West Pomeranian Region Research Articles

BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE: AN ELEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY IN THE WEST POMERANIAN VOIVODESHIP

This article presents the results of transportation research conducted in the urban ar-ea of Koszalin, the region, and the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The study’s pur-pose is to identify bicycle infrastructure’s role in promoting sustainable mobility in the West Pomeranian region. The paper provides an overview of the bicycle infra-structure in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The analysis is supplemented by a survey conducted among residents of the West Pomeranian region who use the aforementioned infrastructure. A diagnostic survey using a questionnaire was em-ployed.

A STUDY ON THE SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND TOURIST SITUATION OF SELECTED MUNICIPALITIES OF THE WEST POMERANIAN VOIVODESHIP

Aim: The aim of the article was to develop an original classification of municipalities in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with particular emphasis on measuring local development, taking into account the de­velopment of health tourism. Methods: The research procedure consisted of the following stages: collection of data and assessment of their completeness for the West Pomeranian region, calculating the values of the indicators, constructing rankings of municipalities in a one-dimensional space of characteristics-indicators and distinguishing typological groups of municipalities similar in terms of the degree of development of the socio-economic and tourist situation. The classification of sub-regions was carried out using discriminant analysis. For this purpose, the indicators characterizing the socio-economic and tourist situation in the selected West Pomeranian Voivodeship municipalities were used, taking into account the division into municipalities: urban (1), rural (2), and urban-rural (3). The preliminary classification of the objects into groups, and thus the selection of the grouping variable, was carried out using the k-means method. The study used secondary data from the Local Data Base – GUS. Results: As a result of the survey, the analyzed local government units were divided into three groups. However, the presented results of the classification do not indicate the dependence of the improvement of socio-economic characteristics on the provision of tourism services in the municipality (including health tourism). Conclusions: Empirical studies show that the placement of munici­palities in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship reveals clear relationships between the territorial distribution of health tourism units and the territorial distribution of natural assets and access to the Baltic Sea.

Sustainable Development of the Region – Biomass Potential on Example of the West Pomeranian Region

This article attempts to identify and analyze the factors influencing the shaping of regional energy policy in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, with particular emphasis on the potential for the development of renewable energy based on biomass. The aim of the publication is to determine the potential for the development of biomass resources, taking into account the criteria of sustainable development, i.e. economic, ecological and social aspects. So far, few researchers have dealt with this subject in a comprehensive way, and so far there has been a lack of detailed research on the potential of biomass in the West Pomeranian Region. The presented analyses are an important contribution to the development of knowledge about alternative energy sources in the energy sector. The research material used in the article comes from various sources, both domestic and foreign, including empirical data from scientific institutes of energy and fuels and regional institutions dealing with energy.

Migration and Settlement Policy in Post-war Europe: A Case Study of the West Pomeranian Region

Migration and Settlement Policy in Post-war Europe: A Case Study of the West Pomeranian Region

Hydrochemical conditions of three lakes located in the West Pomeranian region in the annual cycle

The objective of the study was to trace the variability of the hydrochemical conditions in three lakes of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship (Poland) – Starzyca, Maszewskie and Nowogardzkie in the annual cycle. The research was done in 2018–2019, and samples for analysis were collected 4 times a year. All analyses were performed applying standard methods. Such hydrochemical indices were determined as dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, content of orthophosphates, total phosphorus, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium, chlorophyll a and iron. The study showed that all lakes in the research cycle were characterised by a polymictic type of water mixing, and the trophic level, based on the adopted criteria, indicated advanced eutrophy, which may also be caused by anthropogenic pressure. Oxygen conditions characterised by deoxidation of the waters in the bottom layer in the spring and summer seasons, and clear oxygenation in the surface water layer (in Lake Maszewskie reaching even 188.5% in the spring) confirm the significant advancement of the eutrophication process. The supply of phosphorus and nitrogen in spring from pelagic waters in the waters of the examined lakes influences concentrations of chlorophyll a in the summer. The influence of “internal supply” (bottom waters and bottom sediments) on the amount of nutrients available for autotrophs is clearly visible in the analysed lakes – an increase in nitrogen and mineral phosphorus concentrations in relation to surface waters was observed in the bottom layer.

Assessment of Fatty Acid Content in the Milk of Women from the West Pomeranian Region of Poland with Regard to Supplementation and the Amount of Adipose Tissue

We analyzed milk samples obtained 6-7 weeks postpartum from 60 women. The content of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in lipids was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using a Clarus 600 device (PerkinElmer). Women using dietary supplements had significantly higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (C22:6 n-3) (p = 0.000) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (20:5 n-3) (p = 0.000). The levels of eicosatrienoic acid (ETA) (C20:3 n-3) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) increased with the amount of body fat, and the level of DHA was lowest in subjects where body fat exceeded 40% (p = 0.036). The contents of fatty acids in the milk of women from the West Pomeranian region of Poland were similar to that reported by other authors. The levels of DHA in women using dietary supplements was also comparable to the values reported worldwide. BMI had an effect on the levels of ETE and GLA acids.

The sector of modern business services in the West Pomeranian region in Poland - directions of changes in terms of the development of new technologies

The aim of the article is an attempt to characterize the business services outsourcing market in the West Pomeranian region. The author presents the current state of the market, the most popular technologies used and developed in the region, and also the prospects for its development, pointing the important technological trends in the world. The dynamics of some market changes will undoubtedly have a great impact on the sector in the region.The author shows potential for the development of the business services sector in the West Pomeranian region by compiling data and forecasts for the evolution of the sector in Poland and globally.The study was conducted using the CAWI method (electronic questionnaire) and the expert discussion method.

Transformation towards sustainability on the example of the SME's steel processing enterprise

Recent focus on sustainability and its three pillars (economic, environmental, and social) brought new issues, especially for manufacturing companies, to be addressed. The article uses the methodology of a case study based on observation, panel expert, interviews with employees and the documentation analysis. The research had been carried out in steel processing enterprise in West Pomeranian region in Poland. The purpose of the article is twofold. Firstly, the aim is to present the company in the context of the production scheme and information flow, as well as the scheme for solving a decision problem that may increase the company's sustainable development potential. Secondly, the aim of the paper is to present the methodology of the process of selecting and assessing a range of criteria and fields of operation based on the identified sustainability criteria, which should be taken into account when deciding what type of the product to choose to improve the potential of sustainability of the company. The described methodology of this process is a scientific contribution based on literature research, observation of the company under study, interviews with employees, analysis of documents and work with experts inside the company, which allowed the creation of a tool for determining operational and decision-making areas that are directly related to the company's sustainable development potential.

Using high-tech tools for consumer buying decisions of FMCG

Purpose: The main aim of this paper is to explore consumer decisions and emotions during shopping at the self-service store with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Design/methodology/approach: The subject of the study is to assess the impact of emotions during the choice-making process on consumers' buying decisions. The respondents are citizens of the West Pomeranian region, Poland. The survey was conducted using state-of-the-art data acquisition technologies, i.e., Virtual Reality and EEG. An interview was also used as a complementary form. The research was both qualitative and quantitative, with a research sample of 34 respondents and took place in the virtual world. The researchers used primary data. The results presented here are part of a broader research project that used a triangulation of research methods to allow a deeper analysis of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the subjects. Findings: The research provided independent data on consumer emotions. The authors identified 4 groups of emotions that appeared during the selection of a product and were highly differentiated and strongly dependent on such characteristics as consumer type and gender. It has also been noticed that the longer a product is held, the lower emotional “sleepiness’. Research limitations/implications: One of the main limitations is the data collection process, which is relatively expensive, so the sample size is limited. The results obtained can be a signpost for a researcher who would like to use this new technology for further research. Practical implications: The results obtained can be used by shop managers in planning the sales activities or shop space to help the customer decide. Originality/value: In the research was used an innovative combination of virtual reality (VR) equipment and an electroencephalogram (EEG). To the best of the authors' knowledge, the results of a study from the FMCG industry using both devices simultaneously have never been published. Keywords: consumer behaviour, virtual reality, new technology, EEG. Category of the paper: Research paper.

Heat Recovery from a Wastewater Treatment Process—Case Study

This article presents the potential of heat recovery from wastewater with an example of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Mokrawica, which is located in the West Pomeranian region of Poland. A thorough literature review discusses the relevance of the topic and shows examples of heat recovery conducted with heat pumps. Raw and treated wastewater are mostly used as heat sources, with the latter achieving higher thermal capacities. Heat recovery from a biological treatment process is rarely implemented and requires more detailed studies on this subject. The proposed methodology for estimating possible heat recovered from wastewater, requiring heating and cooling capacities, as well as the coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump, is based on only three parameters: wastewater volumetric flow, wastewater temperature, and the required temperature for heating or air-conditioning. The heat recovery potential was determined for different parts of WWTP processes, i.e., the sand box, aeration chamber, secondary sedimentation tank, and treated sewage disposal. The average values of 309–451 kW and a minimum of 58–68 kW in winter were determined. The results also indicate that, depending on the location of the heat recovery, it is possible to obtain from wastewater between 57.9 kW and 93.8 kW of heat or transfer to wastewater from 185.9 to 228.2 kW. To improve biological treatment processes in the winter season, wastewater should be preheated with a minimum of 349–356 kW that can be recovered from the treated wastewater. The heat transferred to the wastewater from the air-conditioning system amounts to 138–141 kW. By comparing the required cooling and heating capacities with the available resources, it is possible to fully recover or transfer the heat for central heating, hot water, and air conditioning of the building. Partial preheating of wastewater during the treatment process requires further analysis.

Emotional State of Young Men in Relation to Problematic Internet Use.

The Internet has become an indispensable tool in communication, business, entertainment, and obtaining information. Behavioral addictions are disorders associated with uncontrolled activity feeding the reward system, motivation, and memory. The purpose of this study was to assess the emotional state in terms of problematic Internet use. The survey was conducted in 2020–2021 in the West Pomeranian region of Poland and involved 500 men aged 18–30 (24.82 ± 3.83). The study was conducted using our own original questionnaire regarding the amount of time spent playing computer games during the weekdays and on days off; the type of school/university; financial situation; as well as the manner, purpose, and degree of Internet use. Other questionnaires were also used, i.e., Beck Depression Inventory, Internet Use Test, GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Assessment Questionnaire, and Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire. Problematic use of the Internet may result in the occurrence of anxiety, anger, hostility or depression. Longer duration of Internet activity was correlated to higher scores on the Internet Use Test degree of problematic Internet use. There was a correlation between the severity of mild depression symptoms and the occurrence of anxiety, verbal and physical aggression, and problematic Internet use.

KCNJ11 and KCNQ1 Gene Polymorphisms and Placental Expression in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents carbohydrate intolerance in pregnant women. The pathogenesis of GDM is very complex, but abnormalities in insulin production and secretion underlie the disease. Potassium channels play an important role in insulin production and secretion. The family of potassium channels includes (among others) the potassium inwardly rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 11 (KCNJ11) and voltage-gated K+ channel (KCNQ1). The aim of the study was to examine the distribution of the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs151290 and rs2237892 gene polymorphisms in women with GDM and pregnant women with normal carbohydrate tolerance, to verify whether these polymorphisms are risk factors for GDM. This study included 204 Caucasian pregnant women with GDM and 207 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) from the West Pomeranian region of Poland. The diagnosis of GDM was based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24–28 weeks gestation. There were no statistically significant differences in distribution of the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs151290 and rs2237892 gene polymorphisms between women with GDM and pregnant women with normal carbohydrate tolerance. Moreover, there were no statistically significant associations between the studied genotypes and the selected clinical parameters in women with GDM. The results of our study suggest that the KCNJ11 rs5219 and KCNQ1 rs2237892 and rs151290 gene polymorphisms are not significant risk factors associated with the development of GDM in our population. There were also no differences in the expression of KCNJ11 and KCNQ1 genes in the placenta of women with GDM and normal carbohydrate tolerance. However, an association between KCNJ11 gene expression in placenta and APGAR score in newborns was found.

Can Elderly People Afford Long-Term Care? Financing Long-Term Care in Poland and the Financial Resources Available to Beneficiaries

Purpose: This paper aims to assess long-term care (LTC) spending in Poland broken down into public financing and beneficiaries' contributions, which depend on the financial resources available to them. By focusing on individual expense items from the people's perspective requiring care, the author takes stock of the range of care services on offer relative to the financial resources available to those in need. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study examines expenditures on LTC in the West Pomeranian Region of Poland in three social care systems. Out of the list of such expenditures correlated with the financial resources available to the elderly, particular focus is placed on residential LTC services provided in comprehensive care systems. Findings: The levels of expense relative to the average disposable income of pensioners vary widely, revealing the problem of older adults having insufficient financial resources to self-finance their LTC in Poland. The variance results from system design and the principles that govern care financing. The cost of some residential LTC services is charged to beneficiaries, meaning they are required to pay for them out of their pocket, while other services are co-financed at fixed rates that vary depending on the income of the respective beneficiaries. Practical Implications: The paper outlines the essential characteristics of a new LTC financing scheme that could be designed and rolled out in Poland based on research. The main idea is to establish a new dedicated source of care service funding and a new fund-collecting entity. Originality/Value: The proposed method of LTC financing in Poland provides an opportunity to resolve insufficient care funding partially. It is necessary and crucial to identify a new source of funding that would feed into the system, given especially that Polish society is aging rapidly. The discussion covers multiple solutions, some of them taken from the LTC systems of other countries, and reviews viable concepts.

A Multi-Agent Based Simulation Model of Consumer Behaviour - Food Choice and Cooking Attitudes During the Coronavirous (Covid-19) Outbreak

Purpose: The primary scientific goal of the article is to present the results of research which aimed to build a multi-agent simulation model of consumer behavior during the coronavirus Covid-19 epidemic. The research investigation concerned finding an answer to the question: to what extent did consumer eating behavior change during the pandemic, and how did the risk of becoming overweight and obesity increase? Design/Methodology/Approach: To gain deeper insight into consumer eating behavior amid the Covid-19 outbreak, a survey on food choice and cooking attitudes was carried out in the West Pomeranian region of Poland. Four hundred twenty respondents took part in the survey. The data obtained was used to elaborate a multi-agent model created by the author and the execution of simulation experiments. A multi-agent-based modeling and simulation (MABS) method was used to build the model. Findings: The research shows that among the individuals participating in the study, three types of eating attitudes were distinguished, restrained eaters (41.9%), emotional eaters (34.8%), and external eaters (23.3%). These three groups reported different behavior, highlighting, for example, an increase in ready-made and ultra-processed food consumption within the non-emotionally responsive group. Empirical data was used to develop an agent-based simulation model that combined different eating styles represented by consumers with their food and cooking habits to simulate consumer behavior during the Covid-19 epidemic. Practical Implications: The findings could be helpful in support of practical and social solutions for the identification of excessive weight and obesity risk factors and the preparation of strategies aimed at reducing the influence of pandemics on consumer eating behavior and increasing consumer awareness on this issue. Originality/Value: The study can stimulate sustainable consumption and consumer behavior, especially in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic.

The business services sector – development potential in the West Pomeranian region

The impact of Covid-19 on the global economy has been multi-faceted. The article aims to show potential for the development of the business services sector in the West Pomeranian region by compiling data and forecasts for the evolution of the sector in the world and Poland.Organizations around the world will increasingly rely on managing the data they want to manage securely and efficiently, achieving optimal levels of operations while working virtually. The author hypothesizes that the upward trend in the development of the sector in the West Pomeranian region will continue.

Frequency of Occupational Bloodborne Infections and Sharps Injuries among Polish Paramedics from Selected Ambulance Stations.

To evaluate the prevalence of bloodborne infections (BBIs) and assess the incidence and selected risk factors for sharps injuries (SIs), a cross-sectional serosurvey was performed between December 2018 and October 2019 among 286 paramedics (76.5% males; mean age, 37 years) from 17 randomly selected ambulance stations in the West Pomeranian region of Poland. An ELISA system was used to detect anti-HBc, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV. HBV vaccination uptake was 95.6%; 7.3% (95% CI: 4.6–11.0%) paramedics were anti-HBc positive, and anti-HCV/anti-HIV seropositivity was not reported. Almost one-fourth of paramedics reported having had ≥1 SI during the preceding year (Me = 6.0, range 1–100). Most recent exposures primarily took place during an emergency procedure (76.7%), in an ambulance (45.2%), caused by hollow-bore needles (73.8%), and were not reported (50.0%). Additionally, 52.2% of paramedics reported needle recapping, and 52.6% did not use safety engineered devices (SEDs) at work. Mean knowledge score was low (2.6 ± 1.7); 3.4% had never participated in infection-control (IC) training, and those not trained were more likely to suffer a SI (odds ratio (OR) 4.64; p = 0.03). Due to frequent SIs, of which half are unreported, paramedics remain at risk of acquiring occupational BBIs. SI risk could be reduced by providing training on IC procedures, ensuring better compliance with safe work practices, and supplying more SEDs.

Analysis of the Marina Service Offer in the Southern Baltic Region

Purpose: The article aims to present the results of the analysis of the service offer addressed to sailing tourists in the Baltic Sea. The focus was on services available both in the marina and in its immediate vicinity. This offer was analyzed mainly in terms of quantitative purposes. The territorial scope of the research covers marinas located in the southern Baltic region in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, in the Russian Kaliningrad district and on the Danish island of Bornholm. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research was carried out in accordance with the prepared research procedure and concerned 178 marinas. The entire process was divided into stages with various research methods and techniques applied, including mathematical and statistical methods, participant observation, and internet resource exploration. Findings: Based on the data on the number of marinas offering individual services, these services have been classified into basic, complementary and optional. The port in the Pomeranian region, located in a large city, offered the most services. The highest average number of services available in the analyzed marinas was observed in the West Pomeranian region (also in Poland), while the lowest in the Kaliningrad region. The research did not show a strong correlation between the number of available berths in a yacht port (from all regions together) and the number of services offered. Considering the regions separately, the situation was different. Three out of six showed a statistically significant linear relationship - from moderate to strong. Practical Implications: The results of the analysis can be useful for entities responsible for the development management of yacht ports in the southern Baltic region. Originality/value: The analysis was carried out for the southern Baltic region, taking into account the differences in its individual parts.

Sustainable regional energy planning: The case of hydro

AbstractThe study is dedicated to analysis of sustainable regional energy planning challenge's in order to reach carbon‐free economy in 2050. The case study of hydropower development in selected region of Poland provides good example how to deal practically with identified sustainable regional energy planning problems to address restrictions of environmental requirements and natural conditions on the least costs hydropower generation planning in a given region. The aim of the article is to develop a model for optimizing hydropower production and to apply this model for selected region. The West Pomeranian region was selected for this case study, and the time range for planning is from 2019 to 2030. The selected region is particularly predestined for the production of renewable energy sources. Constructed model and obtained results for optimization of hydropower development in selected region is useful for fostering usage of renewable energy sources in Poland and moving forward towards carbon‐free economy target set by European Union for 2050.

Public goods in rural areas as endogenous drivers of income: Developing a framework for country landscape valuation

Rural areas are where many environmental and cultural public goods occur, creating a country landscape. Their agro-ecological infrastructure delivers things people directly value, such as food, fibre and energy, but the market fails when it comes to the valuation of public goods. For this purpose, indirect valuation methods are used, but these encounter many methodological problems. The aim of this study is to create a conceptual framework for the economic rent valuation (ERV) method, which estimates the economic rent resulting from the random endogenous influences of public goods on production factors in rural areas. The ERV method attempts to reduce the biases of the market-based and contingent valuation methods that result from the model misspecification and unrevealed preferences, and advocates for adoption of the variance component model. The article also presents an illustrative application of ERV based on the case of the West Pomeranian region of Poland, which reveals the potential advantages of ERV.

Prevalence of Listeria species and L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods in the West Pomeranian region of Poland: Correlations between the contamination level, serogroups, ingredients, and producers

Poland is one of the largest food producers in Europe, and the West Pomeranian region of Poland is a large producer of RTE food. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria sp. and L. monocytogenes (LM) in RTE foods manufactured by 13 selected Polish food producers whose processing plants are located in this region. In total, 650 samples of RTE foods, and 263 ingredients of salads and desserts were analyzed. Almost 18% of the RTE foods failed to meet the zero tolerance limit for Listeria, which means they should not be allowed for retail. LM was isolated from 13.5% of the samples, with counts of 10–100 CFU/g noted in half of them. Products with meat and dairy ingredients, and fish products, sandwiches, sprouts and sushi, were at the highest statistically significant risk of LM contamination. Four serogroups were identified among the LM isolated from RTE foods, of which the 4b-4d-4e serogroup was predominating. The samples most heavily contaminated with LM contained even 2 serogroups. Results were subjected to the cluster analysis and principal component analysis to determine correlations between food groups, food ingredients, producers, contamination level, and serogroups of LM.