Southern Poland Research Articles

The impact of weather conditions on the quality of groundwater in the area of a municipal waste landfill

Abstract The quality of groundwater in the source area of pollution depends on many factors, including the weather and hydrogeological conditions within the given area. Anassessment of water quality can be carried out based on data obtained from sensors placed in boreholes. This research examined the influence of air and water temperature, groundwater table position and precipitation on the value of electrical conductivity in groundwater in a selected piezometer belonging to the monitoring network of the Quaternary aquifer in the area of a waste landfill site in Tychy-Urbanowice in southern Poland. The influence of individual factors was checked by using twenty neural network architectures of a Multilayer Perceptron Model (MLP). Each of these indicated factors were selected as input variables. Ultimately, three neural networks were selected, which were characterized by the smallest validation and test errors and showed the highest learning quality. The significance of individual variables for the effectiveness of the model was checked using a global sensitivity analysis. Three selected MLP models contained seven to nine neurons in the hidden layer and used a linear or exponential function as the hidden and output activation. The maximum test quality was 0.8369, while the smallest test error was 0.0011. The results of the sensitivity analysis highlighted the important role of water temperature and water table position on the conductivity value. The obtained goodness of fit results of the models to the input data allowed us to conclude that the MLP was applicable to such forecasts and can be extended by the analysis of further factors.

Observational analysiS of out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest occurRence and temporal variability patterns in subpopulation of southern POLand from 2006 to 2018: OSCAR-POL registry.

Temporal variability of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurrence was presented in previous studies, however, the data regarding long-term observation is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal variability of OHCA occurrence during a long-time period and analyze the circadian pattern within particular timeframes. The retrospective analysis of 5058 OHCA cases was made covering the period from January 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2018. Circadian, weekly, monthly and seasonal variabilities were investigated. The circadian variability of OHCA occurrence was assessed within particular years, seasons of the year, and days of the week. The highest OHCA incidence was observed between 08:00 and 08:59 and the lowest between 01:00 and 01:59 (7.1% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001). After division into 6-h intervals, a significantly lower number of OHCA cases occurred between 00:00 and 05:59 (12.3%) in comparison to the highest number observed in between 06:00 and 11:59 (12.3% vs. 33.5%, p < 0.001). The highest OHCA occurrence was observed on Monday (14.9%), however, no weekly variability was found (p = 0.557). The highest OHCA occurrence was observed in the winter and lowest in the summer (27.4% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.001). Significant circadian variability was observed for every day of the week, every season and year during the observation period (p < 0.001). Circadian, monthly and seasonal variability of OHCA occurrence was confirmed in the long-term observation with no differences between particular days of the week. Significant circadian variability was observed within days of the week, seasons of the year, and particular years.

Rural Development Multifunctionality – The Example of Sheep Breeding in Southern Poland

Sheep production in Poland for many years has been facing continuous recession, however its role can be considered in various aspects. Interesting way to describe this broad phenomenon may be a method proposed by Van Huylenbroeck, that is extrapolated from widely understood agriculture. According to that system individual functions were assigned to different colors: white, yellow, green and blue, relatively to the roles they perform.

Early mediaeval lead glass bangles from Czermno, Poland: Results of elemental and lead isotopes analyses

AbstractThis paper presents the results from analysis of thirty 12th to 13th century glass bangles from Czermno, eastern Poland. Study of the primary glass composition was carried out by laser ablation ICP‐MS and electron probe microanalysis. Lead isotope analyses were conducted to determine the origin of the glass's main raw material. Two types of lead glass were distinguished, high‐lead glass and Slavic lead ash glass, both of which were common in Central and Eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages. Isotopic investigations show that the lead flux for the Slavic glass likely came from the Cracow–Upper Silesia region in southern Poland.

Does exposure to nature make children more intelligent? Analysis in Polish children with and without ADHD

Previous studies have shown that exposure to nature and physical activity (PA) may be associated with higher intelligence in children. We examined whether there is an association between lifelong exposure to greenspace and bluespace and intelligence in children aged 10–13 with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and whether PA mediates this association. The sample (N = 714) was collected within the NeuroSmog case-control study, where children with (N = 206) and without ADHD (N = 508) were recruited from 18 towns in Southern Poland. Nature exposure was estimated as the sum of the z-scores of the objective and perceived measures. Objective greenspace exposure was defined as the percentage of grass and tree cover in 500 m and 1 km buffers around lifelong residential addresses, respectively. Objective bluespace exposure was defined as the percentage of water cover in 500 m and 1 km buffers. Perceived greenspace/bluespace was measured as the parent-rated availability, quality, and use of greenspace/bluespace. Intelligence was assessed using the Polish version of the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, 5th edition (SB5). SB5 Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Nonverbal IQ, Verbal IQ, five factor and ten subtest scores were analysed as outcomes. The associations between nature and IQ scores were assessed by linear regressions separately for cases and controls, adjusting the models for sex, parental education, and urbanicity. Structural equation modeling was implemented to test whether PA mediated the association between nature and intelligence. None of the greenspace or bluespace measures were consistently associated with intelligence. PA was not found to be a mediator. We did not find evidence that higher lifelong nature exposure is associated with higher intelligence in Polish schoolchildren with or without ADHD. This casts doubts on whether exposure to nature has relevant influence on IQ.

Influence of the Bed Temperature on the Operational Reliability of a Hybrid Constructed Wetland Wastewater Treatment Plant in South-Western Poland—A Case Study

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of atmospheric air temperature on the efficiency and reliability of pollutants removal from wastewater. The studied facility was a hybrid constructed wetland wastewater treatment plant with vertical and horizontal flow serving a single-family building in the village of Krajanów in south-western Poland. The operation of the facility was evaluated on the basis of studies conducted in 2021–2022. The tests included a physico–chemical analysis of wastewater treated mechanically in a settling tank and effluents from constructed wetland beds with the vertical and horizontal flow. The following parameters were determined: BOD5, COD, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. No statistically significant effect of air temperature on the analyzed pollutants removal levels was found. The temperature in the soil–plant bed never fell below 0 °C, and so the wastewater flowing through the beds never froze. The discussed facility was characterized by high efficiency and reliability of the tested pollutants removal across the seasons. The mean concentrations of pollutants in treated wastewater did not exceed the limit values specified in the currently binding legal act. It was shown that hybrid constructed wetlands can be successfully used for wastewater treatment in the climatic conditions of southern Poland.

The origin and transformation of soil lamellae in calcareous and non-calcareous loess soils in the Central European loess belt – A case study from southern Poland

Loess in Europe is heterogeneous due to differences in paleoenvironmental conditions during sedimentation and pedogenesis. In many regions of Europe, including southern Poland, loess accumulation was followed by the leaching of carbonates followed by clay translocation, which is typical in silty soils in humid climates. Loess soils in the temperate climate zone are characterized by the presence of well-developed or well-preserved microfabrics of different origin but with similar morphology, among which lamellae can be distinguished. Lamellae commonly occur in loess soils; however, detailed studies focused on their origin and evolution are lacking. The main aim of the present study was to determine the origin and transformation of lamellae both in calcareous and non-calcareous loess soils in the Central European loess belt, using an example from southern Poland. The following three hypotheses were tested: (1) decalcification of the upper part of loess soils is a necessary condition for soil lamellae formation, while frost action is not a key factor shaping their morphology and properties in the Central European loess belt, (2) occurrence of carbonate in the lower part of calcareous loess soils inhibits lamellae formation, (3) soil lamellae are transformed due to bioturbation and shrinking-swelling processes in both calcareous and non-calcareous loess soils. The obtained results indicate that decalcification of the upper part of calcareous loess soils enables the translocation of clay particles and lamellae formation. Field observations and micromorphological analysis indicate that the presence of carbonate limits the development of soil lamellae and constitutes a barrier to deeper clay translocation in loess soils. This finding suggests a pedogenic origin of lamellae in the loess soils of southern Poland. Soil lamellae show a number of signs indicating their mechanical degradation due to swelling and shrinking, bioturbation, and dissolution driven by eluviation and redox processes. The progressive evolution of lamellae leads to an enhancement of their expression in the illuvial Bt and transitional BC horizons.

State of the Population of Gladiolus imbricatus L. in a Molinia Meadow after Extensive Management and Abandonment

The abandonment of seminatural Molinia meadows observed in Central and Eastern Europe during the 20th century started the secondary succession and threatened the state and persistence of populations of numerous meadow species. Considering this, the aims of the presented investigations were to study the abundance and selected traits of individuals of Gladiolus imbricatus L. in extensively used (EM) and unmanaged for at least 15 years (UM) Molinia meadows (Southern Poland, Central Europe). Altogether, 125 juvenile individuals, 21 vegetative individuals, and 119 generative individuals of Gladiolus imbricatus were investigated. The field studies showed positive correlation among the height of shoots and other traits of generative individuals in both study patches. Moreover, the greater abundance of population of Gladiolus imbricatus (especially the greater number of juveniles), as well as the greater dimensions of leaf blades, shoots, inflorescence, and number of capsules in the patch UM, indicates the appropriate state of the population. These data indicate a positive influence of abandonment and evolving secondary succession on the Gladiolus imbricatus population within the Molinia meadows.

Extensive Drug Resistance of Strong Biofilm-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Strains Isolated from Infections and Colonization Hospitalized Patients in Southern Poland.

Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is a bacterium that causes infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Treatment is challenging due to biofilm formation by AB strains, which hinders antibiotic effectiveness and promotes drug resistance. The aim of our study was to analyze the biofilm-producing capacity of AB isolates from various forms of infections in relation to biofilm-related genes and their drug resistance. We tested one hundred isolates for biofilm formation using the crystal violet microplate method. Drug resistance analyses were performed based on EUCAST and CLSI guidelines, and biofilm genes were detected using PCR. All tested strains were found to form biofilms, with 50% being ICU strains and 72% classified as strong biofilm producers. Among these, 87% were extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and 2% were extra-extensively drug-resistant (E-XDR). The most common gene set was bap, bfmS, csuE, and ompA, found in 57% of all isolates. Our research shows that, regardless of the form of infection, biofilm-forming strains can be expected among AB isolates. The emergence of E-XDR and XDR strains among non-ICU infections highlights the necessity for the rational use of antibiotics to stop or limit the further acquisition of drug resistance by A. baumannii.

The effect of petrographic characteristics on the physical and mechanical properties of currently exploited Pińczów Limestones – a type of Leitha Limestone (Carpathian Foredeep, southern Poland)

The effect of petrographic characteristics on the physical and mechanical properties of currently exploited Pińczów Limestones – a type of Leitha Limestone (Carpathian Foredeep, southern Poland)

Valorization of geotourist and geoheritage objects in the region of Mikołów (USCB, southern Poland)

Valorization of geotourist and geoheritage objects in the region of Mikołów (USCB, southern Poland)

Temporal and spatial trends in lead levels in the blood and down of Black Stork nestlings in central Europe

Young birds at an intensive growth stage are especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of contaminants such as lead (Pb). This element negatively influences organs, development and even behavior, which can consequently lead to lower survival and reproductive success of the population. There was a suspicion that these mechanisms, along with other factors, retarded population growth of the Black Stork - still a heavily understudied species in respect to pollution, especially Pb. Therefore, we undertook a study concerning Pb concentrations in the down and blood of Black Stork nestlings from breeding grounds in central and southern Poland (Europe). To investigate the effects of Pb exposure on nestling condition, scale mass index and reduced glutathione levels were also studied, but results indicated that Pb did not influence either of these parameters. The highest blood Pb concentration reached 0.247 μg/g, while the highest down Pb concentrations was significantly higher reaching 4.95 μg/g. Concentrations in blood and down were not correlated with each other. Nest location and year of sampling were not influential for blood but were influential for down Pb concentrations. Relationships between Pb concentrations, habitat characteristics and proximity to emitters were not significant. Overall Pb concentrations in Black Stork nestlings were below the toxicity threshold and did not have negative effects on specimens studied. They were probably related to maternal exposure during migration, on stopover and breeding grounds as well as with food provided by parents.

Second Life of Post-Mining Facilities: Mines as a Tourist Attraction of Southern Poland

The aim of this article is to present a tourist mining path located in southern Poland. This involves coal, silver, gold, salt, flint, chalk, uranium mines and oil wells. It includes some buildings connected with workers and mine-owners as well. These buildings were previously tied to mining. Currently, they function as museums or service-buildings.

Morphodiversity as a Tool in Geoconservation: A Case Study in a Mountain Area (Pieniny Mts, Poland)

Verification and delimitation of existing and new surface forms of nature conservation require objective tools that elevate the significance of the conducted evaluations. If our main goal is to preserve biodiversity, it can be ensured through challenging-to-implement practices of human neutrality towards the environment or activities promoting sustainable development that consider the provision of diverse abiotic habitat conditions. For mountainous areas, where the species diversity of plants and animals is strongly linked to the terrain morphology, an analysis of morphodiversity can provide valuable insights. This study examines the morphodiversity of the Pieniny Mts region (southern Poland) in fundamental fields using three mathematical models and various morphometric indicators. The evaluation of existing conservation forms and proposed changes in the analysis were dependent not solely on morphodiversity but also on its autocorrelation. Hot Spot Analysis and Local Indicator of Spatial Association methods were employed, investigating the intensity of spatial clustering of areas with low and high morphodiversity values. Areas with high morphodiversity clustering were defined as justifying legal protection, while those belonging to clusters of fields with low parameter values were considered not to require conservation. Additional insights were gained through the analysis of hot and cold spots, representing fields with high or low morphodiversity surrounded by clusters of fields with contrasting values. The conducted research allowed for the proposing of significant spatial changes for the Pieniny National Park and its adjacent areas to ensure the preservation of high morphodiversity and, consequently, biodiversity.

Szaferomyces pliocenicus nov. gen., nov. sp. from the Upper Pliocene deposits of Mizerna (Poland), a fossil fungus showing close resemblance to modern powdery mildews

A fungal chasmothecium-like structure resembling those of the contemporary members of the Erysiphaceae was found during palynological investigations of Upper Pliocene deposits from Mizerna (borehole Mizerna-Nowa), southern Poland. This chasmothecium-like remain, preserved without any asci, ascospores and mycelium attached, is morphologically most similar to the chasmothecia of modern powdery mildews from the genera Erysiphe, Neoerysiphe, Podosphaera, and Salmonomyces. It differs from hitherto described fossil or modern fungi producing globose, closed ascomata with appendage-like setae. Therefore, a new fossil-genus and species name, Szaferomyces pliocenicus, is introduced for the fossil remains from Mizerna. Contrary to all previous putative fossils of powdery mildews, Szaferomyces pliocenicus nov. gen., nov. sp. is the most probable fossil of spore-producing organs of the Erysiphaceae found so far. However, due to the absence of some diagnostic morphological structures (other than presumptive chasmothecium) and DNA data, the affinity of this fungal fossil remains unclear.

Physicians' Perspectives on Vaccinations

Protective vaccinations are crucial for preventing infectious diseases and their complications, offering a high safety profile and minimal adverse effects. However, vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a public health concern, leading to outbreaks of communicable diseases. This study aims to investigate the attitudes towards vaccinations among doctors and nurses, as well as their knowledge level and vaccination frequency. The research employed a cross-sectional design and collected data using an anonymous questionnaire. The study was conducted in southern Poland, involving Primary Healthcare Centers and hospitals. A total of 878 paper surveys were collected among 542 doctors and 336 nurses.

Is it correct to ubrać płaszcz?

This article discusses the change in the normative qualification of the verb ubrać/ubierać (‘to dress’) in the sense ‘to wear’. This meaning, and hence collocations such as ubrać płaszcz, ubrać sukienkę, ubrać kapelusz have been consistently evaluated as linguistic errors, which is evidenced by both dictionary entries and prescriptive advice. Looking into the scope of usage of this type of expressions – their commonness in speech and writing among Poles of various social classes from southern and western Poland – enforces a consideration of whether this meaning of the verb ubrać/ubierać should not be included into the group of regionalisms accepted as a norm of regional usage. As a sidenote, the emerging question is whether there actually are any normatively unaccepted regionalisms or the unacceptance should be ascribed only to dialecticisms in general language. Keywords: regionalism – linguistic correctness – linguistic advice – normativity.

Exceptionally Cold and Warm Spring Months in Kraków Against the Background of Atmospheric Circulation (1874–2022)

In the changing climate, exceptionally warm (EWMs) and dry spring months are increasingly observed. At the same time, exceptionally cold months (ECMs) are less frequent, although their impact on a warming climate becomes significant. Due to the role that such climatic anomalies play in the environment and their effects on human activity, it is very important to explain the causes of their occurrence. For this reason, in this study, the authors have attempted to determine the circulation conditions favourable to the occurrence of extremely cold (ECM) and warm (EWM) spring months in Kraków in the years 1874–2022. The study used the average temperature of individual spring months (March–May), as well as types of atmospheric circulation and air masses from the daily Calendar of Atmospheric Circulation Types for southern Poland. A distinct increase in spring air temperature (0.181 °C/10 years) and its individual months (0.162–0.191 °C/10 years) was confirmed. It was accompanied by a significant increase in the occurrence of EWM and a decrease in ECM. It was also found that the direction of air advection and the related temperature characteristics of air masses have the greatest impact on the occurrence of exceptionally cold or warm months. A slight positive effect of zonal circulation on the temperature increase at the beginning of the spring season and the advection of air from the south in April and east in May was found. In the case of the coldest months (ECMs), low temperatures most often developed in the presence of advection from the NW-N-NE directions.

Planning Recreation around Water Bodies in Two Hard Coal Post-Mining Areas in Southern Poland

Green and blue infrastructure is a unique aspect of sustainable development in post-industrial and post-mining cities. The article examines the issue of the characteristic post-mining lake district in one of Europe’s largest urban and hard coal mining regions—the Katowice Conurbation in Southern Poland. This article aims to clarify the conditions and problems of developing post-mining water bodies as an element of blue and green infrastructure, with a particular focus on the issue of developing recreational functions. The latter aspect was analyzed using extensive CAVI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview)/CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) surveys conducted among residents, in-depth stakeholder interviews, and strategic and planning document analysis. This research confirmed that residents and local authorities treat post-mining reservoirs as necessary for creating green and blue infrastructure. Recreational functions were perceived as one of the elements of urban policy, in which the preservation of valuable ecosystems created around reservoirs has the same place. An essential element of the research findings is also the typology of post-mining reservoirs presented here, which allows for a better understanding of the development dilemmas of these areas in a highly urbanized and post-mining area.

Ammonite-calibrated nautiloid occurrences from the Callovian-Oxfordian (Middle-Upper Jurassic) deposits of southern Poland

ABSTRACT The contribution records and illustrates one new and nine other nautiloid species from six sections of southern Poland (Wysoka, Zalas, Ogrodzieniec, Przybynów, Rzędkowice and Żarki) spanning in age from the early Callovian to the late Oxfordian (Middle to Late Jurassic). This contribution also provides the first precise age-constrained record of nautiloid occurrences based on co-occurring ammonites, and refines the biostratigraphy of the six studied sections from southern Poland. Based on the ammonite data, the study sections are assigned to the lower Callovian Koenigi Zone (Zalas and Wysoka), lower Oxfordian Cordatum Subzone, Cordatum Zone (Ogrodzieniec and Przybynów) and upper Oxfordian Stenocycloides Subzone, Bifurcatus Zone (Rzędkowice and Żarki). A new species, Cenoceras polonicum sp. nov. (Wysoka) is reported from Poland, along with the first records of Eutrephoceras rotundum (Crick) (Zalas), Paracymatoceras cf. mondegoense Tintant (Wysoka), Pseudaganides helveticus Loesch (Ogrodzieniec) and with better stratigraphy of Xenocheilus krenkeli (Loesch) (Ogrodzieniec and Żarki), Pseudaganides aganiticus (Schlotheim) (Ogrodzieniec), P. aff. aganiticus (Schlotheim) (Przybynów and Rzędkowice), Pseudaganides sp. (Żarki), ‘Paracenoceras’ calloviense (Oppel) and Paracenoceras blakei Jeannet (Zalas). New middle Bathonian occurrence of ‘P’. calloviense (Oppel) associated with Micromphalites (Clydomphalites) clydocromphalus Arkell is also reported from Kachchh (western India).