Young conifer stands form a deer browsing refuge for an oak admixture: silvicultural implications for forest regeneration under herbivore pressure

There is little knowledge how ungulate pressure on forest regeneration may be mitigated by silvicultural methods. The knowledge is especially needed for artificially regenerated, deciduous tree species. We studied factors affecting browsing incidence by deer in the Pisz Forest District in Poland, an area where 10,000 ha of forest was damaged by a 2002 hurricane. In 2006, we established three experimental plots (in total, 22.6 ha), in which the main species was Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) admixed with pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). The data on browsing were collected in 2008–2015. In general, oak browsing incidence was unrelated to oak planting density. On a plantation scale, it was significantly affected by the pine age. Although in each variant all the oaks were browsed for four consecutive years (2009–2012), in 2013 browsing incidence began to decrease. When the pines grew higher and formed a physical barrier, it was harder for deer—roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and moose (Alces alces)—to move through and locate the oaks. Moreover, within plantations, oak browsing incidence was higher in the patches with shorter pines. Browsing of individual saplings or small groups of saplings was also negatively affected by the height of neighbouring pine saplings. Oak density influenced deer selectivity depending on the tree height. In a low oak tree density, browsing incidence was unrelated to oak height, while in higher tree density, deer selected oaks of the height between 40 and 100 cm. We postulate that deciduous admixture in a coniferous (unattractive) stand can be planted with a few year delay. Older coniferous trees should impede locating of attractive tree species by deer and the browsing incidence.     

Properties of cotton fabric after irradiation with infrared CO2 laser

Thermal effect of interaction between laser beam and fabrics presents a risk of material damage, because strong laser beam energy is applied to a very small area of fabric. At present infrared laser beam is widely applied to decolouration of denim fabrics, cutting of textiles. There were investigated the morphology, color change and mechanical properties of irradiated samples of cotton fabric. Chemical damage of cotton fibers was quantified by copper number and behaviour of dissolved polymer. Results was discussed in connection with practical applications.     

Siah regulation of Pard3A controls neuronal cell adhesion during germinal zone exit

The brain's circuitry is established by directed migration and synaptogenesis of neurons during development. Although neurons mature and migrate in specific patterns, little is known about how neurons exit their germinal zone niche. We found that cerebellar granule neuron germinal zone exit is regulated by proteasomal degradation of Pard3A by the Seven in Absentia homolog (Siah) E3 ubiquitin ligase. Pard3A gain of function and Siah loss of function induce precocious radial migration. Time-lapse imaging using a probe to measure neuronal cell contact reveals that Pard3A promotes adhesive interactions needed for germinal zone exit by recruiting the epithelial tight junction adhesion molecule C to the neuronal cell surface. Our findings define a Siah-Pard3A signaling pathway that controls adhesion-dependent exit of neuronal progenitors or immature neurons from a germinal zone niche.     

Use of ionic liquids for pi-conjugated polymer electrochemical devices

pi-Conjugated polymers that are electrochemically cycled in ionic liquids have enhanced lifetimes without failure (up to 1 million cycles) and fast cycle switching speeds (100 ms). We report results for electrochemical mechanical actuators, electrochromic windows, and numeric displays made from three types of pi-conjugated polymers: polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene. Experiments were performed under ambient conditions, yet the polymers showed negligible loss in electroactivity. These performance advantages were obtained by using environmentally stable, room-temperature ionic liquids composed of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium cations together with anions such as tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate.     

Selenium and the health status,production results,and product quality in poultry

A Selenium (Se) is an element belonging to the nonmetallic group. It was first discovered in 1817 by J.J. Berzelius. Until the 1950s, it was considered to be toxic to animals. However, with increasing research conducted on laboratory animals, it is now clear that Se is necessary for the proper functioning of both plants and animals. Recent studies indicate that Se is necessary for the proper functioning of metabolic pathways in animals. It was evidenced that Se is a component of about 100 proteins involved in the immune system, antioxidant homeostasis, or release of an inflammatory mediator. Therefore, it is of key interest to find the appropriate dosage for the supplementation of Se in the diet of farm animals and thereby eliminate physiological disorders in the body associated with Se imbalance. In this study, we present a literature review on the importance and appropriate dosage of Se in the diet of poultry concerning their health status, production results, and the quality of animal-origin products.     

Spatially structured populations: how much do they match the classic metapopulation concept?

In the classic metapopulation concept a specific range of animal movements is assumed, not too large and not too small. Thus, knowledge of animal mobility is necessary to determine the degree to which a given population matches a specific metapopulation model. It seems that usually small mammal mobility is underestimated, and this has important consequences for the way we view metapopulation dynamics. Data on small mammal movements (Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis) are presented in this paper. The material was collected in a two year study in western Poland using a set of six woodlots of different sizes and degree of isolation, located among agricultural fields. Various methods were used in the study: colored bait, live-trapping, and radio-telemetry. It is suggested that the populations under study match the concept of patchy population (sensu Harrison 1991), being poorly isolated in individual patches and with the range of animal movements encompassing the whole set of patches. Moreover, the use of patches changes between seasons according to changing needs and/or resource abundance in the woodlots. Density and composition of local populations may be influenced both by the patch area and its isolation, and also by the filtering effect of the matrix that depends on the season. In this context it is pointed out that more attention should be paid to the matrix, both in research practice and conservation as it is a factor influencing population functioning in quantitative and qualitative ways. It is suggested that any generalizations about population spatial organization may be impossible without more detailed knowledge of long distance movements of focal animals and their use of matrix.     

The critical rotational speed of circular saw: simple measurement method and its practical implementations

Operation safety during sawing operations as well as dimensional accuracy and surface roughness depend on circular saw dynamic features among other factors such as circular saw blade accuracy and static/dynamic properties of the machine tool. Manufacturers of saw blades have an obligation to mark tools with a value stating the maximum allowed rotational speed for each saw. However, in some cases the value indicated on the saw corresponds to the critical rotational speed or is dangerously close to this critical value. Saw operation at the critical rotational speed is inadvisable and may result in serious injury or depreciation of product quality. This report outlines a simple methodology for evaluation of circular saw critical rotational speed. The assessment was conducted with a camera vision technique on the basis of an impulse test. Results are compared with theoretically calculated critical rotational speeds and the marks on saw blades.     

Silicon device scaling to the sub-10-nm regime

In the next decade, advances in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor fabrication will lead to devices with gate lengths (the region in the device that switches the current flow on and off) below 10 nanometers (nm), as compared with current gate lengths in chips that are now about 50 nm. However, conventional scaling will no longer be sufficient to continue device performance by creating smaller transistors. Alternatives that are being pursued include new device geometries such as ultrathin channel structures to control capacitive losses and multiple gates to better control leakage pathways. Improvement in device speed by enhancing the mobility of charge carriers may be obtained with strain engineering and the use of different crystal orientations. Here, we discuss challenges and possible solutions for continued silicon device performance trends down to the sub-10-nm gate regimes.     

Movements of small mammals in the heterogeneous landscape

Distances and directions of Apodemus agrarius and Clethrionomus glareolus movements were studied using snap traps and colored bait. The longest distances traversed exceeded 1500 m. Some directions of movement were significantly more common. High variability in the number of captures along traplines suggests distinct movement routes. Small mammals appear to base their movement on the landscape and not on individual biotopes.