174 research outputs found
The ecological diversity of vegetation within Urban Parks in the Dabrowski Basin (southern Poland)
The aim of this work is to present the diversity of flora in terms of ecological requirements. The research was
conducted in the area of two urban parks in the area of two cities in southern Poland: Bedzin and Czeladz. These parks were
established in different historical periods, and were planned (and are managed) differently. The results of the investigation
have shown that the occurrence of 192 vascular species has been observed in the Gora Zamkowa (Castle Hill) Park, while in
the Grabek park, 334 such species are known to exist. Such disparity is the result of the occurrence of micro-habitats and of
the differences between the ways the two parks are managed. It is also due to these parksâ different functions. In the first case,
the park area is protected by law. In the latter case, human activity has created a new ecological niche for organisms with a
high degree of ecological tolerance. Based on the ecological values, the following groups of plants were distinguished: saxifrages
grasslands, xerothermic grasslands, beech forests, alder forests and artificial planted trees. Analysis has shown that urban
parks are potential places for growth various type of vegetation and also for increasing biodiversity, and can constitute
particularly important hotspots for biodiversity in the cityscape, even if their primary role is recreational. As the study shows,
the environment of a highly urbanized and industrialized region can also have a positive influence on ecological and floristic
diversity
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Urinary tract infections and antibiotic use in pregnancy - qualitative analysis of online forum content
Background Antibiotics are standard treatment for asymptomatic and symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnancy. Their overuse, however, can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and expose the foetus to drugs that might affect its development. Preventative behaviours are currently the best option to reduce incidences of UTIs and to avoid the use of antibiotics in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore womenâs experiences of UTIs in pregnancy to develop an understanding of their concerns and to optimise and encourage behaviours that facilitate appropriate use of antibiotics.
Methods
An online pregnancy forum in the United Kingdom (UK) was used to collect data on womenâs discussions of UTIs. A total of 202 individual threads generated by 675 different usernames were selected for analysis. The data was organised using NVivo 11Âź software and then analysed qualitatively using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
Womenâs perceptions of UTIs and antibiotic use in pregnancy were driven by their pre-natal attachment to the foetus. UTIs were thought to be common and high risk in pregnancy, which meant that antibiotics were viewed as essential in the presence of suspected symptoms. The dominant view about antibiotics was that their use was safe and of little concern in pregnancy. Women reported an emotional reaction to developing a UTI. They coped by seeking information about behaviour change strategies to assist with recovery and through emotional support from the online forum.
Conclusions
Women face dual risks when they experience UTIs; the risk from the infection and the risk from antibiotic treatment. Pre-natal attachment to the foetus is highlighted in the decision making process. The focus is on the shorter term risk from UTIs while undermining the longer term risks from antibiotic use, especially the risk of AMR. A balanced view needs to be presented, and evidence-based infection prevention strategies should be promoted, to women to ensure appropriate antibiotic use in pregnancy, to address the global challenge of AMR
You canât see the woods for the trees: invasive acer negundo L. in urban riparian forests harms biodiversity and limits recreation activity
Public access to high quality green environments has become a key issue for city managers and a matter of environmental justice. Urban pressures on ecosystem remnants may act to favor the expansion of some invasive species in cities. Whilst the negative impacts of invasive species on ecosystem function is well documented, little is known about how invasive species influence the use of green space by people. Here, we examined one of the few remnants of urban riparian forests in Europe, the Vistula river valley in Warsaw, which has recently become an attractive recreation site. Despite their high ecological value, the poplar and willow forests have been increasingly taken over by the invasive tree species Acer negundo. We examined the status of the invasion process and the relationship between recreational ecosystem services and the characteristics of the tree standsâtree species, tree density, and age and NDVI values. We found the willow forest to be more susceptible to invasion by A. negundo than the poplar forest, which was revealed in significantly higher share of the maple individuals and their greater volume per unit area. Ash-leaved maples also prevailed in numbers in younger stands (<10 years) than in older ones. The presence of A. negundo affected biodiversity, resulting in decreased undergrowth density and biodiversity expressed in number of species. The use intensity by the public, assessed on the basis of soil compaction of existing informal tracks, as revealed by GLM analysis, was related to volume of invasive maple and distance from the main track. This study highlights the need to integrate invasive species management into green infrastructure planning and management
Recovery of the herbaceous layer in the young silver birch and black alder stands that developed spontaneously after a forest fire
The studies, which were conducted in southern Poland, focused on the recovery of the herb layer in
17-year-old post-fire silver birch and black alder forests. Although both types of stands, which are of the same age, developed spontaneously, the alder stands occupied damper sites (with thicker A horizons that survived the fire) than those in the birch forests. We surveyed the migration rates of 44 woodland species, primarily ancient woodland indicators, into both forests and the potential differences in these rates depending on their moisture regime and the community type represented by unburned forests, which were treated as the source of the woodland species pool. Additionally, the role of local depressions with high humidity that were covered by post-fire alder woods in the colonization process, as well as species survivorship and recolonisation, were estimated. Woodland species showed diverse migration paces among the sites; most of them migrated faster on more fertile sites with a higher humidity. Small patches of post-fire alder woods contributed to the recolonisation process since many woodland species in the herb layer survived the fire due to its high humidity, which inhibited the intensity of the forest fire. The recovery of woodland species in post-fire woods is the combined effect of regeneration, which relies on autochthonic propagules, and secondary succession, which is based on allochthonic propagules. Local depressions, which provide
refuges for fire-sensitive, dispersal-limited species, contribute to their survivorship and thus to the successive
recovery of herbaceous layers after a fire
Micromechanical Properties of Injection-Molded StarchâWood Particle Composites
The micromechanical properties of injection molded starchâwood particle composites were investigated as a function of particle content and humidity conditions.
The composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction methods. The microhardness
of the composites was shown to increase notably with the concentration of the wood particles. In addition,creep behavior under the indenter and temperature dependence
were evaluated in terms of the independent contribution of the starch matrix and the wood microparticles to the hardness value. The influence of drying time on the density
and weight uptake of the injection-molded composites was highlighted. The results revealed the role of the mechanism of water evaporation, showing that the dependence of water uptake and temperature was greater for the starchâwood composites than for the pure starch sample. Experiments performed during the drying process at 70°C indicated that
the wood in the starch composites did not prevent water loss from the samples.Peer reviewe
Urinary pathogenic bacterial profile, antibiogram of isolates and associated risk factors among pregnant women in Ambo town, Central Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Forest modelling: the gamma shape mixture model and simulation of tree diameter distributions
Variations in Quercus sp. pollen seasons (1996â2011) in PoznaĆ, Poland, in relation to meteorological parameters
The effect of hormone therapy on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in women with chronic kidney disease: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
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