Tapping into non-English-language science for the conservation of global biodiversity.

The widely held assumption that any important scientific information would be available in English underlies the underuse of non-English-language science across disciplines. However, non-English-language science is expected to bring unique and valuable scientific information, especially in disciplines where the evidence is patchy, and for emergent issues where synthesising available evidence is an urgent challenge. Yet such contribution of non-English-language science to scientific communities and the application of science is rarely quantified. Here, we show that non-English-language studies provide crucial evidence for informing global biodiversity conservation. By screening 419,679 peer-reviewed papers in 16 languages, we identified 1,234 non-English-language studies providing evidence on the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation interventions, compared to 4,412 English-language studies identified with the same criteria. Relevant non-English-language studies are being published at an increasing rate in 6 out of the 12 languages where there were a sufficient number of relevant studies. Incorporating non-English-language studies can expand the geographical coverage (i.e., the number of 2° × 2° grid cells with relevant studies) of English-language evidence by 12% to 25%, especially in biodiverse regions, and taxonomic coverage (i.e., the number of species covered by the relevant studies) by 5% to 32%, although they do tend to be based on less robust study designs. Our results show that synthesising non-English-language studies is key to overcoming the widespread lack of local, context-dependent evidence and facilitating evidence-based conservation globally. We urge wider disciplines to rigorously reassess the untapped potential of non-English-language science in informing decisions to address other global challenges. Please see the Supporting information files for Alternative Language Abstracts

Geoarchaeology and castlescapes: heritage management case studies in Spain and the eastern Baltic

This paper promotes the application of geoarchaeology—joint studies using historical, archaeological and heritage approaches—to the conservation and management practice of castles and landscapes in the context of ‘castlescapes’. Using case studies from recent research on medieval castles in frontier regions of the eastern Baltic and Spain, it demonstrates how geoarchaeology can create synergies between on-site and off-site environments and between cultural and natural heritage and draw valuable information from soils and sediments about the changing form and function of spaces within castles, and about the links between these spaces and activities in their hinterlands. Geoarchaeological approaches can also illuminate the diachronic biographies that hide from visitors in the buried archaeology of castles, which to most visitors would be blank cavasses, but which can provide snap-shots of castle life in the context of a wider landscape. Castles are commonly publicly recognised as being important historical monuments, but from a heritage perspective they are often presented in isolation from their associated historical territories, and often (especially in frontier regions) appropriated within modern politics, which has influenced both heritage management decisions and research frameworks

Redes epóxi/amina alifáticas com perspectivas para aplicações cardiovasculares. Propriedades biológicas in vitro

Este trabalho descreve as propriedades biológicas in vitro de três redes epoxídicas à base do éter diglicidílico do glicerol (DGEG) curadas com poli(oxipropileno) diamina (D230), isoforona diamina (IPD) e 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimetil-diciclohexilmetano (3DCM). As interações biológicas entre os polímeros e o sangue foram estudadas por ensaios biológicos in vitro. Estudos de adsorção de proteínas, adesão de plaquetas, atividade do lactato desidrogenase (LDH) e propriedades de tromboresistência estão apresentados. Os ensaios de adsorção de proteínas na superfície dos polímeros mostrou que as redes epoxídicas adsorvem mais albumina do que fibrinogênio. Os resultados relacionados à adesão de plaquetas, atividade do lactato hidrogenase e propriedades de tromboresistência indicaram que as redes DGEG/IPD e DGEG/3DCM exibem comportamento hemocompatível. Desta maneira, assumimos que estes polímeros epoxídicos são materiais compatíveis com o sangue

Physicochemical Properties of Silicon Cast Iron

The article presents results of pitting corrosion studies of selected silicon cast irons. The range of studies included low, medium and high silicon cast iron. The amount of alloying addition (Si) in examined cast irons was between 5 to 25 %. Experimental melts of silicon cast irons [1-3] were conducted in Department of Foundry of Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice and pitting corrosion resistance tests were performed in Faculty of Biomedical Engineering in Department of Biomaterials and Medical Devices Engineering of Silesian University of Technology in Zabrze. In tests of corrosion resistance the potentiostat VoltaLab PGP201 was used. Results obtained in those research complement the knowledge about the corrosion resistance of iron alloys with carbon containing Si alloying addition above 17 % [4-6]. Obtained results were supplemented with metallographic examinations using scanning electron microscopy. The analysis of chemical composition for cast irons using Leco spectrometer was done and the content of alloying element (silicon) was also determined using the gravimetric method in the laboratory of the Institute of Welding in Gliwice. The compounds of microstructure was identify by X-ray diffraction

Study of the mechanical properties of ox and pig bones

Celem prowadzonych badań było określenie własności wytrzymałościowych wieprzowych i wołowych kości udowych. Wartości te są niezbędne w numerycznych i doświadczalnych analizach układu kość - implant, które przeprowadza się podczas projektowania ich nowych postaci konstrukcyjnych. W ostatnich latach implanty stosowane są do leczenia złamań kości nie tylko u ludzi, ale coraz częściej u zwierząt. Dlatego też wiedza dotycząca własności wytrzymałościowych kości umożliwia optymalny dobór własności biomateriału metalowego oraz implantu w celu zapewnienia prawidłowej stabilizacji zrostu kostnego. W warunkach fizjologicznych na kości udowe najczęściej działają siły ściskające i zginające, z tego względu w pracy przedstawiono wyniki jednoosiowej próby ściskania i trójpunktowego zginania próbek pobranych z kości o różnej wilgotności. Do badań wytypowano 3 grupy próbek: I - próbki świeże, II - próbki suszone przez 24 dni i III - próbki suszone przez 30 dni. W wyniku przeprowadzonych prób wyznaczono wartości modułu Younga, wytrzymałości na ściskanie i zginanie próbek ze wszystkich grup badawczych. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników i analiz literaturowych stwierdzono, że największymi wartościami własności wytrzymałościowych charakteryzują się kości zwierząt o większej masie. Dla zwierząt o kościach długich mniejszych można więc zastosować implant o mniejszym umocnieniu, a tym samym mniejszej sztywności. Przeprowadzone badania stanowią pierwszy etap analiz i w dalszym etapie zostaną uzupełnione i rozszerzone o kolejne badania wytrzymałościowe w tym twardości próbek po kontrolowanym sposobie i czasie suszenia.The aim of this study was to determine the mechanical properties of pig and ox femoral bones. Those values are necessary for numerical and experimental analyses of the bone-implant system, conducted during designing new structural solutions for the system. In recent years implants have been used not only to treat bone fractures in humans, but also, increasingly often, in animals. Therefore, knowledge of mechanical properties of bones allows for optimal selection of the metallic biomaterial and the implant properties in order to provide adequate stabilisation for the bone union. In physiological conditions, femoral bones are usually subjected to compressive and bending forces, therefore, the paper presents the results of a uniaxial compressive test and a three-point bending test on the samples obtained from bones with different moisture content. Three groups of samples were selected for the research: I - fresh samples, II - samples dried for 24 days and III - samples dried for 30 days. as a result of the tests conducted, Young's modulus values were determined, as well as ultimate compressive strength and bending strength for the samples from all the groups tested. On the basis of the results and literature data it was concluded that the highest values of mechanical properties are revealed in the bones of animals with higher mass. For animals with smaller long bones an implant with less reinforcement, therefore less rigid, can be used. The tests conducted constitute the first stage of analysis, and at future stages they will be supplemented with and extended by further tests on the mechanical properties, including hardness of the samples after drying with the use of a controlled method and time

Adhesion of SiO2 layers deposited by means of sol-gel and ALD methods on 316LVM steel

Celem prezentowanej pracy była ocena przydatności stosowania warstw SiO2 naniesionych dwiema metodami Atomic Layer Depositon (ALD) i zol-żel na podłoże ze stali 316LVM stosowanej na implanty w układzie sercowo-naczyniowym. Do badań wytypowano stal austenityczną 316LVM i poddano ją następującym modyfikacją powierzchni: polerowanie elektrochemiczne, pasywacja chemiczna, naniesienie warstw SiO2 zarówno metodą ALD, jak i zol-żel. Wymienione metody są obecnie najczęściej stosowane w przypadku nanoszenia warstw powierzchniowych na implanty. W ramach oceny przydatności zaproponowanych metod modyfikacji powierzchni analizowanej stali autorzy pracy przeprowadzili badania własności mechanicznych, elektrochemicznych oraz fizycznych. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników stwierdzono, że niezależnie od metody nanoszenia zaobserwowano korzystny wpływ warstwy SiO2 na badane własności w porównaniu do stanu wyjściowego. Ponadto stwierdzono, że najkorzystniejszym zespołem własności mechanicznych, elektrochemicznych i fizycznych charakteryzuje się warstwa SiO2 naniesioną metodą ALD. Tak naniesiona warstwa charakteryzowała się większą siłą krytyczną powodującą delaminację warstwy, większą odpornością na korozję wżerową oraz większym kątem zwilżania wodą (charakter hydrofobowy), co w przypadku implantów stosowanych w układzie krwionośnym jest zjawiskiem pożądanym, ponieważ wymagana jest mała adsorpcja białek, która ogranicza proces krzepnięcia krwi. Zaproponowanie odpowiednich wariantów obróbki powierzchniowej z wykorzystaniem metody ALD oraz zol-żel ma perspektywiczne znaczenie i przyczyni się do opracowania warunków technologicznych o sprecyzowanych parametrach wytwarzania powłok tlenkowych na implantach stosowanych w układzie sercowo-naczyniowym.The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of SiO2 layers deposited by two methods - atomic layer deposition (ALD) and sol-gel, on the surface of stainless steel 316LVM used in application of cardiovascular implants. In assessing the suitability of the proposed methods to modify surfaces of the analysed steel, authors carried out tests of mechanical, electrochemical and physical properties. The austenitic steel 316LVM was chosen and subjected to the following surface modifications: electrochemical polishing, chemical passivation and application of the SiO2 layer using both methods – ALD and sol-gel. These methods were proposed for research, because they are most commonly used in the case of applying surface layers to implants. Based on the obtained results, it was observed that regardless of the method of application, the SiO2 layer has beneficial effect on examined properties compared to control. Moreover, it was found that the SiO2 layer deposited by ALD is characterized by the most preferred combination of mechanical, physical and electrochemical properties. The layer obtained by this method is characterized by a higher critical force, which causes delamination of the layers, higher resistance to pitting corrosion and higher water contact angle (hydrophobic character), which is a desirable phenomenon in the case of implants used in the circulatory system, resulting in lower adsorption of proteins and blood clothing. Proposing of suitable variants of surface treatment using the ALD and sol-gel methods is of perspective importance. It will contribute to the development of technological conditions with specified parameters for the production of oxide coatings on implants used in the cardiovascular system