On determining defects identity in carbon nanotubes using charge probes

A metallic carbon nanotube with point-like defects under influence of a local potential due to a point charge probe is theoretically studied. A combination of density functional theory and the Landauer-Büttiker formalism is used to compute the electronic conductance in the zero-voltage limit. From a collection of the results obtained by varying the probe position around different defects the conductance maps are created. The analysis of the conductance maps allows us to formulate conditions under which several point-like defects (the Stone-Wales defect, a simple carbon vacancy, hydrogen-passivated vacancies) can be distinguished and identified in experiments with the help of scanning probe microscopy.This work has been supported by the National Science Centre under the contract DEC-2012/07/B/ST3/03412. We acknowledge that the results of this research have been achieved using the PRACE-3IP project (FP7 RI-312763) resource JUROPA based in Germany at Julich. We also thank the Spanish MICINN for the Grant No. FIS2012-34858 (V.M.G.S. and J.F.) and the Ramón y Cajal Fellowship No. RYC-2010-06053 (V.M.G.S.).Peer Reviewe

Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles

Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases

Relationships between knowledge about Poland and the region and the attitudes of young people

W artykule podjęto próbę określenia związków pomiędzy wiedzą o Polsce i regionie a postawą młodzieży. Problem ten rozpatrywany był w świetle aktualnych koncepcji teoretycznych (psychologicznych, socjologicznych, wychowawczych) oraz badań ankietowych przeprowadzonych wśród uczniów szkół ponadgimnazjalnych. Objęto nimi uczniów z terenu woj. łódzkiego. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań zestawiono z wynikami badań dotyczącymi postawy młodzieży w dużych miastach naszego kraju. Związki pomiędzy wiedzą o miejscu a postawą wobec niego rozpatrywano w kontekście głównych komponentów postawy (poznawczego, emocjonalnego, behawioralnego) oraz ich cech.One of the contemporary dilemmas in teaching geography is the shaping of attitudes of responsibility for the surrounding environment in young people and their active participation in social life both at the local and national level. Geography, as a school subject, is particularly predestinated to shape the responsibility of young people for the place where they live in, learn and in where the future will take decisions concerning their local or broader community. The article is an attempt to determine the influence of the knowledge about Poland, the region and place of residence on the attitudes of young people towards these places. This problem has been examined in the light of contemporary theoretical concepts (psychological, sociological and educational) and a broad survey research undertaken among the pupils of high schools in the Łódź region. The results have been compared to the previctus research studies concerning the attitudes of young people in big cities in Poland. The relationships between the knowledge about the place and the attitude towards this place have been examined in the context of the main components of an attitude (cognitive, emotional, behavioural) and their features. The research has proved a rather insignificant influence of geography lessons and the knowledge about Poland and the region on the process of shaping attitudes of young people. These attitudes seem to be much more dependent on the emotional factors

Wpływ zróżnicowanego nawożenia azotem na skład chemiczny owoców oberżyny w uprawie polowej

Eggplant is a vegetable which deserves our interest owing to its high nutritive value and a wide range of possible cooking recipes. The biological value of this vegetable depends on several biotic and abiotic factors. The aim of this research has been to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization methods on the quality of eggplant fruits. Application of ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and Entec 26, a slow-release fertilizer containing a nitrification inhibitor, was tested in a three–factorial experiment. The fertilizers were applied once, before planting, making use of the whole dose (100, 150 and 200 kg N ha–1), or twice, divided into a dose given before the growing period and another one supplied as top dressing (75+25, 100+50, 100+100 kg N ha–1). The eggplant fruits contained on average 6.80% – 8.06% of dry matter, 1.85-2.48% of reducing sugars and 2.00- -2.56% of total sugars, 10.58 mg 100 g–1 f.m. of vitamin C, 4.27-6.56 mg 100 g–1 f.m. of anthocyanins, 50.70-71.06 mg 100 g–1 f.m. of polyphenols. The mean content of P in dry matter was 0.33%, K – 3.99%, Mg – 0.25% and Ca – 0.25%. Significant differences in the quality of eggplant fruits were demonstrated between particular years of cultivation. The biological value of eggplant fruits did not depend on the method of nitrogen fertilization

Wielkość i jakość plonu oberżyny uprawianej w polu w zależności od odmiany i stopnia dojrzałości owoców

Eggplant cultivars differ from one another in a number of properties, among others, earliness of fruiting and the length of fruiting period. A considerable problem regarding eggplant field cultivation in Poland is relatively high failure due to characteristics of our climate. Two-factorial field experiment established according to randomized splitplot method in three replications, aimed at the assessment of yielding of five eggplant cultivars: Avan F1, Black Beauty, Classic F1, Epic F1 and Vernal F1 (I factor). Plants were planted between 4th– 7th June, on the experiment years. Fruits were harvested in the stage of optimum harvesting maturity (every 7 days) and after exceeding this stage (every 10 days) (II factor). There was recorded significant diversity in eggplant yield in the years of the experiment, as well as in relation to its cultivar and the stage of fruit harvesting maturity. High temperature and sufficient amount of precipitation favored eggplant development in 2008, which was proved by yield (23.48 t ha⁻¹) higher than that in next years, average by 71.4% in the case of marketable yield and by 7.5 times higher for early yield (11.87 t ha⁻¹). Vernal F1, Epic F1 and Avan F1 cultivars produced yield ranging from 23.79–18.89 t ha⁻¹, while Classic F1 and Black Beauty featured yield lower by half. The marketable yield of elder fruits was higher than the one regarding fruits harvested in their optimum maturity stage. The results of chemical analysis proved that fruits in optimum maturity contained higher dry matter and reducing sugars in comparison to elder fruits. Yet no proof was found involving differences in biological value of the examined eggplant cultivars.Odmiany oberżyny różnią się wieloma cechami, m.in. wczesnością i długością okresu owocowania. Polowa produkcja oberżyny w Polsce może być zawodna ze względu na cechy naszego klimatu. Dwuczynnikowe doświadczenie polowe założone metodą losowanych podbloków w trzech powtórzeniach miało na celu ocenę plonowania pięciu odmian oberżyny: Avan F1, Black Beauty, Classic F1, Epic F1, Vernal F1 (czynnik I). Rośliny sadzono, w zależności od roku, w terminie 4–7 czerwca. Owoce zbierano w fazie optymalnej dojrzałości zbiorczej (co 7 dni) oraz po jej przekroczeniu (co 10 dni) (II czynnik). Wykazano istotne zróżnicowanie plonu oberżyny w latach prowadzenia badań w zależności od odmiany i fazy dojrzałości zbiorczej owoców. Wysoka temperatura i dostateczna ilość opadów sprzyjały rozwojowi oberżyny w 2008 r., czego dowodem był większy plon handlowy (23,48 t ha⁻¹) niż w pozostałych latach (średnio o 71,4% i 7,5-krotnie wyższy plon wczesny owoców – 11.87 t ha⁻¹). Odmiany Vernal F1, Epic F1 i Avan F1 plonowały na poziomie 23,79–18,89 t ha⁻¹, natomiast plon odmian Classic F1 i Black Beauty był średnio o połowę mniejszy. Plon handlowy owoców starszych był większy aniżeli zbieranych w fazie dojrzałości optymalnej. Na podstawie wyników analiz chemicznych dowiedziono, że owoce w dojrzałości optymalnej zawierały istotnie więcej suchej masy i cukrów redukujących w porównaniu z owocami starszymi. Nie wykazano natomiast różnic między wartością biologiczną badanych odmian oberżyny

Metabolic Status and Respiratory Physiology of Gecarcoidea natalis, the Christmas Island Red Crab, During the Annual Breeding Migration

Volume: 200Start Page: 321End Page: 33

Materiałowo-konstrukcyjne aspekty rewaloryzacji zabudowy pierzejowej śródmieścia Jezioran

In this paper, Jeziorany, a small town in the Province of Warmia and Mazury, serves as an example for discussing questions on building materials and construction solutions used in rows of townhouses dating back to the turn of the 17th and 18th century as well as in buildings raised in the town centre in the 1980s. Types of rafter framings, walls and foundations have been presented alongside a description of the building materials used when Jeziorany was rebuilt after a great fire which ravaged the town in 1783.Na przykładzie niewielkiego miasta Jeziorany (woj. warmińsko-mazurskie) wykazano rozwiązania materiałowe i konstrukcyjne w zabudowie pierzejowej z przełomu wieków XVII i XVIII oraz w budynkach z lat 80. XX wieku. Przedstawiono rodzaje więźb dachowych, konstrukcji murowych oraz fundamentów, a całość uzupełniono opisem materiałów stosowanych w trakcie odbudowy Jezioran po pożarze, który w roku 1783 strawił je niemal doszczętnie

Ecology and Behavior of Gecarcoidea natalis, the Christmas Island Red Crab, During the Annual Breeding Migration

Volume: 200Start Page: 305End Page: 32

Mechanism of Thermal Interaction of In with GaAs

General behavior of In/GaAs couple heat-treated at 570°C for 2 hours was studied with secondary-ion-mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and Nomarski microscopy. It is shown that, besides the well-known InGaAs crystallites which epitaxially grow upon dissolution of the substrate, In interacts with the substrate dislocations to form In(Ga)As dendrites. The driving force for this process is presumably excess arsenic reported to be present in the vicinity of the individual dislocations