Scouting in the process of knowledge commercialization

Artykuł ma charakter przeglądowy a jego celem jest zaprezentowanie scoutingu wiedzy. To tylko jedno z zagadnień związanych z komercjalizacją wiedzy, a szczególnie z początkowym etapem tego procesu. Scouting to metoda identyfikacji projektów naukowych, które charakteryzują się wysokim potencjałem rynkowym. W artykule przedstawiono zakres prac scoutów oraz ich zadania i kompetencje. Wskazano również na problemy, które stanowią przyczynek do dyskusji wokół komercjalizacji wyników badań naukowych.The article is a review, its aim is to present the scouting of knowledge. This is just one of the issues related to the commercialization of knowledge, especially with the initial stage of this process. Scouting is a method of identifying scientific projects that are characterized by high market potential. The article presents the scope of scout works and their tasks and competences. Also pointed to the problems that contribute to the discussion about the commercialization of research results

Methods for Measuring the Organizations' Social Engagement Effectiveness

Corporate social responsibility is a concept that many organizations find interesting and try to implement. It can be said that Polish firms have already consolidated it. We can also observe the evaluation of approaches to CSR: from individual charities to development of deliberate strategies. However, Polish companies stand out in comparison to the global market in terms of measuring the effectiveness of social engagement and social responsibility. The paper presents the results of the survey conducted among SMEs in the region of Czestochowa. The purpose of this article is to introduce tools for measuring the effectiveness of CSR actions, focusing on London Benchmarking Group model. The paper shows examples of CSR activities' indicators as well

THERMOTROPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPOSOME FILTRATION.

THERMOTROPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPOSOME FILTRATION

Data from: Desiccation resistance and mating behavior in laboratory populations of Drosophila simulans originating from the opposing slopes of Lower Nahal Oren (Israel)

Lower Nahal Oren in Northern Israel, often referred to as "Evolution Canyon", has been proposed as a microscale model site for ecological evolution. However, conflicting mating assay and stress-resistance contribute to controversy over the Nahal Oren model. In this study we further tested the Nahal Oren model, while extending its focus from Drosophila melanogaster to its sister species, D. simulans. Using fly populations derived from the opposing canyon slopes and acclimated to laboratory conditions for 11-22 generations we did not find a significant slope effect on desiccation resistance (p=0.96) or body metabolic fuel content (p>0.43) which would indicate a genetic basis for adaptation to local resource limitation. Multiple-choice mating assays (47-48% homotypic couples in two replicate populations) did not indicate divergence from a random mating pattern between north and south-facing slope flies. In conclusion, our findings do not support divergence of D. simulans populations across Lower Nahal Oren

Ocena funkcjonowania EkoFunduszu w aspekcie realizacji strategii zrównoważonego rozwoju

Debt-for-nature swaps are initiatives by creditor countries, who see the benefitsfor the whole world in measures taken by the debtor countries towards conservation. Poland has become a subject and implementer of the program offorgiving ofa portion of a foreign debt in exchange for local investments in conservation measures. Polish program of debt-for-nature swap (with its 6 donators) is estimated at 573m USD. It was controlled by EcoFund fund, which financed initiatives towards environmental protection. Debt restructuring has become an efficient measure for implementation of the principles of sustainable development in Poland.Ekokonwersja stanowi inicjatywę wierzycieli, którzy w ochronie środowiska dłużnika widzą korzyści dla całego świata. Polska stała się podmiotem i realizatorem programu zamiany długów na inwestycje ochrony środowiska. Polski program ekokonwersji zadłużenia (z 6 donatorami) oszacowano na 573 min USD. Jego realizatorem była Fundacja EkoFundusz, która finansowała przedsięwzięcia w ochronie środowiska. Konwersja zadłużenia stała się skutecznym narzędziem realizacji zasad zrównoważonego rozwoju w Polsce

Nahal_Oren_D_simulans

Nahal_Oren_D_simulan

Ownership succession plainning. Study of agricultural farms in Silesian voivodeoship

The problem of succession has been more and more frequent in investigations concerning the future of agricultural farms in Poland. The reducing number of inhabitants, ageing society and a declining number of new births are only some of the factors which highlight this problem. The focus of the study was on the agricultural farms in the case of accidental events such as death or serious illness that makes it impossible for the owner to make representations and sign on behalf of the business solely. These problems are critical from the standpoint of ensuring the continuous operation of the farm. The study was carried out with using a questionnaire and analysis of the independence of the Chi-square test (χ2). Most of the farmers studied think about what would happen in the case of their permanent loss of ability to manage the farm, and especially in the case of their sudden death. The opportunities for presence of other negative events such as serious illnesses seem to be neglected by those who manage agricultural farms. This is likely to be due to the psychological reluctance to think and prepare for such difficult scenarios. The study also demonstrated the lack of correlation between the size of agricultural farm and securing farmers against the accidental events. A moderate relationship was observed only at the level of general planning of the future of the agricultural farm. One of the popular forms among the owners of agricultural farms was establishment of a kind of mortis causa plenipotentiary

Variation in quantity and composition of cuticular hydrocarbons in the scorpion Buthus occitanus (Buthidae) in response to acute exposure to desiccation stress

Scorpions exhibit some of the lowest recorded water loss rates among terrestrial arthropods. Evaporative water loss to the surrounding environment occurs mainly through the integument, and thus its resistance to water loss has paramount significance for the ability of scorpions to tolerate extremely dry habitats. Cuticular hydrocarbons (HCs) deposited on the outer epicuticle play an important role in determining cuticular waterproofing, and seasonal variation in both cuticular HC quantity and composition has been shown to correlate with water loss rates. Precursor incorporation rates into cuticle HCs have been observed to be extremely low in scorpions compared with insects. We therefore used adult male Buthus occitanus (Buthidae) in order to test HC profile plasticity during acute exposure to 14 d and 28 d of experimental desiccation. Cuticular HC profile of hydrated scorpions was similar to that reported for several other scorpion species, consisting of similar fractions of n-alkanes and branched alkanes, with no evidence for unsaturation. Most abundant of the n-alkanes were n-heptacosane (C 27 ; 19 ± 2% of total HCs), n-nonacosane (C 29 ; 16 ± 1%) and n-hentriacontane (C 31 ; 11 ± 1%). Exposure to desiccation stress resulted in a significant increase in the total amount of extracted HCs, and in the relative abundance of branched alkanes at the expense of n-alkanes. Together with an increase in HC chain lengths, these changes mimic previously-reported seasonal variation among freshly-collected specimens. This indicates that scorpions respond to water shortage by regulating the properties of their passive integumental barrier to water loss

Electrical determination of viability in saline-treated mouse myeloma cells.

Suspension of mouse myeloma cells in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) induced a significant amount of cell death. The lethal effects of PBS include an increase in cell lysis, a decreased ability of cells to exclude trypan blue, and a decrease in the colony-forming ability of these cells. Dead cells were also detected on a Coulter counter by the increase in the fraction of cells with a smaller electrical size distribution (ESD). Comparing mixtures of live and dead cells by ESD and trypan-blue exclusion showed a high correlation of electrical size with viability (correlation coefficient = 0.98). Sizing of PBS-treated cells by light microscopy suggested that the altered ESD of the PBS-treated cells was due to a downward shift in the volume distribution. Light-scattering experiments also suggested a decrease in the size of cells after PBS treatment. An increase in permeability of the cell membrane may also contribute to these results. We conclude that electrical sizing is an excellent indicator of physical changes that result from PBS-induced cell death, and is an effective method for distinguishing live and dead mouse myeloma cells after PBS treatment