Developments of employment by broad age-groups in Poland in the years 1998–2008. Do their determinants differ?

The latest Eurostat projections show that both population and labour force ageing change employment profiles by age in the European Union countries even in case of an increase in labour force participation and employment (The 2012 Ageing Report). My research question is how basic individual (such as age, education, household position, place of residence) and contextual characteristics (such as the business cycle and the regional labour market situation) influence on employment opportunities in Poland. I test whether the impact of different factors varies with age, which has been categorized to reflect different stages of the life course: youth and young adults (15–29 years old), prime aged (30–54 years old), and older workers (for women: 55–59, for men: 55–64). To answer the research question three types of multilevel logistic models were applied: (a) general models with age as one of the basic determinants, (b) models for each age group for non-agriculture and agriculture. The data used come from the Polish Labour Force Survey (BAEL) of the years 1998–2008 and regional labour market data. The analysis reveals that there are differences in influence of individual and context variables on employment odd ratios between age groups, sex and employment sectors

Fingertip skin models for analysis of the haptic perception of textiles

This paper presents finite element models of the fingertip skin which have been created to simulate the contact of textile objects with the skin to gain a better understanding of the perception of textiles through the skin, the so-called hand of textiles. Many objective and subjective techniques have already been developed for analysing the hand of textiles; however, none of them provide exact overall information concerning the sensation of textiles through the skin. As the human skin is a complex heterogeneous hyperelastic body composed of many particles, some simplifications had to be made at the early stage of building the models; however, their utilitarian value was maintained. The models relate only to mechanical loading of the skin. They predict a low deformation of the fingertip skin under the pressure of virtual heterogeneous material: acrylic, coarse wool, and steel

Zadowolenie z pracy a godzenie obowiązków zawodowych i rodzinnych przez pracujące kobiety z dziećmi w wieku do lat 14 w Polsce

Job satisfaction is a key factor not only for management-related studies, but also for the practical functioning of enterprises and people's general satisfaction with life. Research shows that numerous employers pay considerable attention to the satisfaction of their employees, assuming that its increase will contribute to improving work effectiveness. Although the correlation between job satisfaction and employee effectiveness is not clear [Springer 2010], job satisfaction is listed among key employee motivation tools. The goal of this paper is to assess the impact of selected characteristics related to reconciliation of family and professional responsibilities on job satisfaction among working women with children of up to 14 years of age in Poland, using the multivariate general linear model (GLM).(fragment of text)Zadowolenie z pracy jest czynnikiem o kluczowym znaczeniu nie tylko dla analiz z zakresu zarządzania, lecz także dla praktyki działania przedsiębiorstw czy ogólnej satysfakcji z życia ludności. Badania wskazują, że wielu pracodawców przykłada dużą wagę do zadowolenia pracownika, zakładając, że wzrost satysfakcji przyczyni się do podniesienia efektywności pracy. Satysfakcja z pracy, pomimo faktu, że związek pomiędzy satysfakcją z pracy a efektywnością pracownika nie jest jednoznaczny [Springer 2010], wymieniana jest jako jedno z kluczowych narzędzi motywacji pracownika. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest dokonanie oceny wpływu wybranych cech związanych z łączeniem obowiązków rodzinnych i zawodowych na zadowolenie z pracy wśród pracujących kobiet z dziećmi do lat 14 w Polsce. Do oceny wykorzystano ogólny model linowy wielu zmiennych (OML). (fragment tekstu

Analysis of hybrid woven fabrics with shape memory alloys wires embedded

Until recently, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) were predominantly developed for applications in the biomedical and engineering industry, and only a limited number of applications in textiles are known. Fabrics made of natural fibres (e. g. cotton, flax and their mixtures) present many advantages, such as wearing comfort, but they are subject to creasing. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of compensating for this disadvantage by using SMAs to create aesthetic low crease flax/cotton fabrics. Body Temperature SMAs (BT SMA) that regain their (straight) form when they are subject to human body temperature were used for this purpose. Clothing and bed sheeting are potential applications of these hybrid structures, which become wrinkle-free when they are exposed to the heat of the body, a hair dryer or that generated by an electrical current. The materials selected to achieve this purpose were the following: (1) textile yarns (e. g. single cotton or flax/cotton yarns, two-fold flax yarns and two types of loop fancy yarns) and (2) BT SMA wires of 300 mu m diameter. A power weaving loom and a hand-weaving shuttle loom were used to embed the SMA wires, and four types of hybrid fabrics were produced. The thickness, wrinkle recovery, dimensional stability as well as the cohesion of the SMA wires in the woven fabric were tested. All the tests were performed before and after a washing cycle for both the hybrid and reference fabrics. An increase in thickness was noticed after washing, and the recovery time after crushing varied according to the type of fabric. The slippage of SMA wires from the fabrics was noticed for all the samples, which was dependent on the type of yarns used, their linear density and the weaving process

We are more alike than you think. Age distribution of the quality of life among persons with and without disabilities

Purpose: In this article we apply the age perspective to assess the quality of life (QoL) of persons with disabilities. Using a single measurement tool, we compare age profiles in the quality of life of persons with disabilities to the population without disabilities. By doing so, we examine whether the general patterns (such as U-shaped profile) are observed also among the population with disabilities, hence assessing how heterogenous this group is. Methods: We have constructed a multidimensional measurement model identifying overall and nine dimensions of the quality of life using structural equation modelling. The model conceptually is based on the Eurostat guidelines. All analyses are based on EU-SILC survey data, carried out in Poland in 2015. Results: The quality of life for both groups has inverse, right-skewed U-shape. The maximum value is achieved for the age group of 30–34 and after this threshold a constant decline is observed. The QoL scores for the population with disabilities are obviously significantly lower. Additionally, they are more heterogenous, and with greater variation between men and women. In a majority of the domains we also observe lower scores for persons with disabilities. However, people with disabilities are similarly diversified by age as persons without disabilities. Conclusion: Our study suggests that people with disabilities are similarly diversified by age as persons without disabilities. Therefore, disability means something different for younger and older persons and this difference is reflected in their quality of life. It means that public policy for persons with disabilities should also be diversified, avoiding ‘one-for-all’ policy

Return migration and embedding: through the lens of Brexit as an unsettling event

This introductory paper, reflecting the Thematic Cluster of four papers, brings together two themes that are important for migration studies: return migration and embedding. Beyond any simplistic assumptions of settlement and permanent integration back into the origin country, following return, or notions of ongoing unfettered mobility back and forth over time, this article knits together data from the cluster papers, focusing on Lithuania and Poland, to explore factors that lead to return, or indeed non-return, and subsequent experiences in the ‘home’ country for those who do return. Moreover, using mixed methods, including longitudinal research, we advance a theoretical framework facilitating an examination of how returnees negotiate their lives in the origin society and whether they intend to stay, or migrate again, through the conceptual lens of embedding. While emphasising agency and effort, embedding also recognises structural constraints that may impede migrants’ expectations and aspirations. Hence, return migration may involve parallel processes of re-embedding but also experiences of dis-embedding as the hoped for return project encounters unexpected obstacles and may result in further migration. In mapping the field of return migration, through the concept of embedding, we focus on the impact of Brexit as ‘an unsettling event’