Pedagogical University of Cracow

The study discussed the possibilities of reducing economic uncertainty under crisis conditions, as one perspective to eliminate the risk of business decisions. The solution was sought on the case of forestry-based sector in Poland, which was threatened by irregularity and permanent uncertainty. Stakeholders of the 'primary wood-based market', in the value chain: forestry - forestry services - woodworking industry, were invited to participate in a diagnostic survey, using the technique of individual in-depth interviews (IDI). The data, collected in 2020 and revised in 2024, was processed in the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Based on the AHP approach, the authors' research scenario was designed. As a result, an optimal leading anti-crisis strategy was selected, relevant to the ‘market of uncertainty’. An opportunity for the forest-based sector could be an anti-crisis co-opetition strategy, based on networking, integrating all market actors. Finally, practical recommendations for mesoeconomic sectoral policy in forestry were formulated.

Background: The aim of this prospective longitudinal observational study was to assess respiratory muscle function after surgical correction of scoliosis in individuals with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Material: The study included 20 patients (aged 7-19) with scoliosis in the course of neuromuscular disease, eligible for surgical treatment with diagnosed SMA Type 2 or 3. Methods: Measurements were taken of the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) [cmH2O] and the maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) [cmH2O] in all patients immediately before surgical correction of scoliosis (measurement I), 7 days after surgery (measurement II) and 3 months after surgery (measurement III). Results: The mean Cobb angle of spinal curvature measured before surgery in the entire group was 102.57 ± 17.96. The mean MEP values in the entire group of patients were 40.48 ± 11.76 cmH2O before surgery, 36.74 ± 17.17 cmH2O after 7 days, and 39.17 ± 16.18 cmH2O 3 months after surgery. The MIP values for the entire group were 64.35 ± 28.40 cmH2O before surgery, 53.96 ± 28.66 cmH2O after 7 days, and 67.00 ± 31.27 cmH2O after 3 months. Conclusions: Surgical correction of spinal curvature creates conditions for maintaining respiratory muscle strength in patients with SMA over a period of several months of observation. As a result of the surgical intervention, respiratory muscle strength did not deteriorate, but even slightly increased.

Teaching and research are central aspects of university scholars’ work. To provide a high quality of teaching and research, scholars are required to continually learn and develop professionally. Only recently have some empirical studies that focused on academics’ motivations and emotions attempted to explain key outcomes related to their research, teaching, and professional development. This study adopted a self-determination lens to explore academics’ motivation to learn foreign languages, an area that has hardly been scrutinized due to an assumption that academics are highly motivated. The sample consisted of 593 academics (330 women) from nine public and one non-public higher education institutions in Krakow, Poland. The participants also self-rated their level of proficiency in English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian. The results from the Polish version of the Language Learning Orientations Scale—intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, amotivation (LLOS-IEA) (Noels et al., 2000) showed that these university academics were characterized by both intrinsic motivation and the most internalized form of extrinsic motivation (identified regulation). These have been considered to be optimal forms of motivation with positive outcomes. Statistically significant differences were found between scholars’ motivation to learn languages and age, gender, and job seniority. The analysis performed for English indicated that scholars rated themselves as having a proficient level (C1) in reading and an independent level (B2) in writing skills.

In this study we aimed to assess the influence of school-based neurofeedback training on the attention of students with autism and intellectual disabilities. We assessed 24 students of a special education center who attended neurofeedback training sessions during the schoolyear; we also assessed 25 controls from the same center. We used two computer tasks to assess sustained attention in simple and cognitively demanding test situations, and we used a pen-and-paper task to assess selective attention. Each student who took part in the study was tested at the beginning and at the end of the schoolyear. Students from the experimental group significantly improved their performance in the task related to sustained attention to simple stimuli. No performance improvement related to neurofeedback treatment was observed in either sustained attention in cognitively demanding situations or selective attention. School-based neurofeedback training may improve sustained attention to simple stimuli in students with developmental disabilities.

Bee drone brood is a beehive by-product with high hormonal activity used in natural medicine to treat male infertility. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of drone brood on stallion spermatozoa during a short-term incubation for its potential use in the equine semen extenders. Three different forms of fixed drone brood (frozen (FR), freeze-dried (FD), and dried extract (DE)) were used. Solutions of drone brood were compared in terms of testosterone, protein, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The stallion semen was diluted with prepared drone brood solutions. The computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) method was employed to evaluate the movement characteristics of the diluted ejaculate. To determine spermatozoa viability, the mitochondrial toxicity test (MTT) and Alamar Blue test were performed. In terms of testosterone content and antioxidant activity, a close likeness between FR and FD was found whereas DE’s composition differed notably. FR had a positive effect mainly on progressive motility, but also on sperm distance and speed parameters after 2 and 3 h of incubation. On the contrary, FD and DE acted negatively, depending on increasing dose and time. For the first time, a positive dose-dependent effect of fixed drone brood on spermatozoa survival in vitro was demonstrated.