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Topographic Exposure and its Practical ApplicationsTopographic exposure is a topographic characteristic representing a degree of protection by a surrounding topography of a certain site. Detailed knowledge of topographic exposure has broad use in a number of applications ranging from studying forest wind damage through research on snow storage dynamics to optimisation in positioning wind power stations. This paper describes a method for creation of topographic exposure on the basis of a digital elevation model (DEM) using GIS. In combination with other climatic data on wind direction and speed, this factor is used to define the degree of terrain ventilation. Low terrain ventilation has, among other things, a significant influence on the creation of valley inversions and related vegetation zoning inversions. By combining the degree of terrain ventilation with DEM and forest vegetation zones in the area of the Training Forest Enterprise Křtiny, a clear relationship between the influence of topographic exposure, or terrain ventilation, and the creation of the vegetation zoning inversion was determined.

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Abstract:The application of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to inhibit bacterial growth is based on the principle that the exposure of DNA to UV radiation results in the formation of cytotoxic lesions, leading to inactivation of microorganisms. Herein, we present the impacts of UV radiation on bacterial cultures' properties from the biological, biochemical and molecular biological perspective. For experiments, commercial bacterial cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium) and isolates from patients with bacterial infections (Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were employed. The above-mentioned strains were exposed to UV using a laboratory source and to stratospheric UV using a 3D printed probe carried by a stratospheric balloon. The length of flight was approximately two hours, and the probe was enriched by sensors for the external environment (temperature, pressure and relative humidity). After the landing, bacterial cultures were OPEN ACCESSAtmosphere 2015, 6 1291 cultivated immediately. Experimental results showed a significant effect of UV radiation (both laboratory UV and UV from the stratosphere) on the growth, reproduction, behavior and structure of bacterial cultures. In all parts of the experiment, UV from the stratosphere showed stronger effects when compared to the effects of laboratory UV. The growth of bacteria was inhibited by more than 50% in all cases; moreover, in the case of P. aeruginosa, the growth was even totally inhibited. Due to the effect of UV radiation, an increased susceptibility of bacterial strains to environmental influences was also observed. By using commercial tests for biochemical markers of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, significant disparities in exposed and non-exposed strains were found. Protein patterns obtained using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed that UV exposure is able to affect the proteins' expression, leading to their downregulation, observed as the disappearance of their peaks from the mass spectrum.

MIKITA TOMÁŠ, KLIMÁNEK MARTIN, CIBULKA MILOŠ: Evaluation of airborne laser scanning data for tree parameters and terrain modelling in forest environment. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 2013, LXI, No. 5, pp. 1339-1347 The aim of this article is to analyse possibilities of airborne laser scanning (ALS) data utilization in forestry, especially for the purposes of terrain modelling and for forest inventory (determination of forest height, diameter breast height and volume -DBH). The accuracy of ALS data in forestry was tested on the area of 1.5 ha. On this area the topography and location of all trees as well as their heights were surveyed in detail by means of total station. Firstly, the altitudinal accuracy of ALS for the creation of digital elevation model (DEM) was evaluated, based on the comparison with relief measurement. The research also evaluated diff erent data sources from various types of scanners with a diff erent point density per m 2 . Further, we compared tree heights determined from ALS data by diff erent ways of interpolation into canopy height model (CHM) with the surveyed data, following calculations of DBH (diameter breast height) and tree volume based on the regressions. The results show suffi cient data accuracy for the creation of DEM. Concerning tree height determination, the data is also useful although the accuracy is slightly lower, there is a slight undervaluation of the tree heights. Concerning using high point density data at full waveform scanner it is also possible to detect skidding tracks and micro-relief details. Anyway we did not fi nd suffi cient accuracy for DBH and tree volume at the scale of individual trees, but ALS data still gives better results for tree height, DBH and timber volume for larger forest stands than usual inventory. airborne laser scanning, tree height assessment, digital elevation model, canopy height model, TerraScan

As Mongolia is considered one of the most resource extraction-dependent countries globally, significant mining-related environmental and human health risks are expected. The aim of this study was to (I) assess the impacts of mining on soil pollution with metals in Mongolia's key coal mining towns (Baganuur, Nalaikh and Sharyn Gol) and (II) review the current knowledge on soil pollution with metal(loid)s and related health risks in Mongolia. The results showed predominantly low soil contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn and a related absence of severe pollution and potential health risk in the coal mining towns. Urban design, rather than the presence of mines, controlled the pollution distribution. Despite the methodological shortcomings of several studies on soil pollution in Mongolia, their results suggest a similarly low threat in the three largest cities (Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, Erdenet) and several mining areas. While the generally highlighted risk of As seems like an artificially escalated issue, the content of Cr in urban soil may be a neglected threat. Further pollution research in Mongolia should focus on street dust and drinking water pollution.