The author stresses that the co-operation of states in the Baltic Region is a matter of European importance as a consequence of the multiplicity of connections in the region. In the post-war history of Europe, two processes can be observed. These are integration and regionalisation. One can define the Baltic Sea as the "backbone of Baltic Europe." There are various formulations of the concept of the Baltic Region. The basic aims of "Baltic Europe" are development, balance between economic development and the natural environment, freedom and subsidiarity, and solidarity. The Helsinki Commission was created on the basis of the Helsinki Convention of 1992, and it is the most institutionalised form of co-operation among the states of the Baltic Region. The Fishing Commission was created by the Gdańsk Convention of 1973. Agenda 21 provides guidelines for the development of industry, transport and farming etc. The Conference of Transport Ministers of the States of the Baltic Region functions on a ministerial level. The article contains a discussion of other institutional forms of co-operation among the states of the Baltic Region.

Assessments of odour nuisance are made using one of the psychophysical laws: logarithmic Weber- Fechner law or power law by Stevens. The object of the work was to determine whether one of the laws exhibits advantage over the other. To evaluate the two laws series of odorimetric measurements of aqueous solutions of acetic acid were made. Values of Pearson' correlation coefficient were calculated for relationship of the odour intensity (I) versus logarithm of the acetic acid concentration in air (Iog., C [mg/rrr'I) as well as for the relationship of logarithm of the odour intensity (log,0/) versus logarithm of the acetic acid concentration in air (log., C [rng/nr'[). Both laws are fulfilled equally well in a range of investigated concentrations of acetic acid.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder diagnosed on the basis of Rome IV criteria. Stress is an important contributor to the development of IBS symptoms, while personality, perceived self-efficacy, resilience, and coping strategies may be indirectly involved in the modulation of the body’s response to various stressors. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of selected personality traits and stress with IBS symptoms. We enrolled 129 participants (59 men and 70 women) aged from 18 to 61 years. The study group included 94 patients with IBS, while the control group comprised 35 participants without a diagnosed psychoso-matic disorder and chronic comorbidities. Participants were assessed using a self-designed questionnaire as well as the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, NEO-Five Factor Inventory, 25-item Resilience Coping Scale (Skala Pomiaru Prężności — SPP-25), and General Self-Efficacy Scale. We observed a significant effect of personality, perceived self-efficacy, resilience, and coping strategies in patients with IBS. Moreover, stress was shown to be associated with disease severity, while the type of a coping strategy was related to the frequency of symptoms. The groups differed in terms of personality traits such as resilience, self-efficacy, extraversion, and neuroticism. Our study confirms the significant effect of personality traits and coping strategies in patients with IBS.

Objectives: Designing and printing out a 3D model of a mandible, including the teeth with replicated carious lesions, to be fitted into the Dental Patient Simulator. Students assessed the 3D teeth models against the extracted teeth and the standard models, identifying specific restorative dentistry procedures where they might be applied as the teaching aids.
Methods: A 3D tooth model was printed out against a patient’s Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan. The study was attended by 22, 5th-year students, who, having prior removed the caries, filled in the cavities of different classes and trepanned the pulp chamber in the 3D models, subsequently rating them against a questionnaire.
Results: Over 95% of students recommended introducing the 3D models into teaching conservative dentistry with endodontics at the pre-clinical stage to enhance manual skills in cavity preparation and filling. The replication of tissue hardness and anatomical characteristics in the 3D models was rated significantly higher, as compared to the standard ones (p <0.05). Over 90% of students also asserted that working on the 3D models would enhance their pulp chamber trepanation skills, and rated overall replication of the anatomical characteristics significantly higher, in comparison with the standard teeth models (p <0.05).
Conclusions: In pre-clinical education, the 3D teeth models offer a viable alternative, as there is an appreciable potential for different types of teeth to be printed out, in full consideration of their anatomical diversity. Further design refinements in the 3D teeth models are required, though, particularly the ones regarding true-to-life replication of the soft tissues.

Eupatorium odoratum is known for its ability to resist nematode infestations that attack the root systems of banana plants. An aqueous extract of the leaves and stems of E. odoratum (named EEOL) represents a natural solution that we investigated for its potential to control the harmful nematode, Radopholus similis, in Cavendish banana plants. Our research into EEOL’s efficacy spanned two distinct environments: a micro plot experiment model and a field model. Various concentrations of EEOL were examined to assess its efficacy in alleviating R. similis infestations and in mitigating their adverse effects on Cavendish banana plants. In the micro plot experiment model, the concentration of the original solution, diluted at ratios of 1:30×, 1 : 16×, 1 : 8×, 1 : 4×, and 1 : 2×, ranged from 1.76 to 28.16 mg · ml ^-1. In the field model, the corresponding rates varied from 6.03 to 96.54 l · ha ^-1. Key parameters, including infection rates, root necrosis indices, plant growth metrics, percentage of fallen trees, and harvest yields, were meticulously monitored and assessed. The results demonstrated that EEOL significantly reduced infection rates ( p < 0.05), decreased root necrosis indices ( p < 0.05), and promoted increased plant height, pseudostem circumference, and leaf area ( p < 0.05) in both models. Furthermore, it lowered the percentage of fallen trees ( p < 0.05) and enhanced harvest yields ( p < 0.05) in the field model. Notably, observations in the field model revealed that EEOL, particularly at a dosage of 96.54 l · ha ^-1, exhibited effectiveness equivalent to the conventional chemical nematode control method, fenamiphos ( p > 0.05). The study’s findings underscore the promising potential of EEOL in effectively managing R. similis infestations and improving the yield and quality of Cavendish banana plants. The aqueous extract of the stem and leaves of E. odoratum emerged as an effective nematode management solution for banana cultivation, in both the micro plot experiment and field conditions.