Lodz Province Research Articles

The use of chatbots and voicebots by public institutions in the communication process with clients

Purpose: The purpose of this publication is to identify the opportunities and threats arising from the use of chatbots and voicebots in Polish public sector institutions. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical basis presented in this paper is the available literature on the subject. Expert research was conducted with practitioners and theoreticians from the Lodz Province about chatbots, voicebots and public institutions. The research technique was a standardized interview. Findings: The results of the research made it possible to identify the opportunities, limitations and risks of implementing chatbots and voicebots in a public institution. Research limitations/implications: The survey conducted with experts indicates the problem and the need for change and identifies a way forward for digitization in public institutions. Practical implications: The results of the expert research can provide a path to the successful digitization of many public institutions and consequently provide inspiration and savings when designing bots that serve clients. Social implications: The quality of customer service of public institutions is a problem identified in this article. By implementing the suggestions resulting from the research, client service can be improved or completely reorganized. Originality/value: The article highlights the possibility of transferring artificial intelligence tools, i.e. chatbots and voicebots, to public institutions, also pointing out the possibilities of solutions and their limitations and risks of implementation. For the purpose of the paper, expert practitioners and theoreticians were invited to express their opinions. Keywords: chatbot, voicebot, artificial intelligence, bots. Category of paper: Research paper.

Community determinants of COPD exacerbations in elderly patients in Lodz province, Poland: a retrospective observational Big Data cohort study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence and identify demographic, economic and environmental local community determinants of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in elderly in primary care using Big Data approach.DesignRetrospective observational...

Local Disproportions of Quality of Life and Their Influence on the Process of Green Economy Development in Polish Voivodships in 2010-2020.

Voivodships are centres of economic, social, and cultural life—they gather economic and social activities. This research aimed to evaluate the spatial differentiation of the quality of life in voivodships in Poland with the use of a synthetic measure. To achieve the research objective, the research methods used were literature analysis, statistical analysis, and synthetic measure. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution method was used to build synthetic measures. The choice of variables in 2010–2020 was largely conditioned by the availability of data collected in the regional system at the level of voivodships at the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office. As a result of the analysis of voivodships in Poland, based on the quality of life measure, four groups were distinguished (according to the value of quartiles). In the group of the best voivodeships there were: Pomerania, Masovia, Lower Silesia, and West Pomeranian in 2010, and Masovia, Pomerania, Greater Poland, Lower Silesia, and Lesser Poland in 2020, and in the IV, the weakest group: Lodz Province, Podlasie Province, Lubusz Province, and Holy Cross in 2010, and Lodz Province, Podlasie Province, Holy Cross, and Lublin Province in 2020. The synthetic quality of life ranged from 0.37 to 0.56 in 2010 and from 0.39 to 0.64 in 2020. Regional authorities, taking care to improve economic potential, cause increasing the attractiveness of the area and attracting new entrepreneurs, create new jobs, and improve the quality of life of the inhabitants. Quality of life is shaped by economic activity and working conditions, health, education, free time and social relations, economic and physical security, and the quality of the natural environment. The results of the research conducted allow local governments to make comparisons. The conclusions drawn may allow them to identify potential directions for developing policy optimization.

Can a Hierarchical Classification of Sentinel-2 Data Improve Land Cover Mapping?

Monitoring of land cover plays an important role in effective environmental management, assessment of natural resources, environmental protection, urban planning and sustainable development. Increasing demand for accurate and repeatable information on land cover and land cover changes causes rapid development of the advanced, machine learning algorithms dedicated to land cover mapping using satellite images. Free and open access to Sentinel-2 data, characterized with high spatial and temporal resolution, increased the potential to map and to monitor land surface with high accuracy and frequency. Despite a considerable number of approaches towards land cover classification based on satellite data, there is still a challenge to clearly separate complex land cover classes, for example grasslands, arable land and wetlands. The aim of this study is to examine, whether a hierarchal classification of Sentinel-2 data can improve the accuracy of land cover mapping and delineation of complex land cover classes. The study is conducted in the Lodz Province, in central Poland. The pixel-based land cover classification is carried out using the machine learning Random Forest (RF) algorithm, based on a time series of Sentinel-2 imagery acquired in 2020. The following nine land cover classes are mapped: sealed surfaces, woodland broadleaved, woodland coniferous, shrubs, permanent herbaceous (grassy cover), periodically herbaceous (i.e., arable land), mosses, non-vegetated (bare soil) and water bodies. The land cover classification is conducted following two approaches: (1) flat, where all land cover classes are classified together, and (2) hierarchical, where the stratification is applied to first separate the most stable land cover classes and then classifying the most problematic once. The national databases served as the source of the reference sampling plots for the classification process. The process of selection and verification of the reference sampling plots is performed automatically. To assess the stability of the classification models the classification processes are performed iteratively. The results of this study confirmed that the hierarchical approach gave more accurate results compared to the commonly used flat approach. The median of the overall accuracy (OA) of the hierarchical classification was higher by 3–9 percentage points compared to the flat one. Of interest, the OA of the hierarchical classification reached 0.93–0.99, whereas the flat approach reached 0.90. Individual classes are also better classified in the hierarchical approach.

Do investment incentives matter in multinational enterprises location choices? The case of the Lodz Province

Background: Theoretically, any country or region in the world whose political and economic situation is stable and predictable can become a potential optimal investment location for multinational enterprises (MNEs). Nevertheless, some locations are doing better than others. In trying to explain why that is the case, the author has taken a closer look at investment incentives viewed as factors that may have an impact on the attractiveness of business locations. MNEs are seeking to find sites in other countries where they could successfully develop their business projects and are looking closely at economic viability of their undertakings. On the other hand, national and local governments in different countries across the world deploy diverse incentives financed from public coffers to attract foreign investors. Supporting foreign direct investment (FDI) through targeted incentive schemes is a subject that for some time has been thoroughly debated by economists and the international business community. 
 Research purpose: National, regional, and local authorities together with business environment institutions have a significant role in attracting (and retaining) foreign investors. They are equipped with economic policy instruments which, if used properly, may become incentives to MNEs looking for favourable business locations. The hereto discussed study aims to assess the role the host country measures play in location decisions of companies with foreign capital. 
 Methods: It is based on the results of a questionnaire-based survey conducted by the author in Poland. The study was carried out using the quantitative PAPI (Pen And Paper Personal Interview) method while responses provided by MNEs managers were examined by calculating their distributions as well as other statistical measures.
 Conclusions: The wide array of investment incentives offered to foreign investors can be divided into several ‘thematic’ groups of diverse significance. In the below discussed study, most respondents – managers of MNEs which invested in Poland – declared that the availability of State aid schemes was not the main driver in their location decisions which were motivated primarily by cost-related factors. Available surveys that investigate the situation across the world (also in Poland) do not provide sufficient evidence to make a clear-cut assessment of the efficiency.

Serum levels of zinc in children with recurrent infections from Lodz Province

Serum levels of zinc in children with recurrent infections from Lodz Province

A System for Personalized Clothing Production as a Model for Supporting the Competitiveness of SMEs on the Example of Lodz Province

Abstract Poland’s accession to the European Union has given many opportunities both in terms of access to the EU economy and European funds. Owing to the set sustainable development goals, the business sphere faces the challenge of their implementation through, among others, activities in the area of social and human capital, and environmental protection. It is important to model solutions that enable sustainable production and consumption. The introduction of innovative product and process technologies may contribute to increasing the competitiveness of SMEs in the Textile and Clothing sector, which in consequence should also contribute to the implementation of objectives of the Regional Smart Specializations for Lodz Province. An example of such solutions is the system for personalized production of clothes presented in the article. The aim of the article is to determine the current situation of the Polish clothing industry in trade with the European Union by analyzing comparative advantages for CN 61 and 62 (related to the clothing industry) and presenting the level of innovation of Lodz Province against the background of Poland as a region specializing in the production of clothing under the adopted Regional Smart Specializations for Lodz Province. It is assumed that the presented system for the personalized production of clothing may affect the competitiveness of this industry and the region.

Accident rates in Poland’s foodstuff industry from the perspective of occupational safety management in the European Union

The issue of accidents at work and accident prevention have a significant impact regarding safety, health protection and work environment management for the European Union. Work conditions need to be improved in Poland. Solving this collective issue caused by humanitarian as well as economic considerations is a primary mission in businesses. Creating more quality jobs is one of the main goals of the EU’s social policy. Health and safety in the work environment are essential conditions for work quality. This article presents the incidence of work-related accidents in the EU. In the 28 member states of the EU (EU-28), 2015 recorded over 3.2 million workplace accidents which invoked at least 4-day work leaves and 3,876 deaths. The authors of this analysis present the issue of workplace accidents based on the examination of incidents in large foodstuff plants of the Lodz voivodship i.e. food processing businesses that have been continuously active for the five year period of 2008-2012. The food industry belongs to one of the most fundamental economic fields and is one of the most important factors of economic growth and amounts to about 20% of domestic production in the processing industry in Poland. The Lodz province has been chosen on account of its central location in the country. For the selected group of businesses, there is a marked increase of workplace accidents – from 258 in 2008, to 333 incidents in 2012 – for the study period in that the lowest incidence occurred in 2009 (211 accidents), and the highest in 2011 (358 accidents).

Prozdrowotne motywacje biegaczy-amatorów z województwa łódzkiego

W artykule zostały przedstawione wyniki badania własnego, przeprowadzonego na próbie biegaczy-amatorów z województwa łódzkiego. W badaniu sprawdzano, jakimi motywacjami kierowali się biegacze, rozpoczynając przygodę z tym sportem oraz jak bieganie zmieniło ich życie i stan zdrowia. Badanie zostało wykonane z wykorzystaniem kwestionariusza ankiety on-line, objęło 101 respondentów, należących do klubów biegacza i społeczności biegaczy z województwa łódzkiego. Wyniki badań wykazały, iż ankietowani, gdy rozpoczynali treningi biegowe, kierowali się głównie przesłankami zdrowotnymi. Bieganie stało się łatwym sposobem na poprawę zdrowia, kondycji czy zredukowanie stresu. Rozpoczęcie przygody z bieganiem zmieniło także ich pozasportową sferę codziennego życia, zmieniły się ich nawyki i przyzwyczajenia; bieganie wniosło do ich życia wiele pozytywnych zmian.

Classification and analysis of social participation initiatives in a post-industrial city – a case study of Pabianice

Abstract This paper deals with the transformations of (post)industrial towns in Poland, which took place during the transition from a centralised communist economy to liberal capitalism. As a consequence, a number of areas became redundant. These malfunctioning spaces represent serious spatial, social and economic problems. The complex multifaceted nature of towns means, however, that there were no simple solutions leading to immediate improvements. Investments focused on particular, isolated areas appeared to be far from sufficient interventions. Therefore, comprehensive programmes aimed at holistic urban regeneration are more common nowadays. Since local community wellbeing is one of the key factors in these renewal schemes, social participation is a crucial part of the process. This allows residents to have an influence on the regeneration of their town, which (if well carried out) is expected to improve space, economy and quality of life. The above-mentioned issues will be analysed on the basis of a case study of Pabianice, a post-industrial town in the province of Lodz. The aim of this study is to examine the social participation initiatives implemented during the preparation of the Regeneration Programme for Pabianice – to classify them and to compare them with models regarding the level of social involvement and power in the urban regeneration process described in the paper.

Prevalence, risk factors and underdiagnosis of asthma in the general population aged over 60 years.

IntroductionBronchial asthma is one of the frequent chronic diseases in elderly persons. Global data show that 6.5–17% of the elderly suffer from asthma. However, there are no Polish data available on asthma prevalence in this group.AimThis article is a retrospective analysis of the Polish Multicentre Study of Epidemiology of Allergic Diseases (PMSEAD) results aimed at assessing prevalence and clinical characteristics in the elderly.Material and methodsThe study was conducted in 1998–1999 in 11 research centres in Poland, including the Lodz centre. The study included randomly selected subjects of both sexes. Demographics and prevalence were assessed among adults (aged 16–80 years) based on the nationwide database and the detailed clinical analysis was based on the Lodz centre database.ResultsNationwide data were obtained from 12 970 adults, including 1057 respondents in the Lodz Province; 20.3% of respondents in Poland and 23.6% in the Lodz Province were over 60 years of age. In both groups, elderly participants significantly more frequently suffered from asthma (asthma prevalence in this group was 6.7% for Poland and 12.0% for the Lodz Province). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that age over 60 years (OR = 2.08), residence in the city centre (OR = 3.30), and occurrence of seasonal allergic rhinitis (OR = 3.11) were significant risk factors for asthma occurrence among the residents of the Lodz Province. Among the elderly in Lodz, almost 50% of patients with asthma had not had a proper diagnosis made despite reporting clinical symptoms.ConclusionsIn Poland asthma is a common and frequently underdiagnosed disease in the elderly.

The high incidence of late presenters for HIV/AIDS infection in the Lodz province, Poland in the years 2009–2016: we are still far from the UNAIDS 90% target

ABSTRACTThe present study retrospectively analyses the prevalence of late diagnosis in patients with newly-diagnosed HIV infection in Lodz, Poland from January 2009 to December 2016, and assesses the predictive factors associated with late presenters. Late presentation is defined as a diagnosis of HIV with a CD4 count<350 cells/μL, or the occurrence of an AIDS- defining event, regardless of the CD4 cell count. Two hundred and fifty-nine (62.86%) patients were late presenters, 178 of whom (68.72%) were advanced late presenters (CD4 cell count below 200 cells/μL). Multivariate factors associated with late HIV presentation included referral from physician for HIV testing (OR: 3.95, 95% CI 2.42–6.46), older age (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.38–2.38) and route of HIV transmission. Heterosexual patients (OR 1.98, 95% CI: 1.01–3.90), active drug users (OR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.63–7.48) and patients who did not report the route of transmission (OR: 4.29, 95%: CI 1.45–12.62) were more likely to present late than MSM subjects. In conclusion, the majority of HIV-infected patients are still diagnosed late. There is a need for expanded testing not only in MSM group, in which HIV prevalence is the highest, but also in intravenous drug users, or among subjects who are heterosexual or from a higher age group.

Strona podażowa rynku biomasy rolnej w województwie łódzkim w opinii rolników

Aktualność problematyki podjętej w opracowaniu wynika zarówno z konieczności zwiększenia bezpieczeństwa energetycznego Polski, jak i jednoczesnej realizacji zobowiązań w ramach prowadzonej przez Unię Europejską polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej. Jednym z jej filarów jest wzrost znaczenia odnawialnych źródeł energii. Celem badań było określenie barier wynikających ze strony podażowej rynku biomasy rolnej w województwie łódzkim. Przeprowadzony wywiad kwestionariuszowy pozwolił na identyfikację kilku czynników niekorzystnie wpływających na rozwój rynku biomasy rolnej w województwie łódzkim, takich jak organizacja strony logistycznej odbioru surowca, opłacalność sprzedaży czy też brak dostępu do innowacyjnych rozwiązań.

Jakość życia osób starszych korzystających z pomocy instytucjonalnej

We współczesnym świecie obserwuje się coraz większą liczbę osób starszych, przy jednoczesnym spadku możliwości sprawowania nad nimi opieki, na co znaczący wpływ mają zmiany demograficzne rodziny. Celem niniejszego badania była ocena jakości życia osób starszych korzystających z pomocy instytucjonalnej. Badanie przeprowadzono od kwietnia do czerwca 2015 r. po uzyskaniu zgody Komisji Bioetycznej Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Łodzi. Badaną populację stanowili pensjonariusze 5 losowo dobranych do badania domów pomocy społecznej na terenie województwa łódzkiego Do oceny stanu umysłowego badanych wykorzystano Skrócony Test Sprawności Umysłowej wg Hodgkinsona. Finalnie analizą statystyczną objęto 117 osób. Narzędziem badania był anonimowy kwestionariusz wywiadu (49 pytań dotyczących stylu życia, relacji rodzinnych, samooceny stanu zdrowia i jakości życia). Uzyskane dane wprowadzone zostały do bazy w programie Microsoft Excel i Statistica. W analizie statystycznej wykorzystano miary z zakresu statystyki opisowej i analitycznej. Do oceny zależności pomiędzy analizowanymi zmiennymi a samooceną jakości życia wykorzystano test Chi² (p &lt; 0,05). 62,1% badanych deklarowało złą samoocenę jakości życia – częściej kobiety (Chi² = 0,919). 69,2% seniorów deklarowało niesamodzielne podjęcie decyzji o zamieszkaniu w dps. Czynnikami istotnie związanymi z samooceną jakości życia badanych były: czas pobytu w placówce, częstość spotkań z rodziną, wynik skali ADL i samoocena stanu zdrowia. Pielęgnowanie kontaktów rodzinnych wpływa na poczucie jakości życia seniorów zamieszkujących domy pomocy społecznej. Migracje ludzi młodych ograniczają udzielanie wsparcia seniorom przez rodzinę, prowadząc do wzmożonego zaangażowania placówek instytucjonalnych w pomoc ludziom starszym.

Detection of diseases on example of participation in selected health programmes – spatial approach

Health care prophylaxis as an element of health prevention has a major impact on health status of individual unit and consequently on society. In Poland there are significant disparities in health status and quality of life appearing in each region. The main problem in this field is the shortage of the appropriate financial support for combating these disparities, as well as insufficient action of some regions in terms of the promotion of healthy behavior, resulting in, eg. by the lack of suitable mechanisms required for their implementation. The result of the analyses should indicate the similarities and differences that exist in Polish voivodships. These result are from the defining common features in relation to ongoing programmes of health care prevention, detection by their specific disorders, as well as appearing opportunities for further treatment of selected diseases. The study included preventive health programmes implemented at the macro level, although most attention was paid to the Lodz province, due to its unfavourable epidemiological and demographics environment – analysis for the Lodz voivodships will be carried out at the NUTS–4 level. In addition, the article focuses on estimating an unit costs measurement of health programmes implemented in the Lodz region (financed by the Provincial Government of Lodz), in terms of per capita, as well as, in incremental values – in this way was possible to identify health programmes that have proved to be the most expensive, as well as identify those that manifested the greatest savings, contributing to the relatively high level of health effects.

Aktywność ekonomiczna grup będących w szczególnej sytuacji na rynku pracy w województwie łódzkim

Celem badania jest określenie struktury aktywności ekonomicznej wśród osób należących do grup doświadczających największych trudności na rynku pracy, w szczególności: osób poniżej 30. roku życia, osób powyżej 50. roku życia, osób z niepełnosprawnościami, kobiet oraz osób opiekujących się osobami zależnymi, a także charakterystyka poszczególnych zbiorowości. Badanie pogłębiono analizą struktury pracujących należących do analizowanych grup ze względu na status zatrudnienia, rodzaj umowy oraz wymiar czasu pracy. Przeanalizowano przyczyny pracy w niepełnym wymiarze czasu pracy oraz bierności zawodowej w badanej zbiorowości. W badaniu wykorzystano dane przekrojowe pochodzące z Badania Aktywności Ekonomicznej Ludności (BAEL) z czwartego kwartału 2013 roku oraz dane z Oceny zasobów pomocy społecznej dla województwa łódzkiego za rok 2015. Zakres przestrzenny badania obejmuje województwo łódzkie.

The influence of the internal microbiome on the materials used for construction of the transmission natural gas pipelines in the Lodz Province

This paper presents investigation results of the influence of gas microbes on the biocorrosion rate of the materials used for gas pipelines construction in the Lodz Province. Samples of two types of carbon steel and cast iron were stored in the laboratory pipeline model reflecting the real conditions of working natural gas pipelines were. In the next step the influence of cathodic protection with parameters recommended for protection of underground structures was tested. Analyses of biological corrosion products generated on the test surface were carried out using a scanning electron microscope with an X-ray analyzer. The level of ATP was measured to confirm presence of the adsorbed microorganisms on the observed structures. Corrosion rates were determined by gravimetric methods. In the course of the study it was revealed that the rate of biocorrosion of steel is lower than that for cast iron. Our results also proved that the weight corrosion rate depends on the number of adhered microorganisms. In addition, it has been found that application of the carbon steel cathodic protection decreases its weight corrosion rate. The information obtained will help to increase the knowledge on the rate of biological corrosion causing losses/pits inside gas pipline.

Years of Life Lost due to Premature Mortality in a Province with the Shortest Life Expectancy in Poland.

The aim of the study was to evaluate years of life lost for citizens of the Lodz Province, which is characterized by the lowest life expectancy in Poland, and to identify current trends in this area according to the most common causes of death. The study material included a database containing information gathered from 470,000 death certificates of Lodz Province inhabitants, who died between 1999 and 2011. In order to calculate years of life lost, the authors applied the SEYLLp (Standard Expected Years of Life Lost per living person) and SEYLLd (per death) indices. The analysis of time trends was carried out with the application of joinpoint models. The SEYLLp measure was 2,300 years per 10,000 males and 1,500 years per 10,000 females in 2011. Cardiovascular diseases contributed to the highest number of years of life lost (SEYLLp=682 years per 10,000 males and 559 years per 10,000 females). Next were malignant neoplasms (SEYLLp=505 years per 10,000 males and 437 years per 10,000 females), external causes of death (SEYLLp=361 years per 10,000 males and 83 years per 10,000 females). The number of years of life lost due to acute myocardial infarction decreased most rapidly, the Annual Percent Change (APC) was -10.1% in males and -3.7% in females. However, heart failure contributed to the highest increase in the number of years of life lost (APC=10.8% in males and 10.9% in females). A further decrease in the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases might contribute to the highest reduction of years of life lost. The most effective preventive activities are those aimed at reducing productive years of life lost due to a particular cause of death, i.e. road traffic accidents, suicides, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholic liver disease, and malignant neoplasms of the trachea, bronchi and lungs.

MARKET INTELLIGENCE – A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

Nowadays the biggest challenge for managers is obtaining business information that should support decision-making processes. The main task of decision makers is to understand the operating environment in order to compete effectively and as a result, to achieve success and development. Market intelligence as a practical program collects information about the market and its players through constant monitoring of the environment and ongoing changes that are observed, as well as in a form of ad hoc projects. Nowadays market intelligence in many companies has reached a position that compares to other professional management support functions, such as risk management or public relations. The aim of the article was to provide an explanation of the essence of market intelligence as a concept that plays a crucial role in generating valuable knowledge about the market, building competitiveness of enterprises and achieving growth in a specific market. The authors present the results of introductory research on functioning of programs used for obtaining knowledge about the market in regional enterprises. The research was conducted in big and medium-sized enterprises in Lodz province by means of a personal interview and a measurement tool was a questionnaire.

The epidemiology of asthma and its comorbidities in Poland – Health problems of patients with severe asthma as evidenced in the Province of Lodz

IntroductionPopulation studies supply interesting data regarding the epidemiology, comorbidity and risk factors of asthma, which have direct clinical implications for patients. ObjectivesThe aim of the work was to evaluate the degree of severity of asthma in the studied group, the levels of anti-asthma treatment, the prevalence of asthma comorbidities and their influence on the clinical course of the illness. Patients and methodsThe study encompassed 451 participants: 52.11% were asthma patients (study group) and 47.89% were healthy subjects (controls). Respiratory function tests, ACT™ test and skin prick tests were performed. ResultsAsthma severity was mild in 14.89%, moderate in 49.36% and severe in 35.74%. Oral GCS were used by 29%, inhalers 44%, LABA 68%, SABA 67%, LAMA 6%, SAMA 14% and MX 16%. Rhinitis and allergy were significantly more common in patients. GERD and neurological diseases were risk factors for asthma, and GERD significantly intensified the risk of severe asthma. GERD, atherosclerosis, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and other cardiac diseases, lipid disorders, COPD, and the presence of any neoplastic disease significantly worsened the degree of asthma control. DiscussionSevere asthma was a significant clinical issue in over 35% of cases. The most commonly-used group of drugs were LABAs, while inhaled GCS and LAMA were uncommon, especially among severe cases. A significant problem was the high percentage of systemic GCS used by severe cases. The most important risk factor for asthma, including its severe form, is GERD. Numerous comorbid conditions significantly worsen the degree of asthma control.