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The aim of the article is to assess the effects of the implementation of the sub-measure “Sup-port for young farmers to start their business”, type of measure “Bonuses for Young Farmers” under the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 on the results of farms and their competi-tiveness. In 2017, the group of farms that joined the implementation of the “Bonuses for Young Farmers” measure included 84 farms. It was a research sample and a panel at the same time. The control group consisted of farms of young farmers who did not benefit from sup-port under the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 in the research years, i.e. in 2017 and 2021 (latest FADN results). The subject of the farm panel research was: production potential, production organization, production and economic results, efficiency of use of production factors. During the analysis, it was found that the production potential of young farmers’ farms in both samples in 2017 was similar. The effect of the support was to increase the pro-duction potential in 2021 in the research sample by an average of 35%. Farm income in 2017 was similar in both farm samples. In 2021, differences in farm income levels were even greater. Income in the research sample increased by 211% and was by 149 percentage points higher than in the control sample. Land productivity in the research sample increased by 75.5% and labor productivity by 102.7% and was higher than in the control group by 44.6 and 53.4 percentage points, respectively. Labor profitability in the analyzed years increased in the research group by 220%, and in the control group by 71.7%. Evaluation of the support for young farm-ers' farms in the “Bonuses for Young Farmers” measure indicated that thanks to the support, their production potential increased and their production and economic results improved and, as a result, their competitiveness increased.

Invasive alien species are one of the biggest threats to biodiversity today. Identifying their locations are mandatory parts of the strategies being developed to control them. Remote sensing along with machine learning are already proven and effective tools for monitoring invasive species, especially trees, shrubs, and tall perennials. However, annual vine species are particularly difficult to map using remote sensing because of their dynamic plant growth and the movement of shoots during the growing season. Therefore, the phenological phase in which the data is acquired, and the synchronization of airborne data acquisition with on-ground reference data, may be key factors for correct plant classification. This research aimed to answer the following questions: (i) What is the impact of acquiring synchronized on-ground data and hyperspectral data in different phases of plants’ phenological development on the annual vine IAPS (Invasive Alien Plant Species) classification results? (ii) How does the lack of synchronization while obtaining hyperspectral and on-ground data collection impact annual vine IAPS mapping results? (iii) Does multitemporal image fusion improve the results of annual vine IAPS classification? For this purpose, research was carried out on Echinocystis lobata, an annual vine species considered highly invasive in Europe. The obtained results indicate that the phenological phase in which the data is acquired has a very strong influence on the quality of the classification result. The period of flowering (summer) with the greatest coverage of the area with shoots was optimal for the classification of Echinocystis lobata with F1 classification accuracy of 0.87 ± 0.04. The accuracy of classifications was significantly less for spring (F1 = 0.64 ± 0.04) and autumn (F1 = 0.75 ± 0.05). Obtaining on-ground reference data that is mismatched temporally with hyperspectral data causes a decrease in the accuracy of the result up to 0.08 (from F1 = 0.64 to 0.56) in relation to data obtained synchronously. In the multitemporal image fusion method, using hyperspectral data linked from different phases of plants’ development to classify an image had a minimal improvement in classification accuracy compared to classifications trained on images from one phenological stage. The main conclusion is that mapping an annual vine using remote sensing and machine learning is possible and highly effective, provided the remote sensing and on-ground data are obtained in strict synchronization and the appropriate phenological phase. For the most efficient classification results, a single data acquisition per year is enough, even in the case of annual vine IAPS. Further research is needed to explore the possibility of mapping Echinocystis lobata using, i.e. multispectral or hyperspectral satellite data (e.g. EnMAP).

Abstract It was recently demonstrated that newly invented positronium imaging may be used for improving cancer diagnostics by providing additional information about tissue pathology with respect to the standardized uptake value currently available in positron emission tomography (PET). Positronium imaging utilizes the properties of positronium atoms, which are built from the electrons and positrons produced in the body during PET examinations. We hypothesized that positronium imaging would be sensitive to the in vitro discrimination of tumor-like three-dimensional structures (spheroids) built of melanoma cell lines with different cancer activities and biological properties. The lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) was evaluated in melanoma spheroids from two cell lines (WM266-4 and WM115) differing in the stage of malignancy. Additionally, we considered parameters such as the cell number, spheroid size and melanoma malignancy to evaluate their relationship with the o-Ps lifetime. We demonstrate pilot results for o-Ps lifetime measurement in extracellular matrix-free spheroids. With the statistical significance of two standard deviations, we demonstrated that the higher the degree of malignancy and the rate of proliferation of neoplastic cells, the shorter the lifetime of ortho-positronium. In particular, we observed the following indications encouraging further research: (i) WM266-4 spheroids characterized by a higher proliferation rate and malignancy showed a shorter o-Ps lifetime than WM115 spheroids characterized by a lower growth rate. (ii) Both cell lines showed a decrease in the lifetime of o-Ps after spheroid generation on day 8 compared to day 4 in culture, and the mean o-Ps lifetime was longer for spheroids formed from WM115 cells than for those formed from WM266-4 cells, regardless of spheroid age. The results of this study revealed that positronium is a promising biomarker that may be applied in PET diagnostics for the assessment of the degree of cancer malignancy.

Studies conducted in recent years have demonstrated high application potential of thermal remote sensing data in environmental analyses. The main goal of our studies was to determine the variability of tree canopy temperatures using a new sensor which acquires data in the still rarely used thermal spectral range (3.6–4.9 μm). This study was conducted on five selected tree species growing in the forest and outside the forest: Alnus glutinosa, Pinus sylvestris, Quercus petraea, Quercus rubra and Robinia pseudoacacia. Thermal data were acquired on 9 June 2019, between 8:10 and 14:00 (CET). The findings were as follows: i) Trees growing in the forest are on average 0.4–0.7°C cooler than trees outside the forest; ii) The canopy temperatures of species under study differ statistically irrespective of data acquisition time. Alnus glutinosa, Quercus rubra and Quercus petraea are species with the lowest canopy temperatures, and Pinus sylvestris has the highest canopy temperature. The studies showed that the biggest variation between species in the canopy temperature occurs at noon (12:00–13:00); iii) A thermal spectral range of 3.6–4.9 μm registers the canopy temperature of tree species with a high accuracy, which supports its usage in remote sensing vegetation studies.

A necessary condition for agriculture to provide environmental public goods at the level desired by the society is the existence and compliance with appropriate “rules of the game” (institutions). Undoubtedly, institutions are of fundamental importance for agriculture in areas with natural or other specific constraints (ANCs), the new delimitation of which was recommended by the European Commission to all EU member states under the CAP 2014–2020 and which is valid under the CAP 2023–2027. The aim of the study is to indicate the role of institutions in the new institutional economics (NIE) approach in the context of supporting agriculture in ANCs. The specific goals consist of indicating a method for determining the current ANCs in the EU, including Poland; characterizing their current state in Poland, as compared to other EU countries; determining their role in the implementation of the agri-environment-climate (AECM) and organic farming measure under the EU CAP (they are particularly predestined to provide environmental public goods) and also specify the determinants encouraging farmers in ANCs to participate in these measures; assessing the production and economic situation of agriculture in these areas in individual EU countries. The data source was data from the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute in Puławy and the Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics—National Research Institute, Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture, European Commission FADN—FSDN. Descriptive methods were used to analyze and present the materials. Tabular graphic logistic regression model, the Wald test, the Cox–Snell pseudo-R2 measure and its additional variant proposed by Nagelkerke were used. The study is intended to fill the research gap regarding the determination of the ability of agriculture in ANCs to reconcile the market function, which is reflected in its economic situation, with the provision of environmental public goods to the society. It was determined that in communes with a high saturation of lowland ANCs, farms achieving worse production results in the form of lower wheat yields and lower net income calculated without subsidies per 1 ha of utilized agricultural area (UAA) had a greater tendency to implement AECM and organic farming measure. In most EU countries, agriculture in ANCs is characterized by extensification of agricultural production compared to other agriculture. It generally incurs lower costs and, as a result, obtains lower production effects and income from agricultural activities per 1 ha of UAA. The study provides arguments supporting the thesis that for agriculture in ANCs to achieve satisfactory economic effects and at the same time be able to provide the public with environmental public goods to a wide extent, it is necessary to have public financial incentives in the form of subsidies from the EU CAP.

The miscibility of phospholipids in a hydrated bilayer is an issue of fundamental importance for understanding the organization of biological membranes. Despite research on lipid miscibility, its molecular basis remains poorly understood. In this study, all-atom MD simulations complemented by Langmuir monolayer and DSC experiments have been performed to investigate the molecular organization and properties of lipid bilayers composed of phosphatidylcholines with saturated (palmitoyl, DPPC) and unsaturated (oleoyl, DOPC) acyl chains. The experimental results showed that the DOPC/DPPC bilayers are systems exhibiting a very limited miscibility (strongly positive values of excess free energy of mixing) at temperatures below the DPPC phase transition. The excess free energy of mixing is divided into an entropic component, related to the ordering of the acyl chains, and an enthalpic component, resulting from the mainly electrostatic interactions between the headgroups of lipids. MD simulations showed that the electrostatic interactions for lipid like-pairs are much stronger than that for mixed pairs and temperature has only a slight influence on these interactions. On the contrary, the entropic component increases strongly with increasing temperature, due to the freeing of rotation of acyl chains. Therefore, the miscibility of phospholipids with different saturations of acyl chains is an entropy-driven process.

The progressive effects of climate change and persistent negative trends in the state of the natural environment of many rural areas in the European Union and throughout the world are reasons for which there is an urgent need to carry out activities with respect to the protection of climate and natural environment in the agricultural sector. The objective of this article is to describe both the state of spending funds and farms belonging to beneficiaries of the Agri-environmental-climate The aim of the study was to measure and assess the functioning of farms belonging to beneficiaries of the RDP 2014-2020 measure against a background of other farms in 2017. A comparative analysis of farms belonging to beneficiaries and other farms included farms with field crops, mixed production and animals fed with roughage, as they play an important role in Polish agriculture. As part of the Measure, more than half of the farms use support under Packages 1 and 2. The share of farms implementing 3 or more packages at a time was much lower. The analysis carried out shows, inter alia, that farms belonging to beneficiaries are characterised by a worse economic situation expressed by income per 1 FWU (Family Work Unit).

The introduction of electromobility contributes to an increase in energy efficiency and lower air pollution. European countries have not been among the world’s leading countries in this statistic. In addition, there have been different paces in the implementation of electromobility in individual countries. The main purpose of this paper is to determine the directions of change and the degrees of concentration in electromobility in European Union (EU) countries, especially after the economic closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific objectives are to indicate the degree of concentration of electromobility in the EU and changes in this area, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic; to determine the dynamics of changes in the number of electric cars in individual EU countries, showing the variability in this aspect, while also taking into account the crisis caused by COVID-19; to establish the association between the number of electric cars and the parameters of the economy. All EU countries were selected for study by the use of the purposeful selection procedure, as of December 31, 2020. The analyzed period covered the years 2011–2020. It was found that in the longer term, the development of electromobility in the EU, measured by the number of electric cars, is closely related to the economic situation in this area. The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the economic situation in all EU countries, but has not slowed down the pace of introducing electromobility, and may have even accelerated it. In all EU countries, in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dynamics of introducing electric cars into use increased. The growth rate in the entire EU in 2020 was 86%, while in 2019 it was 48%. The reason was a change in social behavior related to mobility under conditions of risk of infection. COVID-19 has become a positive catalyst for change. The prospects for the development of this type of transport are very good because activities related to the development of the electromobility sector perfectly match the needs related to the reduction of pollution to the environment.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of long-term green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on white blood cells (WBC) in CrossFit-trained and untrained men. Twenty-eight men were recruited for this study including CrossFit-trained (CF-TR) and untrained (CF-UNT) men. The study was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 involved non-supplemented untrained and trained men. Phase 2 involved the same groups but after 6-week supplementation with 2 GTE capsules once daily. Body weight, body composition and the number and percentage of peripheral blood leukocyte populations were assessed in each phase. The results revealed that the long-term green tea supplementation did not have a significant effect on body weight, body composition and the total white blood cell count of the study participants. However, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils increased while monocyte and neutrophil counts decreased. The changes in white blood cells were less pronounced in CrossFit-trained compared to control participants. Summing up, it should be noted that long-term GTE supplementation in CrossFit-trained men did not result in significant changes in body weight and composition and the total white blood cell count. However, the changes in leukocyte subsets were less pronounced in CrossFit-trained compared to untrained participants.

Celem analiz było porównanie sytuacji ekonomicznej i możliwości rozwoju gospodarstw rolnych dotkniętych suszą rolniczą i gospodarstw pozostałych funkcjonujących na glebach słabych. Dla osiągnięcia zamierzonego celu wykorzystano dane z gospodarstw specjalizujących się w uprawach polowych, chowie krów mlecznych i z produkcją wielostronną, które nieprzerwanie prowadziły rachunkowość dla Polskiego FADN w latach 2012-2014 oraz dane z Systemu Monitoringu Suszy Rolniczej (SMSR) prowadzonego przez Instytut Uprawy, Nawożenia i Gleboznawstwa - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Puławach w latach 2012-2014. Stwierdzono, że gospodarstwa specjalizujące się w uprawach polowych dotknięte suszą rolniczą w porównaniu do analogicznych gospodarstw pozostałych miały zdecydowanie mniejszy dochód na 1 ha UR, aczkolwiek były jednak w stanie inwestować w majątek trwały na poziomie zapewniającym jego dodatnią stopę reprodukcji. W pozostałych dwóch grupach gospodarstw dotkniętych suszą rolniczą, które przynajmniej w części zajmowały się chowem zwierząt, wpływ suszy rolniczej na ich sytuację ekonomiczną był znacznie mniejszy.

The ability to efficiently implement innovations in agricultural holdings, acquire knowledge, and to make effective use of biological progress in plant production are all challenges in modern agriculture. Globalization processes are a catalyst for innovation transfer as well as technical, biological, and organizational progress promotion. The ability to utilize innovations in Polish agriculture will be decisive for its development opportunities and competitive position at the international level.

Biofuels for transport belong to a sector, which functions in a volatile global environment (macro). Until the end of 2010, European Union had promoted the production and development of vegetable based biofuels for transport as a way to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (nonobligatory Directive 2003/30/EC, with indicator of replacing 5.75% of all transport fossil fuels with biofuels in 2010, reached in about 80%). Currently, bio-components with high CO2 emission reduction and biofuels produced from inedible plants and raw material waste are being promoted. The Directive 2009/28/EC, which has been in force since 2011, has imposed mandatory obligation on all subjects, who participate in the cycle of biofuels and bioliquid production, to fulfill criteria of sustainable production, including CO2 emission reduction to at least the threshold level (e.g. at least 50% reduction by 2017). In the article, rating method for CO2 reduction in the international law setting have been presented – BIOGRACE 4 calculator and value of CO2 emission reduction in five plants, where biofuels are produced with use of three methods.

Remote sensing (RS) is currently regarded as one of the standard tools used for mapping invasive and expansive plants for scientific purposes and it is increasingly widely used in nature conservation management. The applicability of RS methods is determined by its limitations and requirements. One of the most important limitations is the species percentage cover at which the classification result is correct and useful for nature conservation. The primary objective, carried out in 2017 in three areas of Poland, was to determine the minimum percentage cover from which it is possible to identify a target species by RS methods. A secondary objective of this research, related to the requirements of the method, was to optimize the set of training polygons for a target species in terms of the number of polygons and abundance percentage cover of the target species. Our method has to be easy to use, effective, and applicable, therefore the analysis was carried out using the basic set of rasters—the first 30 channels after the Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation (the mosaic of hyperspectral data from HySpex sensors with spectral range 0.4−2.5 µm) and commonly used Random Forest algorithm. The analysis used airborne hyperspectral data with a spatial resolution of 1 m to perform classification of one invasive and three expansive plants—two grasses and two large perennials. On-ground training and validation data sets were collected simultaneously with airborne data collection. When testing different classification scenarios, only the set of training polygons for a target species was changed. Classification results were evaluated based on three methods: accuracy measures (Kappa and F1), true-positive pixels in subclasses with different species cover and compatibility with field mapping. The classification results indicate that to classify the target plant species at the accepted level, the training dataset should contain polygons with a species cover ranging from 80−100%. Training performed only using polygons with a species characterized by a variable, but lower, cover (20−70%) and missing samples in the 80−100% range, led to a map which was not acceptable because of a high overestimation of target species. We achieved effective identification of species in areas where the species cover is above 50%, considering that ecosystems are heterogeneous. The results of these studies developed a methodology of field data acquisition and the necessity of synchronization in the acquisition of airborne data, and training and validation of on-ground sampling.

This article presents problems in agrarian transformations, especially related to the number and area structure of farms in Poland before accession into the European Union. It presents consecutive stages of agrarian transformations in the territory of Poland, starting from the period of partitions at the beginning of 20th century, till economic transformation and integration of Poland into the European Union. In historical perspective, it may be stated that there is a close relationship between agrarian transformations, and the level of economic development and socio-political system in our country. These relations are bilateral in nature, i.e. they are interdependent. Agrarian transformations observed after 2004 are evident, however, they did not bring Poland any closer to the level of leading EU Member States.

Popularity of long-distance running has increased as well as number of female and male marathon runners. Whilst research into physiological characteristics of endurance trained athletes has significantly increased there are only few studies on the risk factors for respiratory failure in marathon runners. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the differences in respiratory function and the physiological strain in the response to exercise stress in marathon runners. Twenty three subjects (aged 36.1 ±11.6 years) participated in a marathon running. Prior to the run and after its completion, body mass and composition, spirometry and body temperature were measured. Based on pre- and post-run temperature and changes in heart rate, the physiological strain index (PSI) was calculated. Long-distance running significantly decreased the temperature of body surfaces (p < 0.05); no significant effects were observed regarding aural canal temperature and physiological strain index (PSI). Compared to resting values, post-marathon spirometry revealed a significant decrease in post-marathon forced expiratory volume (p < 0.05), peak expiratory flow (p < 0.05) and maximal expiratory flow values (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the long-distance running results in functional changes within the respiratory system which may limit the adaptive potential and decrease exercise tolerance.