Day-of-the-Week Effects in Liquidity on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

The purpose of this study is to explore the day-of-the-week patterns in liquidity on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) using daily turnover as a liquidity measure. The existence of an inverted U-shape in the stock turnover across the trading days is examined. The research sample covers 2502 daily observations in the period January 2005 – December 2014. 53 WSE-listed companies divided into three size groups are investigated. In the study the OLS method with the HAC covariance matrix estimation and the GARCH-type models are employed. The results indicate that liquidity on the WSE tends to be significantly lower on Mondays and higher on Wednesdays in comparison with the other days of the week. However, the inverted U-shape in daily turnover occurs only among the companies with the largest market capitalization

Wybrane aspekty jakości życia chorych po niedokrwiennych udarach mózgu

Introduction. Ischemic stroke is the main cause of disability, it worsens the quality of life of patients and often leads to death.Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients after ischemic stroke, as well as to identify the factors that determine it.Material and Methods. The study included 53 patients within the period ranging from 6 to 12 months after the first occurrence of ischemic stroke and meeting the inclusion criteria for the study. The quality of life was examined by author questionnaire survey, based on the Barthel Scale, WHOQOL-BREF Scale and the Polish adaptation of the Stroke-Specific Scale Quality of Life (Polish: SJŻUM). The questionnaire consists of 12 subscales, being the components of three the main areas: physical, psychological and socio-environmental.Results. The quality of life after ischemic brain stroke deteriorates. In the physical sphere the biggest restrictions apply to upper limb functioning (with the average M=3.77) and self-service (with the average M=3.83), in the psychological field they refer to emotions (the average M=3.93), and in the socio-environmental sphere to the social role (with the average M=2.79). The average of the results obtained in each of those fields shows that the best results were obtained in the field of psychology.Conclusions. The variables that determine the quality of life include: age, the level of education, marital status, the side of brain damage, economic status, the level of knowledge. (JNNN 2016;5(2):69–75)Wstęp. Udar niedokrwienny mózgu stanowi główną przyczynę niepełnosprawności, pogarsza jakość życia chorych, a często także prowadzi do śmierci.Cel. Celem badania była ocena jakości życia chorych po niedokrwiennym udarze mózgu, jak i identyfikacja czynników ją determinujących.Materiał i metody. Badaniem objęto 53 osoby, w okresie od 6 do 12 miesięcy od wystąpienia pierwszego udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu oraz spełniających kryteria włączenia do badania. Jakość życia badano autorskim kwestionariu­szem ankiety, opartym na Skali Barthel, WHOQOL-BREF oraz na polskiej adaptacji skali Stroke Specific-Quality Of Life (SJŻUM). Kwestionariusz składa się z 12 podskal, będących składowymi trzech głównych dziedzin: fizycznej, psychologicznej i socjalno-środowiskowej.Wyniki. Jakość życia po udarze niedokrwiennym mózgu ulega pogorszeniu. W dziedzinie fizycznej największe ograniczenia dotyczą funkcji kończyny górnej (ze średnią M=3,77) oraz samoobsługi (ze średnią M=3,83), w dziedzinie psychologicznej emocji (ze średnią M=3,93), a w dziedzinie socjalno-środowiskowej roli społecznej (ze średnią M=2,79). Średnia uzyskanych wyników z poszczególnych dziedzin wskazuje na najlepsze uzyskane wyniki w zakresie dziedziny psychologicznej.Wnioski. Zmiennymi determinującymi jakość życia są: wiek, poziom wykształcenia, stan cywilny, strona uszkodze­nia mózgu, status materialny, poziom wiedzy. (PNN 2016;5(2):69–75

Cherry Point exporting of coal on large ships, environmental impact assessment, Bellingham, WA

This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is based on the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements for any action that has a significant, adverse impact on the environment. These requirements are set forth in Chapter 197-11 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). The proposed action is to move up to 54 million metric tons per year of dry bulk commodities including coal requiring approximately 487 vessels (Panamax and Capesize class) per year, each at a length of 800 to 900 feet (GPT FAQ, 2011). At half-capacity one more vessel every other day would follow this shipping route and at full operational capacity about 1-2 vessels would call at the Gateway Pacific Terminal per day. Under this proposal, the immense size and weight of the ships combined with the storage methods of coal and bunker fuel will increase the possibility and severity of fire, explosions, and oil spills. Our alternative to the proposed action evaluates use of covered and well maintained conveyor belts for coal loading, treated ballast water, higher quality bunker fuel, covered coal storage on board ships, increased regulation and maintenance, increased tugboat use and increased U.S. coast guard (USCG) presence. The alternative would allow the coal to be transported while also minimizing the associated air pollution, water pollution, and accidents such as oil spills, fires, and collisions. Under the no action plan, the Cherry Point Coal Terminal proposal would not be approved and there would be no change in the current overseas transport of coal and other dry bulk commodities through Haro Strait from a proposed terminal at Cherry Poin

Diet of the grey wolf Canis lupus in Roztocze and Solska Forest, south-east Poland

The diet composition and prey selection of grey wolves (Canis lupus) inhabiting the Roztocze and Solska Forest (south-east Poland) was studied based on an analysis of scats collected in 2001-2002 (n = 84) and 2017-2020 (n = 302). In both periods, wolves preyed mainly on wild ungulates (96.5-96.7% of consumed biomass). Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) was the most critical wolf prey accounting for 57.8% of consumed biomass in 2001-2002 and 49.2% and 2017-2020, but wolves positively select only wild boar (Jacob's selectivity index D = 0.213 in 2001-2002 and 0.710 in 2017-2020) and fallow deer (D = 0.588 only in 2017-2020). The largest species – moose Alces alces and red deer Cervus elaphus – were consumed less than expected from their share in the ungulate community. Predation on medium-sized wild mammals and domestic animals was low, 0.8-2.2% and 1.1-2.7% of the biomass consumed, respectively. The breadth of the wolf diet was very narrow and identical in both study periods (B = 1.07), while the similarity of diet composition was high (α = 0.999). This study indicated the stability of the wolf diet over two decades and the importance of wild boar as a food source for this carnivore

GrassPlot v. 2.00 – first update on the database of multi-scale plant diversity in Palaearctic grasslands

Abstract: GrassPlot is a collaborative vegetation-plot database organised by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) and listed in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD ID EU-00-003). Following a previous Long Database Report (Dengler et al. 2018, Phyto- coenologia 48, 331–347), we provide here the first update on content and functionality of GrassPlot. The current version (GrassPlot v. 2.00) contains a total of 190,673 plots of different grain sizes across 28,171 independent plots, with 4,654 nested-plot series including at least four grain sizes. The database has improved its content as well as its functionality, including addition and harmonization of header data (land use, information on nestedness, structure and ecology) and preparation of species composition data. Currently, GrassPlot data are intensively used for broad-scale analyses of different aspects of alpha and beta diversity in grassland ecosystems

The extinct Sicilian wolf shows a complex history of isolation and admixture with ancient dogs

The Sicilian wolf remained isolated in Sicily from the end of the Pleistocene until its extermination in the 1930s–1960s. Given its long-term isolation on the island and distinctive morphology, the genetic origin of the Sicilian wolf remains debated. We sequenced four nuclear genomes and five mitogenomes from the seven existing museum specimens to investigate the Sicilian wolf ancestry, relationships with extant and extinct wolves and dogs, and diversity. Our results show that the Sicilian wolf is most closely related to the Italian wolf but carries ancestry from a lineage related to European Eneolithic and Bronze Age dogs. The average nucleotide diversity of the Sicilian wolf was half of the Italian wolf, with 37–50% of its genome contained in runs of homozygosity. Overall, we show that, by the time it went extinct, the Sicilian wolf had high inbreeding and low-genetic diversity, consistent with a population in an insular environmen

Article The extinct Sicilian wolf shows a complex history of isolation and admixture with ancient dogs

The Sicilian wolf remained isolated in Sicily from the end of the Pleistocene until its extermination in the 1930s-1960s. Given its long-term isolation on the island and distinctive morphology, the genetic origin of the Sicilian wolf remains debated. We sequenced four nuclear genomes and five mitogenomes from the seven existing museum specimens to investigate the Sicilian wolf ancestry, rela-tionships with extant and extinct wolves and dogs, and diversity. Our results show that the Sicilian wolf is most closely related to the Italian wolf but carries ancestry from a lineage related to European Eneolithic and Bronze Age dogs. The average nucleotide diversity of the Sicilian wolf was half of the Italian wolf, with 37-50% of its genome contained in runs of homozygosity. Overall, we show that, by the time it went extinct, the Sicilian wolf had high inbreeding and low-genetic diversity, consistent with a population in an insular environment

Occurrence of Dirofilaria repens in wild carnivores in Poland.

Dirofilaria repens is an expanding vector-borne zoonotic parasite of canines and other carnivores. Sub-clinically infected dogs constitute the most important reservoir of the parasite and the source of infection for its mosquito vectors. However, occurrence of D. repens infection in wild animals may contribute to the transmission of the parasite to humans and may explain the endemicity of filariae in newly invaded regions. The aim of the current study was to determine the occurrence of D. repens in 511 blood and spleen samples from seven species of wild carnivores (wolves, red foxes, Eurasian badgers, raccoons, raccoon dogs, stone martens, and pine martens) from different regions of Poland by means of a PCR protocol targeting the 12S rDNA gene. Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodeships in four of the seven regions of Poland: Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence was found in Masovia region (8%), coinciding with the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs in Central Poland. The DNA of Dirofilaria was detected in 16 samples of three species (total prevalence 3.13%). A low and similar percentage of positive samples (1.9%, 4.2% and 4.8%) was recorded among badgers, red foxes, and wolves, respectively. Dirofilaria repens–positive hosts were identified in seven of fourteen voivodships. Based on detection in different voivodeships, D. repens–positive animals were recorded in four out of the seven regions of Poland: in Masovia, Lesser Poland, Pomerania, and Warmia-Masuria. The highest prevalence of filariae was found in Masovia region (8%), reflecting the highest previously recorded prevalence in dogs (12–50%) in Central Poland. In summary, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the epidemiology of D. repens in seven species of wild hosts in all seven regions of Poland and identified the first case of D. repens infection in Eurasian badgers in Poland and the second in Europe

Rehabilitation and release of orphaned Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Europe: Implications for management and conservation.

Rehabilitation of injured or immature individuals has become an increasingly used conservation and management tool. However, scientific evaluation of rehabilitations is rare, raising concern about post-release welfare as well as the cost-effectiveness of spending scarce financial resources. Over the past 20 years, events of juvenile Eurasian lynx presumably orphaned have been observed in many European lynx populations. To guide the management of orphaned lynx, we documented survival, rehabilitation and fate after the release and evaluated the potential relevance of lynx orphan rehabilitation for population management and conservation implications. Data on 320 orphaned lynx was collected from 1975 to 2022 from 13 countries and nine populations. The majority of orphaned lynx (55%) were taken to rehabilitation centres or other enclosures. A total of 66 orphans were released back to nature. The portion of rehabilitated lynx who survived at least one year after release was 0.66. Release location was the best predictor for their survival. Of the 66 released lynx, ten have reproduced at least once (8 females and 2 males). Conservation implications of rehabilitation programmes include managing genetic diversity in small, isolated populations and reintroducing species to historical habitats. The lynx is a perfect model species as most reintroduced populations in Central Europe show significantly lower observed heterozygosity than most of the autochthonous populations, indicating that reintroduction bottlenecks, isolation and post-release management have long-term consequences on the genetic composition of populations. The release of translocated orphans could be a valuable contribution to Eurasian lynx conservation in Europe. It is recommended to release orphans at the distribution edge or in the frame of reintroduction projects instead of a release in the core area of a population where it is not necessary from a demographic and genetic point of view. Rehabilitation programmes can have conservation implications that extend far beyond individual welfare benefits