Lubuskie Voivodship Research Articles

Tuberculosis in Poland in 2021.

To evaluate the main features of epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in 2021 in Poland and to compare with the situation in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. Analysis of case-based data on TB patients from National TB Register, data on anti-TB drug susceptibility in cases notified in 2021, data from Statistics Poland on deaths from tuberculosis in 2020, data from National Institute of Public Health NIH - National Research Institute (NIPH NIH - NRI) on HIV-positive subjects for whom TB was an AIDS-defining disease, data from the report "European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO Regional Office for Europe. Tuberculosis surveillance and monitoring in Europe 2022 - 2021 data. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe and Stockholm: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; 2022." In 2021, 3704 TB cases were reported in Poland. The incidence rate was 9.7 cases per 100,000 with large variability between voivodeships from 5.4 to 12.6 per 100,000. A decrease in the incidence with respect to 2020 was found in 8 voivodeships, the most significant in lubuskie voivodship (42.6%). The number of all pulmonary tuberculosis cases was 3,553 i.e. 9.3 per 100,000. Pulmonary cases represented 95.9% of all TB cases. In 2021, 151 extrapulmonary TB cases were notified (4.1% of all TB cases). Pulmonary tuberculosis was bacteriologically confirmed in 2,970 cases (83.6% of all pulmonary TB cases, the incidence rate 7.8 per 100,000). The number of smear-positive pulmonary TB cases was 2,085 i.e. 5.5 per 100,000 (58.7% of all pulmonary TB cases). In 2021, there were 54 cases (25 of foreign origin) with multidrug resistant TB (MDR-TB) representing 1.9% of cases with known drug sensitivity. The incidence rates of tuberculosis were growing along with the age group from 0.6 per 100,000 among children (0-14 years) to 15.8 per 100,000 among subjects in the age group 45-64 years, the incidence rate in the age group ≥65 years was 11.7 per 100,000. There were 37 cases in children up to 14 years of age (1.0% of the total) and 51 cases in adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age - rates 0.6 and 2.8 per 100,000 respectively. In 2021, there were 2,690 cases of tuberculosis in men and 1,014 in women. The TB incidence in men - 14.6 per 100,000 was almost 3.0 times higher than among women - 5.1. The biggest difference in the TB incidence between the two sex groups occurred in persons aged 55-59 years, 30.5 vs. 6.6 and in age group 60 to 64 years, 26.0 vs. 5.7. In 2021, there were 132 patients of foreign origin among all cases of tuberculosis in Poland (3.6%). In 2020, TB was the cause of death for 474 people (mortality rate - 1.2 per 100,000). The incidence of tuberculosis in Poland in 2021 was 10.2% higher than in 2020. The percentage of tuberculosis cases with bacteriological confirmation was 82.6%, higher than the average in EU/EEA countries (72.0%). The percentage of MDR-TB cases was lower than the average in EU/EEA countries (1.9% vs. 3.8%). The highest incidence rates are found in Poland in the older age groups (in EU/EEA countries in people aged 25 to 44). The percentage of children up to 14 years of age among the total number of TB patients was 1.0%, the average in the EU/EEA countries was 3.5%. The incidence of tuberculosis in men was nearly three times higher than in women in Poland. The impact of migration on the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in Poland in 2021 was smaller than in the EU/EEA countries (in Poland, the percentage of foreigners among all TB patients was 3.6 vs. 33.8% in the EU/EEA).

Regional Discrepancies in the Level of Knowledge-Based Economy in Poland

AbstractSubject and purpose of workThis paper analyzes the level of knowledge-based economy (KBE) in terms of sustainable development across the provinces (voivodships) of Poland in 2020. The underlying assumption of this study is that knowledge and skills are one of the fundamental preconditions for successfully implementing the concept of sustainable development.Materials and methodsIn order to calculate the rankings of Polish voivodships a synthetic indicator developed on the basis of the zeroed unitarization method was used.ResultsThere are vast disproportions in the levels of KBE across the voivodeships of Poland. The most advanced KBE was identified in the Mazowieckie Voivodship, and the least developed KBE was found in the Lubuskie voivodship.ConclusionsThe capacity to develop a knowledge-based economy is inextricably interrelated with the quality of the social capital, which is directly attributable to the levels of education. In order to offset the interregional disproportions spending on research and development needs to be increased and the investments in human capital (e.g. through career planning, training, improving the professional qualifications of employees, discretionary bonuses) and new technologies should be expanded.

Indoor air Quality in Offices and Classrooms in Public Utility Building - A Case Study

A microbiological analysis of indoor air quality in offices, lecture rooms, and hallways in a public utility building has been carried out in the Lubuskie Voivodship (Poland). In one of the storage rooms, the presence of fungi on the building partition was found in the place of water infiltration as a result of a technological failure in the building. A total of 17 non-residential interiors were examined. The total number of psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria and the total number of fungi were sampled by the collision method with the air sampler. A qualitative analysis has been performed of fungi present in the indoor air and from building partition of the studied interiors. A total of 11 species of fungi have been specified. Relative humidity and air temperature were measured with a hygrometer. The studies showed that the number of psychrophilic bacteria in indoor air was in the range 0–730 CFU/m<sup>3</sup>, while the number of mesophilic bacteria was slightly higher (0 - 896 CFU/m<sup>3</sup>). A high level of contamination and a large number of fungi (734 CFU/m<sup>3</sup>) were found in the indoor air of storage room, where the problem of biodeterioration of building partitions occurred. In the remaining rooms, the level of microorganisms was low or moderate. Microbiological tests of the outdoor air (background) did not reveal an excessive number of microorganisms in the air.

Relationship marketing from the perspective of employees (comparison analysis)

The aim of the study is to answer the question how the attitude of the company?s employees has changed in terms of assessing building proper relationships with business partners in relation to suppliers, recipients, customers and other entities with which the companies/organizations cooperate. Moreover, it is important to demonstrate a change in perception in the assessment of activities conducive to building good relationships. The article presents various approaches to relationship marketing as well as its application and significance for the functioning of enterprises in various areas. The results of empirical research from two research periods conducted among respondents working in various enterprises and organizations in the Lubuskie voivodship have been presented. The subjectivity of employees in shaping relations with business partners has been demonstrated.

Możliwości uczestnictwa w kulturze dzieci i młodzieży w projektach edukacji kulturowej programu Bardzo Młoda Kultura – między podmiotowością a podporządkowaniem

Introduction: Cultural activity is the content, instrument and aim of cultural education. The polish sociological approach of cultural education is based on a broad anthropological definition of culture, which according to the authors’ concept of cultural education, is better suited for the realities of a democratic society than a narrow and evaluative understanding of culture. In the conception of cultural education, it is emphasised that the elements of culture are interrelated and that these connections determine the possible actions of individuals and of the collective whole. Relationships depend on the positions of individuals; they can be equal or subordinate. Cultural education aims to support active, agency participation in culture and social life, based on equality in relationships. Research Aim: The study aims to find out how assumptions regarding agency participation in cultural education are implemented in cultural education projects for children and youth in the Bardzo Młoda Kultura (BMK) (Very Young Culture) programme in Lubuskie voivodship. Method: The research was carried out through an analysis of secondary data related to cultural education projects undertaken in the second edition of the BMK. Results: The scope of the agency of children and youth, as seen in its influence on the content, forms and course of cultural activity, is varied. This influence within the studied projects was large, significant, partial and limited. Conclusion: The non-valued, broad understanding of culture as the basis for cultural education gives a greater opportunity for equal and agency participation, however, practitioners are not always aware of or do not take advantage of this. If cultural education is to prepare individuals for the creation and transformation of culture, as well as for intervening in social life with the purpose of making it more democratic, it must broaden the scope of the participant’s influence and be based on equal relationships. In this way, the cultural education has a chance to become a significant space for implementing the idea of social participation of children and youth.

THE LEVEL OF REVERSE LOGISTICS IMPLEMENTATION IN TERMS OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN POLISH VOIVODSHIPS ACCORDING TO A MULTIVARIATE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

In practice, reverse logistics in Poland refers to a narrow approach within the framework of the waste management problem. The voivodships have been obliged to implement reverse logistics processes more effectively through waste management. The article aims to diagnose the implementation level of waste management processes (part of reverse logistics) in Polish voivodships. The research used a multivariate comparative analysis that ranks voivodships according to waste management indicators. The research will result in preparing the ranking of voivodships listing the leaders and those unsuccessful in the implementation of waste management. Based on the research, Śląskie and Podlaskie voivodships were selected as the ones presenting the highest level of waste management implementation, whereas the lowest level was recorded for Lubuskie voivodship.

The Spillover of African Swine Fever in Western Poland Revealed Its Estimated Origin on the Basis of O174L, K145R, MGF 505-5R and IGR I73R/I329L Genomic Sequences.

The African swine fever epidemic occurred in Poland at the beginning of 2014 and, up to date, the disease has been spreading mainly in the eastern part of the country. Unexpectedly, in November 2019 an infected wild boar case was confirmed in Lubuskie voivodship in western Poland. During the following weeks, several dozen African swine fever virus (ASFV)-positive animals were notified in the neighboring area, causing severe concern regarding further spread of the disease to the mostly pig-dense region in Poland, namely, Wielkopolskie voivodship. Moreover, almost a year after, several infected wild boar cases were confirmed for the first time in Germany, just beyond the Polish border, sending out a shock wave through the global pig market. The whole genome sequence of ASFV, isolated from the first case of ASF in western Poland, and three selected viruses from other affected areas, revealed the tandem repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variations in reference to the Georgia 2007/1 strain. These data, supported by the conventional sequencing of selected genomic regions from a total of 154 virus samples isolated between 2017 and 2020 in Poland, shed a new light on pathogen epidemiology. The sequence variations within the O174L gene detected in this study showed that cases identified in western Poland might be originating from the so-called southern Warsaw cluster. Moreover, the viruses originating from the northern Warsaw cluster do not possess single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutations within the K145R and MGF 505-5R genes, which are specific to all of the other Polish ASFV strains. These results led to a conclusion of their distinct origin. Supporting these results, the nucleotide sequencing of I73R/I329L intergenic region revealed its new, previously undescribed variant, called IGR IV, with an additional three tandem repeats of 10 nucleotides in comparison to the reference sequence of the Georgia 2007/1 strain.

Shaping cross-sectoral cooperation based on smart specializations in the city of Zielona Góra

Among a big number of forms of relations, which the collaboration of a minimum of two entities may be based on, it is important in the context of the science and business environment to find a reference point connecting these entities. If it is necessary to integrate two sectors, this process is complex. The solution to this problem is to find a common point of reference. On the example of strengthening the ties between business and science sectors, the merging function is adopted by selected smart specializations in the European, national and regional areas. This article uses the example of Zielona Góra, analysing the smart specializations of the Lubuskie voivodship and the research group specifying entrepreneurs and scientists performing their activities in this city the potential of permanent relationship was assessed, which may become the basis for identifying barriers and opportunities in the context of building a lasting relationship.

CULINARY TOURISM IN REGIONAL AND MUNICIPAL STRATEGIES OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Purpose. The aim of this paper is to check to what extent culinary tourism and its various forms are included in tourism development strategies developed for individual voivodships as well as cities with the status of regional capitals. The second goal is to find out what types of culinary tourism products (culinary routes, festivals, etc.) are promoted by regional tourist organisations. The authors also tried to verify whether the culinary tourism offer is specific for individual regions and whether it may contribute to the regional branding strategy. Method. The analysis of regional tourism related strategic documents valid in January 2018 was performed in terms of culinary tourism. Additionally, analysis of websites regarding all regional tourist organisations was carried out and the validity of the offer was checked via telephone calls. Findings. In the analysed documents, culinary heritage usually appears within the context of cultural tourism and agritourism. Only in the Lubuskie voivodeship were wine and culinary tourism considered as the leading forms of tourism in the region. It is precisely the Lubuskie voivodship that plans to build its tourist brand on the basis of culinary heritage. In other cases, local cuisine usually appears at the level of operational goals or as an element of other tourist products. In the Pomeranian voivodeship, brand specialties that go beyond the culinary traditions of the region were proposed in a creative way. Research and conclusions limitations. Not all voivodships have current tourism related strategic documents. Some regions still base on strategies that were developed for earlier periods. Practical implications. Analysis shows that not all projects related to culinary tourism are long-term in nature, especially regarding culinary trails. Some even interesting initiatives have not been continued, thus tourists were not even aware they existed. Originality. According to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first analysis of strategic documents in Poland within the context of culinary tourism. Type of paper. The article presents the results of empirical research.

Economic immigration in Lubuskie voivodship

Data delivered by Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MFLSP) prove the growing scale of economic immigration to Poland from culturally and geographically close countries. Increased inflow of employees from other countries, mainly from Ukraine, is also noticeable in Lubuskie voivodship. The purpose of the article is to identify the scale and structure of the phenomenon of economic immigration in the aforemen-tioned region according to selected features.In the study data of Statistics Poland, Statistical Office in Zielona Góra, MFLSP and Voivodship Labour Office in Zielona Góra were used for the period 2014—2017.In particular, the ethnic structure of immigrants andthe structure of industries was examined,in which labour demand is satisfied on the basis of foreign labour force.The conducted analysis confirmed both the intensified need forsup-plementingthe labour demand of immigrants in Lubuskie voivodship and the changed structure of their distribution on the Polish labour market. Foreigners employed in Lubuskie voivodship work mainly in transport and storage, manufacturing, as well as in adminis-trative activitiesand construction. In turn, the largest deficits of employees concern machine operators and assemblers, industrial workers, craftsmen and employees performing simple works. The conclusion from the analysis of secondary data was consistent with the results of the unstructured interview carried out in January 2018 with representatives of thejob agency from Lubuskie voivodship.

Autokorelacja przestrzenna wybranych cech rozwoju gmin w województwie lubuskim

Purpose – The aim of the considerations is the evaluation and modelling of spatial relations of selected characteristics of socio-economic development of communities in the Lubuskie Voivodship as well as identification of the communities for which these relations are of crucial importance.Research method – Methods of spatial econometrics and statistics were used to study formation of phenomena depending on the location of a given object in space. Among them, the analysis used global and local measures of spatial autocorrelation and the spatial autoregression model. The following characteristics were taken into account: the registered unemployment rate, the number of enterprises registered in REGON, the number of beds in tourist facilities and the income of communes due to PIT tax.Results – The obtained score indicates the existence of significant spatial dependencies in formation of distinguished characteristics and allows to define specific local patterns in the region. The spatial autoregression model allows to explain the relations between the unemployment rate and the number of enterprises as well as investment outlays of communes.Originality / value – In the literature on the subject it can be found that this kind of research is carried out either at the level of regions of the European Union or voivodships or districts in the country. Studies at the municipal level, which were carried out on the basis of statistical data for 2016, are less frequent.

Infrastruktura wolnoczasowa, preferencje, możliwości i oczekiwania, dotyczące sposobu spędzania czasu wolnego przez młodzież ze środowiska małomiasteczkowego

Freedom of choice, which is characteristic for free time activities, is sometimes limited by the individual features of a person, his or her financial potential, place of living and flat conditions, a range of cultural activities and its real availability. The aim of the study is to find options of satisfactory free-time spending by the first grade adolescents of different upper-secondary schools in Sulechow, a small town in Lubuskie Voivodship. The research describes a group of people aged 16 to 18. In the study, the method of diagnostic survey, together with a survey questionnaire, were used. There are numerical and percentage data presented, and the gravity level of the differences in the given answers in relation to gender and a school type. The analysis of the data shows that upper secondary school students are not satisfied with the available options of spending free time in Sulechow. Many of them use the free-time infrastructure of other towns.

The standard of living in the powiats of Lubuskie voivodship

The aim of the paper is to measure the standard of living in the powiats of Lubuskie voivodship and to group themaccording to this criterion. The analyses were carried out for the data from 2017 obtained from the Statistical Office in Zielona Góra and the Local Data Bank of Statistics Poland. The author used selected indicators describing the standard of living in 10areas that determine the living conditions of communities in the Lubuskie powiats. The standard of living was measured using Hellwig’s synthetic taxonomic measure. The study demonstrated that what distinguished the groups of powiats (extracted by the measure) to the largest extent, were economic factors. Howe-ver, cities with powiat status, where infrastructural, environmental and social factors were more important, proved an exception to this rule.

Methodological aspects of innovation performance measurement in the IT sector

The aim of the paper is to answer the research question of what innovation performance indicators are appropriate for research on innovation process in the IT sector in the Lubuskie voivodship. The authors have used the method of systematic review of literature and have analysed 125 research papers and additional sources. The research consluions are that the indicators shoud consider such aspects as the dimmension of innovation performance, the type of product novelty and level of analysis.

REGIONAL DIVERSITY IN NITROUS OXIDE EMISSION FROM THE AGRICULTURAL USE OF SOIL

The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the analyzed factors on the regional differentiation of nitrous oxide emission values from the agricultural use of soil in Poland. In the analyses, the initial content of soil organic carbon, carbon sequestration and soil pH were taken into account as variables modifying the value of nitrous oxide emission. The results showed that regional differentiation of nitrous oxide emissions was shaped mainly by the initial content of soil organic carbon and carbon sequestration. The highest emission values, 3 to 3.5 times higher than in other regions, were identified in Lubuskie voivodship.

Consumer behaviour on the e-commerce market in the light of empirical research in Lubuskie voivodeship

The main aim of this article was to identify the behavior of consumers in the e-commerce market in Poland, according to the model of e-customer as adopted by Meier and Stormer. An attempt was made to answer the following questions: whether education has an impact on the propensity to make purchases over the Internet and the level of concern about Internet security, what are the greatest limitations of e-commerce, whether there is a clear link between the assessment of the overall impression of shopping online and satisfaction with service. The study shows that the largest group of respondents make purchases in online stores after carefully reading the information relating to the e-business and the products it offers, often adding a Web address to favorites returning later to obtain detailed information, or return to some services. At the same time they show a great interest in the price and terms of delivery. The research procedure used the analysis of literature, statistical data and results of the survey respondents of Lubuskie voivodship.

Integration of information resources as a source of effective management of the region

The aim of the article is to characterize the experience of networking in the exchange of data, information and knowledge, to promote regional development in the Lubuskie voivodship (province). Efforts were made to get the answer to the question of how integrated information resources contribute to regional development. The cooperation of official statistics and the scientific community is based on the idea of developing a joint information system. This collaboration also invited Lubuskie Regional Territorial Observatory. Cooperation shall be implemented according to a bipolar model. Participating in this activity players create and provide complementary information. On their basis are constructed strategic planning and socio-economic diagnosis. In these institutions are prepared study work, studies and specialist reports.

Forming relationships on the e-commerce market as a basis to build loyalty and create value for the customer. Empirical findings

The dynamic development of information technology, especially the Internet, which has taken place in recent years has brought many new opportunities to use the Internet in business operations. The Internet has created new opportunities for the development of enterprises. It was its dynamic boom that enabled e-commerce to gain in importance, and along with it made the changes in consumer behavior in terms of place, time and purchasing conditions. The aim of the paper is to present the key aspects in the development of relationships as a basis for building loyalty and creating value for the customer. Attainment of the objective will be aided by presentation of the results of survey regarding the identification of the measures taken to maintain lasting relationships that allow to build loyalty and create value for the customer. In addition, the study will identify the actions conducive to the growth of customer loyalty, which can be helpful in conducting e-business. In the research procedure we have used the analysis of the literature, statistical data and the results of the questionnaire study on the presented issues with customers from Lubuskie voivodship.

Perspective for the development of organic farming in lubuskie voivodship

Perspective for the development of organic farming in lubuskie voivodship

O wybranych konsekwencjach nietypowych form zatrudnienia w świetle wywiadów jakościowych

Selected results of the qualitative research about social and individual consequences of non – typical forms of employment are presented. The research was carried out in the Lubuskie voivodship in 2011. They seem to show that the inhabitants of this province are aware of advantages and disadvantages of the flexible labour market.
 For some people flexible job contracts offer a chance to create self-made careers. Some people declare flexible jobs as a substitute under a lack of full-time jobs in searching for job. They understand that flexible jobs counteract unemployment and guarantee any income. However, they complain about uncertainty related the contract duration, income, and irregular work intensity. There are also opinions that when combined with a stable contract non-typical forms of employment offer opportunities to stabilize a financial situation.