Spent mushroom compost (SMC) – retrieved added value product closing loop in agricultural production

Worldwide edible mushroom production on agro-industrial residues comprises of more than 11 million tons of fresh mushrooms per year. For 1 kg of mushrooms there is 5 kg of spent mushroom compost (SMC). This enormous amount of waste results in disposal problems. However, SMC is a waste product of the mushroom industry, which contains mycelium and high levels of remnant nutrients such as organic substances (N, P, K). The spent mushroom compost is usually intended for utilization, but there are increasing numbers of experiments focusing on its reuse in agricultural and horticultural production. Recently, the increase of the global environmental consciousness and stringent legislation have focused research towards the application of sustainable and circular processes. Innovative and environmentally friendly systems of utilisation of waste streams have increased interest of the scientific community. Circular economy implies that agricultural waste will be the source for retrieving high value-added compounds. The goal of the present work was to carry out a bibliographic review of the different scenarios, regarding the exploitation of this low cost feedstock with huge potential for valorisation

The Effect of Selected Cultivation Factors on the Growth of Mycelium of Pleurotus cystidiosus Miller

Pleurotus cystidiosus occurs in natural areas in North America. Its carpophores are characterized by a slightly sweet and mild taste. Fruiting bodies of P. cystidiosus are valued as source of nutrients and biologically active substances. The aim of the study was the selection of the optimal incubation temperature and the best substrate for the fastest mycelium growth. Two cultivars of P. cystidiosus – B1 and B122 was taken. Incubation of mycelium was performed in the temperature range from 15 to 30 °C. The influence of a substrate made of wheat straw, hemp shives and energetic grasses – Panicum virgatum and Miscanthus × giganteus. The experiment compared the growth of mycelium on a substrate with wheat straw (control sample) and with wheat straw and the addition of hemp shives and energetic grass in increasing amounts: 10, 20 and 30%. It has been shown that the growth of mycelium of tested strains on different substrates varied. The best growth of mycelium occurred on the substrate with wheat straw and the addition of hemp shives, P. virgatum and M. × giganteus in the amounts of 20% and 30%. The temperature of incubation also had a significant impact on the growth of the mycelium of P. cystidiosus. The optimal temperature was 25 °C. An investigation of the mutual dependence between morphological and qualitative characteristics of the type of agar medium allows optimization of the production of P. cystidiosus. The development of a low-cost and simple method for the production of P. cystidiosus can contribute to the introduction of this species into intensive cultivation. Use of waste materials in mushroom production will significantly increase the profitability of crops and reduce their costs

Jakość kształcenia na studiach historycznych w Polsce – rekrutacja i proces dyplomowania.

Abstrakt:: W latach 2016–2019 Polska Komisja Akredytacyjna dokonała oceny jakości kształcenia na kilkunastu uniwersytetach Polski. Artykuł podsumowuje wnioski z tych ocen w odniesieniu do sposobów weryfikacji wstępnych kompetencji kandydatów na studia historyczne oraz wymagań dotyczących prac dyplomowych związanych z ukończeniem studiów.   Abstract: Between 2016–2019, the Polish Accreditation Committee assessed the quality of education at several Polish universities. This article summarises the conclusions of these assessments with regard to the methods used to check the initial level of candidates for historical studies and the requirements for diploma theses related to graduation

Jakość kształcenia na studiach historycznych w Polsce – rekrutacja i proces dyplomowania.: W świetle ocen programowych Polskiej Komisji Akredytacyjnej.

Abstrakt:: W latach 2016–2019 Polska Komisja Akredytacyjna dokonała oceny jakości kształcenia na kilkunastu uniwersytetach Polski. Artykuł podsumowuje wnioski z tych ocen w odniesieniu do sposobów weryfikacji wstępnych kompetencji kandydatów na studia historyczne oraz wymagań dotyczących prac dyplomowych związanych z ukończeniem studiów. Abstract: Between 2016–2019, the Polish Accreditation Committee assessed the quality of education at several Polish universities. This article summarises the conclusions of these assessments with regard to the methods used to check the initial level of candidates for historical studies and the requirements for diploma theses related to graduation

The leaching of mineral nitrogen forms from light soil fertilized with compost and sewage sludge

The research was carried out in the years 2003-2013 in lysimeters filled with loamy sand. The leachate was tested in three variants: Z - no fertilization, S - 20 g-m-2 of N delivered annually in sewage sludge and C - 20 g-m-2 of N in the form of compost. The lysimeters were planted with Miscanthus giganteus, which is an energy plant with a high demand for water and nutrients. The amount of leaching of mineral nitrogen forms was determined on the basis of measured volumes of leachates from the soil and volumes of ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4) and nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3) contained in them. The research results showed a significant increase in the average content of mineral nitrogen forms in the effluents from the fertilized soil (S - 6.8 mg-dm-3 of N-NO3 and 0.3 mg-dm-3 of N-NH4, C - 7.8 mg-dm-3 of N-NO3 and 0.4 mg-dm-3 of N-NH4), compared to their concentrations in the leachates from non-fertilized soil (Z - 2.1 mg-dm-3 of N-NO3 and 0.2 mg-dm-3 of N-NH4). The content of mineral forms of nitrogen, in particular N-NO3, were similar in both fertilization variants. The lowest concentrations of mineral nitrogen in the leachates occurred in the third and fourth year after planting Miscanthus giganteus, when it entered the period of the highest yield. In the fifth year, due to a cold, snowless winter, there was a weakened growth of plants, which resulted in an increase in the concentration of mineral nitrogen in the leachates from the fertilized soil. It follows that in addition to the intensity of precipitation, the collection of this component by plants primarily influences nitrogen leaching from the soil. The general amount of mineral nitrogen leached from the soil was not large and amounted Z - 2.5 kg-m-2, S - 6.7 kg-m-2, C - 6.4 kg-m-2. This testifies to the intense collection of this form of nitrogen by Miscanthus giganteus

Evaluation of 24-hour oesophageal pH monitoring in children with food allergy Ocena 24-godzinnego badania pH-metrycznego u dzieci z alergią pokarmową

Abstract Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and food allergy are conditions occurring most often in young children. Many authors emphasize the relationship between them. Aim: To evaluate 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring in children with food allergy. Material and methods: The retrospective analysis included 84 children with food allergy aged from 4 months to 24 months. The control group consisted of 15 children at the same age diagnosed with GER but without features of allergy. All children underwent 24-h oesophageal pH monitoring. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed among children with allergy in 29 patients (34.5%). A gradual increase of the number and duration of reflux episodes in the period between meals compared to the postprandial period in both groups with GER was observed. The number of reflux episodes was higher in children with coexistent allergy. Analysis of graphic record of oesophageal pH monitoring revealed a primary reflux in 12 children with GER and allergy as well as in 9 children from the control group. In the remaining children from both groups the record showed features of secondary reflux, but the phases were not fully presented. The incidence of GER with features of secondary reflux was similar in both groups. Conclusions: Twenty-four-hour oesophageal pH monitoring is helpful, but it cannot be the sole diagnostic criterion in the diagnosis of GER dependent on food allergy. Such a diagnosis should be based on the results of oesophageal pH monitoring as well as allergological and immunological tests

New Medicine Service as support for medication adherence by chronically ill patients

Effective management of the treatment for chronically ill patients is a multifactorial process. The crucial is an accurate diagnosis, appropriate and well-designed pharmacotherapy, as well as patient medication adherence. Adherence is defined as the extent to which patients are able to follow the general practitioner's recommendations for the prescribed treatments. Patients’ reasons for deviating from the treatment plan are diverse and may be intentional or unintentional. They may be non-adherent during different stages of their treatment. Some patients may decide not to fill physician prescriptions and not start their treatment at all. Patients may use more or less than the prescribed medication or use their treatments at the wrong time. They may also discontinue therapy prematurely. The common reasons for medication non-adherence may include lack of symptoms, improvement in health, in patients’ subjective opinion, fear of potential side effects, long-term conditions, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy. Poor knowledge about medicines can also lead to severe consequences such as non-adherence. Several interventions may contribute to improved adherence. The current legislation in pharmaceutical care enables registered pharmacists to intervene successfully when a medicine is prescribed, increase effective medicine taking for the treatment of a long-term condition, and optimize the therapy; they also may offer the patient, opportunistic advice on healthy living or public health topics in line with the promotion of healthy lifestyles. One of the proposed pharmaceutical care services for Polish patients – the New Medicine Service, was introduced in England in 2011 as support for subjects starting a newly initiated medication for long-term treatment. The article presents the assumptions and goals for this pharmaceutical consultation in polish system of health care, discusses the interview schedule and forms, and describes the service's beneficial contribution to better medication adherence by chronically ill patients