Chaos and Strategy in Managing the Diplomatic Service. The Case of Andrzej Taranowski’s Missions to Michael the Brave in 1600

In 1600, Sigismund III, King of Poland-Lithuania, sent an envoy to Michael the Brave the Voivode of Wallachia, three times. His mission aimed to conduct negotiations on the treaty between Poland-Lithuania and Wallachia. In brief, the treaty stipu- lated that Michael the Brave should become a voivode of Moldavia and, therefore, Sigismund III’s vassal. The contents of that pact came into conflict with both the reality and the general policy of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Although it might seem surprising, talks gave an extra opportunity to save time. It was the moment of his highest military activity when Wallachian troops would be unchecked power near to Polish-Lithuanian border. Taranowski’s mission represented unofficial and chaotic moves in establishing contacts with the Danubian Principalities, but still clearly shows how diplomatic practice worked in Poland-Lithuania at the end of the sixteenth century

Marek Wrede: Itinerarium Zygmunta III 1587–1632, Semper, Warszawa 2019, ss. 388

Marek Wrede: Itinerarium Zygmunta III 1587–1632, Semper, Warszawa 2019, ss. 38

Relativistic Four-Component DFT Calculations of Vibrational Frequencies

We investigate the effect of relativity on harmonic vibrational frequencies. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the four-component Dirac–Coulomb Hamiltonian have been performed for 15 hydrides (H2X, X = O, S, Se, Te, Po; XH3, X = N, P, As, Sb, Bi; and XH4, X = C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) as well as for HC≡CPbH3. The vibrational frequencies have been calculated using finite differences of the molecular energy with respect to geometrical distortions of the nuclei. The influences of the choice of basis set, exchange–correlation functional, and step length for the numerical differentiation on the calculated harmonic vibrational frequencies have been tested, and the method has been found to be numerically robust. Relativistic effects are noticeable for the heavier congeners H2Te and H2Po, SbH3 and BiH3, and SnH4 and PbH4 and are much more pronounced for the vibrational modes with higher frequencies. Spin–orbit effects constitute a very small fraction of the total relativistic effects, except for H2Te and H2Po. For HC≡CPbH3 we find that only the frequencies of the modes with large contributions from Pb displacements are significantly affected by relativity

Virtual Reality in Teaching and Learning – Experiences and Opinions of Educators

The research problem consisted in the question: “What opportunities and limitations in the use of virtual reality (VR) in education do educators/health sciences specialists notice?”. The opinion on the use of VR in education was formed thanks to a combination of two perspectives of the educators: a learner’s perspective (the experience of immersion in VR), and a teacher’s perspective (professional experience). Methodological triangulation was employed, with both the quantitative and qualitative perspectives used. The following tools were employed in the research: The positive and negative emotions scale (SUPIN), version S.20 and the SDVR Questionnaire. The research was conducted at the Department of Health Sciences of the Wroclaw Medical University in Wroclaw, Poland, between October, 2019 and April, 2020. The research group consisted of 30 people specialising in various areas of health sciences. Specialists in health sciences believe that VR is a method which can make the process of education more attractive and facilitate achievement in the areas of knowledge, competences, and skills. The trainings in which educators can experience immersion in VR not only make it possible to generate ideas on how to use the equipment, but they also reduce their concerns as to using it. The realism of the experiences, the positive emotions, the multidimensionality of the images during immersion make it possible to employ VR in various areas of education in which VR may be treated as a means to practice clinical situations in a safe environment, as well as a tool illustrating various realms of knowledge (such as, e.g., human anatomy). What is considered by educators as the greatest obstacle in the popularisation of VR in education is the limited access to equipment. Other difficulties include: adapting software to the subject curriculum, working in large groups, and competences of the educators

Effect of physical activity on peak expiratory flow and the 6-minute walk test

The study conducted research aimed at assessing the influence of physical activity on peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the 6-minute walk test (6MTW). The research was carried out at the Department of Systemic Rehabilitation - Post Covid at the Pj-Med Rehabilitation Hospital in Popielówek from June 2021 to April 2022.             The inclusion criteria for the studies was a positive PCR test performed up to one year after the end of treatment. Exclusion criteria - active inflammation (CRP <5 or increasing CRP level), acute pulmonary embolism, heart failure with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF <35%) without cardioverter-defibrillator protection, unstable disease outside the circulatory system, unstable coronary artery disease, uncontrolled arrhythmias.             The entire rehabilitation program lasted 6 weeks. The beginning of rehabilitation services was on average 4 months after the positive PCR result (min. 1 month and max. 11 months).             A statistically significant difference was observed in the PEF parameter and in the 6MTW test before and after rehabilitation

Rynek usług turystycznych a rynek pracy w Polsce – ujęcie wielowymiarowe

The research problem underlying the article was the relation between tourism industry and the labor market at the local level across the whole country. Therefore, the main objective was to determine this relation in Poland. The current research methodologies on tourism and labor market provide data for the whole country (such as tourism satellite account TSA) or only to specific areas and there are the case studies. The results from the article may be useful to develop a strategy for selected divisions of the country

Dental and oral manifestations of coeliac disease - a literature review

Introduction  Coeliac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease of the digestive system. It is caused by permanent intolerance to gluten (a protein contained in wheat, rye, barley), which results in the atrophy of the intestinal villi in the small intestine and deficiency of nutrients in the body. It can also manifest itself with various pathologies within the teeth and oral mucosa.  Aim of the study  The purpose of the study is to present the symptoms of coeliac disease in oral cavity.  Materials and methods PubMed and Google Scholar medical databases were analyzed, operating with the following keywords: coeliac disease, oral cavity, manifestations, lesions, symptoms, oral health in as many configurations as needed. Twenty-eight related articles published during the last five years (2018-2023) were selected.  Results  In addition to the classic intestinal symptomatology, coeliac disease can also manifest itself in the oral cavity in the form of delayed tooth eruption, enamel defects, MIH, recurrent aphthous stomatitis or xerostomia. The etiology of the changes is still not clear, but studies show that they most likely arise as a result of impaired absorption of vitamins and minerals in the small intestine.  Conclusion The variety of symptoms of celiac disease makes it a significant diagnostic challenge. It is important to raise awareness among dentists about the symptoms of the disease because a quick diagnosis can prevent many complications.   &nbsp

Parametry morfologii krwi w przebiegu stwardnienia rozsianego

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It mostly affects young people. Pathological changes in MS cause destruction of myelin sheath around axons which impedes transmission of nerve impulses in the central nervous system. The diagnosis of MS is based on clinical evaluation, biochemical tests of blood and cerebrospinal fluid as well as imaging. The study aim was to assess blood counts of MS patients. Materials and methods. The study group comprised 189 people (77 healthy) and 112 MS patients treated at the Department of Neurology at the Medical University in Lublin. Whole blood parameters were determined on the Advia 2120 i analyzer. Statistical analysis was made using the Statistica 12.5 program. Results. Patients evaluated with regard to clinical condition and stage of disease demonstrate differences in RBC count, hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell volume (MCV). RBC count of patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was lower (Me = 4.73 million/μl) than for patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS) (Me = 5.03 million/μl). Additionally, differences in hemoglobin were observed between RRMS patients (Me = 13.9 g/dl) and SPMS patients (Me = 14.7 g/dl). Significant differences were also observed for hematocrit; (Me = 40.5%) for RRMS patients and (Me = 44%) for SPMS patients. Differences in MCV between the examined groups of MS patients and the control group were not statistically significant. The same referred to differences in WBC count; (Me = 6.95 thousand/μl) for MS patients and (Me = 6.59 thousand/μl) for control group as well as platelet count; (Me = 237.5 μs/μl) for SM patients and (Me = 252 thousand/μl) for control group. Conclusion. Analysis of blood parameters reveals significant differences between MS patients and control as well as differences between RRMS and SPMS patients with regard to red blood cell system. An in-depth analysis also in terms of disease duration and stage of clinical advancement may be a valuable source of information on the overall health condition of MS patients.Wstęp. Stwardnienie rozsiane (SM) jest najbardziej rozpowszechnioną chorobą demielinizacyjną ośrodkowego układu nerwowego, występuje głównie u ludzi młodych. Zmiany patologiczne w SM prowadzą do uszkodzenia osłonki mielinowej wokół aksonów, co uniemożliwia prawidłowe przekazywanie impulsów nerwowych w centralnym układzie nerwowym. Diagnoza SM jest stawiana na podstawie oceny klinicznej pacjenta, testów biochemicznych krwi i płynu mózgowo-rdzeniowego oraz badań obrazowych. Celem niniejszego badania była ocena parametrów morfologii krwi u pacjentów z SM. Materiały i metody. Badanie przeprowadzono w grupie 189 osób (77 zdrowych) oraz 112 chorych na MS, leczonych w Klinice Neurologii Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Lublinie. Oznaczenie parametrów morfologii krwi wykonano w krwi pełnej wersenianowej przy użyciu analizatora Advia 2120i. Analizę statystyczną wykonano przy użyciu programu Statistica 12,5. Wyniki. Pacjenci ocenieni pod względem postaci choroby i stadium zaawansowania klinicznego wykazują odmienne wartości całkowitej liczby krwinek czerwonych, hemoglobiny, hematokrytu oraz objętości krwinki czerwonej (MCV). RBC u pacjentów prezentujących postać nawracająco- remitującą (RRMS) była niższa (Me = 4,73 mln/μl) w porównaniu z grupą pacjentów z wtórnie postępującą postacią SM (Me = 5,03 mln/μl). Zauważono dodatkowo różnice w stężeniu hemoglobiny w postaci RRMS (Me = 13,9 g/dl) oraz w postaci SPMS (Me = 14,7 g/dl). Istotnie różnił się hematokryt pacjentów z RRMS (Me = 40,5%) i SPMS (Me = 44%). MCV wykazywało różnice w badanych grupach pacjentów z SM i w grupie kontrolnej, nie były one jednak istotne statystycznie. Ocena liczby krwinek białych u pacjentów z SM (Me = 6,95 tys/μl) w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną (Me = 6,59 tys./μl) nie wykazywała istotnych statystycznie różnic. Ponadto nie wykazano również istotnych różnic w obrębie oceny liczby płytek krwi u pacjentów z SM (Me = 237,5 tys./μl) w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną (Me = 252 tys./μl). Wnioski. Analiza wyników morfologii krwi u pacjentów chorych na SM wskazuje na istotne różnice w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną oraz pomiędzy różnymi postaciami SM w obrębie układu czerwonokrwinkowego. Dokładna analiza również pod kątem czasu trwania choroby i stadium zaawansowania klinicznego może być cennym źródłem informacji o ogólnym stanie zdrowia pacjentów z SM