The purpose of this article is to determine what can we learn about the changing demographics of scientific personnel around the world and over time using available global bibliometric data sources. We wanted to see how useful global data could be for analyzing the scientific workforce. We tested how the demographic transformation of the global scientific profession can be measured using new data sources, thus transcending the traditional approach in which national statistics from national statistical offices are aggregated to a higher level, as in the case of the scientific workforce databases produced by the OECD, UNESCO and the European Union (Eurostat).

In this paper we analyze the phenomenon of quitting academic science and show how quitting differs between men and women, academic disciplines and over time. The approach presented is comprehensive: global, based on cohorts of scientists, and longitudinal – we observe the publication activity of individual scientists over time. Using metadata from Scopus, a global bibliometric database of publications and citations, we analyze the publication careers of scientists from 38 OECD countries who began publishing in 2000 ( N = 142 776) and 2010 ( N = 232 843). The paper tests the usefulness of large bibliometric datasets for a global analysis of academic careers.

Management of metropolitan areas – foreign experience and their Polish implications. The aim of the article is to present problems of development of metrotopolitan areas as premises for creating various forms of territorial integrated management. The reference point is the Report “The OECD Metropolitan Governance Survey” (2014). The models of metropolitan integration were analyzed in both: “the top-down” legal and political solutions of European countries as well as “bottom-up initiatives” of building local government partnerships. The metropolitan reforms in Germany, France and Italy were discussed as good solutions. Against this background, the dilemmas of managing metropolitan areas in Poland, implementation of EU instrument – ITI and possible direction of metropolitan reform are presented.

Air quality is crucial for human health and welfare. A large number of studies have indicated strong

associations between ambient air pollution levels and adverse health effects. There is a considerable number

of literature reports concerning changes in atmospheric greenhouse emissions, while relatively little is known on

changes in atmospheric CO emissions. This paper presents the rate of changes in atmospheric CO emissions using the

logarithmic method in the assessment of this rate. Studies were conducted based on source data from 32 Organization

for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Analyses covered the period of 2005–2012. It was found that

the average rate of changes had a negative average rate for most, although not all analyzed countries. In three of the

32 countries atmospheric CO emissions increased in that period. While the intensity of these changes varied, a defi nite

majority of the countries reduced their CO emissions, whereas Turkey, Poland and Estonia increased their emissions.

Investigations were carried out in order to evaluate biodegradability of two pesticides - pure active substance 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4 D) and specific preparation created at the base of 2,4-D - Aminopielik 720. Biodegradation was carried out according to OECD standards - Method 301E and 303A. After biodegradation toxicity of intermediates was also determined. Investigated preparations were biodegradable in coupled units test Biodegradation rate, observed at the base of COD standard analysis, was over 90%. Intermediates didn't show significant toxicity with reference to fish, algae and daphnia.