Rare calciphilous diatoms from the genus Gomphonema (Bacillariophyta) in lotic waters of SE Poland

The aim of this work was to present a morphological description and ecological characteristics of a rare species from the Gomphonema genus, occurring in calcium-rich waters, along with its new occurrence sites. The research was carried out in flowing waters of mountain and sub-mountain streams and rivers in Poland: the Wołosaty, the Wisłoka, the San and their tributaries. The occurrence of many rare and new to Polish flora species from the genus Gomphonema was recorded: G. cuneolus E. Reichardt, G. drutelingense E. Reichardt, G. innocens E. Reichardt, G. lateripunctatum E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, G. lippertii E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot and G. calcifugum Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt. These species occur mostly in alkaline or close-to-neutral waters with medium or low electrolytic conductivity (78–530 μS cm−1), low nutrient content and medium-to-high calcium ion content (12.4–76.4 mg l−1). Despite the rare occurrence in other parts of the world, the studied Gomphonema species has found favorable conditions in unpolluted and calcium-rich stream beds with flysch strata. The literature data define G. calcifugum as a non-calciphilous species, but this study shows that it can develop in a wide pH range and in calcium-rich waters.The aim of this work was to present a morphological description and ecological characteristics of a rare species from the Gomphonema genus, occurring in calcium-rich waters, along with its new occurrence sites. The research was carried out in flowing waters of mountain and sub-mountain streams and rivers in Poland: the Wołosaty, the Wisłoka, the San and their tributaries. The occurrence of many rare and new to Polish flora species from the genus Gomphonema was recorded: G. cuneolus E. Reichardt, G. drutelingense E. Reichardt, G. innocens E. Reichardt, G. lateripunctatum E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, G. lippertii E. Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot and G. calcifugum Lange-Bertalot & E. Reichardt. These species occur mostly in alkaline or close-to-neutral waters with medium or low electrolytic conductivity (78–530 μS cm−1), low nutrient content and medium-to-high calcium ion content (12.4–76.4 mg l−1). Despite the rare occurrence in other parts of the world, the studied Gomphonema species has found favorable conditions in unpolluted and calcium-rich stream beds with flysch strata. The literature data define G. calcifugum as a non-calciphilous species, but this study shows that it can develop in a wide pH range and in calcium-rich waters

Uogólniony rozkład trójkątny w analizie wyników badania foresight

The basis tools in the foresight analysis are the methods based on judgemental knowledge of qualified experts. Due to the fact that group of qualified experts is usually not   enough big it is groundless to use classical statistical tools. It is common to use in such a situation a subjective probability distribution for statistical interference. In this paper we have applied generalized triangular distribution to describe subjective probability distribution. Our research concerned future technologies applied in the energy industry. We have formulated some theses about energy industry development and given them under the experts judge. Finally, analyzed data sets ware the dates (given by experts) of the realization of stated theses. By implementation of the general ideas of subjective probability, we have estimated the parameters of theses time - realization distribution. On these bases we have build new technologies development forecasts.Podstawowymi narzędziami badania typu foresight są metody bazujące na wiedzy ekspertów merytorycznych. Jednak grupa takich ekspertów często bywa niewystarczająco liczna, aby przy formułowaniu ostatecznych sądów uzasadnionym było korzystanie z klasycznych metod statystycznych. W takiej sytuacji można zaproponować wnioskowanie w oparciu o rozkład prawdopodobieństwa subiektywnego analizowanej zmiennej. W artykule podjęto próbę określenia parametrów rozkładu czasu realizacji wybranych tez projektu foresight, wykorzystując w tym celu ideę prawdopodobieństwa subiektywnego. Do opisu prawdopodobieństwa subiektywnego wykorzystano tu uogólniony rozkładu trójkątny (rozkład TSP). Wyniki badania były podstawą do konstrukcji prognoz rozwoju nowych technologii

Social networks in patients suffering from affective disorders

Autorki podejmują analizę wzajemnych zależności pomiędzy poziomem uzyskiwanego wsparcia społecznego i występowaniem oraz przebiegiem chorób afektywnych. Zwracają uwagę na to, że wykorzystanie różnych, często nowych, źródeł tego wsparcia powinno być elementem kompleksowego leczenia chorób afektywnych.According to A. Axer’s definition, a social network is a certain number of people with whom a person - a central individual of a network - remains in contact. A person creates his own network from family members (husband/wife, children, parents, other relatives) and unrelated people (co-workers, neighbours, friends). Studies on the role of social support in the course of affective disorders focus on different hypotheses: whether a small amount of social support increases the risk of depression, if suffering from an episode of depression in the past decreases the amount of social support received, or if there is any genetic factor which increases the risk of both appearance of a major depression episode and having a social network providing little support. The character of these relationships has not been unequivocally explained so far. It may be helpful to make use of the information about a patient’s social network when planning their treatment. The information enables to identify people who provide a patient with the largest amount of support and what is more to recognize deficiencies so as to make attempts to reorganize or reconstruct a networ

Luticola frequentissima Levkov, Metzeltin & Pavlov – morphological and ecological characteristics of a population from Southern Poland

This paper presents first polish site of Luticola frequentissima Levkov, Metzeltin & Pavlov, with morphological and ecological characteristics. The species was found in samples collected from flowing waters and soils within the area of the Bieszczady National Park and the Magura National Park. In south-eastern Poland a low numer of Luticola frequentissima cells occurred in small shaded streams. It was most frequently observed in aerophitic places (shallow and drying watercourses) and in soils. In the studied samples, apart from those cells with typical dimensions, much smaller and narrower cells with a higher number of striae were found in comparison to those in the currently available literature.This paper presents first polish site of Luticola frequentissima Levkov, Metzeltin & Pavlov, with morphological and ecological characteristics. The species was found in samples collected from flowing waters and soils within the area of the Bieszczady National Park and the Magura National Park. In south-eastern Poland a low numer of Luticola frequentissima cells occurred in small shaded streams. It was most frequently observed in aerophitic places (shallow and drying watercourses) and in soils. In the studied samples, apart from those cells with typical dimensions, much smaller and narrower cells with a higher number of striae were found in comparison to those in the currently available literature

Physicochemical Properties of Silt Loamy Soil and Diversity of Diatom Species Under Winter Wheat and Oats

The aim of the research was to investigate the soil properties and the species diversity of diatoms growing in different agricultural fields with silt loamy soil. The field experiment was conducted in 2014 in Kosina, near Łańcut (SE Poland), at three sites (indicated as fields K1, K2, K3) with different soil environmental conditions and plants. The growth of winter wheat Triticum aestivum (cv. Bogatka) in fields K1 and K2 and oats Avena Sativa (cv. Haker) in field K3 under different soil management were studied. The soil samples were collected from the top layers (0-5 cm depth) each month, from April to December. Certain physical and chemical parameters of soil were measured. The pH of soil was acidic and slightly acidic in fields K1 (5.0-5.4), K2 (4.9-5.9) and K3 (4.5-5.1). The soil in field K3 had a significantly greater content of organic matter (1.06-1.30%) and water content (12.9–33.8%, v/v) than fields K1 and K2. A total of 91 diatom taxa were found. The diversity was greatest in field K2 (71 taxa), lower in K1 (54 taxa) and K3 (24 taxa). In K1, the most numerous species were Luticola D.G. Mann cf. mutica, Mayamaea atomus var. permitis (Hust.) Lange-Bertalot, and Stauroneis thermicola (Petersen) Lund, with more than a 20% share in the assemblage. In K2, very abundant assemblages were formed by Mayamaea atomus (Kütz.) Lange-Bertalot, Mayamaea atomus var. permitis (Hust.) Lange-Bertalot, and Stauroneis thermicola (Petersen) Lund with a 25 to 50% share in the total diatom community. In K3, with oat cultivation, a different diatom species structure was found. Here, the most abundant were Halamphora montana (Krasske) Levkov, Hantzchia amphioxys (Ehrenb.) Grunow, Mayamaea atomus (Kütz.) Lange-Bertalot, and Nitzschia pusilla Grunow, which attained a share in the assemblage exceeding than 20%. The effects of different soil management regimes under different plants on the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and on the diversity of diatoms, were significant (P<0.05). Soil water and organic matter content affects the yield of winter wheat and oats. Significant effects of water content and pH of silt loamy soil on the growth and the diversity of species of diatoms were found

Possibilities of the Weibull distribution application in forecasting based on experts' opinion

Podstawowymi narzędziami w prognozowaniu nowych zjawisk, dla których brak danych empirycznych z przeszłości, są metody bazujące na wiedzy ekspertów merytorycznych. Grupa takich ekspertów często bywa niewystarczająco liczna, aby przy formułowaniu ostatecznych sądów uzasadnionym było korzystanie z klasycznych metod statystycznych. W takiej sytuacji można zaproponować wnioskowanie w oparciu o rozkład prawdopodobieństwa subiektywnego analizowanej zmiennej. Do opisu prawdopodobieństwa subiektywnego można wykorzystać między innymi rozkład Weibulla. W opracowaniu przedstawiono propozycję określania parametrów rozkładu Weibulla na podstawie opinii ekspertów. Przedstawiono sposoby konstrukcji prognoz zjawisk nowych, co zilustrowano odpowiednimi przykładami.Where there is no empirical data available from the past, the basic tools used for forecasting new trends are methods based on the knowledge of substantive experts. The group of such experts is often not sufficiently big, to justify the use of classical statistical methods when reaching a final conclusion. In this situation, it's acceptable to suggest drawing a conclusion based on the distribution of the subjective probability of the analysed variable. The Weibull distribution can be used to describe the subjective probability. This paper demonstrates the proposal of determining of Weibull distribution parameters based on experts' opinions. It also shows different ways of building forecasts of new trends, as illustrated by relevant examples