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The subject of the article is a plein air painting event, considered as a liminal experience that is widely practiced by traditional artists to create and maintain communities in the local and supra-local art fields. The interest in organizing this kind of meetings among artists, modern art galleries, and art schools is not decreasing, and one can talk about the exceptionally long duration of the phenomenon. This article discusses the experience of participants for whom these joint meetings have a metaphysical dimension. The descriptions and expressions used by the artists have become the inspiration to use Victor W. Turner’s concept in the analysis. That is why this practice is discussed as a liminal experience and a rite of passage, whereas the relations between its participants are understood in terms of a specific type of community that is called by Turner ‘spontaneous communitas’. All the considerations and conclusions included in this text are based on qualitative research conducted among visual artists.

In this introduction to the journal issue, the editors characterize the individual scholarly articles included in the volume. They also briefly recall their research interests in the field of art. The texts in the volume deal with three intertwining dimensions: cultural and art institutions, communities (artistic and aesthetic), and space. Most of the authors presented their research at the academic conference ‘Esthetic Communities and Artistic Institutions’ (2023), organized by the Art Sociology Section of the Polish Sociological Association. Polish contemporary sociology of art is mainly empirical sociology. Qualitative research in the field of art sociology in Poland has been used since the 1960s. Initially, they had been treated as experimental, gradually transforming into an increasingly common approach. Sociologists most often used various types of qualitative analyses of materials as well as interviews. Researchers still often use these techniques today, but one can also see the use of other methods, e.g., as part of the art-based research approach (this methodological orientation was used in one of the articles).

Background Sexual dimorphism, driven by sexual selection, leads to varied morphological distinctions in male and female insects, providing insights into selection pressures across species. However, research on the morphometric variability within specific taxa of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), particularly arboreal and semi-arboreal species, remains very limited. Methods We investigate sexual dimorphism in six semi-arboreal Therates tiger beetle taxa from the Philippines, focusing on morphological traits. We employed morphometric measurements and multivariate analyses to reveal patterns of sexual dimorphism between sexes within the taxa. Results Our results indicate significant sexual dimorphism in elytra width, with females consistently displaying broader elytra, potentially enhancing fecundity. Notable sexual size dimorphism was observed in Therates fulvipennis bidentatus and T. coracinus coracinus, suggesting heightened sexual selection pressures on male body size. Ecological factors, mating behavior, and female mate choice might contribute to the observed morphological variation. These findings emphasize the need for further studies to comprehend mating dynamics, mate choice, and ecological influences on morphological variations in semi-arboreal and arboreal tiger beetles.

With the establishment of corpus linguistics, the fundamental importance of fixed multi-word units is appreciated and broadly defined phraseology is regarded as an integral, indispensable component of foreign language teaching. However, the theoretical findings and the resulting phraseodidactic postulates are not fully complied with: Multiword units are treated rather inconsistently, unsystematically, marginally in quantitative and qualitative terms both in institutional tools such as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and in learning and teaching materials for German as a foreign language. This article presents the basic requirements and partial results of an EU co-financed project PhraseoLab. Plurilingual Phraseology: Learning multiword units through English, the aim of which is to try to compensate these shortcomings in relation to three phraseme groups: collocations, idioms and routine formulas, and to expand the phraseological competence of learners of German at different levels of language proficiency. PhraseoLab is based on the plurilingual approach: the multi-word units of the target language German are taught via the bridge language English.

Hot and warm extremes in Europe’s changing climate: definitions, causes, trends, impacts Hot or warm extremes are days with exceptionally high air temperatures in a given place and/or season. They may have significant impacts on human health and life, the natural environment, and the economy. The global rise in near-surface air temperatures translates into increases in the frequency, intensity, and duration of such events, which contributes to the intensive development of research on them. This review aims to summarize the state of knowledge of hot and warm extremes in Europe, with a special focus on their definitions, physical drivers and impacts, long-term variability and trends. The study demonstrates that research on temperature extremes is making remarkable progress, but there are still issues to be explored to understand these complex events. Keywords: heat waves, warm spells, air temperature, atmospheric circulation, climate change Zarys treści: Ekstrema ciepła to dni z wyjątkowo wysoką temperaturą powietrza w danym miejscu i/lub porze roku. Często wiążą się one z negatywnymi konsekwencjami dla zdrowia i życia człowieka, a także środowiska przyrodniczego, rolnictwa i gospodarki. Globalnemu ociepleniu klimatu towarzyszy wzrost częstości ekstremów ciepła, co przyczynia się do intensywnego rozwoju badań na ich temat. W tym opracowaniu podjęto próbę podsumowania stanu wiedzy na temat ekstremów ciepła w Europie, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem metod ichidentyfikacji, rozpoznania ich przyczyn i następstw oraz oceny ich zmienności wieloletniej i trendów. Zestawienie wyboru prac na temat tych złożonych zdarzeń może pomóc w zidentyfikowaniu zagadnień, które wciąż wymagają zgłębienia i wyjaśnienia, tym samym stanowiąc wstęp do dalszych rozważań.

Abstract The evolutionary conflicts between viviparous reproductive mode and skeleton shape may occur whenever the space available for embryo development or delivery is limited by hard inflexible structures of a parent (bones, shell, etc.). In tetrapods, offspring size is at odds with female locomotion efficiency, which results in obstetric selection. We suggest a similar relationship for viviparous gastropods, where spacious canal needed for embryo delivery may interfere with anti-predatory role of narrow and toothed shell aperture. We explored this hypothesis in the group of viviparous land snails (Clausiliidae, subfamily Phaedusinae), known for complex apertural barriers protecting the shell interior. Most of the shell structure modifications we recorded facilitate the delivery of embryos but simultaneously reduce the safeguard of a narrow shell opening. However, we also observed highly flexible embryonic shells that may withstand squeezing between apertural barriers during birth. We investigated the microstructure of these flexible embryonic shells, compared to the typical hard shells of clausiliid embryos, which are rigid and unpliable already in the genital tract of the parent. Our results suggest that the unusual flexibility, which is related to a low number of organomineral layers in the shell, evolved in two phylogenetically distant lineages of Phaedusinae. This adaptation reduces mechanical constraints for birth of the neonates but allows to maintain the protective function of the apertural barriers.

The current study characterises Staphylococcus bacteria recovered from dead free-living birds and captive capercaillies kept in south-eastern Poland. The results provide novel information about the antimicrobial resistance phenotype/genotype and the virulence profile of these bacteria.

The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence and characteristics of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains in the carcasses of wild birds and aviary capercaillies in Southeastern Poland. In total, samples taken from 333 birds were examined. The material consisted of swabs from the internal organs of dead birds (heart, liver, and spleen), the tarsal joints, and mucous membranes (conjunctiva and palatine fissure), as well as from unhatched embryos. The isolated Staphylococcus strains were tested for sensitivity to nine antimicrobial agents and the presence of selected virulence genes. An analysis of the similarity of isolates within species was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The result indicates that coagulase-positive strains accounted for 5.7% and belonged to the species: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, and Staphylococcus delphini. Among isolated strains, 15.8% were multidrug resistant. The most frequently detected virulence genes were hla in 58% of isolates and hlb and hld in 47.4% of isolates. The results of multiplex PCR showed the presence of genes responsible for the production of enterotoxins C, B, E, and J, in single isolates. It can be concluded that coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains accounted for a small percentage of staphylococci isolated from free-living birds in the study area. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant coagulase-positive Staphylococcus strains in aviary capercaillies suggests that they play a role in the transmission and spread of resistant strains into the environment. Free-living birds may also be a reservoir of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus strains.

VIETBIO [Innovative approaches to biodiversity discovery and characterisation in Vietnam] is a bilateral German-Vietnamese research and capacity building project focusing on the development and transfer of new methods and technology towards an integrated biodiversity discovery and monitoring system for Vietnam. Dedicated field training and testing of innovative methodologies were undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park as part and with support of the project, which led to the new biodiversity data and records made available in this article collection.VIETBIO is a collaboration between the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin – Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin (BGBM) and the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), the Southern Institute of Ecology (SIE), as well as the Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB); all Vietnamese institutions belong to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).The article collection "VIETBIO" (https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.coll.63) reports original results of recent biodiversity recording and survey work undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park, northern Vietnam, under the framework of the VIETBIO project. The collection consist of this “main” cover paper – characterising the study area, the general project approaches and activities, while also giving an extensive overview on previous studies from this area – followed by individual papers for higher taxa as studied during the project. The main purpose is to make primary biodiversity records openly available, including several new and interesting findings for this biodiversity-rich conservation area. All individual data papers with their respective primary records are expected to provide useful baselines for further taxonomic, phylogenetic, ecological and conservation-related studies on the respective taxa and, thus, will be maintained as separate datasets, including separate GUIDs also for further updating.

Recenzja książki.

The subject of the article is two art worlds in the field of visual arts which currently exist side by side in Poland. These worlds operate as part of two different paradigms of art, which is why two different definitions of the art and artist apply to them, and, in consequence, also different models of operation. What is important in the case of both communities is the process of constructing the difference and separating out their own communities of meanings, being a strategy to lend credence to their own concept of the art and artist, as well as their position in the art world. The aim of the article is to describe the process of constructing internal boundaries in the Polish art world and its division into two separate worlds, what means have been used in that process, as well as what are the consequences of belonging to the two separate art worlds for their participants.

Phally polymorphism in snails offers an excellent opportunity to study the evolutionary basis of sexual polymorphism in animals. Phally polymorphism occurs when two or three sexual morphs co-occur in populations of hermaphroditic organisms. Euphallics have a fully developed and functional penis, hemiphallics have a reduced and non-functional penis, while aphallics have no penis. All morphs can self-fertilize, but only euphallics can donate sperm during copulation. In this study, we investigated the geographical pattern of phally polymorphism in minute Vertigo species by testing snails from Polish and Swedish populations. Considering the principle of resource allocation, we checked whether sexual morph reflects the size of the shell. Although the Swedish Vertigo snails tend to be smaller than the Polish ones, our results show no clear geographical pattern of sexual morph balance in the studied populations. Aphallics of V. angustior were bigger than the euphallics; conversely to V. substriata , where euphallics were bigger than aphallics. Such a result suggests a species-specific resource allocation towards the given sexual function. Since hemiphallics of V. antivertigo were smaller than euphallics, we discuss the possible trade-off when faced with resource depletion and the failure of attaining sexual maturity of euphallics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the strategies that may be used during the process of translation of a literary work. It will be shown that the translators’ choices are context driven. The starting point for an analysis are four theoretical approaches to translation strategies (Markovina 1993, Koller 2004, Gercken 1999 and Hejwowski 2006). The analysis of the translator’s choices will be carried out at the example of Andrzej Stasiuk’s novel “Jak zostałem pisarzem. Próba autobiografii intelektualnej” translated into German by Olaf Kühl.

Rivers are one of the most commonly transformed aquatic ecosystems. Most papers present significantly negative effects of activities such as dredging or channel regulation on the ecological status of rivers. The purpose of this work was to compare the response of various groups of invertebrates (Mollusca, Hydrachnidia, Odonata, Heteroptera, Coleoptera and Trichoptera) to an intervention involving dredging in conjunction with the removal of riparian vegetation. Habitat diversity increased after the dredging, and more individuals and species were caught than before the dredging. The increase in habitat diversity after the dredging translated into an increase in the species diversity of most investigated groups. Individual groups of invertebrates showed varied responses to the dredging, depending on the role of the terrestrial phase in their life cycle: the greater the role of the terrestrial phase in the life cycle, the more the group was affected by changes in the terrestrial environment following the intervention. In consequence, the intervention had the greatest negative impact on insects, and among these, on adult Odonata. The following conclusions can be drawn: (1) Dredging can benefit a previously anthropogenically transformed river ecosystem by increasing habitat diversity; (2) Odonata are particularly useful for assessing the impact of this type of intervention on invertebrate communities. They can be considered good indicators of habitat disturbances in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

The text will present arguments raised by the supporters of two different positions regarding the manner of taking into account the expiry of the limitation period, namely those that are supposed to speak in favor of taking this circumstance by the courts ex officio, and those which prevail to take it into account only in the event of raising the plea of limitation by the one against whom the claim is due. Against this background, a polemical analysis will be made with these arguments, including inquiries about interests of which entities or social groups are implemented and protected for each of these solutions. It will be shown that some of the arguments put forward actually emphasize that the institution of limitation is to serve not so much as a party involved in a given claim (creditors or debtors), but rather institutions of the judiciary. It will also be shown that the solution currently in force in Polish civil law, within which the taking into account of the fact that a given claim is time-barred is possible only if the one against whom the claim is entitled raises the relevant claim of limitation, in fact prefers only the more affluent and better educated social strata, deepening the social exclusion of those who, due to, for example, worse property status, do not have the necessary knowledge, nor can afford to take advantage of legal aid. The latter, in effect, often do not plead the expiration of limitation period, because they do not know that they are entitled to it (in general, or are unable to assess when the claim became due, at which point the limitation period began or has ended). Polish civil law is a good example here for considering, firstly, that in the 20th century the regulations concerning the limitation of claims were changed several times, and each time a discussion on how to consider the expiry of the limitation period came to life (which provides rich argumentation with which one can confront) and also because historical and political entanglements play a significant role here. Namely, the text will show that the main resistance against taking into account the expiration of limitation period ex officio (which is a solution that protects the poorer people who can not afford legal assistance) is due to the fact that this solution, which was in force in the original version of the current Polish Civil Code, was modeled on the solutions of Soviet law. This means that after the political change in Poland in 1989, it was automatically attempted to eliminate it, and replace it with a solution used in European countries, where only if the one against whom the claim is entitled raises the relevant claim of limitation, even without any reflection on the substantive legitimacy of such a change and without analyzing the practical social effects of a solution, within which the expiry of the limitation period only is taking into account on when relevant plea is raised, not ex officio. Immersion of considerations in the realities of Polish law will also allow to show interests that have recently clashed on the occasion of the regulation of electronic writ-of-payment proceedings. In this example, it will be shown that despite the legislator making certain facade measures to protect the interests of people with less legal awareness and poorer, who can not afford to get help from a lawyer, in fact, many gates have been left, which question the reality of striving for such protection, because they allow to sue for the claim after the expiration of the limitation period in this proceeding. In this context, the latest change in Polish civil law in this area was also discussed, that is, the Act of April 13, 2018. On the basis of this Act, there has been a return to taking into account the expiration of the limitation period ex officio, but only if the entrepreneur sue the consumer. In the remaining scope, a solution was left within which the expiry of the limitation period is taking into account only when relevant plea is raised.

The article points out the importance of the way of taking into account the fact that the claim demanded before the court is time-barred for the perception of the standard of protection of the individual’s rights in court proceedings. It is shown how it depends on whether the limitation period is taken into account ex officio or upon the objection raised by the person against whom the claim is brought.

The study presents information about the intelligent house system along with the justification of the thesis that this technology can be used in single-family houses. The general characteristics of the system are given, which include the history of the creation and the essence of operation. Attention has been paid to lower energy consumption due to the use of technology, which makes it easier for buildings to meet the requirements of the European Parliament Directive 2010. The article describes the most important sub-functions, such as lighting, heating or fire-protection subsystem. Based on the functional layout of a single-family home, the analysis of the most important types of the system was carried out. The study states that smart home systems can be used not only at the construction stage, but also in existing buildings, without the need for interference in the walls. Keywords: construction, modern technologies used in construction, smart home system.

This article discusses the semantics of the dative construction with the preposition AUF in aspect of the guiding principles within the cognitive semantics. The aim of the analysis is to show diverse variants of use of the preposition AUF, to establish the meanings from the point of view of the Principled Polysemy Model of Tyler/Evans, to identify the protoscene and to reconstruct the semantic network. The starting point of the analysis is the assumption that the protoscene which is based on the daily sensomotor experience, is the conceptual base forother meanings and their motivations.

Abstract Background Islands have traditionally been the centre of evolutionary biological research, but the dynamics of immigration and differentiation at continental islands have not been well studied. Therefore, we focused on the Japanese archipelago, the continental islands located at the eastern end of the Eurasian continent. While the Japanese archipelago is characterised by high biodiversity and rich freshwater habitats, the origin and formation mechanisms of its freshwater organisms are not clear. In order to clarify the history of the planorbid gastropod fauna, we conducted phylogenetic analysis, divergence time estimation, ancestral state reconstruction, and lineage diversity estimations. Results Our analyses revealed the formation process of the planorbid fauna in the Japanese archipelago. Most lineages in the Japanese archipelago have closely related lineages on the continent, and the divergence within the Japanese lineages presumably occurred after the late Pliocene. In addition, each lineage is characterised by different phylogeographical patterns, suggesting that immigration routes from the continent to the Japanese archipelago differ among lineages. Furthermore, a regional lineage diversity plot showed that the present diversity in the Japanese archipelago potentially reflects the differentiation of lineages within the islands after the development of the Japanese archipelago. Conclusions Although additional taxon sampling and genetic analysis focused on each lineage are needed, our results suggest that immigration from multiple routes just prior to the development of the Japanese archipelago and subsequent diversification within the islands are major causes of the present-day diversity of the Japanese planorbid fauna.

Background/Aims: Cardiovascular complications are responsible for increased mortality and morbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Functional and structural changes of peritoneal membrane are reported in CKD patients both on conservative treatment and on renal replacement therapy (RRT). The aim of the study was to assess the structure of peritoneal membrane small arteries (precapillary arterioles) in diabetic and non-diabetic CKD stage 5 patients before initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and evaluate its relationship with heart and large arteries abnormalities and with selected biochemical parameters. Methods: Evaluation of 42 CKD stage 5 patients before starting PD. Diabetic (n=26) and non-diabetic (n=16) patients were compared. Peritoneal membrane samples were taken during Tenckhoff catheter insertion. Histopathological evaluation of peritoneal precapillary arterioles (arteriolar evaluation) with measurement of wall thickness (WT) and calculation of lumen/vessel (L/V) ratio was performed in each patients. Echocardiography, intima media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and biochemical parameters assessment: serum albumin (SA), total cholesterol (TCH), hemoglobin (Hgb), parathormone (PTH), serum calcium (Ca), serum phosphorus (P), transferrin saturation (TSAT%), C-reactive protein (CRP) were performed in each participant. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in peritoneal membrane arteriolar indices – wall thickness (WT) and L/V ratio between investigated groups. There was statistically significant higher PWV value in diabetic patients. There were no statistically significant differences in echocardiographic indices, IMT, laboratory data in analyzed groups. There were some linear correlations between: PWV vs IMT (R=0,84; p=0,0006); PWV vs PP (R=0,58; p=0,03) in non-diabetic and linear correlation between: PWV vs age (R=0,75; p=0,02); WT vs DP (R=-0,93; p=0,001); WT vs DBP ( R=0,64; p=0,04) in diabetic group. Conclusion: Peritoneal membrane arteriolar damage seems to be an integrated part of cardiovascular system damage in CKD stage 5 patients.

In this study, atlases of wave characteristics and wave energy for the Barents Sea have been generated for the years from 1996 to 2015 based on ERA-Interim datasets from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The wave power resources in the Barents Sea can be exploited with sea ice extent declining in recent years. The entire Barents Sea has been divided into multi-year sea ice zones, seasonal sea ice zones and open water zones according to the 20-year averaged sea ice concentration. In the entire domain, the spatial distributions of the annual averaged and mean monthly significant wave heights and wave energy flux are presented. For the open water zones, 15 points have been selected at different locations so as to derive and study the wave energy roses and the inter-annual wave power variation. Moreover, the correlations between the wave energy period and the significant wave height are shown in the energy and scatter diagrams. The maximum wave power occurs in the winter in the western parts of the Barents Sea with more than 60kW/m. The wave energy can therefore be exploited in the open water zones.

The division that occurred in the Patriarchate of Muscovy in the middle of the 17th century resulted in a large part of the believers being alienated from the clergy; in consequence, many communities of the Old Believers, who had come to terms with this loss, renounced most of the sacraments, including the Eucharist. This situation impacted the art of the Old Believers, especially in the Priestless Old Believer communities, for instance, in the interiors of their houses of prayer, where the presbytery area disappeared, and the iconostasis changed its function. This article contains an analysis of how one of the old iconographic themes connected with the Eucharist, namely the Communion of the Apostles, functioned in the Old Believer setting. Sources originating from those circles, especially the 18th-century Pomorian Answers (Pomorskie otvety), indicate that the Old Believers saw the Eucharist as a spiritual experience—the only one that was available to the faithful who lived in communities that lacked a clergy. This is most probably the context in which, for instance, Old Believer versions of the Communion of the Apostles should be understood. The view of the Old Believer identity, and Old Believer art, as proposed in this article takes under consideration not only the tradition but also the change, which was an unavoidable part of their communities’ experience, and which may also constitute an essential key to our reading of the contents and meaning of Old Believer icons.

Kidney transplantation is considered to be the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease. The main goal of renal replacement therapy is to prolong life as well as improve its quality. The key here is the education of the patient, which is conducted by a transplant physician, a transplant nurse and a nutritionist. Nursing staff taking care of a patient after a kidney transplant should have the ability to correctly diagnose and resolve nursing problems. The aim of the work is to present the role of a nurse in patient care after kidney transplant. Nurses pursuing health education focus primarily on shaping individual patient health behaviors.

Despite the continuous development of medical science, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease has increased steadily, including the need for peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this work is to present the role of a nurse in the care of a dialysed peritoneal patient. The nurse from the peritoneal dialysis department is actively involved in the therapy process from qualification to renal replacement therapy, catheter implantation, through training, dialysis center visits, to complication hospitalization. Thanks to education, it improves the effectiveness of dialysis, reduces the risk of complications and simultaneously improves quality of life.

With the progress of medicine and the improvement in the quality of life, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease, including those involved in the hemodialysis program, is increasing. This method of treating renal replacement therapy is a chance for patients to prolong life, but at the same time poses the risk of many complications associated with this therapy. Nursing staff who handle the patient during hemodialysis should have the ability to correctly identify and solve problems, thus giving the patient and his family a greater sense of security. Careful observation of the patient in terms of the possibility of complications and immediate response are crucial in the care of a hemodialysis patient.

A model-based depiction of emotion concepts is a difficult and a relevant task within linguistics. The basic emotions are probably universal and biologically conditioned but the languages being founded within the culture influence the structure of conceptual contents, which has to be discovered and described. This aim is followed within the interdisciplinary monograph by Hanna Kaczmarek which has been presented in the article.

Background Small size and large diversity of adaptations make invertebrates a group of animals which can be easily transported by different human activities. Many species can travel as “hitchhikers” with plant material (both on plant surfaces and in the soil), including plants used for decoration in vivaria. Vivaria are often tropical in nature environments, with high temperatures and humidity, suitable for invertebrates from tropical regions. Although many of such invertebrates cannot survive in temperate regions where harsh weather conditions are present, it is also known that some can successfully acclimatise. As a result, their negative impact on local flora and fauna cannot be excluded. Material and methods Terrestrial invertebrates were collected in several cities of Poland from tropical vivaria where poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) and/or orchids (Orchidaceae) were kept by hobbyists. Collecting of the material was preceded by a simple questionnaire placed on the biggest Polish forum devoted to poison dart frogs. Moreover, we contacted some Polish wholesalers offering tropical invertebrates (Isopoda and Collembola), used as the food source for frogs, hoping to receive information about locations where those invertebrates were delivered, over the period of one year. We obtained mtDNA barcodes using the COI marker (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene) for seven potential morphospecies. Results In total, 12 taxa classified as Turbellaria, Annelida, Gastropoda, Isopoda, Diplopoda, Chilopoda and Collembola were collected and preserved in pure ethanol. We collected material and/or information from 65 locations, including 56 cities to which exotic isopods and springtails were sold by wholesalers over the period of nine months (average number per month = 18 cities). We obtained 18 COI sequences which were assigned to seven BINs and thus confirmed identification of seven species. The results indicate that the number of species transported with exotic plants is not small and can be observed regularly. Species noted as “hitchhikers” on plant structures and/or as inhabitants of soil in plant pots, originally came from South and Central America, Africa, Asia and possibly from North America or Southern Europe. Three taxa were noted for the first time from Poland, including Rhynchodemus sylvaticus (Rhynchodemidae), Trichorhina sp.1 (Platharthridae), and Guppya gundlachi (Euconulidae). Discussion The presented study clearly shows that an exotic hobby such as keeping tropical poison dart frogs and/or orchids may promote fast and uncontrolled dispersion of a high number of invertebrates classified in different taxonomical groups. Plant material (green elements of plants and the soil in which they are planted) used in vivaria can be an important source of such animals.

Extremely hot or warm weather over the course of the year may have significant impacts on many aspects of human life, the economy, and the natural environment. Until now a thorough assessment of changes of extreme heat or warm events in Europe was hindered by the number of metrics employed, time periods examined, and most studies being conducted in the summer season only. Here, we employ the Extremity Index (EI) to investigate long-term trends in extremely hot or warm days in Europe over the course of the year, with a special focus on their frequency, spatial extent, and intensity. An extreme temperature event (ETE) is defined as a day with an unusually high temperature for a given location and season, even if such a temperature would not be considered extremely high in an absolute sense. The research is conducted in five spatial domains that together cover a large portion of Europe. The period of the most recent 70 years is considered. In all examined regions, mainly significant increasing trends since 1950 are evident for seasonal EI; therefore, also for ETE frequency, intensity, and spatial range. Yet, every region is characterized by its own event pattern, and trends across the continent strongly vary geographically and seasonally. Our study highlights that examined trends of temperature extremes are accelerating and in the last 40 years the rate of change has been even more than three times greater than in the entire study period. The greatest changes were noted for the summer season in Central Europe and Eastern Europe for the most recent 40-year period.

The aim of the study was to analyze the biofilm-production capacity of 87 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains (CoNS) isolated from broiler chickens and to determine the occurrence of biofilm-associated genes. The biofilm production capacity of staphylococci was assessed using the microtiter plate method (MTP), and the frequency of genes was determined by PCR. The ability to form a biofilm in vitro was shown in 79.3% of examined strains. Strong biofilm capacity was demonstrated in 26.4% of strains, moderate capacity in 25.3%, weak capacity in 27.6%, and a complete lack of biofilm production capacity in 20.7% of strains. The icaAB gene responsible for the production of extracellular polysaccharide adhesins was detected in 6.9% of strains. The other four genes, i.e., bap (encoding biofilm-associated protein), atlE (encoding cell surface protein exhibiting vitronectin-binding activity), fbe (encoding fibrinogen-binding protein), and eno (encoding laminin-binding protein) were detected in 5.7%, 19.5%, 8%, and 70.1% of strains, respectively. Demonstration of genes that play a role in bacterial biofilm formation may serve as a genetic basis to distinguish between symbiotic and potentially invasive coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains.

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