Relationship between litter produced by Calamagrostis epigejos and seedling recruitment of mesic meadow species in mountain conditions

Calamagrostis epigejos produces a large amount of litter in patches dominated by this expansive species in degraded meadows. Two studies were carried out in the area of the Central Sudetes Mountains (SW Poland). The goals of these surveys were to address the following questions: How do active manipulations regarding the removal of necromass and C. epigejos tillers, as well as seeding of additional species, influence the meadow species seedling recruitment? How is the organic matter decomposed in the consecutive stages of mountain grassland degradation caused by C. epigejos expansion? How do environmental factors influence litter decomposition? The results of the research showed a significant influence of C. epigejos necromass on the recruitment of mesic meadow species. The influence is connected with the emergence of a mechanical barrier to seedlings, which impedes their sprouting. No relation was found between the degradation stage and the rate of necromass decomposition. The study showed the influence of some environmental factors on the rate of necromass decomposition – in the case of C. epigejos there was a negative impact of exchangeable magnesium forms, whereas in the case of mixed meadow plant litter there was a positive effect of nitrogen and C:N ratio, and negative correlations with Ellenberg’s light and soil humidity indices

Impact of renal impairment on atrial fibrillation: ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and renal impairment share a bidirectional relationship with important pathophysiological interactions. We evaluated the impact of renal impairment in a contemporary cohort of patients with AF. Methods: We utilised the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF Long-Term General Registry. Outcomes were analysed according to renal function by CKD-EPI equation. The primary endpoint was a composite of thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were each of these separately including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic event, intracranial haemorrhage, cardiovascular death and hospital admission. Results: A total of 9306 patients were included. The distribution of patients with no, mild, moderate and severe renal impairment at baseline were 16.9%, 49.3%, 30% and 3.8%, respectively. AF patients with impaired renal function were older, more likely to be females, had worse cardiac imaging parameters and multiple comorbidities. Among patients with an indication for anticoagulation, prescription of these agents was reduced in those with severe renal impairment, p <.001. Over 24 months, impaired renal function was associated with significantly greater incidence of the primary composite outcome and all secondary outcomes. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between eGFR and the primary outcome (HR 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14] per 10 ml/min/1.73 m2 decrease), that was most notable in patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (HR 2.21 [95% CI, 1.23–3.99] compared to eGFR ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m2). Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with AF suffer from concomitant renal impairment which impacts their overall management. Furthermore, renal impairment is an independent predictor of major adverse events including thromboembolism, major bleeding, acute coronary syndrome and all-cause death in patients with AF

Clinical complexity and impact of the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway in patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF General Long-Term Registry

Background: Clinical complexity is increasingly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The ‘Atrial fibrillation Better Care’ (ABC) pathway approach has been proposed to streamline a more holistic and integrated approach to AF care; however, there are limited data on its usefulness among clinically complex patients. We aim to determine the impact of ABC pathway in a contemporary cohort of clinically complex AF patients. Methods: From the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry, we analysed clinically complex AF patients, defined as the presence of frailty, multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy. A K-medoids cluster analysis was performed to identify different groups of clinical complexity. The impact of an ABC-adherent approach on major outcomes was analysed through Cox-regression analyses and delay of event (DoE) analyses. Results: Among 9966 AF patients included, 8289 (83.1%) were clinically complex. Adherence to the ABC pathway in the clinically complex group reduced the risk of all-cause death (adjusted HR [aHR]: 0.72, 95%CI 0.58–0.91), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; aHR: 0.68, 95%CI 0.52–0.87) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58–0.85). Adherence to the ABC pathway was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of death (aHR: 0.74, 95%CI 0.56–0.98) and composite outcome (aHR: 0.76, 95%CI 0.60–0.96) also in the high-complexity cluster; similar trends were observed for MACEs. In DoE analyses, an ABC-adherent approach resulted in significant gains in event-free survival for all the outcomes investigated in clinically complex patients. Based on absolute risk reduction at 1 year of follow-up, the number needed to treat for ABC pathway adherence was 24 for all-cause death, 31 for MACEs and 20 for the composite outcome. Conclusions: An ABC-adherent approach reduces the risk of major outcomes in clinically complex AF patients. Ensuring adherence to the ABC pathway is essential to improve clinical outcomes among clinically complex AF patients

Impact of clinical phenotypes on management and outcomes in European atrial fibrillation patients: a report from the ESC-EHRA EURObservational Research Programme in AF (EORP-AF) General Long-Term Registry

Background: Epidemiological studies in atrial fibrillation (AF) illustrate that clinical complexity increase the risk of major adverse outcomes. We aimed to describe European AF patients\u2019 clinical phenotypes and analyse the differential clinical course. Methods: We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward\u2019s Method and Squared Euclidean Distance using 22 clinical binary variables, identifying the optimal number of clusters. We investigated differences in clinical management, use of healthcare resources and outcomes in a cohort of European AF patients from a Europe-wide observational registry. Results: A total of 9363 were available for this analysis. We identified three clusters: Cluster 1 (n = 3634; 38.8%) characterized by older patients and prevalent non-cardiac comorbidities; Cluster 2 (n = 2774; 29.6%) characterized by younger patients with low prevalence of comorbidities; Cluster 3 (n = 2955;31.6%) characterized by patients\u2019 prevalent cardiovascular risk factors/comorbidities. Over a mean follow-up of 22.5 months, Cluster 3 had the highest rate of cardiovascular events, all-cause death, and the composite outcome (combining the previous two) compared to Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 (all P <.001). An adjusted Cox regression showed that compared to Cluster 2, Cluster 3 (hazard ratio (HR) 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.27\u20133.62; HR 3.42, 95%CI 2.72\u20134.31; HR 2.79, 95%CI 2.32\u20133.35), and Cluster 1 (HR 1.88, 95%CI 1.48\u20132.38; HR 2.50, 95%CI 1.98\u20133.15; HR 2.09, 95%CI 1.74\u20132.51) reported a higher risk for the three outcomes respectively. Conclusions: In European AF patients, three main clusters were identified, differentiated by differential presence of comorbidities. Both non-cardiac and cardiac comorbidities clusters were found to be associated with an increased risk of major adverse outcomes

Influence of the edge effect on the vegetation of forest glades in the Middle Sudety Mts. (SW Poland)

The influence of the edge effect on the meadow vegetation pattern was studied in the forest glades in the central part of the Middle Sudety Mts. (SW Poland). The spectacular edge effect is seen in the range of 4 m from the forest border towards the center of the glades. Within that belt we observed decrease in tree and bush species number, increase in share of graminoids and Fabaceae species, as well as increase in share of species generally related to grassland communities. A significant increase in species number and values of Shannon−Wiener diversity index was noticed within the distance of eight meters from the edges of glades

The influence of Calamagrostis epigejos expansion on the species composition and soil properties of mountain mesic meadows

Due to social and economic changes which have occurred in the last decades, many meadows located in mountain regions have ceased to be used. Abandonment of meadows leads to the degradation of their species composition. An example of degradation may be seen in the development of patches dominated by Calamagrostis epigejos. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of C. epigejos in its consecutive expansion stages on qualitative properties of meadow sward and on selected physico-chemical properties of soils. The study revealed strong degradation of mountain meadows due to the expansion of C. epigejos. The degradation manifested in a decrease in species diversity, a decline of species typical for mesic meadows, and an increased proportion of synanthropic species. The increase in aboveground biomass of C. epigejos strongly reduced the biomass of other species, while underground biomass had no effect on accompanying species. However, only a small impact of C. epigejos expansion on soil degradation was detected. The cumulating plant necromass dominated by this species caused a decrease in diversity indices and, at the same time, an increase in exchangeable forms of potassium and phosphorus in the soil

Soil properties in Scots pine forest invaded by Prunus serotina (Ehrh.)

Black cherry (Prunus serotina) was planted in forests in Central Europe in the hope of producing valuable timber and after the first disappointments, in the hope of improving the soils of coniferous plantations. Nevertheless, an unequivocal evaluation of its effect on soil environment is still a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to determine a temporary fluctuation of selected soil properties in Scots pine forest dominated by black cherry. The research was carried out in Wołów Forest Division (SW Poland). Two Scots pine monocultures developed on podzol site with and without P. serotina in shrub layer, were selected for the study. Twelve research plots (10×10 m) were randomly selected on the sites. On each plot the cover of P. serotina in the shrub layer was evaluated and every three months, during single research year (November 2013 − November 2014) soil properties (total N, organic C, soil reaction) were determined in organic (O) and humus (A) horizons. Analysis of variance and PCA procedure demonstrate some significant relationships between P. serotina and soil properties in Scots pine forest. The presence of black cherry contributes to continued changes in the organic horizon expressed by increase in total N (range of average from 1.14 to 1.38%) and drop in C:N ratio (range of average from 22.86 to 25.73). Apart from the spring, increase in pH value in the organic (range of average from 4.03 to 4.58) and humus horizons (range of average from 3.59 to 4.04) was found on the site invaded by black cherry

Properties of waste rock deposited on mine spoils of hard coal mines in Nowa Ruda with the perspective of their biological reclamation

Badano właściwości nieprzepalonego materiału odpadowego na hałdzie KWK Piast w Nowej Rudzie. Materiał wykazywał zbliżone właściwości w różnych częściach hałdy. Charakteryzował się dużą szkieletowością, znacznym udziałem węgla i obojętnym lub alkalicznym odczynem. Zasolenie mieściło się w klasie 0. Zawartości Pb, Zn i Cu były niskie. Nie stwierdzono istnienia czynników niekorzystnych dla rekultywacji.Examined were the properties of unburned waste rock on the mine spoil of the coal mine Piast in Nowa Ruda. Waste material was relatively homogeneous in various parts of the spoil. It contained high amounts of skeleton and residual coal, and its pH was neutral or alkaline. The salinity was in the class 0, and Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations were low. Those properties should not negatively affect the process of reclamation

Performance of the small size telescope sub-array of the Cherenkov Telescope Array observatory

The southern part of the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) observatory will consist of at least three types of telescopes: large size, medium size and small size telescopes. Massive Monte Carlo simulations have been performed using the European Grid Infrastructure to analyze the performance of this array. We present the results of these simulations for a sub-array of small size telescopes of the Davies-Cotton type. Such a telescope, called SST-1M, is currently being proposed for the CTA observatory by a group of Polish and Swiss institutions. SST-1M will have a mirror of 4m diameter and it will be equipped with a fully digital camera based on silicon photodetectors. We present the analysis of the sub-array sensitivity, angular resolution, and energy resolution to demonstrate the fulfillment of the requirements of the CTA Consortium. To verify the results obtained in numerical simulations a construction of a mini array of five SST-1M telescopes is planned. We also present the performance of such a mini array and discuss the prospects of its scientific program

DigiCam : fully digital compact camera for SST-1M telescope

The single mirror Small Size Telescopes (SST-1M), being built by a sub-consortium of Polish and Swiss Institutions of the CTA Consortium, will be equipped with a fully digital camera with a compact photodetector plane based on silicon photomultipliers. The internal trigger signal transmission overhead will be kept at low level by introducing a high level of integration. It will be achieved by massively deploying state-of-the-art multi-gigabit transceivers, beginning from the ADC flash converters, through the internal data and trigger signals transmission over backplanes and cables, to the camera's server 10Gb/s Ethernet links. Such approach will allow fitting the size and weight of the camera exactly to the SST-1M needs, still retaining the flexibility of a fully digital design. Such solution has low power consumption, high reliability and long lifetime. The concept of the camera will be described, along with some construction details and performance results