Tracing potential soil contamination in the historical Solvay soda ash plant area, Jaworzno, Southern Poland

This study of soil conditions was carried out on 30 meadow soil (podzol) samples from the vicinity of the soda ash heap in Jaworzno, supplemented by analyses of 18 samples of waste deposited on the heap. In all samples, the total content of macroelements (Ca and Na) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) as well as pH were analysed. The element concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The materials examined were neutral to ultra-alkaline. Total accumulations (mg kg(−1)) of chemical elements in the soil vary from 130.24 to 14076.67 for Ca, 41.40–926.23 for Na, 0.03–3.34 for Cd, 0.94–103.62 for Cr, 0.94–35.89 for Ni, 3.51–76.47 for Pb and 12.05–279.13 for Zn, whereas quantities of the same elements in the waste samples vary from 171705.13 to 360487.94 for Ca, 517.64–3152.82 for Na, 0.2–9.89 for Cd, 1.16–20.40 for Cr, 1.08–9.79 for Ni, 0.1–146.05 for Pb and 10.26–552.35 for Zn. The vertical distribution of the metals was determined in each soil profile. Despite enrichment of heavy metals in the uppermost horizon on the top of the heap, the results lead to the conclusion that the relation of historical production of soda ash in Jaworzno to current contamination of the local soil environment is insignificant

Weryfikacja pozycji systematycznej stokłosy spłaszczonej (Bromus carinatus Hook. and Arn., Poaceae), cv "Broma" na podstawie analizy markerów ISSR

‘Broma’ is a grass cultivar belonging to the species Bromus carinatus. In the Lists of Agricultural Plant Varieties of the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing (COBORU), it is shown as Bromus willdenowii (= B. catharticus, B. unioloides) (List of Agricultural Plant Varieties 1989-2009), whereas already in 1984 Mirek demonstrated on the basis of morphological analysis that this was a different closely related species – B. carinatus. The aim of the present study was to verify the species affiliation of cv. ‘Broma’. The conducted analysis of ISSR molecular markers included representatives of cv. ‘Broma” as well as of B. carinatus and B. willdenowii. The method used allowed the identification of molecular markers of the above-mentioned taxa. The numerical analysis of the obtained results suggests that cv. ‘Broma’ should be classified in the species B. carinatus, not B. willdenowii.Broma jest odmianą hodowlaną trawy należącej do gatunku Bromus carinatus. Na listach odmian roślin rolniczych Centralnego Ośrodka Badania Odmian Roślin (COBORU) figuruje ona jako Bromus willdenowii (=B. catharticus, B. unioloides) (Lista Odmian Roślin Rolniczych 1989-2009) podczas gdy już w 1984 roku Mirek na podstawie porównawczych badań morfologicznych wykazał, że jest to inny, blisko spokrewniony gatunek – B. carinatus. Celem przeprowadzonych badań była weryfikacja przynależności gatunkowej cv ‘Broma’. W przeprowadzonych analizach markerów molekularnych ISSR uwzględniono przedstawicieli cv. ‘Broma’ oraz B. carinatus i B. willdenowii. Zastosowana metoda pozwoliła na identyfikację markerów molekularnych wymienionych taksonów. Analizy numeryczne uzyskanych wyników sugerują, że cv. ‘Broma’ powinna być zaklasyfikowana do gatunku B. carinatus, a nie B. willdenowii

Atrakcyjność rekreacyjna osiedla Dąbie w Szczecinie a charakter jego krajobrazu

Urban landscape character is holistic spatial record of the historic and contemporary ongoing processes, the natural and cultural ones. The example of a former city of Dąbie in Szczecin presents the possibilities of the evolution the recreational features on the base of landscape values. Landscape character assessment within the historic changes analysis pictures the elements which makes places unique and special.Krajobraz miejski jest całościowym przestrzennym zapisem przenikających się procesów przyrodniczych i kulturowych, zachodzących w mieście historycznie i współcześnie. Na przykładzie dawnego miasta Dąbie, stanowiącego obecnie część Szczecina, ukazano możliwości rozwoju funkcji rekreacyjnych na podstawie walorów wynikających ze specyfiki krajobrazu. Badanie charakteru krajobrazu, wraz z procesem historycznych przemian, pozwoliło zdiagnozować te jego elementy i cechy, które decydują o wyjątkowości poszczególnych stref miasta, poczuciu i percepcji miejsca

DNA polymorphism in Bromus erectus and Bromus inermis from Poland's territory

Pochodzenie obecnych zasięgów oraz występowanie mieszańców międzygatunkowych jest istotne w odniesieniu do gatunków Bromus erectus i Bromus inermis, a prezentowana praca jest wstępną próbą wyjaśnienia tych problemów w oparciu o techniki molekularne (RAPD i ISSR) oraz analizę numeryczną uzyskanych danych. W badaniach wykorzystano okazy obu gatunków pochodzące z wybranych, naturalnych stanowisk z terenu Polski i Ukrainy oraz z kolekcji IHAR w Bydgoszczy, a także ich mieszańce ze stanowiska na Podolu (Ukraina). Przeprowadzone badania wykazały wyraźne różnice między populacjami B. inermis z obszaru Polski Zachodniej oraz Polski Wschodniej i Podola. Zróżnicowania takiego nie obserwowano w przypadku B. erectus. Analiza gatunkowo-specyficznych markerów molekularnych pozwoliła na potwierdzenie mieszańcowego charakteru niektórych okazów.The origin of present geographical distribution and existence of intraspe- cies hybrids are essential problem concerning the species of B. erectus and B. inermis. Presented research tries to solve this problem the basis of on molecular techniques (RAPD and ISSR) and numerical analysis. The specimens of both species have originated from selected wild populations in Poland and Ukraine and from the garden collection (IHAR Bydgoszcz). Also some presumed morphological hybrids B. erectus × B. inermis from Podolia (Ukraine) were investigated. Conducted research indicates significant differences between the populations of B. inermis from West Poland in comparison to the populations of East Poland and Podolia. Such differences were not found in B. erectus. The analysis of the DNA amplification products revealed that presumed hybrids have the molecular markers from both investigated species

Revealing the Distribution and Bioavailability of Zn, Pb, and Cd in Soil at an Abandoned Zn Processing Site: The Role of Spectrometry Techniques

The focus of this study is the potential geochemical hazard in the soil system affected by historical zinc processing in Jaworzno, southern Poland. Total Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations for soil samples determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry are reported. The modified three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure for analysis of the soil was successfully applied to obtain critical information on the heavy metal bioavailability and toxic impact on the natural environment. Exchangeable-, reducible-, oxidizable-, and residual fractions obtained using the sequential extraction procedure were separated and the heavy metal contents in each fraction were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The results of the partitioning study provide information on the mobility of heavy metals in the soil profiles. Most of the Zn in the topsoil is related to the exchangeable-, reducible- and organic/oxidizable phases. The Zn fractionation in the whole soil profiles looks slightly different, with depletion of exchangeable- and reducible phases and enrichment of residual- and organic fractions. The greatest amount of Pb is associated with the reducible fraction. Cadmium is mainly found in the exchangeable- and reducible fraction. The spectrometry techniques applied are helpful in metal-level assessment and useful for evaluating the fate of contaminants and their bioavailability in soil systems. They show that 40 years since Zn processing ceased, the total concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the investigated soils are extremely high. Due to the high proportions of the metals in the easily soluble fraction, it is evident that the Jaworzno area has been strongly affected by the historical zinc industry and that the topsoil is heavily contaminated or even toxic

ISSR analysis points to relict character of Aconitum bucovinense Zapal. (Ranunculaceae) at the range margin

Aconitum bucovinense, a high-mountain species endemic to the Eastern and Southern Carpathians, including the Apuseni Mountains, is legally protected and classified in the Polish Red Data Book of Plants. It attains its NW geographical range in two peripheral populations in the Western Bieszczady Mountains (Polish Eastern Carpathians), isolated by a distance of 13.1 km. PCR-ISSR analysis has been used to elucidate the within- and among-populational levels of species genetic diversity. A UPGMA and block clustering showed discreteness of the populations and subpopulations based on ISSR banding pattern. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) revealed significant divergence (P = 0.024) of the two marginal populations and highly significant (P < 0.001) differentiation of subpopulations within populations. The theta index calculated for the two marginal populations and the core population in the Carpathians was 0.131 ±0.030 S.D. Most of the population-genetic diversity indices of the marginal populations were not different from those in the core area but the Shannon’s and rarity indices were lower in the marginal populations. It seems that founder effect and subsequent genetic bottleneck resulted in a fine-scale population genetic structure. The marginal populations under study need a relevant recovery program to maintain their genetic diversity

The stimulating effect of rosmarinic acid and extracts from rosemary and lemon balm on collagen type i biosynthesis in osteogenesis imperfecta type i skin fibroblasts

Rosemary extract (RE) and lemon balm extract (LBE) attract particular attention of phar-macists due to their high therapeutic potential. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I is a heritable disease caused by mutations in type I collagen and characterized by its reduced amount. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the extracts and rosmarinic acid (RA) on collagen type I level in OI skin fibroblasts. Phytochemical analysis of RE and LBE was carried out by liquid chromatography–photodiode array detection–mass spectrometry. The expression of collagen type I at transcript and protein levels was analyzed by qPCR, ELISA, SDS-urea PAGE, and Western blot. In OI patient’s fibroblasts the exposure to the extracts (0.1–100 µg/mL) and RA (0.1–100 µM) significantly increased collagen type I and the best results were obtained with 0.1–10 µM RA and 0.1–10 µg/mL of the extracts. LBE showed a greater stimulating effect than RE, likely due to a higher RA content. Moreover, collagen type III expression and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1,-2,-9) activity remained unchanged or decreased. The obtained data support the clinical potential of RA-rich extracts and RA itself in modulating the quantitative defect of type I collagen in type I OI