Polityka równości płci z perspektywy reżimu welfare state. Na przykładzie Polski i Szwecji

The aim of this article is justification for the argument that the prevailing welfare state regime has an impact on the implementation of gender equality policy. It has been based on a review of available scientific literature and statistical data. The first part of the article presents the welfare state regimes according to Esping-Andersen, as well as changes in defining the differences between the various regimes that have occurred as a result of feminist research. The second part is a brief characteristic of gender equality policies implemented in Sweden and Poland. The author attempts to show how the ruling welfare state regime could contribute to the existing gender inequality. The author believes that effective gender equality policy is required to build a knowledge-based society.Celem artykułu jest uzasadnienie tezy, że reżim welfare state panujący w danym państwie ma wpływ na implementację polityki równości płci. Zostało to ukazane w oparciu o analizę dostępnej literatury naukowej i danych statystycznych. W pierwszej części artykułu przedstawiono reżimy welfare state w ujęciu Esping-Andersena, jak również ukazano zmiany w definiowaniu różnic pomiędzy poszczególnymi reżimami, które nastąpiły w wyniku badań feministycznych. Część druga poświęcona jest krótkiej charakterystyce polityki równości płci wdrażanej w Szwecji i Polsce. Autorka stara się ukazać, w jaki sposób panujący reżim welfare state mógł przyczynić się do istniejących nierówności społecznych wynikających z płci. Autorka artykułu uważa, że efektywna polityka równości płci jest konieczna, aby móc budować społeczeństwo oparte na wiedzy

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus strains isolated from poultry

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of bacteria of the genus Enterococcus in poultry, to identify them by means of matrixassisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDITOF MS), and to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated strains to the drugs most frequently used in poultry. The material for the bacteriological tests was obtained mainly from the heart (97%) of the birds investigated. Of a total of 2,970 samples tested, 911 (30.7%) tested positive for Enterococcus spp. Enterococci were detected in broilers (88.1%), laying hens (5.3%), turkeys (3.9%), breeding hens (2.2%), and geese (0.4%). The most commonly identified species were Enterococcus (E.) faecalis (74.7%), E. faecium (10.1%), E. gallinarum (5.5%), E. hirae (4.6%), and E. cecorum (4.1%). The most frequent resistance properties were resistance to sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (88%), tylosin (71.4%), enrofloxacin (69.4%), doxycycline (67.3%), and lincomycin/spectinomycin (56.1%). Only one vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, E. cecorum from a broiler, was found

Corporate social responsibility – PR or activism?

Polscy przedsiębiorcy nie mają klarownego obrazu, czym jest społeczna odpowiedzialność przedsiębiorstw i często utożsamiają ją z Public Relations lub działalnością charytatywną. Na rynkach gospodarek rozwiniętych etapy kreowania społecznej odpowiedzialności przedsiębiorstw trwały kilkadziesiąt lat, w Polsce o CSR zaczęto mówić pod koniec lat dziewięćdziesiątych, przy czym w początkowych stadiach wielu przedsiębiorców, jak i naukowców odnosiło się do tej idei nie tylko z dozą nieufności, ale nawet z wrogością. Wyniki dwóch przedstawionych w artykule badań na temat społecznej odpowiedzialności potwierdzają, że w polskiej rzeczywistości CSR jest ideą mało znaną i co się z tym wiąże, rzadko wdrażanąPolish entrepreneurs lack a clear picture of what constitutes corporate social responsibility and often equate it with the Public Relations or charity. In the markets of developed economies stages of creating lasting social responsibility decades, Poland began to talk about CSR in the late nineties, and in the early stages of many entrepreneurs and scientists referred to the idea that not only distrust, and even hostility. The results of two studies presented in the article on corporate social responsibility confirm that in the Polish reality, CSR is a concept little known and therefore rarely implemented

Gender Equality Policy from the Perspective of The Welfare State Regimes. Polish and Swedish Examples

Celem artykułu jest uzasadnienie tezy, że reżim welfare state panujący w danym państwie ma wpływ na implementację polityki równości płci. Zostało to ukazane w oparciu o analizę dostępnej literatury naukowej i danych statystycznych. W pierwszej części artykułu przedstawiono reżimy welfare state w ujęciu Esping-Andersena, jak również ukazano zmiany w definiowaniu różnic pomiędzy poszczególnymi reżimami, które nastąpiły w wyniku badań feministycznych. Część druga poświęcona jest krótkiej charakterystyce polityki równości płci wdrażanej w Szwecji i Polsce. Autorka stara się ukazać, w jaki sposób panujący reżim welfare state mógł przyczynić się do istniejących nierówności społecznych wynikających z płci. Autorka artykułu uważa, że efektywna polityka równości płci jest konieczna, aby móc budować społeczeństwo oparte na wiedzy.The aim of this article is justification for the argument that the prevailing welfare state regime has an impact on the implementation of gender equality policy. It has been based on a review of available scientific literature and statistical data. The first part of the article presents the welfare state regimes according to Esping-Andersen, as well as changes in defining the differences between the various regimes that have occurred as a result of feminist research. The second part is a brief characteristic of gender equality policies implemented in Sweden and Poland. The author attempts to show how the ruling welfare state regime could contribute to the existing gender inequality. The author believes that effective gender equality policy is required to build a knowledge-based society

Immune Disorders in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: What Do We Know So Far?

This review of literature attempts to identify the factors that are involved in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto thyroiditis, an immune defect in an individual with genetic susceptibility accompanied with environmental factors. The frequency of Hashimoto’s disease is a growing trend and among Caucasians it is estimated at approximately 5%. The dysfunction of the gland may be clinically evident (0.1–2% of the population) or subclinical (10–15%). The pathology is diagnosed five to ten times more often in women than men and its incidence increases with the age (the peak of the number of cases is between 45 and 65); however, it can also be diagnosed in children. The pathogenesis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is still not fully comprehended. In the etiology of Hashimoto thyroiditis excessively stimulated T CD4+ cells are known to play the most important role. Recent research has demonstrated an increasing role of newly discovered cells such as Th17 (CD4+IL-17+) or T regulatory cells (CD4+CD25+highFoxP3+) in the induction of autoimmune disorders. The process of programmed cell death also plays an equally important role in the pathogenesis and the development of hypothyroidism

Does the Epstein–Barr Virus Play a Role in the Pathogenesis of Graves’ Disease?

Graves’ disease (GD) it the most common chronic organ-specific thyroid disorder without a fully recognized etiology. The pathogenesis of the disease accounts for an interaction between genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. The most important environmental factors include viral and bacterial infections. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common latent human viruses. Literature has suggested its role in the development of certain allergic and autoimmune diseases. EBV also exhibits oncogenic properties. The aim of the study was to analyze and compare the presence of EBV DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with newly recognized GD and to find a correlation between EBV infection and the clinical picture of GD. The study included 39 untreated patients with newly diagnosed GD and a control group of 20 healthy volunteers who were gender and age matched. EBV DNA was detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) assay. The studies showed a significantly higher incidence of EBV copies in PBMCs among GD patients compared to the control group. Whereas, no significant correlations were found between the incidence of EBV copies and the evaluated clinical parameters. Our results suggest a probable role of EBV in GD development. EBV infection does not affect the clinical picture of Graves’ disease

Bacteriophages for Controlling <i>Staphylococcus</i> spp. Pathogens on Dairy Cattle Farms: In Vitro Assessment

Pathogenic Staphylococcus spp. strains are significant agents involved in mastitis and in skin and limb infections in dairy cattle. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial effectiveness of bacteriophages isolated from dairy cattle housing as potential tools for maintaining environmental homeostasis. The research will contribute to the use of phages as alternatives to antibiotics. The material was 56 samples obtained from dairy cows with signs of limb and hoof injuries. Staphylococcus species were identified by phenotypic, MALDI-TOF MS and PCR methods. Antibiotic resistance was determined by the disc diffusion method. Phages were isolated from cattle housing systems. Phage activity (plaque forming units, PFU/mL) was determined on double-layer agar plates. Morphology was examined using TEM microscopy, and molecular characteristics were determined with PCR. Among 52 strains of Staphylococcus spp., 16 were used as hosts for bacteriophages. Nearly all isolates (94%, 15/16) showed resistance to neomycin, and 87% were resistant to spectinomycin. Cefuroxime and vancomycin were the most effective antibiotics. On the basis of their morphology, bacteriophages were identified as class Caudoviricetes, formerly Caudovirales, families Myoviridae-like (6), and Siphoviridae-like (9). Three bacteriophages of the family Myoviridae-like, with the broadest spectrum of activity, were used for further analysis. This study showed a wide spectrum of activity against the Staphylococcus spp. strains tested. The positive results indicate that bacteriophages can be used to improve the welfare of cattle

Detection of antibiotic resistance and classical enterotoxin genes in coagulase -negative staphylococci isolated from poultry in Poland

Introduction: The study sought to characterise antimicrobial resistance among coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) species recovered from broiler chickens and turkeys in Poland including the presence of 12 antimicrobial resistance genes and five classical genes of staphylococcal enterotoxins. Material and Methods: A panel of 11 antimicrobial disks evaluated the phenotypic sensitivity of the tested strains to antibiotics. Five multiplex PCR assays were performed using primer pairs for specific detection of antibiotic resistance genes and staphylococcal enterotoxin A to E genes. Results: Selected antimicrobial agent susceptibility testing revealed 100% of such in in vitro conditions to cefoxitin among strains of Staphylococcus sciuri and S. chromogenes. The blaZ (for ß-lactam) and mecA (for methicillin resistance) genes were in 58.3% and 27.5% of strains, respectively. Among genes resistant to tetracyclines, tetK was most frequent. Fewer (CNS) strains showed genes resistant to macrolides, lincosamides, and florfenicol/chloramphenicol. Multiplex PCR for classical enterotoxins (A-E) detected the see gene in two S. hominis strains, while the seb gene producing enterotoxin B was found in one strain of S. epidermidis. Conclusion: CNS strains of Staphylococcus isolated from poultry were either phenotypically or genotypically multidrug resistant. Testing for the presence of the five classical enterotoxin genes showed that CNS strains, as in the case of S. aureus strains, can be a source of food intoxications

Biofilm-Formation Ability and the Presence of Adhesion Genes in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolates from Chicken Broilers

The aim of the study was to analyze the biofilm-production capacity of 87 coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains (CoNS) isolated from broiler chickens and to determine the occurrence of biofilm-associated genes. The biofilm production capacity of staphylococci was assessed using the microtiter plate method (MTP), and the frequency of genes was determined by PCR. The ability to form a biofilm in vitro was shown in 79.3% of examined strains. Strong biofilm capacity was demonstrated in 26.4% of strains, moderate capacity in 25.3%, weak capacity in 27.6%, and a complete lack of biofilm production capacity in 20.7% of strains. The icaAB gene responsible for the production of extracellular polysaccharide adhesins was detected in 6.9% of strains. The other four genes, i.e., bap (encoding biofilm-associated protein), atlE (encoding cell surface protein exhibiting vitronectin-binding activity), fbe (encoding fibrinogen-binding protein), and eno (encoding laminin-binding protein) were detected in 5.7%, 19.5%, 8%, and 70.1% of strains, respectively. Demonstration of genes that play a role in bacterial biofilm formation may serve as a genetic basis to distinguish between symbiotic and potentially invasive coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains