The characterisation of the microstructure and mechanical properties of diamond - like carbon (DLC) for endoprosthesis

The paper presents the results of research of DLC coating of a - C:H type obtained by using a technique of physical vapor deposition (PVD) on the surface of CoCrMo alloy, commonly used for the elements of the endoprosthesis. The surface has been observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Analysis of the chemical composition and distribution of the different elements were performed using glow discharge optical emission spectrometry analysis (GDOES). It has been shown that the DLC elements are characterized by high hardness and good adhesion to the substrate

Drainage evolution in the Polish Sudeten Foreland in the context of European fluvial archives

Detailed study of subsurface deposits in the Polish Sudeten Foreland, particularly with reference to provenance data, has revealed that an extensive preglacial drainage system developed there in the Pliocene–Early Pleistocene, with both similarities and differences in comparison with the present-day Odra (Oder) system. This foreland is at the northern edge of an intensely deformed upland, metamorphosed during the Variscan orogeny, with faulted horsts and grabens reactivated in the Late Cenozoic. The main arm of preglacial drainage of this area, at least until the early Middle Pleistocene, was the Palaeo–Nysa Kłodzka, precursor of the Odra left-bank tributary of that name. Significant preglacial evolution of this drainage system can be demonstrated, including incision into the landscape, prior to its disruption by glaciation in the Elsterian (Sanian) and again in the early Saalian (Odranian), which resulted in burial of the preglacial fluvial archives by glacial and fluvioglacial deposits. No later ice sheets reached the area, in which the modern drainage pattern became established, the rivers incising afresh into the landscape and forming post-Saalian terrace systems. Issues of compatibility of this record with the progressive uplift implicit in the formation of conventional terrace systems are examined, with particular reference to crustal properties, which are shown to have had an important influence on landscape and drainage evolution in the region

A review of topographic controls on moraine distribution

Ice-marginal moraines are often used to reconstruct the dimensions of former ice masses, which are then used as proxies for palaeoclimate. This approach relies on the assumption that the distribution of moraines in the modern landscape is an accurate reflection of former ice margin positions during climatically controlled periods of ice margin stability. However, the validity of this assumption is open to question, as a number of additional, nonclimatic factors are known to influence moraine distribution. This review considers the role played by topography in this process, with specific focus on moraine formation, preservation, and ease of identification (topoclimatic controls are not considered). Published literature indicates that the importance of topography in regulating moraine distribution varies spatially, temporally, and as a function of the ice mass type responsible for moraine deposition. In particular, in the case of ice sheets and ice caps ( > 1000km 2 ), one potentially important topographic control on where in a landscape moraines are deposited is erosional feedback, whereby subglacial erosion causes ice masses to become less extensive over successive glacial cycles. For the marine-terminating outlets of such ice masses, fjord geometry also exerts a strong control on where moraines are deposited, promoting their deposition in proximity to valley narrowings, bends, bifurcations, where basins are shallow, and/or in the vicinity of topographic bumps. Moraines formed at the margins of ice sheets and ice caps are likely to be large and readily identifiable in the modern landscape. In the case of icefields and valley glaciers (10-1000km 2 ), erosional feedback may well play some role in regulating where moraines are deposited, but other factors, including variations in accumulation area topography and the propensity for moraines to form at topographic pinning points, are also likely to be important. This is particularly relevant where land-terminating glaciers extend into piedmont zones (unconfined plains, adjacent to mountain ranges) where large and readily identifiable moraines can be deposited. In the case of cirque glaciers ( < 10km 2 ), erosional feedback is less important, but factors such as topographic controls on the accumulation of redistributed snow and ice and the availability of surface debris, regulate glacier dimensions and thereby determine where moraines are deposited. In such cases, moraines are likely to be small and particularly susceptible to post-depositional modification, sometimes making them difficult to identify in the modern landscape. Based on this review, we suggest that, despite often being difficult to identify, quantify, and mitigate, topographic controls on moraine distribution should be explicitly considered when reconstructing the dimensions of palaeoglaciers and that moraines should be judiciously chosen before being used as indirect proxies for palaeoclimate (i.e., palaeoclimatic inferences should only be drawn from moraines when topographic controls on moraine distribution are considered insignificant). © 2014 Elsevier B.V

The first record of red till lithotype in western Poland and its implication for glacial stratigraphy and palaeogeography

The first site in western Poland with a red till lithotype has been discovered in the Trzebnica Hills, southwestern Poland. This is a clay-rich, red till with dominant East-Baltic material (East-Baltic lithotypes). The red till forms the uppermost part of the Borowiec Till, a till from the Sanian 2 (Elsterian) Glaciation. Moreover, some Borowiec tills in the Barycz River valley (north) and the Prosna River valley (east) contain in their uppermost parts a dolomite-rich horizon, which, although only greyish-brown, also represents the East-Baltic till lithotypes. The late Elsterian ice sheet in Poland was developed as several ice-lobes with different ice dynamics. The lobes from western Poland advanced to their maximum extent earlier than the eastern lobes. In the latest phase of the glaciation, the western lobes retreated, while the eastern ones advanced from NE to SW. Their presence is proved by deposition of the Borowiec Till and East-Baltic till lithotypes

Till stratigraphy, petrography and palaeogeography along the northwestern coastal region of Poland

Na obszarze północno-zachodniego wybrzeża Polski udokumentowano 10 różnowiekowych poziomów glin lodowcowych: dwa z najstarszych zlodowaceń, trzy ze zlodowaceń południowopolskich, trzy ze zlodowaceń środkowopolskich i dwa z ostatniego zlodowacenia. Dla niektórych poziomów stratygraficznych zdefiniowano na podstawie ich składu petrograficznego różne typy regionalne glin lodowcowych, z których niektóre niewątpliwie wyznaczają zasięgi oddzielnych lobów lodowcowych. Część wydzielonych typów glin posiada takie same cechy składu petrograficznego jak gliny w regionie szczecińskim. Dla innych typów glin opisano cechy specyficzne tylko dla regionu północno-zachodniego wybrzeża i te poziomy zdefiniowano formalnie, wskazując dla nich profile stratotypowe, cechy przewodnie i zasięg regionalny. Występowanie większości poziomów glin jest w regionie północno-zachodniego wybrzeża sporadyczne i zazwyczaj nie tworzą one ciągłych horyzontów. Różne loby lodowcowe udokumentowano dla najmłodszego stadiału zlodowacenia południowopolskiego, najmłodszego stadiału zlodowacenia środkowopolskiego oraz dla faz leszczyńskiej i poznańsko-pomorskiej stadiału głównego ostatniego zlodowacenia. Występowanie wyraźnie zaznaczonych lobów lodowcowych, szczególnie dla awansów ze wschodu lub północnego-wschodu, jest związane z pozycją na obrzeżu niecki południowego Bałtyku, gdzie następuje rozdzielenie lobów na te, które kontynuują awans w kierunku zachodnim (do NW Niemiec i Danii) oraz te które zmieniają kierunek awansu na południowy zachód i południe wzdłuż doliny Odry (lob Odry, do południowo-wschodnich Niemiec i zachodniej Polski). Ponadto, na obszarze północno-zachodniego wybrzeża, występują morskie utwory interglacjału eemskiego. Są to osady ilasto-mułkowe i piaszczyste z fauną mięczaków morskich, reprezentujące facje przybrzeżne (lagunowe, plażowe) i występujące na głębokości od 5,5–19,6 m pod poziomem współczesnego morza. Zasięg tych osadów wskazuje na istnienie zatoki morskiej wciętej na około 10 km w głąb lądu, być może uformowanej w dawnej rynnie glacjalnej.There are 10 till horizons of different ages in the northwestern coastal region of Poland, representing the “oldest” glaciation (2 horizons), Elsterian glaciation (3), Saalian glaciation (3) and the last glaciation (2). Some stratigraphic horizons contain tills of regionally variable petrographic composition, which usually represent tills from different lobes of the same ice sheet advance. Several till horizons have features similar to the tills defined in the southern part of the Szczecin region, others have a petrographic composition specific only to the northwestern coastal region of Poland. The last ones have been newly and formally defined, with an indication of stratotype sections, characteristic features and extents. In the northwestern coastal region of Poland, the till horizons occur sporadically and they do not form continuous beds. Glacial lobes have been proved for the late Elsterian, late Saalian and for both Weichselian advances. Their occurrence (especially during the latest advances coming from the northeast or east) is due to their location in the southern Baltic basin, where the ice sheets differentiated into the lobes that continued their advances towards the west to NW Germany and Denmark, and those that deflected along the Odra river valley (Odra lobe) towards the SW and south to SE Germany and western Poland. Moreover, Eemian marine sediments, clay or sand with mollusc fauna have been found in the northwestern coastal region. They occur at a depth of 5.5–19.6 m below the present-day sea level. They were deposited in a shallow bay extending about 10 km inland. The location of these sediments suggests a marine transgression into a pre-existing tunnel valley

Till base deformation and fabric variation in Lower Rogowiec (Wartanian, younger Saalian) Till, Bełchatów outcrop, central Poland

We documented that the Wartanian (younger Saalian) Lower Rogowiec Till exposed at Bełchatów, central Poland, is not sedimentologically or structurally homogeneous, and suggested that the till macrofabric patterns and deformation structures may be related to stress conditions in the glacier at the time of deposition. The distribution of deformation structures below and within the till forms a pattern, most probably associated with compressive flow and/or with stronger stress reaction, creating stronger fabrics, above clay beds due to high pore water pressure. The intervening areas, lacking deformation structures, occur between the zones of compression, where pressure would have been less. These patterns occur in a repeated sequence along the sections, which suggests that there may be a control, such as basal glacier stress conditions. The sites showing deformation occur about every 10–20 m. This could imply that the zones of shearing at the ice front have a similar spacing. There are no features in the pattern of the till macrofabrics and deformation structures to suggest that the local Kleszczów Graben or a pre-existing valley had any effect on the mode of till deposition

Stratigraphic position and sedimentary environment of Late Pleistocene deposits along the cliffed coast of the middle part of the Polish Baltic coast

The study was carried out in the wall of a cliff that formed as a result of erosional cutting in the western foreland of a moraine landform from the Pomeranian and Gardno phases (Upper Plenivistulian, Rowy-Ustka clifs; northern Poland). Individual lithostratigraphic units have been documented: glaciofluvial delta deposlts, Poddąbie Till, lacustrine-glacial Wytowno Formation (consisting of three facies: deltaic, lower diamicton, and upper diamicton), lacustrine deposits of the Orzechowo Formation with a thick peat layer, and aeolian series at the cliff crest. The Wytowno Formation deposits include the following lithologies: medium-grained sands, fine-grained sands, muddy sands, muds, silty clays, clays, varved clays, fine-grained multi-fraction deposits, and tills (Dębina Till). Very high inclination of the strata is the result of glaciodynamic deformation. The deposits were accumulated in a proglacial lake. They are characterized by mud and clay as well as sand and sand-muddy lithofacies. The vastness of the water body is evidenced by a considerable size of the delta, and by massive structures of the clay layers

Paleogeografia zlodowacenia Warty i powstanie moren czołowych na północnych stokach wału śląskiego, południowo-zachodnia Polska

There is evidence, hitherto often denied, for the ice marginal features, including the end moraine hills along the Silesian Rampart, SW Poland. These end moraines are attributed to the regional advance of the Wartanian ice sheet into its maximum position, which is also marked by subglacial till bed. The end moraine hills are located on the northern slopes of the Silesian Rampart and they are very rare, partly due to subsequent erosion, but mainly due to conditions not favourable for a remarkable proglacial accumulation. The Wartanian end moraines of southwestern Poland possess several features that suggest that they are end moraines with dominant waterlain, stratified sediments. They are interpreted as alluvial fans, where the ice margin is represented by a 'scarp'. They have semi-conical form, often plano-convex geometry and an average distal slope of 2-25°. These fans are equivalent to sheetflow-dominated or 'humid' alluvial fans in non-glacial environments. Sedimentary sequences of the end moraines consist mainly of coarse-grained material, with boulders up to 1.8 m in diameter, with typical sediments of 'proximal fan' with a highly pulsatory water discharge. The formation of the end moraine followed the formation of a proglacial lake and strong erosion after its drainage. The end moraine was formed during oscillation of the ice margin that resulted in local glaciotectonic deformation of the end moraine fan sediments (push) and a set of parallel hills, with successive younger alluvial fans (retreat)

Macroscopic plant remains from Quaternary deposits of the Bełchatów outcrop, Central Poland

The paper presents results of studies on macroscopic remains of wood, herbs and sporophyte plants ound in Quaternary deposits of the Bełchatów outcrop. Their taxonomic position was defined along with condition of wood remains in relation to type of deposits. In Pliocene/ Pleistocene (Praetiglian) sand deposits, the large and well-preserved fragment of poplar wood and in Pilica Interstadial (Chojny series) sands pine branches were discovered. In the latter the compression wood was very well preserved, whereas the normal wood appears highly pressed and the regular ray rows were remaining only in the late wood. Many small fragments of alder wood were also found in Vistulian/Holocene peats and juniper and spruce - in Holocene deposits. Generative and vegetative remains of herbs from Vistulian/Holocene peat deposits were also investigated. In Vistulian/Holocene deposits small fragments of alder wood (Alnus Mill.) were found and in Holocene deposits - small fragments of scotsch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), common spruce (Picea abies Karst), common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) and alder wood (Alnus Mill.). Besides, some sedge (Carex L.) and buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata L.) were discovered in these deposits

Deposits of the Pleistocene near Nowy Tomyśl (western Poland)

W rejonie Nowego Tomyśla, na terenie zachodniej Wielkopolski, w otworach wiertniczych z Woli Jabłońskiej, Cichej Góry i Lasek stwierdzono osady rzeczne, określone jako formacja z Lasek. Wypełniają one doliny kopalne do głębokości 40−50 m, leżą na glinach zlodowacenia odry (typ Dopiewiec) i są przykryte trzema glinami zlodowacenia warty (typy: Karolewo, Kopaszewko i Ujście). Utwory rzeczne powstawały w środowisku peryglacjalnym (ekstraglacjalnym), o silnych procesach eolicznych. Osady formacji z Lasek, z okolic Nowego Tomyśla reprezentują prawdopodobnie fragment wypełnienia doliny kopalnej Prawarty/ Praprosny. W jej obrębie (profil Wola Jabłońska) stwierdzono osady organiczne pochodzenia jeziornego. Wyniki analizy palinologicznej wskazują na niepełną interglacjalną sukcesję pyłkową, obejmującą początkowy okres chłodny oraz optimum charakteryzujące się klimatem umiarkowanym i wilgotnym. Spektra pyłkowe z najcieplejszego odcinka profilu odzwierciedlają panowanie lasu sosnowo-świerkowego i zarośli olszynowych z domieszką roślin o większych wymaganiach termicznych, wśród których na szczególną uwagę zasługują ziarna pyłku i owoce należące do rośliny wodnej Trapa natans dotychczas stwierdzonej jedynie w osadach interglacjalnych. Podobny obraz zbiorowisk leśnych wykazuje profil na terenie Bełchatowa, który był datowany na interstadiał pilicy, a obecnie jest określany jako interglacjał lubelski. Odniesienie profilu z Woli Jabłońskiej do tego interglacjału nie ma pewnego uzasadnienia, ponieważ pozycja palinostratygraficzna i geologiczna uzyskanej sukcesji roślinności jest trudna do ustalenia.Fluvial sediments has been recorded in three boreholes near Nowy Tomyśl, western Poland (Wola Jabłońska, Cicha Góra, Laski). Wola Jabłońska profile contains organic and fluvial deposits. This series has been formally named the Laski Formation. The fluvial sediments fill deep palaeovalley (40–50 m). They overlie the Dopiewiec till (Early Saalian, Odranian) and are overlain by three late Saalian (Wartanian) tills: Karolewo, Kopaszewko and Ujście. The fluvial suite was deposited mainly in periglacial environment, with strongly developed aeolian processes in the valley. However, during the optimal part of the period the aeolian processe almost completely ceased. The uppermost part of the suite exhibit suggests that deposition took place at the front of an advancing ice-sheet (high aggradation rate, admixtures of glacial derived material). The Laski Formation deposits may represent a fragment of pre-Warta/ Prosna palaeovalley. The organic sediments from Wola Jabłońska represent the climatic optimum of the interglacial and the early stages of the succeeding cold period. The picture of vegetation is characterized by spruce-pine forest with common alder and small admixtures of deciduous trees at the climatic optimum. Among local aquatic vegetation, the most characteristic is the occurrence of pollen and seeds of Trapa natans; a species hither noticed only in the interglacial successions. Climatic conditions that time were temperate and humid. The flora of Wola Jabłońska have features that resemble the forest communities at Bełchatów profiles in central Poland which was determined as the Pilica Interstadial, currently named as the Lublinian Interglacial. However, the profile from Wola Jabłońska cannot be unequivocally ascribed to this interglacial period, since the palynostratigraphic and geologic position of its vegetation succession is difficult to determine