The complexity of nectar: secretion and resorption dynamically regulate nectar features

In this paper, we review the phenomenon of nectar resorption, focusing on its physiological and ecological meaning. Nectar resorption is a phenomenon that has long been known but was rarely reported until the1990s. It has more recently been demonstrated in several species by various direct and indirect methodologies. It has generally been demonstrated in senescent flowers as a phenomenon separate in time from, and independent of, nectar secretion. The significance of this type of resorption is generally recognized as a resource-recovery strategy, recycling at least some materials invested in nectar production. Nevertheless, nectar resorption can occur concomitantly with nectar secretion. Nectar production is therefore best considered as a unified process comprising nectar secretion and resorption. The modulation of these two opposite phases allows nectar concentration to be maintained in a range suitable for pollinators (nectar homeostasis). The mechanism of nectar resorption at the cell level has received little attention, and its molecular basis can only be hypothesized on the basis of recent studies concerning sugar sensing.     

Role of quantum dots nanoparticles in the chemical treatment of colored wastewater: Catalysts or additional pollutants

The objective of the study was to investigate the presence and the activity of quantum dots nanoparticles in colored wastewaters. The special interest is devoted to the investigation of their role in the typical treatment of water or wastewater, studying their influence on the effectiveness of applied treatments methods. The standard chemical processes for water treatment and disinfection (direct UV photolysis and direct ozonation) were applied for the degradation of colored organic pollutant, reactive azo dye, in the presence/absence of CdSe/ZnS core-shells quantum dots. The obtained results indicated that investigated nanoparticles inhibit the overall efficiency of applied processes, especially in the case of direct UV photolysis, although catalytic effect might be expected in part due to the semiconductor nature of quantum dots. Such results lead to a conclusion that CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles behave as additional pollutants in the system. They should be removed from the system prior the treatment, because their presence could decrease the efficiency, i.e., prolong the time of treatment and correspondingly increase the costs of the treatment process.     

Mechanical,Thermal and Microstructural Characteristic of 3D Printed Polylactide Composites with Natural Fibers: Wood,Bamboo and Cork

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In the study, polylactide-based (PLA) composites modified with natural particles (wood, bamboo, and cork) and with different levels of infilling (100%,...     

Metals and mineral phases of dusts collected in different urban parks of Krakow and their impact on the health of city residents

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The authors present the results of chemical and mineralogical analyses of urban dusts collected in the spring seasons of 2015 and 2016 in three different...     

Potential toxicity of leachate from the municipal landfill in view of the possibility of their migration to the environment through infiltration into groundwater

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Leachate from landfills is a product of complex biological and physicochemical processes occurring during waste storage. In the present study, the toxicity...     

Tannery waste as a renewable source of nitrogen for production of multicomponent fertilizers with biostimulating properties

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The studies presented in this work show that solid tannery waste-like shavings can be used as high-protein materials for fertilizer production...     

The challenges in the identification of Escherichia coli from environmental samples and their genetic characterization

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Escherichia coli bacteria are an essential indicator in evaluations of environmental pollution, which is why they must be correctly identified. This...     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 obtained by the fluorine-free lyophilization method for solar light-driven photocatalytic degradation of ibuprofen

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, we report the potential of 2D/2D TiO2-GO-ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst obtained using the fluorine-free lyophilization technique for the...