Pierwszy raport z badań piwnic pałacu Branickich

Artykuł stanowi podsumowanie badań historycznych, architektonicznych i archeologicznych, przeprowadzonych przez Atelier Zetta w piwnicach pałacu Branickich w Białymstoku w 2011 r. Zespół badaczy tworzyli: mgr inż. arch. Zenon Zabagło, dr inż. arch. Marek Barański, mgr inż. arch. Paweł Kinsner, mgr inż. arch. Leszek Dobrowolski, mgr archeologii Stanisław Petrykowski, mgr historii Wiesław Wróbel oraz mgr inż. arch. Karolina Porowska

Badanie rozkładu stężeń 210Po i 210Pb w mchach i porostach.

W ramach badań dokonano analizy rozkładu stężeń dwóch radionuklidów 210Pb i 210Po w wybranych biomarkerach: mchach Pleurozium schreberi, Polytrichum commune i porostach z gatunku Hypogymnia physodes. W mchach aktywności radionuklidów zależą od możliwości akumulacyjnych poszczególnych części morfologicznych biomarkera. Zarówno stężenie 210Pb jak i 210Po wykazują charakterystyczne tendencje, przy czym największe ich zawartości, sięgające nawet wartości 850 Bq/kg zidentyfikowano w chwytnikach mchów. Stosunki stężenia 210Po/210Pb wykazują sezonowe zmiany, co wskazuje na różny udział źródeł emisji tych izotopów w okresie letnim i zimowym. W przypadku gatunku porostu największe stężenie 210Po sięgające około 250 Bq/kg zidentyfikowano we fragmentach plechy o największej powierzchni

Topography and morphometry of the subarcuate canal

The current study shows in a close-up view anatomical relationship between the subarcuate canal and the osseous labyrinth. For this purpose we used micro-computed tomography which allowed performing three-dimensional reconstruction of the subarcuate canal and gave adequate data for estimation its diameter across its course. The diameter of the middle part (the most uniform) of the subarcuate canal varied from 0.28 mm to 0.46 mm. Hence, we calculated the centre of mass for each cross-section of the separated subarcuate canal. This procedure helped us to visualise trajectory of the subarcuate canal and its spatial orientation within the petrous bone. From our data we concluded that subarcuate canals revealed not well defined trajectories and their spatial orientation varied across the studied temporal bones

Analiza użyteczności wybranych polskich serwisów internetowych z zakresu Open Access za pomocą narzędzia Lighthouse

Free access to education – as per Open Access movement – is based on the fact that a user can reach data at any place, any time, and by using various sources. This rule agrees with business model 4A about accessing organization database, and it implies the necessity of designing web pages helping their users accessing a source of information conveniently. A role of this article is to discuss the 4A Rule and its influence on using the information, retaining users, as well as reviewing performance of chosen Open Access service. Using Lighthouse as a tool allows pointing out any errors on the web page’s performance and its quality. This article is enriched by literature about creating web pages, as well as by writer’s comments based on author’s experience

Imaging of the Wormian bones using microcomputed tomography

Wormian bones are irregular ossicles of small size and reveal fractal pattern of their edges. Their anatomy was visualized in volumetric reconstructions obtained from a series of micro-CT scans. In visual evaluation Wormian bones showed typical anatomy for the calvarial bones. They revealed three-layer composition: the outer and the inner table of the compact bone intervening with the table of the spongy bone. Microcomputed tomography captured all details of the interdigitation of the edge being incorporated into the lambdoid suture and interlocked between opposing edges of the occipital and parietal bones. This modality provided accurate images which allowed delineating morphological differences between the compact bone and the diploe, including vascular channels

A cross-sectional study of the relationships between work-related affective feelings expressed by workeres in Turkey

Understanding employees' feelings at work plays a significant role in developing practical and effective organizational and human resource management policies and practices. Furthermore, work-related emotions may have a considerable effect on workers’ health and wellbeing and affect work effectiveness and work performance. The objectives of the current study were to investigate the relationships among four work-related (WOR) affective feelings (WORAF) and to validate the WORAF questionnaire in a Turkish sample. A survey was performed including four constructs: (1) WOR feelings of happiness, (2) WOR feelings of anxiety, (3) WOR feelings of anger, and (4) WOR feelings of dejection. A total of 322 workers from various companies in Turkey completed a paper-based survey. A research model was developed, and its main components were estimated with partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that dejection and anger at work play a critical role in experienced anxiety in occupational settings. Similarly, dejection, anger, and anxiety at work play a crucial role in perceived happiness at work

Three dimensional visualisation and morphometry of bone samples studied in microcomputed tomography (micro-CT)

This article highlights the utility of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) for characterisingmicroscale bone morphology. For this purpose we tested selected samplesof the human bones (Wormian bone, rib, lumbar vertebra) to reconstruct externaland internal morphological features. Selected bony samples were investigatedusing a micro-CT scanner (Skyscan 1172, N.V., Aartselaar, Belgium). The imageresolution of scans varied from 5 to 27 \mu m/pixel depending on the bone sample. We used CTvox software (by Skyscan) to perform volume rendering of the samples. Further, 3-dimensional geometrical models were reconstructed using the CTvol application. Such models enabled graphical distinction between osseouscomponents of various morphology and were used to visualise the Haversian canalsystem inside the compact bone of the rib. Applying a modified transfer functionfor volume rendering we presented the overall morphology of the Wormian boneand small vascular channels penetrating its interior. As an example of quantitativeanalysis based on micro-CT scans we compared the trabecular structure of thelumbar vertebrae with CTAn software. Significant differences in percent bonevolume (BV/TV) were determined. Micro-CT was found to be a very accurate andhelpful method to study small anatomical structures of the bones in micro scale

Does titanium in ionic form display a tissue-specific distribution?

Most studies have focused on the biodistribution of titanium(IV) oxide as nanoparticles or crystals in organism. But several reports suggested that titanium is released from implant in ionic form. Therefore, gaining insight into toxicokinetics of Ti ions will give valuable information, which may be useful when assessing the health risks of long-term exposure to titanium alloy implants in patients. A micro synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray fluorescence (µ-SRXRF) was utilized to investigate the titanium distribution in the liver, spleen and kidneys of rats following single intravenous or 30-days oral administration of metal (6 mg Ti/b.w.) in ionic form. Titanium was mainly retained in kidneys after both intravenous and oral dosing, and also its compartmentalization in this organ was observed. Titanium in the liver was non-uniformly distributed—metal accumulated in single aggregates, and some of them were also enriched in calcium. Correlation analysis showed that metal did not displace essential elements, and in liver titanium strongly correlated with calcium. Two-dimensional maps of Ti distribution show that the location of the element is characteristic for the route of administration and time of exposure. We demonstrated that µ-SRXRF can provide information on the distribution of titanium in internal structures of whole organs, which helps in enhancing our understanding of the mechanism of ionic titanium accumulation in the body. This is significant due to the popularity of titanium implants and the potential release of metal ions from them to the organism

Effects of genetic modifications to flax (Linum usitatissimum) on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known for their positive effect on flax growth, the impact of genetic manipulation in this crop on arbuscular mycorrhiza and plant performance was assessed for the first time. Five types of transgenic flax that were generated to improve fiber quality and resistance to pathogens, through increased levels of either phenylpropanoids (W92.40), glycosyltransferase (GT4, GT5), or PR2 beta-1,3-glucanase (B14) or produce polyhydroxybutyrate (M50), were used. Introduced genetic modifications did not change the degree of mycorrhizal colonization as compared to parent cultivars Linola and Nike. Arbuscules were well developed in each tested transgenic type (except M50). In two lines (W92.40 and B14), a higher abundance of arbuscules was observed when compared to control, untransformed flax plants. However, in some cases (W92.40, GT4, GT5, and B14 Md), the mycorrhizal dependency for biomass production of transgenic plants was slightly lower when compared to the original cultivars. No significant influence of mycorrhiza on the photosynthetic activity of transformed lines was found, but in most cases P concentration in mycorrhizal plants remained higher than in nonmycorrhizal ones. The transformed flax lines meet the demands for better quality of fiber and higher resistance to pathogens, without significantly influencing the interaction with AMF