Management of food resources is considered fundamental for supporting insect pollinators, whose abundance shows a downward trend on the global scale. Here, the nectar and pollen production (per ...flower, per 1 m
2
of tree crown), the composition of nectar carbohydrates and the levels of pollen proteins was evaluated in eight
Tilia
species (Malvaceae) growing in SE Poland. In the warm-summer continental climate,
Tilia
species can improve nectar and pollen resources mainly in June/July. Although the flowering period of each species is short (8.0–14.7 days), appropriate selection of species can extend the availability of food for more than a month. However, the considerable variations in the flowering onset (11.2–20.1 days) may cause significant inter-seasonal shifts in food accessibility.
The nectar with its highly changeable sugar concentration (29.5–77.4%) was composed of sucrose, glucose, and fructose; protein content in pollen was 7.2–16.8%. The mean sugar yield was in the range of 0.95–19.1 g per 1 m
2
(
T. amuriensis
–
T. platyphyllos
, respectively), whereas the mean pollen yield was 1.37–4.1 g per 1 m
2
of tree crown (
T. amuriensis
–
T.
×
euchlora
, respectively). Significant year-to-year fluctuations of sugar and pollen yield in linden trees have to be taken into account in conservation schemes, and the introduction of other flowering plants with more stable sugar and pollen production should be considered in an area with a high density of linden trees. Linden flowers mainly support honey bees; nevertheless, wild pollinators (bumble bees, solitary bees, and dipterans) can also benefit from linden floral resources.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Microfibers (MFs) are one of the most common and hazardous forms of microplastic found in the aquatic environment. The methods of collecting and analyzing MFs released during washing have to be ...developed and standardized to understand and model the process of microfibers’ emission better. This study tests a new, innovative method to check if laundry fiber sampling can be approached comprehensively. Pieces of synthetic materials (aged and new polyester, polyester-cotton blend) were placed in chromium-nickel filters envelope-like folded. Then, textile weathering during washing was monitored by the quality and quantity of fibers found directly on the filter surface. Laundry parameters like temperature, detergent presence, and filter size were changed, and results were monitored by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), a well-known standard in microplastic identification. In addition, ATR spectra were collected to characterize the materials in detail and evaluate their aging level. Spectroscopy can be used to detect and examine both mechanical and chemical degradation, and the collected microfibers can be assigned to the material they come from. Finally, a quantitative comparison of fibers released during different washing conditions can be used for the process optimization to minimize its environmental impact.
Accurate and fast detection of viruses is crucial for controlling outbreaks of many diseases; therefore, to date, numerous sensing systems for their detection have been studied. On top of the ...performance of these sensing systems, the availability of biorecognition elements specific to especially the new etiological agents is an additional fundamental challenge. Therefore, besides high sensitivity and selectivity, such advantages as the size of the sensor and possibly low volume of analyzed samples are also important, especially at the stage of evaluating the receptor-target interactions in the case of new etiological agents when typically, only tiny amounts of the receptor are available for testing. This work introduces a real-time, highly miniaturized sensing solution based on microcavity in-line Mach-Zehnder interferometer (μIMZI) induced in optical fiber for SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles detection. The assay is designed to detect conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in a sample with a volume as small as hundreds of picoliters, reaching the detection limit at the single ng per mL level.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Effects of four carbon nanomaterials on O. mykiss embryos and larvae were assessed.•Only reduced graphene oxide lowered the survival of embryos and larvae.•Exposure to all materials affected the ...growth of larvae but to various extents.•Exposure to all materials did not elicit oxidative stress and neurotoxicity.•Larvae exposed to graphene nanoflakes had increased velocity and were more active.
With the increasing production and the number of potential applications of carbon nanomaterials, mainly from the graphene family, their release into the natural environment, especially to aquatic ecosystems, is inevitable. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of various carbon nanomaterials (graphene nanoflakes (GNF), graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and silicon carbide nanofibers (NFSiC) in the concentration of 4 mg L−1 on the early life stages of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. The survival rates of O. mykiss were not affected after 36 days of exposure to studied materials, except for RGO, which caused significant mortality of both embryos and larvae compared to the control conditions. Larvae exposed to GO and NFSiC were characterized by a smaller standard body length at hatch, whereas at the end of the experiment, the growth of fish exposed to all materials was accelerated, especially in GO and RGO treatment, in which higher body weight and length were accompanied by lower volume of the yolk sac. Neither the markers of the oxidative damage nor the antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly affected in embryos, newly hatched larvae and larvae after 26-day exposure to studied carbon nanomaterials. Also, no neurotoxic effect expressed by the activity of the whole-body acetylcholinesterase was observed. Nevertheless, the significant increase in the velocity and the overall activity of larvae exposed to GNF (not investigated after exposure to other materials) must be highlighted. The most pronounced effect of RGO might be connected with its large particle size, sharp edges, and the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. The results indicate for the first time that various carbon nanomaterials potentially released into aquatic ecosystems may have serious developmental implications for the early life stages of salmonid fish.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) waste is classified as a dangerous one. Hopefully, LIBs can be recycled, and they are already a valuable source of metals. This work is focused on the properties of the ...spent LIBs powder, which is a postproduct of the proposed organic leaching process and is presented as a source of nanocarbons with a unique structure. Furthermore, attention is paid to revealing the properties of the carbon component that can find a second life in other applications like photocatalysis or sorbents. Raman spectroscopy is used for the characterization of graphitic carbon. Scanning electron microscopy images are numerically quantitatively analyzed to provide additional parameters (for instance, the total length of edges) about the structure of materials, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) further check their composition.
This paper presents the Raman spectroscopy and numerical characterization of nanocarbon materials obtained from battery powders. The proposed type of green synthesis allows the transformation of wastes into advanced nanostructures. Analyses confirm that lithium‐ion battery (LiB) waste is a source of many precious metals such as lithium, manganese, or cobalt but can be recycled to graphene‐like materials.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
26.
The elastography of distal ulnar nerve branches in cyclists Dąbrowska, Agnieszka; Paluch, Łukasz; Pietruski, Piotr ...
Journal of hand therapy,
January-March 2024, 2024 Jan-Mar, 2024-01-00, 20240101, Volume:
37, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Forced elbow flexion and pressure during bicycling result in ulnar nerve traction and pressure exerted in Guyon’s canal or the nerve’s distal branches. The compression of the nerves causes a change ...in their stiffness related to edema and eventually gradual fibrosis.
This study aimed to evaluate the elastography of terminal branches of the ulnar nerve in cyclists.
Cross-sectional study.
Thirty cyclists, 32 healthy individuals, and 32 volunteers with ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathies participated in the study. Each participant underwent a nerve examination of the cubital tunnel, Guyon’s canal and the deep and superficial branches of the ulnar nerve using shear wave elastography. The cyclist group was tested before and after a 2-hour-long workout.
Before cycling workouts, the ulnar nerve stiffness in the cubital tunnel and Guyon’s canal remained below pathological estimates. Cycling workouts altered nerve stiffness in the cubital tunnel only. Notably, the stiffness of the ulnar terminal branches in cyclists was increased even before training. The mean deep branch stiffness was 50.85 ± 7.60 kPa versus 20.43 ± 5.95 kPa (p < 0.001) in the cyclist and healthy groups, respectively, and the mean superficial branch stiffness was 44 ± 12.45 kPa versus 24.55 ± 8.05 kPa (p < 0.001), respectively. Cycling contributed to a further shift in all observed values.
These observations indicate the existence of persistent anatomical changes in the distal ulnar branches in resting cyclists that result in increased stiffness of these nerves. The severity of these changes remains, however, to be determined.
These data show elastography values of the ulnar terminal branches in healthy individuals and cyclists where despite lack of clinical symptoms that they seem to be elevated twice above the healthy range.
•Elastography of the ulnar nerve terminal branches.•A group of 30 cyclists compared to 32 healthy and 32 nerve entrapment volunteers.•Resting stiffness of the ulnar nerve distal branches had twice the increased value.•Cycling inducing a further increase in stiffness and confirms its irritating effect.•Presented range of normal and strongly increased values may be useful for clinicians.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The main hypothesis of this study was that the microplastic (MP) concentration would be higher in the city centre. The MP (<5 mm) abundance and distribution in the urbanized section of the Vistula ...River were examined. Samples were collected from three different sites: 1) the less urbanized part of the city, 2) the area close to the tributary outlet and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), and 3) the city centre. The abundance of MPs in water ranged from 1.6 to 2.55 items L−1, whereas in the sediments, it varied from 190 to 580 items kg−1. The highest MP concentration was observed in the water collected in the city centre. However, in the case of sediments, the most polluted sample was collected from a sampling point located near the WWTP and tributary outlet. The diversity of the MPs abundance along the river was associated with the hydrological and sedimentological conditions, which was confirmed by the grain size analysis of sediments. The dominant type of MPs in both the water and sediment samples was fibre. The MPs were characterized by Raman spectroscopy as polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and a variety of other materials with different levels of deterioration. The images obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed different disintegration features. Moreover, the SEM analyses revealed the occurrence of adhered particles and diatoms on the surface of MPs. The adsorption of various elements onto the MPs surface and the adhered particles was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The conducted studies emphasized the significance of the impact of large urban agglomerations, such as the Warsaw metropolitan area, on the concentration of MPs in rivers. Further studies are needed to better assess, for instance, the precise mode through which MPs in urban regions are transported by rivers to the seas.
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•First studies of microplastics in the urban section of the longest river in Poland.•Microplastics abundance seems to be correlated with the population density.•Fibres are the most common type of microplastics in this area.•Raman and IR spectroscopy enable microplastics characterization and classification.•Adhered particles and metals on the debris surface were analysed with SEM-EDS.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Tilia pollen can cause pollen allergy in sensitive people.•In Poland, the risk of allergy to Tilia pollen occurs in June, July, and also in May.•The highest counts of Tilia pollen occur during the ...T. cordata flowering period.•The acceleration in the pollen season onset was almost 14 days during 18 years.•In 2018, the annual pollen sum increased by more than three times.
Lindens belong to valued trees that are frequently planted in urban green areas. Nevertheless, during their flowering they can pose a risk to sensitive people in cities due to their allergenic pollen. This paper presents the results of a 3-year phenological study (2016–2018) and an 18-year aerobiological study (2001–2018) conducted in Lublin (Poland). The flowering phenology data for the following five species: T. americana, T. cordata, T. × euchlora, T. platyphyllos, and T. tomentosa, were compared with the data regarding Tilia pollen seasons. It was shown that the largest amounts of airborne Tilia pollen grains occur during the full flowering period of T. cordata and that the flowering sequence of the linden species studied is constant during the growing season: T. platyphyllos, T. americana, T. cordata, T. × euchlora, and T. tomentosa. We found pollen seasons to start earlier by 14 days and to be extended by 15 days. Throughout the study period, the annual Tilia pollen sum did not change significantly. However, in 2018 in which there was a significant increase in temperature above the average for the previous 17 years, flowering and pollen release distinctly accelerated, and the annual pollen sum increased more than three times compared to the average for the previous 17 years.
In central-eastern Poland, the risk of pollen allergy due to the presence of Tilia pollen occurs in May, June, and July. We recorded the highest linden pollen concentrations in June. Due to the acceleration of flowering and pollen release in linden trees as a result of global warming, the incidence of pollen allergy in central Europe can be expected to become more intense already in the second half of May. Therefore, linden plantings in new urban green areas should be planned to be established at some distance from residential estates.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a significant global health concern in veterinary medicine. There is increasing interest in utilizing molecular agents to modulate hepatocyte function for potential ...clinical applications. Recent studies have shown promising results in inhibiting protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) to maintain cell function in various models. In this study, we investigated the effects of the inhibitor Trodusquemine (MSI-1436) on equine hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) under lipotoxic conditions. We examined proliferative activity, glucose uptake, and mitochondrial morphogenesis. Our study found that MSI-1436 promotes HPC entry into the cell cycle and protects them from palmitate-induced apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis. MSI-1436 also increases glucose uptake and protects HPCs from palmitate-induced stress by reorganizing the cells' morphological architecture. Furthermore, our findings suggest that MSI-1436 enhances 2-NBDG uptake by increasing the expression of SIRT1, which is associated with liver insulin sensitivity. It also promotes mitochondrial dynamics by modulating mitochondria quantity and morphotype as well as increasing the expression of PINK1, MFN1, and MFN2. Our study provides evidence that MSI-1436 has a positive impact on equine hepatic progenitor cells, indicating its potential therapeutic value in treating EMS and insulin dysregulation.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The observations of fruiting and formation of offspring through generative propagation presented in this study were aimed at determination of propagation potential in Iris aphylla L. The low ...percentage of germinating seeds largely limits its generative reproduction. The germination tests confirmed deep dormancy of the Iris aphylla seeds. The dormancy was disrupted by isolation of embryos from seeds, which were further cultivated in vitro. The germination of isolated embryos proved the localization of endogenous inhibitors of germinating seeds of I. aphylla in the endosperm. The comparison of phytohormonal profiles of seeds, endosperm and embryos of I. aphylla and Iris sibirica, i.e. a species with a high percentage of germinating seed, revealed that the deep dormancy of I. aphylla seeds was associated with the balance between abscisic acid and gibberellins (ABA/GA), a significant predominance of ABA and a massive accumulation of salicylic acid. Isolation of embryos from seeds and their germination in growing medium in vitro is recommended as the most efficient method for I. aphylla propagation. Results of this study can be applied in conservation efforts of this attractive and important native species.
