Investigation of starch hydration by 2D time domain NMR

Proton exchange between spin groups of the solid matrix of hydrated granular potato starch and water was studied using the 2D time domain NMR. The proton spin-spin relaxation time T$\text{}_{2}$, and spin-lattice relaxation time T$\text{}_{1}$ (selective and non-selective pulse sequences) were measured at room temperature. The observed spin relaxation results were analysed for exchange assuming a two-site exchange model (between water and solid matrix of starch). In this analysis we determined the intrinsic spin-lattice relaxation time for water protons (49 ms) and solid starch matrix protons (172 ms), as well as the water-starch magnetization exchange rate (86 s$\text{}^{-1}$)

The importance of urban green areas in the creation of spatial city policies on the example of Pruszków city

In urban space, there is a growing need for urban greenery in undeveloped and degraded areas, as well as the need to revitalize already existing urban greenery, which has been neglected and has become a crisis area. Green areas play a key role in every city and are an integral part of every city. They provide aeration of the city, transport corridors for migratory birds, stop rainwater, reduce air temperature. Their presence in urban space is particularly important in the context of growing urban development. For urban residents they are equally important because they are meeting and resting places. The paper presents the proposal of revitalization solutions for urban green areas of the Pruszków on the example of Potulickich Park.W przestrzeni miasta zauważa się coraz większą potrzebę tworzenia zieleni miejskiej na terenach niezagospodarowanych i zdegradowanych, jak również rewitalizacji już istniejącej, która zaniedbana ulega degradacji i staje się obszarem kryzysowym. Tereny zieleni odgrywają kluczową rolę w każdym mieście i są jego nieodłącznym elementem. Zapewniają one przewietrzanie miasta, stanowią korytarze komunikacyjne dla ptaków wędrownych, zatrzymują wody opadowe, obniżają temperaturę powietrza. Ich obecność w przestrzeni miejskiej jest szczególnie ważna w kontekście zwiększającej się zabudowy. Dla mieszkańców miast są one równie ważne, ponieważ stanowią miejsca spotkań i wypoczynku. W artykule przedstawiono propozycję rozwiązań rewitalizacyjnych dla obszarów zieleni miejskiej Pruszkowa na przykładzie Parku Potulickich

Challenges and opportunities in the use of ponds and pondscapes as Nature-based Solutions

Ponds and “pondscapes” (networks of ponds) are crucial habitats for biodiversity and for delivering multiple benefits to humans, so-called “Nature’s Contribution to People”, such as climate mitigation and adaptation to climate change, creation, and maintenance of habitat for biodiversity, water purification, flood mitigation and cultural benefits (e.g., recreational possibilities). However, ponds are not often considered as Nature-based Solutions to provide all these benefits. In addition, there is insufficient knowledge on how to manage and restore ponds to maximise their role to increase the resilience of ecosystems and society to climate change. To facilitate improved implementation of ponds as Nature-based Solutions for the delivery of a wide range of Nature Contributions to People, it is important to generate and integrate biodiversity, ecosystems, societal, economic and policy knowledge. Hence, there is a need for evidence-based guidance to support the broader use of ponds. Here, we review the role of ponds and pondscapes in delivering Nature’s Contributions to People and provide an overview of the challenges and opportunities for their broader implementation as Nature-based Solutions. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework that can help the implementation of pond Nature-based Solutions, and that outlines future research needs

International Trends and Practices on Sustainability Reporting in Higher Education Institutions

Sustainability reports are regarded as important tools in offering information about the environmental, social, economic, and institutional performance of an institution, and in demonstrating a commitment to matters related to sustainable development. But even though sustainability reporting has been used by a variety of higher education institutions to date, it is not as widely practiced as it should be. To further investigate this topic, a twofold approach was used: a study focusing on sustainability reporting approaches deployed in a sample of 30 universities across a set of countries; and a survey with a sample of 72 universities from different global regions to assess the extent to which they are deploying sustainability reporting as part of their activities. The scientific value of the paper resides in the fact that it offers a comprehensive overview of the subject matter of sustainability reporting, and how higher education institutions handle it. It also outlines the efforts in developing these documents which may catalyse further progress in this key area

Isotope correlations as a probe for freeze-out characterization: central 124Sn+64Ni, 112Sn+58Ni collisions

124Sn+64Ni and 112Sn+58Ni reactions at 35 AMeV incident energy were studied with the forward part of CHIMERA multi-detector. The most central collisions were selected by means of a multidimensional analysis. The characteristics of the source formed in the central collisions, as size, temperature and volume, were inspected. The measured isotopes of light fragments (3 <= Z <=8) were used to examine isotope yield ratios that provide information on the free neutron to proton densities.Comment: 4 pages, Contribution to 8th International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, Moscow 200

Tradeoffs and synergies in wetland multifunctionality: A scaling issue

Wetland area in agricultural landscapes has been heavily reduced to gain land for crop production, but in recent years there is increased societal recognition of the negative consequences from wetland loss on nutrient retention, biodiversity and a range of other benefits to humans. The current trend is therefore to re-establish wetlands, often with an aim to achieve the simultaneous delivery of multiple ecosystem services, i.e., multifunctionality. Here we review the literature on key objectives used to motivate wetland re-establishment in temperate agricultural landscapes (provision of flow regulation, nutrient retention, climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation and cultural ecosystem services), and their relationships to environmental properties, in order to identify potential for tradeoffs and synergies concerning the development of multifunctional wetlands. Through this process, we find that there is a need for a change in scale from a focus on single wetlands to wetlandscapes (multiple neighboring wetlands including their catchments and surrounding landscape features) if multiple societal and environmental goals are to be achieved. Finally, we discuss the key factors to be considered when planning for re-establishment of wetlands that can support achievement of a wide range of objectives at the landscape scale

Dynamical signals in fragmentation reactions : Time scale determination from three fragments correlations by using the 4 [Pi] Chimera multidetector

For fragments emitted in the reactions 124Sn + 64Ni and 112Sn + 58Ni at 35 AMeV, isotopic composition and velocity correlations have been studied as a function of the centrality of the collision, using the 4 Chimera multidetector. We have investigated the time scale for fragments formation, in order to distinguish between prompt dynamical and sequential statistical emission. Promptly emitted light fragments (Z ≤9) produced in the mid-rapidity domain are characterised by larger N/Z ratio and stronger angular anisotropies than those produced in sequential statistical emission. Results are compared with stochastic BNV code simulations obtained for primary fragments. Valuable information on the symmetry term of the nuclear equation of state at sub-saturation densities are obtained

Isospin effects studied with the CHIMERA detector at 35 Mev/nucleon

The yield of light charged particles and intermediate mass fragments is studied for the neutron-rich, 124Sn+64Ni, and neutron-poor, 112Sn+58Ni, reactions at 35MeV/nucleon as a function of the impact parameter. Our main observations are: (i) The yields of 1H, 3He and 4He particles in the neutron-poor system are enhanced with respect to the neutron-rich system and the yield of 3H is suppressed at all impact parameters, (ii) The ratio of 3H to 3He yield is three times larger for neutron poor system, (iii) The N/Z ratio of the emitted intermediate-mass fragments shows dependence on the isospin of the system, (iv) The neutron richness of detected intermediate mass fragments depends strongly on their rapidity. The gross features of the experimental data are reproduced by quantum molecular dynamics model calculations

Isoscaling in neck fragmentation

Production of intermediate mass fragments (IMF) has been studied in semi-peripheral 124Sn (35AMeV) + 64Ni and 112Sn (35AMeV) + 58Ni reactions. Our recently proposed new method of an analysis of the neck- like fragmentation processes that provides information on the IMFs time equence and time scale is reviewed. Isotopic analysis of so characterized IMFs gives evidence for neutron enrichment of mid-velocity fragments. A clear isoscaling behavior is found despite the short emission time scale. Evolution of the isoscaling parameters from semi-peripheral to central collisions is discussed