The article attempts to reconstruct the literary "traces" of the "great lady" of German literature – Ricarda Huch – in the area of the ideas of Mediterranean thoughts as in the example of Italy. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Huch became interested, as a historian and novelist, in the history of the struggles for national liberation in Italy and erected a specific literary monument to the heroes of the Italian risorgimento. Also her personal experiences connected with Italy were found in the social novel Aus der Triumphgasse [From the Avenue of Freedom].

Physical and chemical properties (granulometric composition, pH, carbonates, organic carbon, nitrogen etc.) as well as bioenergetic activity of Spitsbergen tundra soils were studied at three chosen stations situated near Polish polar station "Hornsund". It was found that biological activity of Arctic tundra soils depended mainly on its physical properties, whereas the chemical composition of organic matter did not effect directly the bioenergetics of these soils. This bioenergetic activity depends mainly on the richness of micro- and mesofauna communities inhabiting the soil.

This article presents experimental studies on drying kinetics and quality effects of red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) after convective drying with a preliminary osmotic pretreatment. The effects of the osmotic agent (NaCl) concentration and the osmotic bath time on the product colour and nutrient content preservation, the water activity, and rehydration ability after drying were analysed. Osmotic dehydration curves and Solid Gain (SG), Water Loss (WL), Weight Reduction (WR) were determined. It was proved that drying of beetroot with osmotic pretreatment contributes to shorter drying time, smaller water activity, higher retention of betanin, better colour preservation, and a greater degree of water resorption.