The influence of damping coating geometrical-material parameters on helical spring longitudinal vibration amplitudes

The influence of the geometrical and material parameters of damping coatings, covering helical spring wires, on the resonant longitudinal vibration amplitudes is presented in the paper. It is shown that coatings with geometrical parameters that are possible to obtain in practice allow the efficient reduction of the maximal amplitudes of these vibrations, when the materials used for coatings have properties specific for macromolecular polymers. The considerations are illustrated with numerical examples

Analysis of lateral vibrations of the axially loaded helical spring

It is shown in this paper that the proposed concept by Krużelecki and Życzkowski (1990) of the equivalent rod can be applied in calculations of natural lateral vibrations of springs and that the obtained results will be nearer FEM results than the standard model based on the Timoshenko equivalent beam. The model, created on this base, allows one to calculate natural frequencies of the clamped-clamped spring. It is also shown that models based on the equivalent beam concept, which are easier to apply than the models treating the spring as the spatially curved rod, have only a slightly smaller accuracy. It is also indicated that in the most common practice making of manufacturing end coils of springs, the natural frequencies differ significantly from the frequencies calculated by means of all tested methods. The performed simulations show that differences between the first and the second as well as the third and the fourth natural frequency of the spring are small and, therefore, the axially symmetrical equivalent beam model can be used without a large error. The diagram allowing one to determine whether the desired frequencies are lower or higher than the cut-off frequency is developed for the presented model

A NEW METHOD FOR GENERATING VIRTUAL MODELS OF NONLINEAR HELICAL SPRINGS BASED ON A RIGOROUS MATHEMATICAL MODEL

This paper presents a new method for generating nonlinear helical spring geometries based on a rigorous mathematical formulation. The model was developed for two scenarios for modifying a spring with a stepped helix angle: for a fixed helix angle of the active coils and for a fixed overall height of the spring. It allows the development of compression spring geometries with non-linear load-deflection curves, while maintaining predetermined values of selected geometrical parameters such as the number of passive and active coils and the total height or helix angle of the linear segment of the active coils. Based on the proposed models, Python scripts were developed that can be implemented in any CAD software offering scripting capabilities or equipped with Application Programming Interfaces. Examples of scripts that use the developed model to generate the geometry of selected springs are presented. FEM analyses of quasi-static compression tests carried out for these spring models have shown that, using the proposed tools, springs with a wide range of variation in static load-deflection curves can be obtained, including progressive springs with a high degree of nonlinearity in the characteristics. The obtained load-deflection curves can be described with a high degree of accuracy by power function. The proposed method can find applications in both machine design and spring manufacturing

Phylogeography and morphological evolution of Pseudechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

Tardigrades constitute a micrometazoan phylum usually considered as taxonomically challenging and therefore difficult for biogeographic analyses. The genus Pseudechiniscus, the second most speciose member of the family Echiniscidae, is commonly regarded as a particularly difficult taxon for studying due to its rarity and homogenous sculpturing of the dorsal plates. Recently, wide geographic ranges for some representatives of this genus and a new hypothesis on the subgeneric classification have been suggested. In order to test these hypotheses, we sequenced 65 Pseudechiniscus populations extracted from samples collected in 19 countries distributed on 5 continents, representing the Neotropical, Afrotropical, Holarctic, and Oriental realms. The deep subdivision of the genus into the cosmopolitan suillus-facettalis clade and the mostly tropical-Gondwanan novaezeelandiae clade is demonstrated. Meridioniscus subgen. nov. is erected to accommodate the species belonging to the novaezeelandiae lineage characterised by dactyloid cephalic papillae that are typical for the great majority of echiniscids (in contrast to pseudohemispherical papillae in the suillus-facettalis clade, corresponding to the subgenus Pseudechiniscus). Moreover, the evolution of morphological traits (striae between dorsal pillars, projections on the pseudosegmental plate IV’, ventral sculpturing pattern) crucial in the Pseudechiniscus taxonomy is reconstructed. Furthermore, broad distributions are emphasised as characteristic of some taxa. Finally, the Malay Archipelago and Indochina are argued to be the place of origin and extensive radiation of Pseudechiniscus

Integrative redescription of a common Arctic water bear Pilatobius recamieri (Richters, 1911)

Tardigrada are a group of microscopic metazoans that inhabit a variety of ecosystems throughout the world, including polar regions, where they are a constant element of microfauna with densities exceeding hundreds of individuals per gram of dry plant material. However, despite a long history of research and their ubiquity in tundra ecosystems, the majority of tardigrade species have limited and outdated diagnoses. One such example is Pilatobius recamieri, a common tardigrade that is widely distributed in the Arctic. The aim of this study is to redescribe this species using new material from the type locality and tools of integrative taxonomy, viz. by combining classical imaging and morphometry by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy imaging with DNA sequencing of four markers with various mutation rates: three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI). The sequences of the three latter markers are also the first to be presented for the genus Pilatobius. This study therefore provides the first necessary step towards the verification of the geographic range of P. recamieri, which is currently assumed to be very broad. A detailed comparison of P. recamieri with Pilatobius secchii (Bertolani and Rebecchi, 1996) from Italy revealed no morphological or morphometric differences between the two species, thus we designate P. secchii as a nomen inquirendum until molecular data for the taxon become available. Finally, we propose to replace the term "lunula" in the superfamilies Hypsibioidea and Isohypsibioidea with the more appropriate "pseudolunula" to differentiate it from the true lunula in other parachelans

New tardigrade records for the Baltic states with a description of Minibiotus formosus sp. n. (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae)

In sixteen moss, lichen and mixed (moss/lichen) samples, collected from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, 291 specimens, 48 simplexes, including one exuvium with 6 eggs, and 8 free-laid eggs of eutardigrades were found. In total, 17 species, together with one new to science, were identified (all are new records for the Baltic states): Astatumen bartosi, Diphascon (Adropion) prorsirostre, D. (Diphascon) bullatum, D. (D.) pingue pingue, D. (D.) recamieri, D. (D.) rugosum, Hypsibius convergens, H. dujardini, H. cf. scabropygus, Isohypsibius ronsisvallei, I. sattleri, Macrobiotus harmsworthi harmsworthi, M. hufelandi hufelandi, Milnesium asiaticum, Milnesium tardigradum tardigradum, Minibiotus formosus sp. n. and Paramacrobiotus richtersi. The new species is most similar to Minibiotus gumersindoi, but differs from it mainly by the presence of two types of cuticular pores, the absence of a triangular or pentagonal arrangement of pores above a single large pore on legs, the presence of granulation on all legs and a different macroplacoid length sequence. In this paper we also provide photographs and morphometrics of H. cf. scabropygus

An integrative redescription of the nominal taxon for the Mesobiotus harmsworthi group (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) leads to descriptions of two new Mesobiotus species from Arctic

The Mesobiotus harmsworthi group has a global distribution, with localities in polar, temperate and tropical zones. Since the first species of the harmsworthi group was described in the beginning of the 20^{th} century, tens of new species within the group were found and named. However, the diagnosis of the nominal Mesobiotus harmsworthi is insufficient and enigmatic, thus it can be is a serious obstacle in solving the taxonomy of this group. Here, we integratively redescribe the nominal species for the genus Mesobiotus, i.e., Mesobiotus harmsworthi and clarify taxonomic statuses of the two subspecies: M. harmsworthi harmsworthi and M. harmsworthi obscurus that have been recognised as distinct taxa for more than three decades. Traditionally, egg chorion in M. harmsworthi was considered almost smooth and without any traces of areolation, however here we report many misunderstandings that accumulated across decades and we show that, in fact, the chorion in this species exhibits a partially developed areolation. We present an integrative (morphological, morphometric and molecular) diagnosis of the nominal taxon and we confirm that it differs from other species of the harmsworthi group by morphological characters of both animals and eggs. Additionally, we describe two new species of the genus Mesobiotus: M. skorackii sp. nov. from the Kyrgyz Republic (using classical morphological description) and M. occultatus sp. nov. from Svalbard Archipelago (by means of integrative taxonomy). Finally, we also provide the first genetic phylogeny of the genus Mesobiotus based on COI sequences which, together with molecular species delimitation, independently confirms the validity of the analysed taxa

Kultura – media – społeczeństwo: symbiotyczne związki

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperKultura – media – społeczeństwo. Symbiotyczne związki jest monograficznym zbiorem ośmiu rozpraw. Dwie z nich poświęcone są przede wszystkim problematyce wytwarzania rzeczywistości społecznej generalnie i w szczególnych odniesieniach do zjawisk medialnych. Problematyka ta przewija się w różnych konfiguracjach przez cały zbiór, tu jednak jest przede wszystkim przedmiotem refleksji teoretycznej. Pierwsza ze wspomnianych rozpraw, Teoretyczne aspekty stanowienia (tworzenia) rzeczywistości społecznej Tadeusza Michalczyka omawia trudności terminologiczne i teoretyczne koncepcji podmiotowego wytwarzania ludzkiego świata w toku sprawczej działalności człowieka. Autor poddaje analizie występujące w tym kontekście rozmaite terminy, takie jak stanowienie, tworzenie, stawanie się, rzeczywistość społeczna i społeczeństwo, poszukując ich teoretycznego zaplecza i tropiąc efekty poznawcze ich stosowania. Przy okazji zwraca uwagę na niejednoznaczność pojęć występujących w naukach o społeczeństwie w ogóle. Rozważania te dopełnia refleksja nad sposobami ujmowania rzeczywistości społecznej w kontekście mass mediów