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Turf grasses play a crucial role in enhancing the beauty and usability of landscapes, gardens, parks, and sports facilities due to their functional and aesthetic properties. However, various unfavourable conditions, such as plant disorders and environmental pressures, can compromise their amenity value. Ongoing research aims to identify natural remedies that improve the quality and resilience of these grasses. A study was conducted at the Experimental Station of the Agricultural University of Krakow (50°07′ N, 20°05′ E) to evaluate the practical value of the turf produced by seeding of the 'Super Lawn' grass mixture. The experiment involved applying a spray containing oligogalacturonides at two doses: 1.0 and 2.0 dm3∙ha−1, along with a commercial fungicide. The traits were analysed using a 9-point scale. Plants in variant III (treated with the higher dose of oligogalacturonides) and variant IV (treated with the commercial fungicide) exhibited the highest aesthetic and functional values. The application of oligogalacturonides and a commercial fungicide resulted in a decrease in plant diseases. The treatment area showed a reduction in pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale) and leaf spot incidence compared to the control area. Variant II showed enhanced outcomes with the application of 1.0 dm3∙ha−1 of the preparation. In this area, the plant canopy had greater coverage, and the plants demonstrated increased resistance to pink snow mould and leaf spot compared to the plants in the control area. The use of commercial fungicide was found to be more effective than applying oligogalacturonides. Additionally, the plants that were protected with the fungicide displayed the highest values for the analysed parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of plants with mineral-organic concentrates has developed intensively in recent years. Fertilizers containing, among others, humus, L-amino acids, vitamins, chelates and metal complexes, macro-, micro- and meso-elements, organic matter and humic acids from the top organic layer of leonardite coal have a positive effect on plant growth and quality and seed yield. An experiment was conducted between 2019 and 2022 at the University of Agriculture in Kraków, in which the impact of mineral-organic concentrate on the seed yield and quality of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) 2N Bokser (Hodowla Roślin Grunwald Ltd. Grupa IHAR, Grunwa, Poland) was determined. As part of the experiment, plants were sprayed with a mineral-organic product in three different doses: 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 L·ha−1. The following parameters were examined: the number of generative shoots, the length of the flag leaf, seed yield, germination capacity and the weight of one thousand seeds. It turned out that the application of the concentrate with 3 L·ha−1 and 2 L·ha−1 led to a significant increase in the number of generative shoots and in seed yield, compared to control. In addition, seed germination capacity of fertilized plants was higher, with the greatest increase after the application of 3 L·ha−1. Moreover, the average weight of one thousand seeds was significantly higher in fertilized plants, compared to the control, and the largest increase was recorded in response to the highest dose. The results indicated a positive effect of the organic-mineral concentrate on perennial ryegrass development parameters and seed quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here is reported the synthesis of a magnetic phosphorus-containing adsorbent decorated with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and its application for vortex assisted solid phase extraction of lead in water, cigarettes and soil. The adsorbent was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. A high-resolution continuum source flame atomic absorption spectrometer (HR-CS FAAS) was used for the quantification of lead. All factors affecting the extraction efficiency including the solution pH, adsorbent dose, sample volume, vortex time, and elution protocols were optimized. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 0.05 µg L−1 and 0.18 µg L−1, respectively. The preconcentration and enhancement factors were 20 and 18. Validation was performed using TMDA 64.3 fortified water and INCT-OBTL-5 tobacco leaves certified reference materials with satisfactory recoveries. The method was shown to be sensitive, efficient and reproducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique features of poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA), such as its sensitivity to external stimuli like pH and the presence of tertiary amine groups that can be easily quaternized to introduce antibacterial properties, make it a promising platform for biomedical applications. In this contribution, a facile, cost‐effective, and ecological procedure for controlled grafting of PDMAEMA brushes from a glass surface, both in mL and µL scale, is developed. This concept involves utilizing an aqueous solution of sunflower honey as a source of reducing sugars to accelerate surface‐initiated activators regenerated by electron transfer atom transfer radical polymerization. The PDMAEMA chains covalently grafted to the glass surface are then quaternized to form an antibacterial film. The thickness of the polymeric brush layer is determined by atomic force microscopy, while the chemical composition is analyzed by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Water contact angle measurements demonstrate the pH‐sensitivity of PDMAEMA pointing out the potential application of the prepared material as smart surfaces. Furthermore, the antibacterial tests against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria strains are performed. The protein adsorption is used to evaluate the biocompatibility of the prepared surfaces. The resulting glass materials can serve as multifunctional surfaces for various purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities and research institutes more and more often resort to promotion tools up till now used mainly in business. Omnipresent market competition has reached also the area of science, where more and more often the fight for students and money for scientific research takes place. Competition among science institutions is additionally stimulated by demographic factors - the gradual aging of the European society. As data from the Central Statistical Office show, the number of peopled aged 19-24 in Poland will drop from 2,817,000 in 2015 to 2,135,000 in 2025. The reduction of the number of young people will substantially boost competition between universities. Their success, similarly as success in business will depend to an ever greater extent on the quality of conducted marketing activities. Education and research have become a product which, just like any other product, has to "fight" for the client.