Integument cell gelatinisation : the fate of the integumentary cells in Hieracium and Pilosella (Asteraceae)

Members of the genera Hieracium and Pilosella are model plants that are used to study the mechanisms of apomixis. In order to have a proper understanding of apomixis, knowledge about the relationship between the maternal tissue and the gametophyte is needed. In the genus Pilosella, previous authors have described the specific process of the "liquefaction" of the integument cells that surround the embryo sac. However, these observations were based on data only at the light microscopy level. The main aim of our paper was to investigate the changes in the integument cells at the ultrastructural level in Pilosella officinarum and Hieracium alpinum. We found that the integument peri-endothelial zone in both species consisted of mucilage cells. The mucilage was deposited as a thick layer between the plasma membrane and the cell wall. The mucilage pushed the protoplast to the centre of the cell, and cytoplasmic bridges connected the protoplast to the plasmodesmata through the mucilage layers. Moreover, an elongation of the plasmodesmata was observed in the mucilage cells. The protoplasts had an irregular shape and were finally degenerated. After the cell wall breakdown of the mucilage cells, lysigenous cavities that were filled with mucilage were formed

Possibility of the modelling of electricity production from hydropower

In hydropower plants benefits depends on available flow. The paper presents a hybrid model for forecasting the operation of a hydropower plant, including the production of electricity. The possibility of mathematical modeling was chosen to show connections between observed in the past hydrological conditions (available flow) and energy deliver in the future. The available flow which is not enough for start turbines was forecasting by logistic regression model. The opposite situation when the flow starts turbine to produce energy, regression models (the support vector machines SVM, random forest RF, k nearest neighbour k-NN) were used. Results from hybrid model were compared with chosen data-mining methods. The possibility of forecasting of the length of periods when hydropower plant will be working could be very useful. It provides the prognosis of energy value which could be produced from hydropower plant. From the investors’ point of view the economic justification for the execution of the project based on the future energy producing could be a main criteria to realize or buy/sell hydropower plant. Also the secondary importance could be a possibility of planning review and maintenance work. Knowledge of power plant working periods could be a base for assessing a potential production from hydropower plant

The impact of Bacillus megaterium on the solubilisation of phosphorus from sewage sludge

The aim of this work was to analyse the influence of Bacillus megaterium bacteria on the solubilisation of phosphorus in a sewage sludge. The tests were carried out for two different temperature conditions, i.e. 21 and 36ºC. In the experiment, lasting 23 days, the course of phosphorus solubilization under the influence of a changing population of bacteria was determined using Golterman’s speciation analysis. This method allows to estimating the fraction of bioavailable phosphorus in the tested samples. The obtained results allow one to state that the population size of Bacillus megaterium bacteria changes, while the intensity of these changes depends on temperature and organic acids produced in metabolic processes change the pH of the environment, which affects phosphorus solubilisation and its speciation. The increase in the population of bacteria is accompanied by the increase in bioavailable phosphorous forms, and thus the release of phosphorus contained in the form of sparingly soluble forms in soil. The above fact is extremely important when considering the use of sewage sludge for natural purposes

Simulation of the number of storm overflows considering changes in precipitation dynamics and the urbanisation of the catchment area: A probabilistic approach

This paper presents a probabilistic methodology that allows the study of the interactions between changes in rainfall dynamics and impervious areas in urban catchment on a long- and short-term basis. The proposed probabilistic model predict future storm overflows while taking into account the dynamics of changes in impervious areas and rainfall. In this model, a logistic regression method was used to simulate overflow resulting from precipitation events based on average rainfall intensity and impervious area. The adopted approach is universal (as it can be used in other urban catchments) and is a significant simplification of classic solutions; a hydrodynamic model is used to analyse the operation of the overflow. For the rainfall simulations, a rainfall generator based on the Monte Carlo method was used. In this method, a modification that allows the simulation of changes taking place in rainfall dynamics, including the effects of climate change, was introduced. This method provides the opportunity to expand and modify probabilistic models in which outflow from the catchment is modelled to predict the functioning of reservoirs and to design sewer networks that have the ability to deal with future rainfall dynamics, including moderate, strong, and violent downpours according to the Sumner scale. To verify the simulation results with a probabilistic model, an innovative concept using a hydrodynamic model was considered. This verification considers the changes in the impervious area in the period covered by the simulations and is limited using standard calculation procedures. In practice, the model presented in this work creates opportunities for defining the concept of sustainable development in urban catchments while taking into account the factors mentioned above. From the perspective of landscaping, this is important because it creates the opportunity to limit the impacts of climate change and area urbanization on the receiving waters.Este artículo presenta una metodología probabilística que permite el estudio de las interacciones entre cambios en la dinámica de lluvias y áreas impermeables en cuencas urbanas a largo y corto plazo. El modelo probabilístico propuesto predice futuros desbordamientos de tormentas teniendo en cuenta la dinámica de los cambios en las áreas impermeables y la lluvia. En este modelo, se utilizó un método de regresión logística para simular el desbordamiento resultante de eventos de precipitación en función de la intensidad de lluvia promedio y el área impermeable. El enfoque adoptado es universal (ya que puede ser utilizado en otras cuencas urbanas) y es una simplificación significativa de las soluciones clásicas; se utiliza un modelo hidrodinámico para analizar el funcionamiento del rebosadero. Para las simulaciones de lluvia, se utilizó un generador de lluvia basado en el método Monte Carlo . En este método se introdujo una modificación que permite simular los cambios que se están produciendo en la dinámica de las lluvias, incluyendo los efectos del cambio climático . Este método brinda la oportunidad de ampliar y modificar modelos probabilísticos en los que se modela el caudal de salida de la cuenca para predecir el funcionamiento de los embalses y diseñar redes de alcantarillado que tengan la capacidad de lidiar con la dinámica futura de las precipitaciones, incluidos aguaceros moderados, fuertes y violentos según a la escala Sumner. Para verificar los resultados de la simulación con un modelo probabilístico, se consideró un concepto innovador utilizando un modelo hidrodinámico. Esta verificación considera los cambios en el área impermeable en el período cubierto por las simulaciones y se limita utilizando procedimientos de cálculo estándar. En la práctica, el modelo presentado en este trabajo crea oportunidades para definir el concepto de desarrollo sostenible en cuencas urbanas teniendo en cuenta los factores mencionados anteriormente. Desde la perspectiva del paisajismo, esto es importante porque crea la oportunidad de limitar los impactos del cambio climático y la urbanización del área en las aguas receptoras

Urbanization and Management of the Catchment Retention in the Aspect of Operation of Storm Overflow: A Probabilistic Approach

This paper presents the concepts of a probabilistic model for storm overflow discharges, in which arbitrary dynamics of the catchment urbanization were included in the assumed period covered by calculations. This model is composed of three components. The first constitutes the classification model for the forecast of storm overflow discharges, in which its operation was related to rainfall characteristics, catchment retention, as well as the degree of imperviousness. The second component is a synthetic precipitation generator, serving for the simulation of long-term observation series. The third component of the model includes the functions of dynamic changes in the methods of the catchment development. It allows for the simulation of changes in the extent of imperviousness of the catchment in the long-term perspective. This is an important advantage of the model, because it gives the possibility of forecasting (dynamic control) of catchment retention, accounting for the quantitative criteria and their potential changes in the long-term perspective in relation to the number of storm overflows. Analyses carried out in the research revealed that the empirical coefficients included in the logit model have a physical interpretation, which makes it possible to apply the obtained model to other catchments. The paper also shows the use of the prepared probabilistic model for rational catchment management, with respect to the forecasted number of storm overflow discharges in the long-term and short-term perspective. The model given in the work can be also applied to the design and monitoring of catchment retention in such a way that in the progressive climatic changes and urbanization of the catchment, the number of storm overflow discharges remains within the established range

The SmartX Platform Application for the Measured Data Acquisition and Energy Management

W pracy zaprezentowano platformę SmartX umożliwiającą akwizycję danych pomiarowych pochodzących z inteligentnych liczników energii elektrycznej. Platforma pozwala na integrację urządzeń IoT różnych producentów. Dzięki implementacji dużej liczby protokołów komunikacyjnych możliwe jest stworzenie inteligentnego systemu automatyki domowej. W artykule przedstawiono system pomiarowy składający się z platformy wraz z inteligentnymi licznikami energii. Stworzony system został wykorzystany do akwizycji danych reprezentujących zużycie energii elektrycznej dla wybranych obwodów elektrycznych w pomieszczeniach biurowych. W pracy zaprezentowano wyniki analizy danych pomiarowych rejestrowanych w półrocznym okresie rozliczeniowym. Na podstawie wyników badań sformułowano wnioski pozwalające na optymalizację profilu zużycia energii i zmniejszenie kosztów po stronie końcowego odbiorcy energii elektrycznej.From the electricity consumer point of view, its usage cost reduction is very important. To achieve that the dedicated software systems are required. They are capable of acquiring data directly from smart energy meters and deliver rule engines and solutions for maintaining household devices. In the paper, the SmartX platform is presented. It is capable of acquisition of data directly from the smart energy meters. The platform integrates the IoT (Internet of Things) devices of various manufacturers. This is possible due to its flexible architecture which supports many communication protocols and can be easily extended by so-called protocol bindings. Thanks to that a generic home automation system can be created. In this paper, the dedicated measurement system based on the SmartX platform and Sonoff energy meters are presented. The created system has been used for energy data acquisition from a small office. The measurements took half of the year and the most interesting data is shown in the results section of the paper. The data analysis has been held with the Python programming language. Based on the achieved results several conclusions have been made. Based on them the usage of the SmartX platform and the dedicated measurement system leads to the optimization of the energy consumption and the cost reduction by the energy end-user

The graphic method of sizing pipe reservoir for short, high-intensity rainfalls

Grafi czna metoda wymiarowania zbiornika rurowego dla krótkotrwałych, intensywnych opadów. Wymiarowanie zbiornika retencyjnego w celu zredukowania maksymalnych odpływów z kanalizacji deszczowej jest jednym z podstawowych zagadnień w inżynierii wodnej i lądowej. W artykule zaprezentowano metody wyznaczania optymalnej pojemności zbiornika rurowego. Zastosowanie uproszczonego modelu przepływu pozwoliło na powiązanie parametrów zbiornika rurowego (średnica komory akumulacyjnej, średnica otworu spustowego i współczynnik wydatku) i hydrogramu dopływu (czas przyboru, przepływ maksymalny podczas kulminacji, objętość fali, współczynnik asymetrii fali). Na podstawie uzyskanej zależności funkcyjnej sporządzono nomogramy pozwalające określić wymiary zbiornika i zapewnić redukcję przepływu maksymalnego na dopływie. Wykorzystanie zaproponowanej metodologii przedstawiono na prostym przykładzie obliczeniowym