Contact Moishezon threefolds with second Betti number one

We prove that the only contact Moishezon threefold having second Betti number equal to one is the projective space.Comment: 5 pages. v2: exposition improved as suggested by the referee. To appear in Archiv der Mat

RESULTS OF POSTSLAUGHTER EVALUATION OF CROSSBRED FATTENERS (ZŁOTNICKA SPOTTED X DUROC) AND PUREBRED FATTENERS (ZŁOTNICKA SPOTTED)

Experimental material consisted of 112 carcasses of crossbred fatteners (złp x dur) and 16 purebred animals (złp). The following traits were analyzed in postslaughter evaluation: carcass weight (kg), mean backfat thickness (mm), height of the longissimus dorsi muscle (mm) and lean meat percentage in the carcass (%). Based on the determined carcass weight and measurements of carcass leanness the carcasses were classified in the SEUROP system. Results of postslaughter evaluation indicate relatively low carcass leanness. In only 10% carcasses leanness exceeded 50 %, while 75% carcasses fell within the range from R to O in the EUROP classification. The breed of the sire had a highly significant effect on meatiness of fatteners. Pigs sired by Duroc boars were characterized by a significantly higher meatiness, irrespectively of sex, piggery, supplier and year of birth. Backfat thickness was significantly higher in the group of crosses sired by Złotnicka Spotted boars

Four lectures on secant varieties

This paper is based on the first author's lectures at the 2012 University of Regina Workshop "Connections Between Algebra and Geometry". Its aim is to provide an introduction to the theory of higher secant varieties and their applications. Several references and solved exercises are also included.Comment: Lectures notes to appear in PROMS (Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics), Springer/Birkhause

The influence of the landscape structure within buffer zones, catchment land use and instream environmental variables on mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river

The world’s freshwater molluscan fauna is facing unprecedented threats from habitat loss and degradation. Declines in native populations are mostly attributed to the human impact, which results in reduced water quality. The objectives of our survey were to analyse the structure of the mollusc communities in a medium-sized lowland river and to determine the most important environmental variables at different spatial scales, including landscape structure, catchment land use and instream environmental factors that influence their structure. Our survey showed that a medium-sized river, that flows through areas included in the European Ecological Natura 2000 Network Programme of protected sites, provides diverse instream habitats and niches that support 47 mollusc species including Unio crassus, a bivalve of Community interest, whose conservation requires the designation of a special conservation area under the Habitats Directive Natura 2000. This survey showed that mollusc communities are impacted by several environmental variables that act together at multiple scales. The landscape structure within buffer zones, catchment land use and instream environmental variables were all important and influenced the structure of mollusc communities. Therefore, they should all be taken into consideration in the future restoration of the river, future management projects and programmes for the conservation of biodiversity in running waters. The results of this study may be directly applicable for the rehabilitation of river ecosystems and are recommended to stakeholders in their future decision concerning landscape planning, monitoring species and their habitats, conservation plans and management in accordance with the requirements of sustainable development

Predicting the spring abundance distribution of red-legged partridge populations in agricultural regions using environmental models and an application for game management

Several series of available environmental (land use/land cover, agriculture, soil, climate) variables are used in exploratory models to test their use for successful prediction of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa L.) abundance in spring. A Geographic Information System and stepwise multiple regression analysis are used to show and predict distribution of this population parameter in an agricultural region of southern France. High spring abundance was observed to be distributed mainly in the central and north-western part of the study area. Two partial models, land use/land cover and agriculture, and a complete model with land use and temperature variables are the most significant and more accurate than any others. The complete model is the best model (lowest Akaike Information Criterion and highest Akaike weight). The potential abundance obtained from this best model shows communes with high Kilometric Abundance Indices (KAI), mainly located in the northwestern part of the region. Partridge abundance was unevenly or irregularly distributed across the study area, which is typical of wildlife species inhabiting complex and changing landscapes limited by various sources of human pressure, such as agriculture, urbanization and game management. A game tool is provided using potential spring abundance to plan the harvest quotas two months before opening the hunting season.This work was funded through a Cooperative Agreement among “Laboratoire de Zoogéographie-Université de Montpellier 3” (France), “Conselleria d’Educació y Ciència de la Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) and “Fundación Cultural CAM de Alicante” (Spain)

Compliance of cyclists' behaviour with the organisation ofthe traffic in the light ofthe Warsaw researches on bicycle traffic

Charakterystyka warszawskich badań ruchu rowerowego. Metody pomiaru ruchu rowerowego. Natężenie ruchu rowerowego. Wykorzystanie ścieżek rowerowych, pasów ruchu dla rowerów i chodników przez rowerzystów.Characteristics of Warsaw researches on bicycle traffic. Methodology of bicycle traffic measurement. Bicycle traffic intensity. Use of bicycle paths, bicycle lines and pavements by cyclists

Analiza zmiennych psychologicznychweryfikujących kandydatów do zawodu nurka

W artykule przedstawiono metody badań psychologicznych kandydatów na nurków i nurków czynnych zawodowo, a także odrębności wyników tychże badań w stosunku do reszty populacji