Countering Radicalisation of Muslim Community Opinions on the EU Level

The paper explores selected factors influencing the process of radicalisation leading to the use of political violence and terror by the Muslim minorities living in the European Union member states. Internal and external catalysts conditioning this process and methods of their analysis have been presented. The second section examines various counter-radicalisation and de-radicalisation efforts of the EU. The authors analysed the multidimensional European Union policy in the area of counteracting radicalisation for empowering the population and member states in preventing the radicalisation and recruitment to terrorism and emphasising the role of social partners and local authorities. Also, the promotion of good practices for combating radicalisation, developed under the auspices of the multidisciplinary Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) is presented

Influence of the tie reinforcement on the development of a collapse caused by the failure of an edge column in RC flat slab system

RC flat slabs are one of the most popular and effective methods of shaping plates in buildings. Although failures of entire structures are relatively rare, they cannot be excluded from the occupancy cycle of the facility. The research analysis presented in this paper is an attempt to understand more precisely the phenomena that occur in the RC flat slab system and to assess the influence of the additional protection of the flat slabs against progressive collapse in the case of failure of one of the supports. The results were obtained from destructive experimental investigations of a flat reinforced concrete slab made in scale 1:3. The collapse in the analysed model was simulated by removing three edge columns and additional loading by means of hydraulic actuator. In place of the columns removed, differential tie reinforcement was applied. The results obtained confirm that the structure achieved a much higher ultimate load than the one resulting from the design calculations

Seasonal Variability of PM10 Chemical Composition Including 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene, Marker of Plastic Combustion and Toxicity in Wadowice, South Poland

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the seasonal variation of the chemical composition of PM10 including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene (135TPB), which is a well known marker of plastic combustion. The presented work is a part of the project concerning assessment of air quality of small cities around Krakow agglomeration. Monitoring campaign was conducted between February and October 2017 in Wadowice, a small city in Krakow agglomeration, South Poland. To widen the knowledge of Krakow's agglomeration air quality, other aerosol chemical components were analyzed. Ion chromatography (IC) was used for analysis of cations and anions, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for PAHs. Samples were also analyzed for OC/EC (organic/elemental carbon) by thermal-optical analysis with a Sunset Laboratory carbon analyzer, Sunset Inc. The co-combustion of plastic in addition to conventional fuels and the respective impact on air quality is evaluated via the concentration of the marker compound 135TPB. Co-combustion of plastics with fuels resulted in a higher abundance of fluorene and most of 4–6 ring PAHs, in agreement with recent literature. Authors proved that other sources besides plastic burning, including road transport, residential heating, residential combustion, industrial emissions, affect the air quality in South Poland. The modeling tool Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT), developed by NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory, was used to define the possible areas outside Wadowice contributing to urban air pollution

Predicting neutropenia dynamics after radiation therapy in multiple myeloma patients receiving first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy – a pilot study

Introduction. Radiation therapy (RT) is a useful modality for achieving local control and symptom relief in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but its use can result in adverse effects such as neutropenia, which may be aggravated by prior chemotherapy. Material and methods. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 530 complete blood count results of 32 MM patients who underwent RT for symptomatic bone pain between cycles or after completing first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy (VCD). To evaluate the dynamics of neutrophil count (ANC) changes, we developed a generalized additive model (GAM) using initial ANC, dosage (BED10), and treatment volume (PTV) as predictors. Results. Our GAM model demonstrated that ANC nadir after RT can be expected approximately 16 days after treatment initiation. The delivery of 8 Gy in 1 fraction resulted in the lowest ANC nadir, while a dose of 30 Gy in 10–15 fractions was deemed the safest. For PTV = 1000cm3, an initial ANC level of at least 1.42 × 103/µl was associated with no incidence of severe neutropenia irrespective of the fractionation scheme. Longer courses allowed for treatment delivery without significant neutropenia even with an initial ANC of 1.23 × 103/µl on the day of RT initiation. Conclusions. Our model could aid in optimizing treatment strategies for MM patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Further research is needed to validate our findings and evaluate the feasibility of implementing this model in clinical practice

Predicting neutropenia dynamics after radiation therapy in multiple myeloma patients receiving first-line bortezomib-based chemotherapy – a pilot study

Introduction.Radiation therapy (RT) is a useful modality for achieving local control and symptom relief in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), but its use can result in adverse effects such as neutropenia, which may be aggravated by prior chemotherapy. Material and methods.In this retrospective study, we analyzed 530 complete blood count results of 32 MM patients who underwent RT for symptomatic bone pain between cycles or after completing first-line bortezomib-based che­motherapy (VCD). To evaluate the dynamics of neutrophil count (ANC) changes, we developed a generalized additive model (GAM) using initial ANC, dosage (BED10), and treatment volume (PTV) as predictors. Results.Our GAM model demonstrated that ANC nadir after RT can be expected approximately 16 days after treatment initiation. The delivery of 8 Gy in 1 fraction resulted in the lowest ANC nadir, while a dose of 30 Gy in 10–15 fractions was deemed the safest. For PTV = 1000 cm3, an initial ANC level of at least 1.42 × 103/μl was associated with no incidence of severe neutropenia irrespective of the fractionation scheme. Longer courses allowed for treatment delivery without significant neutropenia even with an initial ANC of 1.23 × 103/μl on the day of RT initiation. Conclusions.Our model could aid in optimizing treatment strategies for MM patients receiving RT and chemotherapy. Further research is needed to validate our findings and evaluate the feasibility of implementing this model in clinical practice.

Neurological symptoms in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and their association with in-hospital mortality

Objectives. To evaluate the spectrum of neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 during the first 14 days of hospitalisation and its association with in-hospital mortality. Material and methods. We included 200 patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to University Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 164 patients, a detailed questionnaire concerning neurological symptoms and signs was performed prospectively within 14 days of hospitalisation. In the remaining 36 patients, such questionnaires were completed retrospectively based on daily observations in the Department of Neurology. Results. During hospitalisation, 169 patients (84.5%) experienced neurological symptoms; the most common were: fatigue (62.5%), decreased mood (45.5%), myalgia (43.5%), and muscle weakness (42.5%). Patients who died during hospitalisation compared to the remainder were older (79 [70.5–88.5] vs. 63.5 [51–77] years, p = 0.001), and more often had decreased level of consciousness (50.0% vs. 9.3%, p < 0.001), delirium (33.3% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), arterial hypotension (50.0% vs. 19.6%, p = 0.005) or stroke during (18.8% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.026) or before hospitalisation (50.0% vs. 7.1, p < 0.001), whereas those who survived more often suffered from headache (42.1% vs. 0%, p = 0.012) or decreased mood (51.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.003). Conclusions. Most hospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms. Decreased level of consciousness, delirium, arterial hypotension, and stroke during or before hospitalisation increase the risk of in-hospital mortality

Phosphorus Transport in a Lowland Stream Derived from a Tracer Test with 32P

Small streams in urbanized rural areas receive loads of P from various, often episodic, sources. This paper addresses, through a tracer test with 32P, retention and transport of a pulse input of phosphorus in a 2.6 km long stretch of a channelized second-order lowland stream. Tritiated water was introduced alongside the 32P-labelled ortophosphate in order to isolate the influence of the hydrodynamic factors on P behavior. Tracer concentrations in unfiltered water samples were measured by liquid scintillation counting. Four in-stream and five hyporheic breakthrough curves were collected at four points along the stream, two of which encompass a beaver dam impoundment. The overall retention efficiency of 32P along the studied reach was 46%. The transient storage transport model OTIS-P provided reasonable fits for in-stream breakthrough curves (BTCs) but failed at reproducing the hyporheic BTCs. The overall small effect of transient storage on solute transport was higher in the stretch with a more pronounced surface storage. Transient storage and phosphorus retention were not enhanced in the beaver dam impoundment

Intraday volume-return nexus in cryptocurrency markets:: novel evidence from cryptocurrency classification.

This paper analyses the volume-return relationships across the top 30 most traded cryptocurrencies from April 2013 to June 2019 using high-frequency intraday data. We use a novel approach for the classification of cryptocurrencies with respect to multiple qualitative factors, such as geographical location of headquarters, founder and founder’s origin, platform on which the cryptocurrency is built, and consensus algorithm, among others. We identify significant bidirectional causalities between trading volume and returns at different high-frequency intervals; however, those linkages are weakening with decreasing data frequencies. The findings confirm the leading position of the Bitcoin trading volume in the cryptocurrency price formation. This evidence will help investors to design effective trading strategies in cryptocurrency markets providing useful insights from cryptocurrency categorisation

A liquidity redistribution effect in intercorporate lending: evidence from private firms in Poland

Purpose: We examine the mechanism of intercorporate lending outside the business group, and a reaction of capital expenditures (CAPEX) and capital engagement in other firms to shocks in the provision of such loans. We diagnose the causes and effects of intercorporate lending outside the business group. Design/Methodology/Approach: We use panel data from annual reports (balance sheets and income statements) of 4,600 private Polish companies that provided loans to other firms in the period 2003-2014. We apply the vector autoregression panel model for microeconomic data and analysis of Granger causality, impulse response functions, and forecast error variation decomposition to explore the mechanism of intercorporate loan provision. Findings: Non-financial firms provide loans outside the business group through redistribution of their cash holdings generated from operating activity (cash flow) and long-term bank loans. The provision of loans by non-financial enterprises decreases CAPEX, as a result of the absence of free cash flows that were already used for loan provision. Shareholder loans substitute for capital engagement in other firms. Practical Implications: The findings could assist policymakers to notice that emergency borrowings from other companies are being used to defer defaults and introduce a new credit risk into the business sector. Originality/Value: The redistribution effect of cash holdings and money borrowed from banks provided to unrelated firms outside the business group is dangerous for the stability of the financial system due to the risk that these “indirect borrowers” will default

Improved Methodology of Cross-Sectional SEM Analysis of Thin-Film Multilayers Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering

In this work, an improved methodology of cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of thin-film Ti/V/Ti multilayers was described. Multilayers with various thicknesses of the vanadium middle layer were prepared by magnetron sputtering. The differences in cross sections made by standard fracture, focused ion beam (FIB)/Ga, and plasma focused ion beam (PFIB)/Xe have been compared. For microscopic characterization, the Helios NanoLab 600i microscope and the Helios G4 CXe with the Quanta XFlash 630 energy dispersive spectroscopy detector from Bruker were used. The innovative multi-threaded approach to the SEM preparation itself, which allows us to retain information about the actual microstructure and ensure high material contrast even for elements with similar atomic numbers was proposed. The fracture technique was the most noninvasive for microstructure, whereas FIB/PFIB results in better material contrast (even than EDS). There were only subtle differences in cross sections made by FIB-Ga and PFIB-Xe, but the decrease in local amorphization or slightly better contrast was in favor of Xe plasma. It was found that reliable information about the properties of modern nanomaterials, especially multilayers, can be obtained by analyzing a two-part SEM image, where the first one is a fracture, while the second is a PFIB cross section