USING <i> AVENA MACROSTACHYA </i> FOR IMPROVEMENT OF OAT WINTERHARDINESS IN POLAND

The Polish program of winter oat breeding started in 2002 from interspecific crossing of foreign winter oats with the accessions of tetraploid perennial wild species Avena macrostachya Bal. ex Coss et Dur. Single hybrids were obtained in three cross combinations. Large differences were noticed in fertility level and chromosome constitution of progeny of the intensely cloned and colchicine treated F1 hybrids. The B1F or F2 generation consisted of plants with chromosome numbers between 40 and 49, octoploids (2n=56) and plants carrying 60 to 70 chromosomes. The quasi-hexaploids of the first group were partly or completely sterile, but their chromosome complement was quickly regulated and fertility restored, usually after additional back-cross to A. sativa L. A few generations later they produced valuable breeding strains. In field experiments in Radzikow (near Warsaw) and Grodkowice (near Krakow), they showed high yielding potential and no negative effects of wild germplasm. In the dry seasons 2009 and 2013 winter oats produced yields nearly 100% higher than the spring cultivar standard. Test weight of the winter oat was also ca. 4kg/hl higher than in the spring oat. Two of the husked strains, showing winterhardiness level better than the starting A. sativa population, are in the Polish state variety trials (from 2014 and 2015) 2015. They could be recommended for the regions with stable snow cover, because they were not able to survive naked ground surface temperatures below -14oC, which happened twice in Radzikow and once in Grodkowice in the last 8 years of field trials. Especially the last winter (2015/2016) was destructive, even for the octoploids, which were earlier considered the most winter-hardy oats. The octoploids produce healthy green mass and very large plump grain, rich in protein, however they require a breeding effort to increase yield (now 50-67% of the best winter hexaploids) and to make ripening uniform. The last severe winter season revealed several new hexaploid strains, transgressive in frost resistance to the octo-ploids. The 8x or 10x sativa-macrostachya alloploids proved to be effective sources of winterhardiness for hexaploid oat

Preliminary Evaluation of NDE Techniques for Structural Ceramics

A preliminary evaluation of several nondestructive testing methods for flaw detection in high-temperature structural ceramic components is being carried out. The ceramics components being investigated include silicon carbide heat-exchanger tubes and silicon nitride rotors. The nondestructive evaluation techniques under consideration include dye-enhanced radiography, holographic interferometry, infrared scanning, acoustic microscopy, acoustic-emission monitoring, acoustic-impact testing, and conventional ultrasonic testing. The capability of each technique to detect critical-size flaws will be discussed. Preliminary results to date\u27 have shown that (a) dye-enhanced radiographic techniques are capable of detecting tight cracks missed with conventional x-ray methods, (b) acoustic microscopy techniques may be useful in detecting and establishing the size of subsurface defects in reaction-bonded silicon nitride, (c) holographic interferometry techniques should be valuable in locating surface cracks in silicon nitride/silicon carbide components, and (d) the results from various silicon carbide tubes suggests that infrared scanning techniques may reveal changes in heat-flow patterns which are related to variations in physical properties. The results for the other techniques mentioned will be discussed. Future efforts in this program, will be directed toward in-depth investigations of the most useful nondestructive techniques

The T-cell-specific adapter protein family: TSAd, ALX, and SH2D4A/SH2D4B

Adapter proteins play key roles in intracellular signal transduction through complex formation with catalytically active signaling molecules. In T lymphocytes, the role of several different types of adapter proteins in T-cell antigen receptor signal transduction is well established. An exception to this is the family of T-cell-specific adapter (TSAd) proteins comprising of TSAd, adapter protein of unknown function (ALX), SH2D4A, and SH2D4B. Only recently has the function of these adapters in T-cell signal transduction been explored. Here, we discuss advances in our understanding of the role of this family of adapter proteins in T cells. Their function as regulators of signal transduction in other cell types is also discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78649/1/j.1600-065X.2009.00829.x.pd

Combination of the Photogrammetric and Microwave Remote Sensing for Cultural Heritage Documentation and Preservation– Preliminary Results

Nowadays, cultural heritage is an integral part of modern societies and it is necessary to preserve the tangible and intangible evidences of the past. Cultural heritage objects and sites are being devastated by natural causes and human acts. There are many existing techniques for structural health monitoring, but in the cultural heritage area, there is a need for a non-destructive measurements. The main advantages and drawbacks of some of these technologies have been presented for both laser scanner and photogrammetry techniques. The aim of this article is to present the integration of existing methods for spatial documentation (classical surveying, laser scanner, photogrammetry) and structures health monitoring using electromagnetic spectroscopy. The multi-sensor platform was developed to characterise and analyse various building materials such as marble, sandstone and bricks. The spatial techniques were used for generation of architectural documentation and geolocalisation of the multi-sensor platform. The preliminary results demonstrated that the proposed technology enables commonly used image and rage-based surface measurements as well as measurements through the entire structure for more detailed analysi

The quality assessment of different geolocalisation methods for a sensor system to monitor structural health of monumental objects

Cultural heritage objects are affected by a wide range of factors causing their deterioration and decay over time such as ground deformations, changes in hydrographic conditions, vibrations or excess of moisture, which can cause scratches and cracks formation in case of historic buildings. The electromagnetic spectroscopy has been widely used for non-destructive structural health monitoring of concrete structures. However, the limitation of this technology is a lack of geolocalisation in the space for multispectral architectural documentation. The aim of this study is to examine different geolocalisation methods in order to determine the position of the sensor system, which will then allow to georeference the results of measurements performed by this device and apply corrections to the sensor response, which is a crucial element required for further data processing related to the object structure and its features. The classical surveying, terrestrial laser scanning and SfM photogrammetry methods were used in this investigation at three test sites. The methods were reviewed and investigated. The results indicated that TLS technique should be applied for simple structures and plain textures, while the SfM technique should be used for marble-based and other translucent or semi-translucent structures in order to achieve the highest accuracy for geolocalisation of proposed sensor system

Some limitations in the use of the mitochondrial DNA cytb gene as a molecular marker for phylogenetic and population genetic studies by the example of the Apodemus genus

The interpretation of a signal sent by the mtDNA cytb gene as a molecular marker in phylogenetic and population genetic research can be complicated by cumulative influence of parallel mutations, i.e., the entropy of nucleotide sequences. Such a phenomenon impedes differentiation among the effects of hybridization, natural polymorphisms, and artifacts imposed by pseudogenes. We analyzed possible limitations in the use of the mtDNA cytb gene as a molecular marker by the example of the Apodemus genus. For this purpose, the entropy of nucleotide sequences was calculated, and probable tracts of gene conversion were sought in samples of various Apodemus species from Tibet, Korea, south of Russian Primorye, and Western Europe. Many haplotypes were identified as containing tracts of gene conversion. The high level of nucleotide sequence variability was found in species from Tibet, particularly, in A. draco, presumably due to the influence of low effective sizes of populations on the speed of point mutation accumulation and also cytochrome b role in the adaptation to unfavorable environment. The effects of hypervariability in cytb nucleotide sequences of some samplings resulting in entropy growth imitating gene conversion when compared to other species of the genus were analyzed. Examples of possible pseudogene interference among published cytb sequences are provided. It is suggested that the strategy in the use of the mtDNA cytb gene in population genetics and phylogenetics should be adapted to the degree of the gene variability. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of close control over sequencing data

The review of methods for documentation, management and sustainability of cultural heritage. Case study: Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów

All countries around the world are blessed with particularly rich cultural heritage. Nowadays, many researchers are exploring different methods for documentation, management and sustainability of cultural heritage. The aim of this article is to review the state of the art documentation, management and sustainability techniques in the field of cultural heritage based on the case study in the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów. Various 2D/3D image- and range-based methods are discussed demonstrating their applications and drawbacks. The geographical information system (GIS) is presented as a method for management, storage and maintenance of cultural heritage documentation

New synthesis route of highly porous InxCo4Sb12 with strongly reduced thermal conductivity

Highly porous, In filled CoSb3 skutterudite materials with an attractive thermoelectric figure of merit ZT 1 and corresponding dense samples were fabricated through the cost effective method of reduction in oxides in dry hydrogen and the pulsed electric current sintering PECS method, respectively. The reduction process was described in detail using in situ thermogravimetric analysis of Co2O3, Sb2O3 and In NO3 3.5H2O separately and in a mixture. Two methods to synthesise the same material were examined a free sintering of an initially reduced powder and b PECS. The free sintered materials with higher porosities up to 40 exhibited lower values of electrical conductivity than the dense PECS samples porosity up to 5 , but the benefit of an even sixfold reduction in thermal conductivity resulted in higher ZT values. The theoretical values of thermal conductivity for various effective media models considering randomly oriented spheroid pores are in good agreement with the experimental thermal conductivity data. The assumed distribution and shape of the pores correlated well with the scanning electron microscope analysis of the microstructure. The lowest value of thermal conductivity, equal to 0.5 W m K, was measured at 523 K for In0.1Co4Sb12 with 41 porosity. The highest value of ZTmax 1.0 at 673 K was found for the In0.2Co4Sb12 sample in which the porosity was 3