Forest succession mapping for post-agricultural areas using Sentinel-2, PlanetScope imageries and LiDAR data

The research investigates the possibility of applying Sentinel-2, PlanetScope satellite imageries, and LiDAR data for automation of land cover mapping and 3D vegetation characteristics in post-agricultural areas, mainly in the aspect of detection and monitoring of the secondary forest succession. The study was performed for the tested area in the Biskupice district (South of Poland), as an example of an uncontrolled forest succession process occurring on post-agricultural lands. The areas of interest were parcels where agricultural use has been abandoned and forest succession has progressed. This paper indicates the possibility of automating the process of monitoring wooded and shrubby areas developing in post-agricultural areas with the help of modern geodata and geoinformation methods. It was verified whether the processing of Sentinel-2, PlanetScope imageries allows for reliable land cover classification as an identification forest succession area. The airborne laser scanning (ALS) data were used for deriving detailed information about the forest succession process. Using the ALS point clouds vegetation parameters i.e., height and canopy cover were determined and presented as raster maps, histograms, or profiles. In the presented study Sentinel-2, PlanetScope imageries, and ALS data processing showed a significant differentiation of the spatial structure of vegetation. These differences are visible in the surface size (2D) and the vertical vegetation structure (3D)

Macrophyte and macroinvertebrate patterns in unimpacted mountain rivers of two European ecoregions

The aim of the study was to compare the patterns of development of macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in different types of reference mountain rivers. The study is based on reference river sites surveyed throughout the mountains in Poland and Slovakia in two European ecoregions (9—Central Highlands, 10—The Carpathians). A wide range of environmental variables were estimated, including water chemistry, hydromorphology, geology, and the spatial factor. Based on the Jaccard index, macrophyte and macroinvertebrate variation was confirmed between four mountain and upland river types. It was found that the biological diversification is mainly influenced by geological and associated chemical factors. In the case of macroinvertebrates, additionally, the importance of the spatial factor was revealed (difference between ecoregions). Finally, the habitat preferences of various taxa were identified. It was found that extreme mountain conditions can sometimes distort bioindicative response, as was detected in the case of macroinvertebrates in the highest mountain sites. We concluded that consideration of two groups of organisms enables more comprehensive and reliable monitoring than assessment based on a single group, especially when standard bioindicative methods can be distorted by extreme local conditions

A preliminary assessment of soil sulphur contamination and vegetations the vicinity of former boreholes on the afforested post-mine site Jeziórko

The work aims to assess soil sulfur contamination degree indicating various reclamation efficiencies within microhabitats formed in the “Jeziorko” inoperative boreholes of former sulfur-mining areas which have been reclaimed to forest. Three plot categories have been initially determined in post-mining areas: category D – degraded, i.e. ineffectively reclaimed and unsuccessfully afforested plots, pine stands category (P), and birch stands (B), successfully afforestated. Afterwards, four circular plots were defined within each of the determined categories (4 replications, i.e. a total of 12 plots). For each plot, cover-abundance (according to the Braun-Blanquet scale) and dominant herbaceous vegetation species, tree species and stand density were determined. Height (Ht) and diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements were taken, and a vitality assessment was completed according to the IUFRO classification. Soil samples were collected at each plot from the plots in 5 points at two different depths (0–5 cm and 5–40 cm) and laboratory analysis were prepared. Soil  properties such as texture, pH, electrical  conductivity (EC), hydrolytic acidity (Hh), the contents of soil organic carbon SOC, total nitrogen TN, total sulfur TS, and exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+) were determined. Soils from the D plot category were characterised by high sulfur contamination, excess salinity (EC), and strong acidity in top soil. These parameters indicated the completed neutralization had not been performed effectively at certain sites. Pine (P) and birch (B) stands categories showed good growth rates and soil parameters indicating the reclamation treatments  had been completed successfully.The work aims to assess the degree of soil sulphur contamination of the various abandoned reclamation efficiencies, within the microhabitats formed in the “Jeziórko” inoperative boreholes of former sulphur-mining areas. These areas have been reclaimed to the forest. Three plot categories were initially determined in the post-mining areas: category D – degraded, i.e. ineffectively reclaimed and unsuccessfully afforested plots, with low cover-abundance or complete lack of vegetation, pine stands category, category (P) - birch stands and category (B)- successfully afforested. Afterwards, four circular plots were defined within each of the determined categories (4 replications, i.e. a total of 12 plots). For each plot, cover-abundance (according to the Braun-Blanquet scale) and dominant herbaceous vegetation species, tree species and stand density were determined. Height (Ht) and diameter at breast height (DBH) measurements were taken, and a vitality assessment was completed, according to the IUFRO classification. Soil samples were collected at each plot, in 5 points, at two different depths (0–5 cm and 5–40 cm). Finally, laboratory analysis was undertaken. Soil properties such as texture, pH, electrical  conductivity (EC), hydrolytic acidity (Hh), the contents of soil organic carbon SOC, total nitrogen TN, total sulphur TS, and exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+) were determined. Soils from the D plot category were characterised by high sulphur contamination, excess salinity (EC) and strong acidity in top soil. These parameters indicated that completed neutralization was not performed effectively at certain sites. Pine (P) and birch (B) stands categories showed good growth rates and soil parameters, indicating that the reclamation treatments were completed successfully

Using LiDAR point clouds in active protection of forest lichen communities in "Bory Tucholskie" National Park

Zespół boru chrobotkowego (Cladonio-Pinetum) jest zbiorowiskiem wykształcającym się na suchych i ubogich w biogeny obszarach piaszczystych. Najlepiej zachowane płaty tego zbiorowiska roślinnego w Europie występują w Polsce północnej, w tym na terenie Parku Narodowego "Bory Tucholskie" (PNBT). Celem badań było określenie struktury przestrzennej wybranych drzewostanów sosnowych PNBT, w których zainicjowany został program ochronny czynnej borów chrobotkowych. Obszar badań obejmował część dwóch oddziałów leśnych PNBT z wydzieleniami: 18c, 19d, 19g, 19h, 19i, 19j i 19k. Badania przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem lotniczego (ALS) i naziemnego (TLS) skanowania laserowego (LiDAR). Dzięki zastosowaniu technologii LiDAR możliwe było wykonanie bardzo precyzyjnego opisu struktury drzewostanów w przestrzeni 2D i 3D. W wyniku przeprowadzonych analiz określono szereg cech taksacyjnych i parametrów drzewostanów, takich jak: liczba i zagęszczenie drzew w drzewostanie, średnia odległość pomiędzy drzewami żywymi, liczba drzew martwych, pierśnicowe pole przekroju drzew żywych, zwarcie poziome koron, wskaźnik penetracji koron, wysokość górna drzew w wydzieleniu, wysokość podstawy korony drzewa, długość korony drzewa, objętość warstwy koron, powierzchnia 2D i 3D koron drzew, średni promień korony, współczynnik morfometryczny koron oraz zasięg pionowy martwych gałęzi. Opracowano także mapę występowania luk w wydzieleniach o powierzchni większej niż 2 m2. Badania rozpoczęte w 2017 roku są kontynuowane w 2018 roku z wykorzystaniem skanowania z platformy BSP (UAS) oraz TLS, które posłużą precyzyjnej ocenie zmian struktury przestrzennej drzewostanów, w których przeprowadzono cięcia prześwietleniowe.Forest lichen communities develop on dry and poor in biogens sandy areas. The center of occurrence of this plant community in Europe coincides with Natura 2000 sites located in Poland, including the Bory Tucholskie National Park (BT NP). The aim of the study was to determine the spatial structure of selected Scots pine stands of BT NP, where a program of active protection of lichen communities was initiated. The research area included two forest compartments: 18 and 19. The analysis was performed in the following sub-compartments: 18c, 19d, 19g, 19h, 19i, 19j and 19 k. The research was carried out using airborne (ALS) and terrestrial (TLS) laser scanning (LiDAR). Thanks to the use of LiDAR technology, it was possible to make a very precise description of the structure of stands in 2D and 3D space. As a result of the conducted study, a number of stand parameters have been defined, such as: number of trees, tree density in the stand, number of live trees, average distance between living trees, number of dead trees, basal area, horizontal cover of tree crowns, crown penetration ratio, average height of trees, height of the crown base, tree crown length, crown layer volume, 2D and 3D crown surface, average crown radius, canopy relief ration and vertical range of dead branches. A map of crown gaps with an area of more than 2 m2 was also developed. Research activities with the use of laser scanning technology is continued in 2018 (repeated ALS and TLS scanning). The conducted research will allow to determine the influence of the stand structure on factors influencing the occurrence of lichens, including: shaping of microclimatic conditions

Geomatyka w nauczaniu leśników na uczelniach rolniczych

The idea for this publication was barn in June 2015, during a meeting of Polish teachers involved with Geographic lnformation Systems. The meeting was initiated by the Department of Geoinformation, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Łódź, which received a grant to organize it. The discussion and presentations from academic teachers representing various universities in Poland were very interesting and sometimes heated. it would be advisable for other educators to familiarise themselves with the aspects of GIS education among Polish geographers, foresters, surveyors and other users. The experience of Geoinformation education in Poland is still modest, so the views of people who have been involved at Polish universities with it since the 1990s should be interesting to readers. Geographic lnformation Systems (GIS) – the integration of environmental and climate issues as an important factor for economic development and quality of life – an innovative second-degree studies. Akronim GIS-E-QL: GIS for environment and quality of life. Project objectives: The main aim of the project is to start-up attractive and innovative second­ degree studies – geoinformation in mutual cooperation of the FGS and the FMCS, students education, improving the competence of academic teachers, conference organization, publishing, cooperation with practitioners and establishing contacts with partners from Norway. This aim is consistent with the “Ana lysis of the economy's demand for graduates in key field of strategy in the context of the Europe 2020” 2012 and “Strategy for development of higher education in Poland 2020”, in the field of promoting innovative courses, formed collectively with practitioners, raising awareness of the environment. Joint actions of educators and practitioners, supported the by the strengthening of university's hardware, software and spatial data, will ensure a high quality project. The existing cooperation with practitioners indicate that further training is necessary and they would like to see postgraduates in their institutions. The final beneficiaries of the project will be the students and the academical teaching staff and indirectly the economy of the region. Students who graduate will be the main recipient of the project, the next will be teaching staff who will have contact with the practices and Norwegian partners with similar interests. In broad terms the project will benefit Polish and European economy and environment.This book has been prepared within the project „Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – the integration of environmental and climate issues as an important factor of economic development and quality of life – an innovative second-degree studies” supported by a grant from Norway through the Norway Grants and co-financed by the Polish funds. (Agreement No FSS/2014/HEI/W/0114/U/0013)

GIS w polskiej edukacji wyższej – dyskusja

The idea for this publication was barn in June 2015, during a meeting of Polish teachers involved with Geographic lnformation Systems. The meeting was initiated by the Department of Geoinformation, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Łódź, which received a grant to organize it. The discussion and presentations from academic teachers representing various universities in Poland were very interesting and sometimes heated. it would be advisable for other educators to familiarise themselves with the aspects of GIS education among Polish geographers, foresters, surveyors and other users. The experience of Geoinformation education in Poland is still modest, so the views of people who have been involved at Polish universities with it since the 1990s should be interesting to readers. Geographic lnformation Systems (GIS) – the integration of environmental and climate issues as an important factor for economic development and quality of life – an innovative second-degree studies. Akronim GIS-E-QL: GIS for environment and quality of life. Project objectives: The main aim of the project is to start-up attractive and innovative second­ degree studies – geoinformation in mutual cooperation of the FGS and the FMCS, students education, improving the competence of academic teachers, conference organization, publishing, cooperation with practitioners and establishing contacts with partners from Norway. This aim is consistent with the “Ana lysis of the economy's demand for graduates in key field of strategy in the context of the Europe 2020” 2012 and “Strategy for development of higher education in Poland 2020”, in the field of promoting innovative courses, formed collectively with practitioners, raising awareness of the environment. Joint actions of educators and practitioners, supported the by the strengthening of university's hardware, software and spatial data, will ensure a high quality project. The existing cooperation with practitioners indicate that further training is necessary and they would like to see postgraduates in their institutions. The final beneficiaries of the project will be the students and the academical teaching staff and indirectly the economy of the region. Students who graduate will be the main recipient of the project, the next will be teaching staff who will have contact with the practices and Norwegian partners with similar interests. In broad terms the project will benefit Polish and European economy and environment.The experience of Polish scientists and educators in the GIS has not been as long as mentioned by Michael F. Goodchild who jointly with Ross Newkirk (Goodchild 2006) started the fi rst GIS training course at the University of Western Ontario in Canada in 1975. Discussions on the scope of knowledge included in the GIS have continued at most universities that have offered such classes. In 1988/89, owing to the National Centre for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA), the 3-volume document of over 1000 pages was put together to include curriculums, student materials and other teaching aids. We have good models and we can use them. Meetings and discussions about the GIS education have been and still are regularly held all over the world (Forer P., Unwin D. 1999). When employees of Polish universities were starting to learn the GIS software and possibilities, Morgan J. M., Fleury B., Becker R. A. (1996) had already identifi ed over 800 higher education institutions all over the world that had offered at least one GIS course. The rapid development of new technologies, methods, the creation of new labour markets has arisen discussions on the contents GIS training in various centres of higher education, e.g. in the Netherlands, the US, and those have been similar to the ones presented in this article (Toppen F. J. 1992) and some issues needed to be resolved in court (DiBiase, D. 2008). You can see how important these meetings of educators are for exchanging opinions and experience. They have allowed to meed people representing various fi elds involved in the geoinformation, which may result in co-operation and new educational initiatives, and sometimes, competition. Finally, we should agree with prof. J. Gaździcki (2009 p. 12) that “It is obvious that the success of any measures to modernise education in the area under consideration depends on the interest of academic communities, involvement of research and academic staff in these endeavours, their will, ambition and willingness to co-operate”.This book has been prepared within the project „Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – the integration of environmental and climate issues as an important factor of economic development and quality of life – an innovative second-degree studies” supported by a grant from Norway through the Norway Grants and co-financed by the Polish funds. (Agreement No FSS/2014/HEI/W/0114/U/0013)

Telomerase promoter mutations in cancer: an emerging molecular biomarker?

João Vinagre, Vasco Pinto and Ricardo Celestino contributed equally to the manuscript.Cell immortalization has been considered for a long time as a classic hallmark of cancer cells. Besides telomerase reactivation, such immortalization could be due to telomere maintenance through the “alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening” (ALT) but the mechanisms underlying both forms of reactivation remained elusive. Mutations in the coding region of telomerase gene are very rare in the cancer setting, despite being associated with some degenerative diseases. Recently, mutations in telomerase (TERT) gene promoter were found in sporadic and familial melanoma and subsequently in several cancer models, notably in gliomas, thyroid cancer and bladder cancer. The importance of these findings has been reinforced by the association of TERT mutations in some cancer types with tumour aggressiveness and patient survival. In the first part of this review, we summarize the data on the biology of telomeres and telomerase, available methodological approaches and non-neoplastic diseases associated with telomere dysfunction. In the second part, we review the information on telomerase expression and genetic alterations in the most relevant types of cancer (skin, thyroid, bladder and central nervous system) on record, and discuss the value of telomerase as a new biomarker with impact on the prognosis and survival of the patients and as a putative therapeutic target

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts

The 42nd Symposium Chromatographic Methods of Investigating Organic Compounds : Book of abstracts. June 4-7, 2019, Szczyrk, Polan