Winter oilseed-rape yield estimates from hyperspectral radiometer measurements

Spectral reflectance data can be used for estimation of plant biophysical parameters such as seed yield, related to the use of solar energy. A field experiment was conducted to investigate relationships between canopy reflectance and seed yield of winter oilseed rape sown on four different dates. Ground hyperspectral reflectance measurements were made using a hand-held radiometer and multispectral images were taken with a VIS-NIR camera. The different sowing dates generated a wide range of difference in crop spectral response and seed yields. The strongest relationships (R2=0.87) between the yield and spectral data recorded by both sensors occurred at early flowering stages. Later, the presence of flowers caused a decline in the relationship between yield and spectral data especially in the visible (VIS) range. In the full flowering stage the strongest correlation (R2=0.72) with the yield showed vegetation indices of the near-infrared (NIR) bands

Analysis of changes in the system of identification and classification of soils

The objective of the article is to analyse the proposed changes in the European and international principles of the system of identification and classification of soils, included in Final Draft International Standards: ISO/FDIS 14688-1:2017 and ISO/FDIS 14688-2:2017, which will probably be introduced in 2018 or 2019

Antioxidant Activity of Faba Bean Extracts

Phenolic compounds were extracted from seeds of 22 cultivars of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) by using 80% (v/v) aqueous acetone. The total phenolic compound and condensed tannins contents of the extracts and their antioxidant activity were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent, vanillin/HCl method, and ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively. The content of total phenolic compounds ranged from 40.7 to 66.1 mg/g extract and from 326 to 574 mg/100 g seeds. Contents of condensed tannins ranged from 2.40 to 49.9 mg/g extract and from 22.2 (FAB) to 365 mg/100 seeds. The extracts and seeds were characterized by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values ranging from 0.550 (FAB 443) to 1.030 mmol Trolox/g extract (FAB 187) and from 4.85 (FAB 318) to 9.81 mmol Trolox/100 g seeds (FAB 187). Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values varied from 0.595 (FAB 443) to 0.908 mmol Fe2+/g extract (FAB 5023) and from 4.61 (FAB 297) to 7.90 mmol Fe2+/100 g seeds (FAB 187). The total phenolic content of faba bean extract was correlated with the results of the ABTS (r = 0.864) and FRAP (r = 0.862) assays. The coefficients of correlations between the contents of condensed tannins and ABTS and FRAP results were 0.543 and 0.862. We also noted a correlation between results of ABTS and FRAP assays (r = 0.795)

Prognostic significance of DAPK and RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The epigenetic inactivation of tumor suppressor genes may play an important role in the development and progression of many cancer types, including lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated the association between the aberrant promoter methylation of 2 genes: the Death-Associated Protein Kinase (DAPK) and the Ras Association Domain Family 1A (RASSF1A) by using methylation-specific PCR, and the clinicopathological features and prognosis in 70 radically resected non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Hypermethylation of the DAPK and RASSF1A promoters was found in 24 (34%), and in 18 (26%) tumor DNA samples, respectively. Regarding different clinicopathological features of NSCLCs, the DAPK promoter methylation was more frequently observed in squamous cell carcinoma (46%) than in adenocarcinoma (25%) and large cell carcinoma (22%), but there were no significant statistical differences (p=0.3). On the other hand, a statistically significant trend was observed between the RASSF1A methylation and a histological type of tumor (p=0.06). 45% of adenocarcinoma tumors showed RASSF1A promoter methylation in comparison to 17% of squamous cell carcinomas and 22% of large cell carcinomas. When both markers were analyzed according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system, no statistically significant differences were observed between stage I, II and IIIa, and the DAPK (p=0.2) and RASSF1A methylation (p=0.1). In comparison, when stage I and II were grouped together and considered vs. stage IIIa, a significant association between RASSF1A methylation and the TNM was found (p=0.03). The group of patients with tumors showing DAPK promoter methylation had significantly poorer overall survival rates (p=0.02) than the patients with tumors that did not show DAPK promoter methylation. However, the association between the RASSF1A promoter methylation status and the overall survival rates was not statistically significant (p=0.48). In conclusion, this paper supports the importance of epigenetic gene regulation in lung cancer progression and prognosis

Immunoexpression of P16INK4a, Rb and TP53 proteins in bronchiolar columnar cell dysplasia (BCCD) in lungs resected due to primary non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. High mortality comes out mainly of the fact that majority of the cases are diagnosed in advanced stadium. An expanded diagnostics of precancerous conditions would certainly contribute to lowering the mortality rate. Many of the molecular changes accompanying the multistep cancer development could be observed using the immunohistochemistry method. In this paper we describe the morphology and cell cycle proteins immunoexpression of the novel probable preinvasive lesion - bronchiolar columnar cell dysplasia (BCCD). Thirty cases of BCCD selected out of 193 patients population, treated for primary non-small cell lung cancer were investigated. Loss of P16INK4a protein was observed in 70% of all cases and was statistically significant in patients with adenocarcinoma. Two cases show abnormal cytoplasmic localization of this protein. TP53 protein accumulates in 26.7% of all BCCD. Rb protein was active in 48.3% of the BCCD cases. In two cases we observed differentiation of the cells composing BCCD into multilayer epithelium of the squamous type, which occurs with formation of desmosomes. We suppose that BCCD may be preneoplastic lesion leading to adenocarcinoma as well as to peripheral squamous cell lung cancer

Thiocyanate concentration in saliva of cystic fibrosis patients.

Thiocyanates (SCN-) are ubiquitous in nature. There are indispensable part of host defense system that act as a substrate for lactoperoxidase (LPO). In our study we present initial data on SCN- concentration in saliva of CF patients in comparison to healthy non-smokers and healthy smokers. 5 ml of saliva was collected from each subject to a sterile tube and thiocyanate concentration was measured in each sample. The results of the measurements are presented on Fig. 1. Mean concentration of SCN- in saliva of CF patients was 0.031 +/- 0.0052 g/l, in healthy non-smokers 0.039 +/- 0.0048 g/l and in healthy smokers 0.048 +/- 0.0161 g/l. The differences between each group were statistically significant. Studies on larger group of patients and probably on different material (BALF or induced sputum) should present interesting data complementing the in vitro studies

Effects of Growth Type, Sowing Date, and Sowing Rate on the Canopy Architecture, Protein Yields, and Oil Yields of Winter Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus L.)

A split-split-plot design was used to evaluate the effects of sowing dates and sowing rates on three winter rape cultivars, including ‘PR45D03’, a semi-dwarf hybrid, ‘PR46W31’, a traditional hybrid, and ‘Californium’, an open-pollinated cultivar. August 25 was the optimal sowing date for maximizing protein and oil yields across all three cultivars. Of the cultivars, the traditional hybrid, ‘PR46W31’, produced the highest protein and oil yields on that date. The yields of the semi-dwarf hybrid, ‘PR45D03, were greater than those of the open-pollinated cultivar, ‘Californium’, when these were sown later than the optimal date. Protein and oil yields did not differ significantly among different seeding densities

Reakcja kukurydzy uprawianej na ziarno po zastosowaniu osadów ściekowych

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the agricultural use of sewage sludge in corn for grain, in the year of application and follow up effect after one and two years after its application. The study was conducted on the variety PR39G12 on the field after the 5-year monoculture corn. Sewage sludge was used in accordance with the Directive of Minister of Environment allowing application of 10 t dry mater per ha-1 once every five years. Fertilization with sludge of maize grown for grain did not cause differences in the growth and development of plants, compared to mineral fertilized objects, as well as did not exceed the limit value for heavy metals content in above-ground plant parts. Maize grown using sewage sludge yielded higher than the objects fertilized with mineral, especially in conditions of extreme drought, which occurred in 2006. Beneficial effect of sewage sludge was maintained in the next two years after application and stabilized the grain yield of maize.Celem pracy była ocena efektów rolniczego wykorzystania komunalnych osadów ściekowych w uprawie kukurydzy na ziarno, w roku zastosowania oraz w kolejnych dwóch latach działania następczego. Badania przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem odmiany PR39G12, na polu po 5-cio letniej monokulturze kukurydzy. Osad ściekowy stosowano zgodnie z ówczesnym rozporządzeniem Ministra Środowiska dopuszczającym aplikację w dawce 10 ton s.m.·ha-1 raz na 5 lat. Nawożenie osadem ściekowym kukurydzy, uprawianej z przeznaczeniem na ziarno, nie spowodowało różnic we wzroście i rozwoju roślin w porównaniu do obiektów nawożonych mineralnie, jak również nie powodowało przekroczenia dopuszczalnych zawartości metali ciężkich w nadziemnych częściach roślin. Kukurydza uprawiana z wykorzystaniem osadów ściekowych plonowała wyżej niż na obiektach nawożonych mineralnie, zwłaszcza w warunkach ekstremalnej suszy, jaka wystąpiła w 2006 roku. Korzystne oddziaływanie osadu ściekowego utrzymywało się w kolejnych dwóch latach od jego zastosowania oraz stabilizowało plon ziarna kukurydzy