bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Money in the poetic universe of Pernambuco's Zona da Mata region
Authors: Silva Simone
Published: August 2014

This article looks to present the various meanings given by people to money in the cantoria de pé-de-parede, a meeting organized at home or in a bar by a family head or the owner of the commercial establishment to hear verses improvised by a duo of poet-singers. Through the ethnographic material, the text examines the categories used to designate money and the situations in which these emerge, especially the categories of trato (deal) and contrato (contract), exploring what these meanings reveal about the world of the cantoria (singing) itself, as well as the universe of Pernambuco's Zona da Mata - a traditional sugar production region located between the Borborema plateau and the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast of Brazil. Conceived as a space of sociability for friends, neighbours and family, the brincadeira (play, diversion) is described here through the place occupied by money in its realization.
Cooler Canopy Contributes to Higher Yield and Drought Tolerance in New Wheat Cultivars
Authors: Pradhan Gautam P. , Xue Qingwu , Jessup Kirk E. , Rudd Jackie C. , Liu Shuyu , Devkota Ravindra N. , Mahan James R.
Published: August 2014

Drought is an important abiotic stress limiting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield in the U.S. Southern High Plains. Although wheat breeding has improved drought tolerance in the area, the physiological traits conferring drought tolerance have not been well understood. Canopy temperature depression (CTD), the difference between air and canopy temperatures, has been suggested as a trait for identifying drought‐tolerant genotypes. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a higher CTD is one of the reasons for higher yield in new drought‐tolerant cultivars. Field experiments were conducted in five genotypes (TAM 111, TAM 112, TX86A5606, TX86A8072, and Dumas) under dryland conditions in 2009/2010, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons. The canopy temperature was measured continuously from late jointing to the middle of grain filling, using wireless infrared thermometers. Although CTD varied with sky conditions, growth stage, and time of day, the genotypic variation in CTD was consistent. In general, yield was positively correlated to daytime CTD whether the CTD was used from a single clear day or a season‐long mean. However, including Dumas weakened the correlation under severe drought in 2012. The nighttime CTD was not correlated to yield. Two new cultivars (TAM 111 and TAM 112) had up to 2.7°C higher CTD and 31% more yield than other genotypes. Therefore, cooler daytime canopy might be the reason for higher yield in the two new and drought‐tolerant cultivars under drought conditions. Further studies are needed to understand the physiological bases of differences in CTD among genotypes.
Molecular and Morphological Variation in a World‐Wide Collection of Safflower
Authors: Majidi Mohammad Mahdi , Zadhoush Soheila
Published: August 2014

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is one of the oldest domesticated crops, mainly grown as oilseed in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. Wild relatives of safflower comprise several species distributed worldwide. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity of safflower germplasm and to identify the relationships among some Carthamus species using intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) and morphological characteristics. Genetic materials consisted of 102 accessions (from 46 different countries) from seven species of Carthamus, including cultivated C. tinctorius and wild species of C. lanatus, C. oxyacanthus, C. glaucus, C. boissieri, C. dentatus, and C. palaestinus. High levels of variation were found for morphological traits; especially seed yield and number of seeds per head. Morphological assessment and clustering could not completely categorize accessions with the related species. Molecular analysis revealed a total of 508 ISSR marker loci, of which 72% were polymorphic with a broad range of 14 to 25 amplified products per primer. Polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.19 to 0.45, with an average of 0.36. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCA) based on molecular data clearly separated accessions according to their species. As expected, C. palaestinus genotype were grouped together with genotypes of C. tinctorius. All genotypes of cultivated species were clustered into five subgroups, mainly based on their geographical distributions. The similarity coefficient between species ranged from 0.34 (between C. tinctorius and C. lanatus) to 0.90 (between C. tinctorius and C. palaestinus). The relationship among the regional gene pools of safflower was also discussed.
Vigor and Persistence of Birdsfoot Trefoil Populations Selected with or without an Orchardgrass Companion Evaluated in Grass Sod
Authors: Riday Heathcliffe , Charles Brummer E.
Published: August 2014

Forage legumes are often grown in mixtures with grass for grazing or harvested for hay or silage. Forage legume breeders often debate the necessity of incorporating grass competition into the breeding process, particularly when bred varieties will be used in mixture with grass. To address this debate, a two by two by two factorial of eight birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) populations were developed from selections of plants made at two nursery sites (Boone, IA, and Prairie du Sac, WI), out of two base cultivars (Norcen and WITT), and under two nursery treatments [orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) overseeded and no‐grass overseeded]. Space‐plants of the eight birdsfoot trefoil populations were transplanted directly into grass sod and evaluated for 4 yr for visual vigor (a proxy for biomass yield) and plant persistence. Persistence over time was measured using a linear model describing the decline in stand percentage per month. Overall, the four birdsfoot trefoil populations bred with a grass companion persisted better when transplanted into grass sod (slope −1.12% persistence mo−1) compared with the four birdsfoot trefoil population bred without a grass companion (slope −1.43% persistence mo−1). On average, only the WITT‐derived populations selected with a grass companion had superior visual vigor ratings when transplanted into sod compared with the WITT‐derived populations selected without a grass companion. This study provides evidence that selecting birdsfoot trefoil with an orchardgrass companion leads to more persistent birdsfoot trefoil varieties for use in grass mixtures compared with birdsfoot trefoil bred without a grass companion.
Application of Biotests in Cyanobacterial Extract Toxicity Assessment
Authors: Sierosławska Anna , Rymuszka Anna , Skowroński Tadeusz
Published: August 2014

The aim of the study was to determine the toxicity of the extract obtained from the cyanobacterial cells derived from the waters of Zemborzycki dam reservoir with use of a battery of biotests. The taxonomic identiﬁcation of the bloom-forming cyanobacteria revealed high abundance of Aphanizomenon ﬂos-aquae and Dolichospermum spp. (Anabaena spp.) and in a lower degree of Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktothrix agardhii. In the extract obtained from concentrated cyanobacterial cells, hepatotoxin microcystin-LR at a concentration of 22.89 ± 3.74 μg/L and neurotoxin Antx-a at 13.02 ± 0.01 μg/L have been detected. Toxicity of the extract was evaluated with the following assays: Daphtoxkit F magna with the crustacean Daphnia magna, Thamnotoxkit F with the crustacean Thamnocephalus platyurus, Rotoxkit F with the rotifer Brachionus calyciﬂorus and Protoxkit F with ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. The most sensitive organism among all studied was T. platyurus for which EC50 was estimated to be 1.2% of the initial extract concentration. On the basis of the highest obtained value of the toxicity unit (TU = 83) the studied sample was classiﬁed to the IV class, which is of high acute toxicity. Additionally, it was found that reactivity on cyanobacterial products differs greatly among organisms used in bioassays, which indicate the need for using a set of biotests.
Enzymatic Activity and Certain Chemical Properties of Grey-Brown Podzolic Soil (Haplic Luvisol) Amended with Compost of Tobacco Wastes
Authors: Szwed Alicja , Bohacz Justyna
Published: August 2014

The paper addresses the effect of a compost prepared from tobacco wastes with an admixture of bark and straw on the enzymatic activity and certain chemical properties of a grey-brown podzolic soil amended with that compost.

The study was conducted under the conditions of a pot experiment in which the soil material was collected from the surface horizon of the grey-brown podzolic soil. The effect of the application of the compost was compared with soil without such amendment. The test plant was maize cv. Kosmo 230. Fertilisation of the light soil with the compost studied caused changes in the enzymatic activity of the soil that were related both to the dose of the compost and to the kind of enzyme studied. With increase in the dose of the compost there was an increase in dehydrogenase activity (highest dose) and a signiﬁcant decrease in the activity of acid phosphatase. Moreover, it was observed that tobacco compost was a signiﬁcant source that enriched the light soil in organic matter, total nitrogen, and available forms of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, which was evident in increased yields of maize grown as the test plant.

Signiﬁcant correlations were also demonstrated between a majority of the biochemical and chemical parameters, which indicates that those parameters characterise well the biological properties of a grey-brown podzolic soil amended with tobacco compost.
Analysis of the possibility of determining the internal structure of composite material by estimating its thermal diffusivity
Authors: Kucypera Stanisław
Published: August 2014

The aim of this paper is analysis of the possibility of determining the internal structure of the fibrous composite material by estimating its thermal diffusivity. A thermal diffusivity of the composite material was determined by applying inverse heat conduction method and measurement data. The idea of the proposed method depends on measuring the timedependent temperature distribution at selected points of the sample and identification of the thermal diffusivity by solving a transient inverse heat conduction problem. The investigated system which was used for the identification of thermal parameters consists of two cylindrical samples, in which transient temperature field is forced by the electric heater located between them. The temperature response of the system is measured in the chosen point of sample. One dimensional discrete mathematical model of the transient heat conduction within the investigated sample has been formulated based on the control volume method. The optimal dynamic filtration method as solution of the inverse problem has been applied to identify unknown diffusivity of multi-layered fibrous composite material. Next using this thermal diffusivity of the composite material its internal structure was determined. The chosen results have been presented in the paper.
Influence of biomass cofiring on the optimal coefficient of the cogeneration share in a district heating system
Authors: Ziębik Andrzej , Gładysz Paweł
Published: August 2014

The paper presents a modified algorithm for choosing the optimal coefficient of the share of cogeneration in district heating systems taking into account additional benefits concerning the promotion of highefficiency cogeneration and biomass cofiring. The optimal coefficient of the share of cogeneration depends first of all on the share of the heat required for preparing the hot tap water. The final result of investigations is an empirical equation describing the influence of the ratio of the heat flux for the production of hot tap water to the maximum flux for space heating and ventilation, as well as the share of chemical energy of biomass in the fuel mixture on the optimal value of the share of cogeneration in district heating systems. The approach presented in the paper may be applied both in back-pressure combined heat and power (CHP) plants and in extraction-condensing CHP plants.
Evaluating The Effectiveness Of An Adult Entrepreneurship Training Programme
Authors: Bennett Margaret , Barkhuizen Nicolene
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this research was to determine the effectiveness of an adult entrepreneurship training programme in a developing country such as Namibia. A cross-sectional research approach was followed with surveys distributed to a convenience sample of entrepreneurs (N= 102) who participated in the training programme. The results overall showed that the respondents benefitted to a large extent from the training programme. The training programme contributes amongst others to improved business performance and increased clients base for the respondents. The training methods used as part of the training programme are adequate and improved the respondents work attitude and overall entrepreneurial skills.
Investigation Of The Impact Of Networking Among Tenants In The Seda Limpopo Jewellery Incubator In South Africa
Authors: Chiromo Forbes , Muyengwa Goodwell , Makuvaza Joseph
Published: August 2014

This study investigates the extent to which tenants in a jewellery incubator in the Limpopo Province of South Africa network. Since 1994 SEDA has set up more than 31 incubation centres in furniture making, construction, chemicals, jewellery, ICT, metal fabrication, agriculture and small scale mining. This study was done through a survey conducted on tenants in the SEDA Limpopo Jewellery Incubator (SLJI). Information was obtained through a structured questionnaire. The study revealed how tenants benefit from networking around exhibitions and collective purchasing of raw material. Through the Incubator institutional mechanisms, the study explains how tenants share expertise, experiences, technology and resources. Unfortunately the tenants do not initiate the own networking programmes. They lose out on benefits associated with collective effort in other areas such as advertisements, lobbying the government for industrial stands, organising an newsletter, hiring of consultants, and organising joint training programmes. Lastly the study identified opportunities that the tenants could collectively exploit in order strengthen and sustain their businesses.
Cultural Entrepreneurship – A Chance For The Creative Student
Authors: Grünwald Norbert , Heinrichs Michael
Published: August 2014

Culture is part and parcel of life and civilization. It not only enriches us aesthetically, it is also an essential economic and strategic factor. In Germany in 2008, the turnover of this so-called economy of culture and creativity was EUR132b and included 210,000 companies with over one million employees. At around 25%, the proportion of self-employed individuals is extremely high. It is a business world in its own right. A trailblazer in a knowledge-oriented society. But arts, culture and creativity alone are no longer enough. For this reason, defining the requirements and competencies of those who intend to get involved in this difficult sector is crucial. With good training and well-defined curricula they will have the chance to operate more effectively and successfully in the creative/cultural value chain. Cultural and creative entrepreneurship means linking entrepreneurial policy and thinking to cultural and creative objectives. Driving forces include: personal initiative, creativity, innovation, and professional competence, to name just a few. Although these competencies are taught, the didactic approach must also take into account the economic process and structures and an evaluation of success or failure. It is these qualifications that contribute to one being a good cultural/creative entrepreneur and a spearhead in regional development. Don’t complain about not earning (enough) money. Think of ways to earn it.
Statisticaly Analysis For In-Depth Understanding Of The Vehicle Lifetime Load Cycle
Authors: Bondrea Ioan , Rosca Lucian Eugen
Published: August 2014

The automotive industry faces future important changes through adoption of several new complex technologies like” X-by-wire” systems for vehicle dynamic control and high focus on green technology, fuel efficiency hybrids and electric vehicles. The implications of these technologies require in-depth understanding of the vehicle behavior during lifetime cycle, in order to reach a maximum optimized design. Therefore this paper introduces an analysis of a long-term capture data collection from a fleet of serial production vehicles in normal everyday use, as a solution to the lack of information available to describe the vehicle dynamics and load over the systems in a sufficient way. The analysis brings knowledge-based information, where before was difficult to answer and where statements were mainly based on subjective explanation. Results reveals important information describing load cycles during vehicle lifetime for different control events with focus on the braking events.
Engineering Education In Scientific And Technical Communication – Checking Course Impact
Authors: Catelly Yolanda - Mirela
Published: August 2014

In the increasingly interconnected contemporary society, employers commonly expect the engineering graduates to possess, alongside academic success evidence, a range of soft skills, of which scientific and technical communication, particularly in a language of international circulation, ranks first. This demand has led to creating and implementing a modular flexible Scientific and Technical Communication in English - STCE original course of the CLIL (content and language integrated) type. The paper aim is to evaluate the course impact, with a view to increasing its effectiveness and success by further amendments. This has been done by designing research, based on triangulating questionnaires and interviews addressed to both graduates who took (or not) the STCE course during their Master’s or Doctoral education, as well as to their employers.
Innovation Management In The Knowledge-Based Society
Authors: Achim Ioan Moise , Popescu Teodora , Kadar Manuella
Published: August 2014

The aim of this paper is to offer an insight into innovation management in the knowledge-based society. It sets off by explaining the concept of knowledge-based society and why it bears relevance for the modern world. Next, innovation and related concepts are introduced. Furthermore, a presentation of National Innovation Systems (NIS) is made, their history and role in the understanding of a systemic approach to research, development and innovation at both national and global level. Next, the OECD main guidelines for the elaboration of national innovation policies are presented. Last but not least, an analysis of the current situation of research and innovation in Romania is also included.
Conception And Fabrication In Automotive Industry Using Knowledge Management Principles
Authors: Rotaru Ionela Magdalena , Borza Sorin
Published: August 2014

Knowledge management is a reality nowadays, a powerful resource and one of the premises that provides efficiency and decisional support to any approach no matter of the specific domain were we apply the knowledge management principles. Knowledge models, the specific instruments of the knowledge management represent the start point of this paper, in which we present some aspects regarding the conception and fabrication using knowledge models in the automotive industry field. The approach starts with a short presentation of some knowledge models from the technical area and in the final part of the paper we present the guiding lines for a proposed knowledge model.
Some Aspects Regarding The Degree Of Knowledge And Applicability In The Management Of The Kanban Systems Implementation To Be Pursued By Students In Engineering Practice
Authors: Telea Dorin , Popp Ilie
Published: August 2014

Kanban is often seen as a central element of Lean manufacturing and perhaps is the most used product application system. Kanban is the essence of the concept that a supplier or a products deposit must distribute the components in place and at the time the production needs them so that there are no stocks in the production area. The implementation of the Kanban concept must go through four different stages; each of these stages having more steps to be followed. The paper shows some analysis elements regarding the degree of knowledge and practicability in the study of the management of the Kanban systems implementation to be followed by students in technological practice.
Teaching Sustainability Through Movie Making Activities
Authors: Grecu Valentin , Deneş Călin
Published: August 2014

The role of education in shaping the future is widely recognized. The world is becoming more complex, interdependent and unsustainable and this calls for a change in lifestyle. Thus, education for sustainable development is given increased attention in universities worldwide. Transformation of education into sustainability education implies systemic thinking and interdisciplinary approaches. At “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu there has been carried out an experimental, optional course which aimed to achieve an integrated approach to sustainability, fostering dialogue across multiple areas of knowledge. This paper presents an analysis of the activity of creating short video-clips related to sustainability and the impact that this teaching method has on the students.
Company's Brand -- An Influence Factor For Sustainable Success
Authors: Negoiţă Octavian , Purcărea Anca Alexandra , Negoiţă Olivia Doina
Published: August 2014

In the dynamics of the worldwide contemporary challenges in which companies function, alongside with the impact of phenomena such as globalisation and workforce mobility, an important factor which lead to an organisational long term success could be “the branding process”. As the brand is a central element of any marketing strategy it is essential to be aware of its influence on the strategic planning. The current paper presents a research results from a bibliographic investigation, with the target of clarifying the influence of the brand equity, in defining elements of sustainable success according with ISO 9004 standard. The competitive potential of any company is influenced by the brands held in the company’s portfolio. Brands are definitely valuable managing.
Systematic Innovation For Improving Competitiveness Of A Master Study Programme
Authors: Brad Stelian , Fulea Mircea , Mocan Bogdan , Brad Emilia
Published: August 2014

To keep up with the dynamics of nowadays researches and technologies, study programmes - particularly master programmes - need to continuously evolve. Additionally, rigid regulations drive the structure and content of such programmes. Adding competitiveness to these as a must, one can easily infer that building (or updating) a study programme is not an easy task. Moreover, expectancies and requirements from industry might even interfere with specific rules that study programmes have to be compliant to. This paper introduces an approach to overpass the challenges above, by employing the TRIZ-M framework. Problem definition, needs, performances, constraints, technical conflicts and innovation vectors are the key ingredients of the framework that has been used to support the development of a competitive master study programme in Robotics at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca.
The Impact Of Carbon Footprinting In Romania
Authors: Cioca Lucian-Ionel , Codoi Maria-Viorela
Published: August 2014

Carbon foot printing became an important term for surprisingly many people in the last years. It is very important that people learn what effects may have carbon foot printing on their lifes and how it’s produced. The term “carbon foot printing” is just a name which is the result of global warming potential. Carbon foot printing is considered a very popular buzzword in Romania in the last year. The carbon footprint measures total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly, by a person, organization, event or product. In Romania the carbon emissions are the consequences of burning of fossil fuels and manufacturing of cement, and the value of CO2 emissions in 2008 was 94,660(kt). People can do training or courses to learn more about the meaning of carbon footprints, their impact on the environment and calculation of the carbon footprint by measuring the CO2 equivalent emissions.
Regular Student Feedback Concerning Education Quality - Good Practice To Follow
Authors: Haralanova Valentina , Khoshaba Samir
Published: August 2014

This paper presents some of the experience of two European Universities concerning regular student feedback in the area of higher education quality, which is implemented at the end of every course of a particular subject. It also presents a comparison between survey questionnaires at Linnaeus University, Sweden in Machine Design courses, at the Mechanical Engineering Department, where such feedback has been applied during the last fifteen years, and the existing experience in the same field at the Department of Machine Sciences, Machine Elements, and Engineering Graphics at the University of Ruse, Bulgaria. Conclusions are made on the necessity of providing students with regular opportunity to take part in quality management in higher education.
Quality Indicators For Shapping The Communication Process In The University Type Of Public Organization
Authors: Ţîţu Mihail Aurel , Flucsă Daniela Maria
Published: August 2014

In the context of competition in higher education environment the university type of public institution ensures high quality, accessible, challenging university and research programs, expertise services based on a strong motivation, commitment and professional attitude from the teaching body and students. National documents promoted by ARACIS show that “The internal dimension of academic quality is built based on the legislation in force and according to the specific of each university, its tradition and cultural heritage. It is fully under the responsibility of each university. In this approach, quality assurance becomes a process adapted to the existing institutional specific and it is instituted as a mechanism through which academic results or performances are constantly improved”. Communication quality management is integrant part of the institutional quality management system and to this extent the formulation of general criteria, quality indicators and standards is considered so that emphasis is placed not only on the organization’s conformation to a set of predefined or predetermined quantitative and qualitative conditions but also on the deliberate, voluntary and proactive commitment of the institution for accomplishing certain performances that can be proved by effective results. Within the presented paper, in considering the importance of communication for all process participants, we have identified and defined a series of qualitative indicators which, through content and structure, hold a certain weight in communication quality management implementation in the organization. In formulating the communication strategies, in designing the informational system of a public institution in general and of the university type of public institution these groups and subgroups of indicators, which represent the quintessence of the apprehensions, believes related to sending the information formulated by the stakeholders and actors of the communicational field from all structures of an academic institution, are suggested.
Challenges Of Transition Towards Entrepreneurial University
Authors: Zajko Marian , Pezoldt Kerstin
Published: August 2014

There are several key external challenges to be mastered in the transition from the traditional university towards entrepreneurial university which are transformed into internal challenges. Unlike the business schools the management structures and environment of an university of technology may be often very cautious about implementation of the entrepreneurial elements in the technology and science study and research programmes. Often they have to be confronted by the requirements of students and businesses for more entrepreneurship education and skills in the university graduate profiles to accept this. This paper examines fundamental challenges of implementation of the concept of entrepreneurial university in two European universities of technology with direct central public funding which gradually covers less and less its future development needs. The current status of transformation towards an entrepreneurial university at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava compared to the University of Technology Ilmenau is described, analyzed and the next steps put forward.
Teacher - Student Graphical User Interface For Testing And Comparing The Performance Of Adaptive Algorithms Used In Smart Antenna Networks
Authors: Scutariu Adrian , Zedevei Dalina , Jurian Mariana
Published: August 2014

Smart antenna networks are receiving a lot of interest in these days, as new advanced and fast processors are being developed. Capable of pointing the main beam in a certain desired direction and create nulls in the radiation pattern in the direction of interference, smart antenna networks are a good solution in a bandwidth limited environment as the number of users continuously grow. This technique is called beamforming. For many years smart antennas were not practical as they involve the use of a processor that runs an adaptive algorithm. Slow processors meant low speed of convergence and a slow adaptation. There are a lot of adaptive algorithms that can fur fill the job that a smart antenna system has to accomplish. The main purpose of this paper is however to present the main advantages of creating a MATLAB GUI (Graphical User Interface) in order to study these algorithms. The GUI described studies 62 adaptive algorithms, some described in literature, some propose by the authors. We will make a short description of the LMS (Least Mean Squares Algorithm), the APA (Affine Projection Algorithm) and the GASSAPA (Gradient Adaptive Scalar Step Size Affine Projection Algorithm) and compare them with the use of the graphical interface.
Integration Through Qualification
Authors: Norbert Grünwald , Gregor M.A. Postler
Published: August 2014

Foreign students are an asset to our university and our society. They bring a wealth of experience and resources such as openness to foreign cultures, great motivation to acquire a successful degree in Germany, language skills and creativity. The 1957 in Newark born and not uncontroversial economist and Professor Richard Florida speaks in this context of the “creative class” and sees a connection between the economic strength of a region and the diversity of its population.
Corporate Sustainability Indicators In Banking Sector
Authors: Mihaela Dumitrascu , Ciutacu Ileana , Săvulescu Iulian Vasile
Published: August 2014

The purpose of this paper is to see the situation regarding the indicators from the Sustainability Reports. For this we use a qualitative research, a content analysis of these reports. Our sample is composed by the banks that develop their activity in our country for which we analysed the last year reports at group level. We choose only an industry sector to obtain the homogeneity of the sample. The findings reveal a number of 86 indicators, which were used in these reports. We analyzed the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators used by 12 companies. The most reported indicators are EN4, EN8, LA1, LA10, while the last reported indicators are E5, E10 E13 E15, EN20, EN21, EN23, EN27, HR9, HR10 The results obtained are important for future research in this area, for both managers and researchers.
The Exploration And Practice Of Innovative Talents Training With “Six Characteristics” – Case Study Of Student Science And Technology Association Of Shijiazhuang University Of Economics
Authors: Lifang Yang , Zhiwei Wang , Baihua Li , Wenhao Li
Published: August 2014

As the world developing rapidly, worldwide educational system needs an urgent breakthrough on establishing a rational and feasible innovative talents training system. The paper takes as the case study training path within Student Science and Technology Association of Shijiazhuang University of Economics, elaborating the six features of innovative talents in their growing up. They are, but not limited to, “difference”, “sustainability”, “publicity”, “perseverance”, “exploring” and “inclusiveness”. It describes the association's constructing a scientific and comprehensive training system based on its exploration. Besides, the paper discusses the way to reform teaching and learning system as well as the training talents, referring to the experience of students' self-managing. In the end, the paper tries to offer meaningful approaches to building an effective innovative education.
Modern Educational Instruments And Blended-Learning Technologies In Descriptive Geometry Teaching
Authors: Căuneac Damaris , Chiliban Bogdan , Chiliban Marius
Published: August 2014

Due to a medium-low level of young students’ technical knowledge from previous school classes the first year of university seems to be very difficult. The complex phenomena and the abstract concepts represent the first lectures avoided by the students if the temporal burden becomes uncomfortable. Therefore the lecture has to be designed in which the prospective engineer clearly recognise their profit. Using the modern educational instruments as DidaTech Platform, CAD or C++ program presentations in higher education for engineering the level of comprehending and interest in the profile subjects should increase.

The main concern of this paper is to demonstrate how using electronic methods young engineers learn about the descriptive geometry and improves the student’s intellectual capability of space perception. This will be absolute necessary for the students’ preparation for the Mechanical Drawing and CAD subjects.
An automated microinfiltrometer to measure small-scale soil water infiltration properties
Authors: Gordon Dennis C. , Hallett Paul D.
Published: August 2014

We developed an automated miniature constant-head tension infiltrometer that measures very small infiltration rates at millimetre resolution with minimal demands on the operator. The infiltrometer is made of 2.9 mm internal radius glass tube, with an integrated bubbling tower to maintain constant negative head and a porous mesh tip to avoid air-entry. In the bubbling tower, bubble formation and release changes the electrical resistance between two electrodes at the air-inlet. Tests were conducted on repacked sieved sands, sandy loam soil and clay loam soil, packed to a soil bulk density ρd of 1200 kg m-3 or 1400 kg m-3 and tested either air-dried or at a water potential ψ of -50 kPa. The change in water volume in the infiltrometer had a linear relationship with the number of bubbles, allowing bubble rate to be converted to infiltration rate. Sorptivity measured with the infiltrometer was similar between replicates and showed expected differences from soil texture and ρd, varying from 0.15 ± 0.01 (s.e.) mm s-1/2 for 1400 kg m-3 clay loam at ψ = -50 kPa to 0.65 ± 0.06 mm s-1/2 for 1200 kg m-3 air dry sandy loam soil. An array of infiltrometers is currently being developed so many measurements can be taken simultaneously.
Computational issues of solving the 1D steady gradually varied flow equation
Authors: Artichowicz Wojciech , Szymkiewicz Romuald
Published: August 2014

In this paper a problem of multiple solutions of steady gradually varied flow equation in the form of the ordinary differential energy equation is discussed from the viewpoint of its numerical solution. Using the Lipschitz theorem dealing with the uniqueness of solution of an initial value problem for the ordinary differential equation it was shown that the steady gradually varied flow equation can have more than one solution. This fact implies that the nonlinear algebraic equation approximating the ordinary differential energy equation, which additionally coincides with the wellknown standard step method usually applied for computing of the flow profile, can have variable number of roots. Consequently, more than one alternative solution corresponding to the same initial condition can be provided. Using this property it is possible to compute the water flow profile passing through the critical stage.
Increased Antioxidant Quality Versus Lower Quantity Of High Density Lipoprotein In Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
Authors: Aydin Ozgur , Ellidag Hamit Yasar , Eren Esin , Ay Nurullah , Yalçınkaya Soner , Yilmaz Necat
Published: August 2014

Background:Oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of every human disease. To understand its possible role in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), we measured the overall oxidative status of patients with BPH and the serum activity of the high density lipoprotein (HDL)-related antioxidant enzymes paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and arylesterase (ARE).

Methods:Fifty-six urology outpatient clinic patients with BPH (mean age 64±8.6 years) were prospectively included in the study. Forty volunteer healthy controls from the laboratory staff (mean age 62±10 years) were enrolled for comparison. Serum total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), PON1, ARE, and HDL levels were measured by commercially available, ready-to-use kits.

Results:Serum TAS and HDL levels were significantly lower in the BPH group than in the control group (P=0.004 and P=0.02, respectively). No significant between-group differences were observed for TOS levels or PON1 and ARE enzyme activities (P=0.30, P=0.89, and P=0.74, respectively). In the BPH group, the calculated parameters PON1/HDL and ARE/HDL were significantly higher (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively).

Conclusions:Our findings agree with the previous reports of impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance in BPH patients. The activities of HDL-related enzymes between groups with significantly different HDL levels may be deceptive; adjusted values may help to reach more accurate conclusions.
Walking Robot Locomotion System Conception
Authors: Ignatova D. , Abadjieva E. , Abadjiev V. , Vatzkitchev Al.
Published: August 2014

This work is a brief analysis on the application and perspective of using the walking robots in different areas in practice. The most common characteristics of walking four legs robots are presented here. The specific features of the applied actuators in walking mechanisms are also shown in the article. The experience of Institute of Mechanics - BAS is illustrated in creation of Spiroid and Helicon1 gears and their assembly in actuation of studied robots. Loading on joints reductors of robot legs is modelled, when the geometrical and the walking parameters of the studied robot are preliminary defined. The obtained results are purposed for designing the control of the loading of reductor type Helicon in the legs of the robot, when it is experimentally tested.
Exact Periodic Seismic Waves in the Nikolaevskii Model
Authors: Kamenov Ognyan Y.
Published: August 2014

In the present paper three different in their structure families, of exact periodic solutions of the nonlinear evolution equation of Nikolaevskii, have been obtained. The common dynamic structure of these families of periodic solutions has been shown as well as the spatial displacements, typical of the non-integrable evolution equations, for each separate harmonics. These exact solutions are published for the first time
Prony’s Method with Reduced Sampling - Numerical Aspects
Authors: Zygarlicki Jarosław , Mroczka Janusz
Published: August 2014

This paper presents a new modification of the least-squares Prony’s method with reduced sampling, which allows for a significant reduction in the number of the analysed signal samples collected per unit time. The specific combination of non-uniform sampling with Prony’s method enables sampling of the analysed signals at virtually any average frequency, regardless of the Nyquist frequency, maintaining high accuracy in parameter estimation of sinusoidal signal components. This property allows using the method in measuring devices, such as for electric power quality testing equipped with low power signal processors, which in turn contributes to reducing complexity of these devices. This paper presents research on a method for selecting a sampling frequency and an analysis window length for the presented method, which provide maximum estimation accuracy for Prony’s model component parameters. This paper presents simulation tests performed in terms of the proposed method application for analysis of harmonics and interharmonics in electric power signals. Furthermore, the paper provides sensitivity analysis of the method, in terms of common interferences occurring in the actual measurement systems.
The Land’s Susceptibility, Due to Atmospheric Precipitations, Within the Catchment Area of Câlnău
Authors: (Oprea) Constantin Dana Maria , Cîrciumaru Emil , Vătămanu Victor Viorel
Published: August 2014

The climatic factors, generally, and the precipitation amounts recorded, especially, constitute some of the factors which condition the development and intensity of actual geomorphologic processes. One of the most employed climatic parameters for determining the land’s susceptibility to atmospheric precipitations, with real and concrete applications into the dynamic geomorphology, is the Angot factor.

The precipitations represent a crucial meteorological element in initiating, sustaining and reactivating some geomorphologic processes, acting as a modelling agent for every type of landscape. This influence can be highlighted by quantifying the values of some characteristic variables (length, frequency and intensity), as well as temporally confining individual and successive sequences, which present a certain degree of susceptibility.

The general objective of this research, through the analysis of precipitations and the Angot parameter, is to identify, on one hand, the months, seasons or years with a very high or very low susceptibility to the occurrence of bank erosion phenomena, and on the other, to examine the value variations of this parameter across the year. The purpose is to recognize a cumulative of pluviometric conditions which could contribute to inducing, in general, the modelling processes.

The study of land’s susceptibility to atmospheric precipitations was conducted within the morpho-hydrographic drainage system of Câlnău.
Climate Change and Anomalies Asociated in the Republic of Moldova
Authors: Nedealcov Maria
Published: August 2014

In the Republic of Moldova, regardless the limited area, regional climate change represents one of the major threats for sustainable development and is one of the biggest environmental problems, with negative consequences for the national economy. Displacement function analysis of the climate rules distribution which is characterizing mean annual temperature at different times in the Republic of Moldova shows that the last decade of the twentieth century (1989-1999) was the warmest decade of the century. At the same time, the first decade (2000-2012) of XXI century is the warmest decade of instrumental observations series (1887-2013). Measurement of the extreme values modification in the Moldova’s climate evolution indicates that absolute maximum of temperatures and deficit (excess) of precipitation have a regular manifestation on the last period (2000-2012).
Studies Regarding the Safety in Operation of Ezer Reservoir
Authors: Balan Isabela , Tutunaru Irina Dana , Pricop Claudiu , Balan Ioan
Published: August 2014

The dam of the non-permanent reservoir Ezer, located on Jijia river is an earth dam with a maximum height of 6.18 m, which provides a global retention to the canopy of 10.330 million cubic meters. The dam founded on weak, muddy soils suffered in the years 1989 and 1992 downstream slope failures of the fillings. It was found that hydrostatic levels were high in the piezometric wells and that consolidation of the foundation soil was reduced. This paper presents a brief history of the dam and aspects regarding the behaviour monitoring of Ezer non-permanent reservoir during the years 2000-2012.
Preliminary Assessments of the Relation: Precipitations – Water – Sediments with Regard to some Anthropic Accumulations in the River Basin of Bahlui
Authors: Ionuţ Minea , Dragoş Nica , Bogdan Boca
Published: August 2014

An important aspect of the statistical assessment of the correlation between precipitations - water and sediments is the way these parameters are assessed by means of statistical correlations of the type Q=f(Pp), R=f(Q) or R=f(Pp). Following the analysis of the three types of correlations the conclusion that water and sediment flows depend much on the quantity of water that falls may be reached. The accumulations however introduce some modifications of the water run-offs depending on the intended use. In order to carry out detailed analyses of some processes related to the evolution of channel bed or reservoirs silting, the equations may be extrapolated to the entire river basin
Roads Rehabilitation and Environment in Moldova: Some Legal and Normative Harmonization Aspects
Authors: Cocirta Petru , Vladicescu Viaceslav
Published: August 2014

This paper analyzes the environmental regulatory reforms of the Republic of Moldova to restore roads and problems over time. Goals and objectives are the analysis of the current situation on road rehabilitation and environmental assessments in this area, as well as issues that require in rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in the Republic of Moldova.Are described briefly: general aspects of road rehabilitation issues; legislation and environmental regulations in the road; differences between Moldova and procedures of the World Bank's environmental assessment in the construction and rehabilitation of roads; problem of national legislative and normative acts harmonization to international requirements.The paper discusses specific environmental to appear on completion of the rehabilitation of roads in the Republic of Moldova. In the final part of the paper presents the conclusions and some suggestions on how to facilitate the rehabilitation of roads in accordance with Agenda 21 of the country and European and international requirements.
Structure and tensile properties of polypropylene/carbon nanotubes composites prepared by melt extrusion
Authors: Liu Yanhui , Zuo Jicheng , Qin Jie , Li Chengwu
Published: August 2014

Polypropylene/carbon nanotubes (PP/CNTs) nancomposites were prepared with a single screw extruder by adding maleic anhydride-grafted poplypropylene (PP-g-MAH) as compatibilizer to polypropylene (PP) with different amounts of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the range of 0.1–0.7 wt.%. Structure and morphology of the prepared samples were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), polarizing light microscopy (PLM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that PP spherulites decreased in size when CNTs were introduced into the polymer. Mechanical properties of the samples were also studied. Tensile tests showed that with increasing amount of CNTs the strain at break decreased whereas the Young’s modulus was improved of 16.41 % to 36.05 % and tensile strength of 36.67 % to 64.70 % compared to pristine PP. The SEM microphotographs showed that majority of the CNTs were dispersed individually and oriented along the shear flow direction.