Temporal and spatiotemporal autocorrelation of daily concentrations of Alnus, Betula, and Corylus pollen in Poland

The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of temporal and space–time autocorrelation of pollen counts of Alnus, Betula, and Corylus in the air of eight cities in Poland. Daily average pollen concentrations were monitored over 8 years (2001–2005 and 2009–2011) using Hirst-designed volumetric spore traps. The spatial and temporal coherence of data was investigated using the autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions. The calculation and mathematical modelling of 61 correlograms were performed for up to 25 days back. The study revealed an association between temporal variations in Alnus, Betula, and Corylus pollen counts in Poland and three main groups of factors such as: (1) air mass exchange after the passage of a single weather front (30–40 % of pollen count variation); (2) long-lasting factors (50–60 %); and (3) random factors, including diurnal variations and measurements errors (10 %). These results can help to improve the quality of forecasting models

Changes to Airborne Pollen Counts across Europe

A progressive global increase in the burden of allergic diseases has affected the industrialized world over the last half century and has been reported in the literature. The clinical evidence reveals a general increase in both incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (common hay fever) and asthma. Such phenomena may be related not only to air pollution and changes in lifestyle, but also to an actual increase in airborne quantities of allergenic pollen. Experimental enhancements of carbon dioxide (CO2) have demonstrated changes in pollen amount and allergenicity, but this has rarely been shown in the wider environment. The present analysis of a continental-scale pollen data set reveals an increasing trend in the yearly amount of airborne pollen for many taxa in Europe, which is more pronounced in urban than semi-rural/rural areas. Climate change may contribute to these changes, however increased temperatures do not appear to be a major influencing factor. Instead, we suggest the anthropogenic rise of atmospheric CO2 levels may be influentia

Effect of halogen substitution on the enthalpies of solvation and hydrogen bonding of organic solutes in chlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene derived using multi-parameter correlations

Article on the effect of halogen substitution on the enthalpies of solvation and hydrogen bonding of organic solutes in chlorobenzene and 1,2-dichlorobenzene derived using multi-parameter correlations

Comparative characteristics of pollen fall of alergenic plants in WIelkapolska Region (Poland) and in Lviv city (Ukraine)

Airborne ragweed (Ambrosia) and pigweed (Chenopodiaceae) pollen concent-ration in central part of Poland (Warta Landscape Park) and western part of Ukraine (Lviv city) was studied. In both regions, higher concentration of Ambrosia pollen comparing to Chenopodiaceae pollen was recorded, despite of pigweed population was significantly more abundant on the territory of Poland and western Ukraine. In peaks of pollination, the Ambrosia pollen concentration reached high level of 50–60 pollen grains per cubic metre of air (p.g./m3) and Chenopodiaceae pollen concentration amounted 25 p.g./m3 in Lviv and 15 p.g./m3 in Wielkapolska region. Three peaks of Ambrosia pollination were observed in Ukraine and in Poland with several days delay in Poland. Because of absence of Ambrosia population in neighborhood of Poznan, it was suggested that a long distance transportation from the territory of Ukraine took place. Aeropalynological monitoring in the eastern regions of Europe can provide preventive information about critical periods of allergenic plants pollination

Ropnie umiejscowione w wątrobie i śledzionie i ich prawdopodobny związek z cyklem rocznym

Introduction and aim: Intra-abdominal abscesses can lead to serious complications (e.g. sepsis) and death. The aim of the pilot study is to study if the occurrence of hepatic and splenic abscesses depends on the seasons. Material and methods: The study was based on patients with abscesses of liver or spleen in imaging studies (ultrasound and CT scan) performed in the period 2007-2016 in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology of Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, taking dates of the examinations into consideration. Results: Out of the total number of studies abscesses in the abdomen (257), 52 studies were liver and spleen abscesses occurring in 42 patients. From the statistical analysis we obtained 17 studies carried out in winter, 8 - spring , 8 - summer and 9 - autumn. Chi-square test of goodness of fit showed a statistically significant increased value of abscesses in the number of tests diagnosed in winter in comparison to the other seasons (chi-square 5.212; p-value <0.1). Conclusion: The occurrence of hepatic and splenic abscesses is the highest in winter.Wstęp i cele: Ropnie wewnątrzbrzuszne mogą prowadzić do poważnych powikłań (m.in. sepsy) i do śmierci. Celem badania jest określenie czy częstość występowania ropni wątroby oraz ropni śledziony zależy od pór roku. Materiał i metody: Przedmiotem badań są pacjenci z ropniami wątroby lub śledziony w badaniach obrazowych (USG oraz TK) wykonanych w latach 2007-2016 w Zakładzie Diagnostyki Obrazowej i Radiologii Interwencyjnej Pomorskiego Uniwersytetu Medycznego w Szczecinie. Pod uwagę wzięto daty wykonania badania. Wyniki: Z całkowitej liczby badań ropni wewnątrzbrzusznych (257) 52 badania stanowiły ropnie wątroby oraz śledziony występujące ogółem u 42 pacjentów. Z analizy statystycznej uzyskano 17 badań wykonanych zimą, 8 wiosną, 8 latem oraz 9 jesienią. Test zgodności chi-kwadrat wykazał statystycznie istotny wzrost liczby badań z ropniami wykonanych zimą w odniesieniu do innych pór roku (chi-kwadrat 5,212 ; p-value <0,1). Wnioski: Częstość występowania ropni wątroby oraz ropni śledziony jest najwyższa zimą

Variations and Trends of Birch Pollen Seasons During 15 Years (1996-2010) in Relation to Weather Conditions in Poznan (Western Poland)

Abstract Birch (Betula) pollen seasons were examined in relation to meteorological conditions in Poznan (1996-2010). Birch pollen grains were collected using a volumetric spore trap. An alternate biennial cycle of birch pollen season intensity was noticed in Poznan. The main factors influencing birch pollen season intensity were average daily minimum temperatures during the second fortnight of May and the month of June one year before pollination as well as the intensity of the pollen season of the previous year. Most of the pollen grains are recorded during the first week of the season; the number of pollen grains recorded at this time is positively correlated with mean maximum temperature and negatively correlated with daily rainfall. The significant effect of rainfall in reducing the season pollen index was noticed only during weak pollen seasons (season pollen index <mean). In addition, mean daily maximum temperature during the first two weeks of the birch pollen season markedly influences its duration. No significant trends in duration and intensity of the pollen season were recorded, however, a slight tendency towards early pollination was observed (0.4 days/year, p=0.310)