Time In Poland Research Articles

Morphological and molecular characterization of Leptomelanconium allescheri associated with necrotic lesions on Pinus mugo needles in the Polish Tatra Mountains

SummaryLeptomelanconium allescheri was identified for the first time in Poland in 2016 in the Tatra Mts. on Pinus mugo needles. It produced numerous conidiomata on necrotic lesions on live needles. In our study, we provide detailed characteristics of disease symptoms and describe morphology of the structures of the fungus. The shape and size of macroconidia are proven to be more variable in vitro than in situ. The malt extract agar colonies of the fungus obtained from germinating macroconidia are described for the first time. Our observations prove also that, apart from macroconidia, L. allescheri produces in vitro unicellular, hyaline microconidia, 3.5–10 × 1.8–5.0 μm in size, the previously unknown aspect in the development cycle of this species. The BLAST search with ITS and LSU sequences of L. allescheri resulted in the closest match with Cenangium acuum accessions (94%–95% and 99%, respectively). Two gene based, LSU plus ITS, phylogenetic positioning of L. allescheri proves that it belongs to Pezizomycotina, Helotiales. Further, on family level, placement of L. allescheri, as well as its two closest species C. acuum and Piceomphale bulgarioides, remains undefined. The L. allescheri barcode sequences (accession numbers: ITS—MF573935, LSU—MF573936, IGS—MF573937) and cultures were submitted to NCBI GenBank and CBS Utrecht, The Netherlands culture collection.

Badgers as a potential source of bovine tuberculosis - first studies in Poland.

Since 2009, Poland has been recognized as a country officially free of bovine tuberculosis (BTB). However, new outbreaks are each year quoted. In many countries it has been shown that badgers (Meles meles) are a vector of Mycobacterium bovis/caprae (M.bovis/caprae) and a source of bovine tuberculosis for many domestical species, mainly for cattle. The aim of the presented study was to determine, for the first time in Poland, the occurrence of tuberculosis in badgers in areas where the disease occurs in cattle. Tissue samples were examined by classical microbiology methods, mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT), and real time PCR. A total of 155 samples from 31 badgers were examined. In any case Mycobacterium bovis/caprae infection has not been diagnosed. This indicates that badgers probably are not a vector of bovine tuberculosis in Poland.

Kalejdoskop: Poezja Krzysztofa Siwczyka jako przykład ewolucji zmiany poetyckiej na przełomie XX I XXI wieku

The article is an attempt to synthesize the evolution of Polish poetry after 1990. This symbolic date, associated with the official end of censorship and the symbolic beginning of the new time in Poland and last decade in the twentieth century, has been chosen as a border date. The author is interested in the process of creation and its mechanisms of describing the world in the work of Krzysztof Siwczyk. This poetry is important because it synthesizes the individual and collective experience and reflects the present.

System Thinking in the Czech and Polish Strategic Documents

The growing complexity of the security environment has recently revived systems theories in many areas. Yet, the notion of security system has been used in strategic documents of the central European countries already for many years. This paper thus examines how the understanding of the security system has developed over time in Poland and the Czech Republic and how do the national concepts of security system relate to the theoretical understanding of systems. Finally, we examine how the idea of security system is translated into practice in the two countries.

Have actual waiting times been reduced by introducing the DILO reform for cancer patients in Poland?

Introduction. Relative 5-year cancer survival rates in Poland are around 10% lower than the average of the whole EU. One of the likely factors for poorer treatment outcomes in Poland may be the long times between when cancer is suspected to starting treatment. This study has thus aimed to determine whether the introduced oncology reforms have succeeded in reducing such times. Materials and methods. The study survey was undertaken at 6 oncological centres on patient subjects before (n = 1373) and after (n = 431) the oncological reform ( DILO ) had been introduced. Data was obtained from an in-house devised questionnaire together with patient interview and their medical history. The following waiting times were estimated: A) from suspicion of cancer, (date of first doctor visit due to appearance of symptoms, screening/follow-up or prevention), to diagnosis (date of histopathological confirmation), B) from suspicion of cancer to the start of treatment and C) from diagnosis to starting treatment before and after the DILO reform had been introduced. Results. The median waiting time between suspicion of cancer and treatment was 11 weeks before the DILO reform but was not significantly shortened after its introduction; the reduction being barely 3 days. This waiting time was however increased by 8 days in those patients without DILO cards. Before the DILO reform, the median time from diagnosis was 5.9 weeks, but was reduced by 8 days in patients bearing the DILO card and indeed increased in those without the DILO card by over 2 weeks. Conclusions. Cancer treatment waiting times in Poland is still somewhat long (over 9 weeks in most cases). Introducing the oncological reform has not significantly impacted on shortening the waiting times in cancer patients for receiving oncological treatment.

Molecular analysis ofPhytophthoraspecies found in Poland

AbstractPathogens ofPhytophthoragenus are common not only in forest nurseries and stands, but also in water courses. Species ofPhytophthoraspread with plants for plantings (and soil attached to them) and with water courses as well, attacking the plants growing in riparian ecosystems. Several specialized organisms damaging only one tree species were identified likeP. alnion alders orP. quercinaon oaks. SomePhytophthoraspecies can develop on several hosts likeP. plurivoraandP. cactorumon oaks, beeches, alders, ashes and horse chestnuts. Other oomycetes likeP. gallicaspecies was found for the first time in Poland in water used for plant watering in forest nursery. SpeciesP. lacustrisandP. gonapodyideswere found in superficial water.PhytophthoraspeciesP. polonicawas identified in the declining alder stands for the first time in the world, andP. taxonhungaricaandP. megaspermawere found in the rhizosphere of seriously damaged ash stands for the first time in Poland. The most often isolated species wereP. plurivora(clade 2) with frequency 37% andP. lacustriswith frequency 33% (clade 6). The best represented clade 6 revealed the occurrence of 6 species:P. gonapodyides, P. lacustris, P. megasperma, P.sp.raspberry,P.taxonhungaricaandP.taxon oak soil.

Conservation status of the Natura 2000 habitat 3110 in Poland: Monitoring, classification and trends

Abstract Soft water lakes, or so-called lobelia lakes, which are inhabited by a specific vegetation composed of isoetids, have been subjected to intense research aimed at evaluating their condition and conservation status for many years in Poland. At the time of Poland’s accession to the European Union and the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, these lakes were classified as natural habitat 3110. In accordance with the provision of the Habitat Directive a comprehensive methodology for monitoring and classification of the state of this habitat has been developed. Using this methodology, two monitoring trials (in 2009–2010 and again in 2016–2017) were carried out at 45 and 43 sites of the 3110 natural habitat, respectively. These studies confirm the high sensitivity of these poorly buffered aquatic ecosystems to all external influences, both natural and anthropogenic. The overall conservation status of the 3110 habitat in Poland showed a relatively high stability, with similar proportions of sites classified as favourable (FV), unfavourable inadequate (U1) and unfavourable bad (U2) between 2009–2010 (35%, 49% and 16%, respectively) and 2016–2017 (33%, 56% and 11%, respectively). Out of 43 sites examined in 2016–2017, 29 remained unchanged compared with the results of the previous survey concerning their overall status. Results of the monitoring research also allow for the observation and evaluation of mechanisms and directions of changes in the functioning of these ecosystems. Based on the experiences from two series of monitoring conducted so far, the methodology has been assessed as appropriate for the assessment of the conservation status of the 3110 natural habitat, however, some modifications and additions have been suggested.

Estimating pollutant emission from motor vehicles in the years 2000–2015

National annual emission from motor vehicles were estimated with the use, for the first time in Poland, of the COPERT software programme developed in support of official reporting under the EU cooperation framework. The quantification of vehicular emission covered the period 2000–2015. The results were analysed for the following cumulated vehicle categories: passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, urban buses, coaches, motorcycles and mopeds. The national annual emission from motor vehicles in Poland was found to be markedly declining. The relative national annual emission of individual pollutants was balanced against the situation in the year 2000. Starting from 2006, a distinct decreasing trend was observed for the relative national annual emission of pollutants from a representative motor vehicle; this was valid for all the substances except for nitrous oxide alone.

Polyarteritis nodosa: decreasing incidence in Poland.

IntroductionThere are many studies on the epidemiology of the orphan disease polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) in European countries. The use of a hospital morbidity database is an important element of epidemiological analysis. The study is the first such analysis in Poland and may provide an opportunity to compare the data in a European context.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective, population-based study using hospital discharge records with a PAN diagnosis. PAN incidence was estimated based on data from a Polish hospital morbidity study carried out by the National Institute of Public Health. Data on all inpatients discharged from non-psychiatric hospitals in Poland were collected between 2008 and 2013. We identified 557 patients with first-time hospitalizations for PAN.ResultsThe sample consisted of 202 (36.3%) males and 355 (63.7%) females. The median and mean age was 53 and 50 years, respectively. The average annual incidence of PAN in Poland was estimated to be 2.4 per million. PAN incidence decreased significantly over time in Poland between 2008 and 2013 (3.3 per million vs 1.9 per million, p < 0.001) and it may be associated with a decrease in hepatitis B incidence observed in Poland.ConclusionsIncidence of PAN in Poland was estimated to be 2.4 per million and was comparable to the incidence found in other European countries. PAN incidence decreased during 2008–2013. The decrease in PAN incidence may be related to environmental, infectious (hepatitis B) or other unknown factors. Future research is needed to identify the cause of the decrease and potential triggers of the disease.

Prestressed Ring Beam in the Church of St. Peter’s and Paul’s in Bodzanow, Design and Realization

The present trend in architecture is designing thin. slender and spacious architectural forms. It has become the reason for searching for new solutions and finding new ways of use of the existing construction ones. Recently, the first time in Poland, the post-tensioning has been used in realization of church building. In the Church of St. Peter’s and Paul’s in Bodzanow (near Cracow) was designed circumferential ring beam post-tensioned with 4 unbounded tendons to transfer peripheral tensile forces from the roof. Thanks to the use of a prestressed ring beam hidden in the wall, large cross-section of roof girders was possible to be avoided, as well as a massive reinforced concrete ring or additional steel tie-rods. The paper presents the applied solutions in details with the theoretical calculated results as well as the results of prestressing measured in site during tensioning of tendons. Based on presented results some conclusions have been drawn.

Security First: The New Right-Wing Government in Poland and its Policy towards Immigrants and Refugees

The so called refugee crisis in 2015 coincided with the Polish parliamentary electoral campaign. The effect of it was – for the first time in Poland – the introduction of migration policy to the political agenda of the right-wing and populist political parties on a massive scale. They presented migration as an issue of security – both national and cultural, direct and symbolic. The new government, acting since the end of 2015, included immigration and asylum issues into their political programme as a key element of national security. Their discourse about refugees is usually based on the differentiation: us and them. And “them” are pictured as evil, dangerous, Muslim terrorists.&#x0D; The new government and its authoritarian style of governing has introduced a number of initiatives designed to deprive individuals of immigrant rights (like in the new so-called Antiterrorist Act from the mid of 2016, based on which every foreign citizen could be put under surveillance without any court control) or to stop refugee influx on the Polish territory in any way – directly from their country of origin (new amendments to asylum law are trying to introduce border and accelerated procedures) or under the UE resettlement and relocation programme (Poland is one of 3 EU Member States – along Hungary and Austria – that hasn’t relocated anyone).&#x0D; In this paper I will present in more detail the legal changes described above, their consequences and the so-called rationalities presented by the government.

First record of a cold-period myxomycete species Dianema depressum (Lister) Lister in Poland

A myxomycete species, &lt;em&gt;Dianema depressum&lt;/em&gt; is reported for the first time in Poland. It has been found in the Jaszowiec stream valley, localized in the Beskid Śląski Mts (the Carpathians) in November 2015. The cool period seems to be the typical time of the species’ occurrence.

Structure of Demographic Types of Small Towns in Poland. Spatial and Temporal Approach

The aim of this paper is to determine changes in the structure of demographic types of small towns in Poland between 2004 and 2013. It is assumed in the paper, following the Central Statistical Office of Poland, that small towns are urban settlements having less than 20,000 inhabitants. The time period covered in this study is the time of Poland’s accession to the EU, which brought reduction of many barriers on the labour market and in migration movement. Demographic types of small towns were determined using Webb’s typology. Natural increase and migration indicators constitute its base. It was found that the share of towns of progressive character decreased and the share of those of regressive character increased in the analyzed period. A negative migration balance had the greatest effect on the number of inhabitants of the analyzed settlement units. The described demographic changes in small towns in Poland were connected with the second stage of demographic transition.

‘In My Opinion the Best Book on the Polish-Soviet War’: The Paris Edition of Stanisław Rembek’s In the Field

Summary This article reconstructs the publishing history of the 1958 Paris edition of Stanisław Rembek’s novel W polu (In the Field), probably the best literary portrayal of the Polish-Soviet War 1920-1921. Originally published in 1937, it could not be reissued in the communist-ruled Poland after the war. That is why Rembek decided to have it published by the Instytut Literacki in Paris. The article recounts both the history of that publication on the basis of the correspondence between the author and Jerzy Giedroyc, and the dramatic consequences it had for Rembek who lived all that time in Poland.

Viruses infecting ornamental Allium species in Poland.

The aim of the present work was to identify allexiviruses (GarMbFV, GarV-A, GarVB, GarV-C, GarV-D, GarV-E, GarV-X and ShVX), carlaviruses (GarCLV, SLV) and potyviruses (LYSV and OYDV) in ornamental plants from the genus Allium. Two groups of tested plants were used. The first group included bulbs of thirteen ornamental species of Allium growing in the Polish Academy of Sciences Botanical Garden, at Powsin. The second group comprised seven other species of Allium as well as three Allium hybrids (cultivars) purchased from a Warsaw retail nursery. Bulb samples were tested by ELISA using antibodies specific for GarCLV, GarV-A, GarV-B, GarV-C, LYSV, OYDV, ShVX, and SLV. The identification of GarMbFV, GarV-D, GarV-E and GarV-X in bulbs was performed by RT-PCR. The RT-PCR confirmed the ELISA detection of GarV-B in A. caeruleum and ShVX in A. vineale. GarV-D was found in A. fistulosum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of GarV-D in A. fistulosum and ShVX in A. vineale. Moreover, GarV-B was detected in A. caeruleum for the first time in Poland.

Variability of stem morphology in Lycopodium clavatum (Lycopodiaceae) is not related to ploidy level

Background and aims – Based on pedicel length, three morphological forms of Lycopodium clavatum L. are recognized. It has been previously reported that these are correlated with the ploidy level. The present investigation compares for the first time in Poland the diversity in pedicel length with the corresponding nuclear DNA amount and the ploidy level of L. clavatum. We aimed to find correlation between the morphotypes and the ploidy level in the Polish population of L. clavatum.Methods – Samples of shoots were taken from two clumps of L. clavatum. The ploidy level and 2C DNA content analysis was combined with pedicel length measurements. The ploidy level and genome size estimation were performed using flow cytometry.Key results – We found the occurrence of two morphological types of generative stems. The morphotype A produced distinct long pedicels (10.8–43.3 mm). The morphotype B had visible, but very short pedicels (4.5–9.3 mm). We tested the already existing hypothesis, according to which the A and B morphotypes represent respectively diploid and triploid ploidy level. Surprisingly, we did not find such a correlation. Regardless of the morphotype, all the studied plants were diploid, with 5.04–5.13 pg/2C nuclear DNA content.Conclusions – The occurrence of stems of different morphology in L. clavatum was not linked to the ploidy level. It is not excluded that the morphotypes may be genetically determined, but in the studied material, the ploidy level is certainly not at the origin of their differentiation.

First record of Prestauroneis tumida Levkov and accompanying species in Poland

Abstract The paper presents morphological and ecological characteristics of Prestauroneis tumida Levkov recorded for the first time in Poland. The diatom Prestauroneis tumida Levkov was found in the microbenthos of the Czarna Staszowska River (left tributary of the Vistula River, south-eastern Poland). This diatom species was present in the upper section of the river (sampling sites: 1 – Drogowle, 2 – Raków) where saprobic state varied from oligosaprobic to beta-mesosaprobic. Dimensions of the valve were as follows: length 30-44 µm, width 8-11 µm and 13-16 striae in 10 µm. Our research updates the morphological diversity data such as measurements of valves in terms of width and the number of striae. The accompanying species of Prestauroneis tumida belonged to the group of good water quality indicators, from oligo- to mesosaprobic ones. Some of the identified species were indicators of alkaline, calcium-rich waters.

Using simulation to create a unique regional ECMO program for the Greater Poland region

Background: “ECMO for Greater Poland” is a program being developed to serve the 3.5 million inhabitants of the Greater Poland region (Wielkopolska) based on an approach already implemented in the USA1 or Qatar.2,3Method: The program is complex and takes full advantage of the ECMO perfusion therapy opportunities to save the life of patients in the Greater Poland region. The main implementation areas are: – treatment of patients with hypothermia;4 – treatment of reversible severe respiratory failure;5 – treatment of acute intoxication resulting in cardiorespiratory failure6 or other critical conditions resulting in heart failure; – in the absence of response to treatment and eventual death, and with donor authorization, there is possible organ transplantation from a non-heart beating donor (NHBD) to another patient.7 This led to the development of a program for donation after circulatory death (DCD). Study: The program will help to put in place a Medical Rescue System including ECMO (Figure 1). It requires training in specialized resuscitation, perfusion, and transplantation teams in the implementation of this “ECMO rescue chain”. The main strength of the program is the widespread use of extracorporeal perfusion. All program arms in the use of ECMO should be implemented in parallel to maximize its positive impact.Figure 1. Organizational model of “ECMO for Greater Poland” – “ECMO rescue chain” scheme divided into three stages: prehospital, hospital/perfusion, and transplantation. As this organizational model is complex and expensive, we used high-fidelity medical simulation to prepare for the real-life implementation of our ECMO program. During 4 months, we performed scenarios including: – “ECMO for DCD” which includes: prehospital identification, CPR ALS (cardiopulmonary resuscitation advanced life support), perfusion therapy (CPR-ECMO or DCD-ECMO), inclusion and exclusion criteria matching, mechanical chest compression, transport, DCD confirmation, and donor authorization, the veno-arterial (VA) cannulation of a mannequin&apos;s artificial vessels, and starting on-scene organ perfusion.7 – “ECMO for INTOXICATION” which includes: hospital identification (Department of Toxicology), poisoning treatment, CPR ALS, mechanical chest compression, VA cannulation, for the implementation of ECMO therapy and transport to another hospital (Department of Cardiac Surgery).6 – “ECMO for RRF” (reversible respiratory failure) which includes: hospital identification (Regional Department of Intensive Care) – inclusion and exclusion criteria matching, ECMO team transport (80 km), therapy confirmation, veno-venous cannulation for the implementation of perfusion therapy, and return transport (80 km) with ECMO to another hospital in a provincial city (Clinical Department of Intensive Care), where the veno-venous (VV) ECMO therapy was continued for the next 48 hours.5 The training programs, in a short time, resulted in a team being appropriately trained to successfully undertake the complex procedures. Soon after these simulations, Maastricht category II DCD procedures were performed involving real patients and resulting in two double successful kidney transplantations, for the first time in Poland. One month later, we treated two hypothermia patients and, for the first time in the region, also treated on ECMO an adult patient with reversible respiratory failure. Conclusions: The “ECMO for Greater Poland” program will allow the use of perfusion therapy for the inhabitants of Wielkopolska in a comprehensive manner, covering all critical disease states, by what appears to be a unique regional program in Poland. The full-scale, high-fidelity simulation enabled standardized training and testing of new, commonly, and rarely used procedures, and facilitated clinicians’ skills development.

First records of the invasive box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in south-eastern Poland

The paper presents the first records of box tree moth from a few localities situated in 5 UTM squares in the Podkarpacie region – in the south-eastern Poland. This species, native to the subtropical regions of East Asia, was accidentally introduced into Europe in the first decade of the 21st century. Box tree moth was observed for the first time in Poland in 2012, and more recently in the Podkarpacie region in 2016. The rapid expansion of the species is mostly explained by the transfer of its preimaginal stages along with its main host plant (Buxus spp.).

Sustainable agriculture and protection of the environment

The economic, environmental and social development should not degrade the environment but it should leave it for the next generations in the state that it is presently or even better. The principle of sustainable agriculture is to cover the human needs for food without damage to the environment. The aim of the article was to research the farmers’ awareness of the principle of sustainable agriculture and balanced fertilization and their influence on the environment. Among 100 farmers of the Tczew district (Poland) there was done questionnaire research on the determination rates of nitrogen fertilizers and on the regulation of fertilizers usage in Poland. Most of farmers declared a good knowledge of good agricultural practices and of balanced fertilization and the awareness of threats issuing from their activities. At the same time in Poland since the announcement of the Nitrate Directive of the former European Common Market (1992) up till now (2013) the application of nitrogen fertilizers doubled and the yield of wheat increased only by 15%, which means the increase of environmental burden with this chemical element.