Carbon Nanotubes in Cement-A New Approach for Building Composites and Its Influence on Environmental Effect of Material.

An addition of carbon nanostructures to cement paste is problematic due to the difficulties in obtaining homogenous mixtures. The paper reports on a more effective way of mixing carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) in cement pastes. The additional biological impact of the studied nanomodified cement was analyzed in the case of two moss species' vitality.

Caffeine-Legal Natural Stimulant with Open Research Perspective: Spectroscopic and Theoretical Characterization.

Caffeine is an alkaloid with a purine structure and has been well known for centuries due to its presence in popular drinks-tea and coffee. However, the structural and spectroscopic parameters of this compound, as well as its chemical and biological activities, are still not fully known. In this study, for the first time, we report on the measured oxygen-17 NMR spectra of this stimulant.

The spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in the mountain forest topsoils (the Silesian Beskids, southern Poland).

Progressive industrialisation and urbanisation in recent decades have dramatically affected the soil cover and led to significant changes in its properties, which inevitably affect the functioning of other components of the forest ecosystems. The total content of Pb, Cd, Zn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, As, and Hg was studied in twenty-five plots at different heights in the topsoil (organic and humus horizons) formed from the Carpathian flysch in the area of the Silesian Beskids (Western Carpathians). The aim of this article is to analyse the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements in the mountain forest topsoil in different types of plant communities and to determine the relationship between altitude and potentially toxic elements contamination.

Multi-century (635-year) spring season precipitation reconstruction from northern Pakistan revealed increasing extremes.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya region is experiencing rapid climate change with adverse impacts in multiple sectors. To put recent climatic changes into a long-term context, here we reconstructed the region's climate history using tree-ring width chronologies of climate-sensitive Cedrus deodara and Pinus gerardiana. Growth-climate analysis reveals that the species tree-growth is primarily limited by moisture stress during or preceding the growing season, as indicated by a positive relationship between the chronology and precipitation and scPDSI, and a negative one with temperature.

Relationships between Heavy Metal Concentrations in Greater Celandine ( L.) Tissues and Soil in Urban Parks.

Anthropogenic ecological ecosystems create favourable conditions for the growth of the nitrophilous medicinal species in six urban parks in Southern Poland. This study focuses on the concentrations of trace elements in the soils, leaves, stems, and rhizomes of greater celandine. The soil samples were taken only in the humus horizon (A), which averaged approximately 15 cm in thickness under the clumps of .

Long-Term Vegetation Changes and Socioeconomic Effects of River Engineering in Industrialized Areas (Southern Poland).

The exploitation of mineral resources associated with human mining activities leads to the degradation of both terrestrial and aquatic biocenotic systems. The drastic disturbance of water relations as a result of the relocation of the riverbed of the Biala Przemsza River (southern Poland) for coal and filler sand mining will lead to changes in plant ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the diversity and distribution of vegetation in the Biała Przemsza valley in sections of channel straightening with the old riverbed and areas undisturbed by engineering works against the background of land use in temporal and spatial aspects.

Ecosystem Services and Linkages of Naturally Managed (Falc.) A. DC. Forests with Local Communities across Contiguous Mountainous Ranges in Pakistan.

The local community of the Suleiman and Hindukush mountain systems in Pakistan has largely depended on the natural resources of the environment since ancient times. The ecosystem of these regions is under huge pressure due to a lack of awareness and the uncontrolled interference of communal, commercial, security, political, and ecological conditions. The present study was designed to illuminate the link between mountain society and the consumption of the benefits from phytocoenoses using the ecosystem services concept from the sphere of the socio-ecological system to cultural relations.

Soil and Vegetation Development on Coal-Waste Dump in Southern Poland.

As an anthropogenic element of urban landscapes, coal heaps undergo changes due to both natural and anthropogenic factors. The aim of this study was to determine the common development of soil under the influence of vegetation succession against a background of environmental conditions. Vegetation changes and soil properties were analysed along a transect passing through a heap representing a particular succession stage.

The Perception of Urban Forests in Post-Mining Areas: A Case Study of Sosnowiec-Poland.

Sustainable development policy emphasizes, among other things, the role of green areas in urban space. This remark applies in particular to post-industrial and post-mining cities. One of the elements of shaping the sustainable development of post-mining cities is that forests are often anthropogenic forest ecosystems growing in previously mining areas, one of the most characteristic elements of their spatial development.

Vegetation and Environmental Changes on Contaminated Soil Formed on Waste from an Historic Zn-Pb Ore-Washing Plant.

Post-mining waste from Zn-Pb ore exploitation undergoes processes of spontaneous succession and changes in soil chemical composition. The Zakawie area was industrially transformed by historical mining activity, ore enrichment, and the metallurgical processing of Zn-Pb ore. The subject of the study was to analyse the rate of vegetation succession (from 1999 to 2019), soil chemistry, and the relationships between them in an anthropogenic habitat with high concentrations of potentially toxic metals.

Vegetation- and Environmental Changes on Non-Reclaimed Spoil Heaps in Southern Poland.

The study focused on the changes in vegetation and soils on an undeveloped area of coal mine spoil heaps. The process of vegetation changes was evaluated on the basis of historical cartographic materials and fieldwork. Changes of vegetation in nearly 200 years are presented herein.

Nitrates and phosphates in cave waters of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland.

The paper presents the varied presence of nitrates and phosphates in water from caves located in Częstochowa and Kraków, in urban, strongly anthropogenic conditions, representing the vadose zone of the fissure-karstic-porous massif of Upper Jurassic limestones. Hydrochemical research was carried out by the authors in the Cave on the Stone in Częstochowa in 2012-2015, in caves of the Zakrzówek horst from 1996 to 2002, and in the Dragon's Cave by the research team of J. Motyka in 1995-1998.