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In the era of the development of modern measurement technologies, their interconnectedness is of high importance. This paper presents a review of the most popular, currently utilised measuring marks in tachymetric measurements and in object laser scanning. This paper presents the authors’ own solutions that facilitate the linkage of data acquired through terrestrial laser scanning with tachymetric measurements. The proposed marks used to perform orientation on the scanned surfaces were successfully tested in the field with the use of laser scanners manufactured by the Z+F, Leica and Riegl companies. The document describes the consecutive steps that eliminate individual problems that arise during both tachymetric measurements and laser scanning. As a result of the work, a new kinds of marks were created allowing tachymetric measurements and laser scanning at the level of accuracy that is required for basic engineering measurements. This paper also presents a discussion on how to prepare the marks yourselves and the marks durability on the surface of the surveyed object.

The authors present possible applications of thermal data as an additional source of information on an object’s behaviour during the technical assessment of the condition of a concrete surface. For the study one of the most recent propositions introduced by Zoller + Fröhlich company was used, which is an integration of a thermal camera with a terrestrial laser scanner. This solution enables an acquisition of geometric and spectral data on the surveyed object and also provides information on the surface’s temperature in the selected points. A section of the dam’s downstream concrete wall was selected as the subject of the study for which a number of scans were carried out and a number of thermal images were taken at different times of the day. The obtained thermal data was confronted with the acquired spectral information for the specified points. This made it possible to carry out broader analysis of the surface and an inspection of the revealed fissure. The thermal analysis of said fissure indicated that the temperature changes within it are slower, which may affect the way the concrete works and may require further elaboration by the appropriate experts. Through the integration of a thermal camera with a terrestrial laser scanner one can not only analyse changes of temperature in the discretely selected points but on the whole surface as well. Moreover, it is also possible to accurately determine the range and the area of the change affecting the surface. The authors note the limitations of the presented solution like, inter alia, the resolution of the thermal camera.

The registered xyz coordinates in the form of a point cloud captured by terrestrial laser scanner and the intensity values (I) assigned to them make it possible to perform geometric and spectral analyses. Comparison of point clouds registered in different time periods requires conversion of the data to a common coordinate system and proper data selection is necessary. Factors like point distribution dependant on the distance between the scanner and the surveyed surface, angle of incidence, tasked scan's density and intensity value have to be taken into consideration. A prerequisite for running a correct analysis of the obtained point clouds registered during periodic measurements using a laser scanner is the ability to determine the quality and accuracy of the analysed data. The article presents a concept of spectral data adjustment based on geometric analysis of a surface as well as examples of geometric analyses integrating geometric and physical data in one cloud of points: cloud point coordinates, recorded intensity values, and thermal images of an object. The experiments described here show multiple possibilities of usage of terrestrial laser scanning data and display the necessity of using multi-aspect and multi-source analyses in anthropogenic object monitoring. The article presents examples of multisource data analyses with regard to Intensity value correction due to the beam's incidence angle. The measurements were performed using a Leica Nova MS50 scanning total station, Z+F Imager 5010 scanner and the integrated Z+F T-Cam thermal camera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pruning is one of the important cultural treatments that have potential to influence hardwood seedling morphology. The aim of the study was to compare the growth of pedunculate oak seedlings, performed pruning roots, in the second growing season, fertilised full and reduced dose of nitrogen. A total of 24 experimental plots, each with an the area of 0.04 ha, were designated. The roots pruning were made at the end of February 2014 using root pruning machine EGEDAL. The fertilisation, for all seedlings, was performed using ammonium nitrate in an amount of 25 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. The second fertilisation was performed only for variants 2 and 4. For these variants, urea was used in an amount of 25 kg ha-1. At the end of the growing season, the root collar diameter and the height of seedlings were measured. A dose of nitrogen affects the height of pruned seedlings. The effect of the full dose of nitrogen on the height of the pruned seedlings was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the height of the seedlings without pruning, fertilised with different dose of nitrogen. Analysis of root collar diameter showed the significant differences between the variants. The Tukey test, at the significance level of p ≤ 0.05, showed a significant impact on the root collar diameter of pruned seedlings but no proven effect of nitrogen fertilisation. To conclude, we found that it is reasonable to reduce the doses of nitrogen fertilisation to half of recommended amount (25 kg ha-1) if the root system is not pruned during the second growth year. Seedlings that has received pruning should be fertilised using the recommended doses of nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roughness parameters as the elements of surface condition and deformation assessment based on the results of TLS scanning. Roughness is the attribute of a surface that can be defined as a collection of small surface unevennesses that can be identified optically or detected mechanically which do not result from the surface's shape and their size depends on a material type as well as on undergone processing. The most often utilised roughness parameters are: Ra - mean distance value of the points on the observed profile from the average line on the sampling length, and Rz - difference between arithmetic mean height of the five highest peaks and arithmetic mean depth of the five deepest valleys regarding to the average line on the length of the measured fragment. In practice, roughness parameters are most often defined for surface elements that require relevant manufacturing or processing through grinding, founding or polishing in order to provide the expected surface roughness. To measure those parameters for the produced elements profilometers are used. In this paper the authors present an alternative approach of determining and utilising such parameters. Instead of the utilising methods based on sampling length measurement, roughness parameters are determined on the basis of point clouds, that represent a surface of rough concrete, obtained through terrestrial laser scanning. The authors suggest using the surface roughness parameter data acquired in this way as a supplementary data in the condition assessment (erosion rate) of surfaces being a part of engineering constructions made of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inhibition of E-cadherin gene expression by transcription factor SNAIL is known to be a crucial element of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition; EMT. Epigenetic regulation of E-cadherin expression is regulated by SNAIL binding to E-box sequences in the CDH1 gene promoter and recruiting enzymes belonging to repressor complexes that are directly engaged in histone modifications and DNA methylation leading to the modification of chromatin structure. SNAIL involvement in cell acquisition of invasive phenotype is based on direct suppression of tight- -junction and gap junction proteins. The nuclear localization of SNAIL is required for SNAIL activity and protects this factor from proteasomal degradation in the cytoplasm. The main factor engaged in that process is GSK-3β kinase. Expression and stability of SNAIL is regulated on the transctriptional and posttranscriptional levels by a number of signaling molecules and biological factors, for example: TGF-β, TNF-α, ILK and NFκB. The expression of SNAIL in cancer cells is also regulated by micro-RNA, mainly by miR-34. Increased expression of SNAIL, observed in many human cancers, has been correlated with increased resistance to chemio-, radio - or immunotherapy, gain of cancer stem cells features and migrative and invasive characteristics, which leads to tumor metastases. Understanding of the SNAIL's mechanism of action may lead to new treatment strategies in cancer directed to interfere with signaling pathways that either activate SNAIL or are activated by SNAIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]