The effect of long-term peatlands drainage on the properties of soils in microrelief in the Długie Mokradło bog (Central Sudetes – SW Poland)

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of long-term drainage on the morphology and selected properties of shallow peatland soils in microrelief. The study was conducted within strongly drained peatland (Długie Mokradło bog) located on elevated plateau in the Central Sudetes. The study area is covered  by spruce stands introduced by man. Long-term drainage has changed morphology of study soils which were classified as Ombric Fibric Dystric Histosols or Histic Dystric Gleysols. Some peat horizons were strongly silted. The depth of organic materials varied within the range 30-55 cm. Peat humification process showed greater - activity in surface horizons, than in a deeper ones. This phenomenon were especially visible in the shallow places in drainage ditches. Soil reaction was strongly acidic. In soil horizons in old drainage ditches higher values of effective cation exchange capacity (CECe) were recorded, whereas base saturation (BS) did not exceed 20%

INFLUENCE OF FIRE TO POOLS OF CARBON AND WATER RETENTION IN MEADOW AND FOREST PYROGENIC SOILS

The research has aimed to determine the impact of fire on pools of soil organic matter and water retention in pyrogenic soil in meadow and forest areas. The following soil samples have been represented: moorsh, peat-moorsh, mineral moorsh and peat. The soil horizons represented: strongly dried peat-moorsh soil, medium-deep (MtIIc1 and MtIIIc1), mineral moorsh soil (Me11) and moorsh soil. Soil horizons have been determined on the basis of colour, decomposition of organic samples; bulk density and water retention have been analyzed in 100 cm3 stainless Kopecky metal rings. Bulk density was measured in undisturbed samples by the volumetric method. Soil water retention characterized by pF2.0 has been measured using sandbox analyzer. Soil organic carbon content was detected with Bushi analyzer. The lowest carbon content has been indicated by horizons with high ash content. As a consequence of various fire temperatures, we can observe different soil colour spectrum between N, 10YR and 5YR. Generally, the pools of water retention decreases because of the fire. We can observe differences between SOM pools and water retention pools in the meadow and forest soil. Water retention of pyrogenic soils drastically decreases in mineral-organic soils with angular sharply edged structure and peaty-ash or ash horizons

The Impact of Anthropopreassure and Weather Conditions on the Mineral Nitrogen Content in the Organic Soils from Fen Peatlands (Stołowe Mountains, Sw Poland)

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries large peatland areas of the Stołowe Mountains were drained for the forestry use. The aim of the study was to assess the real impact of the natural (climate) and anthropogenic (forestry drainage) factors on the actual nitrogen mineralization in the shallow organic soils in the Stołowe Mountains National Park (SMNP). For the needs of the study, two research transects were established on the fen peatlands located in the central part of the SMNP. Each transect consisted of three sampling plots. The soil samples for the basic soil properties analysis were sampled in April, while undisturbed soil samples for mineral nitrogen were collected in April (spring), July (summer) and October (autumn) to show the seasonal dynamics of nitrogen mineralization. The obtained results revealed that the currently investigated fen peatland soils were rather slightly affected by the drainage network remains. A vast domination of ammonium over the nitrate form observed in the study soils during the growing season might indicate a periodical soil moisture increase limiting the mineralization process. The amount of precipitation and soil moisture had dominant impact on the N mineralization process, especially on the N-NO3 concentrations

Application of Shumann and Joosten classification in fen peatland degradation stage assessment – A case study from southern Poland

The aim of this paper was to assess the degradation stage of fen peatland located in the north-western part of the Opolskie voivodeship in accordance with “peatland degradation stages” classification. Understanding of the current state of peatland will be helpful in the future management and possible restoration. Field survey including vegetation and soil research were carried out in May 2013, soil material for laboratory analysis were collected by using “Instorf” peat sampler from four sampling points. Obtained results allowed to classify the study area (located within a larger peatland complex along the Prosna river valley) to minor stage of degrada- tion, with spontaneous changes in vegetation community and soil cover. Only few species of plants typical for fen peatlands were recorded. Moreover, soil cover research did not confirm mursh forming process, typical for strongly degraded peatland areas. Obtained results may indicate that possible future restoration will bring the expected effect. It is very likely, that fen peatland vegetation will regenerate spontaneously, provided that diaspores of the key peat-forming plant species are available in the soil

Sand Removal from Sandstone Cliffs as the Main Factor Influencing Properties of Organic Soils – a Case Study of Transitional Bog in the Stołowe Mountains

With this paper we investigate the effect of sand contribution to organic soils and direct influence of this process on the physical and physicochemical properties on the example of transitional bog in the Stołowe Mountains (the Central Sudetes), which was periodically covered by sand material from sandstone cliffs weathering. Field survey and soil sampling were conducted in August 2015 in the area of Białe Skały. Soil material for laboratory analysis was collected from three peat cores, while soil samples were collected from each soil horizon distinguished in each core. Obtained results indicate the great impact of mineral material admixture on soil properties, both physicochemical and chemical. Recorded values of each soil parameter in the organic horizons adjacent to the mineral interlayers differ considerably from those obtained in the soil profile free of sand admixtures. Preliminary study of soil cover of transitional bog will allow correct planning of palaeoecological research about genesis and evolution of this peatland.

CATECHOLAMINES AND β2-ADRENOCEPTOR GENE EXPRESSION BEFORE AND AFTER MAXIMAL INCREMENTAL CYCLE TEST IN YOUNG ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS: RELATION TO WORK PERFORMED

The aim of this study was to assess the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations as well as whole blood β2-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) expression in young ice hockey players before and immediately after exercise in relation to performed work. Nineteen Youth National Team ice hockey players were subjected to the maximal incremental cycloergometer exercise. The test was done in the pre-competitive phase of training. Among many parameters the plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were determined before and after exercise. The average performed work was 3261.3 ± 558.3 J · kg-1 and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for all players was 53.85 ± 3.91 mL · kg-1 min-1. The geometric mean of the ADRB2 gene expression was statistically significantly different before and after exercise (P ≤ 0.05), while adrenaline and noradrenaline levels in plasma significantly increased after exercise. In the analysed group of athletes we found that initial level of plasma noradrenaline correlated with the performed work (r = - 0.55, P < 0.014) and normalized ADRB2 expression before the exercise correlated with the work done by them (r = 0.48, P<0.039). However, no statistically significant correlations were found between the plasma adrenaline or noradrenaline concentrations and ADRB2 gene expression in peripheral blood of the players. The performed work in the maximal incremental exercise test of regularly training young ice hockey players depends on the initial levels of noradrenaline in plasma and ADRB2 mRNA in PBMC

Expression profiling of genes modulated by rosmarinic acid (RA) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Objectives: Cancer is the second most common cause of death, with breast cancer (BC) as the most frequently diagnosed neoplasm among females. The origin of BC is multifactorial and depends on environmental and genetic factors. The disease presents a significant challenge due to its drug resistance and frequent metastasis. Thus, new effective therapies and metastasis prevention are much needed. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural polyphenol which possesses the ability to inhibit BC cell proliferation and demonstrates cytotoxic properties against those cells. In our study, we examined the effect of RA on the expression of ZEB1, MDM2, ABCB1, PTEN and TWIST1 genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.Material and methods: MCF-7 cell cultures were treated with 0.2 μM doxorubicin (DOX) and 1.5, 15 or 50 μM of RA. Real-time PCR reaction was performed to analyze gene expression levels.Results: PCR analysis showed a significant increase of the ZEB1 gene expression, which was about 3-fold for DOX 0.2 μM, 9-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 1.5 μM RA and 0.2 μM DOX + 15 μM RA (p &lt; 0.05), and about 6.5-fold for 0.2 μM DOX + 50 μM RA (p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, a decrease of the MDM2 gene expression was observed in all of the examined variants and was about 40–75% (p &lt; 0.05). No influence of DOX and RA combined with DOX on the ABCB1, TWIST1 and PTEN genes was found.Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that RA might be used as an adjuvant therapeutic factor in BC treatment