Literature of exhaustion : Borges, Kabbalah and the art of divine forgetting

With this short essay we look at the work of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges from a different angle, and propose a new framework for the interpretation of his stories, by indicating their affinity with esoteric tradition, especially the Kabbalah. The work of Borges has met with much criticism which, in our opinion, is a result of the fact that his essays were created under a strong influence from traditions and ideas weakly represented in the main current of western literature. The first part of this essay is a brief introduction to the issue. The second part focuses more on the sources of what we here call, after Stanisław Lem, a “system of fantastical philosophy of Borges.

Quality of Experience in the context of mobile applications

Mobile devices are among the most-popular means of browsing the Internet, sending and receiving e-mail, and sharing content on social networks. People use mobile devices and the applications installed on them in different situations throughout the day. In order to ensure that users are satisfied with a mobile application, its author has to ensure a high Quality of Experience level. The problem of automatic evaluation of the QoE parameter is a very interesting research area. Quality of Experience is a broad issue and requires the analysis of many aspects not only graphical user interfaces but also, inter alia, Quality of Service and user ratings

Social activation of local communities in Poland from the perspective of 25 years of self-government

Odrodzenie samorządu terytorialnego w 1990 r. stanowiło zasadniczą zmianę ustrojową. Niedawno minęło 25 lat od tego wydarzenia, ale obraz rozwoju samorządności w Polsce trudno jednoznacznie ocenić. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest zarysowanie odpowiedzi na pytanie, w jakim stopniu oczekiwania związane z rewitalizacją społeczności lokalnych poprzez odrodzenie samorządu terytorialnego zostały spełnione, a więc w jakim stopniu realizację znalazła idea pomocniczości. Kwestia ta jest analizowana na przykładzie kilku obszarów życia społecznego: a) aktywności tzw. trzeciego sektora i współpracy organizacji pozarządowych z jednostkami samorządu terytorialnego (pomocniczość pozioma); b) stosowania procedur i technik partycypacji (włączania obywateli do procesu podejmowaniu decyzji publicznych); c) działania jednostek pomocniczych (rad osiedli i sołectw ‒ pomocniczość pionowa); d) aktywności obywatelskiej w postaci ruchów i inicjatyw społecznych (zwłaszcza tzw. ruchów miejskich); e) regionalizmu.Jeśli uznać, że celem reformy samorządowej było praktyczne zrealizowanie idei pomocniczości, to cel ten został osiągnięty. Jednak niewątpliwy sukces polskiej samorządności, który zmienił Polskę na lepsze, nie przełożył się na sukces polskiej samorządności rozumianej jako sfera harmonijnej współpracy wybieralnych władz lokalnych odpowiedzialnych wobec aktywnych społeczności. Struktury samorządu zdominowały życie lokalne, w wielu przypadkach urzędy stanowią największego pracodawcę, co ma negatywne oddziaływanie zarówno w sferze ekonomicznej, jak i społecznej. W tym sensie więc można mówić o częściowej porażce samorządności, która jest dzieckiem sukcesu reformy samorządowej.The revival of local government in 1990 constituted a fundamental change in the Polish political regime. However, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of this event the picture of local government in Poland is still unclear. The article offers answers to questions about how the expectations related to the revitalisation of local communities through the revival of local government have been met and about the scope of the idea of subsidiarity implementation. The following areas of social life are analysed: (i) the activity of what are known as third sector organisations and their cooperation with local government (horizontal subsidiarity); (ii) the use of procedures and techniques of participation by local government; (iii) the functioning of local government auxiliary units (district councils and village councils – vertical subsidiarity); (iv) activities of urban social movementsand initiatives; (v) regionalism. Considering the practical implementation of the idea of subsidiarity as the main purpose of the local government reform, the objective has been achieved. However, the unquestionable success of the Polish self-government which have changed Poland for the better does not entail the revival of Polish local communities. The harmonious  cooperation of elected local authorities accountable to an active community is still missing. Local government structures have dominated local life, being in many places the largest employer, with all negative consequences of this in terms of both economic and social life. In this sense, it can be argued that a partial failure of self-government is a side effect of the success of the self-government reform

Symptoms of nervous system damage in a patient undergoing anti-PD1 immunotherapy

Symptoms of nervous system damage during immunotherapy with anti-PD1 antibodies occur in approximately 6% of patients. The most commonly reported neurological adverse reactions are Guillain-Barre syndrome, polyneuropathy, demyelinating diseases, myasthenia gravis, and encephalitis. In the presented patient with disseminated skin melanoma, after four administrations of nivolumab, paraesthesia hindering walking and weakness of the lower limbs appeared. Based on Doppler ultrasound, venous thrombosis was excluded. Computed tomography of the head did not show metastases or signs of intracranial ischaemia or bleeding. The patient was consulted neurologically several times. Steroid therapy, gabapentin, duloxetine, and painkillers were used. Despite the temporary improvement due to implemented treatment, the patient died. No definitive diagnosis could be made, but the symptoms suggest Guillain-Barre syndrome.Symptoms of nervous system damage during immunotherapy with anti-PD1 antibodies occur in approximately 6% of patients. The most commonly reported neurological adverse reactions are Guillain-Barre syndrome, polyneuropathy, demyelinating diseases, myasthenia gravis, and encephalitis. In the presented patient with disseminated skin melanoma, after four administrations of nivolumab, paraesthesia hindering walking and weakness of the lower limbs appeared. Based on Doppler ultrasound, venous thrombosis was excluded. Computed tomography of the head did not show metastases or signs of intracranial ischaemia or bleeding. The patient was consulted neurologically several times. Steroid therapy, gabapentin, duloxetine, and painkillers were used. Despite the temporary improvement due to implemented treatment, the patient died. No definitive diagnosis could be made, but the symptoms suggest Guillain-Barre syndrome

Regulation of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit expression in ovarian cancer

Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit by cancers is extensively documented, yet regulation of the multiple genes that can code for this protein is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to examine the mechanisms regulating CGB gene expression in ovarian cancer. Expression of CGB genes and SP1, SP3, TFAP2A transcription factor genes was evaluated by RT-qPCR. The methylation status of CGB genes promoter regions was examined by methylation-specific PCR. mRNA arising from multiple CGB genes was detected in both ovarian control and malignant tissues. However, expression of CGB3-9 genes was shown to be significantly higher in malignant than healthy ovarian tissues. CGB1 and CGB2 transcripts were shown to be present in 20% of ovarian cancers, but were not detected in any of the control samples. Malignant tissues were characterized by DNA demethylation of CGB promoter regions. In ovarian cancer CGB expression positively correlated with TFAP2A transcripts level and expression of TFAP2A transcription factor was significantly higher in cancer than in control tissues. In contrast SP3 expression level was significantly lower in ovarian tumours than in control ovarian tissue. In ovarian cancers increased expression of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit is associated with demethylation of CGB promoter regions. CGB3-9 expression level strongly correlates with expression of the TFAP2A transcription factor. Presence of mRNA arising from CGB1 and CGB2 genes appears to be a unique feature of a subset of ovarian cancers

DIG-MAN: Integration of digital tools into product development and manufacturing education

General objectives of PRODEM education. Teaching of product development requires various digital tools. Nowadays, the digital tools usually use computers, which have become a standard element of manufacturing and teaching environments. In this context, an integration of computer-based technologies in manufacturing environments plays the crucial and main role, allowing to enrich, accelerate and integrate different production phases such as product development, design, manufacturing and inspection. Moreover, the digital tools play important role in management of production. According to Wdowik and Ratnayake (2019 paper: Open Access Digital Tool’s Application Potential in Technological Process Planning: SMMEs Perspective, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29996-5_36), the digital tools can be divided into several main groups such as: machine tools and technological equipment (MTE), devices (D), internet(intranet)-based tools (I), software (S). The groups are presented in Fig. 1.1. Machine tools and technological equipment group contains all existing machines and devices which are commonly used in manufacturing and inspection phase. The group is used in physical shaping of manufactured products, measurement tasks regarding tools and products, etc. The next group of devices (D) is proposed to separate the newest trends of using mobile and computer-based technologies such as smartphones or tablets and indicate the necessity of increased mobility within production sites. The similar need of separation is in the case of internet(intranet)-based tools which indicate the growing interest in network-based solutions. Hence, D and I groups are proposed in order to underline the significance of mobility and networking. These two groups of the digital tools should also be supported in the nearest future by the use of 5G networks. The last group of software (S) concerns computer software produced for the aims of manufacturing environments. There is also a possibility to assign the defined solutions (e.g. computer programs) to more than one group (e.g. program can be assigned to software and internet-based tools). The main role of tools allocated inside separate groups is to support employees, managers and customers of manufacturing firms focused on abovementioned production phases. The digital tools are being developed in order to increase efficiency of production, quality of manufactured products and accelerate innovation process as well as comfort of work. Nowadays, digital also means mobile. Universities (especially technical), which are focused on higher education and research, have been continuously developing their teaching programmes since the beginning of industry 3.0 era. They need to prepare their alumni for changing environments of manufacturing enterprises and new challenges such as Industry 4.0 era, digitalization, networking, remote work, etc. Most of the teaching environments nowadays, especially those in manufacturing engineering area, are equipped with many digital tools and meet various challenges regarding an adaptation, a maintenance and a final usage of the digital tools. The application of these tools in teaching needs a space, staff and supporting infrastructures. Universities adapt their equipment and infrastructures to local or national needs of enterprises and the teaching content is usually focused on currently used technologies. Furthermore, research activities support teaching process by newly developed innovations. Figure 1.2 presents how different digital tools are used in teaching environments. Teaching environments are divided into four groups: lecture rooms, computer laboratories, manufacturing laboratories and industrial environments. The three groups are characteristic in the case of universities’ infrastructure whilst the fourth one is used for the aims of internships of students or researchers. Nowadays lecture rooms are mainly used for lectures and presentations which require the direct communication and interaction between teachers and students. However, such teaching method could also be replaced by the use of remote teaching (e.g. by the use of e-learning platforms or internet communicators). Unfortunately, remote teaching leads to limited interaction between people. Nonverbal communication is hence limited. Computer laboratories (CLs) usually gather students who solve different problems by the use of software. Most of the CLs enable teachers to display instructions by using projectors. Physical gathering in one room enables verbal and nonverbal communication between teachers and students. Manufacturing laboratories are usually used as the demonstrators of real industrial environments. They are also perfect places for performing of experiments and building the proficiency in using of infrastructure. The role of manufacturing labs can be divided as: • places which demonstrate the real industrial environments, • research sites where new ideas can be developed, improved and tested. Industrial environment has a crucial role in teaching. It enables an enriched student experience by providing real industrial challenges and problems

The latest advances in wireless communication in aviation, wind turbines and bridges

Present-day technologies used in SHM (Structural Health Monitoring) systems in many implementations are based on wireless sensor networks (WSN). In the context of the continuous development of these systems, the costs of the elements that form the monitoring system are decreasing. In this situation, the challenge is to select the optimal number of sensors and the network architecture, depending on the wireless system’s other parameters and requirements. It is a challenging task for WSN to provide scalability to cover a large area, fault tolerance, transmission reliability, and energy efficiency when no events are detected. In this article, fundamental issues concerning wireless communication in structural health monitoring systems (SHM) in the context of non-destructive testing sensors (NDT) were presented. Wireless technology developments in several crucial areas were also presented, and these include engineering facilities such as aviation and wind turbine systems as well as bridges and associated engineering facilities

Zarys koncepcji opodatkowania gruntów

There are foundations of land taxing presented in the paper in the context of modification of liberal system. The benefits of shifting taxes from labour and capital towards land are exposed, as well as the arguments against taxing of land. The argument being explored in the article is that if a society is to benefit the economic growth, a permanent and effective transfer of economic resources (including land and its resources as a priority) has to feature contemporary dynamism of economies. And, it is the economic system founded on the ‘law’ of land taxation that can deliver the appropriate conditions. The examples of countries who gather taxes from land are highlighted. Post-socialism economies of Eastern Europe, undergoing shocking transformation, many of whom are the European Union members, are poverty stricken even if the statistics report significant economic growth. The concern of economic transformation of post-communist countries is evoked in the light of economic system formation.Treści artykułu obejmują podstawy opodatkowania ziemi w kontekście modyfikacji systemu liberalnego. Podkreśla się w nim korzyści z opodatkowania ziemi zamiast z pracy i kapitału, ale również argumenty przemawiające przeciwko opieraniu systemu podatkowego i ekonomicznego na podatku od ziemi. Twierdzi się, że jeśli społeczeństwo ma korzystać ze wzrostu gospodarczego, musi się w nim odbywać ciągła realokacja czynników wytwórczych, w tym ziemi. Podkreśla się, że propozycja opodatkowania ziemi jest wykorzystywana w wielu krajach oraz że może ona stanowić element tworzenia systemu gospodarczego w krajach postkomunistycznych