Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

About: Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences is a education organization based out in Wrocław, Poland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & GNSS applications. The organization has 3108 authors who have published 6672 publications receiving 57774 citations.

Biodegradation of the cross-linked copolymer of acrylamide and potassium acrylate by soil bacteria

Abstract: Chemical cross-linking and the high molecular weight of superabsorbent copolymers (SAPs) are the two main causes of their resistance to biodegradation. However, SAP particles are colonized by microorganisms. For the purposes of this study, the dry technical copolymer of acrylamide and potassium acrylate containing 5.28 % of unpolymerized monomers was wrapped in a geotextile and incubated in unsterile Haplic Luvisol soil as a water absorbing geocomposite. The highest number of soil bacteria that colonized the hydrated SAP and utilized it as the sole carbon and energy source was found after the first month of incubation in soil. It was equal to 7.21-7.49 log10 cfu g(-1) of water absorbed by the SAP and decreased by 1.35-1.61 log10 units within the next 8 months. During this time, the initial SAP water holding capacity of 1665.8 g has decreased by 24.40 %. Moreover, the 5 g of SAP dry mass has declined by 31.70 %. Two bacteria, Rhizobium radiobacter 28SG and Bacillus aryabhattai 31SG isolated from the watered SAP were found to be able to biodegrade this SAP in pure cultures. They destroyed 25.07 and 41.85 mg of 300 mg of the technical SAP during the 60-day growth in mineral Burk's salt medium, and biodegradation activity was equal to 2.95 and 6.72 μg of SAP μg(-1) of protein, respectively. B. aryabhattai 31SG and R. radiobacter 28SG were also able to degrade 9.99 and 29.70 mg of 82 mg of the ultra-pure SAP in synthetic root exudate medium during the 30-day growth, respectively.

Applying an artificial neural network approach to the analysis of tractive properties in changing soil conditions

Abstract: For better performance of a micro-tractor during agricultural operations, it is necessary to select the optimal tractor configuration for the operation. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of soil texture, soil moisture and compaction as well as horizontal deformation and vertical load on traction force and traction efficiency. Analysis and mathematical modelling were performed with the use of artificial neural networks (ANN). Accurate mathematical models were obtained with high values of coefficient of determination R 2 for the validation data set (R 2 = 0.945 for traction force and R 2 = 0.963 for traction efficiency). Based on neural models, analysis of the contribution of independent input variables was performed. Soil texture and soil moisture had the highest influence on traction force and traction efficiency; vertical load significantly affected traction force. Horizontal deformation and soil compaction had minor influences on both dependent variables. Evolutionary algorithm was used for the determination of soil conditions and vertical load which produce high traction force and traction efficiency. The vertical load is considered as an easily managed parameter during agricultural operations. Since the increase in vertical load results in increasing traction force and, at the same time, in decreasing traction efficiency, the appropriate vertical load value was calculated for optimization of traction force and traction efficiency in changing soil conditions, which is crucial for tillage management.

Spatial Data Analysis with the Use of ArcGIS and Tableau Systems

Abstract: Nowadays there are different technologies enabling visualisation of spatial data. The combination of two different systems may enhance the visualisations and therefore better communication of the results to decision makers and the wider public. The aim of our contribution is to assess the possibility of combining the functionality of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Business Intelligence (BI) systems for spatial data visualisation. We assess the analytical and visualisation features of combined ESRI ArcGIS and BI Tableau systems with the use of the visual data exploration approach. For the purpose of this study, Geographic Information System is used as a data manager and a data blender. The geoprocessed feature class was stored in the personal geodatabase and then loaded into the Tableau environment. We present the selected functionality of visual data discovery on the example of land change flows in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia. In order to highlight the possibility to conduct analyses on different spatial levels, we ran the simulation at the local level and aggregated it to the regional level. The use of computational capabilities of GIS and BI enhance the geovisualisation on the map by quantitative analysis of tabular data, facilitate the visualisation of the results, and improve communication.

Methyl Salicylate Level Increase in Flax after Fusarium oxysporum Infection Is Associated with Phenylpropanoid Pathway Activation

Abstract: Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a crop plant valued for its oil and fibre. Unfortunately, large losses in cultivation of this plant are caused by fungal infections, with Fusarium oxysporum being one of its most dangerous pathogens. Among the plant’s defence strategies, changes in the expression of genes of the shikimate/phenylpropanoid/benzoate pathway and thus in phenolic contents occur. Among the benzoates, salicylic acid and its methylated form methyl salicylate play an important role in regulating plants’ response to stress conditions. Upon treatment of flax plants with the fungus we found that methyl salicylate content increased (4.8-fold of the control) and the expression profiles of the analysed genes suggest that it is produced most likely from cinnamic acid, through the β-oxidative route. At the same time activation of some genes involved in lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis was observed. We suggest that increased methyl salicylate biosynthesis during flax response to F. oxysporum infection may be associated with phenylpropanoid pathway activation.