The human health depends on environmental conditions in which we live, There arc no uniform methods which can estimate the influence of the environment on the human health and the health hazard resulting from this exposure. There arc no parameters, which can describe condition of environment in relation to health effects either. The paper discusses the Environmental Health Indicators ( elaborated by WHO experts) which arc indicative of influence of the environment on the human health, so they point to and describe the relationship between health and environment. There have been shown practical use of Environmental Health Indicators to estimate water and sanitation quality in the Silesia region. There have been presented methods ot' results calculating and interpreting. Indicators were adapted to methods and procedures of data collection used in Poland.

For over twenty years psychologists have been using information and communication technology to design solutions aimed at improving mental health and quality of life of their clients or patients. One of those solutions are internet interventions. Although these interventions are commonly used in other countries, knowledge about them in Poland is limited. The aim of the article is to introduce to the topic of psychological internet interventions by describing the basic functionalities of internet interventions, the context of their use, their classification, areas where they can be applied and challenges related to their future development and wider implementation.

The aim of the study was to identify and present the set of activities undertaken to develop an innovative offer of medical treatments by the health resorts facilities Mineral Hotel Malinowy Raj with Baseny Mineralne (mineral pools) situated in a health resort Solec-Zdrój in the świętokrzyskie voivodeship. The research covered the years 2012-2017 and was based on an analysis of the current offers of the selected facilities and of the revitalisation programme for the gmina as well as on the observations and field inspection. It has shown that the resort is becoming multi-functional, offering various options for health improvement, leisure and relax, and developing innovative medical and tourist functions, the latter including sports and well-being. Inevitably, all these changes have their impact on the economic situation of Solec-Zdrój.

This paper analyses the use of table visual variables of statistical data of hospital beds as an important tool for revealing spatio-temporal dependencies. It is argued that some of conclusions from the data about public health and public expenditure on health have a spatio-temporal reference. Different from previous studies, this article adopts combination of cartographic pragmatics and spatial visualization with previous conclusions made in public health literature. While the significant conclusions about health care and economic factors has been highlighted in research papers, this article is the first to apply visual analysis to statistical table together with maps which is called previsualisation.

Apart from medical care, medical biological equipment or physical environment biggest impact on our health has our behaviours. According to the Functional Health Model (FMZ) H. Wrony-Polańskiej (2003), pro-health behavior is conditioned by the availability of cognitive and behavioral resources, among which the sense of coherence plays an important role. Aim of the study was assessment of dependence between the sense of coherence and health behaviors of studying students. The study involved 245 second and third year students studying in humanities and science. The study was used the M. Ziarko Health Behavior Questionnaire and the A. Antonovsky SOC-29 Life Guidance Questionnaire. Research analysis has confirmed that there is a statistically significant relationship between health behaviors and the sense of coherence and its components: comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. On the basis of the research conducted and based on the Functional Health Model it can be concluded that an important practical direction is to develop from a young age in healthy children and adolescents a special emphasis on the development of this resource.

The monograph analyzes health behaviors and main factors on the basis of which it is possible to transform a lifestyle generally focused on the well-being of an individual and society. According to WHO, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not only the absence of a disease. The definition clearly explains its multidimensional and multithreaded character dependent subjectively on every individual and on social and cultural conditions. Health in its general meaning becomes a sub-jective human feeling. Each individual plays an important role in the process of providing it. Good health condition can be achieved by proper nutrition, regular doctor’s check-up visits and active way of life. Health behaviors are still a key element of the daily activity of everyone. Despite the fact that full knowl-edge of the concept of “healthy lifestyle” prevails, still many people avoid categorical statements. In response to questions about lifestyle, a significant number of respondents often indicate an intention or willingness to change, or to partially comply with the requirements, which results from weakness and lack of determination in action. Knowledge supported by the offer of attractive models that promote the right patterns of behavior can have a positive impact on the global health of the society.

Building a competitive offer is a process spread over many years, in which due to the complexity of market processes taking place both in the country and abroad, the interested entity should participate very actively. The world is changing and with it market conditions or external factors that determine the achievement of success. The efficiency and speed of operations, the flow of information between individual departments of the company, cooperation with regional offices and organizations to carry out joint campaigns or projects are becoming more and more important. However, all this without a permanent market research and observation of competitors’ actions, the company/clinic is getting harder to get or keep the level achieved for a moment. The article is an attempt to present important issues related to building an offer on the market of health and pro-health tourism in times of strong competition and an increasingly fierce fight for a potential client/patient.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the microbiological indoor air contamination level in chosen facilities of the primary health-care for adults and children. The total numbers of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci, coli-group bacteria and moulds in both surgery rooms and patients’ waiting rooms were determined. Air samples were collected with a MAS 100 impactor and the concentration of microorganisms was estimated by a culture method. The microbiological air contamination level was diverse: the number of mesophilic bacteria ranged from 320 to 560 CFU/m3, number of staphylococci - 10-305 CFU/m3, coli group bacteria - 0-15 CFU/m3 and moulds - 15-35 CFU/m3. The bacteriological contamination level of the air in examined community health centers was higher than described in the literature for hospitals and exceeded the acceptable values proposed for the surgery objects.

Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences and Faculty of Medical Sciences starting from December 2012, launched joint study in order to investigate personal noise exposure and associated health effects in general school teachers population, starting from kindergartens up to high schools in Stip, Macedonia. In order to determine workplace associated noise exposure and associated health effects in this specific profession, a full shift noise exposure of 40 teachers from 1 kindergarten, 2 primary and 2 high schools were measured in real conditions using noise dosimeters. A-weighted equivalent-continuous sound pressure levels (LAeq) of each teacher were recorded during single activities (classes). Normalized 8-hours exposure, termed the noise exposure level (Lex;8 h) was also computed. Daily noise dose is another descriptor for noise exposure that was determined as a measure of the total sound energy to which workers have been exposed, as a result of working in the varying noise levels. Health effects were assessed trough a full scale epidemiological study which included 231 teachers from the same schools. Specific questionnaire was used to extract information about subject’s perception on occupational noise exposure, as well as theirs occupational and medical history.

The main aim of this paper is to present recent knowledge about the assessment and evaluation of low frequency noise and infrasound close to the threshold of hearing and the potential effects on human health. Low frequency noise generated by air flowing over a moving car with the open window is chosen as a source of noise. The noise within the interior of the car and its effects on a driver’s comfort at different velocities is analyzed. An open window at high velocity behaves as a source of specifically strong tonal low frequency noise which is annoying. The interior noise of a passenger car was measured under different conditions; while driving on normal highway and roadways. First, an octave-band analysis was used to assess the noise level and its impact on the driver’s comfort. Second, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was used for the detection of tonal low frequency noise. Finally, the paper suggests possibilities for scientifically assessing and evaluating low frequency noise but not only for the presented source of the sound.

We talk to Prof. Bożena Kamińska-Kaczmarek from the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology about treating cancer, obvious and impossible discoveries, and academic courage and strength.

“People generally associate my name with the first ever heart transplant in Poland. But I know that if I hadn’t tried to do it, then four, maybe five years later someone else would have. What I am sure of, however, is that no one else in Poland would have started working on developing an artificial heart. Had I not fought to create this device, a few hundred people would not be alive today because we wouldn’t have had ventricular assist devices which saved their lives and wellbeing.”

– Zbigniew Religa,

famous Polish cardiac surgeon

Prof. Anetta Undas from the Jagiellonian University Medical College discusses the sinister force of diseases, the commandments of scientific editing, and the patriotism of scientists.

Prof. Anna Członkowska from the 2nd Department of Neurology at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, discusses the definition of a stroke, new ways to help post-stroke patients recover, and reasons why time is of the essence.

The Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Technical Sciences (Bull.Pol. Ac.: Tech.) is published bimonthly by the Division IV Engineering Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, since the beginning of the existence of the PAS in 1952. The journal is peer‐reviewed and is published both in printed and electronic form. It is established for the publication of original high quality papers from multidisciplinary Engineering sciences with the following topics preferred: Artificial and Computational Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, Civil Engineering, Control, Informatics and Robotics, Electronics, Telecommunication and Optoelectronics, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Thermodynamics, Material Science and Nanotechnology, Power Systems and Power Electronics.

Journal Metrics: JCR Impact Factor 2018: 1.361, 5 Year Impact Factor: 1.323, SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) 2017: 0.319, Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) 2017: 1.005, CiteScore 2017: 1.27, The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education 2017: 25 points.

Abbreviations/Acronym: Journal citation: Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., ISO: Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci.-Tech. Sci., JCR Abbrev: B POL ACAD SCI-TECH Acronym in the Editorial System: BPASTS.

We talk to Dr. Zofia Boni from the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań about childhood, food and family lives.

We talk to Dr. Emilia Rejmak-Kozicka from the PAS Institute of Experimental Biology about how our bodies respond to chronic stress.

Prof. Monika Kaczmarek from the PAS Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research discusses the impact of nutrition and environment on human and animal development.

Designer drugs cause irreversible changes in the brain and put those who take them at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. They can also affect one’s genetic material, says Prof. Krystyna Gołembiowska from the PAS Institute of Pharmacology.

We talk to Dr. Ewa Duszczyk from the Polish Society of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases about diseases lurking just out of sight and about how vaccines save lives and protect communities.

Dr. Magdalena Winiarska from the Warsaw Medical University discusses what we know and don’t know about cancer, the importance of exchanging ideas in science and the meaning of success.

The aim of the article is to present the role of tourism as a smart specialization, and in particular health tourism in strengthening regional development processes on the example of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The first part of the article presents the ideas of smart specialization as a concept of stimulating innovative development with a particular focus on tourism in regional innovation strategies. The second part of the article focuses on the uniqueness of natural resources in the context of the spa tourism development potential in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The third part presents quantitative data characterizing tourism in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. While the fourth part presents the effects of cooperation between entrepreneurs and expert and university employees who, while creating innovations, solve the problems of entrepreneurs, thus contributing to the development of tourism and the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Finally, final conclusions and summary are presented.

Healthcare services differ from other public goods due to the characteristics of their demand and supply. As a public good, its provision might allow for a free rider effect. This study aimed at checking whether a patient's overall tendency to free ride impacts the Willingness to Pay for public healthcare access. The study demonstrates that besides the experience level with the valued good, free riding tendency also influenced the valuation. The results indicate that not only past decisions about free riding but also readiness to free ride in the future might change the willingness to pay for the public good.