Simulations of Colorado Potato Beetle Development in Poland Based on Four Climate Change Scenarios

The simulations were conducted using actual data and virtual data. The actual data were recorded in the period of 1986–2005 at 16 localities representing 16 regions of Poland. The virtual data were obtained after transformation of the recorded data to reflect a temperature changes under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5 scenarios according to giss_e2_r climate model. The model used in the study was based on scientific reports describing the influence of temperature on acceleration of the onset of egg laying and on successive stages of Colorado potato beetle as well as publications on the effects of photoperiod on the pest diapause. The study showed a growing threat to potato from Colorado potato beetles as a result of the temperature rise. The fastest development of the pest appeared in simulations under RCP8.5 scenario. Of 16 regions surveyed in the study, the south-western part of Poland was found to be most threatened by Colorado potato beetle as a result of anticipated climate change

The Use of Selected Methods of Linear Ordering to Assess the Innovation Performance of the European Union Member States

The growing interest in measuring economic and social phenomena that are difficult to observe directly increases the need for researchers to broaden the use of multivariate statistical analysis methods. The ease of interpreting results presented in the form of rankings makes it common practice to use different methods of linear ordering of objects. If the appropriate assumptions are met, the determined set of variables allows for the construction of a synthetic measure whose ordered values provide a ranking. Such a statistical approach is quite often used in assessing the level of innovativeness of economies, and the literature abounds in various innovation indices. The starting point of this paper is a set of 27 variables on the basis of which the Summary Innovation Index is developed. After verifying the statistical assumptions and reducing the database to 21 diagnostic factors, the authors construct a total of nine innovation rankings, using different methods of linear ordering and selected procedures for normalisation of variables. The aim of the paper is therefore to assess the impact of selected methods of linear ordering (Hellwig’s method, TOPSIS method, GDM method) and various procedures for normalising variables (classic standardisation, positional standardisation, quotient transformation) on the final ranking of the EU Member States due to the level of their innovation performance. The obtained results confirm that the applied method of linear ordering and the selection of the normalisation procedure have an impact on the final ranking of the examined objects – in this case, the final ranking of the EU Member States due to the level of their innovativeness analysed in the presented research

Prenatal diagnosis of urinary track defects

Introduction Congenital malformations are the main cause of miscarriage, perinatal mortality and disability among children. According to Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations for 2005-2006 congenital disorders affect 2.0-4.0% of newborns. Heart defects, musculoskeletal abnormalities and urinary track defects are the most common. Purpose The article aims to shortly describe characteristic ultrasound findings concerning certain urinary tract defects. Brief description Renal abnormalities result from complexity of kidneys embriogenesis. Obligatory ultrasound screenings during pregnancy enable early prenatal diagnosis of urinary track defects and it is helpful for planning postnatal or prenatal treatment. Oligohydramos is characteristic for urinary tract congenital disorders. Lack of renal parenchyma, increased echogenicity of renal parenchyma, difficulties in bladder visualisation, cysts within kidneys, hydronephrosis always indicate abnormalities concerning urinary track. Visualisation of urinary track defect obligate further screening for accompanying abnormalities. Sequence of defects, plural abnormalities are indications for genetic evaluation in referral medical centers. Postnatal treatment of congenial urinary track disorders include watchful observation, early surgical treatment or palliative care. The prognosis depends on the type of defect and accompanied anomalies. Summary/conclusion Urinary track defects in prenatal period are very common. Every child suspected for urinary track defect requires detailed evaluation in referral medical center including echocardiography and assessment of karyotype

THE EFFECT OF SEED SPROUTING DAMAGE ON FIELD EMERGENCE AND YIELD OF SPRING TRITICALE

In the years 1999-2001 two-factor fi eld experiments were carried out in which the effects of spring triticale seed sprouting damage on fi eld emergence, elements of the structure of yield and the yield were investigated. The research covered three cultivars: Gabo, Migo and Wanad. The statistical analysis of the results showed signifi cant effects of years and sprouting damage on fi eld emergence in all the years. Consequently, these factors affected the number of spikes per unit area, weight of 1,000 seeds and the yield in the years which were unfavourable for emergence (1999, 2000). In those years the decrease in yield, in the case of seeds with the most severe sprouting damage, ranged from 29% to 65% as compared with the control. In the favourable year 2001, in spite of a signifi cant effect of seed sprouting damage on fi eld emergence, the emergence level was so high that no decrease in the investigated elements of the structure of yield and the yield was observed

Unique Structure and Stability of HmuY, a Novel Heme-Binding Protein of Porphyromonas gingivalis

Infection, survival, and proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in humans depend on their capacity to impair host responses and acquire nutrients in a hostile environment. Among such nutrients is heme, a co-factor for oxygen storage, electron transport, photosynthesis, and redox biochemistry, which is indispensable for life. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major human bacterial pathogen responsible for severe periodontitis. It recruits heme through HmuY, which sequesters heme from host carriers and delivers it to its cognate outer-membrane transporter, the TonB-dependent receptor HmuR. Here we report that heme binding does not significantly affect the secondary structure of HmuY. The crystal structure of heme-bound HmuY reveals a new all-β fold mimicking a right hand. The thumb and fingers pinch heme iron through two apical histidine residues, giving rise to highly symmetric octahedral iron co-ordination. The tetrameric quaternary arrangement of the protein found in the crystal structure is consistent with experiments in solution. It shows that thumbs and fingertips, and, by extension, the bound heme groups, are shielded from competing heme-binding proteins from the host. This may also facilitate heme transport to HmuR for internalization. HmuY, both in its apo- and in its heme-bound forms, is resistant to proteolytic digestion by trypsin and the major secreted proteases of P. gingivalis, gingipains K and R. It is also stable against thermal and chemical denaturation. In conclusion, these studies reveal novel molecular properties of HmuY that are consistent with its role as a putative virulence factor during bacterial infection

Z dziejów katedr skarbowości i prawa skarbowego oraz katedr prawa finansowego w Polsce

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape