PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS - A PILOT STUDY

Background: The definition of addiction is that it is an acquired, strong need to perform a specific activity or continued use of mood alerting substances. Increasing discussion about the development of Internet addiction, which like other addictions, have their roots in depression, impaired assessment esteem and social anxiety shows that it affects all users of the global network, regardless of gender or age. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of social networking on the ongoing behavior of respondents- the first step of a study on the possibility of dependence on social networks. Subjects and Methods: The study was based on an authors questionnaire placed on popular polish websites on February 2013. Questions related to the types and frequency of specific activities undertaken by the private profiles of users. Results: The study involved 221 respondents, 193 questionnaires were filled in completely and correctly, without missing any questions. 83.24% admitted to using social networking sites, 16.76% indicated that they never had their own profile. An overwhelming number of respondents are a member of Facebook (79.17%), specialized portals related to their profession or work were used by only 13.89%, Our-class (6.25%) and Twitter was a primary portal for one person only. Nobody marked a participation in dating services. Conclusion: There is a big difference between the addiction to the Internet and addictions existing within the Internet; the same pattern applies to social networking. There is a need to recognize the "social networking" for a particular activity, irrespective of Facebook, Twitter and Nasza-Klasa, which are commercial products

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF SOCIAL NETWORKS - A PILOT STUDY

Background: The definition of addiction is that it is an acquired, strong need to perform a specific activity or continued use of mood alerting substances. Increasing discussion about the development of Internet addiction, which like other addictions, have their roots in depression, impaired assessment esteem and social anxiety shows that it affects all users of the global network, regardless of gender or age. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of social networking on the ongoing behavior of respondents- the first step of a study on the possibility of dependence on social networks. Subjects and Methods: The study was based on an authors questionnaire placed on popular polish websites on February 2013. Questions related to the types and frequency of specific activities undertaken by the private profiles of users. Results: The study involved 221 respondents, 193 questionnaires were filled in completely and correctly, without missing any questions. 83.24% admitted to using social networking sites, 16.76% indicated that they never had their own profile. An overwhelming number of respondents are a member of Facebook (79.17%), specialized portals related to their profession or work were used by only 13.89%, Our-class (6.25%) and Twitter was a primary portal for one person only. Nobody marked a participation in dating services. Conclusion: There is a big difference between the addiction to the Internet and addictions existing within the Internet; the same pattern applies to social networking. There is a need to recognize the "social networking" for a particular activity, irrespective of Facebook, Twitter and Nasza-Klasa, which are commercial products

Assessment of some of the factors involved in collagen metabolism in the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall

Wstęp. Przebudowa macierzy pozakomórkowej ściany aorty odgrywa istotną rolę w patogenezie tętniaka aorty brzusznej (AAA). Wraz z postępem choroby w jego ścianie zmniejsza się zawartość elastyny i zwiększa się zawartość prekursorowych form kolagenu, podczas gdy całkowita zawartość tego białka nie ulega istotnym zmianom. Celem pracy była ocena następujących czynników regulujących metabolizm kolagenu: insulinopodobnego czynnika wzrostu typu I (IGF-I) i jego białek wiążących (IGFBP-1 i IGFBP-3) oraz metaloproteinaz (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9) w ścianie TAB w porównaniu ze ścianą aorty prawidłowej. Materiał i metody. Materiał do badań stanowiły ściany AAA o średnicy 80 ± 20 mm pobrane od 30 chorych w wieku 65 ± 10 lat podczas planowych zabiegów operacyjnych. Materiałem kontrolnym były prawidłowe aorty brzuszne 10 dawców narządów w wieku 34 ± 5 lat. Metodami radioimmunologicznymi oznaczono stężenie IGF-I, IGFBP-1 i IGFBP-3. Oceniono również ekspresję MMP-1, MMP-2 oraz MMP-9. Wyniki. Wykazano, że zawartość IGF-I zmniejsza się, natomiast zawartość IGFBP-1 oraz IGFBP-3 zwiększa się w ścianie AAA w porównaniu ze ścianą aorty kontrolnej. Ponadto stwierdzono większą intensywność ekspresji MMP-1, MMP-2 oraz MMP-9 w ścianie AAA w porównaniu ze ścianą aorty kontrolnej. Wnioski. W ścianie AAA zmniejsza się zawartość oraz biodostępność IGF-I w porównaniu ze ścianą aorty prawidłowej u osób młodych. Proces ten może utrudniać odtwarzanie kolagenu degradowanego przez metaloproteinazy (kolagenazę, żelatynazy), których zwiększona ekspresja występuje w ścianie AAA.Background. Extracellular matrix remodelling of the aortic wall plays an important role in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) pathogenesis. With progress of the disease, elastin content decreases and the contents of collagen precursor forms increase in the AAA wall; however, total collagen content does not show any significant changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the following factors involved in collagen metabolism: insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and its binding proteins (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3), as well as metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9) in the AAA wall when compared to the wall of normal aorta. Material and methods. The studied material consisted of AAA walls that were collected during elective surgical treatment of 30 patients in the age range 65 ± 10 years. The AAA diameter was 80 ± 20 mm. Normal abdominal aortas from 10 organ donors in the age range 34 ± 5 years were the control material. Contents of IGF-I, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 were evaluated according to radioimmunometric methods. Expression of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was also assessed. Results. It was demonstrated that IGF-I content was decreased, whereas content of IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3 were increased in the AAA wall when compared to the wall of normal aorta. Furthermore, increased intensity of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression was found in the AAA wall in comparison with the wall of normal aorta. Conclusions. Insulin-like growth factor 1 content and its bioavailability are decreased in the AAA wall when compared to the wall of normal aorta in young subjects. This may impede regeneration of collagen degraded by metalloproteinases (collagenase, gelatinases), increased expression of which is present in the AAA wall

A Software Platform for Research on Auction Mechanisms, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2011, nr 3

The platform for research on auction mechanisms is a distributed simulation framework providing means to carry out research on resource allocation efficiency mechanisms and user strategies. Both kinds of algorithms examined are completely user-defined. Interaction of algorithms is recorded and pre-defined measures for the final resource allocation are calculated. Underlying database design provides for efficient results lookup and comparison across different experiments, thus enabling research groupwork. A recognised, open and flexible information model is employed for experiment descriptions

Effect of Variable-Intensity Running Training and Circuit Training on Selected Physiological Parameters of Soccer Players

Proper planning of the training process based on individual LT and AT metabolic thresholds is essential to improve athletic performance. Development of endurance in soccer players is mainly based on continuous runs and variable-intensity runs, supplemented with strength conditioning and sport-specific training. The aim of the study was to analyse selected parameters of physical capacity of soccer players after 8-week variable-intensity running training and circuit training. The experiment was carried out in a group of 34 soccer players aged 21 to 26 years. The athletes were divided into two groups: 17 people in the experimental group and 17 people in the control group. The experimental group was involved in 30-minute tempo runs two times a week for 8 weeks with variable intensity at AT. In the same period, the control group performed two 60-minute continuous runs at the intensity of 70-75%HRmax. The determination of metabolic thresholds used two indirect tests: the multistage shuttle run test (beep test) and maximal lactate steady state test (MLSS) with author's own modification. In order to evaluate maximal heart rate (HRmax), the research procedure was started from the beep test (distance: 20 m). The speed at the first level was 8.5 km/h and increased with each level by 0.5 km/h. Training of the experimental group where variable exercise intensity was used caused a statistically significant increase in HRmax (by 1.9%) and blood lactate levels at the AT (by 20.5%). The training in the experimental group led to the statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in the parameters of the following variables: HRmax (by 1.9%); lactate level (by 7.85); HR at the AT (by 1,9%); lactate level at the AT (by 20.5%). The assumptions of the experimental training did not cause statistically significant changes in pretest vs. posttest HRmax and blood lactate levels for the LT. Endurance training with high intensity is more effective in soccer players compared to training with moderate intensity. Development of special endurance in soccer should also assume the intensity and method of working similar to the method used during sport competition

Feasibility study of the time reversal symmetry tests in decay of metastable positronium atoms with the J-PET detector

This article reports on the feasibility of testing of the symmetry under reversal in time in a purely leptonic system constituted by positronium atoms using the J-PET detector. The present state of T symmetry tests is discussed with an emphasis on the scarcely explored sector of leptonic systems. Two possible strategies of searching for manifestations of T violation in nonvanishing angular correlations of final state observables in the decay of metastable triplet states of positronium available with J-PET are proposed and discussed. Results of a pilot measurement with J-PET and assessment of its performance in reconstruction of three-photon decays are shown along with an analysis of its impact on the sensitivity of the detector for the determination of T-violation sensitive observables