In this study, we questioned whether ground-level ozone (O3) induces hormesis in Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) and its hybrid F1 (L. gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi). In order to answer the question, we exposed seedlings of both taxa to four O3 treatments [ranging from ≈10 to 60 nmol(O3) mol-1] in open-top chambers for two consecutive growing seasons. We found a hormetic response in maximum photosynthetic rate (PNmax) at 1700 μmol(CO2) mol-1 and maximum rates of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) in both larches. Stimulation of PNmax, Vcmax, and Jmax did not lead to suppressed plant productivity in Japanese larch, which followed a stress-tolerant strategy, but it did lead to suppressed plant productivity in hybrid larch which followed a competitive strategy. These findings are the first to suggest that stimulation of physiological functions by low O3 exposures may have negative consequences for larch reproduction., T. Sugai, D.-G. Kam, E. Agathokleous, M. Watanabe, K. Kita, T. Koike., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Physiological responses to light availability and soil flooding on Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume were studied. Shrubs were grown under 70, 37 or 5% of full sunlight with either 0, 45, or 90 d of soil flooding. We measured leaf photosynthetic rate (PN) to test the hypothesis that soil flooding reduces PN in L. melissifolia following shrub acclimation to low light availability. Results showed that light availability and soil flooding interacted to affect PN. In the 0 d and
45 d flooding regimes (flood water removed 36-39 d prior to measurement), PN was similar between shrubs receiving 70% or 37% light, and these shrubs had 147% greater PN than shrubs receiving 5% light. Shrubs receiving 90 d of soil flooding had similar low rates of area-based PN regardless of light level. Similar PN between 0 d and 45 d flooded shrubs indicated physiological recovery following removal of flood water., B. R. Lockhart, E. S. Gardiner, T. D. Leininger, M. S. Devall, A. D. Wilson, K. F. Connor, P. B. Hamel, N. M. Schiff., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The study presents a modification to conventional finite element method under plane strain conditions to address the problem of successive excavation of linear parts of tunnels. Although the successive excavation is a three-dimensional mechanical problem, the designers often prefer 2D analysis owing to considerably simple and transparent geometric model and fast computations when compared to a 3D solution. The main idea behind the suggested method referred to as, 2D3D model, is to express the influence of excavation of a single stroke of soil not only in the particular cross section but in the entire soil body in front of and behind the examined profile. This is achieved by introducing special finite elements which have common triangular cross-section but are of infinite length in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal approximations of the displacement field adopt the evolution of convergence measurements, while standard linear shape functions are kept in the element triangular cross-section. A profile corresponding to the city road tunnel Blanka in Prague with available convergence measurements was examined to verify the method. The results show that the method provides reasonably accurate results when compared to the convergence confinement method without the need to subjectively determine the lambda parameter. It also significantly reduces the computational time of a more versatile but complex 3D analysis., Tomáš Janda, Michal Šejnoha and Jiří Šejnoha., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The influence of mineralogical composition, electrical conductivity and pH on the rheological properties of Latvian illite clays has been investigated. Samples from two deposits have been studied. The average plasticity index of samples from both Laza deposits is 23-25, but from Apriki - around 20. Based on these results, 2 sample s with different plasticity indices from each borehole were chosen for further research. All suspensions exhibityield-pseudoplastic behavior. Samples with the highest amount of clay minerals have the highest plasticity index and apparent viscosity. From 3 samples with similar amount of clay minerals and plasticity index one sample has higher pH and electrical conductivity and therefore exhibits lower viscosity., Inga Dusenkova, Valentina Stepanova, Jana Vecstaudza, Vitalijs Lakevics, Juris Malers and Liga Berzina-Cimdina., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy