Finansjalizacja a zmiany strukturalne na rynku towarów rolnych w pierwszych latach XXI w.

The main goal of the study is a critical review of the literature on the implications of financialization of agricultural commodity markets during the first decade of the XXIst century. Early studies suggest that inflow of speculative portfolio investments was the key driver of agricultural price increases and also contributed to the sharp increase in the co-movements of prices between agricultural sector and equity markets as well as oil market. Access to the more detailed investors data, available since 2010, as well as observations from post-crisis world economy, point to a much broader range of factors contributing to price formulation in agricommodity markets and to a much smaller influence of financial investors.Głównym celem publikacji jest krytyczny przegląd badań poświęconych implikacjom finansjalizacji rynku towarów rolnych w pierwszej dekadzie XXI w. Wczesne badania wskazywały, że napływ spekulacyjnego kapitału portfelowego był głównym czynnikiem napędzającym wzrost cen towarów rolnych oraz gwałtowny wzrost poziomu korelacji cen produktów rolnych z cenami akcji i ropy naftowej. Dostęp do bardziej szczegółowych danych na temat struktury inwestorów, uzyskany przez badaczy od 2010 r., jak również obserwacje zachowań rynku w okresie po globalnym kryzysie finansowym wskazują jednak na znacznie szersze spektrum czynników wpływających na kształtowanie cen towarów rolnych i znacznie mniej istotną rolę inwestycji portfelowych w tym procesie

Valorization of Sewage Sludge via Gasification and Transportation of Compressed Syngas

A significant challenge in the utilization of alternative gaseous fuels is to use their energy potential at the desired location, considering economic feasibility and sustainability. A potential solution is a compression, transportation in pressure tanks, and generation of electricity and heat directly at the recipient. In this research, the potential for generating syngas from abundant waste substrates was analyzed. The sewage sludge (SS) was used as an example of a bulky and abundant resource that could be valorized via gasification, compression, and transport to end-users in containers. A model was developed, and theoretical analyses were completed to examine the influence of the calorific value of the syngas produced from the SS gasification (under different temperatures and gasifying agents) on the efficiency of energy transportation of compressed syngas. First, the gasification simulation was carried out, assuming equilibrium in a downdraft gasifier (reactor) from 973–1473 K and five gasifying agents (O2, H2, CO2, water vapor, and air). Molar ratios of the gasifying agents to the (SS) C ranged from 0.1–1.0. The model predicted syngas composition, lower calorific values (LHV) for a given molar ratio of the gasification agent, and compressibility factor. It was shown that the highest LHV was obtained at 0.1 molar ratio for all gasifier agents. The highest LHV (~20 MJ∙(Nm3)−1) was obtained by gasification with H2 and the lowest (~13 MJ∙(Nm3)−1) in the case of air. Next, the available syngas volume in a compressed gas transportation unit and the stored energy was estimated. The largest syngas volume can be transported when O2 is used as a gasifying agent, but the highest amount of transported energy was estimated for gasification with H2. Finally, the techno-economic analyses showed that syngas from SS could be competitive when the energy of compressed syngas is compared with the demand of an average residential dwelling. The developed syngas energy transport system (SETS) concept proposes a new method to distribute compressed syngas in pressure tanks to end-users using all modes of transport carrying intermodal ISO containers. Future work should include the determination of energy demand for syngas compression, including pressure losses, heat losses, and analysis of the influence of syngas on storage and compression devices

Inwestowanie etyczne – zasady i efektywność

The main goal of the article is to present the rules for ethical investing and criteria for selecting an ethical portfolio as well as comparative analysis of the effectiveness of ethical and unethical investments. The article points out the evolution in the approach to the construction of ethical portfolios from the one based on the negative selection (exclusion of companies from “undesired” industries) toward positive selection, concentrated on selecting companies following good practices of corporate governance and having a positive social and environmental impact. Research on the effectiveness of SRI investment versus traditional investments show that in most cases the inclusion of ESG criteria in portfolio selection has a neutral impact on portfolio performance and in some cases that impact becomes positive. The research conducted for the purpose of this article, comparing the performance of real life portfolios of ethical, unethical and traditional investments, during the period of 2003–2014 has shown the dominance of portfolio returns generated by the unethical portfolio although accompanied by the higher variation of these returns, resulting from limited sectoral diversification of unethical portfolio.Głównym celem artykułu jest prezentacja zasad etycznego inwestowania i kryteriów selekcji inwestycji etycznych oraz analiza porównawcza efektywności inwestycji etycznych i nieetycznych. Artykuł wskazuje na ewolucję sposobu podejścia do budowy portfeli inwestycji etycznych: od podejścia opartego na negatywnej selekcji (wykluczenia z portfela spółek działających w branżach „niepożądanych”) w kierunku selekcji pozytywnej, koncentrującej się na wyborze spółek, które przestrzegają „zasad dobrych praktyk” ładu korporacyjnego i których działalność sprzyja interesom społecznym i środowiskowym. Badania efektywności inwestycji SRI na tle inwestycji tradycyjnych w większości przypadków sugerują, że uwzględnienie kryteriów ESG w budowie portfela ma neutralny wpływ na wyniki portfela etycznego, na tle portfeli tradycyjnych, i jedynie niekiedy wpływ ten jest pozytywny. Przeprowadzone dla potrzeb artykułu badanie porównawcze realnych portfeli inwestycji etycznych, nieetycznych i tradycyjnych dla okresu 2003–2014 wykazało natomiast dominację stóp zwrotu z portfela inwestycji nieetycznych, okupioną jednak wyższą zmiennością stóp zwrotu, wynikającą z niskiej dywersyfikacji sektorowej portfela nieetycznego

CMOS Readout Circuit Integrated with Ionizing Radiation Detectors

This paper describes the work performed in ITE on integration in one CMOS chip the ionizing radiation detectors with dedicated readout electronics. At the beginning, some realizations of silicon detectors of ionizing radiation are presented together with most important issues related to these devices. Next, two developed test structures for readout electronics are discussed in detail together with main features of non-typical silicon process deployed.

CMOS Readout Circuit Integrated with Ionizing Radiation Detectors

This paper describes the work performed in ITE on integration in one CMOS chip the ionizing radiation detectors with dedicated readout electronics. At the beginning, some realizations of silicon detectors of ionizing radiation are presented together with most important issues related to these devices. Next, two developed test structures for readout electronics are discussed in detail together with main features of non-typical silicon process deployed.

Оценка качества услуг по техническому обслуживанию сельскохозяйственных прицепов в Польше на примере выбранного предприятия

В статье проведена оценка качества технического обслуживания сельскохозяйственных прицепов на примере выбранного предприятия. Оценка качества обслуживания была основана на критериях, предложенных Rybacki (2011). Выраженные в цифрах показатели оценки клиентов колебались в диапазоне 3,2-3,9

Evaluation of using the Anderson-Montesano and the Tuli classifications in pediatric patients with occipital condyle fractures

Background: Occipital condyle fractures (OCFs) in patients before 18 years of age are rare. Classifications of OCF are based on the CT images of the cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) and MRI. The Anderson-Montesano and Tuli classifications are the types which are most commonly used in these cases. Classification of OCFs allows the implementation of OCF treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using the OCF classification in pediatric patients based on the analysis of our own cases. Methods: During the years 2013–2020, 6 pediatric patients with OCFs, aged 14–18, have been treated. Two patients with unstable fracture III according to Anderson-Montesano and IIB according to Tuli were treated with the halo-vest. Additionally, one patient presenting neurological symptoms and with an associated C1 fracture was qualified for the halo-vest stabilization as well. The other patients were treated with a Minerva collar. We evaluated the results 6 months after completing the OCF treatment using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and SF-36 questionnaires. Confidence intervals for the mean values were verified using the MeanCI function (from the R library DescTools) for both classical and bootstrap methods. Results: Based on NDI results, we have obtained in our patients an average of 4.33/45 points (2–11) and 9.62% (4.4–24.4). Based on the SF-36 questionnaire, we obtained an average of 88.62% (47.41–99.44). Conclusion: The Anderson-Montesano and Tuli’s classifications of OCF can be used to assess the stability of OCF in adolescents, but both classifications should be used simultaneously. CT and MR imaging should be used in diagnosing OCFs, whereas CT allows assessing therapeutic outcomes in OCF

The quality of life of patients with overactive bladder after local injections of botulinum toxin A – a preliminary report

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the quality of life of patients suffering from urge urinary incontinence resistant to anticholinergic therapy treated with intradetrusical injections of 200 U botulinum toxin A. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 10 female patients who were diagnosed with urge urinary incontinence. Standard King’s questionnaire was used for the assessment of the change in the quality of life after treatment. Questionnaires were filled in by all patients before the treatment and during control visits, 3 months after the injection of botulinum toxin A. Results: Statistically significant improvement in the quality of life for the majority of the domains of King’s questionnaire (except the evaluation of urinary incontinence impact on the general health condition and social relations) was observed in 7 out of 10 patients subjected to botulinum toxin therapy (

Zmiany w sposobie leczenia operacyjnego wysiłkowego nietrzymania moczu u kobiet – obserwacje ostatnich dwudziestu dwóch lat

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the changing trends in surgical treatment of female urinary incontinence (UI). Material and methods: Medical records of all women admitted to II Department of Gynecology from 1985 to 2006 were analyzed in order to find out how the female SUI treatment changed over these years. Results: During analyzed time 36819 patients were hospitalized in our Department and 77.6% (28568) of them were operated because of various indications. The number of SUI surgeries among all hospitalized women steadily rose from 1.93% in 1985 to 10.96% in 2006 reaching maximum in 2005 (13.73%). Clinical effectiveness of SUI surgeries markedly improved from 35% for anterior colporrhaphy to almost 90 % for suburethral slings. Conclusions: Introduction into clinical practice modern suburethral slings improved clinical efficacy of SUI treatment. The percentage of women admitted and treated surgically because of SUI steadily increased over the last years.Cel pracy: Celem pracy było przeprowadzenie retrospektywnej analizy metod operacyjnego leczenia wysiłkowego nietrzymania moczu (WNM) u kobiet na przestrzeni ostatnich dwudziestu dwóch lat. Materiał i metody: Dane do analizy pozyskano z archiwum medycznego II Kliniki Ginekologii i na ich podstawie przedstawiono zmiany w operacyjnym leczeniu WNM u kobiet od 1985 do 2006 roku. Wyniki: W analizowanym okresie, w II Klinice hospitalizowanych było 36819 kobiet, z czego 77,6% (28568) było operowanych z powodu różnych wskazań. Liczba pacjentek operowanych z powodu WNM stale rosła od 1,93% w 1985r. do 10,96% w 2006r. ze szczytem w 2005r. (13,73%). Również skuteczność zabiegów znacznie wzrosła z 35% w przypadku różnych modyfikacji plastyki przedniej ściany pochwy do niemal 90% przy zastosowaniu taśm podcewkowych. Wnioski: Wprowadzenie nowoczesnych, małoinwazyjnych taśm podcewkowych znacząco zwiększyło efektywność operacyjnego leczenia WNM. Wydaje się to być jedną z przyczyn stałego wzrostu liczby kobiet decydujących się na tą metodę leczenia tej dolegliwości