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Salinity is one of the main determinants of species diversity in macroalgae. This study analyzes the occurrence of 16 species of the genus Ulva (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta) in the salinity gradient. Ulva populations originated mainly from shores and estuaries with a minor number occurring in ocean lagoons, coastal lakes, canals and rivers. Ulva species were found in waters where salinity ranged from <0.5 to 49 PSU. Most species were most commonly found in euhaline waters. It was observed that Ulva species with tubular thalli were present in a very wide range of saline waters (from fresh to hyperhaline waters). Ulva species with leaf-shaped thalli, however, were encountered chiefly in euhaline waters while being least often present in hyperhaline waters. It has been shown that the morphotype of the thallus (leaf-shaped or tubular) is correlated with water salinity levels. Ulva species with leaf-shaped thalli are not found in fresh (< 0.5 PSU) and poorly saline (<10 PSU) waters, whereas tubular species are recorded in freshwater, brackish, and marine ecosystems (from 0 to 39 PSU). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We analyzed the ability of freshwater taxa of the genus Ulva (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta) to serve as bioindicators of metal in lakes and rivers. Changes in heavy metal (Ni, Cd and Pb) and alkaline earth metal (Ca and Mg) concentrations in freshwater Ulva thalli were investigated during the period from June to August 2010. The study was conducted in two ecosystems in Western Poland, the Malta lake (10 sites) and the Nielba river (six sites). Three components were collected for each sample, including water, sediment and Ulva thalli. The average concentrations of metals in the water sample and in the macroalgae decreased in the following order: Ca>Mg>Ni>Pb>Cd. The sediment revealed a slightly altered order: Ca>Mg>Pb>Ni>Cd. Ca and Mg were found at the highest concentrations in thalli due to the presence of carbonate on its surface. Among the examined heavy metals in thalli, Ni was in the highest concentration, and Cd found in the lowest concentration. There were statistically significant correlations between the levels of metals in macroalgae, water and sediment. Freshwater populations of Ulva exhibited a greater efficiency to bioaccumulate nickel as compared to species derived from marine ecosystems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of the structure and the temperature on the Conductive Polymer Composites (CPC) properties has been studied. The investigated CPC are based on homo- and heterogeneous polymer blends of high density polyethylene, polybutylene terephthalate and poly(m-xylene adipamide), filled with dispersed silver nanoparticles (Ag). It is shown that by the appropriate use of the immiscible polymers blends the percolation threshold can be decreased twice, what significantly reduces costs and keeps better mechanical properties. Additionally, it was found that depending on the choice of CPC structure the commutation temperature from a conducting state to an insulating state can be observed between 45 and 180°C. The observed high intensity of Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) effect, i.e. a sharp (narrow temperature range) and strong (10 orders of magnitude) resistivity increase, makes such composites promising for current limiting devices and temperature sensors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Photogeneration quantum yield in layers of discotic liquid crystals (DLC, hole transport material), perylene derivative (electron transport material) and of their mixtures were determined by using surface potential decay technique. While in pure DLC only very weak photogeneration in the visible range was detected, and in pure perylene derivative only negative mobile charge carriers were photogenerated, in the mixtures a synergetic effect of photogeneration of both positive and negative mobile charge carriers was observed. This is because the excitons photogenerated at perylene derivative dissociate into electron–hole pairs, and then electrons are transported via perylene derivative while the holes are transferred onto the DLC molecules. The obtained results were correlated with performance of the photovoltaic devices with active layer made of the mixtures of the DLC and perylene derivative and of their blends with photoconducting polymer. It was found, that the power conversion efficiency of the device is dependent on the film morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Use of U. pilifera as an indicator is compatible with the WFD guidelines. • Freshwater U. pilifera occurs in eutrophic ponds. • U. pilifera can be easily identified even by non-expert. • U. pilifera can be used as trophic indicator for pond systems. • U. pilifera should be included into pond monitoring protocols. Mass occurrence of green algae of the genus Ulva in the form of algal blooms (known as "green tides") is often associated with high concentrations of biogens in the water. Therefore, Ulva species are most often used in monitoring seawater trophy and far less frequently freshwater trophy. In Europe, the biomonitoring of river ecosystems is based on aquatic plants. According to the River Macrophyte Index (RMI), river populations of Ulva macroalgae (only tubular Enteromorpha -like Ulva) are considered good indicators for eutrophic waters. This paper analyses the legitimacy of using U. pilifera as a trophy indicator in the case of ponds. It has been noted that freshwater populations of U. pilifera are much more common in lakes, dammed reservoirs, or ponds than in rivers. In this study, analysed populations of U. pilifera originated from 14 ponds located in central Poland. Data analysis relied on the Carlson Trophic State Index (CTSI), which was compared with other known trophic indices. According to CTSI values, U. pilifera was most common in eutrophic ponds, where the mean concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, nitrates, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a reached 581, 241, 212, and 20 µg·L−1, respectively. The results indicate that U. pilifera can be considered a bioindicator for eutrophic waters (50–70 of CTSI). It would therefore be appropriate to introduce U. pilifera as part of biomonitoring conducted in small bodies of water. Major arguments in favour of practical application of U. pilifera are: (i) it is a large macroalga, the thalli of which can reach a length of > 1.0 m, (ii) it is an easy-to-identify species; even by non-experts (it is characterized by a distinctive tubular shape of the thallus), and (iii) it occurs in bulk in conditions of eutrophy, creating an easily observable bloom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • H. rivularis spread very widely in Europe during recent decades. • H. rivularis is no longer a simple indicator for oligotrophic ecosystems. • H. rivularis occurs mainly in habitats with eu- and hypertrophic waters. • H. rivularis is a poor indicator of the good ecological status of waters. • Classification of H. rivularis as an endangered species in Poland is unfounded. Our knowledge about the size of benthic red alga populations inhabiting European freshwater ecosystems is still insufficient. For many years, in Europe, Hildenbrandia rivularis (Rhodophyta, Hildenbrandiaceae) was believed to be a very rare species of crustaceous red algae, valuable for oligotrophic system biomonitoring. In this paper, we challenge this assumption and show the phenomenon of H. rivularis expansion (i.e., from mountains and highlands to lowlands) in Europe based on detailed data from Poland. We collected over 311 records of H. rivularis occurring in rivers, streams and lakes (not typical habitats for this alga) across the country, including historical data. Here, we show the detailed distribution of this endangered species in Poland, one of the largest European countries. To examine the mechanism of H. rivularis population expansion, physicochemical data from 122 aquatic ecosystems were investigated. A comparison between three subperiods (1860–1944, 1945–1999, and 2000–2019) revealed an increase in the average abundance of the H. rivularis population in the lowlands area. However, the studied species seems to be disappearing in mountain and upland ecosystems. We found altitude and water flow and quality (i.e., alkalinity, oxygenation and biogens) to be the main determinants of H. rivularis occurrence within the study area. The results indicate that this red alga can be described as an expansive species, and its occurrence does not always indicate good water quality and fast water flow. Surprisingly, in contrast to observations from the last century, the population of H. rivularis in Poland currently occurs mainly in habitats with eu- and hypertrophic waters. We point out here that in the zone with temperate climate influence, H. rivularis is no longer an obvious indicator for oligotrophic ecosystems. We suggest that climate warming and eutrophication–reoligotrophication may have contributed to the increased spread of H. rivularis in Europe over recent decades. In addition, we see no reason to classify H. rivularis as an endangered species in Poland. This species most often inhabits anthropogenic water systems and occurs at high abundance in waters with high concentrations of biogens. For these reasons, H. rivularis is more ubiquitous than a cosmopolitan species (i.e., with a wide range of occurrence but associated with only a specific type of habitat and specific environmental parameters). Thus, the value of H. rivularis as a bioindicator for oligotrophic water ecosystems is very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hybrid devices based on silicon nanowires dispersed in poly(hexylthiophene: P3HT) thin films have been realized. The different steps, starting from the production of n type silicon nanowire, dispersion of the organic–inorganic components in solution to produce hybrid thin films, which have been integrated in simple photovoltaic diode structures, have been developed. The n type doping of the nanowires is indicated by Raman spectroscopy whereas their crystalline structure is shown by HRTEM. A broadening of the silicon absorption spectrum towards the near infrared is induced by an electronic confinement effect for nanowire diameters of the order of 10nm. Effective dissociation of the photogenerated charge pairs is shown by a partial quenching of P3HT photoluminescence with increasing SiNWs content, whereas an open circuit voltage of 0.68V is deduced from the electrical characteristics under visible light illumination. However photocurrents remain low for the investigated material combinations. The high series resistance appears the most critical point limiting the device performances. The high densities of SiNWs electronic surface states acting as trapping centers can account for the large reverse current. To confirm the high potential of this new type of hybrid films for energy conversion, improvements are needed for a better control of the silicon nanowire/polymer interface, which appears the critical point. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: TiO2:poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) bulk-heterojunctions (BHJ) have been elaborated from a blend of a TiO2 precursor with the polymer in solution. The TiO2 precursor is hydrolyzed with the surrounding air humidity in thin film. Titanium isopropoxide [Ti(iOPr)4] and Tetrakis (9H-carbazole-9-yl-ethyl-oxy) titanium [Ti(OeCarb)4] were used as TiO2 precursor. Photogeneration quantum yield in BHJ of TiO2:PVK were determined by the surface potential decay (SPD) technique. Photovoltaic effect was studied in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TiO2:PVK/Al structures. It was found that the photovoltaic performance is strongly dependent on the homogeneity of the blends. The improved dispersion of the TiO2 phase obtained with the precursor bearing a carbazole group allows efficient electron transport and fill factor enhancement of the photovoltaic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]