The Relationship Between Grain Hardness, Dough Mixing Parameters and Bread-Making Quality in Winter Wheat

The influence of grain hardness, determined by using molecular markers and physical methods (near-infrared (NIR) technique and particle size index—PSI) on dough characteristics, which in turn were determined with the use of a farinograph and reomixer, as well as bread-making properties were studied. The material covered 24 winter wheat genotypes differing in grain hardness. The field experiment was conducted at standard and increased levels of nitrogen fertilization. Results of molecular analyses were in agreement with those obtained by the use of physical methods for soft-grained lines. Some lines classified as hard (by physical methods) appeared to have the wild-type Pina and Pinb alleles, similar to soft lines. Differences in dough and bread-making properties between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of molecular data appeared to be of less significance than the differences between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of physical analyses of grain texture. Values of relative grain hardness at the increased nitrogen fertilization level were significantly higher. At both fertilization levels the NIR parameter determining grain hardness was significantly positively correlated with the wet gluten and sedimentation values, with most of the rheological parameters and bread yield. Values of this parameter correlated with quality characteristics in a higher degree than values of particle size index

Can space-for-time-substitution surveys represent zooplankton biodiversity patterns and their relationship to environmental drivers?

Space-for-Time-Substitution surveys (SFTS) are commonly used to describe zooplankton community dynamics and to determine lake ecosystem health. SFTS surveys typically combine single point observations from many lakes to evaluate the response of zooplankton community structure and dynamics (e.g., species abundance and biomass, diversity, demographics and modeled rate processes) to spatial gradients in hypothesized environmental drivers (e.g., temperature, nutrients, predation), in lieu of tracking such responses over long time scales. However, the reliability and reproducibility of SFTS zooplankton surveys have not yet been comprehensively tested against empirically-based community dynamics from longterm monitoring efforts distributed worldwide. We use a recently compiled global data set of more than 100 lake zooplankton time series to test whether SFTS surveys can accurately capture zooplankton diversity, and the hypothesized relationship with temperature, using simulated SFTS surveys of the time series data. Specifically, we asked: (1) to what degree can SFTS surveys capture observed biodiversity dynamics; (2) how does timing and duration of sampling affect detected biodiversity patterns; (3) does biodiversity ubiquitously increase with temperature across lakes, or vary by climate zone or lake type; and (4) do results from SFTS surveys produce comparable biodiversity-temperature relationship(s) to empirical data within and among lakes? Testing biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) relationships, and the drivers of such relationships, requires a solid data basis. Our work provides a global perspective on the design and usefulness of (long-term) zooplankton monitoring programs and how much confidence we can place in the zooplankton biodiversity patterns observed from SFTS surveys

Epiphytic metazoans on emergent macrophytes in oxbow lakes of the Krapina River, Croatia: differences related to plant species and limnological conditions

This study investigated the structure of the epiphytic metazoans on emerged macrophytes in the littoral zone of two oxbow lakes with different trophic levels. Differences in the diversity and density of the epiphytic metazoans were analyzed in relation to plant architecture (simple or complex stems), food resources (algae and detritus) and water characteristics (transparency and derived trophic state index). Asignificant negative correlation was found between detritus on plants as food resource, and diversity and density of epiphytic metazoans, indicating grazing of microphagous species. Rotifers dominated in diversity and density in the epiphyton on all habitats. Total density of metazoans, rotifers and copepods in epiphyton were significantly higher on Mentha in mesotrophic lake than on Iris in a eutrophic lake.We presume that macrophyte belt width and trophic state governed biotic interactions and consequently epiphytic assemblages more strongly than macrophyte architecture. However, a Mentha habitat showed a slightly higher density and diversity of epiphytic metazoans in relation to Iris at the same site, but these differences were not significant

Controls on the development of soils in a erosional-denudational valley of Wieprza near Mazów and selected soil properties

Celem badań była analiza przestrzennego zróżnicowania procesów i czynników glebotwórczych oraz właściwości pokrywy glebowej głęboko wciętej dolinki erozyjno-denudacyjnej Wieprzy w okolicach Mazowa (Równina Sławieńska, Polska północna). Badania wykazały, że mimo niewielkich rozmiarów dolinki erozyjno-denudacyjnej, w jej obrębie występuje duża różnorodność czynników i procesów glebotwórczych. Gleby dolinki zaklasyfikowano do czterech typów (brunatne kwaśne, deluwialne brunatne, deluwialne próchniczne, torfiasto-glejowe). Wykazują one dużą zmienność przestrzenną zarówno pod względem pozycji systematycznej, jak i morfologii oraz właściwości fizycznych i chemicznych.Wobrębie dolinki wyraźnie zaznaczają się trzy strefy – część wysoczyznowa, stoki i dno. Z każdą z tych stref związany jest inny kompleks czynników i procesów glebotwórczych.Wrozwoju gleb, w skali całej dolinki, podstawową rolę odgrywa rzeźba terenu, a procesy glebotwórcze pozostają w ścisłym związku z jej morfogenezą.The aim of research was an analysis of spatial differentiation of soil-forming processes and factors, as well as of soil properties, in a deeply incised erosional-denudational valley of Wieprza near Mazów, northern Poland. Despite small size of the valley, there exists considerable variability of soil-forming factors and processes within its limits, hence soil systematic position, morphology, and physico-chemical properties vary across the valley. Soils in the valley belong to four types: acid brown soils (cambisols), deluvial brown soils, humic deluvial soils and peaty-gley soils. Three main landscape elements can be distinguished within the study area: upper surfaces, valley sides, and valley floor. Each zone is typified by its own complex of soil-forming factors. In the upper slope/plateau area soil properties reflect the characteristics of parent rock. Loamy deposits of former ice-dammed lakes support acid brown soils of low pH, high content of organic matter in the humic horizon, and completely depleted in carbonates. Slopes below are subject to erosion, hence the thickness of humic horizon and organic matter content are reduced in respect to soils present on the plateau. In slope concavities one can observe deposition of material brought down by slope wash and the build-up of deluvial soils. These soils show the development of cambic horizon, which typically contains large quantities of organic matter. In the valley floor mud deposition and the development of humic deluvial soils takes place. The latter are enriched in organic matter, nutrients, favourable C/N and C/P ratio, and have higher pH if compared with soils on the slopes and on the plateau. Their evolution remains under significant influence of water seeping from the truncated water-bearing horizons and, seasonally, water issued from drains. The surplus of water is conducive for peaty-gleyey soil development. At the entire valley scale, local relief is a key factor influencing soil evolution, whereas soil-forming processes remain in close correspondence with morphogenesis of the valley

Innovative Dressing Kit “PLEMODS” in the Training System of Security Formation and Public Order

Konsorcjum naukowo-przemysłowe, którego liderem jest Wyższa Szkoła Policji w Szczytnie, realizuje projekt pn. „Zestaw opatrunkowy zabezpieczający urazy powstałe w trakcie pełnienia obowiązków służbowych przez służby mundurowe (PLEMODS)” Nr DOB-BIO6/19/98/2014, współfinansowany ze środków finansowych Narodowego Centrum Badań i Rozwoju. W ramach projektu zostanie wykonany zestaw opatrunkowy zabezpieczający urazy powstałe w trakcie pełnienia obowiązków służbowych przez funkcjonariuszy formacji mundurowych, w tym propozycja systemu szkolenia zapewniająca nabycie umiejętności zastosowania zestawu opatrunkowego, a także jego płynnego wdrożenia do codziennej służby. Celem artykułu jest prezentacja wyników badań, które uwzględniają analizę istniejących systemów kształcenia w formacjach bezpieczeństwa i porządku publicznego, wraz z propozycją zmian, które będą warunkowały skuteczne zastosowanie omawianego zestawu opatrunkowego w służbie.The scientific-industrial consortium, the leader of which is Police Academy in Szczytno (Poland), has been implementing the project ”Protective dressing kit for injuries sustained by the uniformed services during duty” No. DOB-BIO6/19/98/2014. The project is co-financed by The National Centre for Research and Development. The grant for project’s realization was obtained within call for proposals No. 6/2014 for execution of projects in the scope of research and development for national defence and security. Within the project, the dressing kit protecting injuries sustained during the performance of official duties by uniformed services will be developed. It will also include prototype of the training system providing the skills acquisition of the dressing kit application and its smooth implementation into the daily service. The purpose of the article is to present the research results which take into account analysis of training systems in security formations and public order with proposition about the changes which will determine effective application of this dressing kit into duty

Immunohistochemical Fascin-1 expression correlate with lymph node and distant metastases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer is characterized by its aggressiveness and poor prognosis. Furthermore, mortality is one of the highest among all types of cancers. It has been observed that the expression of Fascin-1 (the actin-bundling protein which enables the motility of cells) is higher in cancer cells and is correlated with invasiveness and metastasis. Purpose: To investigate the expression of Fascin-1 in histopathological specimens from patients treated for pancreatic cancer and its relationship with histopathological parameters. Materials and methods: The study was performed on a group of 52 patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital. The expression of Fascin-1 was evaluated in tissue samples using the immunohistochemical method and was rated as “present” or “absent”. The analysis of histopathological parameters was performed in correlation with Fascin-1 expression. Results: Fascin-1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of cancer cells in 42/52 cases (80.8%). Fascin-1 expression occurred more frequently among patients with lymph node metastases (92.6%) than without this type of metastases (68%) (p=0.024). Likewise, the expression of the investigated protein was observed more often with the presence of distant metastases (100%) than without those metastases (74.4%) (p=0.043). There were no statistically significant differences about age, sex, histological type of cancer, grade of histological differentiation, desmoplasia, inflammatory infiltration, foci of hemorrhage, necrosis, and MVD. Conclusion: The expression of Fasicn-1 is correlated with the presence of metastases and can be a useful marker of pancreatic cancer involvement