Ash dieback, caused by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, is a serious disease of common and

narrow-leaved ash in Europe. The resistance of individual trees seems to be important for

the maintenance of ash in European forests. In this in situ wound inoculation study, the

susceptibility and differences in resistance to H. fraxineus between Fraxinus excelsior and

F. angustifolia clones were assessed. Neither of the tested clones revealed total resistance

to ash dieback; variety between the tested clones was observed. Differences in necroses

lengths were significant between clones and between two ash species. Longer necroses were

formed in F. angustifolia than in F. excelsior. Some clones exhibiting some resistance to the

pathogen were identified.

The paper presents the results of research on the influence of sintering temperature on microstructure, DC electrical conductivity, dielectric, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3 ceramics doped by Li in the amount of 5.0% wt., in the abbreviation PLiFN. The ceramic samples of the PLiFN material were obtained by the two-stage synthesis – columbite method and sintered by free sintering methods. Introduction to the basic PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3 composition of the lithium admixture to decrease the electrical conductivity and reduction of dielectric loss. The tests have shown that the increase in sintering temperature orders the PLiFN ceramic microstructure, which has a positive effect on its electrophysical properties. At room temperature, the PLiFN ceramic samples show both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties. Considering the functional parameters of the obtained ceramic samples, the optimal technological conditions are 1100°C/2 h.

A short story inspired by Athenaeus’ mention in the Deipnosophistae of a mysterious species of fish called ταινία and his terse recipe for its cooking.