Geometrical Aberration Suppression for Large Aperture Sub-THz Lenses

Advanced THz setups require high performance optical elements with large numerical apertures and small focal lengths. This is due to the high absorption of humid air and relatively low efficiency of commercially available detectors. Here, we propose a new type of double-sided sub-THz diffractive optical element with suppressed geometrical aberration for narrowband applications (0.3 THz). One side of the element is designed as thin structure in non-paraxial approach which is the exact method, but only for ideally flat elements. The second side will compensate phase distribution differences between ideal thin structure and real volume one. The computer-aided optimization algorithm is performed to design an additional phase distribution of correcting layer assuming volume designing of the first side of the element. The experimental evaluation of the proposed diffractive component created by 3D printing technique shows almost two times larger performance in comparison with uncorrected basic diffractive lens

Position of Poland in the world production of raspberries in the years 2003-2012

Celem badań było określenie zmian pozycji Polski w światowej produkcji malin oraz określenie zmian w zbiorach i powierzchni upraw malin w latach 2003-2012. Określono wielkość produkcji oraz areał uprawy malin w świecie, Europie i w Polsce. Wytypowano pięć państw przodujących w uprawie malin w badanych latach. Z przeprowadzonej analizy wynika, że Polska sukcesywnie umacnia swoją pozycję, będąc największym producentem malin w Europie i drugim na świecie. W 2012 roku udział Polski w europejskiej oraz w światowej produkcji malin wynosił odpowiednio 28% i 21%. Powierzchnia upraw malin wzrosła z 13,3 tys. ha do 28,4 tys. ha, przy jednoczesnym wzroście produkcji z 42,9 tys. t do 127,1 tys. t.The objective of study was to determine changes in Poland’s position in the global production of raspberries and determining the changes in the harvest and raspberry acreage in the years 2003-2012. The study determined the volume of production (in thous. tons) and acreage (in thous. ha) for the global, European and Polish raspberries. In addition, five countries were selected to grow raspberries leading in the above study period. The analysis showed that the Polish gradually strengthening its position as the biggest producer of raspberries in Europe and second in the world. In 2012, the Polish participation in the European and world production of raspberries was respectively 28% and 21.2%. Raspberry acreage increased from 13.3 thousand. ha to 28.4 thousand. ha while increasing production of 42.9 thousand. tons to 127.1 thousand. tons

Macroelements and beta-glucan content in hully and hulless cultivars of barley and oats in relation to chemical protection

Badano zmiany zawartości β-glukanów i makro składników w oplewionych i nagoziarnistych odmianach jęczmienia (odmian Antek, Rastik) i owsa (odmian Cwał, Cacko). W doświadczeniu uwzględniono 2 poziomy ochrony chemicznej: minimalną - zaprawa nasienna Oxafun T 75 DS/WS i herbicyd Mustang 306 SE oraz intensywną - zaprawa nasienna, herbicyd, fungicyd Folicur Plus 375 EC i insektycyd Karate Zeon 050 CS. Stwierdzono, że zróżnicowany poziom ochrony chemicznej roślin nie wpłynął istotnie na zmiany zawartości zarówno badanych makroskładników, jak i β-glukanów. W ziarniakach badanych odmian jęczmienia, zarówno oplewionych, jak i nagoziarnistych, wykazano wyższy poziom β-glukanów w porównaniu z ziarniakami owsa.Changes in the content of β-glucans and macroelements in hully and hulless barley (Antek and Rastik cv.) and oats (Cwał and Cacko cv.) cultivars were monitored in the study. Two chemical protection levels were considered in the experiments: minimum - seed dressing with Oxafun T 75 DS/WS and herbicide Mustang 306 SE, as well as intensive - seed dressing, herbicide, fungicide Folicur Plus 375 EC and insecticide Karate Zeon 050 CS. It was found that the different levels of plant chemical protection did not significantly affect the changes in the content of the macroelements or β-glucans. Kernels of the barley cultivars, both hully and hulless, were characterized by a higher content of higher β-glucans than oats kernels

Nutritional value and mineral composition of grain of selected wheat species depending on the intensity of a production technology

The test material originated from a field experiment conducted in 2010-2013, at the Experimental Farm in Felin (51°22’ N, 22°64’ E), which belongs to the University if Life Sciences in Lublin. A two-factor experiment was conducted in randomised blocks with 4 replicates. The chemical composition of grain of 4 wheat species was analysed: common wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. aestivum L.) cv. Tonacja, durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cv. Komnata, spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta (L.) Thell.) cv. Schwabenkorn, and einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) line PL 5003 (material acquired from the National Centre of the Plant Gene Pool), grown at different production technology intensity (medium and high level of cultivation technology). The analyses on wheat grain included the content of total protein, crude ash, crude fat, crude fibre, carbohydrates, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc. The results were subjected to an analysis of variance, while the differences were estimated by the Tukey’s test at the significance level of p = 0.05. In order to identify the correlations and relationships between selected grain quality traits, an analysis of multiple correlation was employed and coefficients of variation were calculated (CV, %). Einkorn wheat proved to have the highest levels of protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese. Among the remaining genotypes, common wheat had the highest levels of carbohydrates and fibre. Irrespective of the genotype, more intensive chemical weed and pest control and nitrogen fertilisation had a favourable effect on the content of protein and fat, while reducing the levels of fibre and carbohydrates. Most of the macroelements, except phosphorus, and all the microelements reached higher concentrations under the more intensive production technology. In terms of grain quality, the response of the genotypes to the intensification of production technology was only slightly varied

Environmental exposure to nonylphenol and cancer progression Risk-A systematic review

Environmental exposure to nonylphenol (NP) can adversely affect human and wildlife health. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the relationship between environmental NP exposure and cancer progression risk. Literature surveys were conducted within several international databases using appropriate keywords. A comprehensive search yielded 58 eligible studies involving a wide range of adverse effects, exposure assessment methods, study designs, and experimental models. Most studies reported that NP strongly induced breast cancer progression in intended experiments. Positive associations between NP exposure and ovarian, uterine, pituitary, and testicular cancers were also reported. Although some studies reported no relation between environmental NP exposure and tumour and/or cancer progression, NP (a known endocrine disrupting chemical) induced action mechanisms in multiple experimental models and may interfere with/hyper-activate oestrogen signalling. Secretion of oestrogen and development of reproductive tissues like breasts, uteruses, and ovaries showed strong associations with possible neoplasia (i.e., uncontrolled development of tumours and/or malignant cancers). Findings of this study are important for informing policymakers to pass legislation limiting the use of environmental contaminants such as NP before all adverse effects of exposure have been determined