due to development of ICT in the 21st century environment. Educators need to pay attention to differences among groups of ICT users and their influence on teaching and the learning process. The purpose of this research was to identify the levels of ICT competence of university students and to assess differences in their use of ICT with special focus on social networks and mobile phones. The questionnaire survey at four universities in three countries was conducted to identify how university students use ICT for learning and out-of-school activities. The participants were 1348 university students. The obtained results only partially confirmed the general assumption that young people (Millennials) in contemporary society are characterized by skilled use of ICT in their everyday life. The application of cluster analysis found four different user groups according to their use of ICT in their life. Educators should be aware of the user groups' differences among students and take them into account when planning, implementing and evaluating the teaching and learning process.

The article was written as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, which had an impact not only on public health, but also on the functioning of the educational sector. The text is an attempt to summarize the challenges of crisis e-learning from the perspective of the challenges faced by teachers in Poland in the period of March-December 2020. The article reveals a number of new phenomena not present in the literature in the context of e-learning implemented in an intuitive, non-linear way, without methodological support, and thus referred to as crisis e-learning. The aim of the research was to explore the characteristics of crisis e-learning in Poland from the perspective of teachers' experiences. Due to epidemiological limitations, the research area was narrowed down to cyberspace. This text presents the results of research relating to statements made by teachers posting in the largest Polish discussion group on education. The group currently consists of over four thousand people. The study uses an analysis of several thousand posts and then identifies and categorizes statements related to crisis e-learning along with a phenomenological interpretation. The analyses made it possible to identify seven categories of challenges attributed to crisis e-learning, such as: technical problems, use of non-standard solutions, the search for solutions to increase the effectiveness of e-learning, the transfer of proven applications and programmes, problems with students, problems with parents, and the modernisation of workstations. The data presented show teacher micro-worlds in the time of the pandemic in Poland. The article is a response to the need to understand the processes occurring in the Polish educational system under the influence of crisis events related to the pandemic. The text may prove valuable for educating future generations of teachers in the field of e-learning and increasing the effectiveness of training activities aimed at strengthening the digital competence of current teachers.

The study explores the school transformation process as evidenced by the opinions of head teachers. The main goal of the research was to present a content analysis study of the Polish educational environment on the basis of primary and secondary head teachers' views on the risks and perspectives brought by the global COVID-2019 lockdown. The conceptual framework was based on the theoretical perspective (the cognitive and affective processes in multimedia learning, the theory of motivation, and goal setting) as well as the model of the school as a learning organization and the assumptions of "Emergency Remote Teaching." The categorized interviews with the head teachers were conducted using a categorized interview questionnaire and the respondents considered various categories problems within educational practice related to the functioning of schools during the pandemic. The selection of study participants was deliberate using the snowball sampling method, 18 head teachers participated in this study. The research conducted allowed the specification of the different areas of influence of "Emergency Remote Teaching" on the transformation of the school as a learning organization (e.g. the functioning of the school in mutual internal and external network cooperation, the dissemination and extending of communication areas using information technologies, the strengthening of the network interaction through information technologies, and other areas). The paper contains numerous recommendations that can improve the school's functioning in the future, based on the experience gained during "Emergency Remote Teaching." These experiences can accelerate the organizational and didactic development of the school as a learning organization.

The aim of the article is to highlight the key elements related to the implementation of new technologies in education from the perspective of the opinions and experiences of educators in the field in Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, Poland, Turkey, and Uruguay. The text compares issues related to attitudes towards the use of new media in education, experiences with different forms of e-learning, and the level of restrictions on the use of smartphones in school. These variables are juxtaposed with the self-assessment of digital competence and how cyberspace is used. The survey was conducted using a standardised survey questionnaire translated into the relevant national languages in the first half of 2019, and involved a sample of 873 teachers representing eight countries. On the basis of the pilot studies it was noted that: 1) Teachers from LAC and EU like to use digital media - this is a constant trend independent of geographical location; 2) Teachers note that new technologies are not always better than analogue didactic aids; 3) Teachers from selected countries (the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Turkey, and Uruguay) have much greater techno-optimism in themselves than teachers from Bolivia, Poland, Finland and Turkey in terms of the impact of ICT on student motivation and engagement; 4) In all countries teachers prefer free online courses (the different forms of e-learning are used most often by those in the Dominican Republic, and the least often in Bolivia and Poland); 5) In each country teachers who highly value their own digital competences and have a positive attitude towards new media use ICT much more actively; 6) There is also a global trend in that the extensive use of cyberspace (typical e-services) appears in combination with the extensive use of various forms of e-learning; 7) Teachers from Ecuador are most likely to want to ban the use of smartphones in schools. The most liberal approach in this respect is taken by the Uruguayans; 8) The knowledge of the conditions related to restricting the use of smartphones goes beyond the analyses related to the style of use and attitude towards new media. This article is the result of pilot studies conducted within the framework of the SMART ECOSYSTEM FOR LEARNING AND INCLUSION project carried out in selected Latin American, Caribbean (LAC) and European (EU) countries.

In recent years, social media has provided higher education institutions with new means of communication with their target groups. In this study, research was conducted on top public universities from four countries in Central Europe, with a focus on their Public Relations activities on Facebook. The purpose of this research is to explore the use of Facebook by selected universities and to provide a set of practical benchmarks on successful communication with the public. The quantitative data analysis was conducted using the data mining tool Netvizz. Data from 2017 and 2018 obtained from 31 Facebook profiles of selected universities were used. The findings provide evidence on the use of Facebook by universities for Public Relations. Furthermore, they reveal that different post features generate different customer behaviour. The study contributes to a better understanding of marketing-related activities on social media in higher education field.

Our purpose in this study is to propose a voice model which provides a framework to analyse how student writers construct their authorial identities through the voices they employ in their texts and to test the effectiveness of the Lehman's rubric design as a measure of authorial voice. The voice model, which features individualised, collective and depersonalised voices can be mapped onto macrofunctions of language as conceptualised in the systemic functional approach to language analysis. The study looks at the construct of voice not only in terms of textual features but also in terms of other elements of the rhetorical situation, which include aspects related to the writer's experiences with academic writing in English. These issues are investigated by analysing the scripts and interviews of 12 non-native, tertiary-level students from Management, Public Management; Economics and Business.

The text aims at measuring digital literacy among teachers of the third stage of education in Poland (lower secondary schools). The study was commissioned by the Ministry of National Education and was conducted in 2018 in Poland, and involved a group of 484 teachers. The goal of the research was to present the teachers' knowledge and skills related to digital threats in the areas of the assessment of the reliability of information, sexting, cyberbullying, intellectual property rights, the protection of online images, and protection against malware. Digital literacy (DL) was measured using a knowledge and competence test and a diagnostic survey. The ability to enter the LLL process thanks to the ongoing advancement of ICT increases the online safety of all of the school-related stakeholders. A detailed analysis of the results also revealed that the teachers obtained good results in the test in terms of their knowledge about sexting and image protection but scored poorly regarding copyright and the assessment of the reliability of online information; male teachers know more about the technical aspects of digital safety than female teachers; trainees need particular support in the form of informal and non-formal education.

The COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for higher education institutions (HEI), one of the most important being forced e-learning -- the involuntary need to move all educational activities to an online environment. In this exploratory study, we aim to learn from students' feedback on demands created by COVID-19 forced e-learning to provide HEI management with insights helpful in building educational policies that might promote students' positive perception of distance learning in turbulent times. Based on a convenience sample of more than 600 university students we implemented multiple regression analysis to explore the relationships between e-learning demands experienced by students and the three dimensions of e-learning perception: emotional experience with e-learning, cognitive evaluation of e-learning, and study engagement in e-learning. Our findings have shown that the e-learning demand most strongly related to a negative perception of e-learning was students' belief that during e-learning the university was plunged into chaos. This suggests that for students who participate in e-learning, the most important aspect of e-learning policy might be not, as we often intuitively think, the cutting edge e-learning platform & technology but rather effective reciprocal communication between HEI and students about the e-learning situation, allowing a perception of order to be created.

This article presents the Polish project entitled 'Detektory dla Szkol' ('Detectors for Schools', throughout the paper referred to as 'the programme'). It was developed at the Education and Training Division of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (Narodowe Centrum Badan Jadrowych, NCBJ) in Poland. The programme allows the schools to borrow from NCBJ two types of radiation detectors: Geiger-Müller counter and CosmicWatch detector(s). Student participation in the measurements is expected.

The goal of the research was to assess the level of Digital Literacy (DL) among teachers. The study was diagnostic in order to show DL in six selected key areas: the ergonomics of using ICT, assessing the credibility of information, secure online communication, maintaining anonymity in the digital world, safe logging-in, and intellectual property. DL was measured using a knowledge and competence test. The study was conducted in Poland in 2017/2018 among 701 primary school teachers (primary being the second stage of education). Based on the data collected, we have noticed the following: DL is a heterogeneous concept; the respondents possess the lowest level of knowledge in the area of intellectual property law and know the most about ergonomics; gender does not determine the level of knowledge and competencies in the group. Furthermore, the Dunning-Kruger effect is noticeable among the teachers, in the context of evaluation of DL related to digital safety. We also need to emphasise that for teachers, DL is one of the key protective factors in digital safety, viewed holistically, in schools. Thus, diagnosing and facilitating the development of DL has become one of the key challenges faced by schools today.

Purpose: Different studies have analyzed the relationship between organizational learning and value creation. However, the question of how crowdsourcing affects the relationships between organizational learning and value creation remains unexplored. This paper aims to explore the mediating role of crowdsourcing in the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in local governance. Design/methodology/approach: The hypotheses were tested based on data collected from 205 local governance units in Poland using crowdsourcing. Data collection was carried out by using a set of standardized questionnaires. Correlation analyses were used to specify the strength of the relationships between the variables. To test the hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was used. Findings: The results have shown that in the local governance organizational learning is related to crowdsourcing, while organizational learning is not related to value creation. Crowdsourcing does not play a mediating role in explaining the relationship between organizational learning and value creation. Research limitations/implications: A research model was developed based on the relevant literature in the field of organizational learning, value creation and crowdsourcing. This study urges researchers to explore the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in other public organizations using crowdsourcing. Originality/value: This is the first study on the intermediate role of crowdsourcing in the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in local governance. The proposed model enriches the existing literature and allows better understanding of how crowdsourcing acts as an intermediary in the organizational learning-value creation relationship.

This article presents the results of an analysis of hierarchization strategies in public debate over unemployment among university graduates. The aim of the investigation was to grasp the way that discourse controls interact with one another to produce and reinforce a particular 'truth' about the university. The objects of our analysis were the ways of identifying the following places by the media actors: (a) the privileged positions from which the truth of a given social order is told and within which the common good may be expressed, and (b) the positions which are opposed to the latter and from which only a particular interest and 'populist' demands can be articulated. These two categories in the debate were successively filled by the following groups: entrepreneurs (bearing witness to the truth about the low level of instruction at universities) and the representatives of the social sciences and humanities defending themselves against these accusations. The diversity of argumentative strategies was revealed at the three levels of the order of discourse: hierarchization of responsibility, hierarchization of access to the truth, and hierarchization of interests.

The research objective was to determine the level of digital literacy (DL) among teachers. The scope of DL was narrowed to the issue of the safe use of electronic media. The research was conducted using a competency test and diagnostic survey. The following aspects of DL were measured: awareness of the mechanisms of communication with other Internet users and any threats resulting thereof, understanding what sexting is and what is meant by invasion of privacy, knowledge about copyright, ability to verify the credibility of information available online (the least developed area of DL), awareness of cyberbullying and the prevention thereof (the most developed DL skill), and the security of online financial operations. The study was conducted in the second half of 2016 in Poland and was commissioned by the Ministry of National Education responsible for the "Bezpieczna"+ (Safe+) project. The survey was carried out among 421 lower-secondary school teachers (covering three grades for children aged 12/13 to 15/16) from all over the country. The research results can be generalized at a = 0.95 level. The teachers surveyed showed different levels of DL. The teachers of technical subjects (including ICT) obtained the best results, whereas natural science teachers scored the lowest. Age was not a determinant of ICT expertise. A low level of DL and safety skills prevailed in the group of teachers who recently began their career in education (trainees). The group of beginner teachers in particular should be given educational support. This research also breaks the stereotype that young teachers have much more advanced DL than older teachers.

Background: Gallstone disease (GD) is common but remains asymptomatic in most cases. However, gallstones can lead to complications like choledocholithiasis or gallbladder cancer. In this study, we analyse the common genetic risk factor for GD, the p.D19H variant in the sterol transporter ABCG8, in Polish patients with gallstones and gallbladder cancer. Methods: Three adult cohorts were prospectively recruited: 65 patients with gallbladder cancer, 170 obese individuals scheduled for bariatric surgery and 72 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography due to recurrent choledocholithiasis. The control cohort consisted of 172 gallstone‐free adults. The ABCG8 p.D19H (rs11887534) polymorphism was genotyped using TaqMan assays. Results: The minor allele frequency (MAF) of the ABCG8 p.D19H polymorphism was significantly (p =.02) higher among cases with either gallstones or gallbladder cancer (MAF = 8.4%) as compared to controls (MAF = 4.0%). The highest frequency of the risk allele was detected in patients with gallbladder cancer (18.5%) and obese patients with GD (17.5%), followed by individuals with choledocholithiasis (13.9%). Notably, the p.19H variant was associated with an increased risk of developing gallbladder cancer (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.16–6.54, p =.01) and an increased risk of GD in obese individuals scheduled for bariatric surgery (OR = 2.70, 95% CI 1.05–6.49, p =.03), but did not significantly affect the risk of choledocholithiasis. Conclusions: The ABCG8 p.D19H common risk variant increases the risk of developing gallbladder cancer in Central Europeans and enhances the risk of gallstones in the obese. Carriers of the p.D19H variant might benefit from personalized preventive strategies, particularly regarding gallbladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Venom Immunotherapy (VIT) stands as an effective approach for addressing Hymenoptera venom allergies, yet the intricate journey of reprogramming the immune system's hypersensitive response to wasp venom allergens remains a frontier ready for exploration. Generally, VIT orchestrates a shift in the polarization of Th2 and Th1 lymphocytes, fostering a greater prevalence of tolerogenic reactions mediated by Treg lymphocytes and dendritic cells. This orchestrated shift precipitates a decline in the activity and abundance of eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells - key effector cells in allergic reactions. These transformative alterations stem from intricate cell-to-cell communication modulated by cytokines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this investigation, correlated was data derived from the immune system analysis of individuals with wasp venom allergy (Muller's scale III and IV) undergoing VIT, drawing samples at intervals of 0, 2, 6, and 24 weeks post-initial dose. These findings were compared with outcomes from a control group experiencing mild inflammatory reactions post-wasp sting. The authors' scrutiny encompassed 50 diverse immune system components, spanning white blood cell subpopulations, complement components (C3, C4, and C5), concentrations of histamine and tryptase, and selected cytokine concentrations encompassing interleukins, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factors beta, chemokines, growth factors, and the IL-1 receptor antagonist. Through meticulous analysis, the present extensive dataset was categorized into distinct groups based on the effects elicited by VIT: immediate, delayed, late effect, and temporary. RESULTS: Our findings unveiled compelling correlations in various VIT response types, particularly linked to IL4, IL7, IL12, IL15, IL17, and CCL3. CONCLUSIONS: These observed shifts underscore the pivotal roles individual cytokines and their interactions play in the desensitization process induced by VIT treatment. However, a comprehensive understanding of this intricate process warrants further in-depth investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in firearms in Poland, which may be related to the armed conflict in the territory of our eastern neighbors. Programs are being implemented to familiarise and promote sport shooting in society. The aim of this research was to obtain information on the knowledge of persons serving in Fire Protection Units (FPU) in safety in incidents with firearms and firearms ammunition, the risk of their use, their use or effects of such use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 228 people took part in an anonymous survey. The study was addressed to both: professional firefighters in State Fire Service (SFS) and Volunteer Fire Brigade (VFB). The research tool was a proprietary questionnaire composed of 10 questions. The questionnaire was made available to respondents online using Google Forms. RESULTS: Professional firefighters more often indicated the correct answer, i.e. "Strategy for dealing with the casualty on the battlefield" (61% vs 64%, p = 0.020). In the question checking the knowledge of the possibility of sending firearms and ammunition, volunteer firefighters more often indicated the answer that it is absolutely forbidden (79% vs 58%, p = 0.032). In the question regarding the self-assessment of the ability to secure a potentially loaded firearm, it was shown that the assessed skill improved statistically significantly with age (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Firefighters' knowledge of safety rules in incidents involving firearms is insufficient. Completion of a course in qualified first aid, professional development covering only Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) issues, and military service for firefighters are insufficient during activities where there is a risk of contact with firearms and ammunition. Firefighters do not use TCCC safety considerations against an armed casualty when the event is a fire incident. Firefighters presented a low level of knowledge of current legal regulations with regard to the possession, transport, and protection of firearms and ammunition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the initial results of research into the individual conditions of the psychosocial functioning of NEETs in the educational context. The study was performed between May and September 2017 in Slovakia, Poland and Estonia, by means of a triangulation of quantitative tools. The general objective of the study is to diagnose the level of critical thinking (Cornell Critical Thinking), reasoning (T.I.P.), problem-solving strategies (NCS) and individual development assessment (IDEA) in a group of NEETs, and to compare these variables with one another and with socio-demographic characteristics. Based on an initial analysis of the results (100 individuals from each country were invited to participate in the survey; 235 questionnaires were gathered), we can see that the group analysed presents a relatively high level of critical thinking and reasoning (intelligence indicator) and an average level of problem-solving attitude. Breaking stereotypes about NEETs, the study fits into the critical paradigm of andragogical research. The results served as the foundation for a series of postulates regarding educational programmes based on andragogical assumptions.

In this study, we examined whether interpreters and interpreting trainees are better predisposed to respeaking than people with no interpreting skills. We tested 57 participants (22 interpreters, 23 translators and 12 controls) while respeaking 5-minute videos with two parameters: speech rate (fast/slow) and number of speakers (one/many). Having measured the quality of the respeaking performance using two independent methods: the NER model and rating, we found that interpreters consistently achieved higher scores than the other two groups. The findings are discussed in the context of transfer of skills, expert performance and respeaking training.

Between 1945 and 1946, Poland witnessed three large anti‐Jewish pogroms. The infamous Kielce pogrom of July 4, 1946, which claimed the lives of over 40 Holocaust survivors was preceded by outbursts of collective violence in Rzeszów and in Kraków. All three pogroms were perpetrated by police officers, soldiers of the Polish army, and civilians forming a pogrom mob, and all were preceded and inflamed by rumors about Jews kidnapping and harming Christian children. Studies of widespread antisemitism and the common belief in blood libel do not seem to offer an adequate explanation of how the people of Rzeszów, Kraków, and Kielce could have believed the rumors that Jews were abducting and murdering children. They explain even less what made possible the social mobilization leading toward mass violence against Holocaust survivors in Poland in the immediate aftermath of WWII. We address this issue by using the concept of moral panic as proposed by Erich Goode and Nachman Ben‐Yehuda and examining possible reasons why Polish society after the WWII seems to have been particularly attuned to the fate of children. We argue that in the early postwar years there was a moral panic in Poland associated with the vulnerability of children. It was propelled by wartime experience but also by omnipresent violence and hideous crimes committed against children in the wake of WWII. Although there was no fact‐based connection between these crimes and the Jews, many Polish Christians eagerly put the blame on "the Other," that is, the Jews, and sought facts that could serve as confirmation of an old prejudice—the blood libel. Polish Christians who accepted the blood libel as truth could have found confirmation of their belief when Jewish relatives or Jewish organizations undertook to "recover"—through legal procedures, by payment, by subterfuge or by force—children who had been hidden in Christian families during the Holocaust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examined how specific personality traits are related to psychosocial adjustment in people with intellectual disability. We studied 73 students with mild intellectual disability and 25 students with moderate intellectual disability who attended special schools in Poland. Personality traits were assessed with the Revised Edward Zigler-Yale Questionnaire (EZPQ-16R) and to assess adjustment we used a total-difficulties score in Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We hypothesized a predictive relationship between the specific personality traits and adjustment. The relation between personality and adjustment was stronger in people with moderate intellectual disability than in people with mild intellectual disability. In students with moderate intellectual disability the relation between personality and adjustment was significant for each of the studied traits and in students with mild intellectual disability it was significant for negative-reaction tendency, and assignment alacrity. Obtained results indicate that specific traits are important to adjustment of people with intellectual disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military operations involve the global movement of personnel and equipment, increasing the risk of spreading infectious pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Given the continuous engagement of the Polish Armed Forces in overseas operations, an active surveillance program targeting Variants of Concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 was implemented among military personnel. Screening using RT-qPCR tests was conducted on 1699 soldiers between November 2021 and May 2022. Of these, 84 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples met the criteria for whole genome sequencing analysis and variant identification. Whole genome sequencing was performed using two advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies: sequencing by synthesis and nanopore sequencing. Our analysis revealed eleven SARS-CoV-2 lineages belonging to 21K, 21L, and 21J. The predominant lineage was BA.1.1 (57% of the samples), followed by BA.1 (23%) and BA.2 (6%). Notably, all identified lineages detected in post-deployment screening tests were classified as VOC and were already present in Poland, showing the effectiveness of the Military Sanitary Inspection measures in mitigating the COVID-19 spread. Pre-departure and post-mission screening and isolation successfully prevented SARS-CoV-2 VOC exportation and importation. Proactive measures are vital in minimizing the impact of COVID-19 in military settings, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and response strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the complex problems of preparation of pedagogy students to work as teachers in the context of their readiness to use ICT in the didactic process. The complexity of this subject matter has been proved by the current, ongoing, discussion about the direction of the expected transformations of contemporary schools and the prospective teachers education system in the age of prevalent digitization. Considering the complexity of conditions, the main research problem has been formulated as follows: Conditions of what type affect the preparation of prospective teachers to use new media in learning and teaching process?. Thus, the empirical analysis conducted in the paper focuses on the following issues: the style of using new media by students, identification of students' attitudes towards media, subjective (from the students' point of view) assessment of how university level schools are prepared to shape modern media competences among their students and self-evaluation of media and IT competences in the group of prospective teachers. Czech and Polish students, despite being the so called digital natives, do not present homogeneous styles of using new media. They also reveal different attitudes toward applying digital solutions to the didactic process. Factors such as: low evaluation of one's own competences or lack of evaluation in this area, lack of creative approach to the use of new media, lack of education in the area of new applications, lack of skills necessary to handle basic digital tools (e.g. interactive board, e-learning platforms) negatively affect, in most cases, the attitude toward the active use of ICT tools in future didactic work. On the basis of the gathered empirical data and inductive qualitative analysis a typology of students attitudes toward new media was developed. It consists of four categories: techno-optimist, techno-realist, techno-pessimist and techno-ignorant. The whole of analyses has the character of comparative research and involves two neighboring countries of the Visegrad Group: Poland (N = 466) and Czech Republic (N = 168).

Acne is a common skin condition affecting both adolescents and adults, and it can profoundly impact patients' quality of life and mental well-being. This prospective cross-sectional study aims to explore the differences in psychosocial aspects between male and female acne patients in Poland. A total of 104 consecutive acne patients were included in this study. Clinical severity, patients' quality of life, stigmatization levels, and psychiatric disturbances were evaluated using the following instruments: Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), 6-Item Stigmatization Scale (6-ISS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). This study found that female patients exhibited significantly less severe acne and experienced significantly decreased quality of life and increased levels of stigmatization. Furthermore, anxiety levels among female patients exceeded those observed in their male counterparts. Notably, no disparities in the severity of depression were observed between the two gender groups. Correlations were discerned among all psychosocial parameters in the entire study cohort and in the female subgroup, while such correlations were not uniformly observed among male participants. This study underscores the importance of considering psychosocial aspects and implementing routine measurements in the management of acne to improve patients' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Several factors influence spontaneous circulation (ROSC) return in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients, and obesity can be one of them. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of obesity on ROSC in patients following OHCA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study and analyzed 4,925,214 emergency medical system (EMS) records. Finally, data from 33,636 OHCA patients in Poland for whom EMS personnel responded between January 2021 and June 2022 were analyzed. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed an association between ROSC and age (p < 0.001, OR: 0.981), location of the incident (p < 0.001, OR: 1.6), OHCA initial rhythm (p < 0.001, OR: 2.056), obesity (p ≈ 0.003 OR: 1.1.06) and some comorbidities. In the first multivariate model (whole population sample), significant predictors of ROSC were initial rhythm (Asystole/PEA; p < 0.001; OR: 0.516), age (p < 0.001; OR: 0.986), location of the incident (p < 0.001; OR: 1.468) and obesity (p = 0.023; OR: 0.924). In the second model (patients without obesity), the significant predictors (p < 0.001) of ROSC were initial rhythm (Asystole/PEA, OR: 0.263), public location of the incident (OR: 2.158) and age (OR: 0.986). In the third model (patients with obesity), the significant predictors of ROSC were initial rhythm (Asystole/PEA, p = 0.002; OR: 0.443), public location of the incident (p < 0.001; OR: 2.101), age (p < 0.001; OR: 0.981), and stroke (p = 0.005; OR: 2.047). CONCLUSIONS: In the study population of OHCA patients, obesity significantly predicted the odds of the prehospital return of spontaneous circulation, reducing the odds by 8.2%. In the overall study population and the groups of patients with and without obesity, OHCA in public places and ventricular fibrillation/pulsless ventricular tachycardia (VF/pVT) initiating rhythm were predictors of increased odds of ROSC and older age reduced these odds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Although advertising and promotion of tobacco products in Poland are prohibited, tobacco companies exploit legal loopholes and insufficient enforcement of the laws to conduct their marketing. To reach young adults, advertisements are placed in entertainment and social venues. This aspect of tobacco product marketing in Poland remains under-researched. The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of advertising and promotion of tobacco products in nightclubs in Gdansk, a large city in northern Poland. METHODS We conducted a single-center observational study of nightclubs in Gdansk, between July and October 2022. Two independent observers visited 30 nightclubs and collected information using pre-prepared research form. The occurrences of tobacco branded bar accessories, logo signs, package displays and other forms of advertising and promotion were recorded. Where possible, photographs of visible marketing displays were taken. RESULTS Advertising of tobacco products was present in 2/3 of the nightclubs observed. The most commonly advertised product category were heated tobacco products. Tobacco brand representatives promoted and offered consumers free tobacco product samples. Multi-level marketing activities were observed, including tobacco branded bar accessories, prominent sale points and tobacco brand logo signs. CONCLUSIONS The majority of nightclubs observed in Gdansk advertise and promote tobacco products. The ban on tobacco advertising and promotion is being violated in nightclubs, where the most commonly advertised products are heated tobacco products. The authorities should take steps to extend the bans to cover private promotion and enforce the law to protect high-risk individuals from smoking initiation and relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planned out-of-hospital births, facilitated by highly skilled and experienced midwives, offer expectant parents a distinct opportunity to partake in a personalized, intimate, and empowering birth experience. Many parents opt for the care provided by midwives who specialize in supporting home births. This retrospective study is based on 41,335 EMS emergency calls to women in advanced pregnancy, of which 209 concerned home birth situations documenting obstetrical emergencies over four years (January 2018 to December 2022), of which 60 involved the assistance of a midwife. Data were obtained from the Polish Central System for Emergency Medical Services Missions Monitoring, encompassing all EMS interventions in pregnant women. The most frequent reason for emergency calls for obstetrical emergencies with the assistance of a midwife was a failure to separate the placenta or incomplete afterbirth (18 cases; 30%), followed by perinatal haemorrhage (12 cases; 20%) and deterioration of the newborn's condition (8 cases; 13%). Paramedic-staffed EMS teams conducted most interventions (43 cases; 72%), with only 17 (28%) involving the presence of a physician. Paramedics with extensive medical training and the ability to provide emergency care are in a unique position that allows them to play a pivotal role in supporting planned out-of-hospital births. The analysed data from 2018–2022 show that EMS deliveries in Poland are infrequent and typically uncomplicated. Continuing education, training, and adequate funding are required to ensure the EMS is ready to provide the best care. EMS medical records forms should be adapted to the specific aspects of care for pregnant patients and newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) a health system consists of many components like organizations, institutions, resources, and people whose primary purpose is to improve health. The system is complex and requires staff, funds, information, supplies, transport, communications and overall guidance and direction to function properly. These elements interact with each other and, as in the logistics system, there are uninterrupted physical, decision- making and information flows between its most important elements, which include: service providers, service recipients (patients), a payer (the National Health Fund), control and supervision institutions, the Ministry of Health. The Polish healthcare system is struggling with many problems, such as insufficient access to health services, inefficient system management, shortages of medical staff, or underfunding. The use of Value Stream Mapping (VSM) standards can significantly contribute to the improvement of logistics processes of the Polish healthcare system. The standards can be also used to improve the processes of treatment of other diseases, but also the functioning of healthcare units.The aim of the article is to present the possibility of applying Value Stream Mapping standards in the process of ischemic stroke treatment as the results of the project 'Lean Management in Healthcare', implemented by the consortium consisting of the Medical University of Warsaw, the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology in Warsaw and the Polish Society of Health Economics, financed by the National Centre for Research and Development under contract no. IS-2/200/NCBR/2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osilodrostat is a potent oral steroidogenesis inhibitor that has emerged as the new medical agent for patients with Cushing's disease (CD) requiring long-term medical therapy for hypercortisolemia control. Its efficacy and safety have been assessed in clinical trials; however, real-world evidence is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate the long-term treatment (156 weeks) clinical and biochemical effect of osilodrostat in six patients with CD at a single center in Poland, initially participating in the LINC4 study. At week 36, all six patients met the key secondary endpoint of the LINC4 trial, achieving normalization of median urinary free cortisol. Osilodrostat treatment allowed for complete disease control in all patients and none of the patients was excluded due to the lack of treatment effectiveness in 156 weeks of follow-up. All patients demonstrated significant improvement from baseline on most metabolic and cardiovascular parameters, which was most evident at week 36 and sustained throughout the study period. This study supports and strengthens the role of osilodrostat as an effective long-term medical treatment in patients with CD. We also present three patient case histories in detail to highlight the clinical situations that endocrinologists might face during osilodrostat therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of over 20 years into the transformation process in post-communist countries, it seems important to be able to pose questions about the future of democracy, and, in particular, its social foundations. These questions become all the more significant, when we come to realize that it is the attitudes of 'the young of today' that will be shaping 'the democracy of tomorrow'. The authors of the article aim to determine what young citizens (especially Polish students) in selected Central and Eastern European countries (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania) think of contemporary democracy and to diagnose the extent to which the democratic principles and values are reflected in the beliefs of the younger generation, especially amongst Polish students. Their attitudes towards democracy and values are the main part of the article and they were compared with values of the other CEEC young citizens. The article also highlights their distrust towards Polish political parties and political elites and belief, that existing Polish political parties do not have any proper programs or ideas for young people, which may be a chance for a new political movement in Poland.

Research has shown that creative performance, such as painting, influences affective and cognitive processes. Yet little is known about how tactile sensations experienced during painting determine what individuals feel and how they think while they create. Based on prior research, finger painting (compared to brush painting) was expected to generate more tactile sensations, enhance state mindfulness, and broaden the scope of attention. An effect of painting on emotional processing was also expected. Volunteers (N = 54) were randomly assigned to finger painting or brush painting sessions. The global-local test was used to measure scope of attention. Participants reported state mindfulness with a cued-recall rating dial method. Automated facial expression analysis provided a continuous index of emotions. In support of the hypotheses, finger painting was related to more tactile sensations, more state mindfulness, and a broader attentional focus. These results suggest that assigning finger painting to individuals is a viable method for improving state mindfulness and enhancing scope of attention. The effects for affective processes, however, are mixed.

Influenza A viruses (IAV) are still a cause of concern for public health and veterinary services worldwide. With (−) RNA-segmented genome architecture, influenza viruses are prone to reassortment and can generate a great variety of strains, some capable of crossing interspecies barriers. Seasonal IAV strains continuously spread from humans to pigs, leading to multiple reassortation events with strains endemic to swine. Due to its high adaptability to humans, a reassortant strain based on "human-like" genes could potentially be a carrier of avian origin segments responsible for high virulence, and hence become the next pandemic strain with unseen pathogenicity. The rapid evolution of sequencing methods has provided a fast and cost-efficient way to assess the genetic diversity of IAV. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity of swine influenza viruses (swIAVs) collected from Polish farms. A total of 376 samples were collected from 11 farms. The infection was confirmed in 112 cases. The isolates were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS), resulting in 93 full genome sequences. Phylogenetic analysis classified 59 isolates as genotype T (H1avN2g) and 34 isolates as genotype P (H1pdmN1pdm), all of which had an internal gene cassette (IGC) derived from the H1N1pdm09-like strain. These data are consistent with evolutionary trends in European swIAVs. The applied methodology proved to be useful in monitoring the genetic diversity of IAV at the human–animal interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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