Scientists and medics are still searching for new metallic materials that can be used in medicine, e.g., as material for implants. The following article proposes materials based on titanium with vital elements prepared by combined powder metallurgy and arc melting methods. Four compositions of Ti-28Ta-9Nb, Ti-28Ta-19Nb, Ti-28Ta-9Zr and Ti-28Ta-19Zr (wt.%) have been prepared. The tested material was thoroughly analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Qualitative phase analysis using X-ray diffraction showed the presence of two phases, α' and β titanium. In addition, a microhardness test was conducted, and the material was characterized in terms of corrosion properties. It was found that the corrosion resistance decreases with an increase of the β phase presence.

This work investigated two titanium-based alloys with a constant tantalum content and variable contents of alloy additives – niobium and zirconium. The Ti-30Ta-10Zr-20Nb (wt.%) and Ti-30Ta-20Zr-10Nb (wt.%) alloys were obtained using a combination of powder metallurgy and arc melting methods. The influence of alloying additives on the structure and properties of the Ti-Ta-Nb-Zr system was studied using, among others: X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction confirmed the single-β-phase structure of both alloys. In addition, the microscopic analysis revealed that a higher amount of zirconium favoured the formation of larger grains. However, the microhardness analysis indicated that the alloy with the higher niobium content had the higher microhardness. Importantly, the in vitro corrosion study revealed that the addition of niobium promoted the better corrosion resistance of the investigated alloy.

The paper deals with the issue of constructing delay lines on the basis of surface acoustic waves and their application to single-mode oscillators. As a result of a theoretical analysis concrete delay lines are proposed.

In the contribution, there is presented a theory of designing a symmetrical mismatched and matched delay line for a single-mode oscillator of electrical signals on the basis of which there were designed and fabricated acoustic-electronic components for sensors of non-electrical quantities.

From the experimental results it can be stated that all of six designed and fabricated delay lines can be effectively used in the construction of single-mode oscillators.

In order to simulate the warming effects on Arctic wetlands, three passive open−top chambers (OTCs) and three control cage−like structures (CCSs) equipped with soil temperature and soil volumetric water content (VWC) probes for continuous micro− climatic measurements were installed in a wet hummock meadow, Petuniabukta, Billefjorden, central Spitsbergen, in 2009. The warming effects on primary productivity were investigated during summer seasons 2009 and 2010 in cyanobacterial colonies of Nostoc commune s.l., which plays an important role in the local carbon and nitrogen cycles. The microclimatic data indicated that the effect of OTCs was dependent on microtopography. During winter, two short−term snow−thaw episodes occurred, so that liquid water was available for the Nostoc communities. Because of the warming, the OTC hummock bases remained unfrozen three weeks longer in comparison to the CCSs and, in spring, the OTC hummock tops and bases exceeded 0 ° C several days earlier than CCS ones. Mean summer temperature differences were 1.6 ° C in OTC and CCS hummock tops, and 0.3 ° Cinthe OTC and CCS hummock bases. The hummock tops were drier than their bases; however the VWC difference between the OTCs and CCSs was small. Due to the only minor differences in the microclimate of OTC and CCS hummock bases, where the Nostoc colonies were located, no differences in ecophysiological characteristics of Nostoc colonies expressed as photochemistry parameters and nitrogenase activities were detected after two years exposition. Long−term monitoring of Nostoc ecophysiology in a manipulated environment is necessary for understanding their development under climate warming.