The concentration of organic nitrogen in mountain lakes is increasing as a result of reduced acid deposition and climate change.

The ionic and nutrient composition of mountain lakes recovering from atmospheric acidification is increasingly influenced by climate change (increasing air temperature and frequency of heavy rainfall events). We investigated the evolution of organic nitrogen (ON), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountains (Central Europe) between 1993 and 2023, resulting from changes in climate and the ionic composition of atmospheric deposition. Our results suggest that the decreasing acidity of precipitation and the climatically induced increasing frequency of heavy rainfall events and air temperatures fluctuating around the freezing point have the potential to increase ON concentrations in alpine lakes despite decreasing deposition of inorganic N.

Undeveloped till soils in scree areas are an overlooked important phosphorus source for waters in alpine catchments.

Scree deposits in alpine catchments contain undeveloped till soils that are "hidden" between and under stones. These scree areas have no vegetation except for sparse lichen patches on stone surfaces, but the soils exhibit biological activity and active cycling of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and organic carbon (C). We compared the chemical and biochemical properties of till soils in the scree areas (scree soils) with developed soils in alpine meadows (meadow soils) of 14 catchments in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains.

Carbon and nutrient pools and fluxes in unmanaged mountain Norway spruce forests, and losses after natural tree dieback.

Forest areas infected by insects are increasing in Europe and North America due to accelerating climate change. A 2000-2020 mass budget study on major elements (C, N, P, Ca, Mg, K) in the atmosphere-plant-soil-water systems of two unmanaged catchments enabled us to evaluate changes in pools and fluxes related to tree dieback and long-term accumulation/losses during the post-glacial period. A bark-beetle outbreak killed >75 % of all trees in a mature mountain spruce forest in one catchment and all dead biomass was left on site.

Changes in the Heart Rate of Sniffer Dogs Trained for Detection of Lung Cancer.

Background: Lung carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. At present, unfortunately, there are no markers that would allow early identification of this tumor in the preclinical or early clinical stage. The use of sniffer dogs has been reported to show some promise in early diagnosis of this type of cancer Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of utilizing changes in the heart rate of sniffer dogs (which increases when finding a positive sample) in tumor detection.

Surviving trees are key elements in the fate of ectomycorrhizal community after severe bark-beetle forest disturbance.

Bark beetle disturbances are a critical event in the life cycle of Norway spruce forests. However, our knowledge of their effects on ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), which play a key role in forest productivity and nutrient cycling, is still incomplete. Special attention has been paid to the dynamics and diversity of EMF communities in managed forests, but studies dealing with disturbed natural stands are underrepresented.

Soil warming during winter period enhanced soil N and P availability and leaching in alpine grasslands: A transplant study.

Alpine meadows are strongly affected by climate change. Increasing air temperature prolongs the growing season and together with changing precipitation patterns alters soil temperature during winter. To estimate the effect of climate change on soil nutrient cycling, we conducted a field experiment.

Diverse effects of accelerating climate change on chemical recovery of alpine lakes from acidic deposition in soil-rich versus scree-rich catchments.

The current recovery of mountain lakes from atmospheric acidification is increasingly affected (both accelerated and/or delayed) by climate change. We evaluated long-term trends in the ionic composition of 30 lakes situated in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains, and compared the rates of their recovery with model (MAGIC) simulations done 20 years ago for the 2003-2020 period. The observed recovery was faster than the model forecast, due to greater reductions in acidic deposition than projected.

Responses of soil microarthropod taxon (Hexapoda: Protura) to natural disturbances and management practices in forest-dominated subalpine lake catchment areas.

Disturbances are intrinsic drivers of structure and function in ecosystems, hence predicting their effects in forest ecosystems is essential for forest conservation and/or management practices. Yet, knowledge regarding belowground impacts of disturbance events still remains little understood and can greatly vary by taxonomic and functional identity, disturbance type and local environmental conditions. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a survey of soil-dwelling Protura, across forests subjected to different disturbance regimes (i.

Changes in microclimate and hydrology in an unmanaged mountain forest catchment after insect-induced tree dieback.

Hydrological and microclimatic changes after insect-induced tree dieback were evaluated in an unmanaged central European mountain (Plešné, PL) forest and compared to climate-related changes in a similar, but almost intact (Čertovo, CT) control forest during two decades. From 2004 to 2008, 93% of Norway spruce trees were killed by a bark beetle outbreak, and the entire PL area was left to subsequent natural development. We observed that (1) climate-related increases in daily mean air temperature (2 m above ground) were 1.

The chemical composition of forest soils and their degree of acidity in Central Europe.

We conducted an extensive screening of forest soils in the whole area of the Czech Republic to determine their degree of acidification and potential degradation. Soils were sampled at 480 forest sites (in a 7 × 7 km grid covering the entire Czech Republic) from the upper 30-cm layer and included both organic and mineral horizons. Based on values of water extractable pH (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS), soils were divided into three categories by their degree of acidity, i.

Decreasing litterfall mercury deposition in central European coniferous forests and effects of bark beetle infestation.

We evaluated a 14-year trend (2003-2017) in mercury (Hg) concentrations and fluxes in six litterfall categories (needles, bark, twigs, cones, lichen, and a mixture of unidentified fragments) at six research plots situated in two central European unmanaged mountain forest stands, dominated by mature Norway spruce. One of the stands (catchment of Plešné Lake, PL) was infested by bark beetle and all mature spruces died at three of four research plots during the study. One PL plot and two plots in the second stand (catchment of Čertovo Lake, CT) were intact and used as a control.

An important role of decomposing wood for soil environment with a reference to communities of springtails (Collembola).

Present study focused on how the presence of decaying wood affects soil environment including its biota. The study was carried out in the montane spruce forest, disturbed by wind and bark beetles in Trojmezná Mt. of the Bohemian Forest in the Czech Republic.

Effects of graded levels of Azadirachta indica seed oil on growth performance and biochemical profiles of broiler chickens.

Because of speculated risk in generating antibiotic resistance in pathogenic microbiota, natural products from plant origin due to their diverse biological activities, have recently gained a great attention in animal nutrition. This study was designed to evaluate graded levels of neem seed oil on growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 400-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to five experimental treatment groups.

Stability of mercury concentration measurements in archived soil and peat samples.

Archived soil samples can provide important information on the history of environmental contamination and by comparison with recently collected samples, temporal trends can be inferred. Little previous work has addressed whether mercury (Hg) concentrations in soil samples are stable with long-term storage under standard laboratory conditions. In this study, we have re-analyzed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy a set of archived soil samples that ranged from relatively pristine mountainous sites to a polluted site near a non-ferrous metal smelter with a wide range of Hg concentrations (6.

Factors Affecting the Leaching of Dissolved Organic Carbon after Tree Dieback in an Unmanaged European Mountain Forest.

Forest disturbances affect ecosystem biogeochemistry, water quality, and carbon cycling. We analyzed water chemistry before, during, and after a dieback event at a headwater catchment in the Bohemian Forest (central Europe) together with an un-impacted reference catchment, focusing on drivers and responses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) leaching. We analyzed data regarding carbon input to the forest floor via litter and throughfall, changes in soil moisture and composition, streamwater chemistry, discharge, and temperature.

SYNTHESIS AND AMINOPEPTIDASE N INHIBITING ACTIVITY OF 3-(NITROPHENOXYMETHYL)-[1,3,2]DIOXABOROLAN-2-OLS AND THEIR OPEN ANALOGUES.

Aminopeptidase N (APN) represents a class of zinc metallopeptidases with broad substrate specifity. This enzyme is involved in control of angioneogenesis in cancer and microvascular conditions. It also serves as a superficial cellular receptor that enables attachment of some viruses including coronaviruses to the host cell.

Changes in surface water chemistry caused by natural forest dieback in an unmanaged mountain catchment.

Ionic and nutrient compositions of throughfall, tributaries and lake outlet were analysed in the Plešné catchment-lake system (an unmanaged mountain forest in Central Europe) from 1997 to 2016. The aim was to evaluate changes in surface water chemistry after natural forest dieback. In the 2004-2008, 93% of the Norway spruce trees were killed by bark beetle outbreak, and all dead biomass remained in the catchment.

Climate Change Increasing Calcium and Magnesium Leaching from Granitic Alpine Catchments.

Climate change can reverse trends of decreasing calcium and magnesium [Ca + Mg] leaching to surface waters in granitic alpine regions recovering from acidification. Despite decreasing concentrations of strong acid anions (-1.4 μeq L yr) during 2004-2016 in nonacidic alpine lakes in the Tatra Mountains (Central Europe), the average [Ca + Mg] concentrations increased (2.

Outcome of permanent vascular access for haemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease in Cameroon: results from the pilot experience of the Douala general hospital.

Background Chronic Kidney disease is a major health problem in the world. Native arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) is well established as the best vascular access for haemodialysis. Little is known about the outcome of AVF in sub-Saharan Africa.

Evaluation of In Vivo Acaricidal Effect of Soap Containing Essential Oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides Leaves on Rhipicephalus lunulatus in the Western Highland of Cameroon.

A study on the acaricidal properties of foam soap containing the essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides leaves was carried out on Rhipicephalus lunulatus. Four doses (0.03, 0.

Excess of Organic Carbon in Mountain Spruce Forest Soils after Bark Beetle Outbreak Altered Microbial N Transformations and Mitigated N-Saturation.

Mountain forests in National park Bohemian Forest (Czech Republic) were affected by bark beetle attack and windthrows in 2004-2008, followed by an extensive tree dieback. We evaluated changes in the biochemistry of the uppermost soil horizons with the emphasis on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in a near-natural spruce (Picea abies) mountain forest after the forest dieback, and compared it with an undisturbed control plot of similar age, climate, elevation, deposition, N-saturation level, and land use history. We hypothesised that the high litter input after forest dieback at the disturbed plot and its consequent decomposition might influence the availability of C for microorganisms, and consequently, N transformations in the soil.

Effects of acidic deposition on in-lake phosphorus availability: a lesson from lakes recovering from acidification.

Lake water concentrations of phosphorus (P) recently increased in some mountain areas due to elevated atmospheric input of P rich dust. We show that increasing P concentrations also occur during stable atmospheric P inputs in central European alpine lakes recovering from atmospheric acidification. The elevated P availability in the lakes results from (1) increasing terrestrial export of P accompanying elevated leaching of dissolved organic carbon and decreasing phosphate-adsorption ability of soils due to their increasing pH, and (2) decreasing in-lake P immobilization by aluminum (Al) hydroxide due to decreasing leaching of ionic Al from the recovering soils.

[Metal staples versus conventional suture for wound closure in total knee arthroplasty].

Purpose Of The Study: Surgical incision closure, as well as total joint replacement itself, plays a key role in the overall outcome of an arthroplasty procedure. Uncomplicated wound healing is the essential condition of successful rehabilitation and the patient's return to normal activities. Although there are many innovative suturing techniques which offer advantages, their safety is still being discussed.

Assessment of aflatoxin contamination of maize, peanut meal and poultry feed mixtures from different agroecological zones in Cameroon.

Mycotoxins affect poultry production by being present in the feed and directly causing a negative impact on bird performance. Carry-over rates of mycotoxins in animal products are, in general, small (except for aflatoxins in milk and eggs) therefore representing a small source of mycotoxins for humans. Mycotoxins present directly in human food represent a much higher risk.