42 research outputs found
Metody oznaczania mikrocząstek pochodzących z komórek krwi i śródbłonka
Microparticles (MP-microparticles) – cell membrane vesicles 0.1–1μm diameter, released in response to activation or apoptosis, both in physiological and pathological conditions. They reveal a wide spectrum of biological activities, express cell surface antigens characteristic for cells of their origin. In this article reviewed quantitative and qualitative methods for detection of microparticles, presents pre-analytical conditions as an potential source of variability in the analysis of MP. In conclusion there are several methods for detection of microparticles but they are not standarized. Methods of microparticles detection need to be standarized to be clinically relevant
Understanding farm generational renewal and its influencing factors in Europe
Understanding the complex process of generational renewal (GR) in agriculture is essential for supporting the continuation of farming. This paper demonstrates how multiple factors, simultaneously and through their mutual interactions, influence GR and related individual decision-making processes. Results originated from 155 in-depth interviews performed on 85 farms in eleven European regions, and were triangulated with the literature. Our analysis, combining inductive and deductive approaches, revealed three conceptual phases (successor identity formation, farm succession process, and farm development) and fourteen factors important to understand GR. We elaborate how these factors interact, hence exert their impact on (one of) the phases in a complex and variable way. Implications highlight potential pitfalls and opportunities for attracting people into agriculture. Although policy-makers should be aware of their limited ability to affect GR by targeting the first phase, we propose some ideas that would complement current existing measures acting on the third phase
Advancing the contributions of European stakeholders in farming systems to transitions to agroecology
The concept of a ‘just transition’ is gaining traction in international policy discourses. It has particular significance in relation to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions and the need for ensuring rights and responsibilities of all actors in transitions to agroecological farming systems. Research plays an important role in accompanying this transformation. It explores pathways for more sustainable and fair food systems, barriers to them being achieved, and where and what risks arise for communities of interest and of place. Researchers and practitioners across levels and sectors were brought together in H2020 projects LIFT and UNISECO using processes of stakeholder engagement. Both projects analysed the perceptions of actors towards agroecological farming, and their active involvement in the transitions required. This article summarises lessons learnt regarding multi‐actor engagement in different participatory settings in both projects, including a Multi‐Actor Platform approach, Q method, DELPHI and Hybrid forum workshops. The interactions involved several hundred actors from 18 countries across Europe. The article reflects on implications of the Covid‐19 pandemic on the processes and effectiveness of multi‐actor engagement, and assessments of the impacts on the empowerment of the actors. The findings are contextualised by contemporary European Union and national policy objectives of tackling climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and inequalities
Impact of COVID-19 on farming systems in Europe through the lens of resilience thinking
CONTEXT
Resilience is the ability to deal with shocks and stresses, including the unknown and previously unimaginable, such as the Covid-19 crisis.
OBJECTIVE
This paper assesses (i) how different farming systems were exposed to the crisis, (ii) which resilience capacities were revealed and (iii) how resilience was enabled or constrained by the farming systems’ social and institutional environment.
METHODS
The 11 farming systems included have been analysed since 2017. This allows a comparison of pre-Covid-19 findings and the Covid-19 crisis. Pre-Covid findings are from the SURE-Farm systematic sustainability and resilience assessment. For Covid-19 a special data collection was carried out during the early stage of lockdowns.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Our case studies found limited impact of Covid-19 on the production and delivery of food and other agricultural products. This was due to either little exposure or the agile activation of robustness capacities of the farming systems in combination with an enabling institutional environment. Revealed capacities were mainly based on already existing connectedness among farmers and more broadly in value chains. Across cases, the experience of the crisis triggered reflexivity about the operation of the farming systems. Recurring topics were the need for shorter chains, more fairness towards farmers, and less dependence on migrant workers. However, actors in the farming systems and the enabling environment generally focused on the immediate issues and gave little real consideration to long-term implications and challenges. Hence, adaptive or transformative capacities were much less on display than coping capacities. The comparison with pre-Covid findings mostly showed similarities. If challenges, such as shortage of labour, already played before the crisis, they persisted during the crisis. Also, the eminent role of resilience attributes was confirmed. In cases with high connectedness and diversity we found that these system characteristics importantly contributed to dealing with the crisis. Also the focus on coping capacities was already visible before the crisis. We are not sure yet whether the focus on short-term robustness just reflects the higher visibility and urgency of shocks compared to slow processes that undermine or threaten important system functions, or whether they betray an imbalance in resilience capacities at the expense of adaptability and transformability.
SIGNIFICANCE
Our analysis indicates that if transformations are required, e.g. to respond to concerns about transnational value chains and future pandemics from zoonosis, the transformative capacity of many farming systems needs to be actively enhanced through an enabling environment
HEAT PUMPS VERSUS BIOMASS BOILERS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HEATING COSTS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of heating costs of heat pumps and biomass-fired boilers. The study was carried out in the communes of Ruda-Huta (Chełm County) and Dębowa Kłoda (Parczewski County). The subject of the study were school complexes in which the heating system was changed from heating oil to ground heat pumps and a boiler house, working on fine coal, replaced by a biomass-fired boiler-house. The Levelised Cost of Heat (LCOH) method was used to assess heating costs in both facilities. In Poland, according to data for 2018, the basic carrier of renewable energy used in heating was biomass (90.5%), where the share of heat pumps was only 0.4%. The study shows that such proportions, at least in the public utility buildings heating sector, are not economically justified. Average heating costs, estimated using the LCOH method, turned out to be over 20% higher in the case of biomass than in the case of heat pumps. The attractiveness of this technology in heating is evidenced by the development of this market in Europe. Similar trends are also taking place in the world market. Due to the fact that electricity is most often used to generate this type of heat, the development of this sector will highly depend on the relation between its prices and prices of other energy carriers
Gospodarka niskoemisyjna – nowe wyzwanie dla gmin wiejskich
The Authors present the results of research into the planned measures to reduce CO2 emissions by local communes. The research was conducted in 2015 in 12 rural communes located in Lubelskie voivodship, which have developed Low-Carbon Econo myPlans (LCEPs). According to the research, CO2 emissions (47%) in the analyzed communes came mainly from the consumption of liquid fuels in transport (mainly transit) as well as by tractors and self-propelled agricultural machinery. The remaining causes of the emissions (53%) included the use of fossil fuels such as coal (31%), natural gas and heating oil (2% as well as electricity (20%) generated outside the area of the communes concerned. Among many various possibilities for reducing CO2 emissions identified in LCEPs the most important will be the substitution of conventional energy sources with renewable ones, including mainly biomass and solar energy
POLITYKA KLIMATYCZNO-ENERGETYCZNA UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ – WYZWANIA I SZANSE DLA OBSZARÓW WIEJSKICH
Celem artykułu jest rozpoznanie implikacji wdrażania polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej dla obszarów wiejskich. Dzięki wytwarzanym tu surowcom energetycznym, a także coraz częściej energii, w latach 2006-2016 dwukrotnie zwiększył się udział OZE w produkcji energii pierwotnej – z 7,8 do 13,9%. Jej głównym źródłem była biomasa, ale od 2010 roku znacznie szybciej wzrasta wykorzystanie energii słonecznej i wiatrowej. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych analizy stwierdzono, że do roku 2050 większość surowców energetycznych i energii ze źródeł odnawialnych będzie wytwarzana w rolnictwie i na obszarach wiejskich. Realizacja zobowiązań wynikających z unijnej polityki klimatycznej i energetycznej może być impulsem dla rozwoju obszarów wiejskich
Renewable energy sources as a development opportunity for peripheral areas / Odnawialne źródła energii szansą rozwojową obszarów peryferyjnych
Subject and purpose of work: The subject of this analysis and evaluation is the use of renewable energy sources in Poland, particularly in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, as a peripheral region. The purpose of this paper is to identify the role and evaluate the scale and effects of using renewable energy sources (RES), as well as the availability and absorption of financial resources for RES promotion. Materials and methods: The data were obtained from the Office of the Ruda-Huta Commune, the Regional Operational Programme Department of the Marshal Office of the Lubelskie Voivodeship in Lublin and the Department of European Funds of the Ministry of Energy, as well as Statistics Poland (GUS) and the literature on the subject. Results: In Poland the proportion of energy from renewable sources to the total primary energy generated increased in 2012-2018 from 11.73% to 14.46%. A new phenomenon, which has been highly significant for the development of this sector, is the use of innovative, small-scale technologies of energy generation from renewable sources, which created the foundations for the growth of a citizens’ energy sector, based on the initiative of the citizens and their communities. The use of RES contributes to reduced expenditures on the purchase of energy carriers and constitutes an effective method of implementing plans for developing a low-carbon economy and reducing low-stack emissions. Conclusions: The continuing disparities between the regions point to the need for active structural intervention to maintain economic, social and territorial cohesion, particularly in areas which are considered peripheral and have a very low GDP per capita. One of the preferred directions should be to support the use of RES.Przedmiot i cel pracy: Przedmiotem analizy i oceny jest wykorzystanie odnawialnych źródeł energii w Polsce ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem województwa lubelskiego, jako regionu peryferyjnego. Celem pracy jest rozpoznanie roli oraz ocena skali i efektów wykorzystania OZE, a także dostępności i absorpcji środków finansowych na ich promocję. Materiały i metody: Źródłem danych były informacje uzyskane w Urzędzie Gminy Ruda Huta, Departamentach Regionalnego Programu Operacyjnego Urzędu Marszałkowskiego Województwa Lubelskiego w Lublinie oraz Funduszy Europejskich Ministerstwa Energii, a także Główny Urząd Statystyczny i literatura problemu. Wyniki: W Polsce udział energii pozyskiwanej ze źródeł odnawialnych do pozyskanej energii pierwotnej ogółem w latach 2012-2018 zwiększył się z 11,73% do 14.46%. Nowym zjawiskiem, które miało bardzo duże znaczenie dla rozwoju tego sektora jest wykorzystanie innowacyjnych, małoskalowych, technologii pozyskiwania energii ze źródeł odnawialnych, które dały podstawy do rozwoju obywatelskiej wizji energetyki, bazującej na inicjatywie obywateli i ich wspólnot. wykorzystanie OZE przyczynia się do zmniejszania wydatków na zakup nośników energii oraz jest skuteczną metodą realizacji planów gospodarki niskoemisyjnej i ograniczania niskiej emisji. Wnioski: Utrzymujące się dysproporcje między regionami wskazują na konieczność aktywnej interwencji strukturalnej służącej spójności gospodarczej, społecznej i terytorialnej, szczególnie na obszarach uznanych za peryferyjne i bardzo niskim poziomie PKB per capita. Jednym z preferowanych kierunków winno być wsparcie rozwoju wykorzystania OZE
Perspektywy produkcji rzepaku w Polsce w kontekście nowej polityki biopaliwowej Unii Europejskiej
Celem artykułu jest ocena skutków wprowadzania zmian do polityki klimatyczno-energetycznej UE w odniesieniu do sektora biopaliw, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wpływu tych zmian na perspektywy produkcji rzepaku. Materiałem badawczym i źródłem informacji były raporty i sprawozdania Ministerstwa Energii, Ministerstwa Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi, Urzędu Regulacji Energetyki, Krajowego Ośrodka Wsparcia Rolnictwa, GUS i Komisji Europejskiej. Analizy obejmowały lata 2007-2015 z perspektywą do 2030 roku. W wyniku wprowadzenia tych zmian może nastąpić ograniczenie powierzchni zasiewów rzepaku. Z przeprowadzonych badań wynika, że obniżenie realizacji NCW o 1% będzie skutkować zmniejszeniem powierzchni zasiewów rzepaku o 42,28 tys. ha. W 2030 roku obszar zajęty pod uprawę tej rośliny może być mniejszy o 14,3% w stosunku do 2021 roku
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AS A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR PERIPHERAL AREAS
Subject and purpose of work: The subject of this analysis and evaluation is the use of renewable energy sources in Poland, particularly in the Lubelskie Voivodeship, as a peripheral region. The purpose of this paper is to identify the role and evaluate the scale and effects of using renewable energy sources (RES), as well as the availability and absorption of financial resources for RES promotion. Materials and methods: The data were obtained from the Office of the Ruda-Huta Commune, the Regional Operational Programme Department of the Marshal Office of the Lubelskie Voivodeship in Lublin and the Department of European Funds of the Ministry of Energy, as well as Statistics Poland (GUS) and the literature on the subject. Results: In Poland the proportion of energy from renewable sources to the total primary energy generated increased in 2012-2018 from 11.73% to 14.46%. A new phenomenon, which has been highly significant for the development of this sector, is the use of innovative, small-scale technologies of energy generation from renewable sources, which created the foundations for the growth of a citizens’ energy sector, based on the initiative of the citizens and their communities. The use of RES contributes to reduced expenditures on the purchase of energy carriers and constitutes an effective method of implementing plans for developing a low-carbon economy and reducing low-stack emissions. Conclusions: The continuing disparities between the regions point to the need for active structural intervention to maintain economic, social and territorial cohesion, particularly in areas which are considered peripheral and have a very low GDP per capita. One of the preferred directions should be to support the use of RES