Konstytucyjna zasada autonomii uniwersytetów na przykładzie Hiszpanii

This paper focuses on the autonomy of universities in Spain. Research on this subject is justified as the Spanish higher education model is a good illustration of a decentralised education system and, as such, may be used to analyse the links between the constitutional autonomy of universities and the practical implementation of this guarantee. In the Spanish case, the constitutional guarantee of autonomy as well as freedom of science and teaching at universities does not mean that universities in that country enjoy fuli and unconstrained autonomy. There are two underlying reasons for this situation. Firstly, the Spanish Constitution guarantees autonomy under principles specified in law, thus signalling that certain constraints are permissible. Secondly, the Spanish higher education system developed from the French model, with the governmental authority prevailing over universities. Although the legislation was modified quite frequently, thus changing the boundaries of autonomy and the mutual relations between universities and central government, the Spanish system still displays many characteristics of the French model.Przedmiotem artykułu jest autonomia uniwersytetów w Hiszpanii. Podjęcie badań naukowych tej kwestii jest zasadne, ponieważ hiszpański model szkolnictwa wyższego dobrze ilustruje zdecentralizowany system edukacji oraz może stanowić przedmiot analizy związków między konstytucyjnie zagwarantowaną zasadą autonomii uniwersytetów a jej realizacją. Konstytucyjna gwarancja autonomii uniwersytetów oraz wolności nauki i nauczania w przypadku Hiszpanii nie oznacza, że uniwersytety cieszą się pełną i nieograniczoną autonomią. Dzieje się tak z dwóch względów. Po pierwsze, Konstytucja Hiszpanii stwierdza gwarancję autonomii szkół wyższych na zasadach określonych w ustawie, sygnalizując w ten sposób dopuszczalność pewnych ograniczeń. Po drugie, system szkolnictwa wyższego w Hiszpanii wyrasta z modelu francuskiego, z przewagą władzy państwa nad szkołami wyższymi. Mimo że ustawodawstwo zmieniało się dość często - a tym samym zmieniał się zakres autonomii uniwersytetów oraz wzajemne relacje między nimi a władzą centralną - hiszpański system szkolnictwa wyższego wciąż ma wiele cech charakterystycznych dla tego modelu

THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMPETITION IN POLAND AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH: THE CASE OF ECONOMIC AND LAW STUDIES

        Universities compete for candidates for studies. This phenomenon should be particularly evident in the case of popular mass study programs like economics or law. The choice of a university and the study programs is affected by the level of perceived quality of education and the tuition paid. Therefore using measures of competition similar to the law of universal gravitation we measure the competition pressure exercised on each study program by other programs. Subsequently we assess whether there is interdependence between quality of education and research, taking into account the intensity of competition between studies offered by different universities in Poland. The quality of education is taken from Polish Accreditation Committee resolutions and the research quality data is based on scientific categorization. It can be assumed that the highest quality of education and research prevails only in the most competitive environment. In this way we can determine whether the competition pressure is sufficient to improve the quality of education and research and whether there is a need to impose special regulations ensuring external supervision over the quality of education and research activities in higher education sector

Academic freedom as a defensive right

Ensuring the proper implementation of academic freedom can be difficult both for policymakers and university authorities. Hence, great emphasis should be given to the defensive function of academic freedom. In this paper, we analyse the legal regulations and the jurisprudence of the constitutional courts of Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. We identify who is the holder of academic freedom, how the defensive function of academic freedom works and what academic activities are being protected. The study shows that individual countries emphasise slightly different aspects of the defensive function of academic freedom but remain unanimous on the essence of this function. As academic freedom is not defined unequivocally in most constitutions and legal frameworks, constitutional courts play a significant role in shaping its defensive function.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of irisin in ischemic heart disease

Introduction: Physical effort has a positive effect on the human body, through its protective effect on the development of many diseases, along with cardiovascular system diseases. Irisin is an adipomiokine that is a fragment of the doemeny of extracellular FNDC5 protein. It is released from FNDC5 due to physical activity and peroxisome proliferator receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) stimulation. It forms a link between the muscles and other tissues of the body. Moreover, it affects the conversion of white adipose tissue into brownish-like fat tissue. Aim: For over 15 years ischemic heart disease has been one of the most common causes of death in the world. Therefore, attempts have been made to clarify the role it has in ischemic heart disease. Conclusions: It has been proven, that the concentration of irisin decreases in patients with myocardial infarction it also correlates with the severity of stable coronary disease and a higher SYNTAX score. Hence, the hypothesis was that the level of this protein probably depends on the inflow of blood to the myocardium. It can therefore be used for the panel of myocardial damage. The New Approach of therapeutic options uses irisin with stem cells during the repairing of myocardium. Despite much interest in irisin, there are still many questions that need to be answered, in particular those related to the irisin cell receptor and what is related to the clarification of its mechanisms in physiology

Effectiveness of the influence of selected essential oils on the growth of parasitic fusarium isolated from wheat kernels from central Europe

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of selected seven commercial essential oils (EsO) (grapefruit, lemongrass, tea tree (TTO), thyme, verbena, cajeput, and Litsea cubeba) on isolates of common Central European parasitic fungal species of Fusarium obtained from infected wheat kernels, and to evaluate the oils as potential natural fungicides. The study was conducted in 2 stages. At each stage, the fungicidal activity of EsO (with concentrations of 0.025; 0.05; 0.125; 0.25; 0.50; 1.0, and 2.0%) against Fusarium spp. was evaluated using the disc plate method and zones of growth inhibition were measured. At the first stage, the fungistatic activity of EsO was evaluated against four species of Fusarium from the Polish population (F. avenaceum FAPL, F. culmorum FCPL, F. graminearum FGPL and F. oxysporum FOPL). The correlation coefficient between the mycelial growth rate index (T) and the fungistatic activity (FA) was calculated. At the second stage, on the basis of the mycelium growth rate index, the effectiveness of the EsO in limiting the development of Fusarium isolates from the German population (F. culmorum FC1D, F. culmorum FC2D, F. graminearum FG1D, F. graminearum FG2D and F. poae FP0D) was assessed. The first and second stage results presented as a growth rate index were then used to indicate essential oils (as potential natural fungicides) effectively limiting the development of various common Central European parasitic species Fusarium spp. Finally, the sensitivity of four Fusarium isolates from the Polish population and five Fusarium isolates from the German population was compared. The data were compiled in STATISTICA 13.0 (StatSoft, Inc, CA, USA) at the significance level of 0.05. Fusarium isolates from the German population were generally more sensitive than those from the Polish population. The sensitivity of individual Fusarium species varied. Their vulnerability, regardless of the isolate origin, in order from the most to the least sensitive, is as follows: F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. poae, F. avenaceum and F. oxysporum. The strongest fungicidal activity, similar to Funaben T, showed thyme oil (regardless of the concentration). Performance of citral oils (lemongrass and Litsea cubeba) was similar but at a concentration above 0.025%

Salpingotomia vs salpingektomia – porównanie płodności kobiet po operacyjnym leczeniu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej, 24-miesięczne badanie obserwacyjne

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is usually located in the Fallopian tube and it has a significant adverse effect on women’s fertility. Three types of EP treatment include: expectant, medical, and surgical radical (salpingectomy) or conservative (salpingotomy) management. Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare women’s fertility after surgical radical or conservative treatment of tubal ectopic pregnancy. Materials and methods: Out of the 58 patients operated because of tubal EP pregnancy, 22 underwent laparoscopic salpingotomy (group 1) and 36 laparoscopic salpingectomy (group 2). EP-related data were obtained from medical documentation (the symptoms, diagnostic tests, EP risk factors, medical reproductive and surgical history, clinical status during EP surgery). Follow-up data were collected by means of a telephone interview. The survey included questions focused on women’s fertility during a 24-month period following the surgical treatment of EP (conception, subsequent intrauterine pregnancies and ectopic pregnancy). Results: A 24-month follow-up period revealed that the cumulative intrauterine pregnancy rate was higher in group 1 (salpingotomy) as compared to group 2 (salpingectomy), i.e. 50% vs. 41.5%, respectively. Tubal EP returned in 13.6% cases (group 1) vs. 19.4% (group 2). All submitted results are statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the literature which reports a trend of higher odds for intrauterine pregnancy after salpingotomy for surgical treatment of EP as compared to salpingectomy. Moreover, the risk for recurrent tubal EP is comparable for both methods. Regardless, the decision about the operating range in case of EP always depends on the actual clinical state of the patient.Ciąża ektopowa (CE) najczęściej lokalizuje się w jajowodzie i jest czynnikiem wpływającym istotnie na płodność kobiet. Jajowodową ciążę ektopową można leczyć na trzy sposoby: farmakologiczne, operacyjnie zachowawczo (salpingotomia) oraz radykalnie (salpingektomia). Cel pracy: Celem tej pracy jest porównanie płodności kobiet po operacyjnym laparoskopowym leczeniu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej przez salpingotomię i salpingektomię. Materiały i metody: Do badania zakwalifikowano 58 pacjentek operowanych z powodu jajowodowej ciąży ektopowej metodą laparoskopowej salpingotomii (Grupa 1) lub salpingektomii (Grupa 2). Na podstawie dokumentacji medycznej oceniono przebieg CE (objawy, badania diagnostyczne, czynniki ryzyka CE, wywiad położniczo-ginekologiczny, przebieg operacji). Następnie na podstawie telefonicznej ankiety uzupełniano dane na temat płodności pacjentek starających się o dziecko w okresie 24 miesięcy od operacji (ciąże wewnątrzmaciczne, ciąże pozamaciczne). Wyniki: W ciągu 24 miesięcy po operacji CE ciąża wewnątrzmaciczna występowała częściej w Grupie 1 (salpingotomia) 50% vs 41,5% w Grupie 2 (salpingektomia). Ciąża ektopowa jajowodowa ponownie wystąpiła w 13,6% przypadków w Grupie 1 vs 19,4% w Grupie 2. Powyższe wyniki nie są istotne statystycznie. Wnioski: W tym badaniu jak i w literaturze obserwowany jest pewien trend sugerujący większą szansę na ciążę wewnątrzmaciczną po operacji jajowodowej CE metodą salpingotomii w porównaniu do salpingektomii. Natomiast ryzyko wystąpienia ponownej jajowodowej CE jest porównywalne dla obu metod operacji. Jednakże, decyzja o zakresie operacji CE jajowodowej zależy przede wszystkim od aktualnego obrazu klinicznego pacjentek

Association between polymorphisms in the SOX9 region and canine disorder of sex development (78,XX; SRY-negative) revisited in a multibreed case-control study

Testicular or ovotesticular disorders of sex development (DSD) in individuals with female karyotype (XX) lacking the SRY gene has been observed in several mammalian species, including dogs. A genetic background for this abnormality has been extensively sought, and the region harboring the SOX9 gene has often been considered key in canine DSD. Three types of polymorphism have been studied in this region to date: a) copy number variation (CNV) in a region about 400 kb upstream of SOX9, named CNVR1; b) duplication of SOX9; and c) insertion of a single G-nucleotide (rs852549625) approximately 2.2 Mb upstream of SOX9. The aim of this study was thus to comprehensively analyze these polymorphisms in a large multibreed case-control cohort containing 45 XX DSD dogs, representing 23 breeds. The control set contained 57 fertile females. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was used to study CNVR1 and the duplication of SOX9. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to visualize copy numbers on a cellular level. The Sanger sequencing approach was performed to analyze the region harboring the G-insertion. We confirmed that CNVR1 is highly polymorphic and that copy numbers varied between 0 and 7 in the case and control cohorts. Interestingly, the number of copies was significantly higher (P = 0.038) in XX DSD dogs (mean = 2.7) than in the control females (mean = 2.0) but not in all studied breeds. Duplication of the SOX9 gene was noted only in a single XX DSD dog (an American Bully), which had three copies of SOX9. Distribution of the G-nucleotide insertion was similar in the XX DSD (frequency 0.20) and control (frequency 0.14) cohorts. Concluding, our study showed that CNVR1, located upstream of SOX9, is associated with the XX DSD phenotype, though in a breed-specific manner. Duplication of the SOX9 gene is a rare cause of this disorder in dogs. Moreover, we did not observe any association of G-insertion with the DSD phenotype. We assume that the genetic background of XX DSD can be different in certain breeds

Maternal protein and folic acid intake during gestation does not program leptin transcription or serum concentration in rat progeny

Maternal nutrition during gestation influences the development of the fetus, thereby determining its phenotype, including nutrient metabolism, appetite, and feeding behavior. The control of appetite is a very complex process and can be modulated by orexigenic and anorexigenic mediators such as leptin, which is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis by controlling food intake and energy expenditure. Leptin transcription and secretion are regulated by numerous factors, nutrition being one of them. The present study was designed to test whether maternal nutrition can permanently affect leptin gene transcription and leptin serum concentration in rat progeny. Moreover, we analyzed whether leptin expression and secretion in response to high-fat postweaning feeding depends on the maternal diet during gestation. Pregnant rats were fed either a normal protein, normal folic acid diet (the AIN-93 diet); a protein-restricted, normal folic acid diet; a protein-restricted, folic acid-supplemented diet; or a normal protein, folic acid-supplemented diet. After weaning, the progeny was fed either the AIN-93 diet or a high-fat diet. Neither maternal nutrition nor the postweaning diet significantly affected Lep transcription. High-fat feeding after weaning was associated with higher serum leptin concentration, but the reaction of an organism to the fat content of the diet was not determined by maternal nutrition during gestation. There was no correlation between Lep mRNA level and serum leptin concentration. Global DNA methylation in adipose tissue was about 30% higher in rats fed postnatally the high-fat diet (P < 0.01). Our study showed that the protein and folic acid content in the maternal diet had no significant programming effect on Lep transcription and serum leptin concentration in the rats

Protein and folic acid content in the maternal diet determine lipid metabolism and response to high-fat feeding in rat progeny in an age-dependent manner

Maternal diet during gestation can exert a long-term effect on the progeny’s health by programming their developmental scheme and metabolism. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of maternal diet on lipid metabolism in 10- and 16-week-old rats. Pregnant dams were fed one of four diets: a normal protein and normal folic acid diet (NP-NF), a protein-restricted and normal folic acid diet (PR-NF), a protein-restricted and folic-acid-supplemented diet (PR-FS), or a normal protein and folic-acid-supplemented diet (NP-FS). We also tested whether prenatal nutrition determines the reaction of an organism to a postweaning high-fat diet. Blood biochemistry and biometrical parameters were evaluated. The expression patterns of PPARα, PPARγ, and LXRα in the liver and adipose tissue were examined by real-time PCR. In the 10-week-old, rats folic acid supplementation of the maternal diet was associated with reduced circulating glucose and total cholesterol concentrations (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Neither prenatal diets nor postnatal feeding affected blood insulin concentrations. In the 16-week-old rats, body weight, abdominal fat mass and central adiposity were reduced in the progeny of the folic acid–supplemented dams (P < 0.01, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Maternal protein restriction had no effect on biometry or blood biochemical parameters. Folic acid supplementation of the maternal diet was associated with reduced expression of PPARα, PPARγ, and LXRα in the liver (P < 0.001). Reduced protein content in the maternal diet was associated with increased PPARα mRNA level in the liver (P < 0.001) and reduced LXRα in adipose tissue (P < 0.01). PPARα and PPARγ transcription in the liver, as well as LXRα transcription in adipose tissue, was also dependent on interaction effects between prenatal and postnatal diet compositions. PPARγ transcription in the liver was correlated with the abdominal fat mass, body weight, and calorie intake, while PPARγ transcription in adipose tissue was correlated with reduced body weight and calorie intake. Total serum cholesterol concentration was correlated with LXRα transcription in the liver. Folic acid supplementation of the maternal diet may have favorable effects for lipid metabolism in the progeny, but these effects are modified by the postnatal diet and age. Furthermore, the expression of LXRα, PPARα, and PPARγ in the liver and adipose tissue largely depends on the protein and folic acid content in the maternal diet during gestation. However, the altered transcription profile of these key regulators of lipid metabolism does not straightforwardly explain the observed phenotype

THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMPETITION IN POLAND AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH: THE CASE OF ECONOMIC AND LAW STUDIES

        Universities compete for candidates for studies. This phenomenon should be particularly evident in the case of popular mass study programs like economics or law. The choice of a university and the study programs is affected by the level of perceived quality of education and the tuition paid. Therefore using measures of competition similar to the law of universal gravitation we measure the competition pressure exercised on each study program by other programs. Subsequently we assess whether there is interdependence between quality of education and research, taking into account the intensity of competition between studies offered by different universities in Poland. The quality of education is taken from Polish Accreditation Committee resolutions and the research quality data is based on scientific categorization. It can be assumed that the highest quality of education and research prevails only in the most competitive environment. In this way we can determine whether the competition pressure is sufficient to improve the quality of education and research and whether there is a need to impose special regulations ensuring external supervision over the quality of education and research activities in higher education sector.</p