Artesian origin of a cave developed in an isolated horst : a case of Smocza Jama (Kraków Upland, Poland)

The cave of Smocza Jama located in the centre of Kraków is developed in the Wawel Horst built of Upper Jurassic limestone and surrounded by grabens with Miocene clays. The cave is composed of two series: the old one has been known for ages and the new one was discovered when an artificial shaft was mined in 1974. The new series comprises small chambers separated by intervening thin walls while the old series consists of three connected together spatial chambers. The cave abounds in extensively developed solution cavities – cupolas and ceiling pockets. The internal fine-grained deposits, predominantly representing clay fraction are built of illite, mixed layer illite-smectite, kaolinite and iron oxides. They are probably the residuum after dissolution of Jurassic limestone. The cave originated in phreatic condition due to water input from below. The new series represents juvenile stage of cave evolution. The water rose through fissure-rifts located in chamber bottoms, circulated convectionally within particular chambers, finally led to bleaching of intervening walls, and hence to connection of the neighbouring chambers. The evolution of the old series is far more advanced. The rounded solution cavities imply that the cave was formed by water of elevated temperature. The lack of coarse-grained fluvial deposits, Pleistocene mammal remains and Palaeolithic artefacts prove that the cave was isolated since its inception till Holocene time. The cave originated due to artesian circulation, when the Wawel Horst was covered by imper- meable Miocene clays. A foreland basin with carbonate basement, filled with fine-grained molasse-type deposits seems to be particularly favourable for the development of artesian caves

Construction of a numerical groundwater flow model in areas of intense mine drainage, as exemplified by the Olkusz Zinc and Lead Ore Mining Area in southwest Poland

Areas of intense mine drainage that are subjected to numerical modelling require the construction of a complex model structure that will properly reflect actual conditions. This paper presents the process and results of constructing such a structure for the Olkusz Zinc and Lead Ore Mining Area, an area situated in a cone of depression the extent of which reaches 500 km 2 . This size range calls for a selection of appropriate external boundaries, properly separated from these of the mine drainage area. The complex geological structure of the Olkusz area, associated with considerable variation in the thickness of rock formations, discontinuities of rock levels and occurrence of numerous faults, must be schema- tised so that calculation layers can be identified. The faults in the study area have to be reflected in the regional model structure, although only those faults that actually affect groundwater flows should be selected. The model structure needs to include detailed recognition and reflection of hydraulic contacts between aquifer levels, together with a selec- tion of hydrogeological parameters that are different for particular formations. Only a complex structure built in such a manner may be the foundation of further model studies

Nitrate in groundwater of the Jurassic aquifer in Olkusz region (southern Poland)

Jurassic aquifer represents the Major Groundwater Basin (MGWB) 326 which is located in Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks. The hydrodynamic conditions in the Jurassic aquifer are very complex, with different types of hydraulic connections with neighbouring aquifers. Therefore the quality of the Jurassic aquifer has affected groundwater quality in Quaternary and Triassic rocks. Nitrates have been the main indicator of groundwater contamination. The regime of springs located in the study area (high fluctuation of discharge and temperature) indicates local drainage. The quality of spring-water has reflected the land use of spring recharge area. The chemistry of deep well-water has shown the quality variation of regional flow system water. Nitrate variability in spring-water (period 2001-2008) and in well-water (1995-2007) has indicated the regional trends of groundwater quality changes in the Jurassic aquifer near Olkusz

Influence of Exogenously Supplemented Caffeine on Cell Division, Germination, and Growth of Economically Important Plants

Caffeine is a plant secondary metabolite of antiherbivory, allelopathic, and antibacterial activity. In our previous study, caffeine was shown to be an effective agent toward plant pathogenic bacteria causing high economic losses in crop production worldwide. Current study indicated that growth media supplementation with soil or plant extract did not interfere with antibacterial action of caffeine against Clavibacter michiganensis, Dickeya solani, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pseudomonas syringae, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Xanthomonas campestris. The impact of caffeine on plant cell division, seed germination and growth of economically important plants was evaluated to assess possible applicability of caffeine in plant protection field. Caffeine impaired plant cell division process and inhibited in vitro germination of tomato and lettuce. Regeneration of potato explants was also negatively affected by the addition of caffeine. However, caffeine spraying or watering of tomato, lettuce and cabbage grown in soil did not impair plant development. Although the tested plants accumulated caffeine, its inner quantity was reduced by peeling and/or cooking. According to the results, caffeine warrants additional attention as a useful, natural compound designated for the control of bacterial plant pathogens. Proposed treatment seems promising especially in the case of providing protection for overwinter-stored table potato tubers

Influence of fissuring and karstification of the carbonate aquifer unsaturated zone on its vulnerability to contamination (Cracow Upper Jurassic Region, Poland)

The carbonate fissure–karstic aquifer of Upper Jurassic age is the main aquifer in the Cracow Upper Jurassic Region (CUJR). The aquifer is recharged directly or indirectly by Quaternary or Quaternary–Cretaceous overburden of varying permeability, which predominates diffused recharge. Concentrated recharge occurs locally and has a diverse nature. Field studies carried out in 20 quarries show moderate permeability of the unsaturated zone of carbonate massif. Karst funnels are filled with rubble and clay material and dominate filled fissures with an opening b < 10 mm. The average surface fissure porosity of massive with chalky limestones and bedded limestones reach 0.12 and 0.45 %, respectively, while fissure permeability coefficient is, respectively, k S 6.60 × 10−5 and 1.27 × 10−3 m/s. The average karstification in quarries was determined as n k = 2.5 %. Tracer studies, carried out in an unconfined carbonate Zakrzówek horst in Cracow (Kraków), document vertical migration of infiltrating water through the systems with different hydraulic resistance, with a flow rate from 8.1 × 10−6 to 4.9 × 10−5 m/s and the lateral migration velocity between communicated caves from 6.94 × 10−6 to 1.06 × 10−4 m/s. The significant presence of poorly permeable overburden and moderate fissuring and karstification of rock in the unsaturated zone of CUJR are reflected in the assessment of the Upper Jurassic aquifer vulnerability to contamination, performed by a modified DRASTIC method. In the area of unconfined karst, occupying 55 % of the area, vulnerability to contamination is high, while as much as 45 % of the area is characterized by medium and low vulnerability

A hybrid system with regression trees in steel-making process.

Abstract. The paper presents a hybrid regresseion model with the main emphasis put on the regression tree unit. It discusses input and output variable transformation, determining the final decision of hybrid models and node split optimization of regression trees. Because of the ability to generate logical rules, a regression tree maybe the preferred module if it produces comparable results to other modules, therefore the optimization of node split in regression trees is discussed in more detail. A set of split criteria based on different forms of variance reduction is analyzed and guidelines for the choice of the criterion are discussed, including the trade-off between the accuracy of the tree, its size and balance between minimizing the node variance and keeping a symmetric structure of the tree. The presented approach found practical applications in the metallurgical industry

Zespół ogólnoustrojowej reakcji zapalnej u chorych z tętniakiem aorty brzusznej oraz zespołem Leriche&#8217;a po rekonstrukcji brzusznego odcinka aorty

Wstęp. Autorzy przedstawiali wstępne doniesienie dotyczące występowania ogólnoustrojowej reakcji zapalnej (SIRS) u chorych po operacjach przeprowadzonych na brzusznym odcinku aorty. Materiał i metody. Ze względu na niezbyt liczną grupę chorych wskazano jedynie, że tętniak aorty brzusznej może być przyczyną rozwoju SIRS. Wyniki. Nie odnotowano znamienności wystąpienia SIRS w związku z rodzajem wszczepionej protezy i czasem trwania zabiegu. Wnioski. Ponad 2-krotnie większa niż w całej grupie badanej utrata krwi wydaje się być czynnikiem sprzyjającym rozwojowi SIRS.The authors present a preliminary report concerning systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) occurrence in patients after operations in the abdominal segment of the aorta. Considering the small amount of analysed patients, the authors only indicate that aneurysm of the abdominal aorta can be a cause of SIRS formation. The significance of SIRS occurrence in connection with the type of implanted prosthesis and operation time was not observed. More than the twice blood loss, in comparison with the entire analysed group, seems to be a pro developmental factor for SIRS. The authors observed SIRS in a group of patients with Leriche Syndrome and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). They did not notice any correlation between operating time or type of implanted prosthesis (straight vs. bifurcated) and SIRS. They noticed that more than twice the blood loss in the remaining patients was one of the reasons for SIRS. SIRS occurred only in patients with AAA