The practicality of the portable, non-destructive type nitrogen meter (Agriexpert PPW-3000) was tested on ten forest species. Also investigated was the potential relationship between leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll (Chl) contents and the readings taken with the PPW-3000 and a Chl meter (SPAD-502). There was a significantly positive correlation between the readings of PPW-3000 and N content in the same leaves, whereas the correlation between leaf Chl content and the PPW-3000 values was less positive. Similarly there was a significant positive correlation between actual Chl content and the SPAD-502 readings and the less positive correlation between actual N content and the SPAD-502 readings. Thus using both the PPW-3000 and SPAD-502 enables to determine leaf N and Chl contents simply and non-destructively in the field. and T. Ichie ... [et al.].
The importance of GIS detailed data for geomorphostructural study is discussed. This paper is a case study in the area of Inowrocław (central Poland). This small area is a place being a concentration of geological processes and its relief depicted by a number of height points (with determined elevations of satisfying accuracy required in the analysis) demonstrates their effects. The invented approach is based on a numerical analysis of actual and theoretical relief surfaces. Considering the area type this study involves a high resolution model of the relief. There are specified examples of correlation between morphological features and tectonic structures. The presented results prove a role of structural elements (faults) in development of geomorphostructural features and a tectonic mobility as a significant factor forming the area relief., Zbigniew Szczerbowski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Gyrodactylus thymalli Žitňan, 1960 and G. salaris Malmberg, 1957 have an indistinguishable ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA sequence, but exhibit surprisingly high levels of intra- and interspecific sequence variation of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (CO1) gene. To test whether different populations of these reportedly very similar species could be discriminated using morphometric methods, we examined the morphometry of four different populations representing different mitochondrial clades. Twenty five point-to-point measurements, including five new characters of the attachment hooks, were recorded from three Norwegian laboratory populations (G. salaris from the Rivers Lierelva and Rauma, and G. thymalli from the River Rena), and from one wild population of G. thymalli from the River Test, UK. The Norwegian populations were kept under identical environmental conditions to control for the influence of temperature on the haptoral attachment hooks. Data were subsequently subjected to univariate and linear stepwise discriminant analyses. The model generated by the linear stepwise discriminant analysis used 18 of the 25 original variables, the first two roots accounting for 96.6% of the total variation between specimens. The hamulus shaft length accounts for 66.7% of the overall correct classification efficiency. Based on morphometry, all specimens were assigned to the correct species. Apart from three specimens of G. salaris from the River Lierelva population which were misclassified as belonging to the G. salaris Rauma population, all specimens were assigned to the correct population. Thus, populations of Gyrodactylus identified by mtDNA can also be discriminated using morphometric landmark distances.
This paper describes a prototype of the authors own design used to measure the relative inclinations of engineering objects and inanimate nature phenomena. A set of measurements can be used to determine ground surface deformation caused by mining activities or due to influences of hydro-geological, geotechnical or construction. The instrument was built with elements of the optoelectronic technique. Fiber optic, CCD camera and semiconductor laser are the basic building blocks of the device. The elaborated device runs on a Central Registration and Data Processing (CRP D) System. The deflection of freely suspended fiber are recorded by a CCD camera and next are transmitted to an external recorder (eg. notebook). Natural light or laser light was introduced into the fiber. The length of the fiber and the optical construction affects the measuring range of the device. The accuracy of instruments depends on: method of fiber suspension, method of fiber attenuation fluctuations, resolution CCD camera and identification method of the image laser spot recorded. Experiments have shown that the built prototype device is able to obtain a submillimetre accuracy., Kazimierz Ćmielewski, Janusz Kuchmister, Piotr Gołuch and Krzysztof Kowalski., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy
The future of the global and local geodynamic researches belongs to permanent monitoring. The conception of the semipermanent GPS observations’ application in geodynamic research in Sudetes area is presented in this paper. The conception is based on spatial modeling of the disturbing phenomena in the coordinate time series of (semi) permanent stations. The local interplate movements and their correlation with major European tectonic structures are determined on the strength of coordinate time series of these stations. The problem of epoch integration with semipermanent and permanent (EPN/IGS) observations for local geodynamic monitoring is also investigated., Bernard Kontny, Jarosław Bosy and Andrzej Borkowski., and Obsahuje bibliografii
During our studies on gastrointest-inal motility in suckling rats using 51Cr or 51Cr-EDTA as markers, we noticed that these markers - in contrast to studies in adult rats "adhered" to the gastrointestinal wall of sucklings. We therefore decided to test the use of another non-absorbable marker Poly R-478 (an acetylated anthrapyridone chromophore linked to an polyamino-ethylene-sodium ethylene sulfonate copolymer backbone developed by the Dynapol Corporation (Palo Alto, CA). This new method has appeared to be useful.
The article discusses techniques for interpreting satellite images, which are capable of detecting and monitoring landslip zones, and presents a research plan for the study of landslips with the use of satellite interferometry. The exceptionally longlasting and heavy rainfall that occurred in 1997 initiated more than 20,000 landslips within the Polish Carpathians. These landslips continue to pose a threat. Some of them move almost imperceptibly - slowly but continually - yet long-lasting periods of heavy rainfall can lead to catastrophe. The price can be human lives, as well as losses into the millions connected with the devastation of technical infrastructures and entire housing estates. The sheer number of landslips that occur in the Polish Carpathians makes the traditional ways of researching them insufficient. Satellite remote sensing allows capturing a large area of interest on a single photo. Many various satellites photograph the surface of the Earth using different techniques, allowing for the selection of the best-suited image type for a given application. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images are utilized in landslip studies. The images may be interpreted using the InSAR and/or PSInSAR techniques. Both methods are capable of detecting landslip zones and monitoring them in order to assess the risk of a sudden landslide. Information of this type is significant to local authorities when planning the activities necessary to protect the safety of inhabitants and the local technical infrastructure., Katarzyna Mirek., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Iodine is conventionally used as a contrast agent in hydrological laboratory experiments using polychromatic X-ray computed tomography (CT) to monitor two-phase Darcy flow in porous geological media. Undesirable beam hardening artifacts, however, render the quantitative analysis of the obtained CT images difficult. CT imaging of porous sand/bead packs saturated with iodine and tungsten-bearing aqueous solutions, respectively, was performed using a medical CT scanner. We found that sodium polytungstate (Na6H2W12O40) significantly reduced the beam hardening compared with potassium iodide (KI). This result is attributable to the location of the K absorption edge of tungsten, which is nearer to the peak of the polychromatic X-ray source spectrum than that of iodine. As sodium polytungstate is chemically stable and less toxic than other heavy element bearing compounds, we recommend it as a promising contrast agent for hydrological CT experiments.
The influence of some pulmonary ventilation alterations (the normal ventilation at rest = control), the hyperventilation (HV) lasting 75 s, the hypoxic-hypercapnic ventilation (HXV) lasting 3 and 6 min) on the instantaneous QRS vectors was investigated in 42 young healthy women (19-24 years old). The magnitude and the direction of instantaneous QRS vectors in the 10th to the 70th ms and in QRS max were constructed from the Frank lead ECG. The significant alterations of the direction (angle) were found in the 30th ms and QRS max at HXV and in the 60th ms at HV. A significant decrease in the magnitude of instantaneous vectors was found in the 10th to 50th ms after 6 min of HXV, in the 30th to 50th ms at 3 min of HXV, in the 40th to 50th ms at HV. These alterations were the most marked in the horizontal plane. We suggest that the alterations of the instantaneous QRS vectors were caused by the influence of the autonomic nervous system or humoral agents, but not by heart position, Brody’s effect or lung hyperinflation.