Masovian Voivodeship Research Articles

СТРУКТУРНО-ПРОСТОРОВА ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЯ ЕКОНОМІКИ: ПОЛЬСЬКИЙ ДОСВІД У КОНТЕКСТІ РЕЛЕВАНТНОСТІ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ

In the conditions of the strengthening of the European integration processes and prospective membership of Ukraine in the EU, the experience of the member states of the latter in the development of national economies acquires special importance. The purpose of the article is to evaluate the structural and spatial transformation of Poland's economy after joining the EU from the perspective of experience for Ukraine. The results of the conducted research revealed that Poland is characterized by a significant unevenness of spatial economic development, which was not overcome, but on the contrary - intensified during the period of this country's membership in the EU. In particular, in 2021, the Masovian Voivodeship accounted for 22.6% (against 17.4% in 2003) of GVA of agriculture, 15.6% (against 14.9%) of industry, 20.6% (against 15.7 %) of construction, 25.7% (against 22.9%) of the service sector. In 4 voivodeships (Wielkopolska, Mazovia, Lower Silesia and Silesia) more than 50% of GVA of Polish industry, construction and services, as well as more than 40% of GVA of agriculture, are produced. During the analyzed period (2003-2021), differences between Polish voivodships in terms of labor productivity in agriculture tended to decrease, but remained very significant, while in industry these differences slightly increased, and in the service sector they were stable and relatively small. At the same time, the structural transformation of the Polish economy took place in the direction of the development of sectors with higher labor productivity, i.e. those that provide a higher level of GVA and its dynamics. It is about the transfer of human capital from agriculture to industry (in particular processing), construction and certain segments of the service sector, primarily financial. However, heterogeneous structural economic transformations in the regions caused the deepening of spatial divergence in the Polish economy. Based on the Polish experience, in order to avoid the "middle income trap", the management of the spatial development of Ukraine's economy should not be based on the principles of supporting the weak (segments or enterprises) and not even on the selection of leaders, but on the optimization of all promising opportunities of the region/territory.

Mazowiecki Projekt Edukacyjny „Aktywni Społecznie”

The Masovian Educational Project „Socially Active” was developed and implemented to increase the involvement of children and teachers of educational institutions in social life in the Masovian Voivodeship. Project participants were kindergarten groups and primary school students, whose task was to present social activities in the Facebook group by performing tasks in accordance with the project regulations. 25 educational institutions completed the project and participated in a summary meeting, during which the project authors awarded the facilities with certificates and statues for coordinators. As a result, the authors of the project achieved the involvement of the young generation, teachers and the local community in the education and culture, which leads to the development of these fields and contributes to increasing the attractiveness of the region. Regardless of the chosen form of activity, it is important to act with passion and commitment and to contribute to positive changes in the life of the local community.

Regional Dimensions of Energy Poverty in Households of the Masovian Voivodeship in Poland: Genesis, Factors, Self-Assessment

Regional Dimensions of Energy Poverty in Households of the Masovian Voivodeship in Poland: Genesis, Factors, Self-Assessment

DIFFERENTIATIONS OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLISH ENTERPRISES IN 2012-2021

This work presents the relationship between road infrastructure and the development of enterprises in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the differences in the density of the hard surface road network and the development of enterprises, as well as the impact of the density of the hard surface road network on the development of enterprises in Polish voivodeships in 2012-2021. For this purpose, the structure and dynamics of changes in the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate in Poland were calculated. The relationship between the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship index was also determined. Data collected in the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office were used for the analyses. The analysis included the length of hard surface roads per 100 km2 and the total number of economic entities registered in the REGON system per 10,000 inhabitants of working age. An increase in the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate was observed, but the level and pace of changes in individual Polish voivodeships varied. The highest density of the hard surface road network was recorded in three voivodeships: Śląskie, Małopolskie and Świętokrzyskie. The highest value of the entrepreneurship index in the analyzed years was recorded in the Masovian Voivodeship. A detailed analysis of Polish voivodeships allowed us to observe a positive correlation between the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate in Poland in the analyzed period. The strongest positive relationship was between the density of hard surface roads and the entrepreneurship rate in the Masovian Voivodeship.

Dimensions of Rural Poverty: The Case of Masovian Voivodeship

Dimensions of Rural Poverty: The Case of Masovian Voivodeship

Voluntary counselling and testing points (VCTs) in Poland as a complementary and accessible alternative to public healthcare facilities: A comparative analysis of epidemiological data from the VCTs and the National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute (2015-2022).

Voluntary counselling and testing points (VCTs) offer anonymous and free HIV tests in Poland. They also play an essential role in educational initiatives focused on the prevention and diagnosis of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. However, no comprehensive data is available that summarizes the results of the work carried out by these VCTs. Therefore, our aim was to conduct a comparative analysis of epidemiological data obtained from VCTs and data reported by the epidemiological surveillance undertaken by the National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute (NIPH NIH-NRI) covering the period from 2015 to 2022. This retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 258 071 people attending VCTs in Poland in 2015-2022. On average, 32 259 individuals underwent testing each year, with a notable increase in the number of people being tested in November. The average positivity rate was 1.39% (3576/258 071). The Masovian voivodeship conducted the most tests and had the highest number of positive results. The comparative analysis of the frequency of detecting positive results in VCTs and those reported in NIPH NIH-NRI data revealed that, on average, 31.49% (3576/11 356) of positive results in Poland between 2015 and 2022 were identified through tests conducted at VCTs. The positive results identified in VCTs constituted approximately one-third of all results reported by the National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, highlighting the importance of VCTs. Moreover, the high availability of testing in the Masovian voivodeship resulted in better detection of HIV. The educational actions performed during European Testing Week increased the number of tests performed in November.

How Does Specialization in Agricultural Production Affect Soil Health?

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the specialization of agricultural production on selected parameters of soil health, i.e., soil organic carbon content (SOC), soil acidification, soil nutrient status, i.e., total nitrogen content (NT), available forms of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, and microelements content, as well as the content of selected potentially toxic metals (PTMs). For the study, 18 farms located in the Masovian Voivodeship in Central Poland were selected. They were grouped into six types, and each type was represented by three farms. The study included organic farms; farms specializing in: crop, vegetable, poultry, dairy cattle, and pigs production. A total of 144 soil samples were analyzed. The results showed that the specialization of agricultural production and fertilizer management had a significant impact on most of the tested soil health parameters, except SOC and NT content. Despite the high organic fertilizer doses introduced into soils in poultry (170 kg N per hectare as poultry manure) and pig farms (150 kg N per hectare as pig manure), there was no significant influence of these amendments on SOC content. This may indicate low organic carbon sequestration potential in some Polish agricultural soils. Organic farms had the lowest levels of plant nutrients in the tested soil samples, which may limit soil productivity. All the tested soils were strongly acidified, which could restrict both production and regulatory soil functions. Based on the synthetic index of soil fertility (SSFI), vegetable and poultry farms were characterized by very high fertility, while crop, dairy cattle, and pig farms fell into the medium fertility class. Organic farms were in the lowest fertility class. However, the study suggests that the SSFI may not be the best indicator for assessing soil fertility and health; therefore, further research is needed.

TO HEAT OR NOT TO HEAT? ON (IN)PERCEPTIBLE ENERGY POVERTY AMONG THE POOR

This research investigates energy poverty among social assistance beneficiaries in the Masovian Voivodeship, focusing on both objective and subjective dimensions. Energy poverty, characterized by the inability to afford adequate energy services, is examined through the Low Income High Cost (LIHC) measure and respondents’ subjective experiences. The study, based on a 2023 survey of 625 individuals, compares the Warsaw Capital Region and the Masovian Regional Region within the voivodeship. Results reveal that a significant proportion of beneficiaries face challenges in meeting energy needs, with 75% exceeding the 10% LIHC threshold. Strategies for coping include relying on social assistance, limiting current needs, seeking help from relatives, and dressing appropriately for indoor temperatures. The research covers energy poverty with economic, social, and health factors, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and financial support mechanisms. Findings also highlight the impact of energy prices, varied energy consumption patterns, and subjective perceptions of energy poverty. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex phenomenon of energy poverty among social assistance recipients in the region.

Analysis of short tandem repeat mutations in paternity cases from Masovian Voivodeship provinces form years 2018-2022 based on materials of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw.

In paternity cases, genetic tests are of great importance as they allow to exclude or confirm paternity. As a result of paternity tests we can also obtain information on the frequency of short tandem repeat mutations, which are important in the statistical analysis of test results. A total of 468 cases of full paternity trios (mother, child and alleged father) were analysed from years 2018 - 2022 from the central part of Poland. For further analysis of the occurrence of the mutation 346 cases in which paternity was confirmed were qualified. DNA analysis was performed using the PowerPlex®Fusion 6C kit (Promega, USA). 36 mutations were observed in 13 of the 23 genetic markers analysed. 94.44% were one-step mutations and 5.56% were two-step mutations. Among those mutations, there were 18 insertions and 10 deletions, while in 8 cases it was not possible to determine whether an insertion or deletion occurred. There was also a significantly higher share of the father mutation in relation to the mother mutation at a ratio of 4.17:1.

E-Learning as a Development Tool

In the modern world, there is a need to organize learning quickly and effectively. Due to the current economic climate, competition in the educational market, and demographic decline, there is an increasing interest in e-learning at all levels of education but especially in higher education. E-education provides the opportunity to attract students from abroad, those with disabilities, and those who cannot give up their professional work but want or should continue their education. This way of acquiring knowledge is of interest to various people who want to complete their higher education or gain a new profession. The article attempts to answer the following questions: which form of education is more attractive for students, stationary or remote; how do they assess the effects of both of these forms; which of them would they prefer in the event of further learning; and what suggestions do they make to improve distance learning? The article also contains a description of the project of changes undertaken by the State Vocational University in the Masovian Voivodeship (Poland) towards adapting to the requirements of digital reality. The aim of this article is to determine students’ preferences in terms of forms of studying and the university’s response to students’ needs in this area. It also discusses the specifics of the recent popularity of a new teaching model called connectivism. It presents what education based on this method is about and explains how it differs from previously functioning models such as behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructionism. The publication also contains a critique of connectivism and an attempt to indicate what risks and doubts arise from the dissemination of this type of education.

Suburbanization of poverty? Analysis of attitudes of social assistance beneficiaries in rural areas of the Masovian Voivodeship

Suburbanization of poverty? Analysis of attitudes of social assistance beneficiaries in rural areas of the Masovian Voivodeship

Effect of the pandemic on prehospital management of patients with mental and behavioral disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the accompanying coronavirus disease (Covid-19) have shifted the priority of human and technical resources toward their handling, thus affecting the usual standards of care for populations diagnosed with other clinical entities. The phenomenon becomes even more apparent in patients with presenting symptoms of mental and behavioral disorders, a category already vulnerable and underrepresented in regard to its prehospital approach and management. For the purposes of the current retrospective cohort study, we used records of the Polish National Emergency Medical Service Command Support System for the time period between April 1, 2019 and April 30, 2021, the official register of medical interventions delivered in Poland by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). We aimed to examine the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the Masovian Voivodeship on individuals seeking medical care for mental and behavioral disorders pertaining in the "F" category of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10). We examined the individuals' baseline characteristics, prehospital vital parameters and EMS processing times in a population of 59,651 adult patients (04/2019-03/2020, 28,089 patients, 04/2020-03/2021, 31,562 patients) handled by EMS teams. Compared to pre-COVID-19, EMS personnel handled fewer patients, but more patients required mental and behavioral care. Throughout the duration of the pandemic, all prehospital time periods were significantly delayed due to the increased time needed to prepare crew, vehicles, and technical equipment to ensure COVID-19 prevention and overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs).

Climate Education in Kindergarten

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times, as it affects the way societies and economies around the world operate: from dangerous weather anomalies, through a drop in crop production, to an escalation of international conflicts. Moreover, the consequences of climate change pose a risk to many areas of life. Therefore, actions ought to be taken to limit it. For these actions to be effective, climate change education must start as early as kindergarten. The subject of the research presented in the article is the implementation of climate education in kindergartens in the Masovian Voivodeship, Poland. The objective of the study is to determine the level of knowledge among six-year-old children about climate, climate change, the related risks, actions that can be taken to prevent climate change, and whether and how the children’s teachers cover topics related to climate change. The study consisted of diagnosing children’s knowledge about climate and climate change and verifying preschool teachers’ class register records and monthly work plans regarding climate change education. The analysis regarding children’s awareness of climate and climate change demonstrates that they could not support their knowledge with concrete examples. It indicates a superficial environmental education targeted at the adoption of positive attitudes towards nature among children. The study reveals that despite some preschool teachers introducing climate education to their classes, in the majority of classrooms, climate-related issues are rarely discussed. The research demonstrates that preschool teachers are unaware of the fact that the present generation of preschool children will have an impact on the future of our planet. Therefore, it should be recommended that teachers promote the principles of sustainable development and foster an awareness of the effect of human activity on our environment and climate change.

Prevalence of sleep disturbances among emergency response team paramedics working in shift systems

INTRODUCTION: Due to the nature and specifics of their work, paramedics carry out work activities in an organized shift system. Working in shifts is related to various health complications, disturbing the natural biological rhythm and adversely affecting the quality of sleep. The purpose of the study was the evaluation the effect of shift work on the quality of sleep of the paramedics who are members of Emergency Response Teams. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research took place between May and September 2019, using diagnostic survey methodology on 238 (223 male, 15 female) paramedics in mobile Emergency Response Teams (ERT) employed in five operational areas of the Masovian voivodeship. The mean age was 39.03 ± 9.27 years for males, and 31.93 ± 7.76 years for females. To examine the differences between the groups, the χ 2 test was employed, with an established statistical significance value of p < 0.05. RESULTS: Insomnia was most often reported by paramedics aged between 45 and 54 (29; 12.18%) and above the age of 55 (23; 9.66%). The participating paramedics are most often in the above-norm bounds of the Athens Insomnia Scale norms (112; 47.05%) or in the group classified as suffering from insomnia (77; 32.35%). CONCLUSIONS: In order to minimize the possible health consequences resulting from the nature of shift work, it is suitable to implement elements of sleep hygiene theory into the health education of paramedics, as well as to continuously monitor their health condition as part of occupational medicine practice.

The Innovation Development of the European Union: Regional Clustering

Innovative development is one of the political priorities of the European Union countries. The Commission of the European Communities recommends that countries pursue innovation policies at the regional level. The regional development of innovations is possible only in conditions of openness. It is important to understand in which conditions the regions will support each other, and in which they will become competitors pulling over limited resources.
 The strength of mutual influence is determined by economic, technological and geographical distances. In this study we determined how technological development in one region effects the level of development of neighboring territories in the European Union. The research methodology is the calculation of spatial autocorrelation (global and local Moran index I) by the number of patents in 2018-2021 in 169 regions of Europe.
 Among the regions four groups were identified: innovation cluster centers, innovation agglomerations, the neighbors of innovative cores and the territories outside the influence. The dynamics of development is also analyzed. It is shown that in some cases regions form technological clusters (in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands) or pull assets from neighbors to more innovative regions (in France, Austria, Denmark). In general, most regions of the EU regions have the low level of patent activity. At the same time, it is possible to identify regions - innovation centers, for instance, Castile-Leon (Spain), Masovian voivodeship (Poland). Understanding the emerging innovation blocs in the European Union will allow to implement more focused and effective policy.

Retrospective Analysis of the Factors Affecting the Induction of Childbirth in 4350 Women from a Single Center in Warsaw, Poland.

Labor induction is one of the most common procedures performed during childbirth, on average in 20–30% of all pregnant women. The aim of this paper was to perform a retrospective analysis of the factors influencing the induction of childbirth. The data provide population-based evidence for Poland (Masovian Voivodeship). The electronic patient records of a hospital in Warsaw were used to create an anonymous retrospective database of all deliveries from 2015 to 2020. The study included an analysis of two groups of patients. The study group consisted of patients with labor induction—4350 cases, and the control group of patients with spontaneous contractions—20,345. The factors influencing the lower frequency of labor induction in the study group were previous cesarean section (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64–0.84, p < 0.05) and a higher number of deliveries (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.68–0.80, p < 0.05). It is necessary to conduct further research about obstetric procedures used during childbirth, such as induction of childbirth, to reduce the risk of complications and improve the perinatal care of the mother and the neonate.

The Role of Gastronomic Services in Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Rural Households: The Case of the Masovian Voivodeship in Poland

The Role of Gastronomic Services in Meeting the Nutritional Needs of Rural Households: The Case of the Masovian Voivodeship in Poland

The Seed Yield of Soybean Cultivars and Their Quantity Depending on Sowing Term

The successful production of soybean seeds is dependent on the sowing date, because every sowing outside of the optimal time contributes to losses of yield. The aim of the study was to identify the response to sowing date of the chosen soybean cultivars by the evaluation of the length of the soybean vegetation period, yield level, its parameters and seed chemical composition. A field experiment was conducted in the years 2016–2019 at the Agricultural Experimental Station in Grabów (Masovian Voivodeship, Poland) belonging to the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation—State Research Institute in Puławy. Soybean cultivars (four in 2016–2017 and six in 2018–2019) listed in the EU Common Catalogue with various earliness were included in the experiment. Three different sowing dates were used: I—early, II—medium and III—delayed. The two-factor experiment was carried out using a split-plot design on Luvisol soil with sandy loam texture classes, in four replications. Soybean seeds were inoculated with a bacterial culture Nitragina containing strains Bradyrhizobium japonicum. After reaching full maturity, the most important morphological traits of 10 plants and yield components: the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per pod were provided. After harvest, the seeds yield (kg per hectare at the 14% moisture), and 1000-seed weight were determined. The study showed that in the years with favourable weather conditions during the growing season the best yields were obtained for soybean sown on the second date, while in the year with unfavourable weather conditions, the sowing date had no significant effect on the yields. Seeds of the soybean cultivars grown under conditions of limited rainfall contained about 9% more protein than those grown under more favourable agroecological conditions. The delay of sowing date by about 20 days positively influenced the accumulation of protein in seeds.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Prehospital Management of Patients with Suspected Acute Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) can be successfully handled if it is noticed early in the prehospital setting and immediately diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). The coronavirus pandemic has altered the way health care is delivered and has had a profound impact on healthcare delivery. The effects could include prioritizing the prevention of COVID-19 spread, which could result in the discontinuation or deferral of non-COVID-19 care. We used the National Emergency Medical Service Command Support System, a register of medical interventions performed by emergency medical services (EMS) in Poland, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic across the Masovian Voivodeship on suspected stroke patients’ baseline characteristics, prehospital vital parameters, clinical and neurological status, emergency procedures performed on the prehospital phase and EMS processing times. Between 1 April 2019 and 30 April 2021, the study population included 18,922 adult suspected stroke patients who were treated by EMS teams, with 18,641 admitted to the emergency departments. The overall number of suspected stroke patients treated by EMS remained unchanged during COVID-19 compared to the pre-COVID-19 period; however, the average time from call to hospital admission increased by 15 min.

Wojciech Brzeziński (ed.), Kopalnie krzemienia na stanowisku „Za garncarzami” w Ożarowie [Flint mines at the “Za garncarzami” site in Ożarów], Warsaw 2020, Państwowe Muzeum Archeologiczne w Warszawie, Wydawnictwo Naukowe – Uniwersytet Kardynała Stefana Wyszyńskiego, pp. 280 + CD; 108 illustrations; 28 tables; 60 plates

In 2020, the Publishing House of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw and the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw released a monograph dedicated to a mine site named “Za garncarzami” in Ożarów (Opatów distr., Świętokrzyskie voivodeship). This publication was an outcome of the project aimed at summarising the results of studies carried out in the mining field in Ożarów in the years 1979–1991. It was also an attempt to interpret these results employing modern metholology and available techniques. This publication has filled up the gap in our knowledge of this site, since before its release the results of such research had been announced only as short articles (e.g., Budziszewski 1986; 1997; Budziszewski and Grużdź 2014). As a result, a modern monograph of the site was created, presenting the outcomes of studies in a comprehensive and multi-aspect manner. The research project and releasing of the publication in question were co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, and the Local Government of the Masovian Voivodeship.