Marek Tomaszewski

The evaluation of mechanical properties of animal tendons after corticosteroid therapy.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of systemic glucocorticosteroids administration on mechanical properties of animal tendons. Twenty female Wistar rats were divided into two groups and those that formed experimental group were subjected activity of hydrocortisone given to the peritoneum. Mechanical tests were performed. Hydrocortisone administration caused reduction of force value and the increase of strain, also the value of elasticity module was significantly smaller comparing to the control group. The results of biomechanical tests suggested that glucocorticoids produce less stiffness tendon, which fails in maximum point of load. This study revealed that systemic hydrocortisone administration changes significantly mechanical properties of tendons, which may cause frequent failure of the tendon.

The impact of firm size and its ownership on innovation cooperation in medium-high and high technology sectors in Poland

Abstract The main goal of this study is to identify the impact of firm size and its ownership on innovation cooperation in medium-high and high technology sectors in Poland between 2008-2013. The most open for innovation cooperation are large and foreign enterprises which mainly cooperate with foreign and national R&D units and universities. Streszczenie Celem pracy było określenie wpływu wielkości i własności przedsiębiorstwa na współpracę innowacyjną w sektorze średnio wysokiej i wysokiej techniki w Polsce w latach 2008-2013. Przeprowadzona analiza wykazała, że najczęściej współpracę innowacyjną podejmowały duże i zagraniczne przedsiębiorstwa, które głównie współpracowały z zagranicznymi ośrodkami badawczo-rozwojowymi.

Influence of caffeine used at various temperature ranges on the concentrations of glucose and total serum protein as well as body weight gain in pregnant rats

Abstract Caffeine (120 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically to pregnant rats daily on gestational days 8-21. An increase in serum concentration of glucose and total protein was found in animals, which were given caffeine. The protein content proved to be highly significant in the experimental group of animals. The control group showed a negative interdependence between body weight gain and glucose concentration. No correlation was found between body weight gain and total protein concentration, yet the glucose concentration significantly influenced the total protein concentration in this group of animals. Among animals which received caffeine, correlations between total protein and glucose concentrations were observed. The analysis did not show that the glucose or total protein concentration significantly influenced the body weight gain of pregnant female rats in the experimental group. The research conducted suggests the possibility of modulating effects of caffeine on adaptive processes during pregnancy.

Chosen determinants of coopetition between the industrial companies of the Lubusz region in the 2009-2011 period / Wybrane determinanty koopetycji przedsiębiorstw przemysłowych z województwa lubuskiego w latach 2009-2011

Summary Analysing the literature dealing with coopetition on both national and international levels, one cannot help but notice that this notion has recently become increasingly more popular. The same cannot be said however, of the notion of coopetition from a practical point of view. The empirical results obtained using the probit model. Analysing the influence of customer sectors for the researched companies it can be noticed that having customers in transportation and trade sectors stimulates the establishing of coopetition. Analysing the influence of relations maintained with the supply network participants it should be pointed out that only having close relations with competitors can positively influence entering into coopetition. Other kinds of relations maintained with competitors influence coopetition negatively. Coopetition is also positively influenced by maintaining only the necessary relations with customers by the industrial companies from South-East Poland. Lack of closer relations with customers forces the industrial companies to look out for other enterprises that can aid in further development of the company. Maintaining only the necessary relations with suppliers influences coopetition negatively. Considering the distance between the participants of supply network, having suppliers and customers located outside Poland influences coopetition negatively. Streszczenie Studiując specjalistyczną literaturę krajową jak i zagraniczną, która dotyczy zagadnienia koopetycji można zauważyć, że w ostatnim czasie zagadnienie to staje się coraz bardziej popularne. Nie można natomiast tego samego powiedzieć o koopetycji z perspektywy praktyki gospodarczej. Wyniki zaprezentowane w części empirycznej uzyskano przy wykorzystaniu modelowania probitowego. Analizując wpływ sektorów, z których pochodzą odbiorcy badanych przedsiębiorstw można zauważyć, że na nawiązanie koopetycji stymulująco wpływa posiadanie odbiorców zlokalizowanych z sektorze transportowy i handlowym. Analizując wpływ relacji utrzymywanych z uczestnikami sieci dostaw na uwagę zasługuje, iż tylko utrzymywanie bliskich kontaktów z konkurentami może przyczynić się do nawiązania z nimi koopetycji. Inne relacje z konkurentami wpływają wyraźnie destymulująco na nawiązanie koopetycji. Na koopetycję pozytywnie wpływa również utrzymywanie tylko niezbędnych kontaktów z odbiorcami przez przedsiębiorstwa przemysłowe z Polski południowo-zachodniej. Brak bliższych kontaktów z odbiorcami wymusza na przedsiębiorstwach przemysłowych konieczność poszukiwania innych podmiotów, z którymi podmioty te mogą związać swój dalszy rozwój. Z kolei destymulująco na nawiązanie koopetycji wpływa również utrzymywanie tylko niezbędnych kontaktów z dostawcami. Z punktu widzenia odległości uczestników sieci dostaw, na koopetycję zdecydowanie negatywnie wpływa posiadanie dostawców i odbiorców zlokalizowanych poza granicami Polski.

The impact of the economic conditions on the innovation activity of the companies from selected Balkan states

Abstract The literature review reveals diverging views on the influence of economic cycles on the innovation activity of companies. This article is a voice in this discussion. It provides, empirically verified arguments, allowing one to support or reject the accepted research hypotheses. These assume that: (1) The expectations with respect to income dynamics play a more important role in stimulating innovation activity than the dynamics of (actual) income levels; and (2) Different economic structures and levels of technological development in the chosen Balkan states, despite the geographic proximity of these states and similarity in economic situation, influence the geographic differentiation in terms of the innovation activity. The obtained research results show a greater differentiation in terms of actions of companies than previously thought. It has been confirmed that when the companies sense an improvement in economic situation, their innovation activity increases, this is, however, accompanied by a noticeable anticipatory element. It turned out that the expectations regarding an improvement in economic conditions have an additional stimulating effect on such an activity, whereas the recession itself, as well as the expectations in that respect, have a de-stimulating effect. It turned out that the expectations with regard to the future economic situation are the most important here, a factor that has been neglected so far.

Odległość od uczestników sieci dostaw a współpraca innowacyjna przedsiębiorstw przemysłowych – wnioski dla administracji publicznej

The cooperation of industrial enterprises influences the improvement of competitive position of enterprises. The main objective of the study is to attempt to determine the impact of distance and the relationship between the participants in the supply chain on innovative cooperation between industrial companies from the Polish east in 2010–2012. The second objective of this article is to compare conditions influencing on the innovation cooperation between industrial enterprises from Poland eastern and western. The empirical data, based on which the computations were performed and then interpreted the results obtained from industrial enterprises using a survey questionnaire. The survey questionnaire was sent to industrial companies from the four province: Warminsko-Mazurskie, Podlaskie, Lubelskie and Podkarpackie. The analysis is static and covers the years 2010–2012.

Selected Determinants of Coopetition of Industrial Enterprises in South-Western Poland in 2009–2011

Abstract When studying literature on the issue coopetition it may be found that this issue has become more and more popular in recent years. However, this finding was not confirmed in economic practice. Reluctance or concerns about coopetition result from caution and distrust of Polish entrepreneurs in relation to other players on the market. In the previous socio-political conditions this approach was successful. However, the current situation forces small and medium-sized enterprises to draw attention to the strategy of “sleeping with the enemy.” In this context, the objective of the study was to answer the question of what factors influence establishing coopetition in south-western Poland in a simulative or detrimental way.

The influence of lead on the biomechanical properties of bone tissue in rats

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Environmental lead (Pb) is a serious public health problem. At high levels, Pb is devastating to almost all organs. On the other hand, it is difficult to determine a safe level of exposure to Pb. More than 90% of the Pb in the adult human body and 70% in a childs body is stored in the bones. In the presented study, the effects of lead exposure on bones were studied for rats treated orally with Pb acetate in drinking water for 14 days. The hypothesis was tested that lead exposure negatively affects bone structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS Femur strength was measured in a three-point bending test, whereas infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to measure molecular structural changes. RESULTS Lead significantly decreased the ratio of area of two types of vibrational transitions, which are highly specific to mineral to matrix ratio. The results of the biomechanical study show that femurs of rats treated by Pb-acetate appeared to be weaker than bones of the control group, and may produce a condition for the development of higher risk of fractures. Additionally, a great difference in body mass was observed between control and the Pb acetate-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS The lower bone mineral content and the weaker mechanical properties of bones from Pb-treated rats are associated with the pathologic state dependent of the exposure of lead.

Influence of caffeine administered at 45 °C on bone tissue development.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Caffeine is one of the worlds most commonly ingested alkaloids which easily permeates the placenta. The teratogenic and embryotoxic influence of large doses of caffeine has been established in many experimental studies on animals. The objective of this work was to assess the influence of caffeine, administered at 45 °C, on the development of the bone tissue of rats, with particular reference to elemental bone composition using an X-ray microprobe. MATERIALS AND METHODS The research was conducted on white rats of the Wistar strain. The fertilized females were divided into two groups: an Experimental Group (Group E) and a Control Group (Group C). The females in Group E were given caffeine orally (at 45 °C) in 30 mg/day doses from the 8th to the 21st day of pregnancy. The females in Group C were given water at the same temperature. The fetuses were used to assess the growth and mineralization of the skeleton. A qualitative analysis of the morphology and mineralization of bones was conducted using the alcian-alizarin method. For calcium and potassium analysis, an X-ray microprobe was used. RESULTS By staining the skeleton using the alcian-alizarin method, changes in 52 of Group E fetuses were observed. The frequency of the development variants in the Group E rats was statistically higher, compared with Group C. CONCLUSIONS Receiving caffeine at a higher temperature may result in different pharmacodynamics and significantly change tolerance to it. In Group E, a significant decrease in the calcium level, as well as an increase in the potassium level, was observed. The X-ray microprobe can be a perfect complement to the methods which enable determination of the mineralization of osseous tissue.

Regionalna polityka innowacyjna w świetle instytucjonalnych teorii rozwoju regionalnego

Celem artykulu jest ukazanie potencjalnych zachowan jednostek samorządu terytorialnego, ktore stymulują rozwoj aktywności innowacyjnej przedsiebiorstw na podstawie wybranego zbioru instytucjonalnych teorii rozwoju regionalnego. Podstawowa hipoteza badawcza zaklada, ze wladze regionalne powinny aktywnie formulowac regionalną polityke innowacyjną i nastepnie ją wdrazac.