Studies on insects and mites causing galls on the leaves of purple willow Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in Poland

Analytical studies were conducted on the species composition of galls occurring on the leaves of Salix purpurea L. in the Ojców National Park in 1999?–?2000. The species composition of galls was identical in two consecutive years. Galls were caused by 5?species (a total of 480?galls). The most numerous species in both years was Pontania viminalis (L.). Index of occurrence frequency and Agrell's index of species co-existence have been calculated. This index reached the highest values in case of Pontania dolichura (Thoms.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 1999 as well as Phyllocolpa leucaspis (Tischb.) and P. viminalis (L.) in 2000.     

Theoretical simulation of cutting edge wear when milling wood and wood based products

Theoretical simulation of cutting edge wearing when milling wood and melamine coated particle board based on stochastical and analytical methods is presented. Abrasion, high temperature corrosion (HTC) and frictional wearing effects are discussed. Results of computations show good correlation between the observed and predicted wear rate for three different experiments. Relations between predicted tool wear rate from HTC, content (C _CP) and size (S _CP) of particles of hard mineral contamination and density (D) of cut material is also presented and discussed.     

Lignin-carbohydrate bonds in a residual soda spruce pulp lignin

Summary The behaviour of lignin-polysaccharide complex of spruce wood in soda pulping was studied by the characterization of lignin-saccharide fractions isolated from a series of soda pulps. The dioxane pulp lignins contain 8–14% of carbohydrates in which glucose was the predominant component. Its content increased with increasing degree of delignification indicating the formation of secondary lignin-carbohydrate linkage. Both glycosidic and ether type of bond between residual lignin and cellulose in pulp was proved by methylation analysis of the pulp dioxane lignin.The work was supported by the Slovak Academy of Sciences grant number 2/999389/92.     

Cohabitation of tree holes by ants and breeding birds in a temperate deciduous forest

A previously unknown association of ants with birds breeding in tree holes is described. Ants Lasius brunneus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were found in c. 15% of nests of Parus major L. and Poecile palustris L. (Paridae) breeding in tree holes in the primeval deciduous forest located in the Bia?owie?a National Park (Poland). The ants preferably used holes located higher above the ground. As such holes are warmer than the unused holes or other nest sites, it is suggested that the ants cohabit holes utilized by the tits to gain thermal benefits.     

Cytotoxic activity of embelin from Lysimachia punctata

A major benzoquinone pigment, embelin (1), was isolated from the underground parts of Lysimachia punctata. Compound 1 showed a significant cytotoxic activity in vitro against B16 and XC cell lines with ED50 values of 13 microg/ml and 8 microg/ml, respectively.     

The variation of tree-ring widths of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) affected by air pollution

Using eight populations of Scots pine growing in foothills of the Sudetes (southern Poland) as an example, the character and causes of annual ring variation in 1900–1999 were studied. The climate had a short-term effect on radial growth during the whole period investigated. A long-term decrease of radial growth occurred after 1960, but only in some localities. It was probably caused by non-climatic factors, most likely by industrial pollution. The decline of trees during that period is mainly evidenced by a high variation of width of annual rings, a small similarity of chronologies of annual ring widths, and a lack of signal years. After 1990, the tree recovery process was evident. It was most intensive in localities where the earlier stress was the most severe. Then, trees started to produce wide annual rings, homogeneity of the growth reaction increased, and the signal years began to occur.     

High-speed steel tool wear during wood cutting in the presence of high-temperature corrosion and mineral contamination

Dulling of high-speed steel (HSS) cutting tools after milling five wood species has been analyzed. The wood investigated varied in mineral contamination, high-temperature corrosivity (HTC) and density (D). Experiments performed proved that up to date methods for evaluation of mineral contamination in wood should be improved. A new pipe-like form of mineral contamination particles was evidenced. The correlation between the presence of 3D aggregates of silica in wood and high content of K and Ca in the ash was established. Employing multivariable theoretical simulation method, the combined effect of mineral contamination, HTC and wood density on the tool dullness appeared to be a reasonable explanation of the results obtained.     

Co‐expression of PACAP with VIP,SP and CGRP in the Porcine Nodose Ganglion Sensory Neurons

Our previous study revealed the expression of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) in sensory distal ganglion of the vagus (nodose ganglion) neurons in the pig. As these neuropeptides may be involved in nociception, the goal of these investigations was to determine possible expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), SP and CGRP in the pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide‐immunoreactive (PACAP‐IR) porcine nodose perikarya. Co‐expression of these substances was examined using a double‐labelling immunofluorescence technique. To reveal the ganglionic cell bodies, the pan‐neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) was used. Quantitative analysis of the neurons revealed that 67.25% of the PGP 9.5+ somata in the right‐side ganglion and 66.5% in the left side, respectively, co‐expressed PACAP‐IR. Moreover, 60.6% of the PACAP‐IR cells in the right‐side ganglion and 62.1% in the left, respectively, co‐expressed VIP. SP‐IR was observed in 52.2 and 39.9% of the right and left ganglia, respectively. CGRP was found in 27.7 and 34.1% of the right and left distal ganglion of the vagus, respectively. High level of co‐expression of PACAP with VIP, SP and CGRP in the distal ganglia of the vagus sensory perikarya directly implicates studied peptides in their functional interaction during nociceptive vagal transduction.