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The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of applying macroalgae biomass originating from Bay of Puck, Poland, as a substrate in the methane fermentation process and to verify the impact of taxonomic structure and other physicochemical traits of the analyzed biomass on the technological effectiveness of the fermentation process. The efficiency of methane fermentation was determined using respirometric kits. In all periods of the vegetative season, the structure of macrophytobenthos was predominated by brown algae of the familyEctocarpaceae, namelyPilayella litoralisandEctocarpus sp. The production of biogas fitted within a narrow range of 266.53 ± 16.43 cm3/g o.d.m. during fermentation of algae harvested in September and 285.71 ± 11.35 cm3/g o.d.m. in that from August. The percentage content of methane in biogas ranged from 57.28 ± 1.75% to 59.22 ± 2.84%. Regardless of macroalgae biomass harvest period, the postfermented sludge was characterized by similar values of the analyzed parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data on methane fermentation of algal biomass containingChlorellasp. andScenedesmussp. The biomass was obtained from closed-culture photobioreactors. Before the process, the algae were subjected to low temperature and pressure pretreatment for 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 h. The prepared biomass was subjected to mesophilic methane fermentation. The amount and composition of the biogas formed in the process were determined. The amount of biogas produced was larger when the biomass was subjected to thermal preprocessing. The proportion of methane in the gas also increased. Extending the heating time beyond 1.0 h did not significantly improve the biogassing effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

According to theory, educational goods and services have an important impact on a child's human capital. Although the majority of educational services in Poland are delivered within a public education system, various educational costs are borne by parents. This paper looks at the socio-economic determinants of private spending on education, including fees, private tutoring and courses, educational goods and materials, and the internet. The analysis was performed using the Polish Household Budget Survey for 2009 and 2010. Results from a logit regression suggest that disposable household income per capita and parental level of education, especially mother's level of education have the greatest impact on spending on educational goods and services. This was true for all analysed categories of expenditure. Regional disparities and community size were an important factor especially with regards to spending on private tutoring and additional courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Druzno Lake is hypertrophic basin located on Zuławy polders (delta of Vistula). Due to the high number of free-living and parasitic species, this lake is unique place for parasitological research. Professor Wisniewski valued Druzno Lake as great area for studying the parasitic species life-cycles. He and his research team lead intensive studies on parasites' circulation in environment. Models compiled by prof. Wisniewski are basal for work of Ichtyoparasitological Section of Student Scientific Association at University of Gdańsk.

There has hitherto been very few research projects focusing on ectoparasites of Antarctic fishes. The presently reported study provides data on the prevalence and the intensity of leeches (Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) infecting fishes. The materials were collected in December-February 1986/87 off the Elephant Island, South Georgia, Joinville Island, and South Shetlands. The following leech taxa were recorded in the Antarctic fishes of the family Channichthyidae: Trulliobdella capitis (Brinkmann, 1947); Cryobdella antarctica Epstein, 1970; Nototheniobdella sawyeri Utevsky, 1997; and Cryobdella sp. The above findings constitute new geographic records from off Elephant and Joinville Island and South Georgia.