Polish System Research Articles

Green Hospitals: A a remedy for the Climate Change Burden on the Polish Healthcare System

The global healthcare sector faces challenges, including an aging population and climate change concerns, contributing 4.4% to global greenhouse gas emissions. The Polish healthcare system, surpassing global averages in environmental impact, grapples with demographic challenges and disproportionate carbon emissions. This study explores the potential of green hospitals, integrating sustainable practices, to reduce the sector's environmental footprint. Recommendations for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders focus on energy, water management, and waste/recycling practices. The brief emphasizes water conservation in healthcare, citing successful case studies like the French Nephrocare network. Energy-efficient solutions, exemplified by the Philips BlueSeal MRI coupled with SmartSpeed acceleration engine, offer cost savings despite upfront expenses, aligning with Green Public Procurement (GPP) practices. Sustainable waste management practices – crucial for healthcare units – require training programs and recycling initiatives in green hospitals to minimize environmental impact. Despite challenges, green hospitals offer a promising avenue for the future of healthcare, contributing to improved patient outcomes, reduced costs, and a sustainable healthcare infrastructure. The brief emphasizes the need for immediate action, encouraging stakeholders to advocate for green hospital policies to minimize climate change's impact on public health.

Ocena funkcjonalna w doświadczeniach nauczycieli w projekcie Specjalistycznych Centrów Wspierających Edukację Włączającą. Doniesienie z badań

Introduction: In June 2023, the pilot program for implementing the first Specialist Inclusive Education Support Centers into the Polish educational practice concluded. The authors conducted evaluative research within the Specialist Inclusive Education Support Centers (SIESCs) in Łódź, Poland. Research Aim: The purpose of the research aim was to evaluate the support provided to teachers in mainstream educational institutions, and the purpose of the article was to show the experience of conducting functional assessment in recognizing the diverse needs of students. Method: The research method employed was focused group interviews with teachers and school principals, along with content analysis of the opinions expressed by participants in the self-study network. Results: The research results are their selected statements, evaluating against different areas of support, the experience of using school functional assessment. Conclusions: The conclusions of the research confirm teachers’ concerns about functional assessment, perceived as a new form of educational diagnosis, but also highlight significant needs in this area arising from the inclusive approach in the Polish education system. The staff of special schools serving as SIESCs, can be instrumental in implementing the functional assessment process for inclusion purposes.

Surface roughness and optical characteristics evaluations after chairside adjustment of different zirconia types.

Limited evidence is available for the effect of chairside adjustment using rotary cutting instruments on the surface roughness and optical properties of different zirconia types. To evaluate the effect of simulated adjustments on surface roughness and optical properties of different zirconia types. Three Partially Stabilized Zirconia (PSZ) types based on mole percent yttria (Y) concentration from the same manufacturer (Katana; Kuraray) were used: 3Y-PSZ, 4Y-PSZ, and 5Y-PSZ. Thirty disk-shaped specimens (Ø14 × 1.2 mm) from different zirconia types (N = 90) were prepared. Specimens were either left without adjustment (NA), adjusted with Dialite ZR finishing and polishing system (Brasseler) (APol), or adjusted with course diamond instruments only (ADia). The specimens were distributed into 9 groups (n = 10): Group 3Y-PSZ/NA, Group 3Y-PSZ/APol, Group 3Y-PSZ/ADia, Group 4Y-PSZ/NA, Group 4Y-PSZ/APol, Group 4Y-PSZ/ADia, Group 5Y-PSZ/NA, Group 5Y-PSZ/APol, and Group 5Y-PSZ/ADia. The surface roughness of specimen was analyzed using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) (Bruker's Dimension Icon, Bruker) and Root Means Square (RMS) were recorded (nm). Surface Gloss (SG), Translucency Parameter (TP), and Contrast Ratio (CR) values of all groups were recorded using an integrating sphere spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's multiple comparison tests for pairwise comparisons at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. APol had no effect on the surface roughness (p = 0.88) while ADia had a significant negative effect (p < 0.05) despite the type of zirconia. Out of the three testes optical properties, only SG was negatively affected by ADia for all types of zirconia (p < 0.05). The two adjustment types did not affect the TP of all the tested zirconia (p = 0.91). The CR was not affected by the tested adjustments for all zirconia types (p = 0.726). Proper zirconia adjustment following a sequence of burs and polishers can maintain acceptable roughness and optical properties. Adjustment of zirconia with rough diamond can lead to deleterious effects and should be avoided. Chairside adjustment of zirconia could lead to rougher surface and unpredictable changes of surface gloss. Therefore, zirconia adjustment should be minimized to the greatest extent possible and a proper protocol should be followed if had to be done.

Experimental Analysis of Polishing of Hybrid Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with SiC, ZrO2, and NiTi Particles Using a Developed Rotary Abrasive Float Polishing System

Experimental Analysis of Polishing of Hybrid Aluminium Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with SiC, ZrO2, and NiTi Particles Using a Developed Rotary Abrasive Float Polishing System

Are Polish doctors ready to start working right after graduation? The 2023 modification to physicians’ postgraduate internship and possible paths forward

The Polish healthcare system faces many problems, among which the shortage of healthcare professionals is one of the most urgent. In less than ten years, more than twenty Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been allowed to add medical programmes to their offer, aiming to increase the number of doctors in Poland. Recently, the healthcare system was faced with a proposal to abolish the mandatory postgraduate internship which has been a mandatory component of medical training for years.Two main reforms were considered. The first one focused on the programme of the internship and aimed to update it. The second one recommended an abolition of the internship. The authors of this article analysed the opinions and positions of key players within the system regarding the postgraduate internship.Opinions in this regard are diverse, leading to the conclusion that additional actions would be required prior to the internship abolition. Undergraduate training has changed and currently students are taught in modern facilities, using new teaching methods. On the other hand, internship allows trainees to improve or even acquire skills they may not have obtained during their studies. The postgraduate internship is an essential part of doctors’ training. However, in Poland, there is still a lack of a well-thought, long-term policy or strategy for physicians' workforce development. Our study presents a Polish perspective on common challenges in medical training and workforce policy, highlighting the clash over the growing demand for physicians and the limitations of the existing system.

Electropolishing with Low Mass Loss for Additive Manufacturing of Ti6Al4V in Zinc Chloride-Urea Deep-Eutectic Solvent

A novel electropolishing approach for Ti6Al4V was developed involving a zinc chloride (ZnCl2)-urea deep-eutectic polishing system, with current density of 0.6 A cm−2, temperature of 90 °C, stirring speed of 260 rpm, and polishing time of 10 min. The system achieved a polished surface with 73% reduction in surface roughness. Compared with other electropolishing processes, the system decreased material mass loss rate following electropolishing of titanium alloys, making it suitable for surface polishing of additively or conventionally melt-cast fabricated titanium alloys. Using the deep-eutectic solvent for electropolishing of Ti6Al4V not only improves surface hydrophobicity, but also enhances electrochemical corrosion resistance. Furthermore, compared with electropolishing behaviour in green nonaqueous solvents, a similar electropolishing mechanism occurred in deep-eutectic solvents, but the electropolishing efficiency in the ZnCl2-urea deep-eutectic system was higher, and its surface mass loss become lower than that of the sodium chloride-glycol electropolishing systems. The developed system provided a new approach for surface finishing of titanium alloys and has great potential for engineering applications.

Research on force-controlled polishing system for robotic arm based on compliance control

This thesis enhances robotic arm control in intricate polishing environments by using impedance control for consistent force regulation between the arm and workpiece. An adaptive impedance control algorithm accommodates contact force variations, boosting system robustness. The PSO-BP variable impedance controller integrates particle swarm optimization and BP neural network for real-time optimization, overcoming limitations of fixed-parameter impedance control on surfaces with curvature changes. Experimental results show a significant reduction in polishing force fluctuations and improved force tracking. These findings support efficient robotic arm utilization in polishing tasks.

Przerywanie ciąży (aborcja) w świetle orzecznictwa polskiego Trybunału Konstytucyjnego

The purpose of this study is primarily to analyse the jurisprudence of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal regarding the compliance with constitutional norms of the conditions for the admissibility of termination of pregnancy (abortion). The Constitution of the Republic of Poland provides every person with legal protection of life. Although its provisions do not explicitly specify that it is about the legal protection of life from conception to natural death, this type of interpretation seems to be adopted by the Constitutional Tribunal, which results in subsequent judgments on the assessment of compliance with this constitutional model of the conditions for the admissibility of abortion in Poland. In its jurisprudence, the Constitutional Tribunal first drew attention to the constitutional guarantees for the protection of human life at every stage of its development, and thus questioned the admissibility of termination of pregnancy due to difficult living conditions or the difficult personal situation of a pregnant woman, as well as in the case when prenatal examinations or other medical conditions indicate a high probability of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus or an incurable disease threatening its life. In this context, however, it is worth noting that abortion is permissible when a high probability of severe and irreversible impairment of the fetus or an incurable disease threatening its life simultaneously poses a substantial risk to the life and health of the mother. The analysis of the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Tribunal therefore allows to formulate a conclusion on the conservative and restrictive approach of this body regarding the conditions for the admissibility of abortion in Poland and the recognition of the legal protection of life as a cardinal constitutional value of the Polish legal system.

Ewolucja polskiego ustawodawstwa w zakresie ciężarów publicznych w przypadku stanu wojennego

The article analyses legal regulations relating to the constitutional duty to bear public burdens. The author examines the development and formation in the Polish legal system of legal norms relating to one of these burdens, namely personal services and in-kind contributions. The discussion concerns only the duty to bear these burdens in the event of occurrence of premises for introducing one of the three, apart from a state of emergency and a state of natural disaster, extraordinary measures mentioned in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland – martial law.

Planning local centres in outer suburbs – The need for a proactive approach towards planning in post-socialist Poland

Chaotic post-socialist suburbs need retrofitting through planning a system of local centres. The paper is aimed at recognizing the orientation of recent suburban planning in Poland through a focus on centres and identifying conditions for and examples of a proactive approach to planning local centres. The hierarchy of centres and the set of functions assigned to them is important since it could prevent the dispersion of public facilities and strengthen the potential of higher-order centres. Documents subjected to analysis encompassed spatial policies of 27 suburban municipalities included in the Functional Area of Warsaw. The Polish spatial planning system neglects centres as a category of functional, economic, and social space, leaving municipalities complete freedom in planning them. The study proved that a system of local centres should become an urban planning standard since it helps municipalities locate public functions more reasonably. A vision of local centre development is rarely based on rational premises. The Polish case shows that in outer suburbs, a proactive approach to LC planning that involves designing a desired future and then inventing ways to create that future state is still a long way off.

The Influence of Thickness on Light Transmission for Pre- and Fully Crystallized Chairside CAD/CAM Lithium Disilicate Ceramics.

This in vitro study aimed to compare the light-transmission properties of two chairside CAD/CAM lithium disilicate (LD) ceramics (a novel fully crystallized and a traditional pre-crystallized) across varying thicknesses. One hundred flat specimens were obtained from precrystallized (e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein) and fully crystallized (LiSi GC Block; GC, Tokyo, Japan) LD at five different thicknesses (0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.50 and 2.0 mm). All specimens were polished with a polishing system for lithium disilicate restorations following recommendations from the manufacturer. Light transmission was evaluated with a radiometer. The statistical analysis between e.max CAD and LiSi GC Block was performed using a Mann-Whitney test for each thickness at a significance level of 0.05 (p < 0.05), followed by a Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the light transmission between the thicknesses of e.max CAD and LiSi GC Block. Light transmittance was significantly affected by ceramic thickness. The 0.5 mm thick specimens exhibited the highest transmittance values compared to all other groups, while a light transmittance of 0.00 was observed in the 2.0 mm thick specimens for both e.max CAD and LiSi GC Block. In the comparison between e.max CAD and LiSi GC Block according to thickness, there was a statistically significant difference exclusively between groups with a thickness of 1.50 mm (p = 0.002). Light transmission for pre- and fully crystallized CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramics only showed a statistical difference at the thickness of 1.50 mm (p = 0.002). E.max CAD demonstrated acceptable light transmission up to a thickness of 1.5 mm. A thickness of 2 mm for chairside CAD/CAM lithium disilicate ceramics, whether pre-crystallized or fully crystallized, necessitates the use of dual-cure resin luting cement due to reduced light transmission.

Medication use review as a service for pharmaceutical care: Conditions for implementation in pharmacy practice

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Pharmaceutical care is an aggregated pharmaceutical service based on an innovative approach towards the patient’s pharmacotherapy process. It was introduced into the Polish pharmaceutical law system in 2008, but it was not until the end of 2020 that the list of activities included in this innovative health service was clarified. The delayed initiation of pharmaceutical care means that implementation procedures are lacking, making it difficult to fully implement it into pharmacy practice. The initiating service for pharmaceutical care in pharmacy practice is the medication use review (MUR), which, combined with the pharmacotherapy assessment, has the task of detecting and solving patients’ drug-related problems and thus ensuring safety in the pharmacotherapy process. Such important objectives for medication use review face organisational barriers that make its effective implementation difficult and practically impossible, limiting the scope of pharmaceutical care to the consultative aspect in practice. The aim of the article is to present the implementation conditions of medication use reviews in Polish pharmacy practice, which helped to identify the conditions for effective implementation of pharmaceutical care. Achieving the research objectives requires the use of a variety of research methods. To identify the conditions for effective implementation of medication use reviews, the method of analysis of legal acts was used. Apart from that, the analysis of literature and the method of examination of documents were also implemented, which made it possible to determine whether the Polish pharmaceutical law system creates conditions for effective provision of this service in pharmacy practice. The method of observation (the mystery shopper) was also used to indicate the territorial (subjective scope) scope of the provision of medication use review and to identify barriers to their implementation in Polish organisational and legal realities. All the methods applied made it possible to determine to what extent pharmacist shortages in the pharmacy limit the implementation process. The results of the study were subjected to statistical analysis.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Deinstitutionalisation of foster care in Poland. Experiences of selected foster care organisers in the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship

Placing a child in foster care is a last resort and should take place after all possible forms of support and assistance have been exhausted. However, if a child is placed under the care and upbringing of foster care, it is necessary to create conditions as close as possible to those of a family. Since 2000, the Polish foster care system has been subject to the process of deinstitutionalisation. The organisers of foster care were obliged to take actions aimed at reducing the importance of the foster care system in the full childcare system, a smooth transition to a system where full community-level childcare is provided. The aim of the article is to present the foster care system and directions of changes in foster care in quantitative terms and to evaluate the organisation of foster care in the context of the process of its deinstitutionalisation. The conclusions were based on statistical data analysis on the foster care system, which constituted the background for discussions by organisers of foster care in selected poviats of the Zachodniopomorskie Voivodeship. The system of foster care in Poland is based on family foster care. Reducing the number of institutional foster care facilities is possible, but in the current system, it is only likely to partially eliminate them. The most significant identified challenge of the foster care system is the dropping number of foster families. Additionally, the deinstitutionalisation of foster care requires, above all, measures to increase the effectiveness of the support system and upbringing of the child and natural family in the local environment.

Impact of Sample Preparation Approach on Transmission Electron Microscopy Investigation of Sputtered AlNi Multilayers Used for Reactive Soldering

This work presents studies of sputtered Al/Ni reactive multilayers by transmission electron microscopy. They are prepared for these analyses by three methods (both Ga‐ and Xe‐based focused ion beam, FIB, and tripod polishing plus Ar+ ion milling in precision ion polishing system, PIPS) to check their impact on these materials. Every sample shows polycrystalline and mostly chemically pure Al/Ni layers. They also hint existence of intermetallic compounds, especially the tripod‐prepared sample. These intermetallics first originate from the sputtering process. The layers are increasingly rough along the growth direction. Other remarkable findings can be highlighted. First, the heating operations applied during the tripod polishing preparation lead to recrystallization and blurred Al/Ni interfaces due to increased metals reactions, although additional contributions by roughness and preparation thickness to the current compositional uncertainties must be distinguished by optimizing future sample fabrications and preparations. Second, Xe‐based FIB leads to lamellae with seemingly low contamination, although Ga‐FIB is a potentially good alternative. Finally, FIB is better to study cross‐section preparations of pristine Al/Ni multilayers, whereas the present tripod polishing procedures are unsuitable for this purpose but allow to observe the beginning of Al/Ni transformations upon heating, which is interesting for the technological optimization of these materials.

Investigation of Force-Controlled Polishing of Complex Curved PMMA Parts on a Machining Center

During the polishing process of complex curved PMMA parts, the polishing force is an important factor affecting the surface quality and optical performance. In this paper, a force-controlled polishing device integrated into a machining center to maintain the polishing force is investigated. In order to achieve the real-time active control of the polishing force, the linear voice coil motor and force sensors are used for motion and measurement. A compact structure was designed to couple the linear motion of the voice coil motor with the rotation for polishing. The force-controlled polishing system with a high real-time hardware architecture was developed to perform complex curved polishing path movement with precise force control. Next, the polishing force between the device and the workpiece was analyzed to obtain the mathematical model of the device. Considering the impact during the approaching phase of polishing, a fuzzy PI controller was proposed to reduce the overshoot and response time. To implement the control method, the controller model was established on Simulink and the control system was developed based on TwinCAT 3 software with real-time computing capability. Finally, a polishing experiment involving a complex curved PMMA part was conducted by a force-controlled polishing device integrated into a five-axis machining center. The results show that the device can effectively maintain the polishing force to improve surface quality and optical performance.

Teaching foreign languages in Poland – the ongoing search for efficient ways

Teaching foreign languages in Poland – the ongoing search for efficient ways

Microscopic Comparison of the effect of Three Polishing Systems on a Nanofiller Composite Resin

In restorative dentistry, selection of materials is decisive to obtain optimal aesthetic results, in the case of dental resins, the size characteristics and particle distribution of the different polishing systems, constitute a factor considerably influences the results. Objective: The purpose of the present research work was to compare three systems employed to polishing composite resin, documenting the results at the microscopic level, to identifying which of them showed better results concerning the roughness. Material and methods: Three polishing systems were evaluated: Soflex from 3M®, Optra Pol and Astrobrush from Ivoclar® Vivadent and Jiffy Hishine from Ultradent, employing the LSM 700 Confocal Microscopy System, also roughness was observed and registered on the surface of a nanofiller resin Tetric Evoceram Ivoclar® Vivadent inserted in stainless steel molds. Results: The roughness mean observed were as follows: 13.95μm for Soflex of 3M®, 13.45μm for Optra Pol of Ivoclar® and 8.05μm for Jiffy Hishine Ultradent. All data recorded in Microsoft Excel 2010 IBM STATISTICS, determinated statistical differences between the groups of Ultradent®. Conclusion: The lowest roughness corresponded to Ultradent with values of 8.01μm.

Center-injected Polishing for Efficient Slurry Utilization

Polishing is one of the most crucial finishing processes and usually consumes a sufficient slurry to achieve an ultra-fine surface. However, excess slurry consumption is environmentally costly, as it generates a large amount of wastewater. Given the growing environmental concerns, it is essential to improve the process efficiency and minimize the environmental burdens. Considering this, a novel polishing system, herein referred to as center-injected polishing, is proposed by injecting slurry into the center of the polishing pad. Here, it is aimed to utilize the centrifugal force of the rotating pad, with the aim of efficient slurry utilization. The slurry is directly introduced between the pad and the workpiece, then dispersed across the pad by centrifugal force. A simple experiment was conducted with computational analysis using the specially designed polishing tool to prove the concept; slurry was distributed more uniformly in center-injected polishing when compared to the conventional process. The polishing system was then constructed to evaluate polishing performances. Based on sets of experiments in the polishing of silicon carbide (SiC), slurry efficiencies and productivity were analyzed with respect to different rotational speeds and slurry supply rates. The material removal rate (MRR) was more than twice the rate achieved by conventional polishing at the same processing conditions; whereas the slurry consumption was approximately 60% less at the same MRR. The extended Preston equation was used to predict the MRR of the new process. It is expected that efficient slurry utilization will reduce the environmental footprint of abrasive processes.

Zakaz dyskryminacji w systemach prawnych: polskim i czeskim – w aspekcie relacji pracowniczych

The subject of this study is a comparative legal analysis of the issue of the prohibition of discrimination in the Polish and Czech legal systems. The topic is still valid due to the phenomenon of discrimination among employees in the workplace. The phenomenon of discrimination is multidimensional, and its complexity causes many problems for entities interpreting the provisions in this field. Aspects related to discrimination are not and will not be an easy topic, especially since they concern delicate and sensitive aspects also related to human dignity, including the right to privacy. In employee employment, first of all, employees should be treated equally in terms of the manner of establishing and terminating an employment relationship, employment conditions, professional qualifications, and in particular aspects related to political beliefs, trade union membership or religion. In the first part, issues of a general nature will be presented, primarily those relating to international and European regulations regarding the principle of equality and the prohibition of discrimination. In the further part of the article, the topic of anti-discrimination provisions under Polish and Czech law will be raised and legal solutions in this matter will be presented.

Effect of Reduced-Step Polishing Systems on Color Stability of Nanocomposites Submitted to Thermocycling Staining with Common Beverages - An In Vitro Study.

Long-term color stability of composite resins is one of the most important factors influencing the clinical longevity of aesthetic restorations. This study evaluated the effect of novel reduced steps and gold standard multiple steps polishing systems of two composite resins; a nano-filled (Filtek Z350XT) versus a supra-nanofill (Palfique LX5) on their color stability after submitting to thermocycling with common beverages. Sixty disc-shaped specimens were fabricated from both composite resins ( n = 30). From each material, ten specimens acted as the control group (Mylar strip), ten specimens were polished with Sof-Lex Diamond spirals, and ten were polished with Super-Snap X-Treme discs. All the specimens were thermocycled with staining solutions. Color was measured by a spectrophotometer before and after thermocycling and color difference (ΔE*) was calculated. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post-hoc test and independent t -test ( α = 0.05) were used. A significantly highest color change was recorded for both control subgroups ( P < 0.05), and the Sof-Lex Diamond spiral showed significantly the lowest color change ( P < 0.05). Both the control and Sof-Lex Diamond spiral subgroups of Palfique LX5 produced significantly lower color change compared with subgroups of Filtek Z350 ( P < 0.05). Sof-Lex Diamond spiral polishing system provided the least color difference for both composites, while there was no significant difference between the materials when the Super-Snap X-Treme polishing system was used.