Heating process in the domain of thin metal film subjected to a strong laser pulse are discussed. The mathematical model of the process

considered is based on the dual-phase-lag equation (DPLE) which results from the generalized form of the Fourier law. This approach is,

first of all, used in the case of micro-scale heat transfer problems (the extremely short duration, extreme temperature gradients and very

small geometrical dimensions of the domain considered). The external heating (a laser action) is substituted by the introduction of internal

heat source to the DPLE. To model the melting process in domain of pure metal (chromium) the approach basing on the artificial mushy

zone introduction is used and the main goal of investigation is the verification of influence of the artificial mushy zone ‘width’ on the

results of melting modeling. At the stage of numerical modeling the author’s version of the Control Volume Method is used. In the final

part of the paper the examples of computations and conclusions are presented.

Nitritation, the first stage of ammonia removal process is known to be limiting for total process performance. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) which perform this process are obligatory activated sludge habitants, a mixture consisting of Bacteria, Protozoa and Metazoa used for biological wastewater treatment. Due to this fact they are an interesting bacterial group, from both the technological and ecological point of view. AOB changeability and biodiversity analyses both in wastewater treatment plants and lab-scale reactors are performed on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences using PCR-DGGE (Polymerase Chain Reaction – Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis) as a molecular biology tool. AOB researches are usually led with nested PCR. Because the application of nested PCR is laborious and time consuming, we have attempted to check the possibility of using only first PCR round to obtain DGGE fingerprinting of microbial communities. In this work we are comparing the nested and non-nested PCR-DGGE monitoring of an AOB community and presenting advantages and disadvantages of both methods used. The experiment revealed that PCR technique is a very sensitive tool for the amplification of even a minute amount of DNA sample. But in the case of nested-PCR, the sensitivity is higher and the template amount could be even smaller. The nested PCR-DGGE seems to be a better tool for AOB community monitoring and complexity research in activated sludge, despite shorter fragments of DNA amplification which seems to be a disadvantage in the case of bacteria identification. It is recommended that the sort of analysis approach should be chosen according to the aim of the study: nested-PCR-DGGE for community complexity analysis, while PCR-DGGE for identification of the dominant bacteria.

Jedną z metod wykorzystywanych w informatyce jest naśladowanie natury. Do zadania wyodrębniania jednorodnych grup tematycznych w dużych zbiorach dokumentów tekstowych można użyć algorytmu inspirowanego mechanizmem formowania pamięci immunologicznej.

The author discusses systematization of scientific disciplines. He presents two methods of systematization, namely: classification which uses logical divisions, and typologization which relies on Weberian method of defining ideal types. Faced with certain weaknesses of the classification and typologization, the author proposes still another method of science systematization, which he calls ‘theoretical positioning’. Such systematization is accomplished by defining a selected theory with respect to the research processes employed in it. At the time when interdisciplinary studies are becoming more and more popular, theoretical positioning is a useful method of systematization for research purposes. It arranges scientific disciplines in an order that displays their theoretical affinities. That method of systematization not only organizes the multitude of scientific disciplines but also indicates which areas of cooperation can be most promising. Alongside that study, the author also discusses the possibility of theoretical positioning of sciences by employing conceptual categories used in theory of action which, appropriately conceptualized, could serve as effective interdisciplinary instruments.

The article is a review of the book by Krzysztof Brzechczyn, On the Multitude of the Lines of Development in the Historical Process. An Attempt at Interpretation of Evolution of Mexican Society, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, Poznań 2004, ss. 341.

Studies were conducted using a 10-chamber Micro-Oxymax (Columbus, OH, USA) respirometer to determine the effect of bioaugmentation, biostimulation and combination of them on enhancing intrinsic biodegradation of oil hydrocarbons in soil. Contaminated soil was collected from a former military airport in Kluczewo, Poland. Bioaugmentation was realized by addition of indigenous or exogenous bacteria to soil. Biostimulation was done by aerated water supply and surfactant addition. Bioaugmentation + addition of a surfactant was applied as the combined treatment. The intrinsic and enhanced hydrocarbons biodegradation rates were estimated from the slopes of linear regressions of cumulative curves of O2 uptake. Pertinent biodegradation rates were recalculated on the basis of the stoichiometric reaction (mass balance equation) and conversion equation. The results showed that combined treatment (indigenous bacteria bioaugmentation + addition of a surfactant) was the most effective method of biodegradation enhancement as the 20-fold increase of biodegradation rate was observed.

Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria communities were evaluated in a completely mixed, laboratory scale membrane reactor (MBR) working under anoxic conditions for 5 months. The microorganisms in activated sludge were fed a synthetic medium containing 66-150 mg NH4 +-N/l. The age of the activated sludge in MBR was 50 days and the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 3.3 days. The estimation of the diversity and complexity of the AOB community together with the identification of the dominant bacteria in the activated sludge under anoxic conditions were performed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing. Molecular analysis of the microbial community carried out with two microbial molecular markers, 16S rRNA gene and amoA gene, suggested that nitrification was led by a Nitrosomonas-like species. In the biocenosis of the investigated bioreactor, oxygen was the crucial selective parameter. The results obtained in this work showed that amoA gene research is more suitable to study the stability and effectiveness of ammonia oxidation. This information emphasizes the necessity of the usage of molecular markers based on functional genes instead of ribosomal ones in order to present the actual state of the process performed in bioreactors. It was also stated that Nitrosomonas -like bacteria are able to perform nitritation even in anoxic environment, that is probably the reason why these bacteria are the most common AOB in different bioreactors.