DPJ Government and Climate Change Policy

The monograph provides knowledge on the complex nature of both external and internal determinants influencing foreign policies of East Asian countries. Through a range of case studies on Japan, China, Taiwan and North Korea, the authors analyze international relations in East Asia as a mosaic of intertwining processes of globalization and regionalization, interests of global and regional powers, local social and economic conditions, national institutional arrangements, and even personal factors. They argue that sometimes a sudden change of one small element in this mosaic suffices to influence the whole system. Instead of providing a simplified interpretation of the analyzed processes, the monograph tries to illustrate them in their entire complexity.In 2009 election manifesto Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leaders voiced their decisive support for stronger engagement in international climate negotiations. The promises were realized by an ambitious climate mitigation proposal presented by Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio at COP 15 in Copenhagen. 25% CO2 levels reduction commitment was heavily criticized by Japanese opposition, METI bureaucrats and business circles. Despite strong domestic opposition Prime Minister Hatoyama decided to place climate mitigation among priorities of his foreign policy. Next DPJ administration quickly backtracked from the position of climate leader. The head of the Japanese delegation at COP 16 in Mexico stated that Japan would not be a part of new Kyoto Protocol commitment period. The aim of the article is to identify changing factors in decision–making process that led to quick change in DPJ’s approach to international climate mitigation efforts.This article is a result of research conducted as a part of a project financed by the Polish National Science Centre based on decision No. DEC– 2013/11/B/HS5/04005

The Agency Problem in the Merger of Vistula & Wólczanka Ltd. and W. Kruk Ltd.

The article discusses the behavior of company bodies and possible conflicts of interests occurring among them during company takeover. In this context, the insider management model, popular in Poland, is discussed. Its implications have been presented using the example of the merger between Vistula & Wólczanka Ltd. and W. Kruk Ltd

Downward nominal wage rigidity in Poland

We use data on enterprise level from a survey of medium sized and big companies to test for downward nominal wage rigidity in Poland. We find relatively weak support for downward nominal wage rigidity when average total compensation in the enterprise is taken into account. However, since this result may be affected by job rotation,we propose a method for eliminating its impact and find that downward wage rigidity becomes higher. Moreover, disaggregating the data reveals strong differences between sectors, with no rigidity in highly competitive branches and significant rigidities in monopolized or stateowned sectors. Still, the amount of downward nominal wage rigidity seems lower than in other countries, although, due to differences in data sets, robust comparisons are not possible.downward nominal wage rigidity, Poland, inflation

Impact of Pilots' Tiredness on the Outcome of Psychological Testing

Presented work is primarily oriented on the experimental verification of the influence of fatigue on the psychological condition of the flying personnel, using psychological and performance tests. For the evaluation of a pilot performance, the 24 hours experiment was conducted. In total, eight subjects participated in the experimental measurements. Eight participants went through several tests, including simulator flights, to investigate the effects of the fatigue on the results of psychological measurements. Measurements included workload evaluation, using NASA task load evaluation concept and performance testing, using the so-called OR-test. Significant statistical differences between measurements performed during 24 hours were not found in the case of NASA task load Scores. In the case of OR-test, Friedman ANOVA and subsequent post-hoc analysis show that the greatest decrease in performance was observed in approximately 22 hours of wakefulness, i.e. approximately in half of the measuring process. The concept of 24-hour measurements for the quantification of fatigue is not commonly used yet as well as objectivization using performance testing. As the apparent effect of fatigue is mainly on performance testing results, it can be argued that this work could serve as a basis for further studies on fatigue. Also, it could serve as a support for introducing new pilots' psychological testing procedures in the future, which could contribute to current efforts to improve aviation safety

A COMPARISON OF METHODS USING STRAIN GAUGES TO MONITOR PHYSIOLOGICAL MOVEMENTS ON A HOSPITAL BED

Two methods which are suitable to monitor the small movements of the patient in a horizontal position on the bed are compared. The methods use sensors based on strain gauge bridges configured to measure the torsion deformation and sensors based on strain gauge bridges configured to measure the bending deformation of two two-arm brackets. Both methods provide information about the patient's physiological movements. The methods were tested and compared in order to decide which methods may be most appropriate in clinical practice. The two methods have never been compared before, and the results can be used in development of the new methods of patient monitoring

Zagadnienie tzw. domów kultowych w megalitycznym obrządku pogrzebowym ludności kultury pucharów lejkowatych w Polsce

The article is a summary of the state of the art concerning the so-called cult houses discovered in megaliths of the Funnel Beaker culture (hereinafter referred to as TRB from German Trichterbecherkultur) in its Eastern and South-Eastern groups. The author suggests to divide the discussed objects into types “A” and “B”, which may better reflect their characteristics. He also emphasises that the reinterpretation of some of the known features as the structures of this type would significantly increase their number. If the chosen course of interpretation appears accurate, it may indicate that the presence of wooden structures in the TRB graves in the Polish lands was not at all special. However, it should be borne in mind that these objects might have served not only for religious purposes

Irlandzkie klimaty.

Wystawa fotograficzna Marioli i Jacka Sochów Wyspy jak baśnie to zapis podróży po Zachodniej Irlandii. Trasa wiodła od Atlantyku oszałamiającego swym ogromem i urokiem, do wysp, gdzie magia dawnych wieków jest wciąż żywa, a muzyka i język irlandzki nigdy nie cichną. Piękne zdjęcia można było oglądać w Galerii Biblio-Art., a wystawie towarzyszył pokaz zbioru książek związanych z Irlandią

Normy i wartości subkultury punk w Polsce

W artykule rozważam problem norm i wartości, jakimi kierują się obecnie przedstawiciele subkultury punk. Chcąc uchwycić przemianę, jakiej uległy subkultury, wyszedłem z baumanowskiej koncepcji ponowoczesności. Przedstawiam obraz współczesnych punków z punktu widzenia Davida Muggletona, twórcy pojęcia „postsubkutury”, oraz staram się udowodnić, że zaproponowana przez niego koncepcja zbyt krytycznie i jednostronnie postrzega problem współczesnych grup o charakterze subkulturowym. Proponuję, aby analiza zjawiska subkultury punk uwzględniała pojęcie „ekskorporacji” Johna Fiske oraz „taktyk” i „strategii” działania opisywanych przez Michela de Certeau