Silesia Poland Research Articles

Middle Triassic Limestones as a Source of Trace Elements and REY.

The results of the content determination of the selected trace elements Ti, Sr, Ba, Zn, Pb, Cu, S, P, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zr, Mo, Rb, Sc, Y, and REEs were presented in this article. Studies were carried out to define the purity of limestones. The elements were measured in the carbonate minerals of Middle Triassic limestones of the Opole Silesia in Poland, using ICP-MS and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Moreover, the contents of Sc and REY were also determined by electron microprobe analysis. These methods are characterized by high accuracy and precision of the measurement. The research results show that the contents of trace elements vary from below 1 ppm up to some hundreds ppm. The highest content was measured for strontium and the lowest for barium, elements characteristic of aragonite. Their occurrence indicates the presence of aragonite in the primary carbonate material. Some trace elements form substitutions in clay or carbonate minerals. Zn, Pb, Cu, Mo, and Ni may be associated with sulfides, and Ti and Cr may be associated with oxides. Sc and REY usually substitute Ca ions in calcite. The contents of measured Ce, Nd, Sm, Dy, Er, and Y vary from below 1 ppm up to 6 ppm, and Sc from 0 ppm to 10 ppm.

Geometrization of a 3D numerical model of an underground facility based on the results of terrestrial laser scanning

Abstract The article proposes a method of combining CloudCompare, RHINO, and FLAC3D software, aimed at building numerical models of underground objects of natural or engineering origin, based on the results of measurements made using terrestrial laser scanning technology. This technology is one of the most advanced in mine survey as it enables accurate mapping of even the most complex geometries of underground facilities. This opens wide possibilities in the construction of more accurate numerical models of the behavior of the rock mass around such underground objects. The results of simulation of the behavior of the rock mass around the analyzed excavations, obtained by performing numerical calculations, allow predicting unfavorable phenomena that may occur as a result of the destruction of the rock mass and which may threaten the safety of users of underground facilities, for example, caves, tunnels, and mining excavations. In this work, we carried out measurements using a terrestrial laser scanner and obtained a “point cloud” that reproduced the geometry of the underground facility. An example is a fragment of the adit St. Johannes, which is part of the underground tourist route “Geopark” St. Johannes Mine in Krobica in Lower Silesia in Poland in the neighborhood of Gierczyn and Przecznica. In the next step, the measurement results were processed, so that it was possible to import the generated geometry into the FLAC3D software and use it to build a numerical model of the adit, based on “brick” zones. The aim of the article is to present in detail the methodology of geometrization of numerical models of underground objects with complex geometry. The author wanted the method to be as easy to use as possible, give full control over the surface structure, and not require many numerical modeling programs.

Terrestrial laser scanning in the construction of a numerical model geometry related to underground post-mining facility

Abstract The procedure of building a quasi-3D geometry of a numerical model of an underground post-mining facility is presented in the article. For this purpose, measurements were made, based on the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) technology, of a fragment of St. John adit, which is part of the underground tourist route “Geopark” St. Johannes Mine in Krobica in Lower Silesia in Poland, in the neighborhood of Krobica, Gierczyn and Przecznica – the places located in the vicinity of the well-known health resort Świeradów Zdrój. TLS, as one of the most advanced mining surveying technologies, enables accurate mapping of even the most complex geometries of underground mining facilities. This opens wide possibilities in the construction of more accurate numerical models of the behavior of the rock mass around such underground objects. As a result, more reliable calculation results are obtained, which are the basis for designing mining support protection, for example, with rock bolting. This translates into an improvement in the safety of underground excavations, in the conditions of exploitation in mining as well as in historical post-mining excavations made available to tourists. In the construction of the geometry of numerical model, software such as Trimble RealWorks was used to orientate individual “point clouds” from measurement stations. CloudCompare software was also used to generate cross sections to the adit axis, and AutoCad software was used for processing and spatial orientation of a selected characteristic cross section. Using the latest version of the FLAC 3D v.9.0 software, the excavation cross-section geometry obtained from measurements was mapped to and discretized (i.e., meshed), giving it a third dimension at the same time.

Thermoluminescence studies of a Gothic church in Świebodzin from Silesia in Poland

The paper presents thermoluminescence (TL) studies that aim to establish the possibility of using such analysis to determine the date of the construction, transformation and/or rebuilding of a historical church. The determination of the age of building structures using the form of absolute dating that is now used by architects and archeologists is difficult and complex. A relatively large error of estimation can be observed in archeological studies. In the case of samples from the Middle Ages, such errors are not acceptable. The authors attempted to develop an alternative spectroscopic TL method for such studies, and proposed that the composition of bricks should be measured using X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (EM) and TL spectra. The bricks for the testing were taken from internal walls and the walls in the attics of churches, i.e. from places built during the last stage of construction works. The TL measurements were made using x-ray and β source excitation within the temperature range of 25–500°C. Two different sizes of grains were studied: small (∼0.1 mm) and large (∼0.5 mm). A gothic church in Świebodzin from 1555, which has a well-known history of its construction, was selected for the investigations. Due to the fact that this church is 326 years younger than the two churches evaluated and described in [1], the composition of its bricks could be different. Therefore, the authors decided to compare the XRD data, EM results and TL spectra for bricks taken from all three churches. The intensities of the TL and the integrated TL intensities were determined. The measurement results are important for creating a relationship between the TL intensity and the date a building object was constructed. Moreover, thanks to this it was possible to verify the construction date of Saski Palace in Warsaw.

X-ray diffraction as a highly selective and sensitive tool for the identification of Mg-rich carbonate phases in terms of the limestone with magnesium practical application

This article presents the theory about the usability and effectiveness of X-Ray Diffraction in identifying carbonate phases varied in magnesium content in the practical application of limestone-rich magnesium. Results of research on the Triassic limestone samples using this method are presented there. The samples were taken from the area of Opole Silesia in Poland. It is a Polish part of the Germanic Basin. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the following phases: low-Mg calcite, high-Mg calcite, dolomite, and huntite. Low-Mg calcite dominates in the limestones. In some samples, there is also a lower amount of high-Mg calcite. Moreover, dolomite and huntite were identified. The study results have shown that X-ray diffraction is the perfect method to identify carbonate phases with different magnesium content. Limestone, including carbonates rich in magnesium, can be used as a fertilizer, animal feed additive, sorbent to desulfurize flue gases or material in road building. The research results indicate the possibility of application of the Muschelkalk limestones rich in magnesium from the area of Opole Silesia in different branches of industry. Therefore, it would not be necessary to carry out selective exploitation in a way to avoid the magnesium-rich limestone zones in the deposits.

X-ray diffraction as a highly selective and sensitive tool for the identification of Mg-rich carbonate phases in terms of the limestone with magnesium practical application

This article presents the theory about the usability and effectiveness of X-Ray Diffraction in identifying carbonate phases varied in magnesium content in the practical application of limestone-rich magnesium. Results of research on the Triassic limestone samples using this method are presented there. The samples were taken from the area of Opole Silesia in Poland. It is a Polish part of the Germanic Basin. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the following phases: low-Mg calcite, high-Mg calcite, dolomite, and huntite. Low-Mg calcite dominates in the limestones. In some samples, there is also a lower amount of high-Mg calcite. Moreover, dolomite and huntite were identified. The study results have shown that X-ray diffraction is the perfect method to identify carbonate phases with different magnesium content. Limestone, including carbonates rich in magnesium, can be used as a fertilizer, animal feed additive, sorbent to desulfurize flue gases or material in road building. The research results indicate the possibility of application of the Muschelkalk limestones rich in magnesium from the area of Opole Silesia in different branches of industry. Therefore, it would not be necessary to carry out selective exploitation in a way to avoid the magnesium-rich limestone zones in the deposits.

Analysis of Mercury Content Inside Mining Waste Dump – Case Study in the Upper Silesia in Poland

Analysis of Mercury Content Inside Mining Waste Dump – Case Study in the Upper Silesia in Poland

Twenty years of coal mining-induced subsidence in the Upper Silesia in Poland identified using InSAR

The paper presents the results of terrain subsidence monitoring in Poland’s Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) mining area using Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) and Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI). The study area accounts for almost three million inhabitants where mining which started in the 19th century, has produced severe damage to buildings and urban infrastructures in past years. The analysis aimed to combine eight different datasets, processed in two techniques, coming from various sensors and covering different periods. As a result, a map of areas that have been exposed to subsidence within 3045 square kilometers was obtained. The map covers a period of twenty years of intensive mining activities, i.e. 1992–2012. A total of 81 interferograms were used in the study. The interferograms allowed not only to determine subsidence troughs (basins) formed from 1992 to 2012 but also to observe subsidence development over time. The work also included five sets of PSI processing, covering different temporal and spatial ranges, which were used to determine zones of residual subsidence. Based on InSAR datasets, an area of 521 square kilometers under the influence of mining activities were determined. Within the subsiding zones, an area of 312.5 square kilometers of the rapid increase in subsidence was identified on the interferograms. The study of combined different InSAR datasets provided large-area and long-term information on the impact of mining activities in the Upper Silesia Coal Basin.

Neurological Disorders of Patients Living with HIV Hospitalized in Infectious Departments of the Specialist Hospital in Lower Silesia in Poland.

Background and Objectives: Central nervous system (CNS) disorders are estimated to occur in approximately 10–20% of people living with HIV (PLWH). They are more commonly observed in newly diagnosed patients and in previously untreated patients or those refusing to undergo antiretroviral treatment. CNS diseases can also be the first manifestation of HIV/AIDS infection. The most common HIV-related central nervous system diseases (CNS-D) are CNS toxoplasmosis, CNS cryptococcosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), and HIV-associated encephalopathy treated as a neurocognitive disorder. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of available medical records was performed on 476 patients hospitalised over a period from 2016 to 2021 and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS infection at the department of infectious diseases at the Provincial Specialist Hospital in Wroclaw. An additional criterion for selecting patients for the analysis was the performance of head imaging using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging on prospective patients. Results: Neurotoxoplasmosis, neurocryptococcosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), and neurosyphilis were the most common CNS diseases among the analysed group of patients. Based on radiological descriptions, other abnormalities, such as vascular changes or cortical and subcortical atrophy of multifactorial origin, not exclusively related to HIV infection, were also frequently observed. The most common neurological symptoms reported in the study group were headaches, limb paresis, and gait and balance disturbance. Conclusions: The clinical picture and epidemiology of neurological manifestations in the group of HIV-infected patients under assessment were similar to the results of other authors. Given the current epidemiological situation, diagnosis for HIV infection should be considered in patients admitted to neurological departments.

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Technology Development in a Region with High CO2 Emissions and Low Storage Potential—A Case Study of Upper Silesia in Poland

The region of Upper Silesia, located in southern Poland, is characterised by very high emissions of carbon dioxide into the air—the annual emission exceeds 33 Mt CO2 and the emission ‘per capita’ is 7.2 t/y in comparison to the EU average emission per capita 6.4 t/y and 8.4 t/y for Poland in 2019. Although in the region there are over 100 carbon dioxide emitters covered by the EU ETS, over 90% of emissions come from approximately 15 large hard coal power plants and from the coke and metallurgical complex. The CCUS scenario for Upper Silesia, which encompasses emitters, capture plants, transport routes, as well as utilisation and storage sites until 2050, was developed. The baseline scenario assumes capture of carbon dioxide in seven installations, use in two methanol plants and transport and injection into two deep saline aquifers (DSA). The share of captured CO2 from flue gas was assumed at the level of 0.25–0.9, depending mainly on the limited capacity of storage. To recognise the views of society on development of the CCUS technologies in Upper Silesia, thirteen interviews with different types of stakeholders (industry, research and education, policy makers) were conducted. The respondents evaluated CCU much better than CCS. The techno-economic assessment of CCUS carried out on a scenario basis showed that the economic outcome of the scenario with CCUS is EUR 3807.19 million more favourable compared to the scenario without CO2 capture and storage.

Effectiveness of the Simulation of Acoustic Protection for a Specific Urban Situation

The present article is addressing the problem of street noise investigation in urban agglomeration and the simulation of protection devices against noise. Noise levels were measured in the vicinity of the national road in Bieruń, Silesia in Poland. The publication attempts to assess the acoustic climate between a roundabout and an intersection. Based on the measured noise, the acoustic mapping was made in the SoundPlan program. The range of noise impact from the examined road section was determined. Finally, two concepts of preventive measures limiting the excessive impacts on the environment were presented, along with the indication of the impact on building development, business operations as well as transport links and traffic.

Analysis of Deaths among HIV-Infected Patients Hospitalized in 2009-2018 in Main Centre of Infectious Disease in Region of Lower Silesia in Poland, Detailing Lesions in the Central Nervous System.

Background and Objectives: Patients living with HIV (PLWH), especially those diagnosed too late or not receiving treatment with antiretroviral drugs in the stage of advanced immunodeficiency AIDS for various reasons, develop additional opportunistic infections or AIDS-defining diseases that may contribute directly to the death of these patients. Material and Methods: In this work, we focused on disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) by retrospectively analyzing the symptoms, clinical and autopsy diagnoses of patients diagnosed with HIV infection who died in the provincial specialist hospital in the Lower Silesia region in Poland. Results: The autopsy was performed in 27.4% cases. The cause of death was determined to be HIV-related/AIDS-associated in 78% patients. The most common AIDS-defining CNS diseases in our cohort were toxoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Conslusions: The presented results of the most common causes of changes in the central nervous system among deceased HIV-infected patients are comparable to the results of studies by other scientists cited in the publication.

Genotoxicity and Toxicity of Urban Road Dust - a Comparison Study for Lower and Upper Silesia in Poland

Genotoxicity and Toxicity of Urban Road Dust - a Comparison Study for Lower and Upper Silesia in Poland

An interview with Joanna Suau from Infobip on the design of application programming interface (API) documentation

Abstract About Joanna Suau Joanna studied English literature and culture at the University of Silesia in Poland, where she was born. She did a technical writing postgraduate degree in the picturesque city of Krakow and moved to the U.K. in 2012, to work for shipping solutions provider Pierbridge, where she mainly focused on user guides and walkthroughs of various types of shipping applications. Interested in what makes an app tick, Joanna started learning programming language (JavaScript) and explored CSS and HTML in more detail. This is when she discovered her passion for writing clean and appealing developer-oriented documentation, and moved to the start-up company Moltin, to become a part of the Developer Success team. Joanna has changed industry, and currently works in the field of telecommunication. She works for a messaging services provider, Infobip, contributing content to their robust API solutions.

Ant nests as a microbial hot spots in a long-term heavy metal-contaminated soils

Interactions between soil fauna and soil microorganisms are not fully recognized, especially in extreme environments, such as long-term metal-polluted soils. The purpose of the study was to assess how the presence of Lasius niger ants affected soil microbial characteristics in a long-term metal-polluted area (Upper Silesia in Poland). Paired soil samples were taken from bulk soil and from ant nests and analysed for a range of soil physicochemical properties, including metal content (zinc, cadmium, and lead). Microbial analysis included soil microbial activity (soil respiration rate), microbial biomass (substrate-induced respiration rate), and bacteria catabolic properties (Biolog® ECO plates). Soil collected from ant nests was drier and was characterized by a lower content of organic matter, carbon and nitrogen contents, and also lower metal content than bulk soil. Soil microbial respiration rate was positively related to soil pH (p = 0.01) and negatively to water-soluble metal content, integrated into TIws index (p = 0.01). Soil microbial biomass was negatively related to TIws index (p = 0.04). Neither soil microbial activity and biomass nor bacteria catabolic activity and diversity indices differed between bulk soil and ant nests. Taken together, ant activity reduced soil contamination by metals in a microscale which support microbial community activity and biomass but did not affect Biolog® culturable bacteria.

Nutrition Habits of Polish Nurses: An Approach.

Background: Chronic stress, unlimited working time and the shift working system as well as sleep deficiency may lead to the occurrence of nutrition disorders among nurses. Aim: The aim of the paper was an assessment of the nutrition habits of nurses. It was an observational study conducted from June 2017 to May 2018 among nurses (n = 1080) in Silesia in Poland. Data was obtained using a range of questionnaires. Results: Body mass index (BMI) of the analysed nurses demonstrated overweight/obesity in 490 (45.5%) of them. Nearly all the diets of the analysed nurses (n = 1021; 94.5%) required improvement. Younger nurses (<31 years old) demonstrated a greater tendency to indulge in habitual overeating, and those having additional employment demonstrated poorer nutrition habits compared to those without additional employment. Conclusion: The analysed nurses made numerous dietary mistakes which, as a consequence, can lead to obesity. Emotional overeating was the dominant nutrition habit in the studied group of nurses. Nurses who were overweight/obese, nurses who had additional employment and younger nurses demonstrated tendencies toward improper nutrition choices, i.e., the tendency to overeat or restrain oneself from eating.

Survival and nutrient supply of seedlings of different tree species at the early stages of afforestation of a hard coal mine dump

In Upper Silesia in Poland, coal is still exploited intensively and mine dump reclamation and afforestation are important environmental mitigation activities. In this study, we analysed the survival rate and foliar nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) supply status and their quantitative relationships of two-year-old Scots pine, Norway spruce, Common oak and European beech at an early afforestation stage of a hard coal mine dump with topsoil. The conditions in the dump in the first years were particularly unfavorable for beech and spruce. The survival rate of seedlings varied between 93% for oak, 67% for pine, 30% for beech and 27% for spruce. Nutrient supply and their quantitative relationships in seedling foliage varied highly in all investigated species. The most deficient element was N; its content was lower than the accepted threshold for individual species under natural conditions. Of the soil properties analysed, electrolytic conductivity (EC) was strongly negatively correlated with foliar N and P. Thus, EC may be the factor with the highest negative effect on nutrient supply and the success of afforestation at early stages.

Inventing a Nation: The Birth and Development of the Silesian Minority in Poland

Abstract This article describes the ethnic revival in Upper Silesia in Poland, and the struggle faced by regional organisations to formally recognise the Silesian people as an ethnic minority in Poland. After years of having their culture repressed by the homogenising inclinations of the communist regime, there are a growing number of people identifying themselves as belonging to a separate Silesian national minority. This social change quickly translated into the initial organisations dedicated to preserving the culture and fighting for minority rights. Those organisations then made both judicial (on a national and international level) and legislative attempts at the formal recognition of the Silesian nationality, and have been undertaking actions aimed at stirring up and building feelings of national identity among the people living in Silesia.

Housing Conditions of Elderly People in Poland

The aim of the study is to determine the actual housing conditions of retired persons in terms of their place of residence, households of the elderly, type of buildings where they live and their willingness to move to a different apartment, adapted to the needs connected with movement limitations of the elderly. Research was conducted on a group of people in post-working age who live in a region of Lower Silesia in Poland. The main tool used was public opinion survey. The conducted analyses revealed that in rural areas, retired persons live in multi-generation families, while in towns – with their spouses or alone. Country dwellers prefer to spend their old age where they have lived before, while city inhabitants are much more willing to move from their apartments to flats adapted to the special needs of the elderly. This applies to all age groups of respondents.

Is weight just a number? Relationship between overweight, obesity and domains of sexual functioning among young women.

Being overweight and obesity, one of the biggest health problems in developing countries, is known to affect reproductive health problems. More and more Polish women are struggling with infertility and sexual dysfunctions. Such complications are often diagnosed to be linked directly with patients' excess weight. The main objectives of the study were to assess the influence of increased BMI (≥ 25.0) on sexual activity and the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in overweight and obese women in Upper Silesia. Additionally, the occurrence of health problems existing along with obesity was analyzed. The study was carried out at the Department of Pregnancy Pathology, Department of Woman's Health, School of Health Sciences in Katowice of Medical University of Silesia in Poland. From 526 examined patients, 38% had normal BMI (18.5-24.9), 27% were overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and 35% were obese (BMI score ≥ 30). The patients answered a completely self-administered questionnaire, which was divided into two parts. The first part consisted of general questions about the patient and her past medical history. The second part was the Polish version FSFI questionnaire. The results obtained from FSFI were analyzed using the STATISTICA program. Statistically significant (p < 0.001) reduction in the level of satisfaction was found in the group of obese women when compared to patients with BMI < 30. Also among obese patients the occurrence of sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26) was significantly increased (p < 0.05). A significantly higher number of patients from an average socio-economic situation suffered from sexual dysfunctions, when compared with patients from good a socio-economic group. Obesity and being overweight lead to more frequent sexual dysfunctions, especially through prevalence of decreased level of sexual satisfaction. Sexual activity problems may be exacerbated by increased body weight in combination with its comorbidities such as insulin resistance, PCOS, obstetric difficulties and irregular menstruation. What is more, a worse socio-economic situation of women predisposes them to the occurrence of sexual dysfunctions.