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Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape

The Eurasian Modern Pollen Database (EMPD), version 2

The Eurasian (née European) Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) was established in 2013 to provide a public database of high-quality modern pollen surface samples to help support studies of past climate, land cover, and land use using fossil pollen. The EMPD is part of, and complementary to, the European Pollen Database (EPD) which contains data on fossil pollen found in Late Quaternary sedimentary archives throughout the Eurasian region. The EPD is in turn part of the rapidly growing Neotoma database, which is now the primary home for global palaeoecological data. This paper describes version 2 of the EMPD in which the number of samples held in the database has been increased by 60 % from 4826 to 8134. Much of the improvement in data coverage has come from northern Asia, and the database has consequently been renamed the Eurasian Modern Pollen Database to reflect this geographical enlargement. The EMPD can be viewed online using a dedicated map-based viewer at https://empd2.github.io and downloaded in a variety of file formats at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.909130 (Chevalier et al., 2019)Swiss National Science Foundation | Ref. 200021_16959

The Eurasian Modern Pollen Database (EMPD), version 2

Abstract. The Eurasian (née European) Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) was established in 2013 to provide a public database of high-quality modern pollen surface samples to help support studies of past climate, land cover, and land use using fossil pollen. The EMPD is part of, and complementary to, the European Pollen Database (EPD) which contains data on fossil pollen found in Late Quaternary sedimentary archives throughout the Eurasian region. The EPD is in turn part of the rapidly growing Neotoma database, which is now the primary home for global palaeoecological data. This paper describes version 2 of the EMPD in which the number of samples held in the database has been increased by 60 % from 4826 to 8134. Much of the improvement in data coverage has come from northern Asia, and the database has consequently been renamed the Eurasian Modern Pollen Database to reflect this geographical enlargement. The EMPD can be viewed online using a dedicated map-based viewer at https://empd2.github.io and downloaded in a variety of file formats at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.909130 (Chevalier et al., 2019).</jats:p

Fluorogenic peptide substrates for carboxydipeptidase activity of cathepsin B.

Cathepsin B is a lysosomal cysteine protease exhibiting mainly dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase activity, which decreases dramatically above pH 5.5, when the enzyme starts acting as an endopeptidase. Since the common cathepsin B assays are performed at pH 6 and do not distinguish between these activities, we synthesized a series of peptide substrates specifically designed for the carboxydipeptidase activity of cathepsin B. The amino-acid sequences of the P5-P1 part of these substrates were based on the binding fragments of cystatin C and cystatin SA, the natural reversible inhibitors of papain-like cysteine protease. The sequences of the P'1-P'2 dipeptide fragments of the substrates were chosen on the basis of the specificity of the S'1-S'2 sites of the cathepsin B catalytic cleft. The rates of hydrolysis by cathepsin B and papain, the archetypal cysteine protease, were monitored by a continuous fluorescence assay based on internal resonance energy transfer from an Edans to a Dabcyl group. The fluorescence energy donor and acceptor were attached to the C- and the N-terminal amino-acid residues, respectively. The kinetics of hydrolysis followed the Michaelis-Menten model. Out of all the examined peptides Dabcyl-R-L-V-G-F- E(Edans) turned out to be a very good substrate for both papain and cathepsin B at both pH 6 and pH 5. The replacement of Glu by Asp turned this peptide into an exclusive substrate for cathepsin B not hydrolyzed by papain. The substitution of Phe by Nal in the original substrate caused an increase of the specificity constant for cathepsin B at pH 5, and a significant decrease at pH 6. The results of kinetic studies also suggest that Arg in position P4 is not important for the exopeptidase activity of cathepsin B, and that introducing Glu in place of Val in position P2 causes an increase of the substrate preference towards this activity

Interplay of climate-human-vegetation on the north-eastern edge of the Carpathians (Western Ukraine) between 7500 and 3500 calibrated years BP

The area of Ukrainian Carpathians is still poorly investigated in the context of vegetation history and human activity during the Holocene. The present study was carried out on deposits collected from the former oxbow lake. The study aimed to examine (1) whether various tendencies for occupation of valley terraces by different Neolithic and Early Bronze cultures led to a discrepant records of human impact in palaeo-proxies and (2) whether forest vegetation in the Dniester River valley (Carpathian foreland, Western Ukraine) reacted to global climatic events during the period 7500 to 3500 calibrated years BP (cal BP). We reconstructed vegetation changes with special attention being paid to human and climate impact, applying palaeobotanical and faecal bacteria ancient DNA (aDNA) analyses combined with radiocarbon dating. The results revealed that aDNA and palaeobotanical proxies recorded human impacts of differing intensities in the deposits analyzed. The Linear Pottery culture (Early Neolithic) occupied lower terraces close to the lake and so high concentrations of aDNA were detected, although with the irregular presence of the pollen of cultivated plants. Subsequently, the Malicka culture (Lengyel-Polgar cycle) still inhabited lower terraces of the valley, although its representatives probably exploited higher terraces (fluctuations of aDNA, still with an irregular record of cultivated plants). Humans of the Funnel Beaker culture preferred the highest terrace levels and watersheds (more scattered aDNA distribution) and they extensively used fire for deforestation (an increase in the accumulation of microcharcoal); however, their activity only had a slight effect on the woodlands on the lowest terraces of the valley. During occupation by Late Neolithic and Early Bronze cultures, the pasturelands on the lowest terraces were probably (at least partly) transformed into mown meadows (spread of Plantago lanceolata). The advance of Picea abies in the Dniester valley approximately 6110-5240 cal BP and an increase in the water table dated at approximately 3975-3900 cal BP in the mire occurred during the global cold period at 6500-5900 cal BP and ‘4.2 ka’ cooling event

Comparison of Zinc, Copper and Selenium Content in Raw, Smoked and Pickled Freshwater Fish

The aim of the study was to assess the zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) content in freshwater fish from Poland. Selected species of raw, smoked and pickled fish were evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The concentration of Zn, Cu and Se in the examined fish ranged from 1.5 to 49.9 mg/kg, 0.01 to 2.8 mg/kg and 30.9 to 728.2 &micro;g/kg, respectively. One serving of every fish product covered the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Zn by 5.38&ndash;65.0%, of Cu by 0.42&ndash;11.4% and of Se by 12.3&ndash;198.6%. A cluster analysis allowed us to distinguish European eel (raw and smoked) based on the Zn content. Additionally, based on the Cu and Se content, pickled common whitefish was differentiated from other species and types of fish products. The discriminant analysis model of smoked fish enabled their classification with a 70% accuracy. Regarding Zn, all forms of the European eel as well as raw and smoked vendace can be considered a source of this element. None of the tested fish can be considered a source of Cu. All products are safe for human consumption with regard to the Zn and Cu content. Almost each form of every species of fish can be considered a source of Se. However, the Se content should be monitored in smoked and pickled common whitefish, pickled bream and pickled vendace

Alfabetización científica en la escuela: propuesta de una nueva metodología

PROYECTO: Alfabetización científica en la escuela: mejorar las estrategias y construir nuevas prácticas de enseñanza de las ciencias en la educación de los primeros años (SciLit). PROGRAMA ERASMUS + DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA. Este trabajo es el resultado de una estrecha colaboración entre los ocho socios de este programa, de cinco países europeos, con sus diferentes valores y culturas, métodos de trabajo, necesidades, etc. Esta pluralidad refuerza lo que une a los científicos y maestros: el amor por el conocimiento, Que ambos grupos creen y transmitan en un espacio intelectual común que supera cualquier tipo de fronteras. Documento PDF de 84 páginas.El libro esta estructurado en cuatro partes. La primera parte presenta "Un nuevo concepto de alfabetización científica", considerando el desafío de las nuevas tecnologías y su influencia en la escuela. La segunda parte, "Competencia científica de los docentes en los países del proyecto", analiza los diferentes sistemas educativos de estos países en relación con la competencia científica de sus docentes, tanto en las facultades de magisterio como en activo, teniendo en cuenta tanto la formación inicial de los educadores como la posterior formación continua que reciben o deberian recibir. La tercera parte, "Una propuesta para mejorar el aprendizaje de la ciencia en las primeras etapas", presenta una introducción histórica de los métodos de enseñanza de la ciencia utilizados en el pasado cercano, así como la descripción de la metodología que promueve El CSIC en la Escuela, probada en la formación de docentes durante muchos años. El cuarto apartado, "Recomendaciones para mejorar el aprendizaje científico a una edad temprana", contiene un análisis final y una meditación con sugerencias y recomendaciones para mejorar la enseñanza de la ciencia en la escuela, considerándola como un ingrediente real del patrimonio cultural europeo común.European Commission 2016 -1- ES01- KA201- 025282N