Assessment of the Ecosystem Services of Rain Gardens

Stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces contributes to degradation of urban stream ecosystems. Impacts include increased flooding, water quality impairment, and disruption of habitats. Rain gardens are a type of green infrastructure designed to mitigate the adverse effects of stormwater runoff by promoting evapotranspiration, reducing peak flows, and retaining pollutants. Rain gardens can provide additional ecosystem services, defined as benefits that ecosystems provide to people. This includes, but is not limited to, increasing biodiversity by providing habitat, creating green spaces for recreation, and storing carbon. To date, little research has been done integrating these multiple services. My research measured water quality, nutrient processing rates, soil carbon and plant diversity at three rain garden sites in Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana. Plant diversity was measured by species richness and the Shannon Weiner index. Water quality was measured by testing runoff and groundwater samples for pollutant concentrations. Soil carbon and denitrification rates were measured in surface soil. Plant composition varied by site, as did soil carbon concentration. Nitrate and phosphate concentrations were higher in groundwater than in runoff, and pollutant concentrations varied by site. My results highlight opportunities for enhancing multiple ecosystem services provided by rain gardens

Clinical characteristics of Polish patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides-retrospective analysis of POLVAS registry

Objective Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) are rare small to medium-size vessel systemic diseases. As their clinical picture, organ involvement, and factors influencing outcome may differ between countries and geographical areas, we decided to describe a large cohort of Polish AAV patients coming from several referral centers-members of the Scientific Consortium of the Polish Vasculitis Registry (POLVAS). Methods We conducted a systematic multicenter retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with AAV between Jan 1990 and Dec 2016 to analyze their clinical picture, organ involvement, and factors influencing outcome. Patients were enrolled to the study by nine centers (14 clinical wards) from seven Voivodeships populated by 22.3 mln inhabitants (58.2% of the Polish population). Results Participating centers included 625 AAV patients into the registry. Their distribution was as follows: 417 patients (66.7%) with GPA, 106 (17.0%) with MPA, and 102 (16.3%) with EGPA. Male-to-female ratios were almost 1:1 for GPA (210/207) and MPA (54/52), but EGPA was twice more frequent among women (34/68). Clinical manifestations and organ involvement were analyzed by clinical phenotype. Their clinical manifestations seem very similar to other European countries, but interestingly, men with GPA appeared to follow a more severe course than the women. Fifty five patients died. In GPA, two variables were significantly associated with death: permanent renal replacement therapy (PRRT) and respiratory involvement (univariate analysis). In multivariate analysis, PRRT (OR = 5.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.3–12.2), respiratory involvement (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.06–9.7), and, in addition, age > 65 (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.05–6.6) were independently associated with death. In MPA, also three variables were observed to be independent predictors of death: PRRT (OR = 5.7; 95% CI = 1.3–25.5), skin involvement (OR = 4.4; 95% CI = 1.02– 19.6), and age > 65 (OR = 6.3; 95% CI = 1.18–33.7). Conclusions In this first multicenter retrospective study of the Polish AAV patients, we have shown that their demographic characteristics, disease manifestations, and predictors of fatal outcome follow the same pattern as those from other European countries, with men possibly suffering from more severe course of the disease

National plans and awareness campaigns as priorities for achieving global brain health

Neurological conditions are the leading cause of death and disability combined. This public health crisis has become a global priority with the introduction of WHO's Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022–2031 (IGAP). 18 months after this plan was adopted, global neurology stakeholders, including representatives of the OneNeurology Partnership (a consortium uniting global neurology organisations), take stock and advocate for urgent acceleration of IGAP implementation. Drawing on lessons from relevant global health contexts, this Health Policy identifies two priority IGAP targets to expedite national delivery of the entire 10-year plan: namely, to update national policies and plans, and to create awareness campaigns and advocacy programmes for neurological conditions and brain health. To ensure rapid attainment of the identified priority targets, six strategic drivers are proposed: universal community awareness, integrated neurology approaches, intersectoral governance, regionally coordinated IGAP domestication, lived experience-informed policy making, and neurological mainstreaming (advocating to embed brain health into broader policy agendas). Contextualised with globally emerging IGAP-directed efforts and key considerations for intersectoral policy design, this novel framework provides actionable recommendations for policy makers and IGAP implementation partners. Timely, synergistic pursuit of the six drivers might aid WHO member states in cultivating public awareness and policy structures required for successful intersectoral roll-out of IGAP by 2031, paving the way towards brain health for all.</p

National plans and awareness campaigns as priorities for achieving global brain health

Neurological conditions are the leading cause of death and disability combined. This public health crisis has become a global priority with the introduction of WHO's Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022–2031 (IGAP). 18 months after this plan was adopted, global neurology stakeholders, including representatives of the OneNeurology Partnership (a consortium uniting global neurology organisations), take stock and advocate for urgent acceleration of IGAP implementation. Drawing on lessons from relevant global health contexts, this Health Policy identifies two priority IGAP targets to expedite national delivery of the entire 10-year plan: namely, to update national policies and plans, and to create awareness campaigns and advocacy programmes for neurological conditions and brain health. To ensure rapid attainment of the identified priority targets, six strategic drivers are proposed: universal community awareness, integrated neurology approaches, intersectoral governance, regionally coordinated IGAP domestication, lived experience-informed policy making, and neurological mainstreaming (advocating to embed brain health into broader policy agendas). Contextualised with globally emerging IGAP-directed efforts and key considerations for intersectoral policy design, this novel framework provides actionable recommendations for policy makers and IGAP implementation partners. Timely, synergistic pursuit of the six drivers might aid WHO member states in cultivating public awareness and policy structures required for successful intersectoral roll-out of IGAP by 2031, paving the way towards brain health for all.</p

Influence of diesel fuel on the number of selected soil microorganisms group

Wprowadzenie. Wśród szeregu ksenobiotyków, które dostają się do środowiska, szczególnie niebezpieczne są substancje ropopochodne. Drobnoustroje uczestnicząc w rozkładzie substancji ropopochodnych, mogą być dobrym wskaźnikiem efektywności procesu biodegradacji. Cel badań. Celem przeprowadzonych badań było określenie wpływu zanieczyszczenia gleby olejem napędowym na zmiany liczebności podstawowych grup taksonomicznych mikroorganizmów, w tym bakterii, promieniowców i grzybów. Materiał i metoda. Badania prowadzono w dwóch glebach: piasku gliniastym i glinie piaszczystej, które poza uziarnieniem różniły się również zawartością materii organicznej. Zastosowano dwa poziomy skażenia olejem napędowym: 5% i 15% w/w na s.m. gleby. Próby gleby nieskażone paliwem pozostawiono jako obiekty kontrolne doświadczenia. Liczebność mikroorganizmów oceniano metodą automatyczną poprzez pomiar impedancji w podłożach hodowlanych z zastosowaniem analizatora BacTrac 4100. Wyniki. Najliczniejszą grupą mikroorganizmów w badanych glebach były bakterie, znacznie mniej było grzybów i promieniowców. Stwierdzono, że istotny wpływ na przesunięcia w składzie ilościowym mikrobiocenoz miała zarówno dawka skażenia, jak i rodzaj gleby. Olej napędowy w stężeniu 5% stymulował liczebność bakterii i grzybów w glebie piaszczystej. Wzrost koncentracji zanieczyszczenia na ogół wpływał niekorzystnie na mikroorganizmy, zwłaszcza w glebie gliniastej. Skażenie gleb olejem napędowym powodowało obniżenie współczynnika stopnia rozwoju mikroorganizmów (SR) - w ponad 55% w glebie piaszczystej i około 39% w glebie gliniastej, a więc miało wpływ na ich żyzność. Redukcja współczynnika SR była skorelowana ze wzrostem dawki zanieczyszczenia. Wnioski. Olej napędowy narusza równowagę biologiczną gleby i w zależności od dawki paliwa stymuluje lub redukuje liczebność poszczególnych grup drobnoustrojów. Obecność paliwa powoduje obniżenie wartości wskaźnika urodzajności gleb, proporcjonalnie do wzrostu poziomu skażenia.Background. Among a range of xenobiotics, that are introduced into the environment, especially dangerous are petroleum substances. Microorganisms participating in their decomposition, may be a good effectiveness indicator of biodegradation process. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of soil contamination with diesel oil for changes in number of basic taxonomic groups of microorganisms, including bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi. Material and method. The study was carried out in two soils, loamy sand and sandy clay, which, apart from granulometric composition also differed in organic matter content. Two levels of diesel contamination was used: 5% and 15% w/w of soil d.m. The soil samples, not contaminated with diesel oil, was left as a experience control objects. The number of microorganisms were evaluated by automated method with measuring impedance in media, using the analyzer BacTrac 4100. Results. In the studied soils the largest group of microorganisms were bacteria, significantly less was fungi and actinomycetes. Based on the results of research it was found a significant effect on the quantitative composition of microflora was both contamination dose and type of soil. Diesel fuel at a concentration of 5% stimulated the number of bacteria and fungi in sandy soil. In general, increase in concentration of pollutants adversely affect the microorganisms, especially in loamy soils. Soil contamination with diesel oil resulted in a reduction in the degree of microbial growth rate (55% in loamy sand and 39% in sandy clay), and thus have an impact on their fertility. The reduction of SR index was correlated with increasing dose of pollutants. Conclusions. Diesel oil affect the biological balance of soil and stimulates or reduces the number of different groups of microorganisms, depending on the amount of fuel. The presence of fuel decrease index of soil fertility, proportion to increase in the level of contamination

Aktywność dehydrogenaz w glebie zanieczyszczonej olejem napędowym i poddawanej procesowi bioremediacji

The carried out study referred to evaluation of the activity of dehydrogenases in soil that was contaminated with diesel fuel (5 % w/w), In addition, the influence of modifications used in the process of biodegradation of oil pollutions (agrotechnical measures, biostimulation, bioaugmentation) was evaluated. The experiment was made with in situ and ex situ methods. It was found that diesel fuel stimulated the activity of dehydrogenases, Also a highly significant effect of applied remediation measures was demonstrated.Przeprowadzone badania dotyczyły oceny aktywności dehydrogenaz w glebie, którą zanieczyszczono olejem napędowym. Dodatkowo oceniano wpływ modyfikacji stosowanych w procesie biodegradacji skażeń substancjami ropopochodnymi (zabiegi agrotechnicme, biostymulacja, bioaugmentacja). Doświadczenia prowadzono metodą in situ oraz ex situ. Stwierdzono, że olej napędowy stymulował aktywność dehydrogenaz. Ponadto wykazano statystycznie wysoce istotny wpływ stosowanych zabiegów remediacyjnych

Biodegradacja oleju napedowego w glebie prowadzona metoda ex situ oraz wplyw skazenia na liczebnosc i aktywnosc mikroflory glebowej

W prezentowanej pracy oceniano skuteczność biologicznej dekontaminacji gleby skażonej olejem napędowym w stężeniu 5% wagowych oraz zmiany w mikrobiocenozie zanieczyszczonego środowiska. Biodegradację prowadzono w Warunkach kontrolowanych (metoda ex situ). Przygotowano 4 obiekty badawcze, które - poza obiektem kontrolnym - modyfikowano poprzez nawożenie, napowietrzanie oraz wprowadzanie mieszaniny kultur bakteryjnych aktywnych w biologicznym rozkładzie produktów ropopochodnych. Doświadczenie prowadzono przez 6 miesięcy - co 30 dni wykonywano analizy chemiczne oraz mikrobiologiczne. Stwierdzono, że zastosowane zabiegi bioremediacyjne w istotny sposób przyspieszały biodegradację oleju napędowego w glebie. Wprowadzenie wyspecjalizowanych szczepów mikroorganizmów (bioaugmentacja) zwiększyło ubytek oleju o ponad 40% w stosunku do obiektów, w których zastosowano tylko podstawowe zabiegi agrotechniczne. Olej napędowy spowodował zwiększenie liczby mikroorganizmów uczestniczących w procesie rozkładu oleju napędowego oraz wzrost ilości biomasy żywych organizmów utrzymujący się do 60 dnia doświadczenia. Analiza statystyczna potwierdziła istotny wpływ stosowanych zabiegów na efektywność rozkładu oleju napędowego (współczynnik korelacji - r = 0,6).The effectiveness of biological decontamination of soil polluted with diesel fuel (in concentration 5% by weight) and changes in microbiocenosis of polluted environment were investigated. Biodegradation was realized under controlled conditions („ex situ” method). 4 investigation objects were prepared, which - except of control object - were modified by fertilization, aeration and introduction of bacterial cultures active in biodegradation of oil products. During 6 months of investigation, chemical and microbiological analyses were done every month. It was found that the bioremediation measures significantly intensified process of diesel fuel biodegradation in the soil. Introducing specialized microbial strains (bioaugmentation) increased oil losses by above 40% in relation to object where only basic agrotechnical measures were applied. Diesel fuel increased the number of microorganisms participating in its decomposition as well as the quantity of alive microorganism biomass lasting till the 60th day of experiment. It was also found that the effectiveness of biological decontamination increased adequately to modification used. Significant correlation between applied modification and decrease of diesel fuel concentration in soil was statistically confirmed (correlation factor - r = 0.6)

Rozklad oleju napedowego przy udziale wolnych i immobilizowanych mikroorganizmow izolowanych z gleb skazonych produktami ropopochodnymi

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące aktywności biodegradacyjnej immobilizowanych form mikroorganizmów w stosunku do komórek niezamkniętych w nośniku. W trakcie badań oceniano stopień rozkladu oleju napędowego oraz zmiany w liczebności mikroorganizmów w trakcie inkubacji. Na podstawie wyników badań oraz przeprowadzonej analizy statystycznej stwierdzono wysoce istotną zależność pomiędzy zastosowanymi wersjami badawczymi a biodegradacją oleju w hodowli na podłożu płynnym. Największe zmiany obserwowano w obiekcie, do którego wprowadzono 2 g szczepów w formie immobilizowanej - ponad 70% ubytku oleju w stosunku do ilości wprowadzonej na początku doświadczenia.The results of studies on biodegeradation activity of free and immobilized microorganisms were presented in this paper. Decomposition of diesel fuel and changes in number of microorganism were estimated during the incubation. Investigation and statistical analysis confirmed significant relationship between applied investigation results versions and biodegradation of diesel fuel in liquid culture. The largest changes were observed in an object where 2 g of immobilized strains were introduced - over 70% loss of diesel fuel in relation to the amount introduced at the beginning

Wplyw zabiegow bioremediacyjnych na stopien rozkladu oleju napedowego w glebach o odmiennym skladzie mechanicznym oraz roznej zawartosci materii organicznej

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące wpływu różnych zabiegów remediacyjnych na intensywność procesu biodegradacji w glebach zanieczyszczonych olejem napędowym. Ponadto określano wpływ dawki skażenia na efektywność jej biologicznego rozkładu. Wykonano odpowiednie analizy chemiczne, a ich wyniki poddano analizie statystycznej. Stwierdzono, że efektywność biodegradacji produktów ropopochodnych wzrasta odpowiednio do stosowanych modyfikacji i jest zależna od typu gleby. Wykazano wysoce istotną korelację pomiędzy dawką skażenia a ubytkiem oleju w glebie.The studies on the influence of different remediation methods on intensity of biodegradation processes in soils polluted with diesel oil were presented. The influence of pollution level on effectiveness, of its biological decomposition was also investigated. Study results were statistically analysed. It was found that the effectiveness of biodegradation increases adequately to modification used and depends on the type of soil. Significant correlation between pollution level and decrease of diesel oil concentration in soil was confirmed