Evaluation offruits and leaves ofseventeen apple cultivars in respect of their attraction as food for caterpillars of leafroller species occurring in an experimental apple orchard was carried out over 1995 to 1998 in the Institute of Pomology and Floriculture at Skierniewice. The highest levels ofinjuries were observed on two cultivars: ‘Ligol’ and ‘Elstar’. High number ofinjured fruits was noted on the following cultivars: ‘Gala’, ‘Jonagold’, ‘Cortland’, ‘Idared’, ‘Lodel’ and ‘Szampion’. By far the number of injured fruits was lower on ‘Lobo’ and ‘Jonathan’, and the least on ‘Rubinette’, ‘Starkrimson’ and ‘Gloster’. Significant differences in the number of caterpillars settled down in leaf/flower clusters ofparticular cultivars during the vernal period were also confirmed. In each season the highest number ofcaterpillars of Pandemis heparana and Archips rosana were observed on leaves of‘Alwa’. To cultivars whose leaves were also readily settled down by the two aforementioned species were: ‘Jonathan’, ‘Cortland’, ‘Ligol’, ‘Lobo’, ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Elstar’. Relatively less caterpillars were observed on leaves of‘Arlet’, ‘Gloster’, ‘Szampion’, ‘Starkrimson’, ‘Pilot’, ‘Pinowa’ and ‘Rubinette’.

The rose flea beetle, RFB (Luperomorpha xanthodera Fairmaire 1888) is a new flower pest in Europe. In 2012, it was brought accidentally to central Poland. To search for this introduced species in the area adjacent to the site of the first finding, 29 plant species belonging to five botanical families (Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Plantaginaceae, Crassulaceae) were monitored over a 3-year-long study (2016−2018). RFB were found on 11 herbaceous/ ornamental plant species (Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae) along with feeding damage to the flowers. White mustard (Sinapis alba L., Brassicaceae), hyssop (L.), and Monarda spp. (Lamiaceae) were its most preferred host plants. In each season, RFB females preferred host plants which bloomed abundantly and vividly. However, among the examined plant species there was a large variation in the year-to-year RFB abundance. Over the examined period the RFB extended its abundance exponentially, and its population survived and established itself in the area. The general sex ratio of the beetles was strongly female biased. In the female pool, females with conspicuously swollen abdomens predominated. The results of our study provide more insight into RFB behaviour, its establishment and spreading into new areas. To support the evidence for the RFB risk factor as an agricultural/ horticultural pest, further research should focus on the beetles’ biology, reproductive tactics, larval host plant preference, larva-inflicted damage and harmfulness, the impact of the RFB on the native fauna, as well as its further local and distant migration propensity. Presently our knowledge about these aspects is still fragmentary.

The new approach to the construction project planning is presented in the article. The classical net model is enriched by the fuzzy decision node. The decision node allows for alternate choices dependent on appearing circumstances. The alternative net model with fuzzy decision node is an acyclic multi-graph, where some, chosen nodes (events) have multiple connections. These connections represent alternative methods of the certain work execution. Every work (activity) (i, j) in the net model with alternative methods of work execution, despite the basic information comprising the execution time, the cost, the number of necessary workers, should comprise additional information e.g. about a complexity of works, a real feasibility. The alternative ways of a given work execution are evaluated in the decision node based on the fuzzy decision model. Each method is evaluated by assigning it the preference level in a form of the value of the membership function – „equal or higher” μ_≥. The most preferable way of the work execution in a given circumstances, will have the highest value of preference level. When the choice is done the net model is solved in the traditional way. Therefore, the paper concentrates on the process of choosing the method of work execution in the fuzzy decision node. The example calculations accompanying the process of decision taking are presented too. The model requires the use of linguistic variables, a fuzzy numbers, as well as fuzzy preference relations together with some calculations applied the probability theory.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the predominant learning style and type of intelligence based on the VARK questionnaire and Multiple Intelligences Questionnaire respectively in second year medical students. Determining the relationship between individual preferences of students, based on their learning style and predominant type of intelligence and the perception of the modified Peyton’s four-step approach used to teach cardiac auscultation.

Methods: The opinion of participants 236 of the modified four-step approach was attained through the use of anonymous questionnaires. Using the VARK questionnaire, the participants’ learning style was defined. The predominant type of intelligence was determined by the Multiple Intelligences Question-naire.

Results: The kinesthetic style was the predominant unimodal learning style in second year medical students (in Polish and international students). The most predominant type of intelligence in Polish students was visual-spatial and mathematical and logical, while in international students the predominant types were visual-spatial and mixed type of intelligence. Quantitative analysis indicated that the modified Peyton’s approach is a valuable learning and teaching method for most students, independent of their predominant learning style or intelligence type. The exception was a small group of students with lin-guistic intelligence predominance according to the Multiple Intelligence Questionnaire, for which the Peyton method was more difficult.

Conclusions: This study proves that the modified Peyton’s approach is useful and effective didactic tool and can be successfully applied to most students. This is a new learning strategy for teaching cardiac auscultation in laboratory conditions in classes for a significant majority. Due to the fact that a group of students with a predominance of linguistic intelligence more often perceived the Peyton method to be difficult, it is worth combining traditional methods with new ones in class so that all students, regardless of unimodal learning style or prevailing type of intelligence, are taught satisfactorily.

A description of the status of the art of experimental and theoretical investigations of local crystalline structures of tetrahedron ordered ternary and quaternary semiconducting alloys is presented. Experimental EXAFS data and FTIR analysis are summarized and analyzed using both the Rigid Network Cations theoretical model and the Strained-tetrahedra model. Internal preferences of ion pairs in ternary and quaternary alloys are discussed. Several ternary systems of different structures show ideal quasi-canonical Bernoulli distributions, while others are characterized by extreme preferences in which one, several or even all configurations are depressed or even lacking. The results demonstrate that the validity of the Bernoulli distribution is limited and not fulfilled in many systems. This article is an expanded version of the scientific reports presented at the International Conference on Semiconductor Nanostructures for Optoelectronics and Biosensors 2016 ICSeNOB2016, May 22–25, 2016, Rzeszow, Poland.