Tamed Ugliness: The Problems of Shaping and Appreciating the Aesthetics of Polish Urban Spaces

This article is an attempt to compile the existing knowledge from many fields about the aesthetics of Polish urban space: the conditions of its creation, its perception, and the problems it currently faces, of which a pressure for absolute aestheticisation appears to be the most dangerous. Through a multidisciplinary literature review as well as an analysis of public discourse and interviews with experts, the author attempts to answer the question about why there is such a large discrepancy in the assessment of the aesthetics of urban spaces in Poland, as well as how this is influenced by cultural, legal, administrative, and historical conditions

Information Asymmetry, Capital Structure and Equity Value of Firms Listed on the WSE

The paper investigates the impact of capital structure and information asymmetry on the value of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The study was conducted using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method on a sample of 273 companies in 2017 and the GMM dynamic paneldata approach with instrumental variables. Data retrieved from the Notoria, Bloomberg and Orbis databases were used. The results show that despite its impact on reducing the cost of capital, increasing debt does not lead to an increase in equity value. Therefore, the benefi ts of higher short-term leverage are limited and visible only for long-term debt. On the other hand, despite bigger information asymmetry, companies are valued higher, which means that asymmetrical information does not necessarily hurt valuation in the short term but in the long term. The results contribute to the literature on firms’ use of leverage under information asymmetry, showing higher trust in cash flow than profits in books

Participatory approach to regeneration processes in polish cities and regions

Book of proceedings: Annual AESOP Congress, Spaces of Dialog for Places of Dignity, Lisbon, 11-14th July, 2017Cities are changing day by day - they are in the constant circle of life - arising, decaying, reviving. However, their changes are mostly connected with its users - nowadays we can observe increasing participation of inhabitants, local activists and non-governmental organizations in the urban regeneration processes (Żylski, 2014). Authors present the impact of EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 on regeneration processes which are implemented in Polish towns, cities and metropolis when emphasizing general formal and legal framework including examination of the possible distribution of EU funds for regeneration projects within the regional operational programs. Authors focus on different approaches to the implementation of Cohesion Policy in Polish regions - and researched into Pomeranian province and Mazovian Voivodship as study cases. First, there is a need to establish definition needed to the research. The definition of the regeneration process used in the research comes from the Polish legislation (Act on regeneration, 2015). The regeneration process is defined as ‘a process of counteracting crisis situation in the degraded areas, lead in complex approach due to integrated actions in favor of local community, space and economy, concentrated territorial, conducted by regeneration stakeholders, basing on local regeneration program’. Moreover, it is important that the groups of stakeholders are also listed there. Among them, inhabitants of the area, owners, perpetual users, administrators, other inhabitants, local entrepreneurs, units of local government are mentioned. The importance of various stakeholders’ participation is also mentioned in The Guidelines for regeneration actions in operational programs 2014-2020 prepared by Polish Ministry of Economic Development (2016). Participatory approach is important for the social dimension of the regeneration. Participation of the local communities and multiple stakeholders in reimagining and reinventing public spaces. Moreover, it strengthens the connection between the place and its users (Placemaking and the future of city – draft, 2012). The pioneer in the placemaking – community-based approach to the regeneration process - is U.S. nongovernmental organization Project for Public Spaces which has helped numerous communities in creatina public spaces together. Basing on the polish legislation, the participatory approach consists of preparation, leading and evaluation the regeneration process ensuring the active participation of stakeholders during consultations and works of The Regeneration Committee (JL, 2015). In that part of the research, more important than the definition of participation method is the methodology of it. There is a growing need for authorities but especially for communities to understand that the consultation of the regeneration process is not the only activity for various actors to participate the whole process. Creighton James L. (2005) in his publication mentioned 4 steps of Continuum of participation: 1. Inform the public, 2. Listen to the public, 3. Engage in problem solving, 4. Develop agreements. However, the step: ‘Engage in problem solving’ is the most extensive in tools for co-operation between various actors. Moreover, Sherry Arnstein (1969) evolved eight-rung Ladder of Citizen where the highest rungs are 'Delegated Power' and 'Citizen control' what shows how much citizen are able to do. The rightness of choosing the participatory approach for the urban planning involves Jane Jacobs’ philosophy - ‘Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody’ (Jacobs, 2014).Published versio

“Pulling hair out of the head” - the importance of traumatic family events in the development and maintenance of trichotillomania symptoms - case report

Introduction: Trichotillomania is a mental disorder characterized by a repetitive and compulsive hair pulling, classified in ICD-10 to a group of habit and impulse disorders, and in the DSM-5 to the group of obsessive-compulsive disorders

Effect of Lactobacillus spp. strains on the population of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from the human vagina

Introduction: The normal vaginal microbiota (mainly Lactobacillus spp.) affects the health of these areas. Bacterial vaginosis is a serious health problem among many women, especially dangerous for pregnant women. The study aimed to assess the impact of Lactobacillus spp. strains on the population of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from women. Materials and methods: The research material consisted of reference strains of Lactobacillus spp.: L. acidophilus (LAC), L. fermentum (LFE), L. gasseri (LGA), L. plantarum (LPL), the strain L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111 and 7 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from the vagina. Results: The highest antagonistic activity was shown for the mixed culture of all Lactobacillus strains (LACTO MIX) used in the experiment. Among the individual strains of Lactobacillus spp. strains, L. plantarum turned out to most effectively reduce L. monocytogenes number (reduction of 5.74 log CFU × ml-1). The least effective in inhibiting the growth of L. monocytogenes was the L. acidophilus strain (reduction of L. monocytogenes of a number of 2.21 log CFU × ml-1). Conclusions: The presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the genital tract limits the development of bacterial infections, which is an important aspect especially for pregnant women