Morfologia kontra molekuły - o konflikcie pomiędzy hipotezami filogenetycznymi na przykładzie łuskonośnych

Squamates are one of the largest groups of extant vertebrates. For many years, their systematics seemed to be well established, yet comprehensive molecular genetics analyses conducted in the XXI century suggest completely different picture of the squamate phylogeny. Traditional morphological data suggest that squamates comprise two main groups – iguanians and scleroglossans. However, molecular data imply that iguanians are deeply nested within Scleroglossa and most closely related to squamates of strikingly different morphology such as monitor lizards, slow worms and snakes. This would suggest a huge amount of convergence either in morphology or gene sequences between many groups of squamates and their closest relatives

Income inequality in the 21st century Poland

This paper combines micro-level tax data, household surveys and national accounts data to provide consistent series of income distribution in Poland over the 2000-2018 period. We find that inequalities in Poland are one of the largest in Europe. In 2018, the share of pretax and pre-transfer income accrued to the top 10% is 37.4%, to the next 40% is 41.1%, and to the bottom 50% is 21.5%. The top 1% earns 13.4% of the total income. The increase in income inequality during this period was largely driven by high business incomes in top income shares. The extent of redistribution in Poland is modest. The tax system is regressive at the top of the income distribution due to lower taxation of business income and the low burden of social contributions. Finally, we show that top income groups are dominated by business owners, males, and big city dwellers, and these groups have been the largest beneficiaries of Poland’s strong growth since 2000. Gender inequality has been high and stable in Poland, with a steeply decreasing female share with income rank (e.g. the share of females in top 0.1% group was 18% in 2018)

Morphology versus molecules - on the conflict between phylogenetic hypotheses in squamate reptiles

Łuskonośne to jedna z największych grup współczesnych kręgowców. Przez wiele lat jej systematyka wydawała się dobrze ustalona, jednak zaawansowane badania molekularne prowadzone w XXI wieku sugerują zupełnie odmienny jej obraz. Tradycyjne dane morfologiczne wskazują, że łuskonośne obejmują dwie główne grupy - Iguania i Scleroglossa. Z kolei według badań molekularnych Iguania są zagnieżdżone głęboko wewnątrz Scleroglossa i blisko spokrewnione z zupełnie odmiennymi morfologicznie waranami, padalcami, czy wężami. Wskazywałoby to na ogromną konwergencję w morfologii lub sekwencjach genów pomiędzy różnymi grupami łuskonośnych i ich krewnych.Squamates are one of the largest groups of extant vertebrates. For many years, their systematics seemed to be well established, yet comprehensive molecular genetics analyses conducted in the XXI century suggest completely different picture of the squamate phylogeny. Traditional morphological data suggest that squamates comprise two main groups - iguanians and scleroglossans. However, molecular data imply that iguanians are deeply nested within Scleroglossa and most closely related to squamates of strikingly different morphology such as monitor lizards, slow worms and snakes. This would suggest a huge amount of convergence either in morphology or gene sequences between many groups of squamates and their closest relatives

History and a present-day of scientific research in the Tatra National Park (Poland) in 1980-2001

The scientific department of Tatra National Park (TNP) has been established in 1980 to attain the educational and scientific objectives of TNP. These aims are achieved by coordination of researches by investigating subjects strictly linked to the needs of the Park, making documentation of researches and by preparing expert opinions and amassing the expertise necessary to the Park. We have observed a permanent increase of the number of scientists engaged and of the numbers of research programs as well. We also have developed our own studies (7 scientific programs in 2001) linked to the current conservation problems of TNP. We present the dynamics of the number of studies performed in TNP listed according to scientific centers involved and to the disciplines studied (earth sciences, botany, zoology, forestry, nature conservation et cetera). We also present rules of obtaining the permissions to make research in TNP and the system of documentation, and we describe as well the way of coordination of the studies and possibility of help for the scientists who perform researches in TNP

Strenghth analysis of hip joint replacement revision implant

The subject of the article is the evaluation of the strength of revision implants made of titanium or tantalum alloy, used during bone reconstruction of a hip joint while potentially using additional stabilizing screws, necessary due to significant bone loss. The article provides a preliminary strength analysis of implants, indispensable for further evaluation of strength limitations due to the risk of implant damage depending on the structure and number of additional screw holes. In the human locomotor system, the hip joint is the joint with the most load, hence the main problem is to establish an adequate load model which ought to be assumed for the needs of implant strength analysis. It is found necessary to perform a short, analytical review of the existing hip joint load models from the point of view of choosing the proper one, considering evaluation of implant strength by means of numerical studies using FEM. Differences in the implant load distribution depending on the used material are shown

New international long-term ecological research on air pollution effects on the Carpathian Mountain forests, Central Europe

An international cooperative project on distribution of ozone in the Carpathian Mountains, Central Europe was conducted from 1997 to 1999. Results of that project indicated that in large parts of the Carpathian Mountains, concentrations of ozone were elevated and potentially phytotoxic to forest vegetation. That study led to the establishment of new long-term studies on ecological changes in forests and other ecosystems caused by air pollution in the Retezat Mountains, Southern Carpathians, Romania and in the Tatra Mountains, Western Carpathians on the Polish-Slovak border. Both of these important mountain ranges have the status of national parks and are Man & the Biosphere Reserves. In the Retezat Mountains, the primary research objective was to evaluate how air pollution may affect forest health and biodiversity. The main research objective in the Tatra Mountains was to evaluate responses of natural and managed Norway spruce forests to air pollution and other stresses. Ambient concentrations of ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) as well as forest health and biodiversity changes were monitored on densely distributed research sites. Initial monitoring of pollutants indicated low levels Of O3, SO2, and NOx in the Retezat Mountains, while elevated levels of O3 and high deposition of atmospheric sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) have characterized the Tatra Mountains. In the Retezat Mountains, air pollution seems to have little effect on forest health; however, there was concern that over a long time, even low levels of pollution may affect biodiversity of this important ecosystem. In contrast, severe decline of Norway spruce has been observed in the Tatra Mountains. Although bark beetle seems to be the immediate cause of that decline, long-term elevated levels of atmospheric N and S depositions and elevated O3 could predispose trees to insect attacks and other stresses. European and US scientists studied pollution deposition, soil and plant chemistry, O3-sensitive plant species, forest insects, and genetic changes in the Retezat and Tatra Mountains. Results of these investigations are presented in a GIS format to allow for a better understanding of the changes and the recommendations for effective management in these two areas