Childhood is a category which came to social awareness and scientific research relatively late. The discovery of childhood can be associated with the names of different thinkers and educators. In this article, I will undertake an attempt to reconstruct selected views about the child and childhood coming from J.J. Rousseau and J. Korczak. The first figure is said to be the discoverer of childhood in modern Europe, while the second one is the discoverer of childhood in Polish education, and a progenitor of the modern meaning of childhood. The analyzes that I conduct shows the evolution of understanding of this category.

We apply Bayesian inference to estimate transformation matrix that converts vector of industry outputs from NACE Rev. 1.1 to NACE Rev. 2 classification. In formal terms, the studied issue is a representative of the class of matrix balancing (updating, disaggregation) problems, often arising in the field of multi-sector economic modelling. These problems are characterised by availability of only partial, limited data and a strong role for prior assumptions, and are typically solved using bi-proportional balancing or cross-entropy minimisation methods. Building on Bayesian highest posterior density formulation for a similarly structured case, we extend the model with specification of prior information based on Dirichlet distribution, as well as employ MCMC sampling. The model features a specific likelihood, representing accounting restrictions in the form of an underdetermined system of equations. The primary contribution, compared to the alternative, widespread approaches, is in providing a clear account of uncertainty.

Finite mixture and Markov-switching models generalize and, therefore, nest specifications featuring only one component. While specifying priors in the general (mixture) model and its special (single-component) case, it may be desirable to ensure that the prior assumptions introduced into both structures are compatible in the sense that the prior distribution in the nested model amounts to the conditional prior in the mixture model under relevant parametric restriction. The study provides the rudiments of setting compatible priors in Bayesian univariate finite mixture and Markov-switching models. Once some primary results are delivered, we derive specific conditions for compatibility in the case of three types of continuous priors commonly engaged in Bayesian modeling: the normal, inverse gamma, and gamma distributions. Further, we study the consequences of introducing additional constraints into the mixture model’s prior on the conditions. Finally, the methodology is illustrated through a discussion of setting compatible priors for Markov-switching AR(2) models.

The study aims at a statistical verification of breaks in the risk-return relationship for shares of individual companies quoted at the Warsaw Stock Exchange. To this end a stochastic volatility model incorporating Markov switching in-mean effect (SV-MS-M) is employed. We argue that neglecting possible regime changes in the relation between expected return and volatility within an ordinary SV-M specification may lead to spurious insignificance of the risk premium parameter (as being ’averaged out’ over the regimes).Therefore, we allow the volatility-in-mean effect to switch over different regimes according to a discrete homogeneous two- or
three-state Markov chain. The model is handled within Bayesian framework, which allows to fully account for the uncertainty of
model parameters, latent conditional variances and state variables. MCMC methods, including the Gibbs sampler, Metropolis-Hastings algorithm and the forward-filtering-backward-sampling scheme are suitably adopted to obtain posterior densities of interest as well
as marginal data density. The latter allows for a formal model comparison in terms of the in-sample fit and, thereby, inference on the
’adequate’ number of the risk premium regime

There are few works on the obligatory character of civil liability insurance for vessel owners. Civil liability insurance for passenger vessels is regulated in Article 182 of the Maritime Code. This type of insurance for vessel owners to cover damages caused by oil pollution are described in Article 273 of the Maritime Code. These are the only types of maritime insurance that are obligatory. Accordingly, it is obvious that obligatory insurance for only two of many dozen maritime hazards, which can be insured against voluntarily, is grossly insufficient. With the exception of damages cased by oil, there is no obligation to obtain civil liability insurance for other types of damage. The international community has ratified an additional two conventions, which impose alternatives to obligatory insurance or financial security in cases of marine environmental pollution. These include the international convention of 1996 on liability and compensation for damages concerned with the shipping of hazardous and dangerous substances and the international convention of 2001 on civil liability for damages caused by bunker oil pollution. Neither of these two conventions has yet to come into force; however, it is possible that they will be ratified by Poland in the nearest future. The introduction of obligatory insurance should also cover other damages resulting from vessel exploitation. Such an obligation could induce increased shipping safety by eliminating vessels that do not comply with safety standards. It would also have an impact on the principles of fair competition in sailing as well as standardize insurance protection.

The absorption of sound in air represents one of the main problems of the scale model measurements. This absorption, especially at higher frequencies, is considerably greater than the value determined by the law of acoustical similarity between the full scale and the scale model. Different alternatives are applied for compensation of the excess air absorption including a numerical compensation. In this paper, a modified approach to numerical compensation is proposed. It is based on compensation of the sound decay only, and not background noise. As a consequence, there is no an increase of background noise in the compensated impulse response. The results obtained by the proposed procedure are compared to the corresponding ones obtained by the other procedures.

Research performed in the years 1999–2002 was carried out in Great Poland region on varieties of winter wheat Elena and Tercja. Experiments included three programmes of wheat cultivation: 1 – Conventional winter wheat protection based on recommendations for commercial fields; 2 – Integrated pest management programme where the control of diseases and insect pests was carried out on the background of thresholds of harmfulness/noxiousness, and weather forecasts; 3 – Untreated, without protection against diseases and pests. Two levels of nitrogen fertilization were applied in the experiments (120 kg N/ha and 170 kg N/ha) and the newest plant protection products were used for controlling fungal pathogens and noxious insects. The occurrence of diseases and insect pests, as well as beneficial entomofauna was determined in relation to each experimental variant, and occurring changes were analysed. Effectiveness of disease and pest control were calculated. Grain yield and its quality were determined and economical profitability for both conventional and integrated programmes calculated. It was shown that a high profitability can be obtained through the application of integrated pest management, as a result of correct choice and application of plant protection products, as well as proper choice of wheat cultivars and appropriate nitrogen fertilization.

Population studies on Arion lusitanicus, a slug species introduced into Poland, were carried out over the last decade. The slug occurs commonly in some areas and spreads out relatively quickly. It has an annual life cycle with eggs, and immature individuals overwinter. In the end of July A. lusitanicus begins copulation and three weeks later it lays eggs from which the first offspring hatch within a month. The copulation process and egg laying last until late fall. One A. lusitanicus can lay over 400 eggs. During the growing season there are two peaks of population density. This species feeds on plant material such as leaves, stems, bulbs, but also consumes animal material. The basic plant material are arable crops particularly vegetables and some species of agricultural crops, some fruit trees, ornamental plants, herbs and weeds. A. lusitanicus displays apparent food specialization and prefers certain cultivated and wild growing plants. A. lusitanicus shows large reproduction potential, wide food and ecologic tolerance, and is regarded as a serious pests occurring in home gardens.

Morocco is basically an agricultural country; almost 40% of the workforce is employed in

this sector. Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-inhabiting pathogen which can infect more than

300 plant species, although most host species are symptomless. Until relatively recently,

X. fastidiosa was primarily limited to North and South America, but in 2013 a widespread

epidemic of olive quick decline syndrome caused by this fastidious pathogen appeared in

southeastern Italy, and later several cases of X. fastidiosa outbreaks have been reported

in other European countries (France, Germany and Spain). Following these recently confirmed

findings of X. fastidiosa in the European Union, this bacterium has become a serious

threat to the Moroccan flora. The national phytosanitary authorities have adopted several

measures to prevent the introduction of X. fastidiosa into the national territory by deciding,

inter alia, to suspend importation of host plant species to the bacterium from infected

areas. This paper presents the phytosanitary risk of this bacterium in Morocco.

Distillation boundaries originate from saddle azeotropes, dividing the composition space into distillation regions. In heterogeneous mixtures distilled in packed columns, distillation regions overlap. The common area of distillation regions is parametrically sensitive, and it determines the possibilities of crossing (at a finite reflux) the distillation boundaries defined for a total reflux or reboil ratio. This work is an extended research of the paper (Królikowski et al., 2011) conducted to scrutinize whether the distillation regions overlapped in heteroazeotropic systems distilled in staged columns. Presented studies were performed by finding such composition points of the products, for which the rectifying profiles of staged columns were ended in different distillation regions. Calculations were executed for the heterogeneous mixture classified under Serafimov's topological class as 3.1-2: ethanol - benzene - water. Distillation regions for staged columns were found to overlap each other in the heterogeneous systems. As a result, their common part was parametrically sensitive.

An innovative system designed for the continuous monitoring of acoustic climate of urban areas was presented in the paper. The assessment of environmental threats is performed using online data, acquired through a grid of engineered monitoring stations collecting comprehensive information about the acoustic climate of urban areas. The grid of proposed devices provides valuable data for the purpose of long and short time acoustic climate analysis. Dynamic estimation of noise source parameters and real measurement results of emission data are utilized to create dynamic noise maps accessible to the general public. This operation is performed through the noise source prediction employing a propagation model being optimized for computer cluster implementation requirements. It enables the system to generate noise maps in a reasonable time and to publish regularly map updates in the Internet. Moreover, the functionality of the system was extended with new techniques for assessing noise-induced harmful effects on the human hearing system. The principle of operation of the dosimeter is based on a modified psychoacoustic model of hearing and on the results of research performed with participation of volunteers concerning the impact of noise on hearing. The primary function of the dosimeter is to estimate, in real time, auditory effects which are caused by exposure to noise. The results of measurements and simulations performed by the system prototype are depicted and analyzed. Several cases of long-term and short-term measurements of noise originating from various sources were considered in detail. The presented outcomes of predicted degree of the hearing threshold shift induced during the noise exposure can increase the awareness of harmfulness of excessive sound levels.

Early Palaeocene through early Eocene silicoflagellate assemblages were examined from five southern subtropical

through subpolar deep-sea sites: DSDP Holes 208 and 524, and ODP Holes 700B, 752A, and 1121B. For each

site, the taxonomic composition of the silicoflagellate assemblage is documented in detail; Pseudonaviculopsis

gen. nov., Dictyocha castellum sp. nov. and Stephanocha? fulbrightii sp. nov. are proposed, along with several

new combinations. More importantly, however, these observations enable a considerable refinement to the existing

Palaeocene–Eocene silicoflagellate biostratigraphic zonation that for the first time uses datums calibrated to

the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale. The Corbisema aspera Interval Zone occurs immediately above the K/Pg

boundary and is here described from Seymour Island. The Corbisema hastata Partial Range Zone extends from

near the K/Pg boundary to late early Palaeocene and has been observed in Hole 208. The Pseudonaviculopsis disymmetrica

Acme Zone occurs in Holes 208 and 700B. The Dictyocha precarentis Partial Range Zone, observed

in Holes 208, 700B, 752A and 1121B, is subdivided into D. precarentis, Naviculopsis primativa, N. cruciata

and Pseudonaviculopsis constricta subzones. The Naviculopsis constricta Partial Range Zone occurs in Holes

524, 700B, 752A and 1121B. This study is also the first to consider syn- and/or diachroneity in Palaeogene

silicoflagellate biostratigraphy.

Jan Klata’s production of the Euripidean tragedy The Trojan Women (Wybrzeże Theatre, Gdańsk, 2018) is described from the perspective of a classicist and theatrologist that helped the director to adapt the ancient play.