Silesia Province Research Articles

SYSTEMIC PROPHYLAXIS OF YOUNG PEOPLE RISKY BEHAVIORS. REPORT ON THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PROPHYLACTIC PROGRAM WE SAY NO TO ADDICTIONS

The presented material is a fragment of a detailed research analysis regarding the effectiveness of prophylactic interventions in the area of risk related to the risk of behavioral addictions of young people. The obtained results are the result of the research process carried out in the sequential system of research in action. They concern three areas of the program’s effectiveness in the area of 1. modeling students’ awareness of risk factors and protective resources; 2. modeling the subject’s sensitivity to risk factors occurring in the environment; 3. adaptation of behaviors and protective resources in the school environment. The research was carried out as part of the prophylactic program We say no to addictions, implemented in the gymnasium and high-school environment of the Silesian Province

Fast Spread of Dittrichia graveolens (Asteraceae) in South-Western Poland

AbstractIn 2013 and 2018, the occurrence of alien Dittrichia graveolens was confirmed within 126 road sections (1-kilometre) of the A4 highway in the Lower Silesian Province and Silesian Province, south-western Poland. During five years the increase in abundance has been recorded within 50 sections (52.1%), a decrease within 11 sections (11.5%), whereas within 35 sections (36.5%) it remained unchanged. New data suggest that D. graveolens is fully established in the Polish flora, and it should be classified as a potentially invasive species.

Characteristics of Water Consumption in Cho-Cianów, Parchów and Pogorzeliska, Lower Silesia Province

Water consumption is an amount characteristic to individual water sup-ply systems. It is described by values of the unitary consumption of water and unevenness coefficients. An analysis of consumption for the years 2009-2016 in two systems which are diverse in terms of the number of supplied recipients as well as the intended water use is presented. The values of unitary consumption indices as well as hourly and daily irregularity of consumption were calculated, and factors influencing the irregularity of consumption in different time frames indicated. Conclusions regarding the amount and irregularity of consumption were drawn and compared with guidelines and other analysed systems.

Local government policy in the Silesian province with regards to a low-carbon economy

In recent years, issues related to smog in various regions of Poland, including Upper Silesia, have become among of the primary aspects taken into consideration in the development of environmental policy. The search for ways to develop a low-carbon economy has influenced the creation of such strategies not only at a regional level, but also at city and municipal levels. In the article, the author reviews the actions of local government authorities and proposed solutions in low-carbon economy plans using the Silesian Voivodeship and a selected city and local government area.

Polityka regionalna jako podstawa rozwoju przemysłu motoryzacyjnego w województwie śląskim

Przemysł motoryzacyjny w województwie śląskim zyskuje na znaczeniu. Wpływ na to ma wiele czynników, spośród których działania polityczne władz samorządowych województwa śląskiego wraz z administracją rządową należą do jednych ważniejszych. Elementem działań politycznych był m.in. „Kontrakt regionalny dla województwa katowickiego” oraz Strategia Rozwoju Województwa Śląskiego. W wyniku tej aktywności powstała Katowicka Specjalna Strefa Ekonomiczna, co wyraźnie rzutowało i nadal rzutuje zarówno na powstawanie nowych, jak i rozbudowę już istniejących zakładów związanych z branżą motoryzacyjną. Są to m.in. Fiat Auto Poland, Opel, Isuzu, Magneti Marelli. Rozwój tej gałęzi przemysłu staje się dużą szansą na skok technologiczny oraz restrukturyzację gospodarki dla województwa śląskiego i dla Polski.

Bus and train connections between towns in Lower Silesia under different operational models:Competition or complementarity?

Abstract Relationships between the activities of bus carriers and rail passenger traffic (and the railway offer) are examined in this article. The study was carried out in peripheral areas located at the Polish and Czech borderlands in Lower Silesia province. High quality rail transport generally increases the demand for transport services. Therefore, the proper development of transport offer plays a key role in the functioning of public transport systems, the backbone of which is rail transport. The study also shows that under conditions of transport market deregulation, bus carriers have developed a competitive network which is not complementary to rail transport. As a consequence, the deregulation of the transport market has increased the risk of transport exclusion.

Transmission of tuberculosis among people living in the border areas of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

In 2007, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia joined the Schengen Agreement, abolishing restrictions on people crossing the borders. Currently, these areas are places of population movements for economic, family, and touristic reasons. This favors the transmission of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, and requires enhanced control over the spread of the source of infection in the population of patients living in the border areas. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relatedness among Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains isolated from patients living in 3 border areas: Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group consisted of 209 patients with tuberculosis diagnosed and treated between 2007 and 2011 in health care facilities in the Silesia Province in Poland (121 patients [58%]), Žilina in Slovakia (57 [27%]), and the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic (31 [15%]). Genotyping of strains was performed using spoligotyping and IS6110-Mtb1-Mtb2 polymerase chain reaction. Among 209 strains, 23 molecular families (clusters) were identified. Seventeen clusters were identified as national. Six international clusters consisted of 30 strains isolated from patients of various nationalities. We identified 6 potential outbreaks of tuberculosis transmission between patients of different nationalities. The circumstances favorable to potential contacts of patients included mainly travelling to the neighboring countries, hospital stays, and addictions. However, there was no evidence of an epidemiological link between these patients, so it may be assumed that if they had come in contact with one another, it was accidental. We observed that the greater incidence of tuberculosis on the Polish territory did not affect the incidence in the Czech Republic or Slovakia over the analysis period.

PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in locally produced foods as health risk factors in Silesia Province, Poland

Dioxins (PCDDs), furans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) emitted into the environment can accumulate in foods and become a significant source of dietary exposure for consumers of these compounds. This study aims to assess the dietary exposure of the residents in a rural area of the Silesia region in southern Poland to PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs. The goal is to estimate cancer and non-cancer health risks due to the consumption of foods of animal origin. The area has relatively higher concentration of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in the air in comparison to large industrialized cities of the Silesia province. Three popular foods of animal origin, namely free-range chicken meat, free-range chicken eggs, and cow milk produced in the farms were used. The control samples were the same foods from the local grocery stores. Two exposure scenarios were considered: Firstly that residents consumed free-range foods and secondly that the food items were purchased from stores in the study area. In the first scenario, exposure to concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs, and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) yielded evidence of elevated cancer and non-cancer risks. The hazard quotient (HQ) was 71.3 for non-cancer risk and 7.5 × 10−3 for cancer risk. The health risk from exposure to PCDDs, PCDFs and dl-PCBs in the second scenario was 6.9 × 10−4 and HQ = 0.8, respectively. Implementation of educational activities in the study area is needed to increase the resident's awareness of the risks associated with the emissions of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants to the environment, including aspects such as the main sources of the emission and how to avoid exposure to these compounds.

Assessment of Seismic Hazard in Relation to Rock-Burst Prevention Modifications in KGHM Polish Copper JSC Polkowice - Sieroszowice Mine, Poland

The Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine is one of three underground copper ore mines in Poland. These three mines belong to KGHM Polish Copper JSC, excavating one of the largest copper ore deposits in the world. The deposit is situated in the south-western part of Poland in the Lower Silesia province. Due to the specific and difficult geological-and-mining conditions in the three mines, seismic events occur which often result in an excavation serious damage defined as the rock-burst or elastic recovery. Such dynamic phenomena have been occurring since 1972 and have posed the most dangerous natural threats in underground workings. Therefore, the mining technology has to take the account of seismic hazard prevention. Numerous preventive measures adjusted to the conditions prevailing in the given operating field have to be applied so that the hazards can be mitigated, fought or limited. The appropriate choice of prevention activities must be preceded by measurements and observations, which constitute different methods for identifying, predicting and assessing the condition of the rock mass as well as for evaluating the protection effectiveness. In the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine the rock-burst prevention involves: assessment of rock mass state and active, technological, and organizational-technical methods for combating the hazard. The active prevention consists in blasting works which provoke the rock mass to distress itself and thus to reduce its capability to accumulate elastic energy. The technological prevention embraces yielding the edges of the walls and pillars in the place of development, the extraction of the deposit with a wide opening of the front and the adjustment of the size of the technological pillar to the local geological and mining conditions. The organizational-technical measures introduce after-blasting waiting time and high hazard zones where the number of employees should be reduced. The influence of changes and improvements in the prevention activities on the seismic hazard was analysed and determined. The effectiveness of prevention methods was assessed in connection with their modifications, which concerned certain elements of active methods, the pillar size changes and alterations in the frequency of rock mass observations. Most of these modifications resulted from the operational progress and had a little impact on the seismic activity. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of such alterations was calculated. The research was carried out for one mining division in the Polkowice-Sieroszowice mine over the period of 2013-2015 years. The increase in the effectiveness of seismic/rock-burst prevention in most cases resulted in reduction of seismic activity.

Use of the DEA method to verify the performance model for hospitals

This paper employs the method of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to compare the relative efficiency of Polish hospitals in meso perspective. It means that the indicators selected to measure the performance of hospitals were aggregated at the regional level (a level of 16 Polish provinces). As the hospitals are a critical part of the healthcare system, they are increasingly the subject of analyses aimed at defining, measuring, and improving their performance. Therefore, in the methodology part, we present the DEA as the method for efficiency measurement together with its advantages and limitations. The study attempts to find out which provinces can be used as models and illustrated the areas where inefficient units need to be improved. The hospital input measures included are the Average time of hospitalisation (in days), Average costs of day hospital treatment. The output measures included are the Average number of patients per bed per year, the Share of accredited hospitals as a proportion of the number of all hospitals, net profit per physician. The DEA models are solved using the computer program Frontier Analyst, Version 4. We found that five provinces were efficient and eleven were not, where the efficiency score varied from 76.2% to 100%. Provinces such as Lower Silesia Province, Lublin Province, Lubuskie Province, Świetokrzyskie Province, and Warmia-Masuria Province were the best performers in that they maximised both quantitative and qualitative outcomes. The identification of the strongest and the weakest within provinces could be beneficial in improving the efficiency and performance of the hospitals. The result identifies the inefficient provinces that can improve their efficiency by making the efficient provinces as their role model. This paper is the first published study that benchmarks the performance of healthcare services in Poland.

Fatty Acid Profile in Fat Obtained from Edible Part of Land Snails Harvested in Poland.

IntroductionThe objective was to determine the content of fatty acids in edible snail fat by snail species, collection site, and processing stage.Material and MethodsThe research material comprised 180 edible fat samples from the three genera of edible snails collected in Poland: free-living Helix pomatia (HP) and two cultivated Cornu subspecies: C. aspersa maxima (CAM) and C. aspersum aspersum (CAA). All snails came from the Greater Poland and Lower Silesian Provinces: HP from their natural habitat and CAM and CAA from heliciculture farms. The studies focused on the raw meat, cooked meat, and frozen meat processing stages. Fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined by the gas chromatography method.ResultsHelix pomatia fat showed a higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, whereas the fat of Cornu genus snails had a higher unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) component, i.e. monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Thermal processing of snail meat increased all the determined SFA and decreased all the PUFA values, and increased the content of C18:1, C20:1, and C22:1 acids in the MUFA group. The material collection site had limited impact on FA content as differences were noted only in levels of C18:1, C18:2 n6, and C20:5. The differences pertained only to the fat of farmed snails of the Cornu genus.ConclusionDue to the high content of UFA and a favourable ratio of n6:n3 acids and PUFA:SFA, snail fat can be regarded as nutritionally valuable.

The influence of local emissions and regional air pollution transport on a European air pollution hot spot.

The EU air quality standards have been frequently exceeded in one of the European air pollution hot spots: Ostrava. The aim of this study was to perform an air quality comparison between an urban site (Radvanice), which has a nearby metallurgical complex, and a suburban site (Plesná) to estimate air pollution sources and determine their local and/or regional origins. Twenty-four hour PM1 and PM10 (particular matter) concentrations, detailed mass size distributions (MSDs) to distinguish the sources of the fine and coarse PM, and their chemical compositions were investigated in parallel at both sites during the winter of 2014. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to the PM1 and PM10 chemical compositions to investigate their sources. During the measurement campaign, prevailing northeastern-southwestern (NE-SW) wind directions (WDs) were recorded. Higher average PM10 concentration was measured in Radvanice than in Plesná, whereas PM1 concentrations were similar at both sites. A source apportionment analysis revealed six and five sources for PM10 and PM1, respectively. In Radvanice, the amount of PM and the most chemical species were similar under SW and NE WD conditions. The dominant sources were industrial (43% for PM10 and 27% for PM1), which were caused by a large metallurgical complex located to the SW, and biomass burning (25% for PM10 and 36% for PM1). In Plesná, the concentrations of PM and all species significantly increased under NE WD conditions. Secondary inorganic aerosols were dominant, with the highest contributions deriving from the NE WD. Therefore, regional pollution transport from the industrial sector in Silesian Province (Poland) was evident. Biomass burning contributed 22% and 24% to PM10 and PM1, respectively. The air quality in Ostrava was influenced by local sources and regional pollution transport. The issue of poor air quality in this region is complex. Therefore, international cooperation from both states (the Czech Republic and Poland) is needed to achieve a reduction in air pollution levels.

Dimension and Crushed Stones Extraction as a Source of Social and Environmental Conflicts in Poland

Crushed and dimension stones, which include 33 lithological varieties among igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks and sedimentary rocks, are mainly located in the southern and south-western part of Poland. Demand for this group of minerals is continuously high, which results from conducted and planned infrastructural investments. Mining activity is associated with interference in the natural environment. Negative consequences of exploitation include, among others: Land surface deformations, and the pollution of the soil, air, and water. In many cases, the extraction of minerals also leads to the liquidation of housing and transportation infrastructure located in the mining area, as well as to reducing the value of real estate in the immediate vicinity of the deposit or to increase in the level of stress among local residents, who are exposed to noise, which causes growing social conflicts in areas designated for exploitation. Thus, the awareness of negative effects of undertaking open-cast mining leads to the conflicts between various groups of stakeholders (residents, environmental organizations, mining entrepreneurs). Through the use of multi-criteria evaluation, this article identifies the places of potential social and environmental conflicts resulting from the planned mining activity in three areas of the densest occurrence of the analysed deposits (Lower Silesia Province, Lesser Poland Province and Świętokrzyskie Province). The assessment of lands over the deposits recognized initially and in detail was proposed, determining the degree of their accessibility. Due to the proposed method, it’s possible to obtain results of the classification of each fragment of the analysed deposit, as well as the surroundings of such deposit at any distance from it, within the boundaries of analysed area. Information may be made available to users of the deposits, mining enterprises interested in exploitation of the deposits or administration responsible for issuing decisions regarding concessions for exploitations of the deposits, so that they have knowledge about conflict areas in the region, resulting from the impact of planned mining activity on life and health of the people and on the environment.

Knowledge of neurologists and gynaecologists regarding reproductive and maternity issues in women with epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, with more than 400,000 individuals in Poland (about 1% of the population) affected. Epilepsy complicates approximately 0.5% of pregnancies. Objective: To determine the level of knowledge that neurologists and gynaecologists have about reproductive and maternity issues for women with epilepsy. Material and methods: This study included 141 neurologists and physicians undergoing specialist training in neurology as well as 72 gynaecologists and physicians undergoing specialist training in gynaecology. A validated questionnaire was used to survey these neurologists and gynaecologists, who worked in Silesia Province. Results: In the group of physicians advising on contraception, significantly (p=0.003) more gynaecologists than neurologists recommended hormonal birth control. Significantly more (p=0.031) neurologists than gynaecologists believed that monotherapy with antiepileptic medications should be aimed for before a planned pregnancy in women with epilepsy. More than a half of the surveyed physicians (56.8%) believed that pregnant women with epilepsy can have a natural delivery. Conclusions: On the basis of these results, we have concluded that gynaecologists and, to a lesser extent, neurologists should have more extensive knowledge regarding reproductive and maternity issues for women with epilepsy. We further propose that close collaboration between neurologists and gynaecologists in the care of epileptic women is necessary.

Compliance with physical activity health recommendations in members of non-governmental organizations promoting active lifestyle.

A vital role in health maintenance and the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases is played by an adequate level of physical activity. In recent decades, numerous guidelines have been developed to determine the criteria of physical activity levels that are essential to obtain overall health benefits. The aim of the presented study was evaluation of the physical activity of adult members of non-governmental organizations promoting active lifestyle, in compliance with recommendations of the World Health Organization and the American College of Sport Medicine. The study examined 95 adult members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting an active lifestyle in the Silesian Province of Western Poland. In order to make a comprehensive physical activity evaluation (including all criteria of most complex health-recommendations), both an objective tool (ActiGraph GT3X) and a subjective tool (Daily Physical Activity Log) were used. Compliance with a weekly total time of moderate to vigorous aerobic efforts were observed in 47% of women and 44% of men with regard to WHO guidelines, and in 29% of women and 23% of men, respectively, regarding ACSM guidelines. The criterion for the frequency of strength exercises was met by 24% of women and 15% of men. Flexibility exercises level was adequate in 35% of women and 28% of men. The most frequent cause of non-meeting the criteria of the above- mentioned organisations were insufficient frequency of the weekly resistance (strength) exercises and flexibility exercises. There is a need to create public health programmes based on the complex physical activity recommendations, including all types of physical efforts (aerobic, strength, flexibility), and to emphasise the fact that meeting all of them is essential to obtain overall health benefits.

Quality Improvement in the Production Company

Abstract The article discusses the quality improvement concept in terms of companies’ competitiveness and its operations. The research object is a production company located in Silesia province. We analyzed the quality problems occurring in the company based on the selected quality management tools: Ishikawa diagram and the Pareto-Lorenz. It was presented and discussed basic types of waste occurring in the enterprise. It was proposed improvement actions and highlights the importance of immaterial resources - the company's workers.

Characteristics of air quality and sources affecting high levels of PM10 and PM2.5 in Poland, Upper Silesia urban area

The reports concerning air quality published by WHO and EEA showed that 33 out of 50 cities with highest concentration of particulate matter (PM)2.5 in UE are located in Poland. Various investigations identify main health outcomes to be consistently related to PM10 and PM2.5. Increased concentration of PM is responsible for 47.3 thousands of premature deaths every year in Poland. The objective of this study was the measurement-based assessment for determining whether the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are within admissible limits or exceeded in Silesia Province. The data provided by the Voivodship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Katowice was used in the analysis. The measurements were made in years 2009–2016 for PM2.5 and 2014–2017 for PM10 in three measurement stations: two in Katowice (capital of Silesia Province) and one in Żory. The increase in the number of excessive levels of average daily PM10 concentration in year 2017 were observed in all three measurement stations, both for the acceptable level, information and alarm level, with lack or singular excessive levels in the previous years. The increase in average annual PM2.5 concentrations in year 2016 was also observed, as compared to the previous year in all three measurement stations. The highest pollution is observed in winter. The main cause of exceeded acceptable PM concentrations in Poland is household heating systems, boilers and furnaces burnt with coal or wood, and chimneys. In Silesian Province, the air quality is poor and has deteriorated over the last year.

Correctional and educational intervention programs for domestic violence offenders – Theory and practice

The article focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of correctional and educational intervention programs for people who use domestic violence. It was prepared based on the findings of a study which was conducted by the author in 2015 as part of her master’s dissertation entitled “Domestic violence offenders – Who are they and how can they be helped? A theoretical and empirical study based on correctional and educational intervention programs in Silesia Province,” supervised by Prof. Jacek Wódz, PhD. The article includes: an introduction to the subject, a brief description of research methodology, selected findings and their interpretations, and a summary.

Ecological aspects of unusual findings of animals nesting inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions

We report, for the first time, a case of nesting by Apis mellifera mellifera (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Apidae), Vespula vulgaris (L., 1758) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae), and Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758 (Mammalia: Rodentia: Sciuridae) inside a mummified human corpse in natural conditions (Lower Silesia province, south-western Poland). A case history, autopsy findings, and biological observations are provided. A list of the insect species found in the corpse is provided and compared with available data. Other zoological findings are mentioned and briefly discussed.

Zróżnicowanie pokrycia terenu i cech geometrycznych działek wzdłuż autostrad oraz dróg ekspresowych w Polsce

Celem pracy jest ocena zróżnicowania cech geometrycznych działek bezpośrednio sąsiadujących z autostradami i drogami ekspresowymi w Polsce (z podziałem na województwa) oraz analiza ich pokrycia terenu. Dla jego realizacji wykorzystano dane o działkach pochodzące z systemu LPIS (System Identyfikacji Działek Rolnych) oraz informacje o pokryciu terenu pozyskane z Bazy Danych Obiektów Topograficznych (pozyskane z Centralnego Ośrodka Dokumentacji Geodezyjnej i Kartograficznej). Stwierdzono, że występuje zależność nie tylko pomiędzy istnieniem autostrad oraz dróg ekspresowych a sposobem pokrycia terenu wzdłuż nich, ale również pomiędzy cechami geometrycznymi działek. W przypadku, gdy węzły autostradowe znajdują się w pobliżu dużych miast – przykład województwa śląskiego, mazowieckiego czy nawet łódzkiego, wzrasta intensywność zabudowy w ich pobliżu. Ponadto w obszarach, w których istnieje największa gęstość autostrad oraz dróg ekspresowych, działki są zazwyczaj mniejsze.